1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training.  

Identify the topic sentence (TS), the supporting sentence (SS) and details (D) in Paragraph 1.

1. ...... If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music.
2. ...... Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. s
3. ......  People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. 

Complete this conversation. Then compare with a partner.

Yoko:              Rich, who are the two women over there?

Rich:               Oh, ...... names are Lisa and Kate.

Rich:               Hi, Kate. This ...... Yoko.

                       ...... from Japan.

Yoko:             Hello. Nice to meet you.

Kate:               Good to meet you, Yoko.

Lisa:               And ...... name ...... Lisa.

Yoko:             Hi, Lisa.

Rich:               Lisa and Kate ...... from Canada.

Yoko:             Oh? Where ...... you from in Canada?

Kate:              ...... from Toronto.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                       Music is Good for You

1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training. 

2          Doctors know about the therapeutic effects of music. Listening to music can help people recover after operations. Teachers should pay attention, too. In a study at the University of California, students who took a test while listening to a Mozart sonata scored 30 percent higher than students who took the test in silence.

3          Music also relaxes people after a stressful day. Pauline Etkin, director of a music therapy center in London, says that throughout life’s ups and downs, people always respond to music. When someone is nervous or afraid, it can make them feel better. “Music’s rhythm is closely linked with the rhythms of the body,” she says. 

Read the paragraph and identify the three supporting sentences (SS) and details (D).

1. ...... I like to listen to classical music at work.

2. ......  It makes me feel intelligent and serious.

3. ...... I like to listen to fast and loud music in the car.

4. ......   It makes me feel energetic and happy.

5. ...... I like to listen to string music in bed.

6. ......  It makes me feel quiet and relaxed. 

 Complete the sentences. Use the Past Simple.

a. I ...... playing football at 5 p.m. (stop)

b. She ...... In a cafe last summer. (work)

c. You ...... John last week. (not see)

d. ...... they ...... to university? (go)

e. Sarah ...... in New York in 2002. (live)

f. When ...... he ...... ? (arrive)

g. Peter ...... to travel around Europe. (decide)

h. Luke ...... to dogs and a cat. (have)

Complete these sentences with time expressions.

a. I get up ...... six ...... the morning ...... weekdays.

b. I go to bed ...... midnight ...... weeknights.

c. I start work ...... 11:30 ...... night.

d. I arrive at work ...... Mondays, ...... 7:00 A.M.

e. I have lunch ...... three ...... the afternoon ...... weekdays.

f. I stay up ......  ...... weekends.

g. I have a little snack ......  9:00 ...... the evening.

h. I sleep ...... noon ...... Sundays

Complete this conversation with “was,” “wasn’t,” “were,” or “weren’t.”

A:     How was your vacation in Peru, Julia?

B:      It ...... great. I really enjoyed it.

A:     How long ...... you there?

B:      I ...... there for two weeks.

A:     ...... you in Lima all the time?

B:      No, we ....... We ...... in the mountains for a few days.

A:     And how ...... the weather? ...... it good?

B:      No, it ...... good at all. The city ...... very hot, and the mountains  ...... really cold!

Connect the pairs of sentences, using “and” or “but”

1. He works as a chef, ......his brother does too.

2. There are great opportunities for immigrants, ...... there are also many problems for them.

3. I made eggs for breakfast, ...... they didn’t taste good.

4. She is from India, ...... she speaks English very well.

5. She was a teacher in her country, ...... she isn’t a teacher in the United Stages.

6. He is in Africa, ...... his family is there too

Write the missing vowels (a, e, i, o, u) in these countries. 

a. Italy

b. Br......z......l

c. R......ss............

d. the ......S.......

e. G......rm......ny.

f. ......gypt.

g. ............str......l.............

h. M......x......c....... 

i. T......rk......y

j. the ...... K

k. Sp............ n

l. Ch......n a

a.               A: What ...... you ......?

                  B: I'm a student. I study tourism.

                  A: And ...... do you ...... to school?

                  B: I ...... to Hanoi Open University.

                  A: ...... do you like your classes?

                  B: I ...... them a lot.

b.              A: What ...... Huong do?

                 B: She's a teacher. She ...... English at Hanoi Open University.

                  A: And what about Dr.Thanh?  Where ...... he work?

                  B: He also ...... for Hanoi Open University.

                  A: ...... does he do, exactly?

                  B: He's the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Tourism.  He ...... at the    Bach Khoa campus.  

Complete these conversations. Then practice with a partner.

a. A: ...... you from Vietnam?

    B: Yes, I ...... from Dong Anh.

b. A: ......Thao in her first year?

    B: No, she ...... in her second year.

c. A: ...... you and An from Hoa Binh?

    B: Yes, we ...... from Hoa Binh City.

Fill in the gap with appropriate form of the verb to be.

a. The manager ...... in the office.

b. The staff ......not at work today.

c. I ...... not in the marketing department.

d. It ...... Saturday today.

e. Our room ...... on the fifth floor.

f. You and your friends ...... so nice.

g. I ...... very happy to work with you.

h. The guest in room 205 ...... very angry.

i. Her room ...... very dirty.

j. Her slippers ...... old.

Complete these sentences with at, on, or in and the most likely word or phrase.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                                 Lie & Truth

1          It seems that everybody tells lies – well, not big lies, but what we call “white lies.” Telling white lies isn’t really that bad. Most of the time, people do it because they want to protect a friendship. Some studies suggest that the average person lies about seven times a day. The only real questions are about when we lie and who we tell lies to. A recent study found that people frequently stretch the truth. Here are some ways they do it.

