1. Read the passage and answer the questions.

The Cold War 

Vietnam War 

Dates: November 1, 1955 - April 30, 1975 

The Vietnam War was fought between communist North Vietnam and the government of Southern Vietnam. The North was supported by communist countries such as the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. The South was supported by anti-communist countries, primarily the United States. 

The United States lost the Vietnam War. It lasted for twenty years, something the US never expected when it joined in the fight. Not only did the US lose the war and the country of Vietnam to the communists, the US lost prestige in the eyes of the world. 

Before the War 

Prior to World War II Vietnam had been a colony of the French. During World War II the Japanese took control of the area. When the war ended there was a power vacuum. Vietnamese revolutionary and communist Ho Chi Minh wanted freedom for the country of Vietnam. However, the Allies all agreed that Vietnam belonged to the French. 

Containment 

Eventually Ho Chi Minh and his rebels began to fight the French. Ho's soldiers in the north were called the Viet Minh. Ho tried to get US help, but they didn't want Ho to succeed as they were worried about communism spreading throughout Southeast Asia. When Ho began to have success against the French, the US became more concerned. In 1950 they began sending aid to the French in Vietnam. 

The US Enters the War 

In 1954 the French lost a major battle to the Vietnamese. They decided to pull out of Vietnam. The country was divided up into a communist Northern Vietnam and a Southern Vietnam. It was supposed to be reunited under a single election in 1956. However, the United States did not want the country to become communist. They helped Ngo Dinh Diem get elected in the South. 

Major Events During the War 

• March 1959 - Ho Chi Minh declared all out war in order to unite Vietnam under one rule. 

• December 1961 - US military advisors begin to take a direct role in the war. 

• August 1964 - The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed by the US Congress after two US Destroyers were attacked by the North Vietnamese. This allowed US troops to use armed forces in the area. 

• March 8, 1965 - The first official US combat troops arrive in Vietnam. The US begins a bombing campaign of Northern Vietnam called Operation Rolling Thunder. 

• January 30, 1968 - North Vietnam launched the Tet Offensive attacking around 100 cities in Southern Vietnam. 

• July 1969 - President Nixon begins the withdrawal of US troops. 

• March 1972 - The North Vietnamese attack across the border in the Easter Offensive. 

President Johnson's War Plan 

President Lyndon Johnson had the plan to help the Southern Vietnamese get strong enough to fight the North rather than having the US win the war for them. By putting limits on the troops and not allowing them to attack Northern Vietnam from 1965 to 1969, the US had no chance to win. 

A Difficult War 

Not only were the US troops limited in what they could do strategically by President Johnson, the jungles of Vietnam proved a difficult place to fight a war. It was very difficult to find the enemy in the jungles and also difficult to determine who was the enemy. The troops had to deal with booby traps and constant ambushes from people they thought they were fighting for. 

The US Exits the War 

When Richard Nixon became president he decided to end US involvement in the war. He first began removing troops from Vietnam in July of 1969. On January 27, 1973 a ceasefire was negotiated. A few months later in March the final US troops were removed from Vietnam. In April of 1975 South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam. Soon the country became officially unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Vietnam was now a communist country. The US had lost the Vietnam War and also taken a major blow in the Cold War. Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

A Proxy War 

The Vietnam War can be considered a "proxy" war in the Cold War. Although the Soviet Union and the United States did not directly go to war, they each supported a different side in the war. 

Facts About the Vietnam War 

• The Viet Cong were Vietnamese rebels in the South who fought against the Southern Vietnam government and the United States. 

• North and South Vietnam were divided at the 17th parallel. 

• Ho Chi Minh died during the war in 1969. The city of Saigon was later renamed to Ho Chi Minh City in his honor. 

• The US chosen president of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, was not a good leader. He was hated by many Vietnamese and was executed in November of 1963. This was not a good sign for the US hopes in the area. 

• 58,220 US soldiers died in the Vietnam War. It is estimated that millions of Vietnamese died either in battle or as civilians caught in the crossfire.

1) Vietnam was a colony of what country prior to World War II?

2) Who was the leader of the communist government in North Vietnam?

3) When the French pulled out of Southern Vietnam, what country entered to try and help stop communism from spreading?

4) What year did the first US combat troops officially arrive in Vietnam?

5) What country had control of Vietnam during World War II?

6) What United States president decided to pull American troops out of Vietnam?

7) What defined the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam?

8) What major Vietnamese city was renamed to Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the leader of North Vietnam after the war?

9) Which side ended up winning the Vietnam War and taking control of the country?

Task 2: Rewrite the following sentences that keep the same meaning.

