Collocations 10 Minutes A Day - Full PDF

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with exercises and translation

Page
Lesson 1 - Family.......................................................................................................7
Lesson 2 - Relationships..........................................................................................11
Lesson 3 - Appearance.............................................................................................15
Lesson 4 - Character & Behavior..............................................................................18
Lesson 5 - Feelings...................................................................................................21
Lesson 6 - Houses and Apartments.........................................................................25
Lesson 7 - Eating...................................................................................................... 28
Lesson 8 - Movies / Books........................................................................................31
Lesson 9 - Music.......................................................................................................35
Lesson 10 - Sports...................................................................................................39
Lesson 11 - Health & Sickness.................................................................................43
Lesson 12 - Computers............................................................................................46
Lesson 13 - Study..................................................................................................... 50
Lesson 14 - Academic English..................................................................................53
Lesson 15 - Work......................................................................................................57
Lesson 16 - Business..............................................................................................60
Lesson 17 - Money...................................................................................................63
Lesson 18 - Travel................................................................................................... 67
Lesson 19 - Weather.................................................................................................71
Lesson 20 - City.......................................................................................................75
Lesson 21 - Countryside...........................................................................................78
Lesson 22- Crime.................................................................................................... 83
Lesson 23 - Law/Justice...........................................................................................87
Lesson 24 - War & Peace........................................................................................91
Lesson 25 - Global Problems..................................................................................95
Lesson 26 -Time..................................................................................................... .99
Lesson 27 - Sound................................................................................................. 103
Lesson 28 - Size.......................................................................................................108
Lesson 29 - Light.................................................................................................... 113
Lesson 30 - Color................................................................................................... 117

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Lesson 31 - Texture.................................................................................................121
Lesson 32 - Smell....................................................................................................125
Lesson 33 - Taste.....................................................................................................129
Lesson 34 - Statistics..............................................................................................132
Lesson 35 - Movement & Speed..............................................................................136
Lesson 36 - Changes............................................................................................. 140
Lesson 37 - Speaking...............................................................................................
144
Lesson 38 - Starting / Finishing.............................................................................. 148
Lesson 39 - Success & Failure................................................................................153
Lesson 40 - Cause & Effect......................................................................................
158
Lesson 41 - Memories.............................................................................................163
Lesson 42 - Agreeing & Disagreeing...................................................................... 167
Lesson 43 - Beliefs & Doubts................................................................................. 171
Lesson 44 - Deciding & Choosing.......................................................................... 175
Lesson 45 - Claiming & Denying..............................................................................179
Lesson 46 - Liking & Disliking..................................................................................183
Lesson 47 - Praising & Criticizing.............................................................................
187
Lesson 48 - Metaphor............................................................................................ 191
Lesson 49 - Confusing Words.................................................................................197
Lesson 50 - Everyday Verbs.................................................................................. 107
Quiz answer............................................................................................................213

4
Introduction
Thanks for buying the e-book! 

In these 50 lessons, you’re going to learn 1000+ collocations that will expand your vocabulary and help
your English sound more natural.

Collocations are the typical or common combinations of words we use together.

Here are some simple examples:

 take a picture
do a picture
make a picture

 a quick shower
a fast shower

When you make mistakes with collocations, the other person will usually understand you – but your
English won’t sound “natural” – because it’s different from the way a native speaker would say it.
Although it’s possible to communicate successfully with incorrect collocations, using collocations
correctly can help you speak more fluently.

I suggest completing one lesson in this book per day, but of course you can study at your own pace.
Always do the quiz after each lesson… this is essential to review and practice what you’ve learned! The
answers are at the end of the book.

At the end of each audio file, there’s an opportunity for you to listen to and repeat the collocations. If
you’re really short on time, you can skip that part – but it’s nice for practicing your pronunciation, as
well as reinforcing the phrase in your memory.

As an additional exercise, I recommend creating your own example sentences with a few of the
collocations from each lesson. Try to make them as “personal” as possible, as this helps you remember
the expressions better.

If you have any questions, doubts, comments, etc., you can send me an e-mail at
help@espressoenglish.net

Happy studying!

Shayna Oliveira
EspressoEnglish.net

1000 English Collocations in 10 Minutes a Day


© Shayna Oliveira 2013

5
6
1 - Family
https://sites.google.com/site/learnvocabinieltsreading/home/1000-english-collocations-in-10-minutes-a-
day/1---family

Let's begin our study of collocations by learning some common expressions about the

family.

