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Contents

PART 2

FORM

People 1: Describe someone who is famous in your country and that you admire.

People 3: A Music group/Band/Singer

People 5: An Old Person

People 6: Describe a teacher who has influenced you.

People 9 : Describe a family member you like.

People 12: Describe a close friend.

Place 1-2-3: Describe an important/famous/historical building in your city.

Place 12: Describe a library that you have visited.

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Place 13: Describe a museum you have visited.

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Place 14: Describe your home.

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Place 19: Describe a city or town where you have lived.

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Experience 1: Describe something difficult that you did well.

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Experience 7: Describe some important advice you received.

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Experience 15: Describe an interesting trip that you have been on.

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Media 1: Describe a TV programme that you have seen.

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Media 3: Describe a film that you enjoyed watching

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Media 5: Describe a book that you enjoyed reading.

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Media 6: Describe a song or piece of music that you like.

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Media 7: Describe a newspaper or magazine that you have read.

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Media 10: Describe a photo that you like.

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Media 11: A Media of art

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Hobby/ Activitie1 : Describe a free-time activity that you enjoy doing.

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Hobby/ Activitie 4: Describe a sport that you enjoy watching or playing

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Object 4: Describe something electronic that you often use

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Other 5: A Piece of Clothing

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Other 3: Describe a subject you liked at school.

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Other 9: A Toy

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Other 12: A Gift

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Other 14: Describe month or season

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Other 14: Describe some of your future plans.

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Other 13: Describe your favourite form of public transportation.

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Other 10: Talk about something good about your personality.

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Other 15: A Sporting Event You Enjoyed Watching

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OURSOURSING PART 2

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Topic 1: An Advertisment

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An interesting advertisement

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Topic 2: Another Language You Would Learn If You Wanted

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Topic 3: A Book or Film About the Future

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Topic 4: A Book

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Topic 5: A Caf

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Topic 6: A Childhood Game

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Topic 7: A Story You Liked

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Topic 10: A Crowded Place

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Topic 11: A Future Job

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Topic 12: A Good Parent

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Topic 13: A Good Teacher

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Topic 15: A Happy Event = Topic 13

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Topic 16: An Interesting Historical Event

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Topic 19: An important occasion you were late

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Topic 20: An important plant

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Topic 21: An Interesting Country

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Topic 22: An Interesting Person

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Topic 23: A person who became an intimate friend at the first meeting

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Topic 24: A Library

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Topic 26: A Mathematics Class

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Topic 28: An Occasion Someone Visited Your Home

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Topic 30: An Outdoor Activity you want to do

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Topic 31: A Party

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Topic 32: A Perfect Holiday

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Topic 33: A Person Who Has An Important Job

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Topic 35: A Picnic or Meal Outdoors

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Topic 36: A Place in Work or School

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Topic 37: A Place You Listen To Music

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Topic 38: A Polite Person

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Topic 39: A Positive Change

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Topic 40: A Radio Program

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Topic 41: A Room

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Topic 42: A Science Lesson

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Topic 43: A Science Subject

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Topic 44: A Rule In School

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Topic 45: A Seaside Place

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Topic 46: A Shopping Street

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Topic 47: A Show or Performance

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Topic 49: Something Healthy You Did

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Topic 49: A Special Meal

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Topic 51: A Television Program

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Topic 52: A Time You Helped Others

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Topic 53: A Trip By Public Transport

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Topic 54: A Useful Skill

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Topic 55: A wrong decision

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Topic 56: A Leader You Admire

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Topic 57: A Leader You Admire(2)

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Topic 58: A Robot

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Topic 59: A Work Of Art

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3

Lake

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Useful website

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A memorable event

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An important festival

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An interesting historic place

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A lesson

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Describe something that was recently reported in the news.

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Restaurant

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Animal

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Topic 16: A good law

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Topic 9: A restaurant

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Topic 6: A photo

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Topic 4: A shopping centre

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Topic 2: Second foreign language

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Topic 1: A school friend

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PART 2
FORM
1. I guess I could begin by saying something about what the sport is, and I think I would have to
2. Going on to my next point which is how often I play it. I really need to add that if I have enough time I usually play
it about twice a week. In fact...
3. And now with reference to why I like it, the point I want to make here is that...
4. And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of whether it is popular in my country, really I should
mention that...
People 1: Describe someone who is famous in your country and that you admire.
You should say:
Who the person is
Why he/ she is famous
Why you admire this person
What you would do if you met this person.
If I have to describe a well-known person whom I like and admire most, I think that person will be definitely
Barack Obama. I am sure that when I call his name, all of you will think about a person who is the first African
American president, the 44thand current president of the United States. Also, he is known as one of the youngest
president of United States. On 9th October 2009, he was awarded Nobel Peace Prize for international diplomatic
consolidation. Barak Obama is not only a talented lawyer but also an excellent politician. He is famous for the
speech running for the president that mentions about American changes. I really appreciate him because of his
cogent speech. In fact, I usually feel ill at ease when I stand in front of a multitude because of my timorousness. I
want to become a self-confident person and have eloquenceability , so I consider Barack Obama as my idol I hope
that in the future I will become a successful and proficient person like him.
Additional Question
1) So how long have you been interested in this particular celebrity?
For a number of years really. I mean its the way that his style changes and develops that really fascinates me.
People 2: A sport Star
Kaka ( already finish)

People 3: A Music group/Band/Singer


Describe a music group/band/singer in your country
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You should say


Which person or band
Who often likes listening to their/his/her songs
What kind of music they/he/she/sing(s)
And explain why you admire them/him/her
There are many singers in my country that Im a huge fan of but I guess my favorite one would have to be a woman
called Faye Wong. She is a middle aged woman who has been famous in China for over 10 years so I have been
listening to her songs since I was a Child.
She usually sings pop songs not only in Chinese but also in English. The reason why I admire her so much is
because her English pronunciation is fantastic there are many Chinese singers who try to sing in English but to be
honest most of them have really bad pronunciation. Also the lyrics are really moving and the rhythm of her songs is
quite catchy.
My favorite song by Faye Wong is an English song called Eyes on Me. It was the theme song of a very famous
video game and its about a love story between a man and a woman but in the end they didnt end up together I
nearly cried when I first heard this song, its quite moving.
Faye Wong is a singer who is nationally renowned in China and if you have the chance you could listen to her songs
too.
People 4: Character from a story/film./ TV programme
One of my all-time favorite [U9] movie character is Forest Gump which was played [U10] by Tom Hanks. I have
always been a big fan of him and his acting in Forest Gump is absolutely amazing. Anyway, Forest Gump was
considered to be mentally retarded kid [U11] with an IQ of 75, he was looked down [U12] andbeing
bullied [U13] by the kids at school and people around him, but he had such a wonderful mother who always
believed in him and taught him that hes no different from everybody else . He actually understands things in
such profound way [U14] and He treats people with so much love and respect, I believe, that is the main factor that
leads him to success later in life. His exciting life journey includes visiting the White House 3 times, on a show
with John Lennon and making a peaceful speech about Vietnam War and running across the country. He was also
a desperate romance[U15] . Jenny, a dear childhood friend, was a girl he fell in love with. He was
always protective of her [U16] and chose to love her until the very end,despite the fact that [U17] she went
astray, dating other men and lead quite a destructive lifestyle

People 5: An Old Person


Describe an old person you know who you respect/admire
You should say
Who the person is
How you know the person
What the kind of person he or she is
And explain why you respect/admire the person
In my family, the person I love most is my grandfather who passed away about six years ago because of cancer.
When I was just a child, my parents usually went to work. Therefore, I stayed at home with him and our
relationship was quite good. He was very friendly and helpful. Whenever my friends came to my house, he usually
greeted them withcordiality. He liked growing flowers very much. It was the reason why there were
flowers galore in my garden. Every morning I tried to get up early to garden the flowers and enjoy the fresh
atmosphere with him. He loved me very much and I was an apple of his eyes. When I went to primary school, it
was he that rode me on his bike to take me travel back and forth between my house and school. When he passed
away, I felt like having a broken heart. I was sad and cried so much. I missed him. I missed every time we had been
together, missed his gentle and righteous smiles. From that time, I became reserved and did not want to talk to
anyone. A long time passed. I realized that I could not continue living like this. I could not be a coward person. I
must be strong despite the tragedy in life as what he had advised me to. I decided to dance to another tune to live
well as my grand father hoped.
People 6: Describe a teacher who has influenced you.
You should say:
Who the teacher is
Where and when you met him/ her
How he/ she has influenced you
Whether you still know this teacher
My all-time favorite[U1] teacher is Ms. Kathy from my writing class. We first met [U2] in 2010 when I was in
10th grade. I admire her for the passion that she put in teaching. Each lesson is so well-planned[U3] , so we could
understand the materials in-depth[U4] , not only that shes a fantastic presenter with excellent voice and attitude.
Also, shes quite strict to us, giving us a lot of homework and assignments. At first[U5] , we were all kinda
hated [U6] her for it but over time[U7] , our class performed so well comparing to [U8] other classes so we
changed our attitude toward her. Last but not least[U9] , she is such a dedicated teacher who is always willing
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to go the extra mile [U10] to help us with our assignments and all the silly questions we have.
She encouraged[U11] us to ask and have curiosity [U12] about everything. I feel very blessed to have met her
and Ive learned so much from her, not just about writing but also the passion, the dedication [U13] for the things
we do.
1) compare the differences between education in ur city with them in 20 years ago?
In the past, many children can't go to school, and educational conditions were very poor. But now, government
provide 9 years compulsory education. Each child who is 7 years old must go to school. And government provide
much better facilities and staff. Also, schoolyards are beautiful than before.
2) compare the differences between university and middle school.
We study basic knowledge in the middle school. But the course of university is practical and special, such as
computer and business courses.
3) compare the differences between students now and past.
At present , it is difficult for student to find job. So, their pressure is he avier than before.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Im going to tell you about my history teacher in secondary school. I guess you could say that he was not only my
teacher, but also my advisor. He was very wise as well as knowledgeable which helped build my confidence. In
many ways, he was a good role model for me and really had a positive impact on my life.
I remember that when I joined his class, my first impression of him was that he seemed quite strict and serious. I
suppose this was because he dressed very formally and had glasses with gray hair. This made me think he was quite
conservative. However, to my surprise, he turned out to be very lively and funny as well as being very articulate. He
showed me that history could be a stimulating and fascinating subject.
I have always looked up to him because he showed me how you could be active, funny and dynamic whilst still
being dedicated and hard-working. I have had a lot of teachers that made their subject seem dry and uninteresting,
so he was really a breath of fresh air.
After taking his class and then leaving secondary school, I have always tried to keep in touch with him. How can I
put thisWhen I come across some kind of problem, I sometimes contact him and ask him for his thoughts. He
lives in my neighbourhood, so we will sometimes have tea together. I always appreciate the time I spend with him
because he is such a good listener and just a nice person in general.

People 7: A neighbor
I have very good relations with my neighbors. Actually my best friend is my neighbor. I spend most of my leisure
time with my neighbors as I know them since my childhood. I can share all my feelings with them and they can also
do the same.
I try to help out my neighbors as much as I can. Last year a child was cycling on the street and suddenly he fell
which caused him a lot of bleeding. I rushed towards the child took and him in my arms. There was nobody around
me so I had to take him to the hospital alone. As I was going towards the hospital I was getting worried and tears
were coming out of my eyes and the child was just like a little brother to me. I reached the hospital on time and my
neighbor got all the medical attention he needed.
I feel that a person should have very good relations with their neighbors because they are living close to us and they
can provide us immediate help; furthermore, my religion has ordered me to keep good relations with the neighbors.
We should try to lessen the grief of our neighbors and try to share our happiness with them.
People 8: A child you know
Describe a child that you know.
You should say:
Who the child is
How you know this child
What you like about this child
What things you do with this child.
Id like to talk about my baby brother. Hes 7 years old now. Ive been spending a lot of time with him since he
was born, and I love him to death. I adore his facial expression, the way he smiles at us, his pinky cheeks are so
kissable, and how He would wrinkle his nose every time my Mom says its time to eat. Hes a sweetest baby Ive
ever known. I couldnt take my eyes off him. I cant be happier playing with my brother and watching him
grow each and every day. Hes in first grade now. I enjoy helping him to read and tell him stories and watch him get
so excited about everything. He loves the rain so much that every time its rain, he just runs outside, trying to catch
the raindrops. With so much energy and wonders about everything, and the simple things he says always put a
smile on my face. I play Lego with him sometimes, we would build different things like houses, train, buses and he
gets very creative that it would surprise
me sometimes. Its not always easy though, sometimes he cried and scream over silly stuff but I guess thats just
typical for every child

People 9 : Describe a family member you like.


You should say:
Who the person is
Why you like this person
What things you do together
Whether you think you are similar to that person.
Answer 1:
Id like to talk about my father since he has had a very big influence on my life. I suppose I have always looked up
to him because he has always set a good example. In many ways, I have been inspired by him and I also hope to be
as successful in business as him.
He has never pushed me to follow him into business which I'm grateful for. I guess it has always been an area I
have naturally been interested in which is why I chose business administration as my major. He is a good advisor
and I have often discussed the best way to approach my uni assignments with him in the past. Sometimes it's
difficult have a long assignment, so it's a really good to get a fresh perspective.
Aside from being a very decent and moral man, he is also great to be around. We often play basketball together at a
court in my local area. I think its important that parents spend quality time with their children and I will do the
same when I become a parent.
I guess I could say that I take after him in a lot of ways. We are both very practical people and are both good at
maths and not particularly artistic. Sometimes I wish I could also take after my mother in that way. She is very
creative.
Well.. Still Im really lucky to have such a great dad who is so supportive. Its his birthday next month so if I can
save enough money, I will buy him a special gift to show him that I appreciate all the time he spends with me.
Answer 2:
In my family, the person I love most is my grandfather who passed away about six years ago because of cancer.
When I was just a child, my parents usually went to work. Therefore, I stayed at home with him and our
relationship was quite good. He was very friendly and helpful. Whenever my friends came to my house, he usually
greeted them withcordiality. He liked growing flowers very much. It was the reason why there were
flowers galore in my garden. Every morning I tried to get up early to garden the flowers and enjoy the fresh
atmosphere with him. He loved me very much and I was an apple of his eyes. When I went to primary school, it
was he that rode me on his bike to take me travel back and forth between my house and school. When he passed
away, I felt like having a broken heart. I was sad and cried so much. I missed him. I missed every time we had been
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together, missed his gentle and righteous smiles. From that time, I became reserved and did not want to talk to
anyone. A long time passed. I realized that I could not continue living like this. I could not be a coward person. I
must be strong despite the tragedy in life as what he had advised me to. I decided to dance to another tune to live
well as my grand father hoped.
People 10: Compare two family members
Compare two members of your family.
You should say:
Who the two people are
How they are similar
How they are different
What you like about these two people
My younger sisters are two identical twins (sinh i). They look exactly the same like two peas on a pod(ging
nhau nh c), yet their personalities (tnh cch) are so different. Their names are Jenny and Jane. Jenny tends
to be very organized (gn gng, c t chc), whereas Jane is quite messy (by ba, khng ngn np). That can
easily be seen by looking at their rooms. Jennys is always clean and polished (sng lng, bng by) while
Janes is just chaotic (ln xn) all the time. Also, jenny is very good at natural science such as math, chemistry
and physics while Jane is into Literature, History and Art. Despite of (mc d) so many differences, they get
along (hon thun) very well though. Theyre always protective of each other, learning, playing together. I
think differences between them help them to be closer since they can complement (b sung) one another so
well.Move on to your last point of the things (lead-in phrase) I like about them, I guess I love them not only
because theyre my sisters but also (ch cch dng not only...but also) because I can learn a lot from them.
They show me how to wear makeup, how to dress up. We also help each other when it comes to studying. We
do everything together so its just a lot of fun to be with them
People 11: Someone you have studied or worked with
Describe someone you studied of worked with.
You should say:
How the person was
When you first met this person
Whether you had a good relationship
Whether other people liked this person
Answer is Friend ( People 12)
People 12: A friend
Describe a close friend.
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You should say:


Who the friend is.
Where and when you first met.
What you like about this friend.
Whether this person is popular with other people.
Answer 1:
Be strong! Everything will be alright. That is what my best friend, Bee, says to me whenever I get in troubles.
Bee is her nickname and our friends always call her by that name. She has been my crony and my neighbor for over
ten years. To me, she is a really special person. It seems that she is always full of energy and does everything with
enthusiasm. She shows me a lot of useful truths such as: never let the chance slip by or no pain, no gain, etc.
However, she is not the kind of person that is full of hot air because she knows that easier said than
done. Therefore, she always forces herself to have motivations to reach her aims when she does anything. She is a
jack of all trades and she likes to learn new things. I used to be reservedwhen I had to meet new people but my
chum, a communicative person, taught me how to say it with flowers and how to communicate with cordiality.
Sometimes, shegets on my case and that gets on my nerves but finally we always make up with each other because
after all, we are best friends. We share everything to each other and that helps us to get closer. Now, whenever I get
in troubles, I always tell myself that Be strong! Everything will be alright because I know that no matter what
happens, my Bee always flies by my side.
Answer 2:
I had a very close girlfriend and we have played together for eight years. The first time we met each other was when
we were in secondary school. After that, we also studied at the same high school. Because we were classmates for
many years, we became intimate day by day. She has many good characteristics which make me like her very
much. Firstly, she is great chum who has same hobbies, understands me and wiil be next to me rain or shine. She is
always listening, sharing and giving me many useful comforting words when I have something sad. Secondly, she
usually helps me when I get troubles. This make me realize that "A friend in need is a friend indeed" . Lastly, she is
very generous. Sometimes, I make her sad but she is willing to forgive all my faults when I intend to reconcile. In
free time, we like going out to eat and drink delicious food and beverage. At that time, we can share sorrow and
happiness. I feel very lucky to have a good chum like her. Therefore, I will try to keep this beautiful friendship and
make it last forever.
Additional Question
Did your classmates also feel the same way about your favourite teacher?

