Topic 21 - 30

TEST 21
Describe your first day at school as a child
That morning my mother woke me up earlier than usual. She urged me to get dressed and take breakfast quickly then tenderly took me to school. On the way to school I met other children of my age accompanied by their parents to school.
The nearer I came to the school gate, the more nervous I became. Suddenly a strange feeling of fear and worry seized my heart when I saw the majestic elementary school in front of me and I felt like crying when my mother said good bye to me and put some coins into my pocket. Never before had I been forced to separate from my beloved mother! But when I saw old pupils laughing and talking merrily I regained my composure.
After the droll of a drum, we were instructed to stand in line to salute the colours and then go into our classes. A young and mild-looking teacher greeted us at the door. And in a gentle voice, he taught us the first lesson that we never forget!




TEST 22
Your favourite hobby
My hobby is reading books. I inherited a valuable collection of books from my deceased father and up till now my cultural treasures have been preserved carefully.
Reading books broadens my mind improves my knowledge. They help me distinguish the bad from the good and prevent me from doing wrong.
Reading books brings me minutes of happiness and pleasures. I have found a source of consolation and encouragement in books when I am in despair. They're my true companions indeed. How relieved and comforted I feel when I can find in good books good teachers and friends!
Instead of indulging myself in futile entertainments, I often absorbed in reading interesting books which always have miracles to soothe my sorrows and hardships and reveal to me strange and new horizons.





TEST 23
Which season of the year do you like best? Why?
I was born in Northern Vietnam, where there are four clear seasons: Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season has its own charms and attractions. For example, spring is the season which offers beautiful flowers and warm weather; summer is the season of nice holidays when we can enjoy lots of outdoor activities such as picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing etc... Autumn is so beautiful with its ideal weather while winter can give us such delight as gathering by a fire to chat or tell each other funny stories. As far as I am concerned, I like autumn best because of the following reasons:
During autumn, which lasts more or less from late July to early October, it is sunny most of the time. The Autumnal sun is often splendid, dying nature yellow. The weather is also ideal because it is not too cold or too hot. Then the coldish northwesterly wind, which blows gently, thrills everyone with the breath of autumn. The leaves of the trees turning yellow or red put a gorgeous coat of colours on nature. Autumn is such a wonderful season that many poems and songs have been composed to sing the praises of the season. Autumn is also a season which reminds me of my first day at school, when my mother took me by the hand and led me to school for the first time.
Last but not least, autumn is the time when I can enjoy my favourite fruit and dish which are the Japanese persimmons and the green rice flakes. These are found only in autumn.





TEST 24
Smoking damages our health
(Smoking is harmful to our health)
Over the last thirty years, thanks to the efforts of various branches of science and technology, research has proved that smoking damages health and shortens man's life-span.
According to a diagram released by the World's Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die of diseases connected to smoking is increasing more and more. The more science and technology learn, the more damage caused by smoking is discovered. Therefore, it seems that we can never put a final stop to the list of harm caused by smoking.
First of all, smoking brings about the decline of our memory because each cigarette we smoke destroys 15,000 cerebral cells.
Smoking is considered the number one cause of cardiovascular trouble, pneumonia, lung cancer etc... The main offending agents are carbon monoxide and nicotine in the smoke. These cancers - causing agents are also the ones which cause pharyngeal cancer. The toxic effects of smoke make the smoker's voice hoarse. Additionally, the visible effect is that the tobacco or opium tar sticks to the teeth, and causes them to become dark or dirty-yellow, diminishing our good looks and charm.
In conclusion, I would like to quote our well-known scholar "Le Quy Don" as saying some hundred years ago that smoking was like taking a toxic drug, the smoke of which wasted our health and diminished our life-span; yet, few people heeded his sage advice.




TEST 25
Describe your best friend and tell why you like him/her
Of all my friends, Thanh Hoa is my best friend since we enjoy each other's company so much that we'll miss each other greatly if we don't meet at least once a week. Thanh Hoa is twenty-two years old but everyone thinks she looks much younger. She's not so pretty but she's charming. She has a fair complexion that makes her look very healthy; here eyes are clear and expressive.
She is a very reliable, mature girl with a great sense of humour. She is very "down-to-earth" and is often shy. She has been with me in both good and bad times to either rejoice over something with me or to comfort me. She has a strong personality with crystal clear view of "right and wrong". She's an honest, a loyal and a warm humanitarian. Some people wonder how we can become such good friends because she is so quiet and I'm very energetic and outgoing. I think (that) the idiom "opposites attract" is the answer.