Chúng ta bắt đầu học cụm từ bằng một số th|nh ngữ về gia đình.

You can use a FAMILY TREE to diagram the relationships among your family members.

Your parents and siblings (brothers and sisters) are your IMMEDIATE FAMILY - and

your EXTENDED FAMILY includes all your relatives - uncles, cousins, great-aunts, etc. A

person who is related to you by a long series of connections can be called a DISTANT

RELATIVE.

Bạn có thể sử dụng một CÂY PHẢ HỆ để mô tả mối quan hệ giữa c{c th|nh viên trong gia đình
bạn. Bố mẹ v| anh chị em của bạn l| GIA ĐÌNH RUỘT THỊT, và ĐẠI GIA ĐÌNH bao gồm cả họ
h|ng của bạn: chú b{c, ch{u chắt, cô dì. Một ngƣời có quan hệ với bạn qua một chuỗi d|i c{c mối nối
đƣợc gọi l| HỌ HÀNG XA.
If you're lucky, you have a loving family or a CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY - these expressions

refer to a family that has good relationships, where everyone loves each other and helps

each other. If you were raised in a loving family, then you probably had a CAREFREE

CHILDHOOD - that means you had nothing to worry about when you were young. On the

other hand, a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy can be called

a DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. If the children experience abuse, poverty, or problems with

the law, we can say they had a troubled childhood.

Nếu bạn may mắn, bạn có một gia đình hạnh phúc hay một GIA ĐÌNH GẮN KẾT KHĂNG KHÍT,
cụm từ n|y để nói về một gia đình có mối quan hệ tốt, ở đó mọi ngƣời yêu thƣơng v| giúp đỡ lẫn
nhau. Nếu bạn đƣợc nuôi dƣỡng trong một gia đình hạnh phúc, nghĩa l| bạn có một TUỔI THƠ
ÊM ĐỀM, điều đó có nghĩa l| bạn không phải lo lắng gì khi bạn còn nhỏ. Ngƣợc lại, một gia đình
m| mối quan hệ giữa c{c th|nh viên không tốt đƣợc gọi l| GIA ĐÌNH BẤT HÒA. Nếu lũ trẻ từng
bị lạm dụng, đói nghèo, hoặc gặp rắc rối ph{p luật, ta nói chúng có một tuổi thơ phức tạp (khó
khăn).
Perhaps the parents went through a BITTER DIVORCE - that means a separation in which
there were bad/angry feelings between the husband and wife. It's also possible to have
a MESSY DIVORCE, with a prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the
separation of the former couple's assets (money and possessions). The decisions about the
separation of assets are made in the DIVORCE SETTLEMENT. A family in which there are
divorces or separations is sometimes called a BROKEN HOME.
7
Khi cha mẹ trải qua một CUỘC LY DỊ ĐAU KHỔ (CAY ĐẮNG), có nghĩa l| cuộc chia tay đầy
những cảm xúc tồi tệ/giận dữ giữa hai vợ chồng. Cũng có những CUỘC LY HÔN TRANH CHẤP,
với một cuộc chiến ph{p lý kéo d|i liên quan đến nhiều xung đột về việc chia t{ch t|i sản của cặp vợ
chồng cũ (tiền bạc v| t|i sản). C{c quyết định về ph}n chia t|i sản đƣợc thực hiện trong QUÁ
TRÌNH GIẢI QUYẾT LY HÔN. Một gia đình m| xảy ra tình trạng ly hôn hoặc ly th}n đƣợc gọi
là GIA ĐÌNH ĐỔ VỠ.
Sometimes the mother and father fight over CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN - that refers to

who has the primary responsibility of caring for the kids. A judge can GRANT JOINT

CUSTODY - that means the exhusband and ex-wife share the responsibility - or SOLE

CUSTODY to only one parent. For example, a judge might award SOLE CUSTODY to the

mother, and the father has to pay child support - regular payments to help with expenses

for the kids. If it was a MUTUAL DIVORCE/SEPARATION - that means the ex-husband

and ex-wife agreed to separate without fighting - then they will probably STAY ON GOOD

TERMS WITH EACH OTHER (meaning to have a polite relationship without conflicts).