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Yes. I think we all enjoyed his classes. I think everyone has their favourite subjects, but I think everyone found his
class quite stimulating
People 13: A happy person who you know
Answer: The same as friend
People 14: A successful leader who you admire
Answer: People 1 - A famous person (Obama)
People 15: Someone you know speaks another language
Answer: People 6 - Teacher
Place 1-2-3: Describe an important/famous/historical building in your city.
You should say:
Where the building is located
What it looks like
What it is used for
How often you visit this place.
I am going to talk about the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Independence Palace. It was built on the
site of the former Norodom Palace and it is a landmark in HCMC. It is located in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and
was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during
the Vietnam War.
The attractions inside of the airy palace interior are pretty sparse. Roped-off rooms such as the presidential office,
receiving room, and bedroom appear musky and grim with antique furniture and bare walls.
A highlight of the Reunification Palace is found in the basement which includes a command bunker with old radio
equipment and strategy maps on the walls.
After exiting the basement into the courtyard, there is a room filled with historic photos heavily sprinkled with
propaganda portraying the fall of the Independence Palace. On the fourth floor rooftop, there are some nice views
of the palace grounds as well as an old US-UH 1 helicopter. The rooftop was used as a helipad for evacuating staff
just before the palace was overrun.
The palace is interesting to me because marks the end of Viet Nam war during the Fall of Saigon. Also, knowing
clearly about the history of my own country is what I think I can be proud of.
Describe a modern building:
-where it was
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-what it is used for


-why you like/dislike it.
Here's my example description of a building in Manchester:I'm going to describe a modern building in Manchester.
It's called the Beetham Tower, and it's the tallest building in the city, with about 50 floors.Although it's called the
Beetham Tower, most people know this building as the Hilton Hotel. In fact, the bottom half of the tower is the
hotel and the top half is apartments. The apartments are expensive because the location and views make them
very desirable. I'm not sure if I like the design of the building, it's just a huge glass tower, but it definitely stands
out. It has become a famous landmark in the city. You can see it as you approach Manchester, and it's an easy place
to meet people because it's so distinctive and easy to find. The most interesting thing about the Beetham Tower is
that there is a bar/restaurant on the 23rd floor which has spectacular views of the city; it's definitely the best vantage
point in Manchester because there are no walls, only huge windows, so you can look out over the city in any
direction. I'd recommend anyone who visits Manchester to go there and experience the view.
Do you prefer modern or traditional buildings?
I really prefer modern buildings because I'm quite interested in what architects are coming up with these days.
Some of their designs are pretty spectacular.
Place 4: A place of natural beauty
Describe a place of natural beauty that you have visited
You should say:
Where the place is located
What kind of place it is
What you did there
What is special about this place.

I like the botanical garden [U1] in Binh Quoi a lot. Its a great place to be when you want to have a get away
from the hustle and bustle of the city [U2] and get closer to nature[U3] . Ive been there for so many times now
and I totally love [U4] it. There are 2 main areas: a garden, a river, and food area. The garden is absolutely
stunning[U5] with all kinds of plants and flowers. Also, the river is very beautiful. I always get a sense of
tranquility[U6] whenever Im there.
I love this place because to me, it is a place full of wonderful memories with my family. We usually spend our
Sunday afternoon there after church. We read together walk and talk together. This is where my Dad taught me how
to drive a bike when I was a little boy. I guess its really special because it helps our family to bond and to love each
other better by spending time with one another[U7] . Another reason that makes me fall in love with this place is
that I can go there by myself sometimes to take pictures too since I have great interest[U8] in photography. Its
going be enlarged by April next year by the way and itll have a playground[U9] for kids. Im happy since I know
my younger brothers are going to love that very much.

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Place 5: A peaceful place


Answer: Place 4 - A place of natural beauty
Place 6: A quite place
Answer: Place 12 - Describe a library that you have visited.
Place 7: A place in your city that you know well
Answer: Place 12 - Describe a library that you have visited/ Place 4 - A place of natural beauty
Place 8: A walk that you regularly take
I like walking a lot because it can help me relax and appreciate my living environment. I would usually take a walk
after dinner because theres a saying in Chinese, Walk after you dine; live to ninety nine.
Theres a canal near my home and therere any flower trees planted along the banks. Its my pleasure to look at the
beautiful blossoms at different seasons. I would usually take a walk there with my parents or friends after dinner. We
could talk about what happens during the day and share our feelings. Sometimes, my dad would tell jokes to us
during the walk. Im just wondering how he could remember so many funny stories.
Therere actually quite a lot of people taking a stroll after dinner. We could see people at all age walking and talking.
Sometimes, we could also see some neighbors walking their dogs. When two dogs meet, theyll make a scene.
Therell usually be some barking and fighting among the little dogs, and then their owners have to use a lot of
strength to pull them away.
I think walking is a very good habit to have because it provides the time to communicate and exercise. I hope I can
continue it in the future.
Place 9: A garden/park
Answer: Place 4 - A place of natural beauty
Place 10: Describe a river lake or sea you have visited
Describe a river, lake or sea which you like:
- what the river, lake or sea is called
- where it is
- what the land near it is like
- why you like this river, lake or sea.
Im going to describe Hoan Kiem Lake, which means "Lake of the Returned Sword" or "Lake of the Restored
Sword. According to the legend, emperor L Li handed a magic sword called Heaven's Will which brought him
victory in his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God in the lake and hence gave it
its present name (the lake was formerly known as "Green Water" . The Tortoise Tower standing on a small island
near the centre of lake is linked to the legend.It is a lake in the historical center of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.
The lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life.
I think the land or the area near the lake is so wonderful because if you wake up early in the morning, at about 5a.m,
you will see lines and lines of oldies and teenagers doing anything from yoga to aerobics. It looks as if the whole
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city was up and running for morning exercise.


I like the lake not only because it is special in history but also because the water in the lake is not commonly found
in other lakes elsewhere in the country: greenish with dark or light shade depending on the reflection of the sky.
Also, the lake is full of tortoise, which is second to none to be found among Vietnamese Lakes. If you are lucky, you
will catch sight of these giant animals rising out of water. Last but not least, I like it because it is so romantic. When
the darkness takes over, you can see couples holding hands in hands walking side by side along the lake, trying to
breathe in the breeze of summer night or keep warmth against the winter cold.
If you have time and really want to observe Hanois life, sit down on one of the stone benches, enjoy the view and
have a good talk with some local friends over an ice-cream cone.
Place 11: A shop
Theres a very big shopping center in my hometown. I would always go there to shop and have fun. I like there very
much because I can find almost everything I want to buy and can also relax myself at the leisure center on the top
floor.
Therere six floors. If you want to buy some daily necessities, you can go to the supermarket on the first floor. For
clothes, you can go to the second to fourth floor. Therere all kinds of brands and styles for different people. If you
want to buy electronic equipment, youll be able to find there on the fifth floor.
After I get tired from shopping, I would go to the leisure center on the sixth floor. Its a great place to relax and have
fun. Theres a little cinema where you could watch the latest films. My favorite place would be the magic show
center. Its amazing that the magicians could show us so many interesting tricks.
This shopping center gave me a lot of fun and good memories. I think shopping places should be like that.
Place 12: Describe a library that you have visited.
You should say:
Where the library is located
What you use it for
How often you visit this place
What special features it has.
Today I'd like to talk about the library I used to go when I was in college several years ago.
Since it was a private school, the library was quite small but I think it had all you needed to have a successful life as
a student. The facilities included a computer lab, a writing lab, a section with cubicles for self-study, and an area
with large tables for group discussions. And if you needed more privacy, they even had small rooms where students
could get absolute silence.
There were several reasons why I would go to that library. First, it was right next to my dormitory building, so it
only took me a few seconds to get there. Second, before a test, I would go to my favorite spot in the library to study.
16

That spot was in a corner of the third floor and next to a large window where I had a bird's-eye view of the school
campus. And third, I would go to the library to do research and find sources of information for my research papers.
Although relatively small, I think this library was quite useful for me because I could find all the necessary
materials I needed throughout my school years. I also made use of its writing lab very often because they had
people who could take a look at my work and give me feedback. That was particularly helpful since English was
still a language I wasn't very familiar with.
All in all, this library played an important part in my life as a college student and I wish I can visit it again some
time in the future!
Place 13: Describe a museum you have visited.
You should say:
What type of museum it is
Why you visited this place
What you liked about this place
Whether you would like to go there again.
Id like to talk about the museum of science and technology which is in the northern part of downtown Beijing. As
far as I remember, it was opened to the public in 1988 and has grown to become one of the major museums of the
capital.
I have visited Beijing several times and have seen all the major sites. Ive always been interested in science since I
was a kid so it seemed only natural to go and have a wander around and have a look at what was on display there.
I guess that the thing I really liked most about the place is the different exhibition centres housed in different
buildings. For example, one building shows the history of Chinese technology including the, compass, gunpowder
and of course papermaking. I think these kinds of displays are very educational for all ages actually.
Another building focuses more about environmental science and they had a special exhibit when I was there about
environmental science and of course climate change. There was a short movie showing about what the world could
look like in a few hundred years which was a little scary to tell you the truth.
If I get the chance I will definitely go there again. Occasionally I see an article about what is on show there and it
always seems to change which I think is important. I think its quite a dynamic centre for education really and I

17

guess it challenges a lot of our ideas and makes us think about how China and the world has developed and what
could happen in the future.
Place 14: Describe your childhood home.
You should say:
Where this place is located
What type of house it is
How long you have lived there
What you like and dislike about the place
Im going to describe my home which is a reasonably spacious apartment in the Da Nang Province. Actually, I have
recently moved because my old place was quite cramped and a little dingy.
In many ways, I guess Im now not so keen on living right in the heart of the city, so thats why I moved out to a
suburban area to escape the hectic pace of life. The place I live now is quite safe, since it really is more of a closeknit community. I have a few friends here and they have already introduced me to lots of people.
The apartment itself has large windows and is quite bright. Its a two bedroom place with a living room and kitchen.
The living room has nice views from the park on the opposite side of the street. I have only lived there for about
two months, so I am still personalising the place. I recently re-painted the main bedroom sky blue which is my
favourite colour, so it feels a little more like a home now.
I suppose the fact that it is larger than my last place is a big comfort although I also like the fact that it is
conveniently located near a park and a sports centre. This allows me to take a walk and get some fresh air as well,
of course, to keep fit.
I suppose that eventually I might get a little tired of commuting into the city for my work, but for now Im happy to
be in a place with more trees and less air pollution.
Place 15: Your idea of an ideal house
At first when I thought of purchasing a house, I wanted one that was neither too far nor too near a town. If it was
too far, I may feel lonely and then, there was the question of transport. Finally, I chose an elevated, land enabling
easy drainage and firm. The site is spacious allowing ground for the house and a decent big garden. I wanted an
elegant look for the house I intended to build.
The house has four rooms with a well-furnished kitchen and modern bathroom facilities. The living rooms are
comfortable. The furniture has been chosen with great care. The walls have been painted with soft colors to match
the curtains, the materials of which had been bought from the best textile manufacturing company. Each room is
18

fitted with a radio so that one can enjoy programs from the bed. The drawing room is elegantly furnished with
sofas, chairs and a central table. The walls are lined with built-in cupboards, a library to house well-chosen volumes
by master novelists. There is a niche for the television and the room can be used for viewing programs. All the
rooms are airy and air-conditioned.
The kitchen is beautifully done up. It is fitted with electric grills and things can be stacked neatly away in specially
designed cabinets. It is provided with modern gadgets for grinding, pulverizing or cutting.
In front of the house there is an artificial pool with a fountain spray. One or two fish tanks are kept in the big porch
to add the beauty of the place. There is a garage at the side of the house for my car, cattle and poultry. There I keep
a few fowls of the high breed like the white leg horn, Black Monorca, and Rhode Island from which I get a supply
of eggs and meat. I have two jersey cows in the shed which supply the milk for the family. In the backyard there are
a few fruit bearing trees. On the margin of the house, there are some coconut trees. In front of the house there are
certain bushes of croton and exotic plants. The well-kept lawn with luscious green grass is very pleasing to the eye.
There is also a small playground for my children with a swing.
I have a couple of chandeliers in the drawing room showing rainbow colored lights whenever light falls on them. I
could specially mention the marble Buddha I got from Sian and a bronze Nataraja from India. There are a few
selected pictures by masters in gilded frames.
Thus I am surrounded by beauty and peace.
Place 16: A Restaurant
One of my familys favorite restaurants is the spaceship restaurant which is located in district 1 in HCM city. The
reason why I chose this restaurant is that I enjoyed my birthday party there in such a posh restaurant with my family.
Last year my parents celebrated my birthday party in that gorgeous restaurant to congratulate my mature age. At first
I went there with the feeling of excitement and everything just happened like my expectation. I fancied everything
there: sumptuous decoration; professional staffs; palatable fresh food. Plus, we didnt have to wait for a long time in
melancholy because they served up the dishes in the appropriate time when we just finished one and was ready for
others. A half of fun was that the waiter could sing through waiting table, which surprised us so much.
The meal was so delicious and I was amazed by everything they served us. I really liked the special beefsteak which
was extremely succulent so I kept eating three dishes though I was not a voracious eater. Besides, my parents were
even thriller when my brother and the only sibling who suffers from anorexia, known as eating disorder, devoured
the chicken rice like he had never done that before. Eventually, we all came to an agreement that this restaurant
could become the most magnificent one in this city.

19

Thats why we now come to that restaurant once a month and it has become a part of our familys life.