2          #1 Lying to hide something: People often lie because they want to hide something from someone. For example, a son doesn’t tell his parents that he’s dating a girl because he doesn’t think they will like her. Instead, he says he’s going out with guys. 

3          #2 Giving false excuses: Sometimes people lie because they don’t want to do something. For example, someone invites you to a party. You think it will be boring, so you say you’re busy.

4          #3 Lying to make someone feel good: Often we stretch the truth to make someone feel good. For example, your friend cooks dinner for you, but it tastes terrible. Do you say so? No! You probably say, “Mmm, this is delicious!”

5          #4 Lying to hide bad news: Sometimes we don’t want to tell someone bad news. For example, you have just had a very bad day at work, but you don’t feel like talking about it. So if someone asks you about your day, you just say everything was fine.  

Look at these situations. Are they examples of # 1, 2, 3, or 4?

1. ...... You borrowed a friend’s motorcycle and scratched it. You’re having it painted. When your friend wants the motorcycle back, you say the engine didn’t sound right and you’re having it checked.
2. ...... Your friend gives you an ugly vase for your birthday. You say, ‘Oh, it’s beautiful!’
3. ...... You lost your job and are having trouble finding a new one. An old friend calls to find out how you are. You tell your friend you’re busy writing a book.
4. ...... Someone you don’t like invites you to a movie, so you say, ‘I’ve already seen it.’
5. ...... You’re planning a surprise party for a friend. To get her to come over at the right time, you ask her to stop by to see your new VCR. 

Choose the correct verb. Use the past tense.

Fill in each gap with one word about Sam’s life.

Sam was born in ...... but grew ...... in California. At 18, he went to ...... and ...... Ann. They fell in ...... but split ...... soon. Later, he got  ...... to Marie and had a baby. Sadly, the marriage was ......and they divorced. Marie ......and is having a second baby.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

Hoan Kiem lake

Hoan Kiem lake – a famous  beauty spot - is considered the center or the heart of Hanoi. The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is not commonly found in other lakes elsewhere in the country: greenish, with dark or light shade depending on the reflection of the sky. There is the turtle tower in the middle of the lake. Hoan Kiem lake is a pride of all Hanoians. It is a place for many Hanoians: doing exercises on the shore or water-gazing on park benches. It is also near a shopping center in the Old quarter nearby. As you walk by, you can see the life style of the city. If you are going to visit Hanoi for a few days, you should visit Hoan Kiem Lake and some surrounding attractions as shown in  the following table:

Attractions at Hoan Kiem lake:

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) .

1. ...... Hanoi is the heart of Hoan Kiem lake.
2. ...... The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is very common.
3. ...... There are many turtles in Hoan Kiem lake.
4. ...... People in Hanoi are very proud of Hoan Kiem lake.
5. ...... Not many people often go to Hoan Kiem lake.
6. ......The Old quarter is near Hoan Kiem lake.
7. ...... People can go shopping in the Old quarter.
8. ......There are no benches at Hoan Kiem lake.
9. ...... You can only walk to Hoan Kiem lake.
10. ......  You can see the speed of Hanoi’s life when walking by Hoan Kiem lake. 

Unscramble the following words which are taken 

Use the words in the list to complete these expressions. 

1. a ...... of ointment
2. a ...... of aspirin
3. a ...... of bandages
4. a ...... of foot spray
5. a ...... of tissues

Read the texts and do the activities that follow.

What Do You Do?

This week - Chuck Hartman and Helen Reed

Read the article. Check  True (T) for correct answers or False (F) for wrong answers

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                       Music is Good for You

1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training. 

2          Doctors know about the therapeutic effects of music. Listening to music can help people recover after operations. Teachers should pay attention, too. In a study at the University of California, students who took a test while listening to a Mozart sonata scored 30 percent higher than students who took the test in silence.

3          Music also relaxes people after a stressful day. Pauline Etkin, director of a music therapy center in London, says that throughout life’s ups and downs, people always respond to music. When someone is nervous or afraid, it can make them feel better. “Music’s rhythm is closely linked with the rhythms of the body,” she says. 

Select the best heading for each paragraph of the Reading Text. 

Listen and complete the conversation. 

Linda:       Where in ......  are you from?

Ken:                     ...... .

Linda:       Oh, I've never been there.  ...... ?

Ken:                      It's a ......, but it's ....... The ...... is good, too.

Linda:      ...... there?

Ken:                      No, it's not too bad.

Linda:       And ...... in Toronto?

Ken:                      Well, it's ...... in the winter, and very

 ...... in the          summer.  It's nice in the spring and fall, though.

Complete the sentences with one of these phrasal verbs in the correct form.

a. How do you ...... your parents?

b. Do you ever ...... your brothers and sisters?

c. What are you ...... doing on holiday.

d. Are you ...... anyone at the moment?

e. Where did you ...... ? Or have you always lived here?

Match these nationalities to the countries in 1. 

Complete the poem below with suitable parts of speech.

THE PARTS OF SPEECH
Every name is called a ......,
As field and fountain, street and town

In place of noun the ...... stands
As he and she can clap their hands

The ...... describes a thing,
As magic wand and bridal ring

The ...... means action, something done -
To read, to write, to jump, to run

How things are done, the ...... tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well

The ...... shows relation,
As in the street, or at the station

...... join, in many ways,
Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase

The ...... cries out, 'Hark!
I need an exclamation mark!'

Through Poetry, we learn how each
of these make up .......

Read the following passage and do the exercises that follow.

Grandmas know best!

When you have a minor health problem, do you usually go to the doctor, get something from the drugstore, or use a home remedy?

