IELTS Special Journal 5 25-06-2019-08-24-10 PDF [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

ZIM School of English and Test Preparation

Giới thiệu IELTS Special Journal là ấn phẩm được đội ngũ chuyên gia luyện thi IELTS tại Anh Ngữ ZIM biên soạn với mục đích giúp người học có cái nhìn chi tiết về độ khó của đề thi kỹ năng Nói và Viết cũng như cung cấp nhiều phương án xử lý các đề thi cụ thể qua việc phân tích đề và lập dàn ý. Nội dung chính của sách bao gồm: • Đề thi thật IELTS Speaking và Writing (hình thức thi trên giấy) trong tháng • Các chủ đề IELTS tương tự đã ra từ trước • Phân tích đề bài và lập dàn ý • Bài mẫu • Phân tích từ vựng hay và cấu trúc câu nổi bật trong bài • Gợi ý những ý tưởng liên quan • Bài mẫu band 5.0 và 6.0 và phân tích lỗi sai nghiêm trọng • Bộ đề Listening và Reading được Anh Ngữ ZIM biên soạn • Đáp án Listening và Reading có giải thích chi tiết IELTS Special Journal là sản phẩm trí tuệ của đội ngũ chuyên gia đại Anh Ngữ ZIM và được phát hành hàng tháng độc quyền bởi Anh Ngữ ZIM. Các hành vi sao chép dưới mọi hình thức mà không có sự đồng ý bằng văn bản từ phía Anh Ngữ ZIM đều là những hành vi vi phạm bản quyền và luật sở hữu trí tuệ. Ghi chú: Thành phần điểm Pronunciation và Fluency and Coherence trong các bài mẫu Speaking được giả sử mặc định là 8.0.

Mục lục Writing Task 2 (04/05/2019).........................................................................................................6 Writing Task 1 (04/05/2019)......................................................................................................13 Speaking (04/05/2019)...............................................................................................................15 Writing Task 2 (11/05/2019)......................................................................................................19 Writing Task 1 (11/05/2019)......................................................................................................26 Speaking (11/05/2019)...............................................................................................................28 Writing Task 2 (18/05/2019)......................................................................................................33 Writing Task 1 (18/05/2019)......................................................................................................41 Speaking (18/05/2019)...............................................................................................................43 Writing Task 2 (23/05/2019)......................................................................................................49 Writing Task 1 (23/05/2019)......................................................................................................56 Speaking (23/05/2019)...............................................................................................................59 Listening Mock Test May.........................................................................................................64 Reading Mock Test May...........................................................................................................70 Writing Mock Test May...........................................................................................................82 Listening Mock Test May...........................................................................................................84 Key to Listening Mock Test April...........................................................................................91 Key to Reading Mock Test April...........................................................................................104 Key to Writing Mock Test April...........................................................................................113 Key to Listening Mock Test April.........................................................................................120

12/01 04 05

Children & Computer Games Trong chủ đề này, người viết thường được hỏi những khía cạnh về mặt lợi và mặt hại của việc chơi điện tử đối với trẻ em. Một số câu hỏi liên quan đến chủ đề: 1. These days, a great number of children prefer spending time on computer games rather than on sports. Why is it? Is it a positive or negative development? Yêu cầu: người viết phân tích lợi ích và tác hại của việc chơi điện tử, đồng thời đưa ra sự so sánh giữa việc chơi điện tử và việc chơi thể thao (lý do tại sao trẻ em thích chơi điện tử hơn chơi thể thao). 2. Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that video games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. Do the advantages of video games outweigh the disadvantages? 3. Nowadays, many people have access to computers, and a large number of children play computer games. Is this a positive or negative development? Đề số 2 và 3 chỉ yêu cầu người viết phân tích lợi ích và tác hại của việc chơi điện tử.

Dưới đây là một số cách mà các thí sinh ở trình độ 5.0, 6.0 và 8.0 tiếp cận đối với đề thứ nhất.

6

ZIM

Bài mẫu Band 5 Nowsaday (Nowadays), there are a lot of new trend (trends) that people are trying to follow,(.) In this case, spending a lot of time playing computer games and little time on sports of children is gaining more and more popular (popularity) among people around the world, which is creating both benefit and drawback (benefits and drawbacks) need (which need) to be considered. From my point of view, I think it is a negative development. I think there are some reasons why young people like play (like to play) computer games more than sports. Because (It is because) the games are more attractive than sports.(1) Therefore, many children choose to play games in order to relax after their hard-working days (2) (intensive studying hours). Meanwhile, playing sports requires a lot of participants in order to create more happiness. However, nowadays, it is very difficult to gather friends to play a game because most of them are busy with their study. There are good things about playing computer games that should be considered more. One of them, (is) playing computer games can increase activity and imagination of children. For example, there are a lot of suitable games for children such as puzzles or Sudoku game. Children can earn (enjoy) big profit (advantages) from playing game. Therefore, they will reduce their dependence on their parents. For example, in china, playing game is a legal job which bring (brings) a lot of money. In conclusion, there are some reasons why children like to play computer games more than sports and after considering both sides, I do believe that the drawbacks of this are more significant than the other. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Người viết nêu quan điểm rõ ràng ở phần mở bài. Tuy nhiên, người viết mắc lỗi nghiêm trọng đó là nhiều ý bổ trợ không liên quan đến ý chính làm giảm sự mạch lạc của bài viết. Ngoài ra, người viết cũng mắc nhiều lỗi ngữ pháp cơ bản như sử dụng từ, dạng từ và lỗi chính tả.

ZIM

7

Bài mẫu Band 6 The problem about children has gained a lot of attention from the public, especially in this day and age. Nowadays, many children spend more time playing online games rather than sports. There are some reasons lead (leading) to this trend(1) and to be honest I think it is a negative development. Nowadays, children prefer play (playing) online games too much because of the following reasons. To begin with, most children find online games more excited (exciting) if compared to taking part in sports. While most of the sports are repetitive and only interesting when many people play together, online games are now well-developed and more exciting. Moreover, technology is growing, (and) online games are available on almost all electronic devices. Therefore, it is very easy for children to play games with their computer or smartphones rather than going out and playing sports with friends. Although (playing) games can help children release stress, I hold a firm belief that this can cause numerous negative impacts. They can suffer from many health problems such as shortsightedness, obesity and spinal diseases. Moreover, it also has a direct negative impact on children's psychology leading to violent actions. A typical example is in Vietnam, the phenomenon of school violence has been becoming serious in recent years. Another instance is in Dong Nai province in which a boy killed his father because he was banned from playing games. To sum up, the reasons why children like to play games rather than sports are varied. From my point of view, they should only play games for a limited amount of time, and spend more time studying and doing exercise. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Người viết đã trả lời được các phần của đề bài và đưa ra được quan điểm rõ ràng giúp người đọc có thể hiểu được nội dung của cả bài. Ngữ pháp và từ vựng được sử dụng linh hoạt. Tuy nhiên, nhiều câu còn ít thông tin và cần được làm rõ hơn nữa.

8

ZIM

Dàn ý Introduction Mở bài giới thiệu chủ đề, nội dung sẽ được nêu trong bài viết và nêu ra quan điểm rằng cả hai vấn đề trong bài viết đều mang tính tiêu cực.

Step

01

Step

02

Body 1 Đoạn thân bài thứ nhất đưa ra lý do tại sao trẻ em dành nhiều thời gian chơi game và rất ít thời gian cho việc chơi thể thao.

Body 2 Đoạn thân bài thứ hai nêu ra những tác hại của của việc chơi game quá nhiều cũng như tập thể thao quá ít đến sức khỏe và khả năng giao tiếp của trẻ em.

Step

03

Step

04

Conclusion Kết bài tóm tắt lại đại ý chung của toàn bài và nêu rõ lại quan điểm cá nhân.

ZIM

9

Bài mẫu Nowadays, many children spend the majority of their time playing computer games and hardly engage in any sport or exercise. Overall, I believe this is definitely a negative trend and will discuss the reasons in the following essay. To begin with, most computer games these days are highly interactive and allow players to immerse in a complex storyline and control characters at their own will. For instance, Mortal Kombat 11 allows players to easily change the outcomes of the story based on the character chosen, which can trigger the imagination and curiosity of children, and encourage them to spend the whole day playing to discover all the story endings.(1) The second reason for the popularity of computer games over sports is the sedentary lifestyle favoured by a large number of children, especially those living in big cities. Compared to sports, computer games are less physically demanding, and therefore draw much more attention from these lazy, inactive children. From my perspective, computer games can have many detrimental effects on children. Firstly, spending too much time on computer games without doing any physical exercise will reduce children’s calorie expenditure as they only sit at home and play games. This can make children more prone to many health problems, such as obesity or cardiovascular diseases when they grow older. Secondly, playing games excessively also causes children to lose their communication skills. As a result, it can be very difficult for game-addicted children to develop the ability to establish connections with others in real life which are normally developed through participation in team sports, like football or basketball.(2) In conclusion, playing computer games is becoming more popular than sports due to the interesting and interactive content, together with the low demand for physical strength. I personally believe that this trend does more harm than good and should be prevented to ensure the proper development of children. (314 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.5 TR 8.0

10

ZIM

CC 8.0

LR

9.0

GRA 9.0

Từ vựng 1. Immerse in a complex storyline: hòa mình vào một cốt truyện phức tạp 2. Trigger the imagination and curiosity: khơi dậy trí tưởng tượng và sự tò mò 3. Physically demanding: đòi hỏi nhiều về sức khỏe thể chất 4. Calorie expenditure: việc tiêu thụ ca-lo 5. Establish connections with others: thiết lập quan hệ với người khác

Cấu trúc câu Câu (1): For instance, Mortal Kombat 11 allows players to easily change the outcomes of the story based on the character chosen, which can trigger the imagination and curiosity of children, and encourage them to spend the whole day playing to discover all the story endings. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Cấu trúc “Mệnh đề chính, which + V”, trong đó đại từ quan hệ “which” thay thế cho mệnh đề chính, là cấu trúc câu phức với mệnh đề phụ đưa ra tác động của mệnh đề chính. • Từ nối “for instance” = “for example” được sử dụng để đưa ra ví dụ. • Cấu trúc “to encourage somebody to do something” mang nghĩa khuyến khích ai làm gì.

Câu (2): As a result, it can be very difficult for game-addicted children to develop the ability to establish connections with others in real life which are normally developed through participation in team sports, like football or basketball. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Từ nối “as a result” = “as a consequence” được dùng để đưa ra hệ quả của một sự việc nào đó được đề cập ở phía trước. • Cấu trúc “it can be difficult for somebody to do something” mang nghĩa rất khó để ai làm được điều gì. • Từ “like” ở câu trên được dùng như “for example” để liệt kê các ví dụ liên quan đến một sự vật hoặc sự việc trước đó.

ZIM

11

Áp dụng luyện tập Ngoài cách phát triển ý theo bài mẫu trên, người viết có thể phát triển bài này theo hướng sau: Lý do

Ý kiến

Trẻ em giờ đây không dành nhiều thời gian chơi thể thao do phần lớn đất đai, đặc biệt ở các thành phố, đã được sử dụng để xây nhà hoặc các cơ sở vật chất khác, dẫn đến việc không có đủ chỗ cho trẻ em chơi thể thao.

Việc chơi game có thể mang đến kết quả tích cực do nhiều game yêu cầu người chơi phải tư duy logic hoặc nghe hiểu rõ những thông tin nêu ra → phát triển tư duy và khả năng ngôn ngữ.

Do việc thiếu không gian để chơi các trò chơi ngoài trời và việc tiếp cận với máy tính thường xuyên như hiện nay, chơi điện tử trở thành hoạt động dễ dàng nhất đối với trẻ em.

Việc ít chơi thể thao có thể mang tính tích cực do nó giúp trẻ em tránh được những chấn thương mà các môn như bóng đá có thể gây ra.

Người viết có thể sử dụng ý tưởng, cách phát triển ý và từ vựng ở các bài mẫu cho đề 1 để xử lý đề số 2 và 3.

12

ZIM

12/01 04 05

The bar chart shows the number of cars per 1000 people in 5 European countries in 3 years and compares with the European average.

Phân tích đề bài • Dạng bài: Bar Chart • Đối tượng đề cập trong bài: Số lượng xe sở hữu trên mỗi 1000 người tại 5 nước châu Âu trong 3 năm so với số xe trung bình tại châu Âu. • Đơn vị đo lường: Số lượng xe. • Thì sử dụng: Đề bài đưa ra 3 năm 2005, 2009 và 2015 nên chúng ta sẽ sử dụng thì quá khứ đơn trong bài viết. ZIM

13

Dàn bài Mở bài: Viết lại câu hỏi theo cách khác. Đoạn tổng quan: Nêu đặc điểm chính về xu hướng. • Số xe trung bình của người dân trung bình tăng qua các năm. • Country 4 là đất nước duy nhất không có sự thay đổi về số xe. Đoạn miêu tả 1: Miêu tả số liệu của Country 1 và 5. Đoạn miêu tả 2: Miêu tả số liệu của Country 2, 3 và 4.

Bài mẫu The chart gives information about the number of cars per 1000 people in five European countries in 2005, 2009 and 2015, in comparison to the European average. Overall, it can be seen that on average, there was a rise in the number of cars per 1000 people in Europe from 2005 to 2015. In addition, country 4 was the only country where there was no change in the number of cars during the surveyed years. Country 5 had the highest figure among the five nations, with about 900 per 1000 people in 2005, higher than the average figure for Europe by roughly 200. The figures dropped in 2009 but rose up to almost one car per person by 2015. In contrast, country 1 had the lowest number of cars, with only around 300 cars per 1000 people in 2005. It increased to 400 in 2009 and then returned to its original point six years later. Country 3 and 4 shared similar figures of approximately 700 per 1000 people in 2005, similar to the European average. However, while the number remained unchanged in country 4, the figures for country 3 dropped below 600 per 1000 in 2015. Finally, the number of cars per 1000 in country 2 went from 500 in 2005, to approximately 560 in 2015. (216 từ)

Estimated Band Score: 8.5 TA 8.0

14

ZIM

CC 9.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

12/01 04 05

Speaking

Part 1 Social networking sites Do you often use social networking sites? Yes, absolutely. I mean, who doesn’t? I use many platforms like Facebook, Zalo and Instagram. I think the main reason I use social media is to stay in touch with others and to stay updated on what is going on in the world around me. Do social networking sites have disadvantages? Sure. The most obvious one, for me, is that it is really time consuming. I know social network is supposed to be fun only, but the fact is I am wasting my precious time logging in such sites. And if I cannot manage my time well, my study and work may be badly affected too. Do you think it is good to make friends online? Well, I think whether it is labeled good or bad will depend on what people expect from a friend. If we just wish to share your thoughts, online friends can really help. But if you need something like “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, then it may not be a good idea because online friends cannot offer you any emotional support.

Từ vựng 1. Stay in touch with someone: giữ liên lạc với ai 2. Stay updated on something: cập nhật cái gì 3. Log in (ph.v): đăng nhập, dùng 4. Be labeled: được xem như là 5. Emotional support: chỗ dựa tình cảm ZIM

15

Perfume

Do you like perfume? I used to hate it a lot when I was younger as I could not stand strong fragrance. But when I grow older, I realize that a girl should have something called a “signature scent”. That’s the reason why I started to wear perfume almost every day. How many bottles of perfume do you have? Despite the fact that I love different scents of perfume, I only own one bottle of it at home. Actually, this is my most favorite ever and I always stay true to it no matter what. What scent of perfume do you like the most? This is absolutely the scent that I’ve just told you about. It is a refreshing blend of citrus and lemon aroma, which gives you the feeling of the wind blowing through a fruit tree in the summer. I have to say that I’m so into this scent that I’ve owned the 5th bottle of it.

Math

Do you like Math? Definitely. It was one of my favorites at high school. I’m not boasting about anything but actually I was the most quick-witted student on this subject in my class at that time. Though I’m now working as an English teacher, I am still interested in figures and numbers. Do you think it is easier to use a calculator to solve Math questions? Of course. I mean, we all know that a calculator is used for making calculations much easier. As it performs a variety of functions including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, students can save a huge amount of time when dealing with Math problems by using this tool. Do you prefer to do Math by hands or by calculators? I would go for calculators. With high speed and accuracy, they are absolutely a big help to do mathematical equations correctly. Actually, for me, calculators are what make Math classes less tedious.

Từ vựng 1. Strong fragrance: mùi hương nồng 2. Signature scent: mùi hương đặc trưng 3. Stay true to something: trung thành với 4. Citrus and lemon aroma: hương cam chanh 5. Boast about something: khoe khoang 6. Quick-witted (a): nhanh nhẹn 7. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division: cộng, trừ, nhân, chia 8. Tedious (a): nhàm chán 16

ZIM

Part 2 Describe an occasion that you travelled with your vehicle being broken down • Who you were with • What happened to the vehicle • How long it took to get the vehicle repaired and how you feel after the vehicle was repaired. Today I would like to tell you about my ride last weekend when my bike broke down halfway back home. It was such a bright and sunny day that I decided to take my 3-year-old bike out for a ride to enjoy the sights along the street. Unlike other scorching hot days, it was one of those rare summer days when the temperature was about 26 Celsius degree, which was perfect for a nice ride around the city. I was fairly confident that my beloved bike would take me home safely as it still looked rather new and had been running flawlessly ever since. Following some of my favorite roads, I made my way to Ton Duc Thang Street, enjoying the views of Sai Gon River and Bach Dang Wharf along the bank. The ride went well and smoothly until I set out to return home. While riding along a secondary road, I noticed that the chain of my bike suddenly fell off. I panicked for a while, before deciding to pull over in a park nearby. At that time, I was so sweaty as the temperature began to rise. Luckily enough, I came across a bike-repair shop on the pavement just after 10 minutes of walking. The repair was quick, so I did not have to wait for so long under the harsh sun. It was a bit disappointing that the trip turned out to be a weary one, not as perfect as I expected. Another reason which let me down was that my lovely bike broke down only after three years. I guess it needs to be maintained more frequently from now on. That’s all I want to say. Thank you for listening.

Từ vựng 1. Enjoy the sights: ngắm cảnh 2. Scorching hot: cực kì nóng 3. Run flawlessly: chạy tốt, không có vấn đề gì 4. Pull over: tấp vào lề đường, dừng xe lại 5. Harsh sun: nắng gắt ZIM

17

Part 3 Do you think public transport in your country is more suitable for the elderly or youngsters? Gợi ý: Cả hai. Người già không tự lái xe được nên cần dùng, người trẻ (ví dụ sinh viên đại học nhà xa) dùng để tiết kiệm chi phí đi lại. I think it is convenient for both groups of ages. For senior residents, it can be seen that most of them are not able to control a vehicle themselves anymore. Therefore, using public transport such as buses or trains is one of their top choices. Besides, young commuters whose houses are far away from their workplace can save a huge amount of travel costs when using public transport to travel to work every day. What kinds of public transport does your country have? Gợi ý: Hiện nay phổ biến nhất nhất là xe buýt. Chính phủ đang thực hiện xây dựng hệ thống tàu điện ngầm ở Hồ Chí Minh. The most common type of public transport that can be seen in big cities of Vietnam is obviously buses. Needless to say, they are super convenient, especially for university students because travelling by this means of transport helps them greatly to save their budget. As far as I know, HCMC is now in progress of constructing the first metro line, with the corporation of Japanese investors. I hope this metro system will be operational soon. Are there any problems with the public transport system in your city? Gợi ý: Có. Xe buýt hiện giờ quá cũ, thải ra nhiều khí gây ô nhiễm cho môi trường. Chính phủ cần xem xét nâng cấp hoặc thay mới. Surely there are several. Based on what I’ve noticed recently, one of the problems is that buses are too old that they release a huge amount of exhaust fumes into the air, which does great harm to the environment. That’s why the authorities should consider upgrading the bus system or replacing old ones.

