PRACTICE

I. Reported Speech
1. “ I will bring the sandwiches to the party” said Helen.
-> Helen offered.........................................................................................................................................................
2. “ Let’s all go to Lisbon!” they said. -> They suggested...........................................................................................
3. “ You’d better leave that old flat,” my mother told us.
-> My mother advised ................................................................................................................................................
4. “ Please let me go to Martin’s house!” Said Muriel three times.
-> Muriel insisted........................................................................................................................................................
5. “ It was you and only you who stole the cake from the fridge” my mother told my sister.
->My mother accused................................................................................................................................................
6. “I’m awful sorry, I will never again use your car without permission” she said almost crying.
-> She apologized........................................................................................................................................................
7. “ Don’t cross the river, it’s full of crocodiles”
-> They warned...........................................................................................................................................................
8. “I’m sorry I’m late” -> He apologized.......................................................................................................................
9. “ I think you’d better drink the medicine” the doctor said.
-> The doctor advised..................................................................................................................................................
10. “Let’s eat something and then go for a stroll” she said.
-> She suggested.........................................................................................................................................................
11. “ Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the drink” ->He insisted.....................................................................................................
12. “ Yes, it was me who ate all the cake”-> She admitted................................................................................................
13. “Red wine is the best option for this dish”
->The waiter advised...................................................................................................................................................
14. “ Why don’t we go for a walk”? -> She suggested......................................................................................................
15. “ I wasn’t anywhere near the scene of the crime.
->The accused claimed ................................................................................................................................................
16. “ This spot is the best place for a picnic"
-> My father said .........................................................................................................................................................
17. “ The swallows return every spring and fly past my window.”
-> She explained ..........................................................................................................................................................
18. “ Can you answer the phone? I’m having a shower.”
-> He asked his son ......................................................................................................................................................
19. “ I gave you my homework last week."
-> The boy insisted.......................................................................................................................................................
20. “ Could you come and pick me up from school today, Dad?”
-> Bill asked.................................................................................................................................................................
21. “ If I were you, I wouldn’t drink so much”
->He advised his friend.................................................................................................................................................
22. “ I won’t help you because you didn’t help me”
-> Joan said .......................................................................................................................................................................
-> Joan refused ...................................................................................................................................................................
 23. “ I’ll bring it back tomorrow”
->He said.........................................................................................................................................................................
->He promised................................................................................................................................................................
II. Verb tenses
1. I .......................... (1- be) a fan of soap operas for years. I .............................. (2- always watch) my favourite
show three times a week. In fact, until about a week ago, I .......................... (3- never / miss) a single episode. Last
Saturday, while I ........................ (4- sit) in front of the TV, the electricity suddenly .......................... (5- go off). After
waiting for about an hour, I finally phoned the telephone company. “What .......................... (6- happen)?” I asked them.
“When ............................ (7- we / have) electricity again?” The man I spoke to said it .......................... (8- take) a while
to fix the problem. So I .......................... (9- not watch) my favourite soap opera that day. Strangely enough, I
.......................... (10- not watch) it since. Suddenly, there are so many other things to do!
2. Sue Thomas is a fashion designer. She ..................................... (1- make) clothes ever since she ………...….
(2- be) a young girl. She …………………………. (3- get) her first job in a clothes factory when she was sixteen. She
…………………… (4- sew) buttons onto a shirt one day when she ………………….. (5- have) a brilliant idea for a
design. After she …………………. (6- speak) to her bank manager, she got a loan and she …………....……. (7- open)
her own little workshop. Now she …………………………. (8- make) lots of money. Next year she …………………..
(9- open) a shop which will sell all her own designs. She ………………… (10- sell) clothes to a lot of famous people,
including film stars and singers, and she …...................... (11- think) she will be very rich soon.
III. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of verb. Choose the answers from the options given in the brackets.
1. One of my friends (has / have) gone to France.
2. Each of the boys (was / were) given a present.
3. Neither of the contestants (was / were) able to win a decisive victory.
4. Oil and water (do / does) not mix.
5. He and I ( was / were) at Oxford together.
6. Slow and steady (win / wins) the race.
7. Neither Peter nor James (has / have) any right to the property.
8. No prize or medal (was / were) given to the boy, though he stood first in the examination.
9. Either Mary or Alice (is / are) responsible for this.
10. Neither the Minister nor his colleagues (have / has) given any explanation for this.
11. The result of Dr. Noll’s experiment( was,were) published in a scientific journal.
12. Bob and his friends( is,are) coming to the anniversary party tomorrow night.
13. Every man, woman, and child (is,are) protected under the law.
14. At least three-quarters of that book on famous Americans (is, are) about people who lived in the 19 th century
15. Ten minutes (is, are) more than enough time to complete this exercise.
16. The police (is, are) coming. I’ve already called them.
17. Japanese (is, are) very difficult for English speakers to learn.
18. the Japanese (has, have) a long and interesting history.