When people have a cold, a fever, or the flu, they usually go to the doctor for help, or they get some medicine from the drugstore. But many people also use home remedies for common illnesses. Here are some simple home remedies:

Bee stings and insect bites: Wash the sting or bite. Put some meat tenderizer on a handkerchief and then put the handkerchief on the bite for half an hour. To avoid insect bites, it's helpful to eat garlic or take garlic pills.

Burns: Put the burn under cold water or put a cold handkerchief on it.  Then apply aloe vera gel to the burn.  It's important not to put ice on the burn.

Colds: Lots of people eat hot chicken soup when they have a cold. They find it clears the head and the nose. Some people rub oil on their chest for a cold. Other people drink a mixture of red pepper, hot water, sugar, lemon juice, and milk or vinegar.

Cough: Drink warm liquids or take some honey.

Headaches: Apply an ice pack or cold cloth to your head, or splash your face with cold water. It's also a good idea to put your hands into hot water and leave them there for several minutes.  Also, you shouldn't read or watch TV.

Insomnia: Drink a large glass of warm milk. It's also a good idea to soak in a warm bath.

Then cover the article and complete the chart. What problems are these things good for?

Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

a. Put ...... something warm. It’s cold today.

b. There’s some ice-cream in the freezer. Can you get it ...... 

c. Why are your clothes on the floor? Please pick them ......

d. I am going to take the dog ...... for a walk.

e. When are you going ...... to your country?

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                       Music is Good for You

1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training. 

2          Doctors know about the therapeutic effects of music. Listening to music can help people recover after operations. Teachers should pay attention, too. In a study at the University of California, students who took a test while listening to a Mozart sonata scored 30 percent higher than students who took the test in silence.

3          Music also relaxes people after a stressful day. Pauline Etkin, director of a music therapy center in London, says that throughout life’s ups and downs, people always respond to music. When someone is nervous or afraid, it can make them feel better. “Music’s rhythm is closely linked with the rhythms of the body,” she says.

 Find a word in the Reading Text that means the following.  = paragraph number)

___________________________ birthday is on Friday.

You shouldn’t give your Turkish host  ______ flowers.

The web page has ….. steps.

You can find a book with either the author ............... the title.

................. the fifth largest among the nine planets that make up our solar system.

Hanh: ..................... will you get to Lan’s house, Dung? Dung: By bike.

.................. actress's life is in many ways unlike that of other women.

What is your .......................... name? - It is Nguyen.

Black, red, and even bright pink diamonds ......................

Please tell Nga I’ll ............................. her again after six.

Partnership is an association of two or more individuals who ............. together to develop a business.

So far there is no vaccine ............. in sight for the common cold.

You must hurry _________ you will miss your train.

I still cry at the end _________ I’ve seen this movie several times.

I wish I ______ work tomorrow.

Ba is good ................. fixing things.

I bought this bread four days ago and now it's........................

Du: What .................. will you play at the party? Thuy: We’ll play cards.

Come in and ....................... a seat!

A doctor .................. care of sick people.

Mai: What will you ....................Lan on her birthday?

Nga: A red hat.

............. ants live in colonies, keep farms, go to war, carry off slaves, and have a society somewhat like human beings.

............. occasions for congratulations.

Before ................., they used horse-drawn wooden carts.

How ..................... is it from your house to school?

Passage 1

In 1881, a new type of weed began spreading across the northern Great Plains. Unlike other weeds, the tumbleweed did not spend its life rooted to the soil; instead, it tumbled and rolled across fields in the wind. The weed had sharp, spiny leaves that could lacerate the flesh of ranchers and horses alike. It exploited the vast area of the plains, thriving in regions too barren to support other plants. With its ability to generate and disseminate numerous seeds quickly, it soon became the scourge of the prairies.

To present-day Americans, the tumbleweed symbolizes the Old West. They read the Zane Grey novels in which tumbleweeds drift across stark western landscapes and see classic western movies in which tumbleweeds share scenes with cowboys and covered wagons. Yet just over a century ago, the tumbleweed was a newcomer. The first sign of the invasion occurred in North and South Dakota in the late 1870s.

Farmers had noticed the sudden appearance of the new, unusual weed. One group of immigrants, however, did not find the weed at all unfamiliar. The tumbleweed, it turns out, was a native of southern Russia, where it was known as Tartar thistle. It was imported to the United States by unknown means.

Frontier settlers gave the plants various names: saltwort, Russian cactus, and wind witch. But botanists at the Department of Agriculture preferred the designation Russian thistle as the plant’s common name. However, these botanists had a much harder time agreeing on the plant’s scientific name. In general, botanists compare a plant to published accounts of similar plants, or to samples kept as specimens. Unfortunately, no book described the weed and no samples existed in herbaria in the United States.

        It is probable that the “group of immigrants” mentioned in paragraph 3

All the boys are good at cooking, but ______ is as good as the girls.

.................. of Shakespeare's plays are about history.

Complete these sentences with at, on, or in and the most likely word or phrase.

She nearly lost her own life ______ attempting to save the child from drowning.

Although dissimilar in almost every other respect, birds and insects have both evolved efficient ............. capabilities.

Connect the pairs of sentences, using “and” or “but”

1. He works as a chef, ......his brother does too.

2. There are great opportunities for immigrants, ......[but] there are also many problems for them.

3. I made eggs for breakfast, ...... they didn’t taste good.

4. She is from India, ......[but] she speaks English very well.

5. She was a teacher in her country, ...... she isn’t a teacher in the United Stages.

6. He is in Africa, ...... his family is there too

............. is often used in soups and sauces.