Place 17: A city you would like to visit


Place 18: A country you would like to visit
Place 19: A city/ town/ village you have visited
You should say:
Where it is located
What part of the city or town you are most familiar with
What are the most important landmarks and places to visit
Why this city or town is special to you
Id like to talk about Shanghai where I lived from 2002 to 2006 while I was working at a trading company. Its
located on the east coast of course and it is the largest city in China in terms of population and can get pretty
overcrowded downtown.
I suppose that the thing I love most about the place is the multi-cultural atmosphere. You can find old architecture
that is influenced by styles from all around the world as well as traditional Chinese buildings like the City God
Temple and the Century parks. Im most familiar with the bund which also has a lot of colonial architecture. There
are a lot of skyscrapers around and the whole skyline is pretty impressive.
I suppose the city is special to me because I went there earlier in my career and it really was a great experience to
hit the big city and immerse myself in new things. I guess I will always love the food there. The local cuisine is
pretty sumptuous and of course there are restaurants that serve food from around the world.
I suppose the only negative part about living there was the air pollution although its really nowhere near as bad as
in other major cities. Its just such a dynamic place and its constantly changing. Its the economic centre of China
so there are always new buildings being put up and its interesting to see some of the contemporary designs. Im
sure that when I go there next, it will have changed a lot too.

20

Place 20: A monument


Place 21: A hotel
Place 22: A favorite room
Experience 1: Describe something difficult that you did well.
You should say:
What you did
Why it was difficult
How you managed to do it
Whether you think you will do this again.
Well, let me tell you about a group assignment that my classmates and I had when I was in my final year of
university. There were four of us in the group and I was designated as the team leader. My major is marketing, so
we were given a new product and we had to come up with a marketing strategy for a new kind of chocolate bar.
I guess you could say that I had to try and pick up some skills, in terms of how to organise and delegate
responsibility. I wasnt sure if I was really a natural leader, but I was determined to rise to the challenge. I guess the
main problem was keeping everyone focused on their tasks and then pulling everything together for the final
presentation and recording everything in written form.
The first step was to create a survey or questionnaire and hand it out to people in supermarkets and shopping
centres to get some feedback. We divided the surveys into two parts. The first part asked about what they thought
about the famous chocolate brands currently on sale and the second part asked questions about what a new product
should offer..
Basically we got a lot of ideas from this and it really formed the basis of our marketing plan. Putting the things into
practise that I had learned in the course wasnt difficult though. The main problem was keeping the group happy
and also functioning well. This was I think my main achievement. We all got good grades for the project and it
really gave me more confidence about getting a job in this field.
Experience 2: Something you would like to succeed in doing
Answer: Experience 3: A skill you would like to learn

Experience 3: A skill you would like to learn


Experience 4: A short course
Answer: Experience 3: A skill you would like to learn
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Experience 5: A happy event


Answer: Experience 8: A wedding

Experience 6: A party
Answer: Experience 8: A wedding

Experience 7: A special meal


Experience 8: A wedding
Experience 9: Some important advice you received.
You should say:
Who gave you the advice
What the advice was
Why was it important
How this advice helped you.
Id like to talk about some advice that my professor gave me. I guess he is, in many ways not just my teacher, but
also my advisor and friend. I was really feeling the pressure because I had a lot of deadlines coming up with
assignments and I also had some important exams.
I suppose that my professor was able to put himself in my shoes and empathise with my situation. After all, he
would have experienced the same kind of thing before. Having someone who could lend a sympathetic ear was
invaluable especially since hes quite a wise man, having the benefit of a lot of experience.
Well, the advice itself was quite simple really. He told me that I cant let things get on top of me and that I should
remember that there are more important things in life than worrying about study. What Im trying to say is that he
told me that worrying about things doesnt help. He just pushed me to spend some time with my friends and family
and enjoy myself and try not to become too stressed.
This advice really helped me because it enabled me to try and get things in perspective and not let the pressure to
succeed get me down.
Did your professor also advise your fellow students?
Yes. I believe a lot of people consulted him about a variety of academic issues and he was always very helpful.
Experience 10: Some help that you received
Answer: Experience 9: Some important advice you received.
22

Experience 11: Some important new


Answer: Experience 13: Some important letter

Experience 12: Some important family new


Answer: Experience 13: Some important letter
Experience 13: An important letter received
Experience 14: An important letter you send
Experience 15: Describe an interesting trip that you have been on.
You should say:
Where/ when you went
What you did there
Why it was interesting
Whether you would like to go on a similar trip again.
Id like to talk about a trip I took to Guilin and Yangshuo in Guangxi Province about a year or so ago. I guess Im
really a city dweller, but I always like to escape the crowds and wander off the beaten track when I go on holiday.
I had always wanted to go there because I think that whole region is a kind of symbol of rural China. Actually, a
famous riverside view near Yangshuo is actually depicted on the 20 RMB note.
I not usually particularly enthusiastic about package tours, but I found a good local tour guide who was able to
introduce me to the local culture. My hobby is photography, so I guess I like to seek something out of the ordinary
to take photos of and not just the famous scenery. We went on some excursions out into the countryside that
involved a lot of hiking and cycling. It was great to visit some of the picturesque and remote local villages.
The karst mountains and the Li River are famous and spectacular. It really is some of the most stunning landscape
that I have ever seen. It has inspired me to take more trips like that in the future to really get away from it all. If I
get more time off, I will definitely go on a similar type of holiday in other locations that are renowned for their
natural beauty.
Do you think places like you mentioned are in danger of becoming too commercialised?
Yes. i think there is always the danger that these kind of rural places will become too touristy and overcrowded.
Experience 16: The best holiday you have been on
Answer Experience 15: An interesting trip that you have been on.
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Experience 17: Some long distance travel you would like to do


Answer Experience 15: An interesting trip that you have been on.

Experience 18: An activity in an English lesson


Experience 19: An important decision
Experience 20: An important change in your life
Answer: Experience 19: An important decision

Experience 21: An event that changed your life


Answer: Experience 19: An important decision

Experience 22: A busy time in your life


Experience 23: A popular festival
- when it occurs
- what you did during it
- what you like or dislike
- why it is important
Im going to describe the most important and popular holiday/festival in my country. It is the New Year or more
commonly known as Tet holiday. Tet is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year though exceptions arise
due to the one-hour time difference between Hanoi and Beijing. It is celebrated around late January or early
February, until at least the third day.
Last year, like many other Vietnamese people, I prepared for Tet by cooking special holiday foods, decorating and
cleaning the house. I also returned to my families during Tet, to worship at the family altar and to visit the graves
of the ancestors. I like it because it is a chance for people to get together with their relatives. This lets everyone
focus on their relatives and the importance of family.
It is important because during Tet holiday, Vietnamese visit their families, pagodas and temples, forgetting about the
troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. Since the Vietnamese believe that the first visitor a
family receives in the year determines their fortune for the whole year, people never enter any house on the first day
without being invited first. Usually, a person with a happy demeanor who had experienced good luck during the
previous year is invited first into the house. In some cases, any person with the names such as Happiness, Wealth,
and Luck will be invited to perform this act. However, just to be safe, the owner of the house will leave the house a
few minutes before midnight and come back just as the clock strikes midnight to prevent anyone else from entering
the house first who might potentially bring any unfortunate events in the new year to the household.
Sweeping during Tet is taboo, since it symbolizes sweeping the luck away. It is also taboo for anyone who
experienced a recent loss of a family member to visit anyone else during Tet.
24

Experience 24: Something dangerous you would like to do

Media 1: A TV programme that you have seen.


You should say:
What type of programme it is
What it is about
How often you watch it
Whether it is popular in your country.
Id like to talk about a chat show that I often watch on Saturdays or late on Monday night when it is repeated. The
main host is quite witty and its like a comedy show in some ways because of this. He invites famous people, most
commonly from the entertainment industry, onto the show and asks them questions about their lives. Mainly they
just have a laugh and a joke really combined with the odd hint of celebrity gossip.
There are two sofas, one for the guest and one for the host. Usually there are about 3 guests that come onto the main
part of the show. They take turns to come on from behind a screen which is close to a waiting room. The show is
filmed in front of a live studio audience which I think creates a more natural atmosphere.
The programme is divided into two parts, the first of which I guess I just referred to. The second part is actually a
little more serious in that its a topical discussion, where important figures in society, mainly politicians, are asked
questions by members of the audience
I feel this second part is more current affairs really. Its not as interesting as the first part, but I guess it highlights
some key issues. I suppose having the first part means the ratings are high, meaning that it draws in a big audience
and is popular in my country. Im keen on this format because you get your light entertainment first which is
popular of course with everyone and then the second part is more serious, but means that people get educated in
some ways about important issues.
1) Do you watch a variety of TV programmes?
Yes, when I have time. I also like to watch soap operas and wildlife documentaries as well as football matches when
they are broadcast live.
Yes, when I have time. I also like to watch soap operas and wildlife documentaries as well as football matches when
they are broadcast live.

25

Media 2: A radio programme

Media 3: A film that you enjoyed watching


You should say:
What type of film it was
When you saw it
Why you enjoyed it
Whether this film was popular in your country
Im going to talk about a film I watched on the big screen last month called 2012. Its a disaster movie, so I think
you really do have to watch it at the cinema because of the fantastic special effects.
A lot of my friends saw and were pretty keen on it, so they recommended it to me. Actually, everyone was talking
about it, and it has become a big box office hit, so I decided I really had to go and see it.
Well, so my cousin and I went to see it. We made an evening of it and had a few drinks afterwards. My cousin is
really into dramas, so he likes a good story and some plot twists, whereas I like all types of movie genre except
maybe horror which I find a bit disturbing sometimes.
Anyway, you know this movie was not really his kind of thing. The story wasnt really that strong and it was just
constant action. I must admit that it kept me on the edge of my seat though. Sometimes I like a bit of mindless
entertainment as it helps me unwind and forget about any problems at work.
Basically, the plot is based on the ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end in 2012 and its about peoples
struggle to survive. The film has a good cast with John Cusack and Woody Harrelson to name but a few of its stars.
I think the films popularity is a good thing because it helps keep in mind what we could face if we dont deal with
climate change. I mean, I dont think that there are just going to suddenly be lots of earthquakes like in the movie,
but still I think it might just shock people anyway and make them think about how they can be more
environmentally friendly.
Media 4: A story from your childhood
Media 5: Describe a book that you enjoyed reading.
You should say:
When you first read it
What it was about
Why you enjoyed it
26

Whether this book is popular in your country.


Id like to talk about a biography of Bill Gates that I finished reading last month. Im not a big fan of fiction to be
honest. I prefer to hear about people from real life and see what the secret of their success is.
I.T is my major so of course it was easy for me to get into because he is such a big role model for people in the
industry. I mean.., I think thats why the most compelling parts of the book were when it described how Microsoft
became so powerful in a market that was initially dominated by IBM.
For me, I admire him both as a programmer, but as a businessman or entrepreneur. Well, its just that when he
founded Microsoft it was just a tiny company and now they just completely dominate the market. I think its
fascinating to hear about some of the business deals that I think have affected the lives of everyone.
I think that I can learn a lot from people like him and I would love it if I could have just a tiny fraction of the
success he has enjoyed. Reading this book has had a big impact on me I think that Bill Gates has basically really
inspired me because he has shown that if you are determined enough, you can succeed no matter what.
Hearing about success stories is also a good way to alleviate stress when Im under a lot of pressure at university. It
helps keep my mind off all my exams or assignments and also lets me dream about my goal of succeeded in the IT
industry.
Media 6: Describe a song or piece of music that you like.
You should say:
What the song or piece of music is
When you first heard it
Why you like it
Whether it is popular in your country.
Describe a song or a piece of music you like
Love is always an issue forever and there are so many good songs about love, but the song "No promise" which is
performed by Shayne Ward is my favorite song. My crony has introduced me to listen to this song. This is a great
ballad about meaning of love. Right from the first time listening to it, I was attracted by gentle tunes, pleasant but
deep with burning desire for love. When watching the video clip, I got a lump in my throat. This song is about a
young man who died when the love is unfinished. His soul is still attached, come back in the night to watch his
lover and to say the last words before dawn. The lyrics are repeated many times to expect his lover to hear him. I
have heard this song many times but still have not felt bored because of its simple tunes and because Shayne's
performance was out of the world. It makes me recognize that love survives even when we are no longer in this
world anymore.
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PART 2:
The song which makes a good impression on me is True friend of Miley Cyrus. It belongs to pop music.
Therefore, it is easy to listen to and become popular. I like it because of many reasons. Firstly, it reminds me of my
best friend. About 3 years ago, my chum and I had such a serious dispute that I supposed we could not
become reconciled. On that day, when I checked my e-mail, I inadvertently discovered her e-mail, in which she sent
me only a song named True friend. Notwithstanding the fact that I was very angry with her, my anger flew away
right away when I enjoyed this song. It was like an apology to me. This song was like our reconciler. Secondly, the
lyric of the song is very meaningful. It teaches me that a close friend is a gift that God gives us. Therefore, it
is indispensable for us to respect and protect our permanent friendship. It says that A true friend, you are here to
the end which I like best in the song. And last but not least what I want to say is that if you have already had a best
friend, let upgrade your relationships. Otherwise, you will regret for the rest of your lives.
Media 7: Describe a newspaper or magazine that you have read.
You should say:
What type of newspaper or magazine it is
How often you read it
What you like about it
Whether it is popular in your country.
Id like to talk about a magazine called The Economist which I believe is published in many countries around the
world, but comes from the U.S. I try and read it every week.
I suppose It is a magazine aimed at business people like myself although it also politics, Science and technology
and just world news in general. It doesnt contain any gossip or scandals that are hitting the headlines elsewhere.
Its very factual and informative which is what I like
I suppose you could say its my favourite magazine because it helps give me an overview of what is happening in
different industries around the world. It also occasionally has some exclusive interviews with powerful and
influential figures from around the world.
I guess another thing I really like about it is that the articles are written by a variety of experts across many different
fields of business. This helps me build my knowledge and also gives me ideas as well as helping my English
vocabulary. I mean its very stimulating. I really love to take my time and reread a lot of the articles because they
are educational in many ways.
My wife thinks its boring, but she is only interested in fashion magazines, so I guess we have our own areas of
interest. Anyway, I always recommend it to my friends.
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I dont think it is really that popular in my country because, as far as I know, it isnt translated from English. Its
more popular among expats and English students.
Media 10: Useful website
- what it was
- how you found the address for this website
- what it contained
- why it was useful to you.
Facebook is a social networking website. It's a free website that allows you to keep in contact with friends or find
people you've lost touch with. It's one of the most popular websites in the world, with millions of users in different
countries. All of my friends use Facebook. One of my friends sent me an email inviting me to join. I signed up and
I've been using it ever since. Facebook allows you to keep up to date with what friends are doing. You have a
profile page with information and status updates so that you can tell everyone what you're doing. You can post
messages to other people's pages. You can upload photos and videos. I find Facebook most useful for organising my
life, keeping in touch with friends and storing photos. I think social networking websites have become part of
everyday life.
Media 9: An advertisement
-where you saw it
-what it was about
-why you think it was interesting
I'm going to talk about an advertisement for Coca-Cola, which is one of the biggest brands in the world. I've seen
Coke advertised everywhere, on posters and TV commercials. The advert shows a picture of Santa Claus smiling
and holding a bottle of Coke. I think the aim is to target children and associate (link/connect) the brand with
Christmas time. The advert is interesting because the company is deliberately trying to influence and attract
children. The marketers are trying to capture young customers. They are presenting the drink as something special,
a gift for Christmas. However, Coca-Cola is not necessarily a healthy drink for children; it contains a lot of sugar.
Maybe this kind of advertising manipulates children and encourages them to pester their parents.
Media 10: A photo
You should say:
What the photo is
When it was taken
Why you like it
Whether you have other photos in your home.

