READING 7

I. Read the conversation and choose the correct answer.

Hoa: Hello, Lan.
Lan: Hi, Hoa. You seem (1) ............................
Hoa: I am. I (2) ............................ a letter from my friend Nien today.
Lan: Do I know her?
Hoa: I don’t think so. She was my next - door neighbor (3) ............................ Hue.
Lan: What does she look (4) ............................?
Hoa: Oh. She’s beautiful. Here is her photograph.
Lan: What a lovely smile! Was she your classmate?
Hoa: Oh, no. She was (5) ............................ to be in my class.
1. A. happy B. happily C. more happy D. more happily
2. A. receive B. received C. receives D. receiving
3. A. on B. at C. to D. in
4. A. likes B. liked C. like D. to like
5. A. old not enough B. enough old not
C. not old enough D. not enough old
II.Read the passage about family traditions in Viet Nam, and fill in the blanks with the
suitable words.
importance there because ancestors by
arrange more responsible look after
Marriage and family are very important in Viet Nam. In the countryside, parents often (1)
___________________ marriages; divorce remains uncommon, though is (2)
___________________ frequent in cities. In traditional Vietnamese families, roles are rigid.
The man of the house is primarily (3) ___________________ for the family’s economic well-
being. Older children help to (4) ___________________ after younger siblings. Discipline is
viewed as a parental duty.
The woman of the house looks (5) ___________________ her parents, husband and children.
In rural areas, women also do much agricultural work. Vietnamese women live (6)
___________________ the “four virtues”: hard work, beauty, refined speech and excellent
conduct.
The Vietnamese attach great (7) ___________________ to two traditional family obligations:
to care for their parents in their old age and to worship them after death. In each Vietnamese
family, (8) ___________________ is at least one altar on which there are the pictures of their
ancestors. Family members worship their ancestors (9) ___________________ they think
parents after death will go to live in another world and this altar is the place where the ancestors’
souls live in. As a result, every day Vietnamese people lay flowers or sometimes fruits on the
altar for the belief that those (10) ___________________ will enjoy them.
III.Read the passage about introducing Vietnamese customs to foreigners, and then
choose the best answer A, B, C or D.
The Vietnamese are known to be polite, hospitable and sensitive. They have acasual and
friendly (1) ___________________ . They regard friendship as being very important
throughout one’s life. They are always open to visits from friends. Drop-in visits are welcome.
The Vietnamese are very (2) ___________________ to their family.
When they (3) ___________________ you a gift, the Vietnamese will usually speak lightly
about it. Even though it is an expensive gift, they may pretend it is of no great monetary value.
(4) ___________________ 4,000 years of civilization, the Vietnamese are proud people who
like to recite to a myth that they are descendants of an angel and a dragon.
If you happen to be in their homes at meal time, the Vietnamese will probably (5)
___________________ you to sit down and share whatever food is (6) ___________________
. Let them know that you enjoy their food is one way in
successfully (7) ___________________ a better relationship with them.
When they invite you to their homes for a meal, celebration, or special occasion, some (8)
___________________ usually food, fruits, chocolate or liquors - should be offered to the
host’s family.
1. A. tradition B. feature C. culture D. manner
2. A. closed B. closing C. close D. being closed
3. A. offer B. carry C. send D. sell
4. A. Of B. With C. At D. In
5. A. take B. require C. speak D. invite
6. A. good B. present C. available D. delicious
7. A. setting B. building C. taking D. being
8. A. gifts B. invitations C. offers D. situations
READING 8
I. Read the passage and answer the questions below
David wants to buy a Christmas present for a very special person, his mother. David’s father
gives him $5.00 pocket money a week and David puts $2.00 a week into his bank account. After
three months David takes $20.00 out of his bank account and goes to the shopping mall. He
looks and looks for a perfect gift.
Suddenly he sees a beautiful brooch in the shape of his favourite pet. He says to himself, “My
mother loves jewelry, and the brooch costs only $17.00.” He buys the brooch and takes it home.
He wraps the present in Christmas paper and places it under the tree. He is very excited and he
is looking forward to Christmas morning to see the joy on his mother’s face.
But when his mother opens the present she screams with fright because she sees a spider.
1. Who does David get his money from?
..................................................................................................................
2. What does David want to buy his Mother?
..................................................................................................................