TEST 26
Why is it necessary to learn English?
English is the international language of business. In order to discuss our country's products and services with other people as well as to entice investment from foreign lands, we must do so in English. To communicate our thoughts and ideas to other cultures, the best tool is English. Communication is our link to the outside world and, in turn, our chance at economic growth. Most leading countries in the world either speak English or have English as their second language. There are the countries that have the resources, technology and knowledge to help us grow.
We are also invited to learn so much from English speakers. We can experience the foods of Ireland, the natural resources of Canada, the monuments of the U.S., the desert 'areas of Australia or the best fishing ports in New Zealand, just by talking with, these citizens. We, in turn, can also express our feelings and interests about Vietnam. The sharing of this kind of information is a bridge to long term friendships with people from all over the world.




TEST 27
The benefits of sports and physical exercises
Nobody can deny the benefits of sports and physical exercises.
In fact, such sports as: swimming, jogging, jumping, playing tennis, football, basket - ball, volley - ball, skating, skiing etc bring us a well - proportioned body.
When we practise a certain sport, our muscles are developed; blood circulates easily in blood vessels therefore we'll have a good appetite and a sound sleep
As for me, my favourite sport is jogging in the morning and playing tennis in the afternoon. By practicing these sports regularly I always feel fit and never get sick.
Health is much more precious than money. We can't lead a happy life if we are continually tortured by diseases.
Try to keep a clear mind in a healthy body and get accustomed to regular practice of certain sports, we'll feel life worth living.





TEST 28
Describe the countryside in the morning
As usual, when the first cock crows break the complete silence of the country, every activity of a new day begins: The villagers start getting up; buffalo tenders are calling each other to drive their cattle to the fields.
Smoke from the cottages is rising and spreading in the fresh air, mingling with the veil of morning mist. A few hours later, in the west, a bright, fresh and newly-bathed sun is looming gradually from the hedge of green bamboos. The dew drops on the grass and golden rice ears by the roadside are as resplendent as precious stones. Suddenly a lark flies up and sings gaily, followed by thousands of his companions. A fresh breeze comes on, the yellow rice fields begin to move and the pure air is redolent of soft fragrance. The scenery becomes livelier as groups of farmers are rushing, to their fields talking and laughing merrily, ready to resume work of a new day.





TEST 29
Why are good books considered good teachers and friends?
When I read a book, I am swept away into my own little world discovering new things and imagining places only I can see. It is a private dialogue between the author and me. There is no one to criticize or question me. I can read the book at my own speed and savour it every moment. Books offer us the world. We can learn about history, geography, famous and interesting people and different countries. It is the cheapest form of travel that I know! I love to read a variety of authors and learn about new ideas and ways of expression. I also try to read a variety of books, from romance to biographies and everything in between. I especially like adventure stories because it is in here that I can really put my imagination to work! There is such a vast amount of information available in books. From the early ages to our recent years we can continue to learn about a variety of topics and interests. School textbooks offer us the basics for learning how to learn-from math to science, from language to arts. Recently, my father and brother were interested in building a new table and chairs for our family's dinning room. Neither one of them is a carpenter. So how did they do it, your might ask? They bought a book that showed them how! A good book truly merits respect whether it is a "how-to" book, a good novel or a school textbook.




TEST 30
You tell a foreigner about Vietnam, your beloved homeland
Vietnam is a long, narrow strip of land in the shape of a letter "S". We, Vietnamese, compare our country to the shape of a dragon with the long narrow regions of the Centre forming the slender body, and the regions of the North forming the head, mane and front legs. Vietnam has a total territory of 332.000 square kilometers, and a coastline which meanders along the immense Pacific Ocean.
Being of a peace-loving nature the Vietnamese people nevertheless know how to react vigorously against adversities to defend their homeland. Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty for 2.000 years, they are also welcoming foreigners who come as their guests.
Most visitors who come to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting. The Red River Delta in the North, the Mekong River Delta in the South and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of green rice fields (paddy-fields) tended from draw to dusk by peasants in conical hats. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the energetic and purposeful performance in revitalizing the Vietnamese economy by the Vietnamese. They will have their senses thrilled by all the sights, tastes and smells of a society born of over a century between an ancient civilization and the ways of the West.
Despite the ravages of war in the past, the Vietnamese people are now determined to rebuild their homeland, making it many times as rich and magnificent as it used to be following Uncle Ho's teaching.