29

Id like to describe a photo of my uni friends and I together while we were on a trip to Yunnan Province in the
summer several years ago. Ive always been keen on photography, so the mountainous landscape looks really
stunning in the background while I think my friends are also quite photogenic.
I love the photo because I think it captures the moment really well. We were laughing and joking while taking a rest
from hiking along Tiger Leaping gorge near Dali and Lijiang. My friends have very outgoing personalities which I
think comes out in the photos.
The trip was memorable because I think that it is where my former classmates and I really bonded. We really do
have so many funny stories from that holiday, so sometimes I look at the picture and start reminiscing about those
times.
I suppose this picture is special to me because it reminds me of my university life and how the friends I made at that
time have been important in my life. I keep a framed copy of it on my bedside table along with other pics of my
parents to remind me of the importance of friends and family.
Actually, I think that photos play an important role in my life not only because photography is my hobby of course,
but also because they record the most important times of my life. I have many photo albums that I like to flip
through. I think its nice to take a trip down memory lane, but its also good to remember and learn from the past.
Media 11: A Media of art
Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen.
You should say:
when/where you saw this work of art
what it looked like
and explain your impression of it.
Actually, Im not that interested in art, but Ill tell you about a work of art that changed my opinion a little bit. Its a
famous sculpture called David by Michelangelo, and Im pretty sure everyone knows about it. I saw this sculpture
for the first time when I went to Florence with my aunt. She dragged me to all these art museums even though I
really wasnt interested. Anyway, I was quite impressed when I saw Michelangelos David for the first time. The
statue is very realistic and lifelike, even though its made of marble. His face has a serious expression and it seems
like hes looking into the future. I think this sculpture is supposed to represent the perfect man, or the perfect ideal
of humanity. Maybe we dont meet the ideal all the time, but its worth trying for. Thats only my opinion, though.
Hobby/ Activity 1: A free-time activity that you enjoy doing.
You should say:
What the hobby is
30

What you like about it


Why you started doing it
Whether this hobby is popular.in your country.
My avocation is listening to music. About 4 years ago, when I had to work hard for my entrance exam to university,
I had to rack my brains to do homework and felt under pressure. At that time, my chum suggested me to listen to
music and I became interested in it. I have maintained this hobby for 4 years. I enjoy listening to music because it
brings me a lot of benefits. Firstly, when I am stumped on the questions of my homework or feel tired, I usually
listen to music to wind down and subsequently, I continue studying effectively. Secondly, many songs have
precious meaningful messages which raise me up when I have troubles in life. Lastly, thanks to English songs, I can
upgrade my English listening skill to have a good preparation for my genuine IELTS exam. And last but not least,
this kind of interest is civilised, fresh and not luxurious.
Hobby/ Activity 2: A hobby that you would like to take up
Hobby/ Activity 3: Something you do to help you relax
Hobby/ Activity 4: A sport that you enjoy watching or playing
You should say:
What the sport is
Where/ when you watch or play it
Why you like watching/ playing this sport
Whether its popular in your country.
The sport that I most enjoy watching as well as playing is football. I guess that it is the number one sport in the
world, but its popularity varies between countries. In my opinion it is the most exciting team game. Aside from
being exciting, it is also energising and just good for our health and fitness.
I also love to watch games on TV at home with my father who is also crazy about football. We both support
Manchester United who I think are one of the biggest and most famous teams in the world. When I was a kid I used
to dream of playing for them and I would pretend I was a striker scoring the winning goal in a game in the premier
league.
Nowadays, I meet some of my colleagues at the sports centre to play five-aside. We actually have a league which
teams from different companies compete in. I guess its not Manchester United, but I enjoy it all the same. I think it
also helps build the team spirit in our company and sometimes other people at the company come and watch and
cheer us on.

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I believe that it is important for everyone to have some kind of hobby that keeps them fit. For me, a lot of solo
sports and going to the gym are all quite boring, but football is fun.
I hope that in the future, our country can develop our league more, so we can produce better plays to improve the
quality of our national team. I hope that one day we can take on teams like Brazil and Italy and have a chance of
beating them.
Hobby/ Activity 5: A sport that you would like to try
Hobby/ Activity 6: An outdoor activity
In my opinion, playing sports is quite an effective way to keep fit and healthy. Therefore, I spend much time
playing sports, especially, swimming. At weekend or summer vacation, my best chums and I usually go to the
swimming pool near my high school. This is a good chance for me to relax and for us to meet each other. At first, I
did not like swimming because I was scared of water. However, when seeing my friends feel happy and healthy
when swimming, I envied them. From that time, I said to myself that I could not socoward and should surmount my
scare. Year in year out, I tried to swim to prove that I could do it although it was not just a piece of cake for me.
Finally, I succeeded and swam well. Firstly, I like swimming because it is a popular method to keep me healthy.
Secondly, when swimming, we can simultaneously move all parts of our body, which helps our bodies fitter and
more flexible. Next, when I swim, I feel very comfortable, fresh and almost forget all my tiredness and sorrow.
They are the reasons why most of youngsters choose swimming.
Hobby/ Activity 7: A game
Hobby/ Activity 8: Something you like to do at weekends
Object 1: Something useful
Answer: Object 4: Something electronic that you often use

Object 2: An object you use everyday


Answer: Object 4: Something electronic that you often use

Object 3: A piece of equipment you use everyday


Answer: Object 4: Something electronic that you often use

Object 4: Something electronic that you often use


You should say:
What it is
Where/ when you bought it
What you use it for
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How your life would be harder without it.


I guess we live in an era of high tech gadgets where everything is getting smaller and more portable. For me, I
guess my laptop computer is the electronic item that I use the most. Its pretty essential really for both my work and
study, since I usually carry it around everywhere.
I bought it about a year ago at an electronics market in the centre of the city. I had been window shopping for a
while and always seemed to find myself gazing at the latest computer models. I suppose that what really attracted
me the most was the fact that the keyboard and screen were just the right size for me and it was quite lightweight.
As I said, its useful for me in a lot of ways. I can meet my friends and colleagues online using instant messaging
services like MSN and Yahoo messenger. I can also send reports to my boss. I can also watch movies too which is a
good way for me to unwind and forget about stressful days at work.
Perhaps the best thing is being able to set-up my computer anywhere, whether it be in a coffee shop, at home or in
work. I like to change location and get out of the office. It gives me a bit of fresh perspective sometimes if I change
my surroundings. To be honest otherwise Id feel stuck in one place and Id get bored, so I love my laptop!
Object 5: A Piece of Clothing or jewellery
Describe a piece of clothing you like to wear
You should say:
what it is
what it looks like where you bought it
and explain how you feel (or felt) about this piece of clothing.
Object 6: Something old
Object 7: A Piece of Furniture
Object 8: Something you made yourself
Answer Other 14: A handicraft

Object 9: A Toy
Describe a toy that was important to you in your childhood
You should say
When you got this toy
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How you got this toy


How often you played with it
What you did with this toy
And explain why it was important to you or why you like it
When I was a child my parents gave me many toys but I guess my favorite one would have to be a teddy bear. My
dad got me this bear when I was 6 years old, on my birthday actually. I have told him to buy me a bear many times
before that but every time he said no and then on my birthday he surprised me with one.
It was a brown bear about half the size of me at the time so maybe 50 centimeters tall. It was furry on the outside
and stuffed with wool on the inside. Im pretty sure it was quite expensive at the time cuz the quality wasnt too
bad.
I remember I used to take that bear everywhere with me. I would talk to it like it was my best friend, have tea
parties with it and even slept with it. This lasted for about 2 years. After that I got a little too old for it I guess. Also
my mum had washed it many times already so it was a little worn out and even its eyes fell off she wanted to
throw it out but I refused however in the end she secretly threw it out anyway.
This bear was quite important to me when I was a child and I will buy my child one in the future.
Object 10: A vehicle you would like to own
Object 11: Something expensive you would like to buy
Answer Other 10: A vehicle you would like to own

Object 12: A Gift


Answer Other 9: A Toy

Object 13: Something you bought which you were not happy with
Object 14: A handicraft
Object 15: A national product
Answer Other 14: A handicraft

Other 1: Animal
Im going to describe a wild animal which is known as the King of Forest in my country. Thats tiger. The tiger is
the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 meters and weighing up to 306 kg. It is the third
largest animal in the world. Its most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur
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with lighter underparts. Tiger is a carnivorous predator. They hunt alone and their food mainly herbivores such as
deer, wild boar, buffalo; they simultaneously live in grasslands and forests. You can find them in the Northern
highlands or the Southern tropical mangrove swamps of Viet Nam. Tigers are among the most recognizable and
popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. They have been featured prominently in ancient mythology and
folklore, and continue to be depicted in modern films and literature. Although they have caused significant conflicts
with humans, they still play an important role in nature. The population of tiger in the wild have been decreased
sharply; the major reasons for this problem include habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, especially hunting
and trade. Tigers have been put in the endangered species list, so every individual and governments need to take
timely measures to protect and preserve tigers.
Other 2: An environmental problem
Other 3: Describe a subject you liked at school.
You should say:
What the subject was
Why you liked it
Whether you were good at this subject
How this subject helped you later in life.
Well, I would have to say that my favourite subject was history. I guess you could say there were a number of
reasons for that really. I guess it was one of my teachers in secondary school who really made the subject fun and
brought it to life. I had always been fascinated with the past, but it had usually just been about memorising
information in school. But my teacher had a way of explaining things that really helped you try and picture what it
was like to live back then. He had an outgoing personality and made the lessons fun as well as always giving
helpful feedback on how I could improve my homework. I really found the classes very stimulating.
I guess that was what kindled my interest in the subject and then I went on to choose it as my major in university,
mainly focusing on ancient history. I have always found this more interesting because in some ways its more
mysterious and you can be creative and come up with your own ideas and theories.
I basically think that history can teach us a lot. We can look back and see the good and bad points about the way
people lived and the decisions they made. I think that can play an important educational role in our lives.
Well, I guess I obviously had some aptitude for the subject because its shaped my career path and I also really
enjoy it. I have a lot to thank my teacher for really. It would be nice to get back in touch with him and thank him.

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Others 5: Food
Others 4: An ideal job
Describe your idea of an ideal job.
You should say:
What the job is
Why you would like to do this job
Whether it would be easy to do this job
Whether it would be easy to find a job like this.
Id love to become a journalist. I think its such an awesome[U1] job. First off[U2] , you could travel to different
places and get to [U3] talk to a lot of interesting people. My aunt is a journalist and she traveled to America last
year to write about an importantconference[U4] happened in New York City. She told me she saw Statue of
Liberty[U5] , Broadway shows and all those cool things[U6] . The people that she interviewed are ambitious,
goal-oriented people who have inspired her to do her job. I suppose another great thing about this job is
that your work schedule is flexible[U7] ; you dont need to work from 9 to 5 like most people. You are paid
based on your performance [U8] and not how long you work which I think is great. My aunt sometimes works all
night, sometimes during the day or whenever she feels inspired. So those are the reasons that I love about being a
journalist.
Other 6: Type of clothes
Other 7: Describe month or season
Well, I love Fall and Winter but Spring is the season I love most from my own experiences. Spring marks a
transition from Winter and Summer, so its normally start from February and last to April, however it might change
a little bit depend on climate on that year.
Spring is really nice to me with temperate weather, not too hot or too cold. The average temperature is about over
20 Celsius, its very ideal in tropical country like Vietnam. Air is very fresh with the smell of grass and new born
trees and flowers.
In my opinion, the rain make Spring become very special, compare to other seasons. Because it rain all the time on
Summer, Fall and Winter, people have to bring raincoat follow. In addition to this, its extremely hot in summer
make me feel that I can not live in places without air-conditioner. However, its dry in Spring and nice weather
allows people enjoy long trip or picnic, outdoor party.

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And the reason why I love Spring. Many people say that Spring is time for re-birth, re-growth and renewal and that
make me feel very comfortable with bird singing and flower everywhere. For me, it gives me hope for a brighter
future. Spring is a time for Tet Holiday, its the most important festival in my country, its also Reunion Festival,
people from city or foreign will back to hometown to visit their family and relatives.
Other 8: Type of weather
Other 11: Your future plans.
You should say:
What kind of plans they are
When you will undertake these plans
Why you have made these plans
What you hope to achieve if your plans are successful.
Im going to talk about my plans to eventually become a software engineer and ultimately open up my own
company, so I want to try and aim high. I guess it will take a while and its very much a long-term plan, but this is
really the direction I see my life going in a professional sense.
I suppose I am already part of the way through this plan in that I have graduated and my major was in that field.
This I suppose was step one. I feel that I have the foundation I need in terms of knowledge and familiarity with
many programming languages.
I know from talking to people in the industry though that a lot of my education will come through experience. Its a
field that is constantly changing and developing and I know I have to react to that.
I think that there is a lot of innovative software out there now that allows people to really be creative even if they
dont have a great deal of experience with computers. Id like to be part of that and design really user friendly
programmes.
Its a big challenge, but Id like to feel that Im helping to make peoples lives easier whilst working towards the
aim of building up a successful business. I really admire people who have succeeded in the industry and who are
very driven like Steve Jobs. They have really inspired me, so Im hoping to emulate their success.
Other 12: An important invention
Other 13: Describe your favourite form of public transportation.
You should say:

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What type of transportation it is


How often you use it
Why it is your favourite
Whether it is popular in your country.
The bus is a common vehicle in my hometown and I often use it to travel to different parts of the city. I often use
this bus to reach my university/ work place and to return home. On an average, I use this transportation 3-5 days a
week.
I mostly use this bus transportation system for short and long distance travels, communications and I find it very
handy. Bus is cheap, easily available and a safe mode of transportation system for me. I most of the time enjoy my
journey in these buses especially when I can get a seat beside the window of the bus, listening to music or radio
This is the most convenient transportation system in our country in terms of expenses and availability. Hiring taxi
or private cars cost a lot and they are not always available. So people mostly depend on the public bus
transportation system which offers a very low fair and are always available for almost all of the destinations.
Other 14: A public event

Other 10: Talk about something good about your personality.


You shoud say:
-What this thing is
-Why you think it is good
-How it influences you life
And say whether other people would agree that this is a good thing.
Well, among aspects of my personality, the one that I most enjoy is my optimism. What I mean here is I always
look at the bright side of the issue when being in trouble or kind of that. Additionally, I prefer to think about what I
can do instead of what I should have done. I firmly believe that it is important for people to be optimistic because
being so, you know, we can get away from being deeply hurt by a dozen of disappointing things, that happen to us
daily. Well, honestly looking back, I think optimism has been making my life enomously better. With this optimistic
vision, overcoming troubles for me is just, kind of, a piece of cake. Moreover, people in my circle may also be
pleased when being with me now that they can be encourged to come to term with troubles. Well, It is glad to know
that people around me agree with the way I against all odds, think optimisticly. Humm
In addition, I would say that I have reputation for being down to earth. That means if I am in a difficult predicament
I will always put my cards on the table and my friends would vouch for my honesty.
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Other 15: A Sporting Event You Enjoyed Watching


Describe a sporting event you enjoyed watching. You should say:
what event it was
what happened at this event who you watched it with
and explain why you enjoyed watching this event.
As a huge sports fan Id say that the most widespread sporting event would probably be the Summer Olympic
Games which is held once every four years. Hence the sporting event I will talk about is the 2012 Olympics Games
which were held in London.
As you may know the Olympics Games is a sporting event where athletes from all over the world compete against
each other while representing their own countries. It includes different types of sports such as ball sports, athletics,
gymnastics and etcetera.
My father is quite fond of swimming so I remember one evening we were watching the 1500m free style on
television. When I was watching this I was thinking about how long and how hard the swimmers must have trained
in order for them to swim 1500m without stopping. To my surprise the winner of this race was actually a Chinese
competitor, Sun Young. My father was really overjoyed because China has never won a gold medal in swimming
before. The next day it was all over the news and all the media was praising him.
It is because of the fierce competition and surprises in the Olympics that make it my all-time favorite sporting
event. I am looking forward to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
OURSOURSING PART 2
Topic 2: Another Language You Would Learn If You Wanted
Describe another language that you would learn, if you wanted. You should say
The name of this language How you would learn it
What equipment or facilities you would need to study this language
And explain what difficulties you think you would have when learning this language
There are many languages I would be keen on learning however I guess if I could only choose one it would have to
be French. In my opinion French is a very elegant language and also a popular one. It is the second language for
most countries including Canada and Australia.
It has also been a dream of mine since I was a child to travel to France. There are many fantastic designer brands in
39

France such as LV and Prada and I'm a girl who is totally passionate about fashion so of course learning French is
not a bad idea. I know that most people in France can also speak English but its not the same.
Im sure that learning French wouldnt be easy. I would have to spend months even years to master this language.
Not only do I have to spend time but also money, the fastest way to learn a language is without a doubt to hire a
teacher who is fluent in the language.
If one day I have the time and the money I would definitely learn French.
Topic 3: A Book or Film About the Future
Describe a book or film about the future you read or watched
You should say
What the name of the book or film is
When you read or watched it
What it was about
And explain how you felt about it
Actually I am a huge movie buff and have watched many films about the future however I guess I would choose to
talk about a blockbuster by the famous James Cameron, Avatar.
This is a film where people have the technology to go out of space in spaceships and travel to other planets. This
movie is about humans going to a planet to mine an expensive mineral however the native inhabitants were
resistanting the humans. The people started cloning the alien species and transferring their minds into the clones in
order to learn about them.
After a while the humans started a war with the aliens however the main character who was a human with his mind
transferred into a clone of the aliens helped the clones and even led the aliens to victory.
This movie is truly a fantastic movie about the possibilities of the future and its even better in 3D.
Topic 4: A Book
Describe a book you enjoyed reading
You should say
What the book was
What the book was about
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Who wrote it
Why you read it
And explain why you liked this book
Although reading books is not my cup of tea, there is a book that I consider priceless in my life. That is Twenty
Forver, a gift given to me by my father on my 18th birthday. It was written by a young student at University of
Hanoi, Nguyen Van Thac who gave up his studying to join the army against US-backed South Vietnamese forces.
The diary is about what he saw, what he felt on the way being moved to the South battlefield as well as in the fierce
combats.