3. How much money does David take to the mall?
..................................................................................................................
4. What does David buy his mother?
..................................................................................................................
5. What does David do with the present when he takes it home?
..................................................................................................................
6. Why does David’s mother scream?
..................................................................................................................
7. Why does David buy a spider brooch?
..................................................................................................................
8. Where does David put the present on Christmas Eve?
..................................................................................................................
II. Complete the conversation between Nick and Mai about Vietnamese table manners
with the sentences given (A-H). Practise the conversation with your partner.
A. No. You should wait to be shown where to sit, and the oldest person should sit first.
B. Yeah, you should try to finish everything on your plate.
C. You should bring a small gift, such as fruits, sweets, flowers...
D. You shouldn’t bring handkerchiefs, anything black, or yellow flowers.
E. They are chopsticks and a flat spoon.
E. You should rest your chopsticks on top of your rice bowl.
G. Yes, and remember to cover your mouth when using a toothpick.
H. Chopsticks should be placed on the table or a chopstick holder after a few mouthful or
when breaking to drink or speak.
Peter: What should I do first if I am invited to a Vietnamese home for dinner, Huong?
Huong: (1)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Which kinds of gift shouldn’t I bring?
Huong: (2)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Can I sit at the dining table as I would like to?
Huong: (3)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: What are the most common utensils for a meal in Viet Nam?
Huong: (4)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Where should I place my chopsticks when breaking to drink or speak?
Huong: (5)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Is there anything else that I have to pay attention to during the meal?
Huong: (6)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: What should I do when I finish dinner?
Huong: (7)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Do Vietnamese people often use toothpicks after finishing a meal?
Huong: (8)_____________________________________________________________
Peter: Thank you so much, Mai.
Huong: You’re welcome. I hope you’ll enjoy having a meal with a Vietnamese household.
READING 9
I. Choose the option that best fits each of the blank spaces.
Tet is a national and (1) ___________________ festival in Vietnam. It is an occasion for
everyVietnamese to be reunited to think (2) ___________________ their past activities and
hope for goodluck (3) ___________________the year to come.
Before Tet all houses are white washed and (4) ___________________ with yellow apricot
flowers and colorful lanterns. Everybody is looking (5) ___________________ to a more
favorable life. (6) ___________________ the New Year’s Eve, children are smartly dressed.
They are hoping to (7) ___________________ money put in small red envelopes as they are
wishing longevity to their grandparents and parents. Wrong doings (8) ___________________
be absolutely avoided on these days.
1. A. traditional B. modern C. music D. summer
2. A. to B. about C. after D. for
3. A. in B. at C. on D. when
4. A. decorate B. decorates C. decorating D. decorated
5. A. at B. for C. after D. forward
6. A. In B. At C. On D. When
7. A. receive B. buy C. sell D. make
8. A. ought B. need C. should D. have
II. Read and complete the passage with words in the box.
spring kept celebrate traditional
Because Therefore served However
Tet is the biggest festival in Vietnam. To (1) ......................... Tet, Vietnamese people make
many tasty (2) ......................... foods. The most important food includes Chung cakes, sausages,
boiled chicken, (3) ......................... rolls, and sticky rice. Chung cake is made of sticky rice,
pork, green beans, and other spices, wrapped in green leaves; (4) ......................... this cake
needs a lot of preparation. This cake can be (5) ......................... for a long time, even though
the weather is often humid during Tet. Other significant foods that cannot be missed to worship
the ancestors are sausages, spring rolls, and sticky rice. (6) ......................... sausages are
difficult to make, people often buy them from famous suppliers. (7) ........................., sticky rice
and spring rolls are easier to prepare and must be (8) ......................... immediately after they
are cooked, so they are often made at home.
III.Read the passage and answer these questions below.
TET holiday is celebrated on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Viet Nam. Some weeks
before the New Year, the Vietnamese clean their houses and paint the walls. New clothes are
bought for the occasion. One or two days before the festival, people make Bank Chung, which
is the traditional cake, and kinds of jam. On the New Year’s Eve, the whole family gets together
for a reunion dinner. Every member of the family should be present during the dinner in which
many different kinds of dishes are served. On the New Year morning, the young member of the
family pays their respects to the elders. And the children receive lucky money wrapped in red
tiny envelops. Then people go to visit their neighbors, friends and relatives.