1. You should take the train instead of the bus.

-> If………………………………………… ………………………………………….. ………………

2. I’m sure that someone forgot to lock the door.

–> Someone must………………………………………. ………………………………………….

3. They bought this house ten years ago.

–> They have………………………………………. ………………………………………….. …..

4. The course finished with a big party.

–> At the end……………………………………….. ……………………………………………..

5. We invited a pop star onto the chat show, but he didn’t turn up.

–> The pop star………………………………………. ……………………………………………

6. Although she said that she would come, I don’t think she ever will.

—> Despite……………………………………. ………………………………………….. ………..

7. The plane had hardly left the airport when the accident happened.

–> No sooner…………………………………….. ………………………………………….. …….

8. You feel tired now because you didn’t sleep very well last night.

-> Had……………………………………….. ………………………………………….. …………..

9. When did you start the project?

—> How long………………………………………. ……………………………………………..

10. Their wedding will be held in a lovely church.

–> The church…………………………………….. ………………………………………….. ……

B. Choose the most meaningful sentence written from the given words.

135. most/ my friends/ prefer/ play sports/ to/ surf/ Net.

A. Most of my friends prefer playing sports to surf the Net.

B. Most of my friends prefer playing sports to surfing the Net.

C. Most of my friends prefer to play sports to surfing the Net.

D. Most of my friends prefers playing sports to surfing the Net.

136. today’s world/ teenagers/ rely/ technology/ more/ the past.

A. In today’s world, teenagers rely on technology more than in the past.

B. In today’s world, teenagers rely in technology more than in the past.

C. In today’s world, teenagers rely on technology more in the past.

D. In today’s world, teenagers relied on technology more than in the past.

137. most/ ethnic minorities/ Vietnam/ live/ mountainous areas.

A. Most of the ethnic minorities in Vietnam live the mountainous areas.

B. Most ethnic minorities in Vietnam lives in the mountainous areas.

C. Most of ethnic minorities at Vietnam live in the mountainous areas.

D. Most of the ethnic minorities in Vietnam live in the mountainous areas.

138. Thai people/ account/ approximately 1.8%/ Vietnam’s population.

A. Thai people accounts for approximately 1.8% of Vietnam’s population.

B. Thai people account of approximately 1.8% of Vietnam’s population.

C. Thai people account for approximately 1.8% of Vietnam’s population.

D. Thai people accounted for approximately 1.8% to Vietnam’s population.

139. which ethnic group/ second largest population/ Vietnam?

A. Which ethnic group has the second largest population in Vietnam?

B. Which ethnic group have the second largest population in Vietnam?

C. Which ethnic group has second largest population in Vietnam?

D. Which ethnic group have second largest population in Vietnam?

140. when/ I/ be/ child/ I/ enjoy/ play/ computer games.

A. When I was a child, I enjoyed to play computer games.

B. When I was a child, I enjoy playing computer games.

C. When I were a child, I enjoyed playing computer games.

D. When I was a child, I enjoyed playing computer games.

Task 5: Read the text carefully, then do the tasks.

Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of Khmer people in Mekong Delta. Ok Om Bok Festival takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at worshipping the Moon.

On the night of the Full Moon day, Khmer people set up a table of offerings; new sticky rice, yam, coconuts, bananas, sweeties, etc and bow their heads to show their thanks to the Moon. After that, there is a colorful and sparkling lanterns ceremony on Ba Om Lake. Khmer people not only drop these lanterns on the lake but also fly them to the sky. Dozens of great lanterns lighten the night sky in bustling music and the joy of Khmer people. Khmer people believe that these lanterns will bring bad luck and risk far away.

The most attractive and exciting activity of the Ok Om Bok Festival is the Ngo race (a special kind of boat of Khmer people in the shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in the Ok Om Bok Festival. Ngo is a long boat with 25 - 30 meters in length and 1 - 1.4 meter in width. There are about 40 to 60 boatmen in every “Ngo” with a leader at the top to guide the whole team. Before the race, people gather along the riverbanks making an exciting atmosphere. During the race, the boisterous sound of drum, trumpet, cheers and applause urge boatmen row as fast as possible to the end.

Overall, Ok Om Bok is an important festival in Khmer people’s life. Ok Om Bok Festival has a sacred meaning in the spiritual life of these people, making it a cultural characteristic of this ethnic community.

A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. Ok Om Bok Festival is celebrated in October in the Western Calendar.

2. At the night of the festival, Khmer people drop lanterns on the lake and fly lanterns to the sky.

3. Ngo is a snake-shaped boat of Khmer people.

4. The Ngo boat race takes place right after the Ok Om Bok Festival.

5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks.