‘Why are you laughing so hard?’ ‘I am watching a ________. It’s really funny!’

Complete these sentences with at, on, or in and the most likely word or phrase.

Read the following passage and do the exercises that follow.

Grandmas know best!

When you have a minor health problem, do you usually go to the doctor, get something from the drugstore, or use a home remedy?

When people have a cold, a fever, or the flu, they usually go to the doctor for help, or they get some medicine from the drugstore. But many people also use home remedies for common illnesses. Here are some simple home remedies:

Bee stings and insect bites: Wash the sting or bite. Put some meat tenderizer on a handkerchief and then put the handkerchief on the bite for half an hour. To avoid insect bites, it's helpful to eat garlic or take garlic pills.

Burns: Put the burn under cold water or put a cold handkerchief on it.  Then apply aloe vera gel to the burn.  It's important not to put ice on the burn.

Colds: Lots of people eat hot chicken soup when they have a cold. They find it clears the head and the nose. Some people rub oil on their chest for a cold. Other people drink a mixture of red pepper, hot water, sugar, lemon juice, and milk or vinegar.

Cough: Drink warm liquids or take some honey.

Headaches: Apply an ice pack or cold cloth to your head, or splash your face with cold water. It's also a good idea to put your hands into hot water and leave them there for several minutes.  Also, you shouldn't read or watch TV.

Insomnia: Drink a large glass of warm milk. It's also a good idea to soak in a warm bath.

Then cover the article and complete the chart. What problems are these things good for?

Between the California Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada .....................

Total weight of all the ants in the world is much greater than .................

............. there is a close correlation between stress and illness.

My father has ………………….free time than my mother.

Please don’t ………………. so much noise.

The radio is next ......................... the television.

Chosen as the nation's capital at the end of the American Civil War, ............ a city of over a million people.

Connect the pairs of sentences, using “and” or “but”

1. He works as a chef, ......his brother does too.

2. There are great opportunities for immigrants, ...... there are also many problems for them.

3. I made eggs for breakfast, ...... they didn’t taste good.

4. She is from India, ......[but] she speaks English very well.

5. She was a teacher in her country, ...... she isn’t a teacher in the United Stages.

6. He is in Africa, ...... his family is there too

When I studied Shakespeare, I thought his plays were ............... boring.

Unfortunately, they _______ having stolen my car.

Complete the poem below with suitable parts of speech.

THE PARTS OF SPEECH
Every name is called a ......,
As field and fountain, street and town

In place of noun the ...... stands
As he and she can clap their hands

The ...... describes a thing,
As magic wand and bridal ring

The ...... means action, something done -
To read, to write, to jump, to run

How things are done, the ...... tell,
As quickly, slowly, badly, well

The ...... shows relation,
As in the street, or at the station

...... join, in many ways,
Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase

The ...... cries out, 'Hark!
I need an exclamation mark!'

Through Poetry, we learn how each
of these make up ......[THE PARTS OF SPEECH].

How about going to the movies tonight, John ? – That sounds …………………..

Where is the ________? I’d like to change the channel.

Sometimes ............. wears people out and is worse than the lack of sleep itself.

Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.

Read each pair of sentences. Write F (fact) or O (opinion)

1.  ......[O]  a. Many people believe that violent stories on the news make us more afraid.

     ......[F] b. Many studies show that violent news stories affect people in negative way.

2.  ...... a. I think the streets are dangerous at night.

     ...... b. There was a robbery on Jackson Street last night.

3.  ...... a. Many people climb mount Everest every year.

     ...... b. I don’t think I can climb any mountain.

4.  ...... a. You should go by hands and knees because the path was too narrow.

     ...... b. When the path is narrow, people go by hands and knees.

5.   ......[O] a. It is too dangerous to take adventure alone in the wild.

      ......[F] b. A dead body of a climber was found near the Amazon river.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

 What makes you laugh

Robert Provine studied people and laughter. He discovered that people laugh when they want to be friendly. He watched people in city walking and shopping. He found that 80 to 90 % of laughter came after sentences like “Yeah, I know” or “I’ll see you later”. People did not laugh because someone said something funny. People laughed because they wanted to be friendly with each other.

Many people say “Oh, I just don’t laugh very much. I can’t change that actually”. That’s not true. People can learn to laugh. First you need to see how small events can be funny. For example, you are carrying too many bags, and you drop one bag. Laugh at the situation. Second, you can learn to be funny and tell jokes. Watch funny TV shows and read jokes on the Internet. Give yourself more reasons to laugh. You can learn to bring laughter into your life.

Laughter happens at certain time in a conversation. People laugh more when they speak than when they listen. Pay attention to conversations around you. You will discover that the speaker in a conversation laughs more often. Also, laughter almost always comes at the end of a sentence or a thought. For example, a person might say “He went to the wrong store! Ha! Ha! Ha!”. “The person does not say, “He went – Ha! Ha! Ha! – to the wrong store!”

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) based on the previous reading

Put the time expression in the correct column.

“Thanks a lot for the lovely dinner” – “ ……………………..”

Once an offending allergen has been identified ............. tests, it is possible for the doctor to give specific desensitizing injections.

Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.

Read each pair of sentences. Write F (fact) or O (opinion)

1.  ......  a. Many people believe that violent stories on the news make us more afraid.

     ...... b. Many studies show that violent news stories affect people in negative way.

2.  ...... a. I think the streets are dangerous at night.

     ...... b. There was a robbery on Jackson Street last night.

3.  ...... a. Many people climb mount Everest every year.

     ...... b. I don’t think I can climb any mountain.

4.  ...... a. You should go by hands and knees because the path was too narrow.