19. The old in my country (is, are) cared for by their children and grandchildren.
20.The extent of Jane’s knowledge on various complex subjects ( astounds. Astound: lam kinh ngac) me.
21. The subjects you will be studying in this cource (is, are) listed in the syllabus.
22. Massachutes and Connecticut (is, are) located inNew England.
23. Only the black Widow spider, or all of the spiders in the United States, ( has,have) caused death among human being.
24. Almost every professor and student at the Universary ( approves, approve) of the choice or Dr.Brown as the new
president
25. Each girl and boy in the sixth- grade class( has,have) to do a science project.
26. Getting to know students from all over the world (is, are) one of the best parts of my job.
27. Annie had a hard time when she was coming home from the store because the bag of groceries ( was,were) too heavy
for her to carry.
28. (Is, are) having the respondsibility for taking care of pets good for young children?
She asked him whether the mayor or the city council (a) is (b) are responsible for introducing the budget.
29. The budget, as well as other documents, (is/ are) filed with the city clerk.
30. Neither the council members nor the mayor (was/ were) happy with the need to increase the property tax.
31. The number of votes opposing the budget (was/ were) twice last year's number of opposition votes.
32. Gold said $2 million for the purchase of textbooks (is/ are) a lot of money in the age of the computer.
33. Neither Councilman Garner nor the other members (is/ are) happy with the item, Gold said.
34. Councilman Fuentes commented that the council (are/ is) investigating putting computers in every classroom.
35. Every one of the members of the council (is/ are) receiving mail and calls on the subject, Gold said.
IV. Insert "the" if necessary
1 . ......... . youngest boy has just started going to .......... . . school; . .......... . eldest boy is at . ......... . college.
2 She lives on . ............... . top floor of an old house. When . ............. . wind blows, all . .......... . windows rattle.
3 . . ............. darkness doesn't worry . ........... . cats; ............ . . cats can see in ............ . . dark.
4 My little boys say that they want to be . ........ . spacemen, but most of them will probably end up in . .......... .
less dramatic jobs.
5 A: Do you know . ................ . time? ~
B: Yes, . ........ . clock in . ........... . hall has just struck nine. ~
A: Then it isn't . ............. . time to go yet.
6 A: He was sent to . ........... . prison for . ............ . six months for . ............... . shop-lifting.
B: When . ......... . six months are over he'll be released; . ....... . difficulty then will be to find . ....... . work.
A: Do you go to . . . prison to visit him?
7. I went to . .......... . school to talk to ........... . . headmistress. I persuaded her to let Ann give up . ............ .
gymnastics and take . ..... . ballet lessons instead.
8 . ............ . ballet isn't much use for . ........... . girls; it is much better to be able to play . .......... . piano.
9 I am on........... night duty. When you go to . ............ . bed, I go to . .......... . work.
10 Peter's at . . ........... office but you could get him on . ........... . phone. There's a telephone box just round
. ......... . corner
V. Choose the word that best fits each of the blanks in the following passage.
How men first learnt to (1) ………... words is unknown; in other words, the origin of language is a (2) ….….... .
All we really know is that men, unlike animals, (3) .…….….. invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings,
actions and things so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed (4) ………….. certain signs,
called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds, and which could be written down. These sounds, (5)
………….. spoken or written in letters, are called words.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words that (6)
………….. powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary (7)
…………... . Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can (8) ………….. his meaning in words which sing like
music, and which by their position and association can (9) ………….. men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose
our words carefully, (10) …………… they will make our speech silly and vulgar.
1. A. invent B. create C. make D. discover
2. A. story B. secret C. mystery D. legend
3. A. whatever B. however C. somewhat D. somehow
4. A. at B. upon C. for D. in
5. A. if B. however C. whether D. though
6. A. interest B. appeal C. attract D. lure
7. A. prose B. work C. form D. style
8. A. carry B. convey C. transfer D. transmit
9. A. take B. send C. break D. move
10. A. or B. so C. although D. because
VI. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each question.
1/ Reading to oneself is a modern activity which was almost unknown to the scholars of the classical and
medieval worlds, while during the fifteenth century the term “reading” undoubtedly meant reading aloud. Only during the
nineteenth century did silent reading become commonplace.