1. Is TET holiday celebrated on the second day of the Lunar New Year in Viet Nam?
..................................................................................................................
2. What do the Vietnamese often do some weeks before the New Year?
..................................................................................................................
3. Who do people often visit on TET holiday?
..................................................................................................................
4. How many kinds of dishes are served in the reunion dinner?
..................................................................................................................
IV. Read the passage and fill in the blanks with the correct words.
is give atmosphere their meant
have forget comparison of studies
Teachers Day (1) ___________________ on the first of September each year. Generally, it is
(2) ___________________ for school children to show (3) ___________________
appreciation to their teachers who (4) ___________________ guided them in their (5)
___________________. It is a time to (6) ___________________ the bad experiences students
may have (7) ___________________ their teachers scolding and punishing them. Students (8)
___________________ their teachers flowers and gifts. Such gestures are small in (9)
___________________to the teacher’s dedication and hard work. Parties are held and there is
an (10) ___________________ of fun and amusement in the school.
READING 10
I.Choose the option that best fits each of the blank spaces.
Harvest Festival is (1) ………………. October. It is a very ancient (2) ………………. but it
is also a part of the Christian tradition. It (3) ………………. new crops and food. Children
often bring fruit, vegetables and cereals into school. Schools usually give the food to hospitals
or to old people. (4) ………………. the past, people sometimes (5) ………………. traditional
dolls out of corn.
1. A. in B. at C. on D. from
2. A. thing B. festival C. vacation D. holiday
3. A. gives B. supplies C. celebrates D. holds
4. A. In B. At C. On D. Since
5. A. make B. are making C. making D. made
II.Read the following passage and choose the best answers to each of the questions below.
Hi! I’m Dean. I’m from England. My favorite time of the year is Christmas, which is on
25th December. That’s when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. In the middle of December
we send a lot of cards to our friends and family, here and abroad. Then we get a big tree and
decorate it with lights and other things. On Christmas Day, we give each other presents. We
have one enormous meal with turkey, and after that, we have Christmas pudding.
1. When is Christmas held?
A.On 25 December B. In the middle of December
C.In the middle of the year D. no information
2. Christmas is held because Christians want to………. .
A.have a good time B. celebrate the birth of Christ
C.visit their friends and family D. decorate big trees
3. What does the word ‘decorate’ in line 4 mean?
A.make something look nicer B. paint something
C.make something look worse D. buy something
4. On Christmas Day, people ………...
A. give each other presents B. have an enormous meal with turkey
C. have Christmas pudding D. all answers are correct
5. Which of the following is not true?
A. Dean is English.
B. At Christmas, people get big trees and decorate it.
C. Dean prefers Halloween to Christmas.
D. In the middle of December, people send a lot of Christmas cards to their friends and family.
III. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the
following passage.
Kate Festival is (1) ………………. by the Cham people for 3 days at the beginning of October.
This event is held in a large space in the three Champa Towers (Po Nagar, PoKlong Garai and
Po Rome). The main purpose of the festival is to (2) ………………. their heroes like Po Klong
Garai and Po Rome. (3) ………………., the festival is a chance for thelocal people to relax, to
meet and wish one another (4) ………………. in the future.
This is one of the biggest and most important events of the Cham people inVietnam. (5)
………………., it is a good opportunity for the visitors to explore the (6) in the Cham culture,
from architecture to costumes, instruments andtraditional songs that are used to praise their
kings in the past. The Kate festival in each tower starts at the same time on the same day, and
the day after, villages and families begin to hold their own rites. During the rite, the people (7)
………………. their ancestors and gods with the help of a shaman, and then pray (8)
………………. health and prosperity. The actual festivals (9) ………………. after the rites.
It is a combination of traditional music and dance, including some activities (10)
………………. Performances of Ginang Drum and Saranai Flute or the traditional dance of
Cham girls.
1. A. organize B. being held C. hold D. organized
2. A. see B. commemorate C. watch D. love
3. A. However B. Nevertheless C. Moreover D. Therefore
4. A. fortune B. happy C. lucky D. dream
5. A. Therefore B. However C. Because D. Although
6. A. beautiful B. charm C. beautifully D. Charming
7. A. shout B. ask C. call D. speak
8. A. to B. about C. for D. of
9. A. take the place B. take places C. take part D. take place
10. A. like B. so C.such D. like as