     ...... b. When the path is narrow, people go by hands and knees.

5.   ...... a. It is too dangerous to take adventure alone in the wild.

      ...... b. A dead body of a climber was found near the Amazon river.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                       Music is Good for You

1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training. 

2          Doctors know about the therapeutic effects of music. Listening to music can help people recover after operations. Teachers should pay attention, too. In a study at the University of California, students who took a test while listening to a Mozart sonata scored 30 percent higher than students who took the test in silence.

3          Music also relaxes people after a stressful day. Pauline Etkin, director of a music therapy center in London, says that throughout life’s ups and downs, people always respond to music. When someone is nervous or afraid, it can make them feel better. “Music’s rhythm is closely linked with the rhythms of the body,” she says.

 Find a word in the Reading Text that means the following.  = paragraph number)

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

 What makes you laugh

Robert Provine studied people and laughter. He discovered that people laugh when they want to be friendly. He watched people in city walking and shopping. He found that 80 to 90 % of laughter came after sentences like “Yeah, I know” or “I’ll see you later”. People did not laugh because someone said something funny. People laughed because they wanted to be friendly with each other.

Many people say “Oh, I just don’t laugh very much. I can’t change that actually”. That’s not true. People can learn to laugh. First you need to see how small events can be funny. For example, you are carrying too many bags, and you drop one bag. Laugh at the situation. Second, you can learn to be funny and tell jokes. Watch funny TV shows and read jokes on the Internet. Give yourself more reasons to laugh. You can learn to bring laughter into your life.

Laughter happens at certain time in a conversation. People laugh more when they speak than when they listen. Pay attention to conversations around you. You will discover that the speaker in a conversation laughs more often. Also, laughter almost always comes at the end of a sentence or a thought. For example, a person might say “He went to the wrong store! Ha! Ha! Ha!”. “The person does not say, “He went – Ha! Ha! Ha! – to the wrong store!”

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) based on the previous reading

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

Hoan Kiem lake

Hoan Kiem lake – a famous  beauty spot - is considered the center or the heart of Hanoi. The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is not commonly found in other lakes elsewhere in the country: greenish, with dark or light shade depending on the reflection of the sky. There is the turtle tower in the middle of the lake. Hoan Kiem lake is a pride of all Hanoians. It is a place for many Hanoians: doing exercises on the shore or water-gazing on park benches. It is also near a shopping center in the Old quarter nearby. As you walk by, you can see the life style of the city. If you are going to visit Hanoi for a few days, you should visit Hoan Kiem Lake and some surrounding attractions as shown in  the following table:

Attractions at Hoan Kiem lake:

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) .

1. ...... Hanoi is the heart of Hoan Kiem lake.
2. ...... The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is very common.
3. ...... There are many turtles in Hoan Kiem lake.
4. ...... People in Hanoi are very proud of Hoan Kiem lake.
5. ...... Not many people often go to Hoan Kiem lake.
6. ......The Old quarter is near Hoan Kiem lake.
7. ...... People can go shopping in the Old quarter.
8. ......There are no benches at Hoan Kiem lake.
9. ...... You can only walk to Hoan Kiem lake.
10. ......  You can see the speed of Hanoi’s life when walking by Hoan Kiem lake. 

Put the time expression in the correct column.

Cellulose, which ............. for making paper, can be found in all plants.

Choose the correct verb. Use the past tense.

Complete these sentences with at, on, or in and the most likely word or phrase.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

                                                       Music is Good for You

1          Do you need to get off the sofa and go to the gym? If you want to get motivated to exercise, try listening to your favorite songs or to dance music. Psychologists at Brunel Univeristy in London say that certain types of music help people to get started and also to exercise for a longer time. People who listen to music exercise for 13 percent longer than people who don’t. International athletes often listen to music when they are training. 

2          Doctors know about the therapeutic effects of music. Listening to music can help people recover after operations. Teachers should pay attention, too. In a study at the University of California, students who took a test while listening to a Mozart sonata scored 30 percent higher than students who took the test in silence.

3          Music also relaxes people after a stressful day. Pauline Etkin, director of a music therapy center in London, says that throughout life’s ups and downs, people always respond to music. When someone is nervous or afraid, it can make them feel better. “Music’s rhythm is closely linked with the rhythms of the body,” she says. 

Select the best heading for each paragraph of the Reading Text. 

Linda is going to make a cake, _________ she needs some eggs and flour.

Game shows are _________ programmes. They can be both entertaining and educational.

My mother usually helps me _____________ English.

Passage 1

In 1881, a new type of weed began spreading across the northern Great Plains. Unlike other weeds, the tumbleweed did not spend its life rooted to the soil; instead, it tumbled and rolled across fields in the wind. The weed had sharp, spiny leaves that could lacerate the flesh of ranchers and horses alike. It exploited the vast area of the plains, thriving in regions too barren to support other plants. With its ability to generate and disseminate numerous seeds quickly, it soon became the scourge of the prairies.

To present-day Americans, the tumbleweed symbolizes the Old West. They read the Zane Grey novels in which tumbleweeds drift across stark western landscapes and see classic western movies in which tumbleweeds share scenes with cowboys and covered wagons. Yet just over a century ago, the tumbleweed was a newcomer. The first sign of the invasion occurred in North and South Dakota in the late 1870s.

Farmers had noticed the sudden appearance of the new, unusual weed. One group of immigrants, however, did not find the weed at all unfamiliar. The tumbleweed, it turns out, was a native of southern Russia, where it was known as Tartar thistle. It was imported to the United States by unknown means.