I still remember the time when I read the very first pages of the book. I was so fascinated by his sophisticated and
polished writing style. Not to mention the vivid images about the daily life of young soldiers devoting their youth
for national liberation.
futhermore, what Im quite into this book is its truthfulness. you know, since its a diary, there is neither plot nor
creation. Everything is real and seen under the , the optimistic vision of the student-aged
soldier.
Um, in Vietnam, Twenty Forever has been so popular, so well-known that it became a bestseller in Vietnam and
was adapted into a film in 2009, if my memory serves me right. This diary is a valuable source to stir the patriotism
among the young generation..
Topic 5: A Caf
Describe a cafe that you know in your hometown
You should say
Where it is
How often you go there
What kind of food they serve there
And explain why you like to eat at this place
I have been to many cafs in China including Starbucks and Costa however I would like to talk about a small caf
near my home called Mr Coffee. This coffee shop is one that makes really top notch coffee. The coffee there is so
good that every time I go there I would order at least three cups a cup of mocha, a cup of latte and a cup of
cappuccino.
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Not only is the coffee delicious but the price also isnt too bad. The drinks there are half the price of the drinks in
Starbucks. Furthermore they have a wide range of desserts as well, from puddings to cheese cakes and once again at
an affordable price for students like me.
The one thing that Im most fond of is actually the environment. As soon as you enter the caf there is a strong and
addictive coffee smell. Its a quiet place with a classical style with tables and chairs made of oak.
I normally go to this place every Saturday morning to relax. It has free WI-FI so I could play some online games on
my laptop or surf the web. This coffee shop is one that I normally wouldnt recommend to others because I would
like to keep the place quiet and not be overcrowded like Starbucks.
Topic 6: A Childhood Game
Describe a game you enjoyed when you were a child. You should say:
what the game was
when, where and with whom you usually played it how you played it
and explain what was special about this game.
When I was a kid I played a multitude of games but my all-time-favorite would have to be monopoly, of course it's
the Chinese version. Its a dice game for 2-8 players where players move pieces on a board. In the game you are
able to invest in properties and even gamble basically a game of chance the higher the risk the greater the
reward, of course you could lose everything as well.
I used to play this game with my middle school dorm mates. If we had time after doing our homework we would
play this game secretly at night. This game takes several hours to play so sometimes we would spend a couple of
days to just finish 1 game and usually the losers would have to buy lunch for the winner the next day.
This game was a great time killer and also allowed me to have great relationships with my classmates. The game
involved many skills such as trading, working with money and of course a little luck is needed as well.
Monopoly is a game that is popular world wide. It is not only a game or children but also adults because it actually
needs a lot of strategy. Just talking about this game brings back memories.
Topic 7: A Story You Liked
Describe a story you liked to listen to when you were a child
You Should Say
Whats the name of the story
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Who told you the story


Whats it about
And explain how you feel about this story
There were many stories I heard when I was a child but I guess the most memorable one would have to be the boy
who cried wolf. Im sure you have also heard about this story before. It is about a boy who lied to everyone about
wolves coming to eat his sheep but he was lying but when the wolves really came and he asked for help, no one
believed him.
My mother told me about this story when I was about 4 years old. It was because I lied to her about somethingI
forgot what it was. Her aim was to get me to stop lying to people because it was wrong. At first I didn't understand
the meaning of this story but once she explained it I realized that I was wrong and apologized
After this I my made my mum tell me this story again and again. Actually I could recite the words of this story but
of course only in Chinese.
In my opinion this story is quite meaningful so I would definitely tell this story to my future children and even
grandchildren.

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Topic 10: A Crowded Place


Describe a time you went to a crowded place. You should say:
when you went there what the place was what you did there
and explain why you went there/ how you felt about the crowded place.
As you may know China has the most population in the world, so there is obviously a multitude of crowded places.
The place I would like to describe is a place I often go to, a shopping centre called Tianyi Square. I remember a few
months ago, just before the spring festival I received a text message from them saying that there will be a discount
sale on Valentines Day, so of course I went.
When I got there I could hardly believe my eyes, there was literally a sea of people. My personal space was often
invaded and I even had to push and shove to get past people. It was like a war zone, I even saw 2 middle aged
women fighting over the last dress and in the end they ripped the dress in half. I thought that only happened on TV.
It took me about 20 minutes to find a dress I liked and after that I decided to just buy it and quickly get out of there.
However the wait time for the queue to pay for clothes took around 1 hour. The cashiers were working as fast as
they could yet there were just too many people and it was just too chaotic.
After this experience I have decided to never go to a sale like that again. I would seriously rather pay a little more
so that I don't have to be in a crowd like that.
Topic 11: A Future Job
Describe a job you would like to do in the future
You should say
What the job would be
What you would do in that job
How you can get the job
And explain why you would like to do that job
It has always been my dream to be a singer ever since I was a child. When I was a kid I used to be a singing talent I would win many singing competitions and represented the school in the choir. However, because of the pressure
of the College Entrance Exam I had to stop singing and focus on my studies to go to a good university.
The main reason why I'd like to be a singer is cuz it would allow me to inspire the world. I'm quite fond of the idea
44

that people would be listening to my songs and trying to be more like me - a nice guy.
These days, the only time I sing is probably in the shower or when I'm at a karaoke bar with my friends. I even had
a plan for how to spend all the money I would make once I became famous guess I'll have to earn money the old
fashioned way now - by starting my own company.
If I had a chance I would definitely choose to be a singer but I'm still quite realistic and that's why I'm going abroad
to study business.
Topic 12: A Good Parent
Describe a good parent you know.
You should say:
who the parent is
how you know the parent what the parent looks like
and explain why you think the parent is good.
In this world there are a multitude of different types of relationships parents choose to have with there kids. Some
parents choose to be the servants of there children, willing to do anything for them. Others would rather dominate
there children, meaning they would try their best for their children to comply with them. However the good parent
Im going to talk about is my uncle who chose to be his childs friend.
My uncle is a tall man who has a gentle looking face. He is a little bald and has a good figure, not too thin and not
too chubby.
He has an extremely good relationship with my cousin, his son. They are able to interact freely and even share
secrets. You know, communication is quite important for family members to maintain a good relationship.
I even think my uncle works harder than most parents. Because he is divorced, he tries extra hard to play the role of
both the mother and the father. He has to do all of the parenting such as cook my cousins meals, take him to school
AND bring home the bacon at the same time - Seriously a super dad.
My uncle is a role model for parents everywhere; I wish my father was more like him!
Topic 13: A Good Teacher
Describe a good teacher you had when you were a child
You should say
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Who the teacher is


What he or she taught you
How often you spoke to him or her
And explain why you think he or she is a good teacher.
Like most students I have had many terrible teachers and a few good ones but the one Im going to talk about is my
middle school science teacher, Mr. Li. He looks like a typical teacher who dresses neatly, wears very thick glasses
and has messy hair however his teaching style is really different.
He is a teacher who is always polite and always has a smile on his face - although he has been my science teacher
for 3 years, I have never seen him yell at any of my classmates or even raise his voice. Furthermore he would
always make sure that we were wearing our safely gear correctly during science experiments and stay after class if
we had any questions about the work he talked about in class - he is a teacher who cares about all his students.
His personality isnt the only thing that makes him a good teacher. He is quite knowledgeable about science; he
even memorized the whole periodic table. He isnt just a textbook teacher; he would use activities and games in his
class to make sure we know the theories and mathematical equations inside out.
In the future I hope my child would have a teacher like Mr. Li.
Topic 15: A Happy Event = Topic 13
Topic 16: An Interesting Historical Event
Describe an interesting event in history you know
You should say
Who the event was
When and where it occurred
Who was leading the event
How you know about it
And explain why you think it was interesting
As you know China has a 5000 year history so there are many historical events that have occurred but I guess I
would talk about the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China.
46

You know the current government of China is still quite young. On October the 1st1949, Chairman Mao who was
the first chairman of China announced to the world that China was changing its government and that is the
government we know today. In Chinese we call this The New China
Because of this event there is a 1 week public holiday every year to celebrate national day which is why Im quite
fond of this event. In fact every Chinese person knows about this event because we are taught this in our history
classes. In fact most Im quite a big fan of history especially modern history such as World War 1 and 2. I love my
country and I believe a patriot should know how things began and that is why I chose to talk about this. And yeah
thats sums up a historical event.
Topic 19: An important occasion you were late
Describe an important occasion when you were late You should say When this happened
What occasion you were late for Why you were late
And explain what happened as a result of your lateness
I'm usually quite a punctual person but I was late for a very important job interview. It actually wasn't really my
fault, there was a huge traffic jam because the interview was during peak hour and I was stuck in traffic for over an
hour due to a car crash.
It was an interview for a part-time job for an office worker. When I got there the interviewer clearly wasn't happy
and as you can guess I obviously didn't get the job tried to explain it to him but I guess he didnt believe me or
didnt care. After all, in this world its the results that people care about, no one cares about the process.
When I got home and told my mum about this she just smiled and told me it was ok and I could find a job at
another place. It was not until 2 weeks after that did I find a job. It was quite a memorable experience.
From this experience it was clear to me how important being on time is and I haven't been late to anything again
after this event.
Topic 20: An important plant
Describe an important plant in your country
You should say
What the plant is
How you know it
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Why it is important
And explain how you like the plant
There are many important plants in my country but I guess Ill talk about the apple tree. As you know there is a
saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away so of course you can see how important the apple is to humans. The
tree produces apples which are high in vitamin C and also quite delicious too. Every year billions of apples are
eaten by people world wide so you can imagine how important they are to farmers cuz they need them for money.
Furthermore apple trees have a lot of leaves. My biology teacher says that the world needs more plants with a lot of
leaves because the leaves of plants can turn carbon dioxide in oxygen and without oxygen the human race would be
over I believe this process is called photosynthesis.
In addition animals also eat apples and because this plant is tall and green it can attract many animals - some birds
even make their nests on the apple tree sometimes.
As I just mentioned the apple tree is a really multifunctional plant and that is why I'm really fond of the apple tree. I
even think without the apple tree the world would be a sadder place.
Topic 21: An Interesting Country
Describe an interesting country (not your own) you like
You should say
What the Country is
How you know the Country
What you know about the Country
And explain why you think the Country is Interesting
It has always been my dream to travel around the world so its quite difficult for me to talk about just one
interesting country but I guess I would have to choose Australia. I have never been there but I would be keen on
going there with my parents Im sure it would be a wonderful experience.
I had a friend that went there and told me all about it. The thing Im most fond of in Australia would be the
environment. The air is really clean and you can see the blue skyunlike China, they have very strict rules about
factories that produce pollution the pollution is a very big problem here but the government doesn't seem to care.
Whats more there are many unique animals that are native to Australia which are just absolutely adorable. The
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kangaroo and the koala are 2 animals Im quite keen on seeing. If I could I would even keep a kangaroo as a pet.
There are also many famous attractions in Australia such as the Sydney Opera House and the Gold Coast the
casino is also a place I wouldnt mind visiting.
I have told my dad many times that I would like to go there and that is why Im going to Australia to study.
Topic 22: An Interesting Person
Describe an interesting person you recently met.
You should say
Who the person was
When and where you met this person
What you did together
And explain why you think the person was interesting
I know many interesting people but I would like to talk about a person who often sells snacks at the food stand near
my home. He is called Mister Wang and is about 60 years old and he started selling snacks on my street this year.
He has a long face with a lot of wrinkles and a thin body. One of the first things you will notice when you see him
is his thick beard which kind of makes him look a little like Santa.
We often have brief conversations and I think he is a fun person to talk to. He doesn't really act his age and usually
tells a lot of jokes and has an open mind. I sometimes tell him about my life and he would tell me about his. In fact
he doesn't sell snacks for the money but he does it because he doesn't have to be at home alone.
His snacks are delicious, especially his fried chicken wings and tofu other stores really cannot compare with his. I
guess its because the ingredients he uses are better quality.
I guess that sums up Mister Wang, the person who I believe is quite interesting.
Topic 23: A person who became an intimate friend at the first meeting
Describe a person who became your intimate friend at the first meeting You should say
Who the person was
When you first met the person
What you did together
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And explain why you became friends at the meeting


I have only one friend that became my close friend at the first meeting and that was my high school classmate. His
English name is Robert and is the same age and was in the same class as mine.
The reason why we became such good friends is because on the first day of school we both arrived late because of
the traffic jam and were scolded by the teacher. After that we discovered that we were desk mates and also
roommates. When we first talked we discovered that we had similar hobbies and opinions on things so we instantly
clicked.
As you know the first friend that you make in school is really important. We were almost inseparable - we would
play basketball when we were at school and often played computer games when we got home. We even helped each
other get a girlfriend.
Robert is the first and probably the last friend I will make at the first meeting because Im actually a shy guy so
making friends instantly is unusual for me.
Topic 24: A Library
Describe a library that you know. You should say:
where it is
when you went there
what books and facilities this library has
and explain what you like or dislike about this library.
Like everyone else I have been to a multitude of libraries but I believe the most impressive one would have to be
my university library. I believe it was built by a world famous architect who was into Chinese culture - I cant
remember his name. His masterpiece this library looks like an ancient Chinese palace on the outside, on the inside
it was just like an ordinary library. I believe this library got a lot of funding because it has a huge collection of
limited edition books.
I often visited this library because of the atmosphere in the studying area it was a quiet place filled with students
who are studying or reading books. If I were at home I never would have the motivation to even open my books to
begin studying since computer games are just too enticing.
The computer room is also one of the most prevalent places because students who didn't have a computer were able
to do some research on the internet or just surf the web some students may secretly try to play games on the
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computer but this library has a fantastic security system. If people try to play games on the computer an alarm
would go off and security would escort the student out of the library and he or she would be banned from the library
for a month.
This library is truly a wonderful place for students to read and study, I hope I could find a library like that after I go
abroad.
Topic 26: A Mathematics Class
Describe a mathematics class you attended at primary school
You should say
When you attended the class
What the teacher taught
What you did
And explain what you learned from the class
Ever since I was a kid I have always been good at mathematics. Arithmetic is probably the one of the first things I
learnt in primary school and I still remember the lesson when my teacher taught my class how to add.
First we revised what we did last lesson which was learn to count. After that the teacher taught as the rules of
addition such as an odd number plus an odd number must equal an even number. The teacher actually taught it in a
very boring way. All he did was write the rules on the board and told us to copy them down and remember them.
Actually I already knew all this cuz my dad taught me a long time ago. He bought me a pc game which gets kids to
practice addition, subtract, multiplication and division. So when the teacher made gave us a quiz in that class I aced
it and he praised me in front of the entire class.
Now that I think about out it I'm probably so good at maths because of this class
Topic 28: An Occasion Someone Visited Your Home
Describe an occasion when someone visited your home.
You should say
Who visited your home
What the occasion was
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What you did