One should be wary, however, of assuming that silent reading came about simply because reading aloud was a
distraction to others. Examinations of factors related to the historical development of silent reading have revealed that it
became the usual mode of reading for most adults mainly because the tasks themselves changed in character.
The last century saw a steady gradual increase in literacy and thus in the number of readers. As the number of
readers increased, the number of potential listeners declined and thus there was some reduction in the need to read aloud.
As reading for the benefit of listeners grew less common, so came the flourishing of reading as a private activity in such
public places as libraries, railway carriages and offices, where reading aloud would cause distraction to other readers.
Towards the end of the century, there was still considerable argument over whether books should be used for
information or treated respectfully and over whether the reading of materials such as newspapers was in some way
mentally weakening. Indeed, this argument remains with us still in education. However, whatever its virtues, the old
shared literacy culture had gone and was replaced by the printed mass media on the one hand and by books and
periodicals for a specialised readership on the other.
By the end of the twentieth century, students were being recommended to adopt attitudes to books and to use
reading skills which were inappropriate, if not impossible, for the oral reader. The social, cultural and
technological changes in the century had greatly altered what the term “reading” implied.
1. Reading aloud was more common in the medieval world because ……………….. .
A. people relied on reading for entertainment B. silent reading had not been discovered
C. there were few places available for private reading D. few people could read to themselves
2. The development of silent reading during the last century indicated ………………... .
A. an increase in the average age of readers B. an increase in the number of books
C. a change in the nature of reading D. a change in the status of literate people
3. Silent reading, especially in public places, flourished mainly because of …………… .
A. the decreasing need to read aloud B. the development of libraries
C. the increase in literacy D. the decreasing number of listeners
4. The phrase “oral reader” in the last paragraph mostly means “a person who ……………. .”
A. is good at public speaking B. practises reading to an audience
C. takes part in an audition D. is interested in spoken language
5. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A. Reading aloud was more common in the past than it is today.
B. The decline of reading aloud was wholly due to its distracting effect.
C. Not all printed mass media was appropriate for reading aloud.
D. The change in reading habits was partly due to the social, cultural and technological changes.
2/ Legend has it that sometime toward the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) a government train carrying oxen traveling
through the northern plains of eastern Wyoming was caught in a snowstorm and had to be abandoned. The driver returned
the next spring to see what had become of his cargo. Instead of the skeletons he had expected to find, he saw his oxen,
living, fat, and healthy. How had they survived?
The answer lay in a resource that unknowing Americans lands trampled underfoot in their haste to cross the “Great
American Desert” to reach lands that sometimes proved barren. In the eastern parts of the United States, the preferred
grass for forage was a cultivated plant. It grew well with enough rain, then when cut and stored it would cure and become
nourishing hay for winter feed. But in the dry grazing lands of the West that familiar bluejoint grass was often killed by
drought. To raise cattle out there seemed risky or even hopeless.
Who could imagine a fairy-tale grass that required no rain and somehow made it possible for cattle to feed
themselves all winter? But the surprising western wild grasses did just that. They had wonderfully convenient features
that made them superior to the cultivated eastern grasses. Variously known as buffalo grass, grama grass, or mesquite
grass, not only were they immune to drought; but they were actually preserved by the lack of summer and autumn rains.
They were not juicy like the cultivated eastern grasses, but had short, hard stems. And they did not need to be cured in a
barn, but dried right where they grew on the ground. When they dried in this way, they remained naturally sweet and
nourishing through the winter. Cattle left outdoors to fend for themselves thrived on this hay. And the cattle themselves
helped plant the fresh grass year after year for they trampled the natural seeds firmly into the soil to be watered by the
melting snows of winter and the occasional rains of spring. The dry summer air cured them much as storing in a barn
cured the cultivated grasses.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. A type of wild vegetation B. Western migration after Civil War