Frontier settlers gave the plants various names: saltwort, Russian cactus, and wind witch. But botanists at the Department of Agriculture preferred the designation Russian thistle as the plant’s common name. However, these botanists had a much harder time agreeing on the plant’s scientific name. In general, botanists compare a plant to published accounts of similar plants, or to samples kept as specimens. Unfortunately, no book described the weed and no samples existed in herbaria in the United States.

      The passage suggests that most present-day Americans

Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.

Read each pair of sentences. Write F (fact) or O (opinion)

1.  ......  a. Many people believe that violent stories on the news make us more afraid.

     ......[F] b. Many studies show that violent news stories affect people in negative way.

2.  ...... a. I think the streets are dangerous at night.

     ......[F] b. There was a robbery on Jackson Street last night.

3.  ......[F] a. Many people climb mount Everest every year.

     ...... b. I don’t think I can climb any mountain.

4.  ...... a. You should go by hands and knees because the path was too narrow.

     ......[F] b. When the path is narrow, people go by hands and knees.

5.   ...... a. It is too dangerous to take adventure alone in the wild.

      ......[F] b. A dead body of a climber was found near the Amazon river.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

 What makes you laugh

Robert Provine studied people and laughter. He discovered that people laugh when they want to be friendly. He watched people in city walking and shopping. He found that 80 to 90 % of laughter came after sentences like “Yeah, I know” or “I’ll see you later”. People did not laugh because someone said something funny. People laughed because they wanted to be friendly with each other.

Many people say “Oh, I just don’t laugh very much. I can’t change that actually”. That’s not true. People can learn to laugh. First you need to see how small events can be funny. For example, you are carrying too many bags, and you drop one bag. Laugh at the situation. Second, you can learn to be funny and tell jokes. Watch funny TV shows and read jokes on the Internet. Give yourself more reasons to laugh. You can learn to bring laughter into your life.

Laughter happens at certain time in a conversation. People laugh more when they speak than when they listen. Pay attention to conversations around you. You will discover that the speaker in a conversation laughs more often. Also, laughter almost always comes at the end of a sentence or a thought. For example, a person might say “He went to the wrong store! Ha! Ha! Ha!”. “The person does not say, “He went – Ha! Ha! Ha! – to the wrong store!”

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) based on the previous reading

Put the time expression in the correct column.

A well-known large natural lake is Lake Tahoe, ................. straddles the California-Nevada border.

Ernest Hemingway is ............. of modern fiction.

_________ television do you watch a day? - About two hours.

Mr Tan: ..............your mother cooking now ? Mai: No, she’s watching TV.

He is the man_______ helped me yesterday

The crime rate has continued to rise in American cities despite efforts on the part of both government and private citizens to curb ................

Warmth, moisture, and oxygen are three necessary requirements ................. most seedlings.

Students take part .................. many activities at recess.

There are ................. students in the classroom.

The party will start at 6.00 A.M and ...................... at 9.00 A.M

................ racks have magazines and those have newspapers..

In .................., we study the world rivers and mountain ranges.

In geography, we study different countries and ........ people.

A.................... writes for a newspaper.

Farmers look forward to ............... every summer.

My grandma never _________ any episodes of her favourite series.

Oh no! It _______outside.

Don’t forget to give Mr. Brown my message, _______?

It is only recently that ballets have been based on themes ............. American life.

Dr. Mary Mcleod, an advisor to both Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman, .................of Bethune Cookman College.

............. the promotion of health and to helping people avoid injury and disease.

Clipper ships were the swiftest sailing ships that …………………. to sea.

Napoleon ................... the West Indian island of Santo Domingo in 1801.

With new technology, cameras can take pictures of underwater valleys................... color.

You can find science books ...................... the shelves here.

A home computer ............. an opportunity for convenient and efficient work at home.

I didn’t _______ her as she was wearing a blond wig.

The experiments……….. in both the United States and Europe well before the Second World War.

What time does Hanh ................. history class ?

Is Hoa talking ................... her teacher? - Yes, she is.

Is Lan ..................... Math now ?

My father is the ..................... in my family.

Schools in Vietnam are different ..................... schools in the USA.

I like English ......................... it's very interesting.

Hoa is in class 7A and........................ is Nam.

Physical fitness exercises can cause injuries ................. the participants are not careful.

Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" .............. $39.9 million, three times the previous record.

Some monkeys, ................., use their tails in a way similar to a hand.

Students in the USA have a twenty – minute ...................... in the morning.

Children learn primarily by ................... the world around them.

How long does it ............ to get to Abingdon?

Richard Nixon had been a lawyer and ............... before he entered politics.

Many of the students like to take _______ in the games, not only to watch them.

The campers were children _______ many different countries.

The film was _________. I felt asleep in the middle.

Each fiber in the bundle …………….. only a tiny fraction of the total image.

America's first globe maker was James Wilson, who ................... and blacksmith in his earlier life.

Using a globe can be ................. it is educational.

Tuna, ................., may weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

My birthday is ..................... November 6th.

Solar energy doesn’t cause_______

Employers often require that candidates have not only a degree .............

If one of the participants in a conversation wonders ............... no real communication has taken place.

We go to work ............................. bus every day.

Within an area of only 100 miles, Death Valley sinks to 282 feet below sea level while Mount Whitney ............. to a height of 14,494 feet.

That famous book _______ of five chapters.

I suggest he ______ money to buy a new car.

Few natural elements exist in ............. that they are rarely seen in their natural environments

I’d like to see that Korean band _________ their music is pretty cool.

Sedimentary rocks are formed below the surface of the earth, ............... very high temperatures and pressures.

Tea loses its flavor quickly …………………… in the hold of a vessel.