And explain how you felt about this occasion
There have been many people that have visited my home over the past few years but I guess Ill talk about the time
my mums high school classmate; Miss Lee came to visit my home. In fact it was only last month; she has been in
American for the past 10 years because she immigrated there. Although she was in America she has kept in touch
with many of her friends and family members using an online chat program called QQ.
When she came back to China my mother invited her to our home for dinner. She brought us some gifts such as
dark chocolate and also make up. For dinner we had dumplings my mum made them herself and they were also
my favorite. We had an interesting conversation about her life abroad and then our life in China.
We ended the day by playing Mahjong which is a very famous Chinese game. It was so fun that we played it until
2am in the morning I won. When she left she said she would visit us 1 more time before she goes back to America
and she also invited us to visit her there.
This was a wonderful occasion and I would definitely visit her in the US of I had the chance.
Topic 30: An Outdoor Activity you want to do
Describe an outdoor activity you want to do for the first time
You should say
When you want to do it
Where you want to do it
What things you need to take
And explain why you want to do it
Well actually I dont really go out much but I guess an outdoor barbecue wouldnt be a bad idea. Im a big fan of
American TV dramas and I often see people go out to have a barbecue on those shows so I have been recently
thinking of planning one at the beach. Like most people in China I live in a place with no backyard so I figured that
a beach would be the best choice cuz there is plenty of space to hold a party we could also do some fishing too.
To prepare for this of course Id have to buy the cooking equipment and meat a lot of meat! I may also have to
practice making a few burgers at home so that I dont look like a fool on the actually day we have the barbecue. Of
course I would have to call my friends about a month in advance to tell them to keep their calendars free. There is a
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girl from my class that I especially would like to ask if the party is a success Im might ask her out, if it fails ill
ask her out anyway (tough competition).
This plan has been in my head for a while maybe I should really start putting it into motion after I get home.
Topic 31: A Party
Describe a party that you enjoyed
-whose party it was
-what it was celebrating
-where it was held
-who went to it
-what people did during the party
-what you enjoyed about it.
When and where: my friend's birthday party, last Saturday evening, we went for a meal in an Italian
restaurant.Who: there were about 10 of us, he invited some close friends and work colleagues, most of them were
people I've known since university.What happened: we met at the restaurant, I gave my friend a present and a
birthday card, we ordered some food, while we ate dinner everyone chatted, after the main course the waiter
brought out a cake and we sang 'Happy Birthday', everyone went home quite late.Why it made me happy: it was
great to get together with old friends, I had some interesting conversations, it was a good opportunity to catch up
with what my friends had been up to, it was a nice way to wind down after a hard week at work, the food was
delicious, I went home feeling full after a fantastic meal.
Its my birthday next month and I would like to arrange a party to celebrate it. Of course I would only invite my
friends because a party wouldnt be very fun if there are parents or old people there. I guess I could hold the party
in my backyard if it isnt raining maybe a barbeque. Actually Im a pretty good cook so Im sure it would be a
fantastic party, plus meat is my favorite kind of food.
I guess it will take a lot of effort to prepare. I would have to buy a lot of food so people don't go hungry, call all my
friends and make sure they arrive with presents and also cleaning up after the party will be a hassle.
There are many activities which we could do at my place such as sing karaoke in my living room since I have a
huge TV with great speakers. Others can play games such as cards or Mahjong, which is a very famous Chinese
game. We can even play truth or dare but maybe the girls might be a little bit shy you know Chinese girls.
And yeah I guess that sums up a party I would like to have.

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Topic 32: A Perfect Holiday


Describe a perfect holiday you want to have in the future
You should say
Who you will travel together with
Where you will spend the holiday
What you will do on holiday
And explain why you think it will be a perfect holiday
Ever since I was a little girl I have always wanted to travel to France. I guess it may be because I have watched
many movies and they all say that Paris, the capital city of France is the worlds most romantic city.
I would probably go with a few of my classmates holidays are normally boring if you travel alone and also its
much safer to travel as a group. Id have to be the trip planner cuz that way we could go to all the places that I want
to go, of course I would take there opinions under consideration. Im dont really fancy backpacking so we would
be living in 4 or 5 star hotels and order room service everyday, I heard that French chefs are the best in the world
and the food they cook is just divine.
There are many famous designer brands in France and you know Im a girl who is really crazy about fashion so of
course shopping is one thing that I cannot do without. However, the most important thing I would like to do is meet
a Frenchman and let him show me what romance is all about.
I know a holiday like this would be very expensive but I hope one day I can accomplish this dream.
Topic 33: A Person Who Has An Important Job
Describe a person who has an important job. You should say:
who the person is where the person works
what the person does in the job
and explain why you think the persons job is important.
I know a multitude of people who have important jobs but I would have to talk about my cousin Liping who has
works as a tourist guide mainly focusing on foreigners visiting China. Liping is 25 years old and is quite an
attractive young lady with long legs and a slim body not to mention she has mastered not just English and Chinese
but also French.
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The reason why I guess her job is so important is because she has to socialize with foreigners all day long. She is
representing China and the impression she leaves on those foreigners is very important. In addition to that she has
to educate people about Chinese history and culture so people worldwide can understand more about China and its
people.
Tourist guides like my cousin really have an important job. They would take tourists to the citys attractions and
stores. This helps the countries GDP hence the government would provide the locals with more benefits. Without
people like Liping the country may not make as much money every year
Topic 35: A Picnic or Meal Outdoors
Describe a picnic or meal that you ate outdoors.
You should say
Where you had this meal
Who was with you
What you ate and drank
And explain why you enjoyed this picnic or outdoor meal.
Well actually I dont really eat outdoors much but I had an outdoor barbecue last summer. My dad is a big fan of
American TV dramas and he often sees people go out to have a barbecue on those shows so he planned a barbecue
at the beach. The reason why the barbecue was held at the beach was cuz there was plenty of space and we could
also do some fishing too I actually spent 2 hours that day next to the fishing rod but didnt catch anything.
To prepare for this of course we bought the cooking equipment and meat a lot of meat! My dad also had to
practice making a few burgers at home so that he didnt look like a fool on the actually day we had the barbecue. Of
course we called our friends about a month in advance to tell them to keep their calendars free.
Most people who went this event also brought a plate of food or drinks so we had a variety of food and drinks
including alcohol. In the end the outdoor barbecue was a great success. Most people satisfied with the food and how
my dad organized this barbecue.
As you know summer is coming and since the last outdoor barbecue was such a success I think we maybe have
another one this summer. There is a girl from my class that I especially would like to ask to this party if the party
is a success Im might ask her out, if it fails I'll ask her out anyway (tough competition).

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Topic 36: A Place in Work or School


Describe a place in work or in school youve been to.
You should say
Where this place is
What this place looks like
What you did there
And explain how you felt about this place
There are many places that I have been to in my school but I guess I would talk about the place I visit the most and
that would be the Library. My school library is about 20 years old and is quite big - about 300 meters squared and 3
stories tall. It is made out of brick and has a classical style inside.
The library of my school is I guess one of the only places that I can study. This is probably because of the
atmosphere - there are no distractions, everyone is focusing on there study or reading library books. The librarians
are really nice and I always ask them for help because it takes me about 10 minutes to find a book but it only takes
them 1 minute.
There is also a computer room in the library so students could do their school assignments or surf the internet for
information but some students would secretly play games on the computer. I often see the security guard catch
students playing games and then throwing them out of the library its very fun to watch.
And yeah that sums up my school library.
Topic 37: A Place You Listen To Music
Describe a place you know where people go to listen to music
You should say
Where it is
What kind of music is performed there
What type of people go there
Why people go there
How you know this place
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And explain your impression of this place


I have been to many places to listen to music but I guess Ill talk about my school concert. Once a year my school
will hold a music concert which is a day where both teachers and students sing and dance. Its a day where we can
let loose and forget about our troublesome studies and do something entertaining.
This concert is held at the school a few days after the final exam of the year and all students are invited to come
no entrance fee (actually is compulsory so we have no choice but to go). The students who sing and dance on the
stage are all hand picked by the music and dance teachers and actually they have to start practicing for a few
months before the event. The teachers who sing are actually nominated by the students in the school they just
want to see the teachers make fools of themselves.
Usually the musics played by the school band and the songs are the popular ones that most people know about.
Last year they played Gangnam Style and Love Story by Taylor Swift.
In my opinion the school should have more events like this one cuz it helps the students and teachers bond. Im
looking forward to the next concert.
Topic 38: A Polite Person
Describe a polite person you know
You should say
Who the person is
How you know the person
What the person looks like
And explain why you think the person is polite
I know many people but sadly not many of them are polite. Id like to talk about my middle school science teacher,
Mr Wang. He looks like a typical teacher who dresses neatly, wears very thick glasses and has messy hair. When
people see him for the first time they usually have the impression that he gets angry easily and is quite mean.
However, looks can be deceiving.
He is a teacher who is always polite and always has a smile on his face - although he has been my science teacher
for 3 years, I have never seen him yell at any of my classmates or even raise his voice. Most teachers might talk to
parents in a nice manner but treat students really poorly but not him. He treats us really well and sometimes even
plays basketball with us.
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I guess the reason he is polite is because he has lived over 10 years in Japan and has been influenced by some of
there culture or it may be because he is still only a low level teacher. Some people change once they get power
like my Uncle. He used to be a nice person until he became a big boss of company.
Mr Wang is someone I look up to because he has a good personality and is polite. I hope to be like him one day.
Topic 39: A Positive Change
Describe a positive change in your life. You should say:
when it happened where it happened what the change was
and explain how you have benefited from this change.
A few months ago there was a huge change in my life I was employed by an import/export company as a
secretary. It was actually a recommendation by my college professor. It was quite a challenging experience cuz I
had zero work experience and was also quite unfamiliar with the company software. Luckily my colleagues have all
been quite helpful and would often come to my aid like knights in shining armor.
Since then my life has really turned around. Im now able to do my job independently and even help the newer
employees with their work. It has been a great experience for me and Im quite proud of myself since I don't have to
beg my parents for pocket money anymore.
After getting this job my life has seriously changed a lot and Im quite happy about this cuz I have learnt a great
deal about how to work with others. I have changed a lot and will keep changing in the future after all nothing is
permanent expect for change.
Topic 40: A Radio Program
Describe a radio program you enjoy listening to
You should say
What the program is
When and where you listen to it
How often you listen to it
And explain why you think it is interesting
There are many radio programs in my city but I guess my favorite one would have to be a program called Happy
English on FM 90.4. It is a program that is broadcasted once a week on Sunday from 8pm to 9pm.
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As the name suggests this program is about English - to be more precise teaching English to Chinese people. They
usually talk about interesting things about foreign countries such as the different cultures and of course teach
listeners useful English phrases that a native English speakers would use - in fact many of the words I am using for
this test was learnt from this program.
In my opinion this program is quite useful for English learners like me and I often listen to it. However there is a
big problem with this show - it is broadcasted at a bad time. Not many people would listen to the radio at 8pm on a
Sunday.
And yeah that sums up a radio program.
Topic 41: A Room
Describe a room you spend most of the time in where the rooms is
what the room looks like what you did in that room
and explain why you spent most of your time in that room.
There are many rooms in my home but I honestly don't think you can guess which one I spend most of my time in.
Its the kitchen! My kitchen is very well equipped with the latest and most sophisticated cooking tools such as a
microwave oven that not only heats food but also has the function to barbecue meat or even make stew. It is also
quite big compared with other kitchens about 40 square meters. It is actually divided into 2 sections, 1 area is
designed for making Chinese food and the other, western food. My forte is actually making Italian food because I
once had a neighbor from Italy who worked as a chef in a 5 star hotel and she would often invite me over for
dinner. I normally helped with the cooking so I have learned quite a bit, even how to wash dishes the proper way.
I actually started spending most of my time in the kitchen cuz I lost confidence in the restaurants around my home
the food isnt really tasty and if you read or watch the news you would know that there are a lot of problems with
the oil and hygiene in many restaurants around China. These days I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen
experimenting with recipes that I got from the internet. My parents would return home to a table full of delicious
food. As you know Im from Ningbo therefore I had to eat from restaurants the past few days because of this exam.
I miss my kitchen and my own cooking a little.
Topic 42: A Science Lesson
Describe a Science Lesson that you had in School or University (such as biology, chemistry or physics).
You should say
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When you attend this lesson Where you attend this lesson What you learned
And explain what happened in the lesson.
I have had many science lessons but I guess I will talk to you about a physics class when I was in high school. In
my opinion physics is a really boring subject all you do in physics is learn about boring theories or do long and
meaningless mathematics problems.
One lesson my teacher was using a PPT about Newtons 3 laws and their theories, equations and so on. He actually
made us copy every single word on that PPT into our exercise books. I thought that it was a really useless lesson. In
my opinion he should have just given us the printout of the PPT instead. It would have saved a lot of time and you
know high school students really don't have time to waste.
This class was actually one of the first classes I had with this teacher and after that day I stopped respecting him and
in his class I would just do the homework of other classes because everything he makes us copy into our books is
already in the textbook so I could just read it for myself.
I don't think physics is boring but I wish classes could be more interesting however I guess that's the Chinese
teaching style. Thats why Im going abroad!
Topic 43: A Science Subject
Describe a science subject that you studied in high school You should say:
the name of the subject what you did in this class how the teacher taught it
and explain how you felt about this subject / this class.
It has been a while since I was at high school but I guess the most memorable science subject would have to be
biology. Out of the 3 science subjects it was the most fascinating due to the fact that it was about the study of life
and I have always been an inquisitive child I really like to know how things work or why things happen.
I was a huge fan of this class due to the fact that the class wasn't just learning about theories and doing math
calculations like chemistry and physics. We also were able to do meaningful experiments such as dissecting a cows
eye or a sheeps brain.
I guess my teacher was also one of the mean reasons I was fond of Biology. He always taught in an interesting way
with funny jokes and interesting examples. He wasn't like my history teacher, who was a textbook teacher he only
read from the textbook while teaching and told us to memorize names and dates.
Biology was my favorite class in high school and I would like to continue my further studies in biology when I go
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abroad.
Topic 44: A Rule In School
Describe a rule in school you agree or disagree with
What the rule is
Why it is needed
How the rule is enforced
and explain why you agree of disagree with this rule
Well as you may know there are many school rules in Chinese schools such as, you cant have a boyfriend or
girlfriend or you must wear an ugly uniform but I would like to talk about the rule students cannot bring a mobile
phone to school.
This rule started about 5 years ago because too many students were taking their phones to school. The school is also
quite strict as well; if youre caught with a cell phone the teacher will just take your phone and never give it back.
Im sure my teacher has made a lot of money selling phones in the black market.
I know that mobile phones have many drawbacks such as they can be addictive, hence affect our studies or students
might use them to cheat in a test but I also think they have many benefits.
Not many people in my schools like this rule because mobile phones are just very convenient. I study in a boarding
school and sometimes my parents need to reach me but its a hassle because they have to call the school and then
get my teacher to call me to the phone. Also phones have Chinese/English dictionaries they may be very useful for
our studies.
Although I believe they do have some valid reasons for having this rule I think it should be removed.
Topic 45: A Seaside Place
Describe a seaside place you like to visit
You should say
Where it is
What you like about it
What you do there
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Who you go there with