6. Ok Om Bok Festival promotes the traditional cultural identity of the Khmer community.

B. Answer the questions.

1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?

2. What is the Ok Om Bok Festival celebrated for?

3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?

4. How long is a Ngo boat?

5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?

6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?

II/  Read the passage, then decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false sentences.

          Graham Bell was born in Scotland in 1847, when he was a young man of twenty-three he moved with his parents to Canada. Before the year was over, young Graham had left his family and gone to Boston. Though Bell was a dreamer, he was also a practical thinker and a man of action. In Boston, where he worked by day as a teacher of the deaf,  he worked far into the night experimenting with the electrical transmission of the sound. This led to the invention of the telephone.

…….. 1.  Alexander Graham Bell was born in Scotland.           

…….. 2.  He emigrated to Canada in 1860.  

…….. 3.  He went to Boston when he was twenty-three.  

…….. 4.  Graham Bell worked with the deaf in Boston.   

…….. 5.  He experimented with the electrical transmission of the sound by day.

Choose one of the following topics and talk in about 1 - 2 minutes. (7 points)

1. Do you think it’s better to live in the city or the countryside? Why (not)?

2. Which Tet activities do you like the best? Why? 

3. What are some common causes of land/air/water pollution? 

4. What should we do to reduce land/air/water pollution? 

5. What types of disasters happen in your country? 

Today, Mike and his mom are going to the library. Mike wants to find a book to read. His mom wants to use a computer there.

When they get to the library, Mike finds a book about detectives. He also finds a book with chapters about a friendly ghost. Finally, he finds a book about a man who lives in the woods without food or water. He puts the books on the front desk and waits for his mom.

Mike's mom sits at one of the computers in the library. She checks her email and looks at pictures of flowers on the internet. Then she reads a news article on a website.

Mike's mom leaves the computer and walks over to Mike, holding up something out for him. Mike looks at her quizzically. It takes him a moment to recognize what she is holding. "I got that movie for us to watch tonight," says Mike's mom. "Are you ready to leave?"

"Sure," Mike says, now holding the movie out in front of him. He reads the cover while walking back to the library entrance. He puts his books and the movie on the front desk to check out. A librarian stands behind the counter holding an electronic scanner. "How long can we keep them?" Mike asks her.

"Three weeks," says the librarian.

"Cool," says Mike.

Suddenly, Mike is surprised. His mother is checking out something else that is too big to put on the desk. It’s a picture of the ocean.

"What is that for?" Mike asks.

"To put on our wall at home," says Mike's mom.

"You can do that?" Mike asks.

Mike's mom smiles at the librarian. "Yes," she says, "but we have to return it in three months."

1. Based on the books Mike finds to check out, we can tell that he is interested in

1. science    B. nature    C. mystery    D. adventure

2. While at the computer, Mike's mom

I.     checks her email

II.    looks at pictures    

III.   reads an article

1. I only        

2. B. I and II only

3. C. II and III only

4. D. I, II, and III

3. According to the passage, how long can Mike and his mother use the books and the movie before they must return them to the library?

1. one week 

2. two weeks

3. three weeks

4. four weeks

4. Based on its use in paragraph 4, it can be understood that the word quizzically belongs to which of the following word groups?

1. abnormally, strangely, weirdly

2. casually, carelessly, indifferently

3. passionately, keenly, intensely

4. inquisitively, questioningly, curiously

5. As used in paragraph 5, the phrase "check out" most nearly means

1. to see

2. to rent

3. to find

4. to buy

6. Using the passage as a guide, it can be understood that you can check out which of the following things from the library?

I.     pictures

II.    furniture

III.   computers

1. I only

2. I and II only

3. II and III only

4. I, II, and III

7. This passage is mostly about

1. Mike's mom

2. a picture of the ocean

3. a trip to the library

4. computers and movies

1. Dịch từ tiêu đề cho đến “March 1972 - The North Vietnamese attack across the border in the Easter Offensive”. 

Task 5: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.

1. “We are having a workshop on information technology this Friday,” said Mark.

2. “I didn't attend the science class yesterday,” said Hoa.

3. “You need to do the experiment again tomorrow,” the teacher said.

4. “They have studied this kind of plant for two months,” she told us.

5. “We don't open the laboratory today,” Mr. Vinh said.

6. “I'm finding evidence for my research now,” said Nick.

7. “You may be late for the workshop this afternoon,” I told Mary.

8. “I didn't teach Earth Science last year,” said Dr. Thomas.

9. “We will start collecting the data next month,” Minh said to me.

10. “My sister isn't leaving for London tonight,” said Jane.