I. Contrasting connectors
Question 1: …………………………she lived away from her parents, she kept vising them. A. However B. Even though C. Although
Question 2: He finished the race,………………………….having serious asthma problems. A. But B. Though C. Despite
Question 3: …………………………..his weight, he was quite an active person. A. In spite of B. Despite C. However
Question 4:…………………………...loud you talk to him, he won’t hear you, he is deaf. A. Although B. However C. While
Question 5: My children are not bad boys, but are very playful…………………………. A. However B. Though C. Whereas
Question 6: We love westerns, ……………………….my wife’s family hates them. A. Still B. Whereas C. Despite
Question 7: …………………………. the watch was expansive, he bought it. A. Although B. However C. Despite
Question 8: We went out……………………………the rain A. In spite of B. Despite C. A and B
Question 9: We went out……………………………it was raining A. In spite of B. Despite C. However
Question 10:………………….my husband didn’t like the movie, I enjoyed it a lot. A. Despite B. Although C. However
Question 11: He passed the test………………….., he didn’t get the job A. Despite B. However C. Although
Question 12: ………………………….he pass the test, he didn’t get the job A. In spite of B. Although C. However
Question 13: They managed to do it………………………….I was not there A. Although B. Despite C. However
Question 14: …………………………… of the headache, I enjoyed the movies. A. Despite B. However C. In spite
Question 15: We understood him…………………….his strong accent. A. Despite B. Allthough C. However
Question 16: We adore winter……………………….the cold. A. In spite of B. Although C. However
Question 17: She went to bed early…………………………………she didn’t finish her homework A. Despite B. Although C. However
Question 18:……………………………..the fact that he is 23 years old, he is so childish A. Despite B. Although C. However
Question 19: The athlete complete the race…………………………….his pain A. Despite B. Although C. Nevertheless
Question 20: Jane looks pretty. ……………………………She seems to lack personality A. Despite B. Although C. Nevertheless II. 5Ws-1H 1. Reading the link
https://vietnamlife.tuoitrenews.vn/news/vietnamese-culture/20231228/ho-chi-
minh-city-unveils-concept-for-nguyen-hue-flower-street-2024/77533.html and fill in the table below Who What Where When Residents,
Flower street event for Nguyen Hue Street From 7:00 pm on tourists, Prime the 2024 Lunar New Feb 7th to 9:00 pm Minister Pham Year on Feb 14th Minh Chinh Why
Because it’s the event to cater to the travel and enjoyment needs of city residents and
tourists during the coming Tet holiday. How
The flower street will showcase a captivating entrance with a pair winding dragon
sculptures, representing characteristics from Vietnam’s Ly, Tran and Nguyen
Dynasties, three other dragon mascots arranged along the flower street. 2. Reading the link
https://vietnamlife.tuoitrenews.vn/news/vietnamese-culture/20231125/consular-
corps-in-ho-chi-minh-city-learn-to-cook-pho/76941.html Who What Where When The consular Cooking workshop to Ho Chi Minh city On December 12 corps, Deputy
celebrate Vietnam’s Day Director of Pho Why
Because it’s an important culinary culture promotion activity to promote Vietnamese
cuisine as well as bring the traditional Vietnamese Pho to the world. How
Under the instruction of professional Vietnamese chefs, the delegations learned the
process to cook pho with three types of broth: beef, lamb and vegan. 3. Reading the link
https://vietnamlife.tuoitrenews.vn/news/vietnamese-culture/20230819/hanoi-to-
host-big-event-celebrating-local-and-world-cuisine-next-month/75027.html Who What Where When Hanoi People’s Vietnamese and Hanoi Children’s From Sep 29th to Committee international cuisine Palace in Hoan Kiem Oct 1st event District Why
The event aims to promote local culinary values as unique tourism products for the capital city. How
Space will be dedicated to craft villages and folk games, as well as booths showcasing
Vietnam's regional foods from north to south, and a space for international cuisine and contemporary foods. III. Collocation
1. They worked without a…………until about 8 in the evening. A. break B. think C. see D. get
2. When you develop a throat infection or catch a………………, the glands in the neck swell up A. icy B. frozen C. callous D. cold
3. No, you’re not the star player on the team, but you always do your…………, which
encourages the rest of us to do the same. A. Less B. Few C. Best D. Little
4. It is important to………………………in mind the historical dimension of these issues. A. Keep B. Hope C. Play D. Run
5. She…………………….us a set of saucepans as a wedding present. A. Gave B. Moved C. Took D. Built
6. He used whole meal flour to………………..bread, scones, pies and cakes, concocted
elaborate salads and dosed himself with vitamins. A. Reach B. Make C. Cause D. Wait
7. Don’t put the blame………………..me for your mistakes! A. About B. On C. With D. To
8. You should………………the bus if you want to see the sights. A. Take B. Send C. Stop
9. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen my mother-in-law so we need
to……………...a visit this weekend. A. Remain B. Contain C. Continue D. Open
10. I struggled to break the…………….of biting my nails, but getting regular manicures helped. A. Custom B. Practice C. Habit D. Pattern
11. The company’s came under……………….after a newspaper reported allegations of the