Passage 1

In 1881, a new type of weed began spreading across the northern Great Plains. Unlike other weeds, the tumbleweed did not spend its life rooted to the soil; instead, it tumbled and rolled across fields in the wind. The weed had sharp, spiny leaves that could lacerate the flesh of ranchers and horses alike. It exploited the vast area of the plains, thriving in regions too barren to support other plants. With its ability to generate and disseminate numerous seeds quickly, it soon became the scourge of the prairies.

To present-day Americans, the tumbleweed symbolizes the Old West. They read the Zane Grey novels in which tumbleweeds drift across stark western landscapes and see classic western movies in which tumbleweeds share scenes with cowboys and covered wagons. Yet just over a century ago, the tumbleweed was a newcomer. The first sign of the invasion occurred in North and South Dakota in the late 1870s.

Farmers had noticed the sudden appearance of the new, unusual weed. One group of immigrants, however, did not find the weed at all unfamiliar. The tumbleweed, it turns out, was a native of southern Russia, where it was known as Tartar thistle. It was imported to the United States by unknown means.

Frontier settlers gave the plants various names: saltwort, Russian cactus, and wind witch. But botanists at the Department of Agriculture preferred the designation Russian thistle as the plant’s common name. However, these botanists had a much harder time agreeing on the plant’s scientific name. In general, botanists compare a plant to published accounts of similar plants, or to samples kept as specimens. Unfortunately, no book described the weed and no samples existed in herbaria in the United States.

     From the passage it can be inferred that the botanists at the Department of Agriculture

Of Charles Dickens' many novels, expectations perhaps is................... to many readers.

The ships had their days of …………………. in the 1840s and 1850s.

The firemen ................. the people from the fire.

Na: ................... sports do you do? Ba: I play badminton.

Mr Tu: Is your .................. name Le Van Ba? Ba: No, it’s Ta Van Ba.

Phong is calling and Han is ........................... the phone.

Ba: I am a student. Tam: ...................... , too.

Mai ........................ be 13 on her next birthday.

My sister didn’t wash it but I …………………………

My father cannot _______a car.

Did you see the Prime Minister on the 10 o’clock ________ last night?

............... gene-bearing bodies within the nuclei of living organisms.

This is the factory ................................. at work.

That restaurant is ______ dirty that few people eat in it.

The meat of a pig is .................................

We want_______ our English.

Sanford Meisner ............... the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Can you give me the ............. for this pie? It's delicious.

All my friends agree to come ............... from James.

Which ................. do you like best ? . – It’s English.

What are Ba and Nam doing? . ................... watching T.V.

Poison oak generates irritating poisons ............. even if people merely brush against the plants.

Put plants ............... a window so that they will get enough light.

The growth of two-income families in the United States .................. of people moving to a new social class.

. ................. strength of 70 horses, a forklift toils all day long in a warehouse lifting great weights.

..................., the nation's capital remained in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I can’t go to the movies with you if it_______ heavily.

We can go to the pool _________ we can go horse-riding, whichever you prefer?

At the ______ to the village stands a big old banyan tree.

The cosmopolitan flavor of San Francisco is enhanced by ............. shops and restaurants.

In the USA, students ........................ a uniform.

It is earth's gravity that ................... people their weight.

Antonio Gaudi, architect of Barcelona's Holy Family Church, died before seeing ............... the structure.

All the classes were_______ painted

Could you turn up the ________ please? I can’t hear that singer very well.

............... billions of stars exist in the vast space beyond our Milky Way galaxy.

Lan is 12 years .......................... but she’s very tall..

The most popular activity at recess is ................

Washington DC is the .................. of the USA.

The wheel, ............. has remained important for 4,000 years, is one of mankind's first inventions.

Read each pair of sentences. Write F (fact) or O (opinion)

1.  ......[O]  a. Many people believe that violent stories on the news make us more afraid.

     ......[F] b. Many studies show that violent news stories affect people in negative way.

2.  ......[O] a. I think the streets are dangerous at night.

     ......[F] b. There was a robbery on Jackson Street last night.

3.  ...... a. Many people climb mount Everest every year.

     ...... b. I don’t think I can climb any mountain.

4.  ......[O] a. You should go by hands and knees because the path was too narrow.

     ......[F] b. When the path is narrow, people go by hands and knees.

5.   ......[O] a. It is too dangerous to take adventure alone in the wild.

      ......[F] b. A dead body of a climber was found near the Amazon river.

Complete this conversation. Then compare with a partner.

Yoko:              Rich, who are the two women over there?

Rich:               Oh, ...... names are Lisa and Kate.

Rich:               Hi, Kate. This ...... Yoko.

                       ......[She is] from Japan.

Yoko:             Hello. Nice to meet you.

Kate:               Good to meet you, Yoko.

Lisa:               And ...... name ...... Lisa.

Yoko:             Hi, Lisa.

Rich:               Lisa and Kate ...... from Canada.

Yoko:             Oh? Where ...... you from in Canada?

Kate:              ...... from Toronto.

Ba learns to repair household appliances in ......... class.

Lan will ......................... some of her friends to her birthday party.

Read each pair of sentences. Write F (fact) or O (opinion)

1.  ......[O]  a. Many people believe that violent stories on the news make us more afraid.

     ...... b. Many studies show that violent news stories affect people in negative way.

2.  ......[O] a. I think the streets are dangerous at night.

     ...... b. There was a robbery on Jackson Street last night.

3.  ...... a. Many people climb mount Everest every year.

     ......[O] b. I don’t think I can climb any mountain.

4.  ......[O] a. You should go by hands and knees because the path was too narrow.

