Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Holidays are rich in old traditions and are (1) _______in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English (2) _______ holiday, and in Scotland it is not kept at all, except by clerks in banks; all the shops, mills and factories are working. But six days later, (3)_______ New Year’s Eve, the Scots begin to enjoy themselves. People invite their friends to their house (4)_______ “sit the old year out and the new year in”. When the clock begins to strike, the head of the family (5)_______to the front door, opens it wide, and holds it until the last stroke. Then he shuts the door. He has let the old year out and the New Year in.

2. Read and listen to the dialogue. Who had a more enjoyable holiday: Dave or Lan?

(Đọc và nghe đoạn hội thoại. Ai đã có một kỳ nghỉ thú vị hơn: Dave hay Lan?)

Dave: Hi, Lan. Did you have a good holiday?

Lan: Yes, it was great, thanks.

Dave: What did you get up to?

Lan: I went on a city break with my family.

Dave: Abroad?

Lan: No, we went to Da Nang.

Dave: Cool. Did you have a good time?

Lan: Yes, we visited Ba Na Hills and Hoi An Ancient Town. We bought a lot of souvenirs.

Dave: Did you go on a boat trip to Cham Island?

Lan: No, the weather was bad. How was your holiday?

Dave: Not bad. But I didn't do much. We didn’t go away. I hung out with my friends. We went to a music festival and we visited a theme park a couple of times.

Lan: Sounds fun.

Dave: Yes, it was OK. Just a shame the holidays weren’t longer!

5.  Find three of the holiday activities from exercise 4 in the dialogue in exercise 2.

(Tìm ba trong số các hoạt động nghỉ lễ từ bài tập 4 trong đoạn hội thoại ở bài tập 2.)

2. Read and listen to the dialogue. Why does Mason change from feeling anxious to feeling terrified?

(Đọc và nghe đoạn đối thoại. Tại sao Mason thay đổi từ cảm giác lo lắng sang cảm giác sợ hãi?)

Ruby: So, this is your first school show, Mason. Are you excited about it?

Mason: Yes, I am. But I'm anxious too. There's going to be a big audience!

Ruby: Don't worry. They’re friendly!

Mason: I hope so. Where’s Alex? He isn't here yet.

Ruby: That's strange. He's usually very punctual.

Mason: Maybe he's too frightened to come.

Ruby: Alex? No, it can't be that. He's a really confident person.

Miss Hart: Hello, Mason. I had a message from Alex. He’s ill and can't perform tonight. He's very upset about it. Can you sing this song in the second half?

Mason: I know the song well, so maybe…

Miss Hart: Thanks, Mason. That's brave of you. Don't worry, you’ll be great.

Ruby: You've got your own song now. How exciting!

Mason: I know. But I'm terrified!

2. Read the article and check your ideas. Do you collect anything? If so, what?

(Đọc bài viết và kiểm tra ý tưởng của bạn. Bạn có sưu tập bất cứ điều gì không? Nếu có, đó là gì?)

He’s lovin’ it

Mike Fountaine has the world's largest collection of McDonald's memorabilia. The sixty-year-old McDonald's employee has spent almost fifty years collecting everything to do with the fast-food restaurant. He has already filled nine rooms of his house with 75,000 objects, including toys, badges, cups and uniforms! Mike has been at McDonald's since 1968. His first job was cooking Big Macs. A year later he began collecting badges, and he hasn't stopped since! A few years ago, Mike opened his own McDonald's restaurant. He has decorated it with memorabilia. 'People say it's the most beautiful McDonald's restaurant they've ever seen,' says Mike proudly.

2. Read and listen to the dialogue. Who do you think is more enthusiastic about seeing the film: Jack or Ellie? Find evidence for your opinion.

(Đọc và nghe đoạn đối thoại. Bạn nghĩ ai là người nhiệt tình hơn khi xem bộ phim: Jack hay Ellie? Tìm bằng chứng cho ý kiến của bạn.)