And explain why you like to visit it
As you may know the Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the world and it really lives up to its name. The
water is crystal clear without any rubbish and the view is just spectacular. My city is a coastal city called Ningbo
and the beaches there are a little dirty and sometimes you can see people washing their clothes with sea water not
a wonderful site to see.
Every time I would go there with my friends and the first thing we would do is to build a huge sand castle. After
that we would feel really hot and sweaty so obviously we would cool ourselves down in the water. We usually
wouldnt swim too far from the shore because were afraid the coast guard couldnt see us and we might get eaten
by sharks. Although some people say sharks are more scared of us than were scared of them Im pretty sure
those people are wrong
The Great Barrier Reef is a great place to visit and I look forward to visiting that place again in the near future.
Topic 46: A Shopping Street
Describe a street where you like to go shopping
You should say
Where it is
What you buy there
How often you go there
And explain why you like go to the street for shopping
There are quite a few shopping streets I frequently visit in my hometown but I guess Ill talk about Yaohang Rd. Its
actually quite a unique place for shopping. On one side of the street are big department stores and supermarkets on
the other side are small shops and food stands.
As you know Im as student so I usually only visit the side of the street with food and small shops since the clothing
stores there are normally cheaper even though they are knock offs. I once bought a pair for fake Nike shoes there
for only 50Yuan what a bargain! The food from the snack stalls also arent too bad but I try not to eat there cuz
the food may be a little dirty.
There is only one reason why I would visit the other side of the street and that is because there is a cinema there.
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Im a huge movie buff and would watch all the good movies that come out luckily Im a student so my classmates
and I can get a 50 percent discount which is the student price.
When I get back too my hometown the first thing Im gonna do is go to this street cuz I need to buy new clothes for
summer and I hear there is also a new movie out.
Topic 47: A Show or Performance
Describe a show or performance that you enjoyed watching
You should say
What kind of performance it was
When and where you saw it
Who you saw it with
Who the performers were
And explain why you attended this performance
I have seen many performances but I guess magic shows would have to be my all time favorite. Last week I went to
see a magic show by a not-so-famous magician with my girlfriend - he didn't even have an attractive assistant.
Actually I'm a little bit of a magician myself and often go to shows like this one to see new tricks and try to learn
them or at least figure out how it's done.
Anyway most of the tricks he performed where really old fashioned such as cutting a person in half or the flying
daggers with eyes blindfolded. However there was one trick that really amazed me. It was actually a trick that
looked simple but I haven't seen before. The magician got a very long piece of string, about 2 meters long and cut it
in half. Then tied a very strange knot. After that he asked 2 people from the audience to pull on both sides of the
rope and it turned into one piece of string again. There was no way he swapped the string so I'm still dazzled.
Although the rest of the show was lame, I would definitely watch his show again to figure out how that trick is
done.
Topic 49: Something Healthy You Did
Describe something healthy you did recently
You should say
What you did
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When you did it


Whether you enjoy doing it
And explain how it benefit you health.
When as you know Im a girl and most Chinese girls don't often do health activities however last month I started
going to the gym. As you can see I am not very strong and would like to make my body fitter so my friend and I
joined a gym together, in fact it was quite expensive for a student like me 1500RMB for a year. It was a rather new
gym with really high tech facilities. At first my friend and I only used the treadmills but after about 2 weeks we
were able to use nearly every machine in the gym.
Yoga classes are also offered at this gym and we now attend yoga classes about 3 times a week. After a full day of
study, doing some yoga can really relax the body. When I wake up in the morning I even feel more energetic.
Exercising in a gym is a really healthy thing that I think everyone should do. I have introduced many of my friends
to this gym so we often chat and exercise together.
Topic 49: A Special Meal
Describe a special meal you were invited to
You should say
When you were invited
Who invited you
What you ate
And explain how you felt about the meal
As you may know, its part of Chinese culture to eat out with other people so there are many special meals I have
been to. I guess Ill talk about my friend, Bobs birthday party. Bobs birthday was 2 months ago and it is customary
to invite your friends to an expensive restaurant on your birthday in China so he organized a party.
The party was located at a restaurant called the Nine Dragons restaurant its quite famous in my city because its a 5
star restaurant and is famous for its seafood and fancy desserts. On this day my friend invited about 20 of his closes
friends and we all drank and ate until we were really stuffed.
The food was just fantastic Bob ordered fresh lobster and abalone long with a lot of other expensive dishes. Also
the birthday cake was just crazy I believe it was a 20 inch tiramisu my favorite! I had a glance at the bill I think it
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was about six thousand yuan I wish I was that rich. After the meal we went and sang at a karaoke place until
midnight.
This was truly one of the most memorable meals. I wish my birthday was has great as Bobs.
Topic 51: A Television Program
Describe a film or TV show that made you laugh a lot.
You should say:
What it was
When it happened
Who was with you
And explain why you laughed/ why you still remember this event
I do not watch TV that much but it is a great electronic media for education and entertainment. Sometimes I watch
TV, mostly in my free time and among the channels I watch, 'Discovery Channel' is my most favorite. Whenever I
held the TV remote control in my hand, I look for either a news channel or Discovery channel. This is the channel I
watch more often than any other channels. I watch it for 4-8 hours per week. On my day off, if I am in front of TV, I
watch the great educational and recreational programs that this channel broadcasts.
It broadcasts mainly documentary programs focusing on popular science, technology and history. But recently they
have started showing some other types of programs like reality show and pseudo technology and entertainment.
There are some unique programs that they present to their audiences like Myth Busters, Unsolved History,
automobiles, and occupations etc. This channel started broadcasting from 1985 and has become one the most
popular TV channels in the world because of their emphasizes on high quality programs.
I like this TV channel because of the programs and documentaries they present. Most of the programs are
thoroughly enjoyable and offers lots of information to the audiences. This is one of the great sources for me to learn
history, technology and other educational knowledge. The picture quality is really nice and this channel is easily
available via the cable service providers. I found this channel really interesting and I can learn many new things
watching it.
Topic 52: A Time You Helped Others
Describe a time when you helped someone. You should say:
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who you helped


how you helped them why you helped them
and explain how this person benefited from your help.
Nowadays it is quite common for people to help each other since society has become more dependant on each other
- especially for those around us who have suffered from great tragedy or a natural disaster. Naturally I am also quite
willing to give a helping hand to those who need it.
I once helped a girl who survived the 2008 Sichuan earthquake - it was a devastating disaster. Her name was Liping
and lost her parents during that tragic devastating event. She was also hurt quite bad during earthquake and needed
money for an important operation, her leg was crush by a falling object and without an operation she would have
lost it. I saw this on the news and sent her all my pocket that I had accumulated for several years because I felt quite
sorry for her and wanted to do what I could for the survivors of that earthquake. I knew i couldn't save everyone but
this one person is enough.
Luckily for her, the operation was successful. A few weeks after her operation she sent me a handwritten letter,
thanking me for my donation and even attached a photo of herself I was quite pleased with myself.
This is the greatest thing I have ever done in my life and I am still proud of doing it. This experience has inspired
me to study hard and get a good job in the future so that I could help even more people. That is why I'm going
abroad - to not only get a good education but also to learn how the charities work there.
Topic 53: A Trip By Public Transport
Describe a trip by public transport you had
You should say
When and where you went
Why you took the trip
What you did and saw on the trip
And explain how you felt about the trip
As you know Im a student and I often take all kinds of public transportation but I guess Ill talk about my
experience on the bus last month since I take the bus to school everyday. It was during peak hour in the morning
and it was quite crowded there were no more empty seats and not even any space to move around because there
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were so many people.


It was actually a terrible experience because my friend who was on the same bus as me lost her phone. In China
there are many thieves on buses so you have to be very careful when you take public transport. Because of this my
friend called the police and everyone on the bus had to be searched by them but still her phone was not found it
was a really bad experience. After this we stopped taking the bus to school and began to walk to school every day
in fact its a 35 minute walk but it still beats taking the bus.
I simply loathe taking the bus and if I become rich one day I will pay for my own driver so that I would never have
to take the bus ever again.
Topic 54: A Useful Skill
Describe something useful you learned from a member of your family. You should say:
what it was
who you learned it from how you learned it
and explain why you think it is useful.
My parents have taught me many things from school work to sports but I guess the most useful skill I've learnt
would probably be cooking.
Unlike most other girls my generation I'm a great cook and its all thanks to my mum. Ever since I was 12 years old
my mum has been telling me to help her around the kitchen. My mother strongly believed that a women should be
able to cook and those that couldn't are useless.
I started with just chopping vegetables and washing dishes but a few months after that I was about to cook simple
things such as fried rice or steamed vegetables. Now if I'm given the right ingredients I'm able to cook food as good
as most traditional Chinese restaurants.
In my opinion this skill is a really useful cuz culinary skills are a way to make others happy - people have a better
mood when they eat delicious cuisine. I also felt really glad when my friends and family eat up the food that I have
prepared for them.
So yeah in the future I'm thinking about also learning to make Italian food such as pizza or pasta.
Topic 55: A wrong decision
Describe a wrong decision you regret making.
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You should say:


What the decision was
What the situation was
Why you made the decision
And explain why you think it was the wrong decision.
There are many choices in my life that I regret but I guess the most regretful one would probably be the time I lent
my friend 3000RMB.
A friend of mine once asked me to lend her 3000RMB and said she would pay me the money back in 2 weeks.
Before giving her the money I asked her why she needed it but she wouldnt tell me so I figured it was for
something very important and since I have known her for many years I trusted her and gave her the money.
After about 3 weeks I contacted her and asked her for the money back but she said she didnt have it and asked me
to wait another week. After that she just stopped picking up my calls. So I went to her home and I found out she
used my money just for buying clothes. She told me she wont pay me back the money and I have no proof that I
lent her the money.
Because of this I lost a friend so I believe its a very bad decision I am never letting people borrow money from
me again!
Topic 56: A Leader You Admire
Describe a leader who you admire.
You should say:
Who the person is
What this person did or has done that you admire
How you know this person or know about this person
And explain how this leaders qualities impressed you.
The leader I look up to is my best friend, Tony. He is the captain of my schools soccer team and the only person in
school I look up to. He is an extremely important person to me and we have known each other since primary
school.
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Tony is about 1.75 meters tall which is around the average height for Australians. He has a clean haircut and is very
handsome most girls find his big eyes and fit body attractive. He enjoys outdoor sports so generally he would go
cycling or play soccer a few times a week.
As for his leadership skills I would have to say that not only is he a great athlete, hes also the smartest student in
my grade and has aced every exam. Because of his intelligence he is able to make an excellent strategies and quick
decisions for the soccer team. Whats more is his charisma, not everyone would listen to a person like me whereas
people in Tonys team will obey his instructions without question. The reason I admire him is actually because he
treats everyone with respect I have never seen him impolite or angry at anyone. For these reasons he is my best
friend. I havent seen him for a long time but we still keep in touch via video conferencing using the internet.
Topic 57: A Leader You Admire(2)
Describe a leader who you admire.
You should say:
Who the person is
What this person did or has done that you admire
How you know this person or know about this person
And explain how this leaders qualities impressed you.
There are many famous leaders I look up to in the world but I guess I would have to choose Steve Jobs. In my
opinion he was the best CEO of Apple and of course the most famous. As you know he is no longer alive, however
his accomplishments are still remembered by people worldwide.
In fact Jobs was not an easy person to work for by that I mean he had a temper and many people found it hard to
work with the guy, but they still did! This was because he was an absolute genius and his subordinates knew that he
would make the company thrive. Many people, including me don't really care about his attitude problems since his
inventions are fantastic. He is my hero and without him I would never have been able to play games with the touch
screen, listen to music, take photos and make phone calls on the same device.
There are some leaders who are great because of their charisma while others are famous for their intelligence. Steve
jobs is a perfect example of this It is a shame he died at such a young age, I think he could have helped society
much more with his inventions but I guess that was his fate.

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Topic 58: A Robot


Describe a robot you know. You should say:
what sort of robot is what it looks like what it can do
and explain how you felt about the robot.
I am actually quite up-to-date with the recent developments in technology. Just last week I read about a new robot
made by the Japanese. Its a humanoid designed to look like a real man or woman which has a multitude of
functions. They are able to do many things such as vacuum the floor; meaning people can save time on housework,
make basic conversation with people; making it good for people who are lonely such as old people or children and
my favorite thing about them is that theyre able to play chess.
This humanoid is about 170cm tall, weighs about 40kg and from what I read it is quite durable and long lasting
meaning that it doesn't break easy and you only have to recharge it once every 3 days. Just a 1 off payment and they
will deliver this machine to your doorstep, though I hear its quite pricey.
Robots are really prevalent in society nowadays and since technology is always improving I think they are quite
promising products for people to research and develop. One day I hope to have a robot thats able to do things I
don't want to such as cleaning, cooking or even babysit.
Topic 59: A Work Of Art
Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen. You should say:
when you saw this work of art where you saw it
what it looked like
and explain your impression of it.
Ever since I was a little girl I have always been a huge fan of western style paintings. The most memorable piece of
artwork that I have come across would probably be the Mona Lisa which was painted by the famous artist and
inventor, Leonardo DaVinci.
I first saw this painting when I was in primary school, my art teacher taught us about DaVincis paintings and of
course the Mona Lisa was one of them. At first I thought it was just a boring portrait for an old woman but the more
I looked at it the more I began to be attracted by her strange smile. It was also a little funny to me because she had
no eye brows and her hair style is different to what Im used to.