Đôi khi ngƣời mẹ v| ngƣời cha tranh QUYỀN TRÔNG NOM CON MÌNH- {m chỉ ai sẽ l| ngƣời
có tr{ch nhiệm chính trong việc chăm sóc con c{i. Thẩm ph{n có thể CẤP QUYỀN NUÔI
CHUNG - điều đó có nghĩa l| chồng cũ v| vợ cũ cùng chia sẻ tr{ch nhiệm - hoặc QUYỀN NUÔI
CON DUY NHẤT cho một ngƣời l| ba hay mẹ. Ví dụ, thẩm ph{n có thể ph{n quyết QUYỀN
NUÔI CON DUY NHẤT cho ngƣời mẹ, v| ngƣời cha phải trả tiền nuôi dƣỡng con c{i - c{c khoản
thanh to{n thƣờng xuyên để giúp đỡ c{c khoản chi cho đứa trẻ. Nếu đó l| LY HÔN / LY THÂN - có
nghĩa l| chồng cũ v| vợ cũ đã đồng ý ly th}n m| không phải tranh cãi - thì có lẽ họ VẪN GIỮ
QUAN HỆ TỐT VỚI NHAU (nghĩa l| có mối quan hệ lịch sự m| không có m}u thuẫn).
If a woman GETS PREGNANT without being married or in a relationship, then she will

become a SINGLE MOTHER. Some women in this situation choose to HAVE AN

ABORTION, and others prefer to GIVE THE BABY UP FOR ADOPTION. The time when

the baby is planned to arrive is called the due date - you can also say the baby is due in

mid-October, for example. After the woman has the baby (or GIVES BIRTH to the baby),

the baby is given to the ADOPTIVE PARENTS, who will raise the child or bring up the

child as if it was their own. Sometimes, when the ADOPTED CHILD is older, he or she tries

to find their BIRTH MOTHER (biological mother).

Nếu phụ nữ MANG THAI m| không có chồng hoặc có mối quan hệ n|o kh{c, thì cô ấy sẽ trở th|nh
một NGƢỜI MẸ ĐƠN THÂN. Một số phụ nữ trong tình huống n|y sẽ chọn PHÁ THAI, và
những ngƣời kh{c thì chọn phƣơng {n CHO ĐỨA TRẺ CHO NGƢỜI KHÁC NUÔI. Thời điểm
đứa trẻ ra đờii đƣợc gọi l| ng|y dự sinh - bạn cũng có thể nói bé sẽ ng|y dự sinh v|o giữa th{ng 10.
Sau khi ngƣời phụ nữ có con (hoặc SINH CON), em bé đƣợc giao cho CHA MẸ NUÔI, ngƣời sẽ
nuôi dƣỡng hoặc chăm sóc nó nhƣ thể l| của con mình. Đôi khi, khi CON NUÔI lớn hơn, ngƣời đó
sẽ cố gắng tìm MẸ ĐẺ của chúng (mẹ ruột).
Dịch bởi Lưu Quang Khanh

8
Lesson 1 - Family
Let’s begin our study of collocations by learning some common expressions about the family. Your
parents and siblings (brothers and sisters) are your immediate family – and your extended family
includes all your relatives – uncles, cousins, great-aunts, etc.

You can use a family tree to diagram the relationships among your family members. A person who is
related to you by a long series of connections can be called a distant relative.

If you’re lucky, you have a loving family or a close-knit family – these expressions refer to a family that
has good relationships, where everyone loves each other and helps each other. If you were raised in a
loving family, then you probably had a carefree childhood – that means you had nothing to worry about
when you were young.

On the other hand, a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy can be called a
dysfunctional family. If the children experience abuse, poverty, or problems with the law, we can say
they had a troubled childhood.

Perhaps the parents went through a bitter divorce – that means a separation in which there were
bad/angry feelings between the husband and wife. It’s also possible to have a messy divorce, with a
prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the separation of the former couple’s assets
(money and possessions). The decisions about the separation of assets are made in the divorce
settlement. A family in which there are divorces or separations is sometimes called a broken home.

Sometimes the mother and father fight over custody of the children – that refers to who has the
primary responsibility of caring for the kids. A judge can grant joint custody – that means the ex-
husband and ex-wife share the responsibility – or sole custody to only one parent. For example, a judge
might award sole custody to the mother, and the father has to pay child support – regular payments to
help with expenses for the kids.