Ellie: At last! I've been waiting for ages. Where have you been? What have you been doing?

Jack: My bus didn't come. I've been trying to phone you since 7.30...

Ellie: You're 25 minutes late! The film has started.

Jack: Sorry. Do you still want to see it?

Ellie: Yes, I do. I've been looking forward to it for weeks. It stars my favourite actor. And I've already bought the tickets!

Jack: Let's go inside then.

Ellie: OK. But why is your hair wet? It hasn't been raining.

Jack: That's sweat. I've been running for 25 minutes! And I haven't eaten. Can we see the film later?

2. Read the blog post quickly and check your ideas from exercise 1.

(Đọc nhanh bài đăng trên blog và kiểm tra ý tưởng của bạn từ bài tập 1.)

GPS CHALLENGE

Dear Friends

CLAUDIA'S BLOG

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while. I've been a bit busy lately. You'll find out why... But first of all, have you ever heard of geocaching? It's a kind of treasure-hunting game that uses a GPS device-usually your smartphone-to find small containers called geocaches hidden all over the world. I can definitely recommend it- it's healthy and fun. So how does it work, exactly? Well, the first step is to go to the geocaching website or download the geocaching app onto your phone. Then choose a geocache and start looking. People have been hiding geocaches for more than ten years, so there are literally millions of them around the world, including Antarctica!

Geocaching began around the year 2000. However, similar games did exist in the past. For example, in the middle of the 19^th century, a game called 'letterboxing" became popular in the south of England. People walking in the countryside began to hide boxes of addressed postcards all along the route. When other walkers found a box, they collected the cards and posted them.

In geocaching, the boxes contain a logbook, where the person who finds it can write their name and the date. (They also record the find on the website.) Geocaches often contain a toy or gift, too. You are welcome to take this, provided you replace it with something you have brought with you.

The basic game just involves finding a geocache and recording it online and in the logbook. However, there are lots of variations: multi-cache challenges (each cache leads to the next until the final cache containing the logbook), 'travelling caches' (you move it to a different location and update the information on the website) and webcam caches' (you find a public webcam and capture an image of yourself on the webcam as proof of success). I've tried all of these types, and personally, I've enjoyed the multi-cache challenges the most.

Geocaching is an activity you can do alone or, like me, with a couple of friends, or at events with hundreds of other fans of the game. An example of such an event is the annual "Fumble after Dark' in November in Sweden. I'm seriously thinking about joining it next year. So why don't you get into geocaching too, and I might see you there!

Bye for now!

Claudia

3. Read the Reading Strategy and the questions in exercise 4. Then answer the following questions.

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc và các câu hỏi trong bài tập 4. Sau đó trả lời các câu hỏi sau.)

1. Which questions in exercise 4 ask about

(Các câu hỏi nào trong bài tập 4 hỏi về)

a. the writer's intention?

(dụng ý của người viết?)

b. the writer's opinion?

(ý kiến của người viết?)

c. factual information?

(thông tin thực tế?)

2. How did you decide on the answers to question 1?

(Làm thế nào bạn quyết định các câu trả lời cho câu hỏi 1?)

3. Which question in exercise 4 is about the whole blog post?

(Câu hỏi nào trong bài tập 4 là về toàn bộ bài đăng trên blog?)

4. Read the blog post again. Choose the correct option (a-d).

(Đọc bài viết trên blog một lần nữa. Chọn phương án đúng (a-d).)

1. To take part in geocaching you need

a. a mobile phone with GPS.

b. a mobile phone with GPS and a toy or gift.

c. a mobile phone, a toy or gift and a logbook.

d. nothing-just yourself!

2. The activity of geocaching

a. began in the 19^th century, but only became popular after 2000.

b. was originally only popular in one region of England, but now has fans all over the world.

c. was called "letterboxing' when it was first invented.

d. has similarities with a 19th-century game.

3. When you find a gift in a geocache, you

a. make a note of the gift on the website.

b. can borrow the gift, but have to return it.

c. are allowed to take the gift if you replace it with something else.

d. take a photo of the gift as proof that you have found it.