Từ vựng 1. Senior resident: người (dân) già/ lớn tuổi 2. Commuter: người di chuyển đến nơi làm việc 3. Top choices: lựa chọn hàng đầu 4. Save the budget: tiết kiệm túi tiền 5. Metro line: đường tàu điện ngầm 6. In progress: đang trong tiến trình 7. Upgrade: nâng cấp

18

ZIM

12/01 11 05

Skills vs. Knowledge for Business Nằm trong chủ đề lớn Business & Work, người viết thường được hỏi về những kĩ năng cần thiết cho nhân viên tại môi trường làm việc, nguyên nhân của việc thiếu kĩ năng mềm và đưa ra giải pháp. Một số câu hỏi liên quan đến chủ đề: 1. Many employers find that their new employees lack sufficient interpersional skills such as lack of ability to work with colleagues as a team. What are the causes? Can you suggest some possible solutions? Yêu cầu: người viết cần tập trung vào việc đưa ra lý do tại sao sinh viên mới ra trường lại thiếu kĩ năng cá nhân khi bắt đầu làm việc và sau đó đưa ra hướng giải quyết.

2. Some businesses observe that new employees who just graduated from a college or university seem to lack interpersonal skills needed for communication with their colleagues. What could be the reason for this? What solutions can help address this problem? Dưới đây là một số cách mà các thí sinh ở trình độ 5.0, 6.0 và 8.0 tiếp cận đối với đề thứ nhất.

ZIM

19

Bài mẫu Band 5 Recently, there is (are) a lot of company (companies) complain (complaining) about new employees because they cannot (are not) able to work suitably in the team in spite of having a good degree in their major.(1) Those skills including communication skill and cooperative skill which are really indispensable factors for many jobs.(2) With regards to reasons, the employees suppose that they do not have enough time to improve interpersonal skills because, in the past, they had to spend most of the time for main subjects such as math, literature, physics, and chemistry.(3) Moreover, college students have to concentrate on their main program by taking (doing) experiments and research so it is hard for them to take time to study any other course. Secondly, it is believed that joining to the extra interpersonal skills course(s) is not necessary so instead of taking a gap year to learn how to work effectively in a team and (learn) other important soft skills, they just want to get a suitable job as soon as possible in order to earn money earlier. Moreover, in some cases, the work of an employee does not require cooperative skill or communication skill. In terms of solutions, schools and universities need to hold more interpersonal skill courses for students through the study process. Besides, extracurricular activity related to teamwork are really essential for students, it not only help them refresh the mind after their study but also provide them knowledge about behavior and attitude.(4) Furthermore, parents need to realize how important interpersonal skills are and teach their child gradually. To sum up, although industry 4.0 create more opportunities for many individuals, there is a lot of challenges that they have to face to. In addition, the productivity of some job depends on the way that personnel works together. Thus, improving interpersonal skills is a significant factor for anybody who wants to get promoted in the job. Nguồn: Bài viết của học viên Intermediate tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Bài viết mắc lỗi liên quan đến ngữ pháp: cấu trúc khi viết các câu ghép, câu phức. Người viết có ý tưởng nhưng cách diễn đạt chưa súc tích và rõ ràng. Ngoài ra, mở bài và kết bài không làm được đúng nhiệm vụ của nó.

20

ZIM

Bài mẫu Band 6 In recent years, new employees often lack basic interpersonal skills such as cooperative skill. Although this problem can be attributed to many reasons, and some feasible solutions can be considered to address the matter. There are two main culprits for the problem of lacking communication skills in some new employees. The first one is due to our education. This can be explained that the education system only focuses on fundamental theories to support complex jobs. Specifically, these jobs (such as educators, doctors) require deeper understanding about the nature of subjects such as educators, doctors.(1) In addition, there are no social skills courses for students, (Nên tách câu ở đây) as a consequence, they have no ideas how to communicate with other people. The second cause is the virtual world in social networking sites. Some students often spend a lot of time chatting online so they are not confident when communicate (communicating) in real life. A couple of solutions of this situation can be proposed. Initially, the education system should be reformed by adding more communication classes and reducing the amount of learning theories at school. During the semester, the school should organize some extracurricular activities to help students know how to make friends which helps them improve their cooperative skills.(2) Furthermore, teachers must create team work during their lessons and encourage students to speak (speak out) by operating discussions. By doing these activities, students may improve their communicative skill. Second, parents should pay more attention to their children by asking them to play with computers less and taking them out to join in (outdoor) activities. In conclusion, there are two main contributors to the lack of interpersonal skills in new employees and several solutions are suggested to put an end to the situation. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM Nhận xét: Người viết linh hoạt trong việc sử dụng câu đơn, câu ghép, câu phức và có vốn từ ngữ phong phú. Tuy nhiên, người viết vẫn còn mắc lỗi về sử dụng liên từ nối trong câu phức (Although). Ngoài ra, người viết còn gặp khó khăn trong việc sử dụng mệnh đề quan hệ và mở rộng câu. Các lỗi sai trong bài viết này không ảnh hưởng đến việc truyền đạt thông điệp. Đây là đặc điểm đặc trưng của Band 6.0.

ZIM

21

Dàn ý Introduction Mở bài giới thiệu chủ đề và đưa ra dàn ý của cả bài.

Step

01 Body 1

Step

02

Đưa ra hai lý do giải thích tại sao nhân viên mới lại thiếu đi kỹ năng giao tiếp (ảnh hưởng từ công việc trước và giáo dục đại học không chú trọng vào kỹ năng mềm). Sau mỗi ý đưa ra nên có thêm ví dụ để giúp ý của mình rõ ràng và cụ thể hơn.

Body 2 Đoạn thân bài thứ hai đưa ra hai cách giải quyết cho vấn đề trên (công ty tạo điều kiện cho nhân viên tương tác với nhau và hệ thống giáo dục nên có thêm việc đào tạo kỹ năng mềm).

Step

03

Step

04

22

ZIM

Conclusion Kết bài tóm tắt lại đại ý của bài viết.

Bài mẫu Some employers nowadays are observing that their newly-hired staff lack fundamental interpersonal skills, such as teamwork. This problem results from a number of cause to which several solutions will be proposed in this essay. First, the lack of interpersonal skills in new employees is attributable to the nature of their previous workplace. In many companies, employees are divided into departments and work in small separate spaces or cubicles, in which each member is assigned particular tasks unrelated to their colleagues.(1) Opportunities to share experience or exchange work-related subjects therefore rarely arise and teamwork skills cannot be developed. A lack of proper training during time at university could be another cause. Tertiary education nowadays seems to place more emphasis on training students to excel in their major through theoretical subjects rather than equipping them with fundamental soft skills.(2) Many fresh graduates as a result are unable to collaborate effectively with their co-workers once entering the workforce despite having extensive expertise. There are some solutions that can be implemented by companies and universities to address the problem. For instance, companies need to alter the way in which their employees work in order to create more opportunities for colleague interaction. Instead of working individually, projects could be more teamwork-orientated. Also, the grading criteria currently applied at university need to be changed to incorporate more soft skill training. Apart from compulsory major-related subjects, students should also be engaged in workshops or subjects specializing in job-related skills. All of these subjects will count towards students’ overall GPA when they gradate to ensure they are wellequipped with appropriate workplace skills. In conclusion, a lack of basic interpersonal skills in new employees stems from businesses’ workplace practices and the educational system, and there are a number of feasible solutions to tackle this issue. (296 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.5 TR 9.0

CC 8.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

ZIM

23

Từ vựng 1. Newly-hired staff: nhân viên mới được nhận làm việc 2. Be attributable to: được quy cho (nguyên nhân) 3. Work in small separate spaces or cubicles: làm việc trong những không gian nhỏ hoặc những phòng được ngăn cách 4. Is assigned particular tasks: được giao những công việc nhất định 5. Place more emphasis on: chú trọng vào thứ gì đó hơn 6. Entering the workforce: gia nhập lực lượng lao động 7. Extensive expertise: chuyên môn sâu rộng 8. Colleague interaction: sự tương tác giữa đồng nghiệp 9. Projects could be more teamwork-orientated: những dự án có thể được định hướng làm việc theo nhóm 10. Count towards: được tính vào

Cấu trúc câu Câu (1): In many companies, employees are divided into departments and work in small separate spaces or cubicles in which each member is assigned particular tasks unrelated to their colleagues. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: “In which” được dùng thay thế cho đại từ “where” trong trường hợp này để chỉ nơi trốn. “Which” thay thế cho “small separate spaces or cubicles”. Câu (2): Tertiary education nowadays seems to place more emphasis on training students to excel in their major through theoretical subjects rather than equipping them with fundamental soft skills. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Cấu trúc “to place emphasis on something” mang nghĩa coi trọng cái gì hơn. Cấu trúc tương tự là to lay emphasis on something. • Cấu trúc “to equip somebody with something” mang nghĩa trang bị cho ai cái gì, có thể dùng với nghĩa trang bị vật dụng hoặc trang bị kiến thức/kỹ năng.

24

ZIM

Áp dụng luyện tập Ngoài cách phát triển ý theo bài mẫu trên, người viết có thể phát triển bài này theo các hướng sau: Nguyễn nhân

Giải pháp

Việc nhân viên mới vào công ty thiếu kỹ năng mềm cơ bản bởi vì trong thời sinh viên, họ đã không chú trọng vào việc phát triển những kỹ năng này. Thay vào đó, họ tập trung tham gia nhiều vào các hoạt động giải trí hơn.

Để cải thiện cũng như phát triển những kỹ năng trên, công ty có thể tổ chức nhiều hoạt động ngoại khóa, giao lưu giữa các phòng ban, nhân viên với nhau. Việc này sẽ giúp nhân viên hiểu nhau hơn và có thể hợp tác tốt cùng nhau trong tương lai.

Người viết có thể sử dụng ý tưởng này để tiếp cận các đề 1 và đề 2 theo một cách khác.

ZIM

25

1000 12/01 11 05

750

500

0

The chart below gives information about car ownership in the UK from 1975 to 2005.

Phân tích đề bài • Dạng bài: Line graph • Đối tượng đề cập trong bài: Phần trăm người dân UK sở hữu 0, 1, 2, hoặc 3 xe. • Đơn vị: % • Thì sử dụng: Số liệu đề bài từ năm 1975 đến 2005 nên thì động từ cần được sử dụng là thì quá khứ. 26

ZIM

Dàn bài Mở bài: Viết lại câu hỏi theo cách khác. Đoạn tổng quan: Nêu đặc điểm chính về xu hướng. • Phần trăm người dân UK có 3 xe tăng. • Phần trăm người dân UK sở hữu 1 xe chiếm nhiều nhất. Đoạn miêu tả 1: Miêu tả số liệu từ năm 1975 đến năm 1985. Đoạn miêu tả 2: Miêu tả số liệu từ năm 1985 đến năm 2005.

Bài mẫu The line graph shows how car ownership in the UK changed between 1975 and 2005. Overall, the proportion of people who owned two or three cars rose while the figure for those who owned no car declined. Additionally, having one car was the most common situation during the period shown. In 1975, nearly half of the UK population had one car while people with no car took up a smaller percentage, at roughly 43%. These figures both declined over the following ten years, to around 37% for people having one car and 25% for those with no car. The percentage of those who owned 2 or 3 cars was approximately 7% and 3% respectively in 1975, and both experienced increases over the next 10 years to around 13% and 5% respectively. Over the next 20 years, the percentage of those with one car gradually rose back up to 45% whereas the percentage of those with no car continued to decline to about 22%. On the other hand, the proportion of people having 2 or 3 cars continued to rise over the following 20 years to 19% and 9% respectively. (188 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.0 TA 8.0

CC 8.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

ZIM

27

12/01 11 05

Speaking

Part 1

Work/Study

Are your working or studying? Currently, I am a sophomore at the university of Social Sciences and Humanities, majoring in Japanese Studies. My university is located in the city center, so it is very convenient for me to go to school every day. Do you like your major? Definitely. In fact, learning languages has always been my interest as there are certain advantages related to my employability after graduation. Moreover, I also have opportunities to enrich my knowledge of the Japanese culture. Where did you study when you were a child? My hometown is a rural area, and it is also where I spent twelve years completing primary and secondary education. To be honest, I still want to be there for higher education, but as universities are not available, I had to move to the city for more educational opportunities.

28

ZIM

Books Do you have many books at home? As I am an avid reader, I have spent all my savings for books. That is why you can easily find a large book collection arranged neatly in book case in the living room of my house. How often do you read books? Reading has become my habit, and I read books on a daily basis. A book of any kind is a must-have item in my bag when I go somewhere as it can be a good activity to make good use of waiting time. Also, it is hard to imagine a day without something to read before bedtime. What was your favourite type of books as a child? Just like other kids, comic books were my favorite when I was a little girl. I still remember how excited I was when I flipped through colored pages and got into the world of my favorite comic characters.

Colors What colors do you like? I am into pastels, a group of delicate colors that are pleasant to look at. I have been loyal to these colors when it comes to clothes or house decoration as I think they reflect my characters. Is there any famous color in your country? I don’t think there is, but red can be considered because of its one special meaning. This color represents sacrifice and determination, and that is why it is used for our national flag. What colors do people usually dislike? It is of personal taste and I am not very sure about it. But I find that most people can’t bear vivid colors such as neon pink or green. They are usually too bright and can cause a headache sometimes.

Từ vựng 1. Employability: khả năng có việc làm 2. Avid reader: người thích đọc sách 3. Delicate: nhẹ (màu sắc) ZIM

29

Part 2 Describe a time you had to change your plan • When it was • Why you had to change your plan • What you did And say you felt about that change.

I would like to talk about a time I changed my plan regarding the type of accommodation I wanted to live in. It was a year ago when I saved enough money and started to think of buying an apartment which was what I had always been dreaming of. However, after the news had reported a case of apartment in flames in the city center, and many victims was stuck unreachable, I was so frightened that I immediately changed my plan and decided to buy a piece of land to build a house. An apartment had first been my choice because, compared to a house, its price is much more affordable; and with the availability of security guards and cameras, my property can be protected from the touch of burglars. Having said that, the mentioned incident happened was like an alert for me to be more aware of the possible danger living in an apartment and other types of high buildings where the evacuation in case of emergency is a big issue. Making changes has never been easy for me as I prefer to stick to the plan that has been made in advance, but in that case, there seemed not to be a better choice. Buying a house instead of an apartment was a big challenge to my budget. I had to work flat out, cut down on living expenses and take a loan from the bank. It was such a hard time, but my effort finally paid off. And it is now my pleasure going to the construction site every evening and watching my house being gradually completed.

30

ZIM

Từ vựng 1. In flames: cháy 2. Unreachable: không thể tiếp cận được 3. Alert (n): lời cảnh báo 4. Evacuation: sự sơ tán trong trường hợp khẩn cấp 5. Work flat out: làm việc cật lực 6. Take a loan from the bank: vay tiền ngân hàng 7. Cut down on living expenses: cắt giảm chi tiêu 8. Pay off: đền đáp xứng đáng

ZIM

31

Part 3 What kinds of changes do people in your country usually make? Gợi ý: Có rất nhiều, những sự thay đổi liên quan kế hoạch hàng ngày, nhưng thay đổi nổi bật nhất là thay đổi công việc. Thay đổi công việc để có thêm nhiều trải nghiệm mới, chán môi trường cũ, cơ hội thăng tiến, mâu thuẫn với chỗ làm cũ. There are many of them and I think that people make changes very often. However, the most common kind is the change of career. People change their jobs for different reasons. While some want to experience new working environment, others may seek opportunities for job promotion and higher income. There are also some others who have conflicts with their boss or colleagues and they want to take a new job to avoid further trouble. What are the common reasons when people need to change plans? Gợi ý: Tìm kiếm sự phù hợp, cơ hội phát triển, ví dụ, thay đổi chiến lược marketing của công ty. If a situation is problematic, or unsuitable, making certain changes to improve it can be a good solution. Take running a business as an example, when a marketing strategy is not effective to approach potential customers, it is necessary for that company to make an alteration if they don’t want to risk losing a big budget for no good result. Who are more adaptable to changes? Young or old people? Gợi ý: Người trẻ vì họ thường năng động hơn và thích trải nghiệm, người già thích sự ổn định và làm theo phương pháp truyền thống, ví dụ, việc đọc báo. Without doubt, I would say it’s young people. They are more creative and always seize opportunities to experience new things. By contrast, the older ones tend to seek for stability, and they like to do things in a conventional way. For example, while young people are keen on reading online news on smart devices, the elderly still prefer getting information from printed newspapers.

Từ vựng 1. Job promotion: thăng tiến công việc 2. Conflict: mâu thuẫn 3. Alteration: sự thay đổi 4. Seize: nắm bắt 5. Conventional: theo tập quán

32

ZIM

12/01 18 05

Media & Advertising Một vài câu hỏi quen thuộc hay gặp phải như: 1. Advertising are becoming more and more common in everyday life. Some people say that advertising has a positive impact on our lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Yêu cầu: người viết thảo luận cả mặt lợi và mặt hại của quảng cáo hoặc chỉ thảo luận một mặt, tuỳ thuộc vào quan điểm đưa ra. (Đề số 3 tương tự) 2. Advertising is all around us; it is an unavoidable part of everyone's life. Some people say that advertising is a positive part of our lives while others say it is a negative one. Discuss both views and include your own opinion. Yêu cầu: người viết bắt buộc phải thảo luận cả mặt lợi và mặt hại của quảng cáo.

3. Society would benefit from a ban on all kinds of advertising because it serves no useful purposes and can even be damaging. Do you agree or disagree?

Dưới đây là một số cách mà các thí sinh ở trình độ 5.0, 6.0 và 8.0 tiếp cận đối với đề thứ nhất.