If it was a mutual divorce/separation – that means the ex-husband and ex-wife agreed to separate
without fighting – then they will probably stay on good terms with each other (meaning to have a polite
relationship without conflicts).

If a woman gets pregnant without being married or in a relationship, then she will become a single
mother. Some women in this situation choose to have an abortion, and others prefer to give the baby
up for adoption. The time when the baby is planned to arrive is called the due date – you can also say
the baby is due in mid-October, for example.

After the woman has the baby (or gives birth to the baby), the baby is given to the adoptive parents,
who will raise the child or bring up the child as if it was their own. Sometimes, when the adopted child
is older, he or she tries to find their birth mother (biological mother).

9
Lesson 1 - Quiz
Circle the best word to complete each sentence:

1. A friend of mine gave / took / went birth to her son at home with the help of a nurse.
2. A number of the kids in my classroom come from broken / damaged / hurt homes.
3. After a hostile / cruel / bitter divorce from his wife of 20 years, the actor married a woman
young enough to be his daughter.
4. I see my excepted / expanded / extended family once a year, during our annual family vacation.
5. I was raised in a very joyful / loving / tender family, in which everyone helped each other.
6. I was created / grown / raised by my grandparents after my parents passed away.
7. I'm on good friends / relations / terms with all my former boyfriends.
8. John had a carefree / careful / careless childhood, growing up with happily married parents and
three brothers.
9. Many women regret giving / having / taking an abortion years afterwards.
10. My aunt's going through a messy / sloppy / untidy divorce; she's paying a fortune in legal fees.
11. My husband doesn't get along with a few of my family people / individuals / members.
12. Although my salary is low, I get child assistance / provision / support from my ex-husband.
13. My sister got / had / made pregnant immediately after she got married.
14. My son is making a diagram of our family roots / tree / web for a school project.
15. My wife is pregnant with twins. They're come / due / here in February.
16. Sally was granted sole custody / guardian / keeping of the children from her first marriage.
17. Teenagers who had a distressed / troubled / worsened childhood often have behavior
problems in school.
18. The celebrity wrote a book about his debilitated / defective / dysfunctional family.
19. The divorce contract / reimbursement / settlement awarded the wife $500,000.
20. There are four people in my close / immediate / neighboring family.
21. They have three biological children and two adopted / adoptive / adopting children.

10
Lesson 02 - Relationships
When you move to a new city, it can be hard to make friends. You'll probably have a

number of casual acquaintances - people who you know on a basic level, but with whom

you don't have a significant relationship. Over time, some of these may become good

friends or close friends - these collocations refer to friends with whom you have an

especially strong relationship.

Khi bạn chuyển đến một th|nh phố mới, bạn có thể sẽ cảm thấy khó m| KẾT BẠN với ai. Hầu nhƣ
ai cũng có vô số c{c MỐI QUAN HỆ XÃ GIAO - những ngƣời m| bạn chỉ quen biết sơ sơ, chứ
không đặc biệt th}n thiết. Nhƣng ng|y qua ng|y, một trong số họ lại trở th|nh BẠN TỐT hoặc
BẠN THÂN của bạn - những cụm từ n|y nói đến những ngƣời có mối quan hệ cực kỳ th}n mật với
bạn.

Do you believe in love at first sight? That's when two people meet each other and

immediately fall in love - perhaps because they have strong chemistry - this expression

describes strong compatibility or connection between two possible romantic partners. Some

people believe that their significant other (their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife) is

their soul mate - this is a poetic expression that means that two people are destined to be

together.

Bạn có tin v|o TIẾNG SÉT ÁI TÌNH không? Đó l| khi hai ngƣời gặp mặt nhau v| ngay lập tức họ
RƠI VÀO LƢỚI TÌNH - có lẽ vì họ có PHẢN ỨNG HÓA HỌC MẠNH - đặc ngữ n|y miêu tả
tính tƣơng hợp mạnh mẽ hay mối liên kết chặt chẽ giữa hai ngƣời rất có khả năng sẽ trở th|nh một
đôi lãng mạn. Nhiều ngƣời tin rằng MỘT NỬA ĐẶC BIỆT (bạn trai, bạn g{i, chồng hay vợ) cũng
chính là TRI KỶ của họ - một đặc ngữ đầy thi vị h|m nghĩa rằng hai ngƣời đã đƣợc vận mệnh an
bài cho nhau.
It's possible for one person to have feelings for another person - this expression is an

indirect way to describe romantic feelings - but if the other person doesn't feel the same

way, then the feeling is not mutual. The other person might say "he's/she's just not my

type" - meaning that they are interested in people of a different type of

personality/appearance. Ah, there's nothing sadder than unrequited love! (Love that is not

returned).