4. The writer thinks that the most enjoyable kind of geocaching is when

a. you have to find a public webcam.

b. you have to find a series of geocaches.

c. you have to find a geocache and then hide it in a different place.

d. you simply have to find one geocache.

5. The writer believes the 'Fumble after Dark' event

a. is less fun than geocaching with a couple of friends.

b. would be a very enjoyable event to attend.

c. is only suitable for adventurous people.

d. needs to attract more people.

6. The writer has written the blog mainly to

a. suggest that people try geocaching.

b. explain the differences between letterboxing and geocaching.

c. publicise a geocaching event in Sweden.

d. warn readers that geocaching is addictive.

2. Read the task and the blog post below. Which clubs from exercise 1 are mentioned? Which other clubs that are not in exercise 1 are mentioned?

(Đọc nhiệm vụ và bài viết trên blog dưới đây. Câu lạc bộ nào từ bài tập 1 được đề cập? Những câu lạc bộ nào khác không có trong bài tập 1 được đề cập?)

One Saturday last month, the school organised an open day for students and parents to learn about all the school clubs. The event took place in the playground and also in the school hall.

More than two hundred people came to the school to find out about the activities the school can offer. Most of them were parents of primary school children who are going to start at the school in September, at the beginning of the next school year.

More than twenty different school clubs had stalls in the playground. Students and teachers at the stalls explained to the visitors what goes on at the clubs. In the school hall, there were karate displays from the martial arts club and a short performance by the choir.

In my view, the day was a great success. Since the open day, lots of people have been asking for information about clubs. As well as that, the school has received suggestions for new clubs, including ballroom dancing and ice skating!

3. Answer the questions about the blog post

(Trả lời các câu hỏi về bài đăng trên blog)

What phrase does the writer use to

(Cụm từ nào người viết dùng để)

a. say when a past event took place?

(nói khi nào một sự kiện quá khứ xảy ra?)

b. introduce a personal opinion?

(giới thiệu một ý kiến cá nhân?)

c. introduce an additional point?

(giới thiệu một điểm truyền thống)

4. Read paragraph A of the text. Which of the ideas in exercise 3 are mentioned in the reading?

(Đọc đoạn A của văn bản. Ý nào trong bài tập 3 được nhắc đến trong bài đọc?)

A. Home (2009) is a 90-minute documentary about human threats to the Earth's ecological balance. It is made up of aerial shots of various places across the globe. Aiming to raise people's awareness of the alarming environmental destruction, this French movie shows human huge impacts on the Earth and the consequences of climate change. Viewers of the documentary particularly enjoy the footage of human origins, the Earth's water cycle, population growth, the melting Arctic ice cap and the coral reef.

B. The film was completed in eighteen months and the film crew did their filming of 488-hour raw footage by flying in a helicopter over various regions in more than fifty countries. At a press conference in Paris on March 9, 2009, its director, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, announced that its released versions would include theatre, television, DVD and the internet. About two months later, the film's worldwide release date was confirmed to be June 5.2009. Despite its availability in various forms, Home (2009) had its world festival premiere at the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival in 2012.

C. Home (2009) is available for free access in 14 languages. Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand has insisted that the film has no copyright. He has also stressed the educational benefits of the film over its financial gains. With this aim in mind, the film producer made the film available to as many people as possible. The film can be downloaded to your smart TV or any kind of digital device, with the proceeds all going to the GoodPlanet Foundation.

5. Read the text. Find the details related to the following numbers.

(Đọc văn bản. Tìm các chi tiết liên quan đến các số sau.)

14        50        488      2009    2012

6. Answer the questions in your own words.

(Trả lời các câu hỏi từ ngữ nói của riêng bạn.)

1. What images can be seen in the film?

(Những hình ảnh có thể được nhìn thấy trong phim?)

2. Where can Home (2009) be seen?

(Có thể xem Home (2009) ở đâu?)