ZIM

33

Bài mẫu Band 5 It is a fact that advertising plays an important role in people’s life (business activities),(1) especially in this day and age. Considering this, however, there are some people who believe that advertising is a positive part (have positive effects on) in our lives. Personally, I completely disagree with this opinion because of the following reasons. On the one hand, there are a lot of benefits about advertising. Firstly, advertising help (helps) people to have more choices about products which are foods, cosmetics and vehicles. Therefore, their shopping are become (becomes) more easily. More importantly, watching advertising helps people reduce stress after hard-working (tiring) hours at work and study.(2) For example, in Vietnam, there are a lot of children (who) are keen on watching advertising.(3) On the other hand, there are some drawbacks regarding advertising in the topic. First of all, advertising makes people confused because there are too many types of advertisement with a lot of content. When ads are broadcast on TV, watchers cannot know what the ads are talking about and therefore may lose focus on the program on TV. Secondly, the quality of products which are advertised is not ensured. For example, in Vietnam, there are many people buy (buying) low quality products from adverting (advertising), this makes people feel not happy (unhappy) and they do not trust advertising anymore. In conclusion, I totally agree with the idea given in the topic because I do think that there will be more good outcomes in the future if we develop advertising. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Bài viết đã nêu lên quan điểm rõ ràng ở mở bài và kết bài. Tuy nhiên, các ý tưởng dùng để bổ trợ không liên quan nhiều đến bài viết từ đó làm giảm sự lạch lạc. Ngoài ra, người viết cũng mắc nhiều lỗi về sử dụng từ. Đây là đặc điểm đặc trưng của bài viết band 5.

34

ZIM

Bài mẫu Band 6 It is a fact that the problem about advertising draws a lot of attention from the public, especially in this day and age. Considering this, however, there are some people who believe that advertising is a positive part of our lives. Personally, I completely agree with this opinion because of the following reasons. On the one hand, there are some negatives regarding advertising. First, it can be clearly seen that the information which is provides (provided) by advertiser (advertisers) may not be true. This is because they try to overstate about their products to maximize their sales. As a result(,) customers may buy low-quality products. Second, many kinds of advertising may be annoying to viewers. For instance, many ads interfere when people watch TV or YouTube, which makes them feel extremely annoyed.(1) Another typical example is (that) people always receive (are daily bombarded by) messages and call via SMS via phones. On the other hand, it has been widely acknowledged that advertising plays an essential role in the economy when it enables sellers to effectively compete with each other for the attention of buyers. To begin with(,) this can helps (help) businesses increase sales. This is because when companies’ products are more popular, this will catch the attention of more people and they will buy them. This not only helps sales increase but also suggests a potential solution or treatment option for customer.(2) Moreover(,) advertising create(s) more jobs such as (which are related to) marketing, many little jobs for students (designing). This is because advertising is a creative industry that employs many people. It not only reduces the unemployment rate but also increases income for many people.(3)

ZIM

35

In conclusion, advertising has several advantages and disadvantages as discussed. In my opinion, it is a positive part in our life because its benefits outweigh the drawbacks. However, I think the programs and forms of advertising should be more special to avoid customers being bored.(4) Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Người viết sử dụng từ và ngữ pháp tốt, mặc dù vẫn xuất hiện lỗi về sử dụng từ ở phần thân bài thứ nhất. Nhiều câu còn ít thông tin và chưa rõ ràng. Đây là đặc điểm đặc trưng của bài viết band 6.

36

ZIM

Dàn ý Introduction Mở bài giới thiệu chủ đề và đưa ra ý kiến cá nhân rằng việc mọi người bị bao quanh bởi quảng cáo mang lại cả những ảnh hưởng quan trọng và tiêu cực.

Step

01 Body 1

Step

02

Đoạn thân bài thứ nhất phân tích mặt lợi của việc có nhiều quảng cáo xung quanh chúng ta là việc chúng giúp con người đưa ra sự so sánh giữa các sản phẩm và đưa ra sự lựa chọn tốt hơn khi mua hàng.

Body 2 Đoạn thân bài thứ hai đưa ra mặt trái của việc có quá nhiều quảng cáo, đó là việc thông tin trong quảng cáo đôi khi không chính xác và việc có quảng cáo sẽ làm tăng giá bán trên thị trường của sản phẩm.

Step

03

Step

04

Conclusion Kết bài nhắc lại ý kiến cá nhân.

ZIM

37

Bài mẫu Nowadays, people are confronted with advertisements of all kinds on a daily basis. Some people believe this has both positive and negative impacts on our lives, and personally, I completely agree with such viewpoint. People in the modern world come into contact with advertisements almost everywhere, from online commercials, to banners displayed on crowded streets. Frequent exposure to advertisments of the same, or similar types of products, helps consumers make a clear comparison of certain aspects of the product, such as function or price, before deciding which items are suitable for their needs. For instance, thanks to the commercials of Iphone X and Samsung Galaxy S10, people wishing to purchase a smartphone can easily weigh up the pros and cons of these two products, and then choose the right one that serves their demand.(1) However, widespread advertising can also have some negative consequences that are worthy of consideration. First, the information delivered in advertisements is not always accurate, as many companies exaggerate the features of their products in order to draw attention from the public. As a result, consumers are likely to receive products of much lower quality than advertised. Second, the heavy cost of producing a range of advertisments can raise the market price of many products, meaning that people will have to pay more money to buy an item that they want. In conclusion, the fact that advertisements of all types surround people can influence their lives in both positive and negative ways, and companies should consider giving the accurate information, and reduce their budgets for advertising to mitigate the drawbacks mentioned above.(2) (266 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.0 TR 8.0

38

ZIM

CC 8.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

Từ vựng 1. Come into contact with: tiếp cận với một thứ gì đó 2. Frequent exposure: tiếp cận thường xuyên 3. Weigh up pros and cons: cân nhắc lợi hại 4. Exaggerate: phóng đại

Cấu trúc câu Câu (1): For instance, thanks to the commercials of Iphone X and Samsung Galaxy S10, people wishing to purchase a smartphone can easily weigh up the pros and cons of these two products, and then choose the right one that serves their demand. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Cấu trúc “for instance” = “for example” được dùng khi người viết muốn đưa ra ví dụ cho điều gì đó. • Cấu trúc “thanks to” mang nghĩa nhờ vào cái gì đó. • Cấu trúc “to serve one’s demand” mang nghĩa phục vụ yêu cầu của ai đó. Câu (2): The fact that advertisements of all types surround people can influence their lives in both positive and negative ways, and companies should consider giving the accurate information, and reduce their budgets for advertising to mitigate the drawbacks mentioned above. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Mệnh đề danh từ “The fact that advertisements of all types surround people” đứng làm chủ ngữ.

ZIM

39

Áp dụng luyện tập Ngoài cách phát triển ý theo bài mẫu trên, người viết có thể phát triển bài này theo các hướng sau: Lợi ích

Tác hại

Quảng cáo giúp doanh nghiệp phát triển qua việc tăng doanh thu và quảng bá hình ảnh doanh nghiệp.

Quảng cáo xâm phạm không gian chung của nhiều người (biển quảng cáo ở trường học và những nơi công cộng).

Quảng cáo phát triển tạo nhiều việc làm như marketing, designing v...v...

Quảng cáo là một hình thức khai thác lợi dụng trẻ em. Nhiều quảng cáo hướng đến trẻ em và trẻ em sẽ nài nỉ bố mẹ mua những thứ đồ được quảng cáo (đồ chơi/đồ ăn).

Người viết có thể sử dụng ý tưởng, cách phát triển ý và từ vựng ở các bài mẫu cho đề 1 để xử lý đề số 2 và 3.

40

ZIM

12/01 18 05

The chart shows the employment status of adults in the US in 2003 and 2013.

Phân tích đề bài • Dạng bài: Bar Chart. • Đối tượng đề cập trong bài: Phần trăm người lớn ở Mỹ tham gia vào các công việc khác nhau. • Đơn vị đo lường: % • Thì sử dụng: Đề bài đưa ra 2 năm 2003 và 2013 nên chúng ta sẽ sử dụng thì quá khứ đơn trong bài viết.

ZIM

41

Dàn bài Mở bài: Viết lại câu hỏi theo cách khác. Đoạn tổng quan: Nêu đặc điểm chính về xu hướng. • Phần trăm người dân làm trong các ngành Education training, Hotel industry, Building industry và Self-employment tăng trong khi con số ở ngành Medical và Business giảm. • Tỷ lệ Unemployment cũng giảm xuống nhiều. Đoạn miêu tả 1: Miêu tả số liệu của Education training, Hotel industry, Building và Selfemployed. Đoạn miêu tả 2: Miêu tả số liệu của Business và Medical.

Bài mẫu The given bar chart illustrates the percentage of American adults in different fields of employment from 2003 to 2013. In general, it can be seen that there were increases in the percentages of people working in education training, the hotel industry, the building industry, and the self-employment sector, while the medical, and business sectors saw decreases over this ten-year period. The unemployment rate also significantly dropped during this time. In 2003, approximately 8%, 3%, and 10% of American adults were employed in education training, the hotel industry, and building respectively. The figures for these fields all rose to around 20% over the following ten years. Additionally, the percentage of selfemployed people almost tripled, from around 10% to just over 30% during the period. In 2013, around a quarter of the American working population chose to run their own businesses, which had seen a two-fold decrease from 2003. Similarly, percentages of those in the medical industry also dropped by half, from 20% to 10%, over the period. (166 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.5 TA 8.0

42

ZIM

CC 9.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

12/01 18 05

Speaking

Part 1

Smile

When do you smile most? Well, I guess that would be when I receive an unexpected text or call from my boyfriend. I love surprises and this will definitely make my day. When was the last time you saw a group of people smiling? Let me see. It was probably last week, at the cinema, when it came to the final scene of the movie called “My special brother”. After enduring all hardships in life, those two brothers could finally live in peace in a pretty small house which they built by themselves. This happy ending pleased everyone that we were all smiles. Can you identify a fake smile? I don’t think that I give this much of a thought. But I guess I can somehow tell a fake smile from a genuine one. Eyes tell everything. You know people don’t smile with mouth alone but the whole face is engaged in a real smile, including the eyes. If a person is truly happy, their eyes must show it too.

Từ vựng 1. Make my day: làm cho mình thấy vui nhất trong ngày 2. Endure the hardships: trải qua/chịu đựng khó khăn 3. All smiles: nhìn rất hạnh phúc 4. A genuine smile: nụ cười thật 5. Be engaged in: đóng góp vào, liên quan đến ZIM

43

Travelling Which part of your country do you want to travel to? Any coastal areas for sure. I’ve been so tired of bustling streets and busy schedules that I just want to spend a few hours chilling out at the beach. Do you prefer travelling in your country or to another country? I would definitely go for travelling abroad. I’m a kind of person who prefer getting outside my comfort zone. It’s great to taste a food I never thought I’d like and immerse myself in a different culture. What kind of problems will you face when travelling abroad? Well, I think it would be the constant feeling that all locals are trying to rip me off. I will have to calculate the exchange rate in my head all the time to determine whether I’m taken for a ride when purchasing goods and services.

Từ vựng 1. Coastal areas: các khu vực ven biển 2. Bustling streets: các con đường đông đúc, tấp nập 3. Chill out: thư giãn 4. Go for something: chọn cái gì 5. Get outside the comfort zone: ra khỏi vùng an toàn 6. Immerse oneself in something: hòa mình, đắm chìm vào cái gì 7. Rip someone off: bán với giá cao 8. Take someone for a ride: lừa ai

44

ZIM

Weather/Climate Do you think the climate is changing too quickly? I think it is. Let’s take a look at the extreme weather in recent days. HCMC has experienced the highest temperature ever recorded. It’s been scorching hot and unbreathable outside in this heat. What kind of weather do you like best? Autumn is my most favorite one. After the intense heat of the summer, it can be a relief when it finally starts to cool down. Autumn often ushers in cooler breezes that allow me to keep my windows open. Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather? I would pick cold weather. On a cold winter’s day, there is nothing more comforting than a mug of steaming hot chocolate while curling up on the sofa and being wrapped up in a soft, thick blanket.

Từ vựng 1. Extreme weather: thời tiết khắc nghiệt 2. Scorching hot: cực kì nóng 3. Cool down: dịu đi, mát mẻ (nhiệt độ) 4. Usher in: làm cái gì bắt đầu 5. Breeze (n): gió nhẹ 6. Curl up: nằm cuộn tròn

ZIM

45

Part 2 Describe a time when you solved the problem through the Internet. • What problem did you have • When did you have the problem • How did you solve the problem through the Internet and how you feel after the problem was solved. Today I would like to tell you about a time I used online banking to pay the bills for coach tickets. It was last summer when my roommate and I decided to go on a trip to Dalat after having finished our final semester examination. We were so up to our ears in preparing for the exam as well as finishing tasks given at the part-time workplace that we forgot to book the coach tickets. Only 10 days before the trip did we realize this and hurriedly go on the website of booking tickets online. It was midnight when we logged in the website to check the availability of tickets and quickly noticed that there were only 2 seats left on the coach. Without any hesitation, I filled in every needed information to finish the booking procedure. All of a sudden, a countdown clock of 10 minutes appeared on the screen and I realized that I had to pay the money within this time. You know it was midnight already. One thing for sure that I could not run neither to the bank nor the ATM to transfer the money. But if we could not manage to pay for the tickets in time, the booking procedure would be cancelled and there might be someone else taking those 2 tickets before us. Luckily, there was another kind of payment, which was via online banking. I quickly logged in my internet banking account and succeeded in transferring the money within only about 1 minute. We both breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the email of confirmation of the booking. Thanks to the Internet, everything turns out to be so fast and convenient. That’s all I want share.

Từ vựng 1. Be up to ears in something: bận rộn với việc gì 2. Log in: đăng nhập, vào (trang web) 3. Without any hesitation: không chút băn khoăn, do dự 4. All of a sudden: đột nhiên, bỗng dưng 5. Breathe a sigh of relief: thở phào nhẹ nhõm 46

ZIM

Part 3 Do you think old people now use the Internet more frequently compared to the past? Gợi ý: Có. Người lớn tuổi lên mạng để đọc báo vì có thể phóng to chữ ra, còn có thể dùng để liên lạc với con cháu ở xa. Yeah, I think more and more seniors are going online these days. As far as I’ve noticed, most of them use the Internet to read news and stay connected with their children or grandchildren who live far away from home. I see that my grandparents prefer accessing news via Internet because online reading provides them with “zoom” option for better visual experience. Also, applications like Zalo or Facebook enable the elderly to contact their children without paying much. That’s why old people are using the Internet more frequently. What can people use the Internet for, besides studying and working? Gợi ý: Mua sắm trực tuyến. Hiện nay hình thức mua sắm này rất phổ biến vì tiện lợi hơn, rẻ hơn và toàn diện hơn. I think the Internet has revolutionized the way people shop. Oneline shopping has gained increasing popularity because of its numerous benefits. Convenience is the biggest perk. Users can shop comfortably at midnight in minutes without travelling to any stores. Besides, cheap deals and better prices are also available online. It’s very easy to compare prices among different stores and find a better deal. That’s not to mention that we can shop from retailers in other parts of the country, or even world. Are youngsters wasting their time for the Internet? Gợi ý: Cái này tùy thuộc vào mục đích sử dụng của họ. Nếu sử dụng vì mục đích xấu thì sẽ phí phạm thời gian nhưng ngược lại dùng cho mục đích tốt có thể giúp tiết kiệm nhiều thời gian. I think it depends on what young people are doing with the Internet then it can be a great resource or a massive distraction. If they just simply spend hours surfing online without any specific purpose, it would be definitely a waste of time. However, if people manage to make use of it wisely for learning, working or even entertaining, Internet can help them save a huge amount of time, which increases their working productivity.

ZIM

47

Từ vựng 1. Senior (n): người già 2. Go online: lên mạng 3. Stay connected with someone: giữ liên lạc với ai 4. Visual experience: trải nghiệm hình ảnh 5. Revolutionize (v): cách mạng 6. Gain increasing popularity: trở nên ngày càng phổ biến/được yêu thích 7. Cheap deal: giá hời 8. Retailer (n): cửa hàng 9. A massive distraction: nguồn gây sao nhãng khổng lồ 10. Working productivity: năng suất làm việc

48

ZIM

12/01 23 05

Housing and Architecture Một số đề thường gặp như: 1. In many cities, there is little control on the design and construction of new houses, so people can build houses in their own styles rather than building them with the same style as the old houses in the local area. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Yêu cầu: người viết chỉ ra mặt lợi và mặt hại của việc “xây nhà theo phong cách riêng”, và so sánh với việc xây nhà theo cùng một phong cách giống nhau trong khu vực sống.

2. Some people think that newly built houses should follow the style of the old houses in the local areas. Others think that people should have freedom to build houses of their own style. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Yêu cầu: người viết phải thảo luận hai quan điểm khác nhau được đưa ra.

Dưới đây là một số cách mà các thí sinh ở trình độ 5.0, 6.0 và 8.0 tiếp cận đối với đề thứ nhất.

ZIM

49

Bài mẫu Band 5 These days, there has been an increasing tendency of citizens to choose free (freely) the designs for their houses instead of following old designs in local areas. Although this trend brings some benefits, I think they are outweighed by its drawback. On the one hand, this policy (what policy?) is advantageous in some certain aspects of life. First of all, it can encourage creativeness (creativity) for their houses with different colors, materials and in various style (styles). Therefore, the city scenery will become more beautiful with a wide range of designs. As a result, people will feel more relaxed after hard-working hours (tiring hours at work). Secondly, this trend allows residents to choose the designs that are suitable with their financial ability. In some developing countries, some poor families have to face with (face) a lot of (many) difficulties in following the same designs in local areas. Because poor people do not have many money, so that they cannot build the same house style as the rich’s houses.(1) In spite of its favorable impacts, I am convinced that this trend involves a greater number of disadvantages. The first reason is that people do not (cannot) ensure the quality of constructions of their styles since they are built improperly compared to old styles. Therefore, this can lead to some accidents for citizens during building and make people dangerous.(2) Additionally, this policy seems to widen the gap between the poor and the rich in society. For instance, in some developing countries, especially, in Vietnam some houses of rich people have modern designs such as Western designs, compared to houses of the poor. As a result, this can exacerbate the inequality of their countries. In conclusion, despite some benefits that people can freedom (have freedom) to choose designs of houses, I still believe that they are eclipsed by its downsides. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Bố cục từng đoạn bị lặp nội dung (nửa sau đoạn 1 bị lặp với nửa sau đoạn 2). Bài viết còn mắc lỗi về cách sử dụng từ, sai về loại từ và chức năng của cấu trúc nguyên nhân – kết quả.