     ...... b. When the path is narrow, people go by hands and knees.

5.   ......[O] a. It is too dangerous to take adventure alone in the wild.

      ...... b. A dead body of a climber was found near the Amazon river.

Complete these sentences with at, on, or in and the most likely word or phrase.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

 What makes you laugh

Robert Provine studied people and laughter. He discovered that people laugh when they want to be friendly. He watched people in city walking and shopping. He found that 80 to 90 % of laughter came after sentences like “Yeah, I know” or “I’ll see you later”. People did not laugh because someone said something funny. People laughed because they wanted to be friendly with each other.

Many people say “Oh, I just don’t laugh very much. I can’t change that actually”. That’s not true. People can learn to laugh. First you need to see how small events can be funny. For example, you are carrying too many bags, and you drop one bag. Laugh at the situation. Second, you can learn to be funny and tell jokes. Watch funny TV shows and read jokes on the Internet. Give yourself more reasons to laugh. You can learn to bring laughter into your life.

Laughter happens at certain time in a conversation. People laugh more when they speak than when they listen. Pay attention to conversations around you. You will discover that the speaker in a conversation laughs more often. Also, laughter almost always comes at the end of a sentence or a thought. For example, a person might say “He went to the wrong store! Ha! Ha! Ha!”. “The person does not say, “He went – Ha! Ha! Ha! – to the wrong store!”

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) based on the previous reading

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

Hoan Kiem lake

Hoan Kiem lake – a famous  beauty spot - is considered the center or the heart of Hanoi. The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is not commonly found in other lakes elsewhere in the country: greenish, with dark or light shade depending on the reflection of the sky. There is the turtle tower in the middle of the lake. Hoan Kiem lake is a pride of all Hanoians. It is a place for many Hanoians: doing exercises on the shore or water-gazing on park benches. It is also near a shopping center in the Old quarter nearby. As you walk by, you can see the life style of the city. If you are going to visit Hanoi for a few days, you should visit Hoan Kiem Lake and some surrounding attractions as shown in  the following table:

Attractions at Hoan Kiem lake:

Decide if the statements below are true (T) or false (F) .

1. ...... Hanoi is the heart of Hoan Kiem lake.
2. ...... The water color of Hoan Kiem lake is very common.
3. ......[T] There are many turtles in Hoan Kiem lake.
4. ...... People in Hanoi are very proud of Hoan Kiem lake.
5. ...... Not many people often go to Hoan Kiem lake.
6. ......The Old quarter is near Hoan Kiem lake.
7. ...... People can go shopping in the Old quarter.
8. ......There are no benches at Hoan Kiem lake.
9. ...... You can only walk to Hoan Kiem lake.
10. ......  You can see the speed of Hanoi’s life when walking by Hoan Kiem lake. 

Complete this conversation. Then compare with a partner.

Yoko:              Rich, who are the two women over there?

Rich:               Oh, ...... names are Lisa and Kate.

Rich:               Hi, Kate. This ...... Yoko.

                       ......[She is] from Japan.

Yoko:             Hello. Nice to meet you.

Kate:               Good to meet you, Yoko.

Lisa:               And ...... name ...... Lisa.

Yoko:             Hi, Lisa.

Rich:               Lisa and Kate ...... from Canada.

Yoko:             Oh? Where ...... you from in Canada?

Kate:              ......[We are] from Toronto.

Fill in the gap with appropriate form of the verb to be.

a. The manager ......[is] in the office.

b. The staff ......[is]not at work today.

c. I ...... not in the marketing department.

d. It ...... Saturday today.

e. Our room ...... on the fifth floor.

f. You and your friends ...... so nice.

g. I ...... very happy to work with you.

h. The guest in room 205 ...... very angry.

i. Her room ...... very dirty.

j. Her slippers ......[are] old.

There are a lot of books in our school .......................... .

Composing more than 40 per cent of the diet, fats are _______ by the body for energy.

We went for a walk _________ it was raining heavily.

In order for people to work together effectively, they need ............. each other's needs.

Forty miners ............. to California for gold in 1848.

Not only knowledge and skills, but also attitudes ................... in school for students' future adjustment to society.

Some scientists spend most of their lives ...................at rocks.

The telephone was_______ by Alexander Bell.

He has a fine stamp_______.

We ............... badminton every afternoon.

Mrs Na: Is this apartment suitable ............. you? - Mr Jones: Yes, I think so.

Hello, Nga. Nice to ........................... you again.

The Louisiana Territory, an area ............. the size of France, was bought by the United States from France for $15,000,000 in 1803

This river is very …………………… for the swimmers.

............. , human beings have relatively constant body temperature.

Many of the students like to take _______ in the games, not only to watch them.

People can get a sufficient amount of the calcium their bodies

............. from the food they consume.

Sam lived alone in his own house in California.

They fell in love and got married within six months.

I love ________. Tom and Jerry are my favourite characters.

Let’s take a look at the weather ________ now!

Earl was one of the first American artists …………………. landscapes.

Hoa’s new school is ........................... than her old school.

About 20 miles from Boston, .................. a little town named Concord that has a rich history.

The table was so heavy, I could ............... lift it.

Mrs Lan ..................... a lot of vegetables in her garden.

A farmer works hard from morning .......................... night.

Hai’s favorite subjects at school are Math and ...................

Hoa has a letter ........................ her friend.

This is the web page of a ……… .  

We have math .................... Tuesday morning.

There are 28 ....................... 29 days in February.

They talk ............ their class and friends.

A....................... works in a library.

In ...................., I learn how to read stories and poems in Vietnamese.