CEO’s misappropriation of funds. A. Smoke B. Fire C. Glare D. Light
12. If you…………………a headache you can take an aspirin. A. Have B. Let C. Add D. Change
13. These tax cuts will……………….industry a helping hand. A. Lead B. Meet C. Allow D. Give
14. If you get caught cheating on your exam, you’ll have to………………..the price which could include expansion. A. Stand B. Appear C. Pay D. Happen
15. He likes to…………………..breakfast in bed on a Saturday morning. A. Keep B. Have C. Turn D. Run
16. He knows how to……………………..an opportunity. A. Catch B. Use C. Know D. Say
17. Everyone was deathly silent after John went ballistic and left the meeting. I tried
breaking the…………………with a joke, but it didn’t help. A. Ice B. Snow C. Frost D. Fog
18. Friends and relatives came to pay their last……………..to Mr. Clarke. A. Details B. Points C. Opinions D. Respects
19. I’d always dreamed of owning my own home, and now my dream has come……………. A. Correct B. Dedicated C. True D. Confirmed
20. He asked me to………………a seat and listen some music he would put on. A. Tell B. Take C. Find D. Feel IV. Reading Passage 1. Passage 1
HO CHI MINH CITY UNVEILS CONCEPT FOR NGUYEN HUE FLOWER STREET
The organizing committee of Nguyen Hue Flower Street has unveiled concept
images for the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration, which will feature three
areas with diverse floral arrangements.
Every year, the pedestrian-only Nguyen Hue Street in District 1 transforms into a
‘flower street’ during Tet.
The Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2024 will open from 7:00 pm on February 7 to 9:00
pm on February 14 to cater to the travel and enjoyment needs of city residents and
tourists during the coming Tet holiday, which lasts from February 8 to 14 as per an
official document approved by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to the event’s organizers.
Construction and decorating for the event will begin at7:00 am on
January 21 and finish by12:00 pm on February 7.
‘Spring of Love, Tet Reunion’ will be the theme for this year, the Year of the
Dragon, according to the eastern zodiac.
Following the theme, the flower street will showcase a captivating
entrance with a pair of winding dragon sculptures spanning over
100 meters long with head circumferences exceeding two meters
each, the largest size for a zodiac animal ever displayed at the annual event.
Notably, the two dragons will be crafted from eco-friendly
materials, mostly bamboo and rattan.
Representing characteristics from Vietnam’s Ly (1009-1225), Tran
(1225-1400), and Nguyen (1802-1945) Dynasties, three other
dragon mascots arranged along the flower street will boast unique
features, such as an upward-facing head, a large nose, a round
nose, bulging eyes, a mouth holding a pearl, and a substantial mane.
Key scenes include ‘Uncle Ho’s Apricot Garden,’ which will feature apricot flowers
from Binh Loi apricot village in Binh Chanh District adorned with thousands of
aluminum leaves, and the ‘Spring Flower Dragon Boat,’ which will cover 900 square meters.
The grand finale – ‘Greatest Thang Long’ – will span over 1,000 square meters and
medium-size arrangements like a 1,000-square-meter lotus pond, ‘Nine Dragon
Doors,’ ’Spring Festival,’ and ‘Glass Cloud’ will add to the immersive experience.
The transition between the segments and ornamental arrangements will be booths
representing the consulates of various countries.
Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2024 is designed to combine a vibrant palette of red,
orange, and yellow from over 90,000 baskets of 99 flower varieties including
carnations, geraniums, dahlias, begonias, and more.
Truong Duc Hung, general director of Saigontourist Group and head of the flower
street’s organizing committee, emphasized that businesses are steadfast in supporting
Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2024 despite economic challenges in 2023.
This underscores the project’s significant allure and importance to the people of Ho
Chi Minh City during each Tet and spring celebration.
(Vietnam Life – Bao Anh – N. Binh) Questions 1-5
TRUE: if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE: if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN: if there is no information on this
1. Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2024 only opens in the morning. False
2. This year is the year of Dragon. True
3. This event ticket will be sold at a price of 35,000. Not given
4. The entrance will be decorated with the couple of dragons True
5. About nearly 200 different types of flower will appear in Nguyen Hue Flower Street’s Design. False
6. It takes 3 days to finish the construction of the lotus pond. False
Question 7-13: FILL IN THE BLANK WITH NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
NGUYEN HUE FLOWER STREET 2024
This year, Nguyen Hue Flower Street’s theme is 7…’Spring of Love, Tet Reunion’…… which
lasts one week. Based on the theme, the flower street’s entrance are decorated with the 8…pair
of winding dragon sculptures……………. This couple of zodiac will be made from rattan and
9……bamboo………….Besides, there will be two highlighted scenes in this event, including
Spring Flower Dragon boat and 10………aluminum leaves………In addition, its grand finale