50

ZIM

Bài mẫu Band 6 In many cities, whether people can choose to construct houses in their own styles or in old style in local areas has been receiving a great deal of public attention. Although this trend is not without advantages, the upsides will justify these. On the one hand, there are many benefits when modern constructions followed (follow) traditional style in local areas. First, since building houses in (with) a traditional architectural style preserves traditional and cultural values, it helps to boost the national tourism. For example, Hanoi is known as one of the most ancient city (cities) in Vietnam, so citizens are encouraged to keep old houses or build houses follow (following) traditional style. Thanks to this trend, Hanoi becomes (has become) a tourist destination for those who are keen on discovering the history. Moreover, having old traditional houses are prohibitively expensive in comparison with free style (freestyle) house (houses) which can show the wealth of the owners so they can get a sense of satisfaction. On the other hand, it (people) should be (feel) free to build their own house in their own style. Initially, by constructing their own house according to their interest, people have the right to choose the style of houses. This can be explained by the fact that the owner would feel annoy (annoyed) and frustrated when they are forced to construct house which they do not like the architectural structure.(1) Therefore, people should be given chances to make their own decisions so they feel more comfortable. In addition, constructing modern houses will be cheaper so it is suitable for everyone from different level (levels) leading (,which leads) to no discrimination. In conclusion, both merits and demerits can be seen when constructing buildings in traditional or modern designs, but the owner should have their own right to decide the way their own house will be built. Nguồn: Bài viết của thí sinh thi thử tại Anh Ngữ ZIM

Nhận xét: Trong bài không có lỗi ngữ pháp nghiêm trọng, nhưng lại xuất hiện lỗi liên quan đến danh từ dạng số nhiều, loại từ và sử dụng mệnh đề quan hệ. Người viết biết cách tổ chức triển khai ý, nhưng lại có sự chênh lệch trong việc phân bố độ dài ý, dẫn chứng trong đoạn và giữa các đoạn với nhau.

ZIM

51

Dàn ý Introduction Mở bài giới thiệu chủ đề và nêu ra ý kiến cá nhân rằng lợi ích của xu hướng này nhiều hơn bất lợi.

Step

01

Step

02 Body 2 Đoạn thân bài thứ hai đưa ra lý do tại sao việc này lại có nhiều thuận lợi hơn.

03

04

ZIM

Đoạn thân bài thứ nhất đưa ra lý do tại sao việc để cho người dân tự do trong việc thiết kế nhà cửa lại có bất lợi.

Step

Step

52

Body 1

Conclusion Kết bài tóm tắt lại đại ý chung của toàn bài và nêu rõ quan điểm cá nhân.

Bài mẫu In many cities around the world, people have little influence in the design and construction of their houses. Many people believe it is better to allow people to freely choose the style and construction of their new homes rather than forcing everyone to follow the uniform style of the local area. In my opinion, a diversity in housing styles can bring many more benefits than drawbacks to an area. To begin with, cities in Vietnam, such as Saigon, have very few, or even no, regulations on local housing styles, which means that residents in these areas are free to decide on the architecture for their home.(1) The only disadvantage that may arise is the lack of uniformity of houses, which can be a unique feature in certain places. The houses in Hoi An, for instance, demonstrate a consistent style and therefore have made the city a popular tourist destination. If the house owners in this city change the style and break this uniformity, the number of tourists visiting the area is likely to decrease. However, the advantages brought about by a diversity in housing styles are more worthy of consideration. Firstly, buildings reflecting a variety of architectural designs can make a city more attractive and appealing to people of different cultures. For example, the buildings in the centre of Ho Chi Minh city are designed in both European and Asian styles, which has eventually given the city a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with residents coming from many different countries.(2) Secondly, the freedom of choice in housing styles can allow local people to be more creative, as they can design their homes in a unique way. In conclusion, though potentially making some areas less attractive by losing a part of their character, a diversity in architectural styles should be widely encouraged, as it can beautify a city and allow residents to be more creative. (312 từ)

Estimated Band Score: 8.5 TR 8.0

CC 9.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

ZIM

53

Từ vựng 1. The lack of uniformity: sự đồng điệu, sự giống nhau 2. Are free to decide: được tự do quyết định 3. Demonstrate a consistent style: thể hiện một phong cách đồng nhất, nhất quán 4. Break this uniformity: phá hủy sự đồng nhất 5. Are more worthy of consideration: đáng để cân nhắc hơn 6. Give the city a more cosmopolitan atmosphere: mang lại cho thành phố bầu không khí dễ thích nghi cho mọi người trên thế giới 7. Reflecting a variety of architectural designs: phản ánh sự đa dạng trong thiết kế kiến trúc 8. The freedom of choice in: sự tự do lựa chọn

Cấu trúc câu Câu (1): To begin with, cities in Vietnam, such as Saigon, have very few, or even no, regulations on local housing styles, which means that residents in these areas are free to decide on the architecture for their home. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Cấu trúc “which means that + clause” có thể được hiểu như là do đó, điều đó có nghĩa là. Dùng thay cho “therefore”, “as a result” hoặc “so”. • Cấu trúc “Be free to + verb” nghĩa là được tự do làm gì đó. Câu (2): For example, the buildings in the centre of Ho Chi Minh city are designed in both European and Asian styles, which has eventually given the city a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with residents coming from many different countries. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Cấu trúc “with residents coming from many different countries” cần lưu ý khi dùng “with + Object + V-ing/Being VII”, tùy theo dạng chủ động hay bị động, tương tự cấu trúc mệnh đề quan hệ rút gọn.

54

ZIM

Áp dụng luyện tập Ngoài cách phát triển ý theo bài mẫu trên, người viết có thể phát triển bài này theo các hướng sau: Thuận lợi

Bất lợi

Việc để cho người dân tự do xây nhà theo thiết kế của mình có thể mang lại lợi ích về tài chính cho chủ nhà. Họ có thể xây dựng, thiết kế và chọn vật liệu sao cho phù hợp nhất với ngân sách của họ chứ không cần phải theo cấu trúc của những căn nhà khác. Sẽ rất khó khăn cho chủ nhà nếu những căn nhà khác được làm từ chất liệu đắt tiền, khó tìm hoặc thiết kế quá cầu kỳ, vượt quá ngân sách của họ.

Nếu kiến trúc của nhà cửa được xây dựng theo ý thích của chủ nhà mà không được sự kiểm soát của nhà nước, rất có thể họ sẽ tự do áp dụng kiến trúc của các quốc gia khác như Nhật bản, Trung Quốc hoặc thậm chí Châu Âu. Đây là những vùng và khu vực nổi tiếng với nền kiến trúc lâu đời và bắt mắt. Nhưng điều này sẽ làm mất đi bản sắc và văn hóa của quê hương họ nếu tất cả mọi người đều chọn các phong cách nước ngoài.

Người viết có thể sử dụng ý tưởng, cách phát triển ý và từ vựng ở các bài mẫu cho đề 1 để xử lý đề số 2.

ZIM

55

12/01 23 05

The bar chart shows the distribution of employment among agriculture, services, industries in three countries in 1980 and projected distribution in 2020.

56

ZIM

Phân tích đề bài • Dạng bài: Bar chart • Đối tượng đề cập trong bài: Phân bố lao động ở 3 lĩnh vực khác nhau ở 3 quốc gia khác nhau. • Đơn vị đo lường: % • Thì sử dụng: Quá khứ khi mô tả dữ liệu năm 1980 và tương lai khi mô tả 2020.

Dàn bài Mở bài: Viết lại câu hỏi theo cách khác. Đoạn tổng quan: • Service là sector có nhiều lao động nhất ở quốc gia A và C trong khi nông nghiệp là lĩnh vực có nhiều lao động nhất ở quốc gia B. • Dù có nhiều thay đổi về dữ liệu, nhưng nhìn chung xu hướng của phân bố lao động ở các quốc gia không có nhiều thay đổi. Đoạn miêu tả 1: Miêu tả số liệu của quốc gia A và C, hai quốc gia tương đồng. Đoạn miêu tả 2: Miêu tả số liệu của quốc gia B.

ZIM

57

Bài mẫu The given bar charts compare the proportions of people working in three sectors (Agriculture, Industry, and Services) in three countries in 1980, along with predicted changes in 2020. Overall, it can be seen that services were the main source of employment for people in countries A and C, while agriculture was the main area of employment in country B. Additionally, despite some slight variations, there are no predicted changes in the overall trends of these countries’ employment distribution. In 1980, the main source of jobs in countries A and C was services, at approximately 45% and 65%, followed by industry, at 30% and 35% respectively. Jobs in agriculture accounted for the smallest percentage of the workforce in both countries, at around 20% and 5% respectively. Both countries are expected to see a decrease in industry related jobs and a rise in service jobs by 2020. Country B, on the other hand, saw the largest percentage of jobs in agriculture, at approximately 70%, followed by services and industry, at approximately 35% and 20% respectively. It is predicted that trends will also remain the same in country B, with an approximate 15% decrease in agriculture jobs. (194 từ) Estimated Band Score: 8.0 TA 7.0

58

ZIM

CC 8.0

LR

8.0

GRA 9.0

12/01 23 05

Speaking

Part 1 Arts Do you like art? I am a big fan of paintings. For me, they bring me an aesthetic appeal that is hard to resist. I am especially interested in abstract paintings as they always trigger my curiosity. If possible, I want to hang as many of them as possible in my house. Do you think art classes are necessary? Why? It depends. If one decides to pursue art as a career, attending art classes is a must in order to learn about artistry. However, if drawing or painting is just a leisure pursuit, people can learn by themselves by accessing some tutorial clips available in the Internet. That helps save lots of money. How do you think art classes affect children’s development? Art classes are very meaningful to help develop children’s critical thinking and strengthen their creativity. In fact, many parents have realized their children’s potential through these art classes.

Từ vựng 1. Aesthetic: thuộc thẩm mỹ 2. Trigger: khởi sự, gây ra 3. Artistry: kỹ năng mỹ thuật 4. A leisure pursuit: niềm đam mê mà ai theo đuổi khi có thời gian rảnh rỗi 5. Potential: tiềm năng ZIM

59

Rubbish Have you ever littered? Never in my entire life, even a small piece of candy wrapper. I know how such a small action can have a big impact on the environment. That is why my bag or jacket’s pockets are always full of litters after being back home from somewhere outside. Why do people litter? Without hesitation, they may throw things like plastic bottles or cups in public places if a trash bin cannot be found. However, some may even litter right next to a bin, so I believe littering has become a habit of many people. How do you feel about that? I often get very furious. I still remember a time seeing a man throwing a plastic cup of milk tea. At that time, I wish I could have enough courage to tell him pick it up and put into the bin. There is no reason to damage the environment with such a lack of awareness

Dream Do you remember your dream when you wake up? No, for most of the time. That is why there were mornings I got up with pity for forgetting all the beautiful dreams I had the night before. However, sometimes I have nightmares too, and it is a good idea not to remember them at all. Do you like hearing others’ dreams? Yes, most of the dreams I have heard from others are funny stories, so they are so entertaining. Being chased by a cow or flying after a helicopter are some of my little brother’s dreams that used to bring me a good laugh. Do you think dreams will affect life? Sweet dreams do no harm, but nightmares do. Nightmares often make people feel worried in case they bring images about a future scenario. That may affect people’s productivity in work and study.

Từ vựng 1. Scenario: viễn cảnh 2. Productivity: năng suất công việc 60

ZIM

Part 2 Describe a time you received a terrible service. • When it was • Where you went to • How poor the service was and say how you felt about that service. I am going to talk about a very bad service I received by a cashier from BigC Supermarket. It happened just last Sunday when I went to CGV cinema for a horror movie, then dropped into BigC Supermarket located in the ground floor of the same building for some vegetables. My shopping had been so enjoyable until I was at the checkout where a female cashier just drove me crazy. My first impression was that she had unwelcoming facial expression as if someone had just annoyed her. To me, that was fine because people may sometimes be tired or sick, and we shouldn’t ask them to always give us a smile. However, when I asked her some questions related to the promotion program of some products, her response was so loud and rude that it attracted attention of the people around. I felt like she was shouting at me rather than giving information. The drama came to its climax when she refused to give me more plastic bags when I asked for more. As a consequence, with stuff left on the counter, I had to manage every way to cram them all into the two small bags that she had given before. You know, I had a hard time to calm me down and release myself from irritation because I did not want to cause any trouble in the public. I went home, feeling so bad about what had happened. I called the hotline and voiced my complaint because it was necessary for such improper behavior to be corrected. I think the customer service is very important as it has a big influence on customer loyalty and every business should take it into account to survive in a competitive market.

Từ vựng 1. Checkout: quầy tính tiền ở siêu thị 2. Unwelcoming facial expression: biểu cảm gương mặt thiếu thân thiện 3. Climax: cao trào, đoạn gay cấn 4. Cram: nhồi nhét 5. Irritation: sự tức giận 6. Improper: không phải phép 7. To take something into account: cân nhắc điều gì đó 8. Competitive market: thị trường mang tính cạnh tranh ZIM

61

Part 3 How important is customer service? Gợi ý: rất quan trọng, là yếu tố quyết định sự gắn bó của khách hàng với thương hiệu. Khách hàng không chỉ quan tâm chất lượng sản phẩm và dịch vụ mà còn trải nghiệm mua sắm. It is very important, I must say. Customer service is an important factor that decides customer loyalty to a product or service. When they spend money for something, it is not only the quality that they care, but also the shopping experience. In fact, lots of companies have been successful in providing good customer care by making phone calls to offer further support to their customers, which brings satisfaction and pleasure. What can companies do to improve their customer service? Gợi ý: lắng nghe ý kiến khách hàng, giải đáp khiếu nại nhanh chóng, đào tạo kỹ năng bán hàng cho nhân viên. I think there are many things that a company can do to enhance their customer service. Businesses should listen to customers' feedback through means of phone call or survey and should take action after that to improve their product or service’s quality. It is necessary to handle customers’ complaints effectively to ease their discomfort and disappointment. Moreover, training staff with appropriate behavior and politeness is also a key mission as they are fundamental in terms of customer service. Why do you think employees sometimes don't provide good customer service? Gợi ý: không có kỹ năng do thiếu sự đào tạo, ví dụ sinh viên mới tốt nghiệp. I think for many cases; staff does not have skills in serving customers. That may be because of a lack of training within an organization. For example, a group of graduates who have little hands-on experience in sales may not know how to deal with difficult customers and can become the cause of many complaints.

Từ vựng 1. Customer loyalty: sự gắn bó trung thành của khách hàng 2. Handle: xử lý tình huống 3. Hands-on experience: kinh nghiệm thực tế

62

ZIM

ZIM

63

IELTS LISTENING MOCK TEST MAY Scan mã QR để tải Audio File. Hoặc liên hệ Anh ngữ ZIM để được hỗ trợ: Hotline: 1900 2833 Fanpage: https://fb.com/ielts.zim.academy/

64

ZIM

SECTION 1 Question 1-4

Questions 1-10

Complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

CGV Cinema Member Card Information Member type:

student

Name:

Anna 1...............

Age:

21

Email:

[email protected]

Address:

3..........................

ID card number

4..........................

Question 5-10 Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Ticket Price

Reviews

Movies

Time

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

5.........pm

$5.50

• amazing actors • 6............... ending

Assassin's Creed: Origins

2:20pm

7 $............... (double)

• useful 8............... knowledge • confusing plot

Fable: The lost chapter

3:30pm

9 $............... (with discount code)

• stunning 8............... • a bit too short

ZIM

65

SECTION 2 Questions 11 – 20 Question 11 – 16 Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Bicycle tour in Doncaster • People who join the tour need to arrive at 11.......................... a.m. • The tour will start at a place which used to be a 12.......................... • Participants will be able to see many 13.......................... during the tour. • There will be a 14.......................... at 11.30 a.m. • During the tour, no one should 15.......................... from the group for any reasons. • At the end of the tour, participants will be able to visit a 16..........................

Questions 17 and 18 Choose TWO letters, A-E What TWO things do the tour participants need to prepare? A. Helmets B. Bicycles C. Water D. Maps E. Food Questions 19 and 20 Choose TWO letters, A-E What are the TWO reasons why the bicycle tour is popular? A. It helps people improve their physical health. B. It helps people build new relationships. C. It helps people enhance their survival skills. D. It helps people relax after work. E. It helps people know more about the town history.

66

ZIM

SECTION 3

Questions 21–30

Questions 21–23 Choose THREE letters A-H According to the students, what are the biggest problems of the Self-study Room? A. The air conditioner doesn’t always work. B. The reading materials aren’t properly categorized. C. It’s very hard to ask a teacher for help. D. Too many students from other universities. E. The computers run very slow. F. The room is inadequately lit. G. Sometimes the room closes for no reason. Questions 24-30 Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer. Plan for improving the self-study room Studying Resources • Reading materials must be put in 24.........................., and should also be more 25.......................... • A new section containing students’ 26.......................... should be introduced. Equipment & Facilities • 27.......................... air conditioners will be installed. • Upgrade the computers and replace CRT monitors with LCD ones to allow more free space and save 28.......................... • Buy a new set of 29.......................... Room use • In order to gain unlimited access to the room, students from other universities must pay 30.......................... a month. • Restrict students use of social networking sites.

ZIM

67

SECTION 4

Questions 31-40

Questions 31 and 32 Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

Independence Palace 31. During the 19th century, the building was mainly used by... A. The king of Cambodia. B. Officials of French government. C. The government of Vietnam. 32. After the Second World War ended, the palace became the workplace of... A. The military force. B. The president of the Republic of Vietnam C. Government officials’ families.

Questions 33 – 40 Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer. The history of Independence Palace 19th century: • Designed in 1868 by Charles Hermite, a French architect. • Covered an area of 12 hectares, including: - a 80-meter-wide palace - a 33.......................... (maximum capacity: 800 people) - large gardens • Materials were 34.......................... from France. 20th century: • Taken over by the Japanese during World War II. • 1954: handed over to Ngo Dinh Diem. • 1955: renamed into Independence Palace after the last 35.......................... was defeated. • 1962 – 1967: rebuilt after the left side was 36.......................... • 1975: taken over by the 37 .......................... of the North Vietnam, putting an end to Vietnam’s war.

68

ZIM

21st century: • The palace is now serving as one of the most remarkable 38.......................... in the South of Vietnam. • Internationally famous because of its 39.......................... • Most parts of the palace still remain 40..........................

ZIM

69

IELTS READING MOCK TEST MAY

Reading Passage 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1.