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In my opinion DaVinci painted her almost like St Mary She has a kind and gentle look and is always smiling at
you, even her sitting posture is very elegant with one hand over the other. I think its because Davinci was a
Christian and also painted religious paintings such as the Last Supper.
I personally think the Mona Lisa is truly an impressive painting, after all it was painted by the great Leonardo
DaVinci without it the world just wouldn't be the same.
A memorable event
-when it took place
-where it took place
-what happened exactly
-why it was memorable
The memorable event in my life took place 11 years ago when I passed the university entrance examination. I
remember It was on August 15th 2000. It was so memorable to me because it was the first time I could make my
own decision. I used to be an obedient girl when I was a child. I always listened and followed my parents
instructions since I knew that parents always want the best things for their children. I tried my best to be the cream
of the crop just to please my parents wishes and also to make them proud of me and love me more. However, it
seemed that I became more and more obstinate when I grew up. I was tired and did not want to be a robot any more.
I wanted to listen to my heart, make my own decisions and live my own life. That is why when my parents wanted
me to do things as their wishes, I would do the opposite. Especially when I was about to enter university. My
parents wanted me to become a businesswoman, therefore, they forced me to apply to University of Economics
while my dream was to become a teacher of English and study Linguistics. Finally, I made it my own way. To my
parents greatest disappointment, I applied to University of Social Sciences and Humanities after having a heated
debate with them. I know clearly at that time I drove my parents to despair when I did not follow their advice. Only
when ten years passed did I prove to them that I did make a judicious choice and I am now a very successful
teacher.
An important An interesting historic place
- what it is
- where it is located
- what you can see there now
- why this place is interesting
I am going to talk about the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Independence Palace. It was built on the
site of the former Norodom Palace and it is a landmark in HCMC. It is located in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street and
was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during
the Vietnam War. The attractions inside of the airy palace interior are pretty sparse. Roped-off rooms such as the
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presidential office, receiving room, and bedroom appear musky and grim with antique furniture and bare walls. A
highlight of the Reunification Palace is found in the basement which includes a command bunker with old radio
equipment and strategy maps on the walls. After exiting the basement into the courtyard, there is a room filled with
historic photos heavily sprinkled with propaganda portraying the fall of the Independence Palace. On the fourth
floor rooftop, there are some nice views of the palace grounds as well as an old US-UH 1 helicopter. The rooftop
was used as a helipad for evacuating staff just before the palace was overrun. The palace is interesting to me
because marks the end of Viet Nam war during the Fall of Saigon. Also, knowing clearly about the history of my
own country is what I think I can be proud of.
A lesson
The interesting lesson which I am going to describe is an English lesson in my English extra class. It happened
about 5 years ago when I was in grade 10. During this lesson, our teacher divided us into groups to perform our
talents in English. My group decided to make a play which was a story of a princess who was looking for a husband
while other groups did Power Point presentations or told stories. Each group performed its outstanding
performances in turn. I found this lesson absorbing in aspects galore. Firstly, I was quite reserved before and it was
the first time that I acted in a play in front of a multitude of people, especially in English. However, after this
lesson, I became more confident in myself, less timorous and danced to another tune to live and study better.
Secondly, this lesson was totally different from other ordinary lessons. During this lesson, our teacher let us be
active, creative and even express our sense of humour, which was a modern and effective way of teaching. And last
but not least, thanks to this lesson, I could upgrade my English skills and practiced it better.
Describe something that was recently reported in the news.
You should say:
what happened
who was involved
and why you found this news interesting
The news which I am going to tell you is the news about the wonderful recovery of Japanese people after doublecatastrophe which means earthquake and tsunami in this March. In the news, they showed two pictures of a street in
Japan. The first was captured right after the disaster and it was almost destroyed by the natural disaster. The other
was captured few days later and I was really surprised that they completed reconstructing the street after a short
time. I was really attracted by the news because of reasons galore. Firstly, I felt sorry for Japanese citizens who
had to face many natural catastrophes, which killed a lot of people and demolished thousands of houses. However,
notwithstanding being in the most difficult situations, Japanese people still united with others and looked it on the
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bright side to rebuild their country. Their strong spirit and great efforts in rebuilding their country are worth to be
followed. And last but not least, it is also a precious lesson which Vietnamese People should learn if we are in
difficult conditions.
Restaurant
One of my familys favorite restaurants is the spaceship restaurant which is located in district 1 in HCM city. The
reason why I chose this restaurant is that I enjoyed my birthday party there in such a posh restaurant with my
family.
Last year my parents celebrated my birthday party in that gorgeous restaurant to congratulate my mature age. At
first I went there with the feeling of excitement and everything just happened like my expectation. I fancied
everything there: sumptuous decoration; professional staffs; palatable fresh food. Plus, we didnt have to wait for a
long time in melancholy because they served up the dishes in the appropriate time when we just finished one and
was ready for others. A half of fun was that the waiter could sing through waiting table, which surprised us so
much.
The meal was so delicious and I was amazed by everything they served us. I really liked the special beefsteak
which was extremely succulent so I kept eating three dishes though I was not a voracious eater. Besides, my parents
were even thriller when my brother and the only sibling who suffers from anorexia, known as eating disorder,
devoured the chicken rice like he had never done that before. Eventually, we all came to an agreement that this
restaurant could become the most magnificent one in this city.
Thats why we now come to that restaurant once a month and it has become a part of our familys life.

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Topic 16: A good law


So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what the law is, and I'd have to choose China's first antimonopoly law, which took effect on August 1st, 2008.
Now concerning the matter of how I first learned about this law, and what I ought to add here is I'm getting used
to view the lattest news online, so actually this came across to me when I was visiting the website of China Daily.
Moving onto the bussiness of who benefits from this law, and I guess that customers would definitely have the
maximum profit.
Progressing to the subject of what type of law it is, and the things that should be highlighted here is it's a law
viewed as a milestone of the country's efforts in promoting a fair competition market and cracking down on
monopoly activities. It aims to build a uniform, open, transparent market and to encourage fair competition.
As a final point, if time permits, I would like to bring in the point of why I think this is a good law, and I
suppose I should underline the fact that it strikes at dominating enterprises' monopolistic activities and puts
safeguarding customers rights as priority, the goverment still have a lot to do to perfect the law and enhance its
efficiency though.
Topic 15: A recent change
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what the change was, and I would have to go for the change of
teaching role, from a traditional maths teacher to a bilingual maths teacher. That is to say, I am working on trying to
teach our Chinese high school students maths via English atmosphere of class, which is supposed to broaden their
view as far as get acquainted with relevant maths vocabulary or the ideal aim of introducing another thinking mode
--- English ideas in the course of maths. (it still seems confusing to myself, hope any of my American friends who
saw this would help me, thank you)
Now concerning the matter of why this change happened, and the things that need to be highlighted here is it's the
necessity for our school to establish bilingual courses so as to meet up the qualifications of 4-star school. In
addition to this, I have once successfully performed an experiment class via bilingual teaching, which is open to
other sister schools. Though it's actually in the first year I've been in teaching, this class was impressive to all the
presents by the excellent performances of my students as well as my fluency Spoken English. Both of this
contributes to my opportunity of being a bilingual maths teacher.
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Moving onto the bussiness of how others around you reacted to this change, and what I'd like to add here is our
principal have great faith in my English language ability and expect me to establish bilingual maths classes, while
my colleagues are so envious that they made up their mind to improve their English in spare time.
Progressing to the subject of what the result of this change was, and I suppose it really is an outstanding surprise,
as not only did I have learnt a lot from Wik's various encouraging teaching methods, Hilary's creative ideas on
organising an activity in class, but greatly improved my Spoken English via conversing with native tongue in a 10day training. And most of all, become a friend with these American teachers thereafter. Moreover, when I was back
to school with my experience in the training, our principal asked me whether I could be a volunteer interpretor for
the coming Sep. and Oct. since our Denmark friends would pay a short visit during that period. So proud to accept
it even without any hesitation:)
As a final point, if time permits, I would like to bring in the point of what I felt about this change when it
happened, and what I would have to say it's both an opportunity and a challenge, hope I would live up to the
expectations.
Topic 14: Being late
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of when this happened, and I'd have to go for the one happened in
this summer vocation when I was given an opportunity to take class on "Bilingual Teaching Program".
Now concerning the matter of what occasion I was late for, and what I would have to say is I was late for Wik's
class. What's frustrating is that I had just told Wik that I am never late or never early, I'm always on the dot. And he
just considered me as a punctual girl. While it turned out to be my lateness for the next morning. So embarrassed
when I was entering the class.
Moving onto the bussiness of why I was late, and I should really mention that I was helping a crying boy who lost
his way on my way to school. I saw an adorable boy crying when he was crossing the road. The first idea came
across my mind was it's so dangerous that the boy would get hit by passing cars or e-scooters. So, I came up to him
and helped him to cross the road. But the boy told me that he lost his way to home and cried heavier than before.
What I had to do is to patiently ask where he lived. Luckily it's not too far away. But when I got to class, I was late.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of what lessons I learned from this experience, and
I would have to say perhaps next time I should be earlier to ensure on the dot. Though I guess perhaps Wik was just
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kidding for what I had told him the day before my lateness, yet I do feel sorry for being late.
Topic 13: An email
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of who the e-mail was from, the one I'd pick is an e-mail from my
old classmate, who I first met in high school and became a friend to me thereafter. She was doing her Ph.D in South
Korea when I got her message.
Now concerning the matter of when I received it, and what I should mention here is it's about one year ago that I
heard from her. And before this, she had been busily engaged in language studies after she reached South Korea.
Moving onto the bussiness of what the contents of the e-mail were, the things that should be highlighted here is
her description of aMAZing experience there, including the local food, busy school life, the apartment where she
lived, and on top of that she even attended a traditional wedding party in South Korea! It's her South Korea
classmate's wedding party. And she got those pictures posted via attachment.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of why I like it, what I want to make here is not
only did she account her life in South Korea but also brought with another culture. For me, it's a vision to behold.
Topic 12: A project
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of the topic of this project, and the one I'd pick is a paper on fuzzy
convex sets, in the area of fuzzy algebra. I had been conscientiously working on this since the third year of my
university studies. Not until the year before did I work out and had my findings communicated in the international
meeting on the theory of computers in Hangzhou.
Now concerning the matter of what research or preparation I did, and what I ought to add here is that I have such
a great interest in fuzzy mathematics, as it's totally different from the normal classic concept in my mind. Usually,
we consider mathematices as an accurate concept. While fuzzy mathematics is dealing with fuzzy concepts, as it's
so prevalent in the universe. My teacher noticed my interest and recomment me to do some further reading on
articles by world-famous scholars and suggested perhaps I could do some work on fuzzy convex sets. Since then, I
had been involved in reading large amount of research papers.
Moving onto the bussiness of how difficult this task was, the things need to be highlighted here is that get your
paper published is always easier said than done, esp. for someone like me who have no experiences of master
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degree study. And it's pretty tough to read through those articles. But finally I get to grips with reading that, at least
I could have a general idea of what the research is about and how it is conducted and what I would benefit from this
article.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring the point of what I've learned from this experience. Tell you
honestly, my teacher's generous help contributes to the success of this paper. And my persistence leads my to the
final work of this paper. As the saying goes, "You don't fail unless you give up."

Topic 9: A restaurant
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of where it is, and the one I'd pick is a local cuisine restaurant, which
actually in the Golden Triangle of our city.
Now concerning the matter of how often I go there, and what I would have to add here is when I entertain guests
it's always the first choice. So perhaps once a month I guess.
Moving onto the bussiness of what kind of food they serve there, I suppose I should underline the fact that its
speciality dish is Wuxi-style spareribs. Without question, these are the most popular dish in Wuxi. Spice with
ginger, anise, cloves and pepper, they are cooked in a savory stock of rice wine and soy sauce, served with a
distinctive sweet red sauce. In addition to this, they serve "Three White" from Tai Lake, the silverfish, white shrimp
and whitefish.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of whether I would recommend this place to
others, if asked, Iwould most definitely recommend this place on the basis that it serves local cuisine at a reasonable
price and the environment here is pretty pleasant.
Topic 8: A family
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of where this family lives, and the one I'd like choose is a family
who used to be my neighbour, though they have moved to Australia.
Now concerning the matter of who the members of the family are, and what I ought to stress here is that it's a
traditional Chinese nuclear family, with a young couple and an adorable baby girl. I used to drop in their house after
dinner.
Moving onto the bussiness of what each time in this family does in life, I suppose I should really mention the fact
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that the young man is an engineer in IT, and he used to my family's computer expert. As each time when my
computer didn't work, he always came to solve the problem. And the young woman was an English teacher in No. 1
High School, the best one in our city. The girl is their new-born baby, whoever she meets she smiles.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of how I feel about this family. It's really a happy
family, consisting of a hard-working and generous husband, a beautiful and considerate wife and a lovely baby girl.
Sometimes I do miss them, though we still keep in touch via E-mail.

Topic 6: A photo
So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what the photo is, and the one I'd pick is a photo taken in Pleasure
Garden with foreign teachers.
Regarding the theme of when it was taken, and the thing that needs to be highlighted here is that it was in this
summer vocation that I met and became friends with our foreign teachers, Wik, Hilary, Cindy and Amanda during
the training of Bilingual Teaching Program. And the photo was taken in Pleasure Garden whilst we were visiting
Xihui Park.
Moving onto the bussiness of why I like it, the point I want to make here is it's such a good memory of those
wonderful time with foreign teachers, for one thing, and for another, it's really a good souvenir for my 15-year
English learning. A fulfiling delight as I've given them a tour on my own for one day. Tell you what, right after
entering the park, one even came up to ask me where she could find a tour guide(I told her actually they are my
teachers, and I am a student), while others in the park all consider me as their interpretor. It's the second time I have
taken pictures with foreigners. The first time was in Summer Palace, about 10 years ago, foreigners invited me to
have a picture with them, when I have so-limited vocabulary to communicate with. But it's totally different now. So
proud of that!
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of whether I have other photos in my home, and
undoubtedly I have loads of photos, including those in my childhood when I think I'm really photogenic, as well as
photos of sight I have ever visited.

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Topic 4: A shopping centre


Right then, I'd like to get cracking by pointing out where it is located, and I'd have to mention that it's located
along Zhongshan Road, the most prosperous road in our city.
Regarding to the theme of what this shopping centre looks like, the things that needs to be highlighted here is that
it has clusters of a wide variety of shops from those that are centuries old to special ones and modern malls. One of
the malls is The New World, which claims to be the aristocrat here, with leading designer brands. The other is
Commercial Mansion, celebrated for its elegance and best service, there you may find reasonable prices in the form
of discounts and other promotions. The small shops around here sell clothes in vogue with the alternation of four
seasons, which cater for the needs of young people. You can bargain at ease. Also, there are shops dealing with
small articles, local crafts, etc.
And now with reference to how often I go there, and what I'd like to add here is I wouldn't describe myself as a
shopping buff, so probably I would go there once a week.

Topic 3: Family Event


Ok,I'll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter ofwhat the event was, and I'd have choose my 25th
birthday, last year's birthday.
Continuing then with the next point of what I did, and what I have to mention here is actually I did nothing, no
expectations of birthday. With the age growing the concept of birthday seems not that important as before, for one
thing, and for another, my father has just gone through a tough time as the suffering of the illness. Not until his
sickness did I realise it's time I SHOULD steer the boat of the family, not just to accpet.
Progressing to the subject of why it was the most memorable, what I'd like to shed light on here is that when I had
come home from working I was so surprised to find an unexpected visitor --- a long lost friend --- it's 10 years since
the last time we met. With a birthday cake in the middle, complete with exquisitely tasty, aesthetically presented
dishes on the table, my friend told me she come across my father one day and was invited to attend my birthday
party. What an outstanding surprise! And my parents gave me a necklace as my birthday present. We sit around the
table and crackec open a bottle of wine to toast, for the unexpected friend, my parents' health as well as my
birthday.

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Topic 2: Second foreign language


So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what second foreign language I speak is English. I have learnt
English since the fifth year in the elementary school, and if counting 3-year movie watch after the graduation of the
university studies, it's almost 15 years!
Now concerning the bussiness of whether it's important to learn second foreign language, and what I ought to
stress here is that I have read learning a language produces physiological changes in the brain. Your brain and mine
are different from the brain of someone who speaks French, for instance, and this could affect our thoughts and
perceptions. In addition to this, language is also intimately bound up with culture. Actually, learning a language can
contribute to comprehend and appreciate another culture.
Moving onto the subject of what difficulty I find about learning English, you really have to understand that it's
quite tough to learn loads of idioms by heart or swot up on tons of vocabulary, and on top of this is to block out
your first language, which always seems easier said than done. However, even though it's still a long way to go, I'm
prepared to meet whatever challenges, as I've already been so fond of this aMAZing language.
As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of what suggestion I would give to those who are
starting to learn English is that, interest never fails to be your best teacher. More interaction with this language,
more fun you are sure to find. And varieties of activities are availabe, like watch cartoons, Snow White, The Lion
King etc. or movies or sing songs,all these are inspiring.

Topic 1: A school friend


I guess I could begin by saying something about who this person is, and I think I would have to choose Miss
Fang. We first met when I was studing in the first year of Junior Middle School. She used to be my boss and maths
teacher in that single year, but since then, she has been my best-buddy.
Going on to my next point which is how she has influenced me, I cannot even begin to come close to describing
it. She could always put in plain words to elucidate confused concepts, and on top of that she has inspired me to
find such great fun in maths-problem solving. Never so easy to give up a problem, and I turn out to be a maths
teacher on my own.
And now with reference to whether I still keep in touch with her, the point I want to make here is that considering
I have always been a big fan of her, so if I had any chance, I would never miss it. In the course of internship, you
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could either be arranged by university or make your own choice of choosing one school. Why be arranged when I
can resit the classroom where I was learning in the past? Familiar learning environment with dear teacher is so
excited to me, and quite coincidentally, her office happened to be a rebuild of our classroom in my shcool year!
And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of whether she has influenced other people, really I
should mention that she is not only popular among her students, but also enjoy great popularity with her colleagues.
Her charming personality with a wide range of interests(excel at both drawing and sports) inspired all people
around.

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