Một ngƣời có thể CÓ CẢM GIÁC với một ngƣời kh{c - đặc ngữ n|y miêu tả gi{n tiếp cảm gi{c
lãng mạn - nhƣng nếu ngƣời kh{c không có cùng cảm xúc nhƣ vậy, vậy thì họ chỉ đang YÊU ĐƠN
PHƢƠNG thôi. Ngƣời ấy có thể nói ‚ANH TA/CÔ TA KHÔNG PHẢI KIỂU TÔI THÍCH‛ -
nghĩa l| họ chỉ có hứng thú với kiểu ngƣời có diện mạo/ c{ tính kh{c. Ah, không còn nỗi buồn n|o
hơn TÌNH YÊU KHÔNG ĐƢỢC ĐÁP LẠI! (Tình yêu không có sự hồi b{o).
11
Some people marry their childhood sweetheart or high school/college sweetheart - this

expression refers to a boyfriend or girlfriend from your childhood, teenage, or college

years. Other couples are introduced by a mutual friend - one friend that the two people

have in common. When the couple is ready to make a commitment, the man proposes to

the woman - he asks her to marry him. If the marriage is good, then we say the couple is

happily married.

Một số ngƣời kết hôn với NGƢỜI YÊU THANH MAI TRÚC MÃ hoặc NGƢỜI YÊU THỜI
HỌC SINH/SINH VIÊN - nghĩa l| bạn trai hay bạn g{i m| bạn đã quen từ thời thơ ấu, thanh thiếu
niên, hay những năm th{ng học đại học. V|i cặp đôi kh{c lại đƣợc giới thiệu bởi một NGƢỜI BẠN
CHUNG của nhau - một ngƣời m| cả hai cùng quen biết. Khi cặp đôi đã sẵn s|ng để ĐI ĐẾN
HÔN NHÂN, ngƣời nam sẽ CẦU HÔN NGƢỜI PHỤ NỮ - anh ta sẽ hỏi cƣới cô ấy. Nếu lễ cƣới
diễn ra tốt đẹp, chúng ta có thể nói cặp đôi ấy có một CUỘC HÔN NHÂN HẠNH PHÚC.

Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending. Sometimes a husband or wife has

an affair - they have sex with a different person. We can also say that they are cheating on

their husband/wife. The expression "have an affair" is typically used only for married

couples, and the expression "cheating on" can be used for married couples or for

boyfriends/girlfriends.

Không may là, không phải tất cả chuyện tình yêu đều có kết quả tốt đẹp. Đôi khi ngƣời chồng hoặc
ngƣời vợ NGOẠI TÌNH - họ quan hệ tình ái với một ngƣời kh{c. Chúng ta cũng có thể nói rằng họ
đang PHỤ BẠC NGƢỜI CHỒNG/ VỢ CỦA HỌ. Thành ngữ ‚ngoại tình‛ thƣờng sử dụng đặc
biệt cho những cặp đôi đã kết hôn, còn thành ngữ ‚phụ bạc‛ có thể sử dụng cho cả những đôi đã
cƣới hoặc đang l| bạn trai/bạn gái của nhau.

Dịch bởi Lê Minh Trang


Web:
https://hocngoainguhieuqua.com/song-ngu/1000-english-collocations/relationships

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12
Lesson 2 – Relationships
When you move to a new city, it can be hard to make friends. You’ll probably have a number of casual
acquaintances – people who you know on a basic level, but with whom you don’t have a significant
relationship. Over time, some of these may become good friends or close friends – these collocations
refer to friends with whom you have an especially strong relationship.

Do you believe in love at first sight? That’s when two people meet each other and immediately fall in
love – perhaps because they have strong chemistry – this expression describes strong compatibility or
connection between two possible romantic partners. Some people believe that their significant other
(their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife) is their soul mate – this is a poetic expression that means
that two people are destined to be together.