Why investors are careful buyers but careless sellers Only the very best think as hard about exiting positions as entering them

A. Jack Schwager was once a moderately successful trader who wondered why he was not an immoderately successful trader. Perhaps if he knew the secrets of trading superstars, such as Paul Tudor Jones or Jim Rogers, he might improve. So he asked them for those secrets. “Market Wizards”, his book of interviews with hedge-fund traders, was published in 1989. A second volume soon followed. B. Both books have since been pored over by a generation of hedge-fund wannabes. They are full of great stories and tips covering a range of investing styles. Yet there are common elements. It is striking, for instance, how little emphasis the wizards put on getting into a position—finding the right trade at the right entry price—compared with when to get out of it. That makes sense. Deciding what and when to sell surely matters at least as much as, and perhaps more than, deciding what to buy. C. The wizardly injunction to cut your losses and let your winners ride has hardened into hedge-fund doctrine. Even so, it is not widely practised in mainstream investing. Fund managers pay lots of attention to buying decisions. But they are remarkably careless in deciding what to sell. D. That is the central finding of “Selling Fast and Buying Slow”, published late last year by a trio of academics—Klakow Akepanidtaworn of the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Alex Imas of Carnegie Mellon University and Lawrence Schmidt of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—together with Rick Di Mascio of Inalytics, a data firm. They examined the daily turnover of hundreds of portfolios over several years, tracking more than 2m stock purchases and almost as many sales. Buying decisions, they found, were good: the addition of a stock generally improved a portfolio. But selling decisions were bad—so bad that a fund manager would have been much better off choosing a stock to sell at random. E. The disparity between sales and purchases is explained by the attention given to each. Fund managers are careful buyers. Purchases come at the end of a long period of

ZIM

71

serious thought and research. But they do not give stock sales anything like the same attention. That is especially true when they are stressed because their portfolio has recently done badly. Instead of deliberating, they use a mental shortcut. Stocks that have done either really well or really badly, and so stick in the mind, are far more likely to be sold. The more inclined fund managers are to sell in this way, the worse they perform. F. They do not realise that careless selling is harmful, it seems. “Selling is simply a cash-raising exercise for the next buying idea,” one told the paper’s authors. “Buying is an investment decision; selling is something else,” said another. Fund managers sell the stocks that come most readily to mind. Yet they are able to sell wisely, if they pay attention. Sales made when they are focused on information about a stock, for example around the time of an earnings report, are almost as smart as buying decisions, the authors say. G. The message is clear. If fund managers took more care over selling, they would be more successful. But the world is not arranged in such a way as to make them take that care. They will be asked often for their best buying ideas, but rarely about stocks they own that are ripe for selling. This lopsided approach to decision-making is not confined to fund management. Businesses often spend an age deciding whom to hire but put off thinking about whom to let go until there is a pressing financial need, by which point the decision is likely to be rushed. H. Why do fund managers take their losses on bad stocks too late and their profits on good stocks too early? A body of empirical research, surveyed by Brad Barber and Terrance Odean of the University of California, finds that individual investors show a strong preference for selling winners over losers. They may be impatient to experience the burst of pride that comes from selling a winner. And they hold on to losers for too long in the hope of avoiding feelings of regret. I. The type of superstar trader profiled in “Market Wizards” is as likely to sell a currency, commodity or stock short as to buy it. For them, selling is as natural as buying, and requires just as much attention. For his part, Mr Schwager recalls in the book how he lost a lot of money trading soybeans. He failed to get out of his position when the market moved against him. The decision to buy the beans might not have been a great one. But it was his selling decision that he truly regretted.

72

ZIM

Question 1 – 5 Reading Passage 1 has nine paragraphs A – I Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A – I, in boxes 1 – 5 of your answer sheet. 1. A review of turnover over a period of time. 2. An account of a failure in running a type of business. 3. A reference of two very successful traders. 4. The finding from a survey on investors. 5. A comparison drawn between selling and buying regarding their importance. Question 6 – 9 Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer. Write your answer in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet. 6. What kind of contents do Jack Schwager’s two books cover? 7. What factor from fund managers affects the difference between purchases and sales? 8. What makes businesses arrive at a fast decision of stop holding their employees? 9. What is the main motivation behind most individual investors' decision to sell a winner?

Question 10 – 13 Complete the following sentences. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answer in boxes 10 – 13 on your answer sheet. 10. The publication related to selling and buying decision was conducted by a group of ............... 11. Questions are frequently given to fund managers regarding ideas for buying stocks rather than whether they are ................ for selling. 12. Investors may sometimes keep losers in a long time in order not to suffer from ............... 13. Schwager used to experience unsuccessful business on ...............

ZIM

73

Reading Passage 2 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2

Meet the super-smeller who can diagnose Parkinson's at a sniff A. When Joy Milne’s husband Les started to give off a strange musky odours, she was none too happy. She has always had a keen sense of smell, and this was unmissable. “It was almost like a slap in the face,” she says. Les was adamant he was looking after himself properly, and when no one else picked up on the phenomenon, Joy let the matter lie. It was only 12 years later, when Les was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, that she realised the magnitude of what she had noticed. Joy, who lives in Perth, UK, is a super-smeller with an almost supernatural ability to sense odours that most people don’t perceive. Perhaps this is because she experiences synaesthesia, a neurological condition in which different kinds of sensory information become mixed-up. That means she can visualise the flow of odours and even experience them as sensations. B. In the same way that a wine taster might train their nose to recognise the different aromas of the drink, she thinks that her work as a nurse attuned her sense of smell to different medical conditions. Now, retired after decades of vivid olfaction, her incredible nose is helping find new ways to diagnose diseases. This unusual career path has its origins in 1994, when Les was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease aged only 45. This condition destroys dopamine-producing cells in the brain, leading to tremors and difficulty moving. When the couple went to a local support group for people with Parkinson’s, she noticed something strange: Les wasn’t the only one with the greasy smell. Everyone else with Parkinson’s seemed to have it too. Under the pretext of handing out cups of tea, Joy took a few good sniffs to confirm her suspicions. She became convinced that the condition has a unique smell – the one that she had noticed on Les more than a decade earlier. “I was smelling Parkinson’s in the whole room,” she says. C. When Joy met neurobiologist Tilo Kunath, who studies the condition at the University of Edinburgh, UK, she asked him about her findings. Kunath said there was nothing in the literature about a particular Parkinson’s smell. Kunath thought nothing more about Joy’s questions until a colleague suggested that her observation might be worth investigating. After all, cancer has an odour that can be detected by specially trained dogs. Why not other diseases too? So Kunath got back in touch with Joy, and their conversation convinced him that she was on to something. He decided to put her skills to the experiment. She was given a few identical T-shirts to smell, and asked to determine which had been worn by people with Parkinson’s. She passed with flying

74

ZIM

colours – with one exception, where she identified one of the people who hadn’t been diagnosed with Parkinson’s as having the disease. Eight months later, the person Joy misidentified told Kunath he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “When this falsepositive turned out to be a true positive, that was a jaw-dropping moment. We couldn’t believe it,” says Kunath. “Joy was telling us this person had Parkinson’s before anyone knew.” It seemed like Joy really did have the ability to sniff out the condition before the neurological symptoms arise. D. That was potentially enormous breakthrough. As a rule, Parkinson’s is diagnosed via symptoms such as tremors or movement difficulties, by which time irreversible brain damage has already occurred. While no drugs presently exist to prevent or cure the condition, some promising treatments are in the pipeline. If and when these are approved, early diagnostic tests will be vital. In order to find the chemicals responsible for the Parkinson’s odour, Kunath teamed up with analytical chemist Perdita Barran at the University of Manchester, UK. “We want to find biomarkers that occur before the onset of the symptoms,” says Barran. The researchers soon secured funding from the charity Parkinson’s UK as well as the Michael J. Fox foundation. E. They started by listening to Joy. She had identified the upper back of her husband had a particularly strong smell, so the researchers took swabs of this region from people with Parkinson’s and analysed the volatile compounds they found there. The preliminary results are promising. In November 2018, the team reported a number of biomarkers that seemed to differ between people who did and didn’t have the condition. “There is a signature that looks significantly enriched in Parkinson’s patients,” says Barran. “The real challenge, however, is to see whether this chemical signature can be detected on people who unknowingly have the condition but who currently show no symptoms, such as those with REM sleep disorders who have a high chance of developing Parkinson’s”, Kunath added. F. Joy is involved in this research too – sniffing the compounds isolated from swab samples to evaluate whether they match the Parkinson’s smell that she first identified on her husband. But for Joy, Parkinson’s is just the beginning. “Almost every disease has a unique odour,” she says. To her, Alzheimer’s smells faintly of vanilla, whereas cancer has an earthy, vegetable smell. So her remarkable abilities could allow for early detection of other diseases, too. Last year, she visited Tanzania to help the charity APOPO, which trains African giant pouched rats to detect tuberculosis – another disease that is hard to diagnose but which, for Joy, has a particularly harsh smell. “Joy can tell us lots of things in a day, whereas a rat would take months,” says APOPO’s CEO Christophe Cox. “She could really speed up our work.”

ZIM

75

Question 14-16 Choose the correct answer, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter in boxes 14-16 on your answer sheet. 14. What can be inferred from paragraph A? A. Les showed a serious concern about his health. B. Joy’s expertise to sense smell was something that couldn’t be missed. C. As Les’s wife received too little support from surrounding people, she set Les’s suspicious scent aside. D. Joy recognized the importance of her ability after her husband’s illness diagnosis. 15. What can be inferred from paragraph B? A. Similarities between wine taster and nurse’s nose training were logically proved. B. Les’s unusual profession started in 1994 after the final diagnosis with Parkinson. C. Joy confirmed her suspicious relating to her husband’s medical condition as soon as entering the room. D. Some members of a special party in the area had the tendency to share a specific characteristic. 16. What can be inferred from paragraph C? A. Kunath were convinced by Joy’s findings after observing a specially trained animal. B. Joy succeeded in identifying the all Parkinson patients in the experiment during her first attempt. C. Nearly a year after the study, Kunah been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. D. It was not until the neurological symptoms arose that Joy were able to identified Parkinson.

76

ZIM

Question 17–23 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 17-23 on your answer sheet, write TRUE If the statement agrees with the information FALSE If the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this 17. Joy’s extraordinary ability is due probably to a physical condition she previously experienced. 18. In Kunath’s experiment, Joy was given many T-shirts, most of which had been worn by Parkinson’s patients. 19. That Joy successfully pointed out all surveyed Parkinson’s patients after many months was previously expected by Kunath. 20. Kunath and his partner aimed to discover biological signs of Parkinson’s unique characteristic. 21. Stronger signs of Parkinson’s can be found in a specific part on Les’ body. 22. Joy hardly notices any similarity in the way Alzheimer and vanilla smell. 23. It took scientists at APOPO months to train African giant rats to sniff out diseases.

Question 24-26 Look at the following statements (Question 24-26) and the list of people below. Match each statement with correct person, A-D. Write the correct answer, A-D, in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once. 24. Parkinson’s wasn’t previously proved to have a distinctive odour. 25. It is hard to conclude if the distinct chemical signs found in an experiment in 2018 can be spotted on other subjects. 26. The diversity of scents is nearly equivalent to that of physical conditions. List of people A. Joy Milne B. Tilo Kunath C. Perdita Barran D. Christophe Cox

ZIM

77

Reading Passage 3 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 Question 27-33 Reading passage 3 has seven paragraphs, A-G Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 27-33 on your answer sheet.

List of headings i. Controversy regarding the role of a particular body part ii. The beneficial effects of finding food using visual signals iii. Comparison drawn between three species which have lethal body parts to insect pollinators iv. Two parts of a plant with distinct methods to deal with different kinds of insects v. Reasons for an unusual evolutionary strategy vi. The price for using sunlight to generate energy vii. A reverse pattern in the food chain viii. An alternative for protecting friendly insects other than making use of odours ix. A common strategy based on timing and positioning x. Challenges that carnivorous plants have to face in exchange for food 27. Paragraph A 28. Paragraph B 29. Paragraph C 30. Paragraph D 31. Paragraph E 32. Paragraph F 33. Paragraph G

78

ZIM

Carnivorous plants A. Grubs gnaw roots, maggots munch fruits and caterpillars chew leaves. According to our average ecological knowledge, animals eat plants, not the other way round. But there are plant species that break this rule – at least 600 species of them on the last count. These are the carnivorous plants, and they routinely feast on insects, spiders, worms – occasionally small mammals. B. Life for a carnivorous plant is challenging. They cannot very well march across the landscape in search of a meal. Dinner has to come to them. Carnivorous plants live in places like bogs and rocky slopes where the soil – if there is any – is so nutrient-poor that few plants can survive. A study published in February 2016 shows for the first time that some carnivorous plants use smells to secure meals – validating an idea that Charles Darwin suggested 140 years ago. Darwin worked on the sundews, a type of predatory plant with leaves covered in tentacles, each tentacle having a drop of sticky fluid at its tip. Darwin described the sticky leaves as "temporary stomachs" with which the plants catch live prey, break it down with acids, and "feed like animals". Carnivorous plants eke out a living here because they converged on the same solution to the nutrient problem: animals are nutritious, so eat them. C. But the path to meat-eating is costly. As plants transform their leaves into traps that can trick, bind, drown, and digest prey, they gradually become less effective for harnessing sunlight to produce energy. Therefore, most carnivorous plants grow slowly and stay small. Beyond that carnivorous plants face a more profound problem: sex. Like many plants, carnivorous plants produce flowers when they are ready to reproduce. Most of these flowers appear suitable for insect-pollination – again, in keeping with many plants. The trouble is that many carnivorous plants trap and kill insects. They are faced with a unique dilemma called "pollinator-prey conflict": they need to eat insects without jeopardizing their chances of being pollinated by insects. For example, a carnivorous plant from Spain called Pinguicula vallis neriifolia could produce more seeds if its flowers receive more pollinators. But sticky leaves mere inches away from the flowers kill a good number of those pollinators. D. The carnivorous plant's challenge is to avoid confusing the insects it needs to eat with the insects it relies on for pollination. Studies suggest that most carnivorous plants handle this challenge very well. There is often very little overlap between the insects visiting flowers and those dying in traps. Somehow, carnivorous plants can separate pollinators from preys. The most obvious way to protect pollinators is to keep flowers away from traps. Some carnivorous plants do this by making sure their flowers bloom

ZIM

79

and die before the traps open. A field survey of 560 Sarracenia alata pitcher plants found only five with flowers and pitchers active at the same time. Besides, one-third of carnivorous plants have removed all risks of pollinator-prey conflict by growing their traps underwater and keeping their flowers above ground. Many carnivorous plants also raise their flowers on long stalks. Some researchers speculate that long stalks serve to distance pollinators from traps. E. But the role of the stalks in protecting pollinators remains debated. Some plants extend their flowers on stalks even though pollinators cannot reach their traps: bladderworts (Utricularia), for instance, have stalked flowers despite the fact that their traps lie underground. Furthermore, a survey of more than 50 sundew species found that plants closer to ground grow longer stalks than those higher up. Some scientists argue that carnivorous plants evolve their stalks to better attract flying pollinators rather than to better protect them. F. There are other options to mitigate pollinator-prey conflict. "We studied three sundew species with different distances between flowers and sticky leaves," says El-Sayed. The sundews were lethal – less than a fifth of insects caught on leaves escaped. But in all three species, less than 5% of insects caught on leaves were also found in flowers. "We suspected that the plants might be using other cues to guide the insects," says El-Sayed. El-Sayed found that Drosera auriculata – the species whose flowers grow closest to its leaves – has flowers that smell distinct from its leaves. El-Sayed then exposed insects to synthetic blends of these odours. He found that flower odours attract floral visitors – insect pollinators – while leaf odours deter them. Only insects that the sundews usually eat are attracted by the leaf odours. This means D. auriculata is the first carnivorous plant known to use various odours both to lure prey and protect pollinators. G. However, the other two sundews in El-Sayed's study, D. spatulata and D. arcturi, have scentless sticky leaves and flowers that grow further apart. Floral visitors prefer the white colour of flowers, while preys do not discriminate between flower and trap colours. So instead of smells, D. spatulata and D. arcturi use visual signals and separation to protect pollinators. "D. spatulata and D. arcturi grow in open sites. Their flowers are often the highest points around," says El-Sayed. Potential pollinators flying by would likely find the flowers easily even without odours. "Investing in odours to guide pollinators would not be cost-effective in these sundews."

80

ZIM

Question 34-37 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 34-37 on your answer sheet, write YES If the statement agrees with the information NO If the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this 34. Most carnivorous plants have extremely short life expectancy as a result of not being able to produce energy from sunlight. 35. The flowers and the pitchers of Sarracenia alata pitcher plants are mainly found active at the same time. 36. The sundews are experts at catching insects with their success rate reaching more than 80%. 37. Prior to the discovery of D. auriculata, all carnivorous plants known did not use various smells when they attracted insects. Questions 38-40 Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-J. Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet. Pollinator-prey conflict According to the latest data, hundreds of species of carnivorous plants have been found so far. They feed on insects and other animals. Unfortunately, some meat-eating plants face pollinator-prey conflict, such as those in Spain whose reproductive organs are too close to their 38..............., which may accidentally kill pollinators. To solve this problem, many predatory plants choose to lengthen their 39............... to keep their flowers far from their traps, but this theory remains controversial. Meanwhile, Drosera auriculata is observed to use their 40............... to attract insect pollinators and those from their leaves to prey. A. leaf odours C. colours E. floral visitors G. traps

B. pitchers D. floral scents F. stalks

Các bài đọc được lấy và chỉnh sửa từ các bài báo: • Why investors are careful buyers but careless sellers - The Econnomist • Meet the super-smeller who can diagnose Parkinson's at a sniff - NewScientist • How insect-eating plants persuade insects to pollinate them - BBC

ZIM

81

IELTS WRITING MOCK TEST MAY

82

ZIM

IELTS Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The chart below shows the amount of time that people in two age groups spent on different activities in the US. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Writing Task 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: The modern life is harmful for people as it brings a lot of pressure and reduces the quality of relationships. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

ZIM

83

IELTS SPEAKING MOCK TEST MAY

84

ZIM

IELTS Speaking Part 1 1. Colours • What is your favourite colour(s)? Why? • When you are buying something, is the colour important to you? • Are there any colours that have a special meaning in your country? • Do you think colours can affect a person's mood? 2. Being busy • Have you been very busy recently? • Do you prefer to be busy or to have free time? (Why?) • Was there a time when you felt stressed out (or, under pressure) because of a busy schedule? • Do you think you will be busier in the future than you are now?

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Descirbe some clothing you wear on special occasions You should say: • What it looks like • Where you bought it • On what special occasions you wear it and explain what other people think about this item of clothing.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 1. Clothes (in general) • Does your country have some kind of traditional clothing? • What do you think are the differences in the attitudes between men and women towards clothing? • How has the kind of clothing that people wear in your country changed in the past 30 or 40 years? 2. Uniforms • What kinds of people wear uniforms in your country? • What do you think is the purpose of having people wear a uniform? • Would you like to wear a uniform in your future employment?

ZIM

85

Listening Test Answer sheet “Answer sheet chỉ mang tính chất mô phỏng, vì lí do bản quyền nên Anh Ngữ ZIM không thể đính kèm bản gốc tại đây”

1

21

2

22

3

23

4

24

5

25

6

26

7

27

8

28

9

29

10

30

11

31

12

32

13

33

14

34

15

35

16

36

17

37

18

38

19

39

20

40

86

ZIM

Reading Test Answer sheet “Answer sheet chỉ mang tính chất mô phỏng, vì lí do bản quyền nên Anh Ngữ ZIM không thể đính kèm bản gốc tại đây”

1

21

2

22

3

23

4

24

5

25

6

26

7

27

8

28

9

29

10

30

11

31

12

32

13

33

14

34

15

35

16

36

17

37

18

38

19

39

20

40

ZIM

87

Writing Test Answer Sheet “Answer sheet chỉ mang tính chất mô phỏng, vì lí do bản quyền nên Anh Ngữ ZIM không thể đính kèm bản gốc tại đây”

Task 1 ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

88

ZIM

Task 2 ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

ZIM

89

Bảng quy đổi điểm IELTS Listening Số câu đúng

Điểm

39-40 37-38 35-36 32-34 30-31 26-29 23-25 18-22 16-17 13-15 10-12 8-9 6-7 4-5

9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.5 6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5

Bảng quy đổi điểm IELTS Academic Reading Số câu đúng

Điểm

39-40 37-38 35-36 33-34 30-32 27-29 23-26 19-22 15-18 13-14 10-12 8-9 6-7 4-5

9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.5 6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 (Nguồn: ielts.org)

90

ZIM

Đáp án Listening Test tháng 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Yennefer Vengerberg violet feathers perfume a star (leather) necklace French restaurant 10:30 (am) co-worker Triss Merigold 14 Maribor Parade A A A C B B C A C B

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

B C B B A A attention diverse printed (out) confusion confirms selectively scientists one-sided descriptions rejected personality over-confident opposing views conflicts

Giải thích đáp án STT

Trích dẫn

Giải thích

1

“It’s Y-E-double N-E-F-E-R, and my family name is V-E-N-G-E-R-B-E-R-G”

2

“the most distinctive feature about Đặc điểm nổi bật nhất của cái túi xách it is that it’s decorated with violet là nó được trang trí bằng lông vũ tím feathers” (violet feathers).