3. Why doesn't Home (2009) have any copyright?

(Tại sao Home (2009) không có bản quyền?)

Read two texts. Circle the correct answers (A-D).

(Đọc hai văn bản. Khoanh chọn câu trả lời đúng.)

John has been a keen reader and his favourite topic is climate change. Looking at his bookshelf, you'll be amazed at how many special books on climate change he has. Most of these books are his own buy and he is very proud of his collection. Some others are his dad's souvenirs from his business trips abroad. Believe it or not, all you can find on John's wish lists are titles of new books on climate change and global warming. John once lent his collection to the school library for a book fair and he even gave a talk on causes and effects of global warming at his science club. His audience was fascinated by his explanation of the natural greenhouse effect and the human-enhanced process in which greenhouse gases trap the heat and radiation, thereby raising the earth's temperature.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that

A. John's friends don't care about his book collection.

B. John’s book collection is exploited to the fullest.

C. John spends most of his free time collecting and reading books.

D. John only receives books as birthday presents.

***

Hobby-related holidays are on the way to becoming one of the most lucrative forms of tourism, and younger people are definitely joining in. Of course, sports-related camps have been a huge part of tourism for ages, but what if you're someone with little interest in tennis or basketball? A good option for you might be a two-week photography tour-with stunning scenery, ancient buildings and sometimes even underwater photography Alternatively, if you are interested in nature, you can spend two weeks in an exotic location helping to identify rare plants and animals - while soaking up some sun and meeting like-minded people.

2. What does the writer say about hobby-related holidays?

A. They have existed for a long time.

B. They are mainly sports-related.

C They are usually for young people.

D They are popular and varied.

2. Read the article. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

(Đọc bài viết. Các câu này đúng (T) hay sai (F)?)

1 This sports organisation brings activities to school for young people. ☐

2 The organisation believes that sport helps young people in other areas of their lives. ☐

StreetGames

Who are we?

StreetGames is a sports charity that changes lives and communities. We are proud to give young people exactly what they are looking for – the chance to enjoy sport, give back to their communities and aspire to greater things. Seventy-one percent of young people have said that they would like the chance to try more sporting activities, but that they can’t afford to.

What do we do?

‘Doorstep Sport’ is what we do – we bring sport close to home in disadvantaged communities, at the right time, for the right price and in the right style. Sport is great! It provides fitness, fun and friendship opportunities, and since 2007 we have been using it to improve the lives of countless young people. It teaches them skills and knowledge which they can then use to make their own way in life.

What do we offer?

We have been speaking to a lot of young people about sports they would like to be involved in, and these are the answers: boys between the ages of 16 and 19 have voted for playing football, badminton and tennis, going swimming, cycling, running and to the gym and doing adventure sports. The girls have chosen similarly, except for netball rather than football, plus dance and fitness classes. Multi-sports sessions have also proved popular with everyone.

What do we want?

We are bringing sport to your neighbourhood, and we need some assistance. We are looking for young volunteers for this task. We need young people both to take part in our wonderful sporting activities and also to look after and coach the younger children. So, if you are aged 16-19, contact us if you would like to be involved. We need YOU!

3. Read the Reading Strategy. Then circle the correct answers.

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc. Sau đó khoanh tròn vào những câu trả lời đúng.)

1   Nearly three quarters of teenagers

a   aspire to play better sport.

b   have found the sport they are looking for.

c   haven’t played any sport.

d   would like to play sport if it was less expensive.

2   The aim of the charity is to

a   help communities to get fitter.

b   organise local sporting activities cheaply.

c   advise young people on how to succeed in life.

d   provide intensive sports training for teenagers.

3   Adventure sports were

a   chosen by boys only.

b   selected by both boys and girls.

c   more popular than dance classes.

d   not as popular as football.

4   The writer wants

a   to encourage teenagers to join the sports project.

b   young children to contact the organisation.

c   young people to pay for sporting activities.

d   to help young people at home.