It’s possible for one person to have feelings for another person – this expression is an indirect way to
describe romantic feelings – but if the other person doesn’t feel the same way, then the feeling is not
mutual. The other person might say “he’s/she’s just not my type” – meaning that they are interested in
people of a different type of personality/appearance. Ah, there’s nothing sadder than unrequited love!
(Love that is not returned)

Some people marry their childhood sweetheart or high school/college sweetheart – this expression
refers to a boyfriend or girlfriend from your childhood, teenage, or college years. Other couples are
introduced by a mutual friend – one friend that the two people have in common. When the couple is
ready to make a commitment, the man proposes to the woman – he asks her to marry him. If the
marriage is good, then we say the couple is happily married.

Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending. Sometimes a husband or wife has an affair –
they have sex with a different person. We can also say that they are cheating on their husband/wife.
The expression “have an affair” is typically used only for married couples, and the expression “cheating
on” can be used for married couples or for boyfriends/girlfriends.

13
Lesson 2 Quiz
1. The process of creating friendships is called...

a) getting friends b) earning friends c) making friends

2. A "close friend" is someone...

a) who lives near you b) who is similar to you c)with whom you have a strong friendship

3. When you develop romantic feelings for another person, you're...

a) becoming passionate b) falling in love c) giving your heart

4. If only one of the two people has romantic feelings, we say the feeling is not...

a) mutual b) returned c) together

5. A polite way to say you're not attracted to someone is: "He/she's not my..."

a) kind b) style c) type

6. A man who marries a woman who he met when both were very young, has married his childhood...

a) darling b) lover c) sweetheart

7. When two people get married, they make a ___________ to each other.

a) commitment b) compromise c) guarantee

8. Many men try to find a creative and romantic way to __________ to their girlfriends.

a) propose b) proposition c) purpose

9. A lot of marriages end when one member of the couple has an...

a)affair b) experience c) intimacy

10. If you catch your significant other in bed with another person, then he/she is _________ on you.

a) betraying b) cheating c) deceiving

14
Lesson 03 - APPEARANCE
My best friend Joanna is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. She has LONG, SLEEK, JET-BLACK
HAIR , PALE BLUE EYES , and A RADIANT COMPLEXION.
Bạn th}n nhất của tôi Joanna thì VÔ CÙNG XINH ĐẸP. Cô ấy có MÁI TÓC ĐEN TUYỀN
SUÔN MƢỢT VÀ DÀI, ĐÔI MẮT XANH DƢƠNG NHẠT, và MỘT LÀN DA CĂNG MỊN
KHỎE MẠNH.
People always compliment her on her HOURGLASS FIGURE and ask her what the secret is

to maintaining such a SLENDER WAIST. She has a ROUND FACE with an UPTURNED

NOSE, and she actually BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE (looks extremely similar)

TO a famous singer.

Mọi ngƣời luôn luôn trầm trồ khen ngợi THÂN HÌNH ĐỒNG HỒ CÁT của cô ấy v| hỏi cô ấy bí
kiếp gì để giữ đƣợc MỘT THÂN HÌNH THẮT ĐÁY LƢNG ONG nhƣ vậy. Cô ấy có
một KHUÔN MẶT TRÒN và CHIẾC MŨI HẾCH, v| thực ra cô ấy CÓ NÉT HAO HAO
GIỐNG (nhiều nét tƣơng đồng) với một ca sĩ nổi tiếng.
Joanna could get any guy she wanted-so I was really surprised when she introduced me to

her lasted boyfriend, who I think is HIDEOUSLY UGLY. He has CURLY ,SHOULDER-

LENGTH HAIR that looks rather UNKEMPT.

Jonna có thể có đƣợc bất kì ch|ng trai n|o cổ muốn, vì vậy tôi thực sự ngạc nhiên khi cổ giới thiệu
tôi với bạn trai mới nhất của cô ấy, ngƣời m| tôi nghĩ CỰC KÌ XẤU XÍ. Anh ta có một MÁI TÓC
XOĂN DÀI NGANG VAI cái mà trông khá là NHẾCH NHÁC.
He has a SQUARE FACE and a RUDDY COMPLEXION. His DEEP-SET EYES are almost

hidden under his BUSHY EYESBROWS (big eyebrows with lots of hair), and he sports

a THICK MUSTACHE and a huge, SHAGGY BEARD. I guess Joanna doesn’t mind

his FACIAL HAIR.