3

“The most important thing is a small Thứ quan trọng nhất trong túi xách là flask of perfume... there is a heart- một lọ nước hoa (perfume) nhỏ được shaped label on it that says “Lilac and dán nhãn “Lilac and gooseberries”. gooseberries”

ZIM

91

4

“Oh, and there is a small badge made Có một chiếc huy hiệu kim cương có of fake diamonds that looks like a star” hình dạng giống một ngôi sao (star). Cụm từ “looks like” trong đoạn ghi âm đồng nghĩa với từ “resemble” trong phần câu hỏi.

5

“Oh sorry! I’m wearing the bracelet right now. How could I be so forgetful ... Er... it’s actually a black necklace. And it’s made from leather”

6& 7

“Later, I went to a French restaurant Theo trí nhớ của Yennefer thì lần cuối nearby, and that was probably where I cùng cô thấy cái túi xách là ở một nhà last saw the handbag, at around 10:30” hàng Pháp (French restaurant), vào khoảng 10 giờ 30.

8

“My phone broke the other day Do điện thoại của Yennefer bị hỏng unfortunately ... Hmm, OK you can nên cô muốn được nhận thông tin về contact my co-worker.” cái túi xách bị mất qua người đồng nghiệp (co-worker) của mình.

9

“No, it’s another uncommon name. It’s T-R-I-S-S M-E-R-I-G-O-L-D.”

10

“14, Maribor Parade. That’s M-A-R-IB-O-R.”

11

“So, 30 years ago, the first principal of the school, Mr. Balton, came up with the idea of starting his own university. However, due to some financial problems, it did take another 5 years before Kenton university was certificated as one of the top schools...”

12

“we soon changed our focus to 2 ngành học phổ biến nhất ở trường technology and engineering ... Since Kenton là công nghệ và kĩ thuật then, these have always been our (technology and engineering). most popular majors”

92

ZIM

Ban đầu Yennefer nói rằng trong túi xách của cô còn có một cái vòng tay (bracelet), nhưng sau đó cô mới nhận ra là mình đang đeo cái vòng tay đó rồi, và thứ mà cô để trong cái túi xách bị mất là một cái vòng cổ (necklace) bằng da màu đen.

30 năm trước thì hiệu trưởng đầu tiên của trường Kenton đã có ý tưởng thành lập trường, nhưng ông phải mất 5 năm để thực hiện điều đó. Từ đây suy ra trường Kenton được thành lập cách đây 25 năm.

13

“And we’ve actually been the top Kenton là trường có tỉ lệ học sinh có school in the area in terms of student việc làm sau khi tốt nghiệp cao nhất employment rate in the past 5 years.” trong 5 năm gần đây. Chi tiết “social activities” ở phương án B được nhắc tới, nhưng người nói không đề cập gì đến tỉ lệ học sinh tham gia những hoạt động này.

14

“Regarding enrolment, I hope that Học sinh muốn ứng tuyển thì cần phải you’ve all brought the necessary mang đủ hồ sơ cần thiết. documents with you today... If you have them with you, please take them to the Student application office...”

15 & “In the technology department, we’re Cả hai khoá học Network management 16 offering an information Network và Database administration chỉ dành management course. However, cho sinh viên trong nước. unfortunately this course is only offered to local students ... We’re sorry to say that international students are not eligible to apply for this one or the Database administration course” 17

“...international students are very Khoá học Game design dành cho cả welcomed to join our Gaming design sinh viên trong nước và sinh viên nước course... Local students are also ngoài. welcomed in this course”

18

“And the final technology-based course Khoá học Web management chỉ dành we’ll be offering is Web management... cho sinh viên nước ngoài. This course is especially meant for foreign students only”

19

“All students can apply for the Khoá học Electrical engineering dành electrical one since there has been cho mọi đối tượng sinh viên. a reduction in the number of skilled electricians in recent years”

20

“The chemical engineering course is, Khoá học Chemical engineering chỉ however, only opened to local students dành cho sinh viên trong nước. this year due to a number of reasons”

ZIM

93

21

“the reason for us to choose “Mass strandings” from those topics was quite personal actually. We both come from coastal cities so we really care about the dangers that sea creatures are facing”

Yennefer và Geralt chọn chủ đề “Mass strandings” (nạn chết dạt bờ hàng loạt của cá voi) vì họ tới từ những thành phố biển và rất quan tâm tới những mối hiểm hoạ mà các sinh vật biển phải đối mặt.

22

“Actually, finding that footage wasn’t very hard... The new presentation application we used couldn’t handle media files that were too large, so it always crashed whenever I tried to insert the footage.”

Vấn đề mà Geralt gặp phải không nằm ở việc tìm những thước phim trên mạng (đáp án B), mà là ở chỗ phần mềm thuyết trình Geralt sử dụng không xử lí được những tập tin đa phương tiện quá nặng.

23

“I put my most effort in the section where we stated several factors that could influence the navigating abilities of whales. That was the highlight for me.”

Yennefer cảm thấy hài lòng nhất với phần phân tích những nhân tố ảnh hưởng tới khả năng định vị của cá voi, phần mà bạn ấy đầu tư nhiều công sức nhất (từ influence ở đoạn ghi âm đồng nghĩa với từ affect ở đáp án).

24

“And speaking of time, I had to say this was originally our biggest concern. I just couldn’t believe we managed to finish everything in just 14 minutes”

Lúc đầu, mối quan ngại lớn nhất của Geralt và Yennefer là thời gian. Yennefer không thể tin rằng họ có thể hoàn thành mọi thứ chỉ trong 14 phút.

25

“You’ve always been good at thinking on your feet, which is a major bonus. However, the thing I particularly liked is that you mentioned your own experience when no one expected it."

Điều khiến giáo sư Vesemir ấn tượng nhất ở Geralt là khi bạn ấy đề cập tới trải nghiệm cá nhân ở thời điểm mà không ai ngờ tới. Việc Geralt phản ứng rất nhanh (good at thinking on your feet) trước mỗi câu hỏi – đáp án B - không làm Vesemir bất ngờ bởi đây là ưu điểm vốn có của Geralt.

26

“So Geralt, what was the most valuable Đối với Geralt, điều giá trị nhất bạn ấy thing you learned from this project? học được từ dự án này là khả năng làm I would say it’s the ability to work well việc ăn ý với bạn cùng nhóm. with a partner.”

94

ZIM

27

“..your slides include lots of fascinating information, which can easily draw the attention of the audience. Of course it’s a good thing. However, my advice is to put most of this information in the introduction part”

Theo Vesemir, những thông tin có thể dễ dàng thu hút sự chú ý (attention) của người xem nên được đặt ở phần mở đầu.

28

“However it could have been even Biểu đồ được dùng trong bài thuyết better if the charts displayed were a trình nên đa dạng hơn (more diverse). bit more... diverse, you know?”

29

“And then the slides - especially those that include unclear details – should also be printed out. This allows the audience to pay full attention to what is being presented, while still being able to ask questions later on”

Slides trình chiếu nên được in ra (printed out) để người xem vừa có thể theo dõi nội dung bài thuyết trình, vừa có thể đưa ra câu hỏi.

30

“ ... so my tip is to read through your script carefully before giving a presentation, since it may help you to predict certain points that may cause confusion for the audience.”

Vesemir khuyên 2 học sinh của mình đọc qua kịch bản trước khi thuyết trình để dự đoán trước những phần có thể gây sự khó hiểu (confusion) cho người xem.

31

“It is the tendency search for, interpret, “Thiên kiến xác nhận” (Confirmation favor, and recall information in a way bias) chỉ khuynh hướng tìm kiếm và that confirms one's preexisting beliefs” ưu tiên những thông tin xác nhận (confirms) niềm tin điểm của một người.

32

“People display this bias when they Khuynh hướng này được thể hiện gather or remember information khi người ta thu thập hoặc ghi nhớ selectively...” những thông tin một cách có chọn lọc (selectively).

33

“And you should also notice that even Ngay cả các nhà khoa học cũng chịu scientists can be prone to this bias.” ảnh hưởng bởi khuynh hướng này.

ZIM

95

34

“Experiments have found repeatedly that people tend to test hypotheses in a one-sided way, by searching for evidence consistent with their current hypothesis”

Các thí nghiệm đã chỉ ra rằng người ta thường kiểm tra những giả định của mình theo cách một chiều (one-sided) bằng cách chỉ tập trung vào những dẫn chứng khớp với nhận định ban đầu của họ.

35

“an experiment involving participants who felt strongly about capital punishment, with half in favor and half against it. Each participant read descriptions of two studies...”

Trong thí nghiệm ở đại học Stanford, 2 học sinh (người ủng hộ, người phản đối án tử hình) đều phải đọc mô tả (descriptions) về 2 bài nghiên cứu.

36

“They pointed to details that supported Cả hai học sinh đều chỉ ra những chi their viewpoint and rejected anything tiết ủng hộ, và phản đối (rejected) bất contrary.” cứ thứ gì chống lại quan điểm của họ.

37

“Some experiments also showed that this selective memory can have some influence on people’s attitude towards personality, like whether it is better to be introvert or extrovert”

38

“confirmation bias can lead investors Thiên kiến xác nhận có thể khiến to be overconfident, ignoring evidence những nhà đầu tư trở nên quá tự tin that their strategies will lose money” (overconfident) và lờ đi những dẫn chứng chỉ ra rằng chiến lược của họ có thể dẫn tới thua lỗ.

39

“In social media, confirmation bias is amplified by the use of “filter bubbles”, which shows individuals information that they are more likely to agree with, while excluding opposing views”

40

“In politics, confirmation bias can Trong lĩnh vực chính trị, thiên kiến xác be a factor in creating or extending nhận có thể là nhân tố tạo ra hoặc làm conflicts” những xung đột (conflicts) trở nên căng thẳng hơn.

96

ZIM

Một số nghiên cứu chỉ ra rằng trí nhớ chọn lọc có thể ảnh hưởng lên thái độ của mọi người đối với những tính cách (personality) khác nhau.

Ở lĩnh vực truyền thông, thiên kiến xác nhận còn có thể bị khuyếch đại bởi “filter bubbles”, thứ mang lại cho con người những thông tin mà họ muốn được thấy và loại bỏ đi những ý kiến trái chiều (opposing views).

Transcript SECTION 1 Staff Yennefer Staff

Yennefer Staff Yennefer Staff Yennefer

Staff Yennefer

Staff Yennefer

Staff Yennefer

Staff Yennefer

Staff

Hello. This is Vivaldi Department Store Lost Property Department. How may I help you? Hello, I’m calling about a handbag I lost yesterday at the department store. People often hand in lost items here so if you’re lucky, you may find your handbag. Ok so let’s start with some basic information first. May I have your full name please? Yes, my name is Yennefer Vengerberg. Sorry, is that Jennifer spelled with a J? No, it’s actually quite an uncommon name. It’s Y-E-double N-E-F-E-R, and my family name is V-E-N-G-E-R-B-E-R-G. Ok, I got that. Now I need you to give a clear description of the handbag. As clear as possible. You know, the material, the colour, the patterns... Ok, well it’s black, and the most distinctive feature about it is that it’s decorated with violet feathers. It’s a limited edition so I think it’s quite distinguishable. Right ... I think you’ve described it well enough. Now...are there any notable items inside it? Can you name them as well? Yes. The most important thing is a small flask of perfume. It’s also violet, and there is a heart-shaped label on it that says “Lilac and gooseberries”. It’s my favourite scent. Alright... Now, is there anything else? There’s some cash, but not much. Oh, and there is a small badge made of diamonds that looks like a star. It’s in the smaller pouch along the zip, so it might be a bit tricky to find. Ok I’ll just add that detail. Anything else? Your identification? Or passport perhaps? No. I’ve got all of that in my wallet, thank goodness. Losing money is no big deal, but losing those important papers ... God I shiver just at the thought of it! Hmm... what else...Ah yes, there is also a black bracelet. It should be in the same place with the small flask of perfume. Black ... bracelet…Ok, is that all? Oh sorry! I’m wearing the bracelet now. How could I be so forgetful ... Er... it’s actually a black necklace. And it’s made from leather. That’s all I can remember. No problem. Alright, we’ve got a very clear description here. Now, let’s move on.

ZIM

97

Staff

Yennefer

Staff Yennefer Staff

Yennefer Staff

Yennefer Staff Yennefer Staff Yennefer Staff Yennefer Staff

Yennefer

Ms. Vengerberg, do you happen to remember the time when you visited our department store? Of course, it doesn’t have to be exact. It was just yesterday, wasn’t it? Yes. I got there in the morning, and I was there from 8-11 am. First I went to the cafeteria to have breakfast. I’m pretty sure I still had my handbag with me at that time. Then, I went to the supermarket to buy some stuff. Later, I went to a French restaurant nearby, and that was probably where I last saw the handbag, at around 10:30. Do you remember the name of the restaurant? Not sure... Gusten, Guste something.. Ah, the Gusteau restaurant. That’s good news then. The owners of that restaurant have turned in customers’ lost items quite a few times. I think it should be fine. I hope so. Do you need any more details? No, that’s enough for now. Now all you need to do is tell me how we can contact you should we find the handbag. May I have your phone number please? My phone broke the other day unfortunately ... Hmm, OK you can contact my co-worker. Her name is Triss Merigold. Marigold? Is it spelled just like the flower? No, it’s another uncommon name. It’s T-R-I-S-S M-E-R-I-G-O-L-D. Done. And her phone number? Hang on, I wrote it down here somewhere ... Ah there it is. It’s 7-1-0-2-50-6-0-4-1. 6-0-4-1 . Got it! Oh, and may I have her address? You know, to send the property should we manage to locate it? She lives at 14, Maribor Parade. That’s M-A-R-I-B-O-R. Very well, I think that’s all we need now. And don’t worry Ms. Vengerberg, we will try our best to find your item. We’ll call you, I mean your co-worker, as soon as we find the handbag. Have a nice day! Thank you so much. Goodbye!

SECTION 2 Good morning everyone, and thank you for attending today’s seminar of Kenton University. Now, Before I discuss any course-related information, I’d like to give you a bit of the background about the institution itself. So, 30 years ago, the first principal of the school, Mr. Balton, came up with the idea of starting his own university. However, due to some financial problems, it did take another 5 years before Kenton university was certificated as one of the top schools in the country. 98

ZIM

At first, the university specialised in teaching finance and economics. However, we soon changed our focus to technology and engineering as we realised that this would going to be 2 very important fields that would help with the development of the local area and the country. And since then, these have always been our most popular majors and we’re very proud to have the most well-qualified lecturers teaching these subjects. The school is also renowned for teaching students in an active and dynamic way. And each year, we organise several social activities to provide students with situations to develop their interpersonal skills and raise their sense of community within the school. And when it comes to employment, we’re also very proud to say that students with degrees from Kenton university are very highly regarded by the both local employers and all around the country. And we’ve actually been the top school in the area in terms of student employment rate in the past 5 years. Now, regarding enrolment, I hope that you’ve all brought the necessary documents with you today, including your ID card, high school diploma, and a health certificate. If you have them with you, please take them to the Student application office on the second floor of this building after we finish this seminar. Then, over the next 3 days, you’ll be contacted by the university head office to verify your information and also confirm your attendance at the school. Unfortunately, we will not be providing online application this year. Now, let’s get down to the courses on offer. This year, we’re taking in students for 6 main courses. In the technology department, we’re offering an information Network management course. However, unfortunately this course is only offered to local students due to the restriction on the number of students we can recruit and a high level of demand for this course. We’re sorry to say that international students are not eligible to apply for this one or the Database administration course. Hopefully we’ll be able to accommodate more students in the coming years. However, international students are very welcomed to join our Gaming design course, in which you’ll learn the fundamentals from computer programming all the way through to advanced game design. Local students are also welcomed to join this course. And the final technology-based course we’ll be offering is Web management, where you can learn how to create, operate, maintain and develop a website. This course is especially meant for foreign students only. Next year, it’ll be opened to all students regardless of their geographical location. Now, in the engineering department, we’re gonna be running 2 engineering courses this year: electrical and chemical. All students can apply for the electrical course due to a reduction in the number of skilled electrical engineers in recent years, which also means that the job opportunities in this field at the moment are very high. The chemical engineering course is, however, only opened to local students this year due to a number of reasons. Now, Mr. Denver, the new principal would like to say a few words…

ZIM

99

SECTION 3 Vesemir

OK, Geralt and Yennefer. Before we start, first I want to congratulate you both for doing so well in your first group project. I have to admit though, I didn’t expect such a solid performance, given the short amount of time you guys have for preparation. So Yennefer, can you tell me why you chose “Mass strandings of sperm whales” as the main focus for your project? Is it something your tutor suggested? Yennefer Well our tutor did suggest several topics that have never been done by anyone before. You know, we just don’t want to repeat stuff. But the reason for us to choose “Mass strandings” from those topics was quite personal actually. We both come from coastal cities so we really care about the dangers that sea creatures are facing. For us, it was more than just a group project. We really want to spread the word. Vesemir Hmm, interesting. Well things would be a lot easier when you actually enjoy what you’re doing. But it doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be any challenge, right? Geralt Yes you are. Finding the most up-to-date statistics, for one, was a real pain since we couldn’t find much on the Internet. It’s a good thing my uncle is working for the Marine Life Lab, so he helped me a lot to get hold of the important data. Vesemir I see. And I was quite impressed by the quality of the video clips that were shown in your presentation. Where did you guys find them? Geralt Actually, finding that footage wasn’t very hard. All the clips are available on a website called “dailymotion.com”. However, we had to wait for 3 days for the clips to be sent to our email. I thought it wouldn’t be a problem since we had 2 days left to prepare. But I was dead wrong. The new presentation application we used couldn’t handle media files that were too large, so it always crashed whenever I tried to insert the footage. In the end I had to lower the definition for those videos using another software. The whole process cost me another 4 hours! Fortunately, things went smoothly after that. It could have been a disaster otherwise! Yennefer Not so smoothly I think ... In the first 5 minutes of the presentation, I tried so hard not to panic when we couldn’t turn on the sound. That’s why I’m not at all satisfied with the introduction ... Things could have gone so much better, had we prepared more carefully. Vesemir Well, a lesson learned. But let’s not focus only on the negatives. How did you guys feel about the other parts Yennefer? Personally speaking, I think you guys handled the Q&A one really well! Yennefer I do think so. But since I didn’t contribute much to the answers - you know, Geralt almost single-handedly answered all the questions. I put my most effort in the section where we stated several factors that could influence the navigating abilities of whales. That was the highlight for me.