C. The raising of cattle D. The climate of the Western United States
2. What can be inferred by the phrase “Legend has it” in line 1?
A. Most history book include the story of the train.
B. The story of the train is similar to other ones from that time period.
C. The driver of the train invented the story.
D. The story of the train may not be completed factual.
3. The word “they” in line 4 refers to _____.
A. plains B. skeletons C. oxen D. Americans
4. What can be inferred about the “Great American Desert” mentioned in line 7?
A. Many had settled there by the 1860’s.
B. It was not originally assumed to be a fertile area.
C. It was a popular place to raise cattle before the Civil War.
D. It was not discovered until the late 1800’s.
5. The word “barren” in line 7 is closed in meaning to _____.
A. lonely B. uncomfortable C. infertile D. dangerous
6. The word “preferred” in line 8 is closed in meaning to _____.
A. favored B. available C. ordinary D. required
7. Which of the following can be inferred about the cultivated grass mentioned in the second paragraph?
A. Cattle raised in the Western United States refused to eat it. B. It had to be imported into the United States.
C. It would probably not grow in the western United States. D. It was difficult for cattle to digest.
8. Which of the following was NOT one of the names given to the western grasses?
A. Mesquite grass B. Bluejoint grass C. Buffalo grass D. Grama grass
9. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a characteristic of western grasses?
A. They contain little moisture B. They have tough stems
C. They can be grown indoors D. They are not affected by dry weather
10. According to the passage, the cattle help promote the growth of the wild grass by_____.
A. eating only small quantities of grass. B. continually moving from one grazing area to another.
C. naturally fertilizing the soil. D. stepping on and pressing the seeds into the ground.
VII. Rewrite the following sentences
1. It was the goalkeeper who saved the match for us. → If it hadn’t………………......…………………………..
2. It is thought that the accident was caused by human error.
→ The accident………………………………………….……..
3. I think the last time I saw you was at Diana’s house-warming party.
→ I don’t think………………………………………………….
4. I gave Tom the message, but he already knew about it. → I needn’t…………………………………………...
5. I’ve forgotten that singer’s name but she’s very well-known.
→ That singer,…………………………………………….…….
6. It is essential that no one is told about our plans.→ You………………………………………………………..
7. Under no circumstances should you phone the police.→ The last ………………………………………….…..
8. Susan said that she didn’t want to go out that evening. (RATHER)
→ Susan said that ……………………………………. out that evening.
9. When was the last time you saw Robert? (LONG) → How …………………..……... you last saw Robert?
10. Would you like to see the photos I took? (HAVE)
→ Would you like …………………….………..….…. the photos I took?
11. They share a lot of hobbies and interests. (COMMON) → They have a lot of …………….....…..………… .
12. I’ve got to get a new computer. (NEED)  What I really ........................................... new computer.
13. I can’t describe people as well as you can. (BETTER)  You’re ..................................................... I am.
14. It was easy for us to get tickets for the concert. (NO)  We ........................................ tickets for the concert.
15. I hate to watch late night films on TV. (STAND)  I …………………………… late night films on TV.
16. The players did their best, so the manager thanked them. (FOR)
 The manager …………………….………….. their best.
17. She couldn’t finish the race because she was injured. (PREVENTED)
 Her injury …….…………………………………… the race.
18. As far as I know he is still working in HoChiMinh city. (KNOWLEDGE)
 To ………………………………………………………………….
19. People say that the president wanted to be a film star.
-> The president is ……………………………………………………………. .
20. In the unlikely event of a fire, please do not use the lift.
-> Should …………………………………………………………………….. .
21. It’s impossible for them to have found him in that jungle.
-> He …………………………………………………………………………. .
22. I am very much looking forward to seeing my great grandson for the first time.
-> What …………………………………………………………………………. .
23. If you want to save your eyesight, we must operate immediately.
-> Only by ………………………………………………………………………… .
24. It was his own fault that he lost his job. He was lat for work every morning.
-> If …………………………………………………………………………………. ..
25. I’m more interested in the people than the job.
-> It’s not the ………………………………………………………………….. ..
26. Although Johnny Brax drives carefully on public roads, he is a terror on the race track.
-> Johnny Brax is a …………………………………………………………………………… .
27. “You’ve done really well to pass your driving test so quickly”
-> She congratulated …………………………….
28. This is the first time that I have seen an eclipse of the sun.
-> Never ……………………………………………… .
29. No situation is more depressing than being unemployed.
-> Being …………………………………………………. .
30. If you should get caught doing this. You will go to prison.
-> Were …………………………………………….….
31. The thinking is that he has been targeted to succeed the president.
-> He is ………………………………….. .
32. The house collapsed because of faulty building work.
-> It was …………………………………………………… .
33. He managed to complete the sculpture although his eyesight was failing.
-> Despite ……………………………. .
VIII. Fill the blank with ONE suitable word
It was the day of my grandmother’ 80th birthday when the sitting room ceiling fell down. All the family were
there, at my Uncle Philip’s house(1)...........................was large, old building situated in a small, peaceful village north
west(2)........................Oxford. We(3)...........................already finished lunch and, as (4).....was such a beautiful afternoon,
we were all outside (5)............................the garden, drinking coffee and catching (6).............................on all family news.