100 ZIM

Vesemir

Right. So apart from the “unexpected” technical error you mentioned, is there anything else you didn’t expect to happen? Yennefer Oh yes, but thankfully they’re all good things. I think the audience liked our presentation the best. They were really enthusiastic. The students got really involved and asked us so many interesting questions that I wish I could have had enough time to answer all of them. And speaking of time, I had to say this was originally our biggest concern. I just couldn’t believe we managed to finish everything in just 14 minutes! Even Geralt couldn’t believe it. Geralt Oh yeah. I think it’s because we didn’t have to keep looking at the slides, which saved lots of time. Vesemir And because of that, you felt much more comfortable in the Q&A? Geralt Indeed. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to answer the questions so confidently. Vesemir Honestly I think you would still do well no matter how much time you had, Geralt. You’ve always been good at thinking on your feet, which is a major bonus. However the thing I particularly liked is that you mentioned your own experience when no one expected it. It makes what you said so much more convincing, and relevant at the same time. So Geralt, what was the most valuable thing you learned from this project? Geralt I would say it’s the ability to work well with a partner. To be honest, Yennefer and I weren’t exactly on the same page. We could argue about pretty much anything. But then, we decided to put aside our differences for the greater good, and once we managed to do that, I think we made a great couple. Vesemir Hmm glad to hear that.

Vesemir

Okay, so let’s talk about things that you could improve to make your future presentations even better. I think they mostly come down to preparation. So I’ll just focus on things that are usually ignored by students. For a start, your slides include lots of fascinating information which can easily draw the attention of the audience. Of course it’s a good thing. However my advice is to put most of this information in the introduction part, so that it would create a much stronger initial impression. Yennefer I see. Is there anything you’d like to comment on about the design of the slides? Vesemir They look great in my opinion. The font, the colors.... However it could have been even better if the charts displayed were a bit more diverse, you know? A wider combination between different templates – say, pie charts, line graphs and tables, and so on - would make it easier to illustrate important features. Geralt Wow, we didn’t see that. I’ll definitely pay attention next time.

ZIM 101

And then the slides - especially those that include unclear details – should also be printed out. This allows the audience to pay full attention to what is being presented, while still being able to ask questions later on. Also, there will usually be several things in your presentation that are a bit harder to understand, so my tip is to read through your script carefully before giving a presentation, since it may help you to predict certain points that may cause confusion for the audience. Yennefer Such a great tip! We should have asked you about this way earlier! Thank you so much Prof. Vesemir! Vesemir You’re welcome, Yennefer. Vesemir

SECTION 4 Hello everyone, in today’s lesson of our psychology class, I’d like to introduce to you a very popular psychological phenomenon that most people in the world encounter but hardly anyone notice it. It’s called “confirmation bias”. It is the tendency search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs. It is a type of cognitive bias and a systematic error of inductive reasoning. People display this bias when they gather or remember information selectively, or when they interpret it in a biased way. People also tend to interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing position. Biased search, interpretation and memory have been invoked to explain attitude polarization and belief perseverance. And you should also notice that even scientists can be prone to this bias. In 1960s, a psychologist in England called Peter Wason did the first series of experiments on confirmation bias and then he came up with classifying it into 3 main types. The first one is called Biased search for information. Experiments have found repeatedly that people tend to test hypotheses in a one-sided way, by searching for evidence consistent with their current hypothesis. Rather than searching through all the relevant evidence, they phrase questions to receive an affirmative answer that supports their theory. They look for the consequences that they would expect if their hypothesis were true, rather than what would happen if they were false. For example, someone using yes/no questions to find a number he or she suspects to be the number 3 might ask, "Is it an odd number?" People prefer this type of question, called a "positive test", even when a negative test such as "Is it an even number?" would yield exactly the same information. The second type is called Biased interpretation. Confirmation biases are not limited to the collection of evidence. Even if two individuals have the same information, the way they interpret it can be biased. A team at Stanford University conducted an experiment involving participants who felt strongly about capital punishment, with half in favor and half against it. Each participant read descriptions of two studies then they were

102 ZIM

asked whether their opinions had changed. The result was not very surprising. The participants, whether supporters or opponents, confirmed their original belief regardless of the evidence provided. They pointed to details that supported their viewpoint and rejected anything contrary. The third type is Biased memory. People may remember evidence selectively to reinforce their expectations, even if they gather and interpret evidence in a neutral manner. Some experiments also showed that this selective memory can have some influence on people’s attitude towards personality, like whether it is better to be introvert or extrovert. In the real world, you can find evidence of confirmation bias everywhere you go. Here are some typical consequences of having this kind of bias. In finance, confirmation bias can lead investors to be overconfident, ignoring evidence that their strategies will lose money. In studies of political stock markets, investors made more profit when they resisted bias. For example, participants who interpreted a candidate's debate performance in a neutral rather than partisan way were more likely to profit. In social media, confirmation bias is amplified by the use of filter bubbles, which shows individuals information that they are more likely to agree with, while excluding opposing views. This is exactly what Facebook, Twitter and Google are doing when giving you the information, which has made the problem of confirmation bias become worse and worse in the modern life. In politics, confirmation bias can be a factor in creating or extending conflicts, from emotionally charged debates to wars: by interpreting the evidence in their favor, each opposing party can become overconfident that it is in the stronger position. Now, the question is: how can we...

ZIM 103

Đáp án Reading Test tháng 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

E G D H I TRUE FALSE FALSE NOT GIVEN Groundwater Shrines Laterite Ashes head librarian parting thoughts politics virtue willow branch ultimate reality powers

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

appearances waste YES NO NO NOT GIVEN F H D A E C C D C B suntan tumors tissues life expectancy

Giải thích đáp án STT

Trích dẫn

Giải thích

1

Hidden paintings have been Paintings/musical instruments = artistic discovered in the central tower. works. One chamber in the tower has a scene showing a traditional Đáp án đúng là E. Khmer ensemble of musical instruments known as the pinpeat

2

Building Angkor Wat was an enormous undertaking that involved quarrying, careful artistic work and lots of digging

“Enormous undertaking” chỉ một công việc cực kỳ nặng nhọc, khó khăn và sau đó từ này được cụ thể hóa bằng một loạt các công việc (quarrying, digging) → gẫn nghĩa với “challenges”. Đáp án đúng là G.

104 ZIM

3

This tower "was at once the symbolic center of the nation and the actual center where secular and sacred power joined forces

Trong đoạn D, tác giả đề cập đến 2 vai trò (roles) của central tower: the symbolic center of the nation và the actual center where secular and sacred power joined forces. Đáp án đúng là D.

4

5

6

7

two pieces of crystal and two gold leaves far beneath where the Vishnu statue must have been," Coe writes, adding that deposits like these "spiritually 'energized' a temple, much as a battery will provide power to a portable electronic device."

“Some items” ở đây chính là “two pieces of crystal and two gold leaves” và chức năng của những món đồ này là "spiritually 'energized' a temple”.

Researchers still wonder whether the ashes of Suryavarman II were interred in the monument, perhaps in the same chamber where the deposits were found. If that were the case, it would give the temple a funerary meaning.

“A question” trong câu hỏi được thể hiện ở từ wonder trong đoạn văn. Ngoài ra, “further use” trong trường hợp này chính là việc ngôi đền có thể được sử dụng cho mục đích tang lễ (funerary meaning).

Paragraph A: Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, it was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century, and statues of Buddha were added to its already rich artwork.

Câu hỏi nói rằng đền Angkor không được “first built as a place to worship Buddha” và nội dung trong bài cũng đồng ý và nói rằng ngôi đền lúc đầu được xây để thời Vishnu.

Paragraph A: Its 213-foot-tall (65 meters) central tower is, along with other four smaller towers, wrapped around by a series of enclosure walls, a layout that recreates the image of Mount Meru, a legendary place in Hindu mythology that is said to lie beyond the Himalayas and be the home of the gods.

Câu hỏi nói rằng Angkor War được cho rằng là nơi ở của thánh thần (God). Tuy nhiên, nội dung trong bài thể hiện rằng ngọn núi Meru mới là nơi ở của thánh thần.

Đáp án đúng là H.

Đáp án đúng là I.

Đáp án là TRUE.

Đáp án là FALSE.

ZIM 105

8

Paragraph B: It was easily the largest city in the world until the Industrial Revolution.

Trong câu này sai do 2 từ during và until mang ý nghĩa đối lập nhau. Until mang ý nghĩa rằng Angkor là tòa tháp lớn nhất trước thời Cách mạng công nghiệp và sau đó không còn là lớn nhất nữa. Đáp án là FALSE.

9

10

11

Paragraph B: Angkor had an urban core that could easily have held 500,000 people and a vast hinterland that had many more inhabitants, as airborne laser scanning (lidar) research has shown

Urban core = centre

Paragraph C: This moat is 13 feet deep (4 m) and would have helped stabilize the temple's foundation, preventing groundwater from rising too high or falling too low.

Control trong trường hợp này chính là việc “prevent … from rising to high or falling too low”. Ngoài ra, ta cần 1 danh từ cho câu này nên từ “groundwater” là phù hợp nhất.

Paragraph C: Recently, archaeologists found the remains of eight towers made of sandstone and laterite by the western gateway. These towers may be the remains of shrines that were in use before Angkor Wat was fully constructed

Trong câu này, ta cần điền 1 danh từ chỉ mục đích sử dụng của các tòa tháp vào thời điểm trước khi ngôi đền hoàn thành (fully constructed = completed) và từ “shrines” là phù hợp nhất.

106 ZIM

Tuy nhiên, trong bài chỉ nói rằng trung tâm Angkor có thể chứa được 500,000 người chứ không nói rằng có bao nhiều người thật sự sống ở đó. Đáp án là NOT GIVEN.

Đáp án đúng là Groundwater.

Đáp án đúng là Shrines.

12

Paragraph G To create the moat around the temple, 1.5 million cubic meters (53 million cubic feet) of sand and silt were moved, a task that would have required thousands of people working at one time. To support them, a tough material called laterite was used, which in turn was encased with softer sandstone that was used for carving the reliefs

Ta cần một danh từ chỉ đồ vật được sử dụng để giúp đỡ công nhân. Dựa vào nội dung trong bài, ta thấy thứ được sử dụng là “a tough material called laterite”, vì vậy từ laterite là phù hợp nhất.

Paragraph I Researchers still wonder whether the ashes of Suryavarman II were interred in the monument, perhaps in the same chamber where the deposits were found

Trong câu này, ta cần điền 1 danh từ chỉ thứ thuộc về Suryavarman II và từ duy nhất phù hợp trong ngữ cảnh này là “ashes”

14

The Old Master (đoạn 1)

Câu hỏi hỏi về nghề nghiệp của Lão Tử (Lao-tzu), nên ta sẽ nhìn vào đoạn “The Old Master” chính là phần nói về ông. Theo đó, nghê nghiệp duy nhất được nhắc đến trong đoạn chính là “head librarian”.

15

The Old Master (đoạn 1)

Câu hỏi hỏi về việc Lão Tử đã viết gì trước lúc ra đi. Từ “note down” dùng trong câu hỏi đồng nghĩa với “write down” dùng trong bài đọc, do đó, đáp án là “parting thoughts”.

16

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu hỏi hỏi về việc Khổng Tử (Confucius) 1) đã rời khỏi cái gì để dành nhiều thời gian và công sức cho việc dạy. Cụm “separate himself from” trong câu hỏi gần nghĩa với “left” trong đoạn đọc; từ teach trong câu hỏi và đoạn đọc được thay dổi word form, do đó câu trả lời là “politics”.

13

Đáp án đúng là Laterite.

Đáp án đúng là Ashes.

ZIM 107

17

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu hỏi hỏi về việc hành vi con người nên 2) đi kèm theo điều gì trong mọi hoàn cảnh. Đoạn này tiếp tục hỏi về Confucius. Theo đó, “benavior” trong câu hỏi gần nghĩa với “act” trong đoạn đọc, “in all circumstances” trong câu hỏi gần nghĩa với “in all social matters”, do đó câu trả lời là “virtue”.

18

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu hỏi hỏi về món đồ/vật hay xuất hiện 2) trong đám tang để tượng trưng cho linh hồn người đã khuất, dựa theo tín ngưỡng của Khổng Tử. Câu cuối cùng của đoạn 2 trong phần Confucius and the Analects là vị trí duy nhất đề cập đến “funeral”. “Represent”, “dead” trong câu hỏi lần lượt đồng nghĩa với “sympolizing”, “deceased” trong đoạn đọc. Do đó, áp án là “willow branch”.

19

The Old Master (đoạn 2)

Đoạn này nhắc đến “Tao” và ý nghĩa cách gọi tên đó nên sau khi scanning ta sẽ dừng lại và tập trung phần đầu đoạn 2. Cách hỏi “how…is like” bằng nghĩa với “describe”, sau “describe” là “ultimate reality”, đó cũng là câu trả lời cho câu hỏi này.

20

The Old Master (đoạn 2)

Câu hỏi hỏi về nguồn gốc sản sinh ra vũ trụ. Theo đó, từ “originate” trong câu hỏi có thể xem là gần nghĩa với “drive” trong đoạn đọc, ngay trong câu này cũng có xuất hiện của “universe”, do đó đáp án là “powers”.

21

The Old Master (đoạn 2)

Câu này nói mọi thứ trên trái đất đều là một thể thống nhất cho dù một thứ gì đó có thể khác nhau. “A single unit” trong câu hỏi đồng nghĩa với “one” trong đoạn đọc, cách dùng “although” trong câu hỏi cũng tương ứng với “despite” trong đoạn đọc, dó đó đáp án là “appearnces”.

108 ZIM

22

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu này tập trung vào quan điểm của Khổng 3) Tử, liên quan đến việc giảng dạy và người học. Theo phần mô tả Khổng Tử Confucius and the Analects, đoạn 3 có đề cập đến một câu nói của ông về vấn đề này, theo đó đáp án là “waste”.

23

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu này tập trung vào quan điểm của Khổng 1) Tử nên phần Confucius and the Analects được tập trung đọc kĩ. Câu cuối cùng trong đoạn 1, "It is as hard to be poor without complaining as to be rich without becoming arrogant." Phản ánh được quan điểm nêu trong câu hỏi, nên đáp án là YES.

24

Confucius and the Analects (đoạn Câu này tập trung vào quan điểm của 2) Khổng Tử nên phần Confucius and the Analects được tập trung đọc kĩ. “Human’s good qualities” trong câu hỏi đồng nghĩa với “virtue” trong đoạn đọc, và chị tiết “unable to be defined” trong đoạn đọc phủ nhận quan điểm nêu trong câu hỏi, do đó đáp án là NO.

25

Rival Philosophies (đoạn 1)

26

27

“Hart has shown that exposing mice to UV doses equivalent to a brief stint in the midday sun can protect them from developing a form of MS”

Phần cuối của bài đọc, Rival Philosophies có nói đến một số quan điểm của Lão Tử. Ý được nêu trong câu hỏi về việc con người nên tran trong những giá trị trong quá khứ để tiến bộ mâu thuẫn với quan điểm “did not agree with looking back on the past” của Lão Tử, nên đáp án là NO. Ý trong câu hỏi nói về việc giáo dục mang lại cho con người sự thông thái và đảm bảo công bằng hoàn toàn không được nhắc đến trong quan điểm Lão Tử nên câu trả lời là NOT GIVEN. Câu hỏi: thí nghiệm trên động vật để chỉ ra rằng ánh sáng mặt trời có thể xem như là 1 biện pháp ngăn ngừa. Trong bài: thí nghiệm trên chuột chỉ ra rằng ánh sáng bảo vệ chuột khỏi MS (multiple sclerosis). Đáp án đúng là F.

ZIM 109

28

29

30

31

“He wondered if this UVactivated nitric oxide was why people’s blood pressure readings are lower in summer than in winter, and whether it may help to explain why cardiovascular conditions are more prevalent at higher latitudes.”

Câu hỏi: một nguyên nhân có thể giải thích được tại sao người ở 1 số vùng nhất định thì dễ mắc bệnh tim mạch hơn. cardiovascular conditions trong bài đã được paraphrase thành heart-related diseases, “at higher latitudes” là ở những vĩ tuyến cao, tức là ở 1 số vùng nhất định trên thế giới.

“There is also a trend towards ever higher sun protection factors, even SPF100, although they don’t necessarily provide much extra protection. Combined with the fact that most Westerners spend a lot of time indoors”

Câu hỏi: 2 nguyên nhân khiến con người thiếu 1 nguyên tố quan trọng cho cơ thể. Đó là sử dụng kem chống nắng và ở trong nhà, dẫn tới thiếu Vitamin D.

“But medical interest in sunlight truly took hold at the turn of the 20th century, following observations that it kills bacteria and that a deficiency is associated with rickets, a condition that affects bone development during childhood”

Câu hỏi: một căn bệnh cụ thể đối với trẻ em khi thiếu tiếp xúc với ánh sáng mặt trời thường xuyên, đó là rickets, bệnh coi xương ở trẻ em.

“Ongoing trials may yet find additional benefits, but it is unlikely vitamin D will be a panacea for our many modern health challenges.”

Câu hỏi: Phủ nhận chức năng chữa bệnh của một nguyên tố cụ thể, đó là vitamin D. Trong bài: Không có khả năng là Vitamin D sẽ là 1 liều thuốc bách bệnh (panacea) cho tất cả các căn bệnh hiện nay.

Đáp án đúng là H.

Đáp án đúng là D.

Đáp án đúng là A.

Đáp án đúng là E. 32

“Since then, many further studies have shown that UV light triggers DNA mutations in our skin cells, potentially leading to cancer”

Câu hỏi: Giải thích nguyên nhân tại sao bảo vệ bản thân khỏi quá nhiều ánh năng mặt trờ là cần thiết. Trong bài: vì tia UV sẽ có tiềm năng gây ra ung thư. Đáp án đúng là C.

110 ZIM

“...following observations that it kills bacteria and that a deficiency is associated with rickets, a condition that affects bone development during childhood.”

Chọn câu C vì thiếu tiếp xúc với ánh sáng mặt trời sẽ gây ra một vài căng bệnh nhất định.

34

“... in 1928 by British researcher George Findlay, who exposed monkeys and horses to regular irradiation with UV light and observed that tumors developed under their skin”

Chọn câu D vì bệnh ung thư da (khối u tumors) trên động vật có thể bị gây ra bởi tia UV. Không chọn câu A và C vì không so sánh động vật nào dễ bị ung thư hơn. Không chọn B vì DNA mutations là của những nghiên cứu sau đó chứ không phải năm 1928, và câu này cũng ngược với ý trong bài.

35

“That was the discovery of a large Swedish study into the risks associated with melanoma and breast cancer. In 1990, nearly 30,000 women were interviewed about their health and behaviour – including their sun habits”

Chọn câu C vì có thể đây là đối tượng duy nhất (sole subject) của nghiên cứu này, bài chỉ nhấn mạnh là khảo sát trên nữ, chứ không hề đề cập tới males, thêm nữa, trong bài chỉ đề cập là khảo sát bệnh nhân bệnh ung thứ vú. Không chọn A vì người né tránh ánh nắng mặt trời sẽ ít bị bệnh về da hơn (theo trong bài). Không chọn B vì bài không nói về số lượng đối tượng ở lần phỏng vấn hai cũng như là sự suy giảm nào về số lượng đó. Không chọn D vì bài có nhấn mạnh những người tránh ánh năng thì mắc những bệnh không liên quan tới ung thư.

33

Không chọn A vì chức năng chữa trị của ánh sáng mặt trời được công nhận từ xưa tới nay rồi. Không chọn B và D vì trong bài không nói tiêu diệt vi khuẩn thì sẽ trị được bệnh còi xương cũng như là vi khuẩn không được nhắc tới như là tác nhân ảnh hưởng sự phát triển của xương.

ZIM 111

36

“...If that were the case, it would Chọn câu B vì nếu giả thuyết của Richard also help to explain the puzzling Weller là đúng, thì sẽ giải thích được những results of the Swedish study” gì mà bài nghiên cứu ở Thụy Điển còn chưa giải thích được (puzzling trong bài được paraphrase thành left unexplained). Khộng chọn A và B vì đây là hai ý trong việc nghiên cứu của Richard Weller chứ không phải những gì sẽ đạt được nên nghiên cứu này đúng, Không chọn D vì đây là những gì Richard đã chứng minh được rồi, không còn ngờ vực gì nữa.

37

“...By the late-1920s, sunlight was being touted as a cure for pretty much every illness under the sun, and a suntan had become an emblem of health and status...”

Câu hỏi: ở thập niên thứ 2 của thế kỷ trước, tức là những năm 1920, những người có “suntan” thường được xem như là những người khỏe mạnh, vì trong bài có nói “suntan” là sự tượng trưng (emblem) cho sự khỏe mạnh. Đáp án đúng là suntan.

38

“...by British researcher George Findlay, who exposed monkeys and horses to regular irradiation with UV light and observed that tumors developed under their skin...”

Câu hỏi: một trong những bất lợi của ánh sáng mặt trời đó là gây ra những “tumors” ở dưới da nếu tiếp xúc với tia UV thường xuyên. "under the skin" trong bài đã được paraphrase thành “beneath skin layers” trong câu hỏi. Đáp án đúng là tumors.

39

40

“...many people aren’t storing enough vitamin D to see them through winter. The fear is that their bones, muscles and possibly other tissues are suffering as a result”

Câu hỏi: bảo vệ cơ thể quá mức sẽ khiến cái gì dễ bị mắc bệnh, trong bài có nhắc đến 3 thứ, trong câu hỏi đã đề cập bones và muscles rồi thì cái còn thiếu ở đây là tissues.

"...The researchers found that reduced life expectancy among sun avoiders was mostly due to a greater risk of death from cardiovascular diseases..."

Câu hỏi: nghiên cứu ở Thụy Điển cho thấy là những người ít dành thời gian dưới ánh mặt trời (tức là sun avoiders như trong bài) sẽ có tuổi thọ ngắn hơn, “reduced” trong bài chính là “shorter” trong câu hỏi.

Đáp án đúng là tissues.

Đáp án đúng là life expectancy.

112 ZIM

Đáp án Writing Test tháng 4 IELTS Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The pictures show the changes in a self-study area of a language school in Vietnam after 2 years.

Phân tích đề bài • Dạng bài: Map • Đối tượng đề cập trong bài: So sánh các đặc điểm ở khu vực tự học tại trường. • Đơn vị đo lường: Không có • Thì sử dụng: Quá khứ đơn

Dàn bài Mở bài: Viết lại câu hỏi theo cách khác. Đoạn tổng quan: Cung cấp sự thay đổi lớn nhất giữa hai biểu đồ - có sự thay đổi lớn, đặc biệt là ở nửa bên phải. Đoạn miêu tả 1: Trình bày sự thay đổi ở nửa bên phải của khu vực tự học. Đoạn miêu tả 2: Trình bày sự thay đổi phía đối diện. ZIM 113

Bài mẫu The pictures illustrate how the layout of a self-study area of a language school in Vietnam changed over two years. Overall, significant changes were made in terms of the area’s interior design, especially on the right hand side of the area. The shelves, the entrance and the reception on the top of the area remained, while three private self-study rooms on the top right corner were converted into a larger room for self-study purposes and a studio after two years. Additionally, a cafeteria and a bulletin board were set up on the bottom right corner in 2018 and replaced the manager’s office, which was relocated to the opposite corner. The relocation of a manager’s office and a teacher’s desk in 2018 made the space for small tables become smaller. The shelves on the west still existed, but with smaller size, and a new space for laptops and Ipads was set up in the centre of the self- study area. (159 từ)

114 ZIM

IELTS Writing Task 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Many people nowadays have more than one job at the same time. What are the reasons? Is it a positive or negative development?

Phân tích Đây là một chủ đề quen thuộc liên quan đến Job. Đã có nhiều lần chủ đề tương tự được lấy làm đề thi Viết cho kỳ thi IELTS. Một số đề tương tự: • Many people think that to become a successful specialist, it is better to choose a career early in life and never change it later. To what extent do you agree or disagree? • High salary is much more important than job satisfaction. Do you agree or disagree? Với đề bài này, người viết lưu ý cần đưa ra lý do và nói rõ quan điểm cá nhân ở kết bài và phát triển chứng minh ý kiến xuyên suốt thân bài. Dưới đây là một cách tiếp cận phát triển ý cho đề bài này.

ZIM 115

Dàn ý Introduction Mở bài giới thiệu chủ đề và tóm tắt những nội dung chính sẽ được đề cập trong bài.

Step

01

Step

02 Body 2 Đoạn thân bài thứ hai giải thích nhiều người cần nhiều công việc để tích góp tiền cho những dịp đặc biệt hay trang trải cho các chi phí khác.

Đoạn thân bài thứ nhất giải thích nhiều người làm nhiều việc trang trải cho cuộc sống hàng ngày và đưa ra một vài ví dụ để làm rõ luận điểm này.

Step

03

Step

04

116 ZIM

Body 1

Conclusion Kết bài khẳng định có nhiều hơn 1 việc làm là điều tiêu cực và lý do vì sao nó tiêu cực.

Bài mẫu These days there are many people who have multiple jobs. This essay will discuss some reasons why this might be occurring, and suggest whether this is a positive or negative development. Firstly, keeping up with the cost of living, particularly in large cities, is becoming increasingly more difficult for many people these days. For some people, particularly those working in unskilled jobs where the salary is quite low, it is necessary for them to work more than one job in order to feed and house their family.(1) For instance, I know some people who work as taxi drivers during the daytime, and then need to supplement their income by working as security guards during the evening.(2) In some developing countries, even people with skilled jobs, such as teachers, need to do other work in order to maintain a decent standard of living. However, keeping up with the cost of living isn’t the only factor behind this trend. For example, many people take up a second job in order to save money for a special occasion, such as a wedding, or a holiday, or to buy something expensive, like a house or car. Furthermore, there are many people these days who are negatively influenced by advertising and media, and are living beyond their means. Many people spend too much of their money on unnecessary things due to the influence of advertising, or celebrity lifestyles seen in the media, and therefore need to get a second job in order to keep up their expensive lifestyle, or pay off their debts.(3) In conclusion, I believe that having more than one job is definitely a negative development as it reduces the amount of time people have for more important things, like family and hobbies. However, for some people it is necessary, while for others, it could definitely be avoided. (305 từ)

ZIM 117

Từ vựng 1. The cost of living: Chi phí cuộc sống 2. Unskilled job: công việc không cần chuyên môn 3. To feed and house their family: lo cuộc sống và chỗ ở cho gia đình 4. Supplement their income: tăng thu nhập 5. A decent standard of living: mức sống kha khá 6. Keep up with: theo kịp với 7. Take up: bắt đầu làm gì 8. Save money for a special occasion: tiết kiệm tiền cho dịp đặc biệt 9. To be negatively influenced by advertising and media: bị ảnh hưởng xấu bởi quảng cáo và truyền thông 10. Live beyond their means: tiêu vượt mức 11. Celebrity lifestyle: lối sống theo người nổi tiếng 12. Expensive lifestyle: lối sống đắt đỏ 13. Pay off their debts: trả nợ

Cấu trúc câu Câu (1): For some people, particularly those working in unskilled jobs where the salary is quite low, it is necessary for them to work more than one job in order to feed and house their family. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Mệnh đề "where the salary is quite low” là mệnh đề quan hệ, bổ sung thông tin cho "unskilled jobs”. • Cấu trúc “to feed and house their family” mang nghĩa nuôi sống gia đình. • Trạng từ “particularly” dùng để nhấn mạnh một thông tin chi tiết và rõ ràng hơn. Câu (2): For instance, I know some people who work as taxi drivers during the daytime, and then need to supplement their income by working as security guards during the evening. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Mệnh đề “who ….the evening” là mệnh đề quan hệ bổ sung thông tin cho “people”. • Cấu trúc “supplement their income” mang nghĩa tăng thu nhập. • “For instance” tương tự với “For example”, dùng để đưa ra ví dụ bổ nghĩa cho thông tin trước đó.

118 ZIM

Câu (3): Many people spend too much of their money on unnecessary things due to the influence of advertising, or celebrity lifestyles seen in the media, and therefore need to get a second job in order to keep up their expensive lifestyle, or pay off their debts. Cấu trúc cần lưu ý: • Mệnh đề “Celebrity lifestyles seen in the media” là mệnh đề quan hệ dạng rút gọn ở thể bị động. • Cấu trúc “keep up their expensive lifestyle” mang nghĩa duy trì lối sống đắt đỏ. • Cấu trúc “pay off their debt” mang nghĩa trả hết nợ. • Từ nối “therefore” được dùng để đưa ra kết quả của vấn đề trước đó.

Áp dụng luyện tập Ngoài cách phát triển ý theo bài mẫu trên, người viết có thể phát triển bài này theo hướng sau: Lý do làm nhiều hơn 1 việc • Muốn thay đổi môi trường làm việc, từ đó cảm thấy thoả mãn với công việc và có thêm cơ hội trong sự nghiệp. • Muốn thử sức nhiều việc để tìm ra công việc hợp với bản thân mình nhất. • Thử sức với nhiều việc khác nhau sẽ giúp bản thân phát triển trên nhiều lĩnh vực hơn. Các ý tưởng trên đều có thể được lấy ra để phát triển cho các đề ở mục “Phân tích đề bài”.

ZIM 119

Đáp án Speaking Test tháng 4 Part 1 Days of the week Do you do the same things every day of the week? Well, kind of, from Monday to Friday I have to go to university to attend my classes, and in the evenings I work part time at a small restaurant. But on the weekends I have more free time because I don’t need to go to university, so I try to do something different each weekend with my friends. How many days off do you have every week? So I usually have one day off a week, which is Sunday. This is the time when I like to meet up with my friends and go somewhere for the day or do something special. From Monday to Friday I am busy with my studies and on Saturday evening I also have to work. Which day would you say is your busiest day of the week? I think Friday would be my busiest day of the week, because I usually have to spend the whole day at university on Fridays, and then I have to work until late at night at the restaurant where I work. Fridays are the busiest night at the restaurant so I don’t finish until around midnight. Which is your favourite day of the week? Well, that’s definitely Sundays! On Sundays I don’t have to think about work or study so I can just kick back with my friends and hang out at a café or take a day trip somewhere outside of the city to escape from the craziness of city life.

Từ vựng 1. Meet up with (phrasal verb): gặp gỡ ai đó 2. To kick back: thư giãn 3. Hang out: dành thời gian với ai 4. Take a day trip: đi đâu đó trong 1 ngày

120 ZIM

Singing Do you like to sing? Well I like to play guitar, so sometimes I like to sing when I am playing. But I am not very good at it so I don’t do it very often. Also I like to sing along to some music occasionally when one of my favourite songs comes on. Did you like to sing when you were a child? Not really. My teacher in grade 5 used to try and force me to sing but I really hated to do it then. I think it was mainly because I didn’t like the songs that they would make us sing at school. Do you prefer to sing at home or at a place such as a karaoke bar (or KTV)? Actually I can’t stand karaoke bars. I think they turn the volume up so loud you can barely hear what is being sung. Plus I’m not really into the music selection they have at most karaoke bars. Most of the music that I like is not very popular, especially amongst karaoke bars. Are the lyrics of songs important to you? Not really. It depends I guess. I’m not really into pop music though, mainly because the lyrics are so cheesy, usually about love and teenage problems. So I guess, if I don’t like the lyrics, then I probably won’t like the song. However, with some music that I like the lyrics are very poetic and it’s difficult to actually understand the meaning of them.

Từ vựng 1. Sing along to: hát theo lời bài hát 2. Can’t stand: không chịu được điều gì 3. Cheesy: rẻ tiền hoặc kém chất lượng 4. Poetic: lời thơ, ngôn ngữ tươi đẹp

ZIM 121

Part 2 Describe a successful family business that you are familiar with • What business it is • How you know this business • Who the customers of the business are And explain why you think this business is successful. Ok, so I’d like to tell you about a family-owned business which was run by the family of my classmate, Peter, in high school. So his family owned a small but successful convenience store which was located on the ground floor of their house on the corner of a very busy intersection in the middle of my hometown. There were all sorts of people who used to shop there because they sold mostly a lot day-to-day items, like bread, milk, some fruit and vegetables and a lot of other packaged food. I guess you could say that it was kind of like a mini supermarket. Also there was a gaming arcade connected to the side of the shop, which attracted a lot of school kids after school, who would come into the shop to buy drinks and snacks while they were playing computer games. So there’s a few reasons why I think this business was successful, but the main reason was because of the location. As I mentioned, it was located right in the middle of the town, and on the corner of a busy intersection. So there was a lot of traffic passing by this shop every day and there was a lot of very convenient parking on the street, so it was very easy to quickly stop and run in to grab something that you needed. The second reason I think it was successful is because it was a convenience store, so they sold a lot of day-to-day items that people needed all the time, like fruit and vegetables or milk, bread, meat, eggs, toothpaste, toilet paper, cooking oil and so on. You know, all the daily essential items that you might run out of and quickly need to pick up without having to go inside a busy supermarket or shopping mall. And the final reason I think it was successful was because of the gaming arcade next door, which was also a part of the shop and owned by Peter’s parents. This place attracted a lot of kids after school and on the weekends, who would spend quite a bit of money on the arcade machines and also buy a lot of snacks and junk food from the convenience store.

Từ vựng 1. A family-owned business: công ty mà gia đình sở hữu 2. Day-to-day items: vật dụng được sử dụng hàng ngày 3. To grab something: lấy hoặc mua cái gì đó 4. Run out of sth (phrasal verb): hết cái gì đó 5. Pick up (phrasal verb): lấy/mua cái gì đó hoặc đón ai đó đi đâu 122 ZIM

Part 3 Business/Companies What are some of the main differences between big companies and small businesses? Well, I guess there’s probably a host of differences between big and small companies, but the first thing I can think of is the ownership. I think most small businesses are probably privately or family-owned businesses, while many large companies are owned by many different investors. The second thing is obviously the amount of money the company makes or the amount of products it produces and sells. Big companies probably sell a larger quantity of products and therefore potentially have higher revenue. They probably also employ more people and have a more complicated structure of employees, for example, different departments and managers and so on. Some people think that small companies will be replaced by large companies in the future. Would you agree? No, I don’t necessarily agree with that. Although large companies are probably stealing a lot of business from smaller businesses these days, I think there will always be a place for small companies. Large companies take time to build up and become successful, however people are always looking for a way to make money so there are many small businesses opening up all the time. What factors do you think help to make a business successful? Well, I don’t know much about business but I think there are a few basic things that will help to make a business successful, and the first thing is that the product or service that the business sells must be either unique, good quality or inexpensive. If the product is low quality or the service is bad, then the company probably won’t last for very long. Secondly I think the management of a company is very important. If a company has a great product or service but the company isn’t managed well, then they are probably doomed for failure.

Từ vựng 1. A host of sth: nhiều thứ gì đó 2. Doomed for failure: chắc chắn sẽ thất bại

ZIM 123

Family business What kind of family businesses are common in your country? Probably the most common types of family-run businesses in my country are things like restaurants, convenience stores, farms, and other small shops, like clothing boutiques, and bakeries and so on. Mostly family businesses are quite small I think, though some very successful businesses can grow into large companies. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a family business? I think one of the main advantages of a family business is that the members of the family who work in the business are usually very motivated to make the business successful and therefore probably go that extra mile to get the job done to the highest standard or quality, whereas someone who works in for a company that isn’t their families might not care so much if their work is done perfectly or not. Probably one of the main disadvantages of family businesses is when there is conflict between family members related to the company. This can have a lot of detrimental impacts on the business. When parents have a family business, do you think the children learn any good skills from this situation? Well it depends how much time the children spend around the company, but I’d say there’s a lot of things that children could learn. I think that if the parents manage the business well or have very good business strategies then the children can probably learn a lot. It really depends whether the business is successful or not I guess.

Từ vựng To go that extra mile: cố gắng hơn nữa để đạt điều gì

124 ZIM

IELTS

Special Journal 5/2019 - By ZIM School of English and Test Preparation

NHÀ XUẤT BẢN THANH NIÊN Trụ sở: 64 Bà Triệu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội Chi nhánh: 145 Pasteur, P.6, Q.3, TP. HCM Chịu trách nhiệm xuất bản Giám đốc - Tổng biên tập Nguyễn Xuân Trường Biên tập Tạ Quang Huy Chủ biên Đinh Quang Tùng Nguyễn Anh Toàn Trịnh Xuân Dương Chịu trách nhiệm nội dung Writing Đinh Quang Tùng Hoàng Anh Khoa Phạm Đăng Khánh Ngô Phương Thảo Chịu trách nhiệm nội dung Speaking Nguyễn Minh Châu Ngô Phương Thảo Chịu trách nhiệm nội dung Listening Cao Thế Vũ Chịu trách nhiệm nội dung Reading Nguyễn Minh Châu Hoàng Anh Khoa Dương Ngọc Hiền Anh Cao Thê Vũ Phát hành Công ty TNHH MTV Trí Tuệ

In 1000 cuốn, khổ 19x26 cm, tại công ty TNHH MTV In Song Nguyên - địa chỉ: 931/10 Hương Lộ 2, P. Bình Trị Đông A, Q. Bình Tân, TP. HCM. Số ĐKKHXB: 9782019/CXBIPH/23-26/TN Số QĐXB: 239/QĐ-TN cấp ngày 9/4/2019. In xong và nộp lưu chiếu quý II năm 2019. ISBN: 978-604-9818-62-2

Quét mã QR đề tải phần nghe