Grandmother, (7).....................was rather deaf, was (8)...........................usual, telling stories about her childhood in
Manchester, (9).............................in the sunshine, laughing children and barking dogs chased each
(10)..............................around.
Suddenly, (11).......................was a tremendous crash. We all looked round in astonishment, wondering what on
earth had (12).............................Uncle Philip and my father ran into the house, and then my sister and I
(13)..............................There, the most extraordinary sight met our eyes. The sitting room was(14)..........................ruins
and the air was thick with dust. Uncle Philip (15) ............................ standing in the (16)..............................of the room,
holding Tabatha, his cat, who looked terrified. “ It’s (17)............................of the problems of living in a house as old
(18).......................this”, he explained calmly. Meanwhile, outside, grandmother asked (19)..............................more coffee
and enquired when the cake (20).........................be cut.
IX. Use the prompts below to make sentences
1. Hoa / measure / height / weight / the scale / the moment.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Mr. Lam / now wear / face mask / protect him / breathe / dust.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Last semester / my class / there be / total / 98 days’ / absence / due / sickness.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
4. Last year / brother / work / engineer / printing factory.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
5. We / cold / “common” / because / every year / millions / people / world / catch.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
6. They / glad / their daughter / back from England / 5 years / work here.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
7. How much / you pay / meal / depend / prices / dishes here.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
8. I / return / book / borrowed / unless / you / return / tape / lend / last week.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
9. Please / me / know / you can come / party / not as / I hold / restaurant.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
10. If / weather/nice/we/go/picnic / countryside.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
11. They / look forward / see / their children / soon / possible.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
12. I/always/think/my university/be / good / country.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
13. It / be / great time / because / I spend / all / time / there / go swimming.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
14. I / study / English / four years / but / want / improve / speaking / and / listening / skill.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
15. Internet / be / cheap way / communicate / friends and relatives / means of e. mail or chatting.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................................................
NEW WORDS
taste (n): vị, sự ưa thích; sở thích, thị hiếu imaginative (a): có hoặc tỏ ra có sức tưởng tượng;
(v): nếm, trải qua, nếm mùi, thưởng thức, giàu tưởng tượng
hưởng, imaginary (a): tưởng tượng, không có thực, ảo
- to have no taste: không có vị, nhạt (rượu) - an imaginary disease: bệnh tưởng tượng
swallow (n): sự nuốt, miếng, ngụm - imaginary number: số ảo
(v): nuốt (thức ăn) distinct (a): riêng, riêng biệt; khác biệt
chew (n): sự nhai distinction (n): sự khác biệt
digest (v): suy nghĩ kỹ càng, tiêu hoá (thức ăn), tiêu faith (n) sự tin tưởng, sự tin cậy
hoá (những điều đã học...) faithful (a): trung thành, chung thủy
describe (v):mô tả, miêu tả - to be faithful to one's beliefs
description (n): sự mô tả, sự miêu tả ( trung thành với tín ngưỡng của mình)
- beyond description: không thể tả được - to be faithful to one's wife
descriptive (a): diễn tả, mô tả, miêu tả ( chung thủy với vợ mình)
- a descriptive writing: bài văn miêu tả resolve (v) giải quyết (khó khăn, vấn đề, mối nghi
incredible(a): không thể tin được, lạ thường ngờ...)
incredibility or incredibleness (n): sự không thể tin responsibility (n) trách nhiệm
được, điều không thể tin được to take the responsibility to sb for sth chịu trách
incredibly (adv) nhiệm với ai về điều gì đó
fascinating (a): hấp dẫn, lôi cuốn, quyến rũ to rush to (v) xông tới, lao vào
fascination (n): sự thôi miên, sự làm mê, sự mê to be willing (to do sth) sẵn sàng làm cái gì
hoặc, sự quyến rũ to give a hand giúp một tay
fascinatingly (adv) một cách thu hút, quyến rũ obedient (to sb/sth) (adj) biết vâng lời, ngoan
fascinate (v): thôi miên, làmmê hoặc, quyến rũ ngõan, dễ bảo
biography n): tiểu sử; lý lịch obedience (n)
biographer: người viết tiểu sử obediently (adv)
biographic or biographical (a) to support : ủng hộ
imagine (v): tưởng tượng, hình dung be supportive of sb/sth: sủng hộ ai/ cái gì
imagination (n) sự tưởng tượng