Anh ta có một KHUÔN MẶT HÌNH CHỮ ĐIỀN v| một LÀN DA LÁN MỊN HỒNG HÀO. ĐÔI
MẮT SÂU HOẮM của anh ta ho|n to|n bị che lấp dƣới HÀNG CHÂN MÀY RẬM RẠP và anh
ta mang một RIA MÉP DÀY CỘM v| một BỘ RÂU RÂM khổng lồ. Tôi đo{n l| Jonna cô ấy không
bận t}m về CHUYỆN RÂU RIA của anh ta mấy.
His body isn’t bad - he has an ATHLETIC BUILD with BROAD

SHOULDERS and MUSCULAR ARMS. If he would only TRIM HIS BEARD and COMB

HIS HAIR, I suppose he could be considered SOMEWHAT ATTRACTIVE.

Th}n hình của anh ta thì không tệ - anh ta có một DÁNG NGƢỜI THỂ THAO với ĐÔI VAI
RỘNG và HAI CÁNH TAY ĐẦY CƠ BẮP. Nếu anh ấy CẮT TỈA BỘ RÂU CỦA
MÌNH và CHẢI CHUỐT TÓC TAI, tôi nghĩ rằng anh ta sẽ trở nên THU HÚT HƠN PHẦN
NÀO ĐÓ.
(Translated by Nguyễn Trâm)
15
Lesson 3 – Appearance
My best friend Joanna is absolutely gorgeous (extremely beautiful). She has long, sleek, jet-black hair
(sleek = smooth and straight, jet-black = perfectly black), pale blue eyes (pale = light color), and a
radiant complexion (skin that appears healthy and full of energy).

People always compliment her on her hourglass figure (when a woman has large breasts and hips, but a
small waist) and ask her what the secret is to maintaining such a slender waist (a thin waist). She has a
round face with an upturned nose, and she actually bears a striking resemblance (looks extremely
similar) to a famous singer.

Joanna could get any guy she wanted – so I was really surprised when she introduced me to her latest
boyfriend, who I think is hideously ugly. He has curly, shoulder-length hair that looks rather unkempt
(unkempt hair = messy hair, it appears that the person doesn’t take care of their hair).

He has a square face and a ruddy complexion (reddish skin). His deep-set eyes (eyes that are far back in
the person’s face) are almost hidden under his bushy eyebrows (big eyebrows with lots of hair), and he
sports a thick mustache and a huge, shaggy beard (a beard with lots of hair). I guess Joanna doesn’t
mind his facial hair (facial hair = beard and/or mustache).

His body isn’t bad – he has an athletic build (body with a lot of muscles), with broad shoulders (wide
shoulders) and muscular arms. If he would only trim his beard (cut his beard a little shorter) and comb
his hair, I suppose he could be considered somewhat attractive (more or less beautiful/handsome).

16
Lesson 3 Quiz
comb / curly / deep-set / facial / medium / muscular / radiant / slender / striking / trim

1. This moisturizer will give you a __________________ complexion.


2. She has a __________________ waist and wide hips.
3. He bears a __________________resemblance to a good friend of mine.
4. I've never liked my __________________ hair; I wish it was straight.
5. His __________________eyes make him look very pensive.
6. I love men with __________________ hair - I think it's sexy.
7. Would you please __________________your hair? It looks like you've just gotten out of bed.
8. I’m not changing my hairstyle – I’m just getting a __________________.
9. He has a __________________ build - he's not particularly strong, but not especially skinny either.
10. My soccer coach has very __________________ legs.

Listen and fill the missing words


My best friend Joanna is ................................................... (extremely beautiful). She has long, ........................,
jet-black hair (sleek = smooth and straight, jet-black = perfectly black), .........................blue eyes (pale = light
color), and a ........................................................................... (skin that appears healthy and full of energy).

People always .................................................. her on her ............................................................ (when a


woman has large breasts and hips, but a small waist) and ask her what the secret is to maintaining such
a ..................................................... (a thin waist). She has a round face with an ........................................., and
she actually ..................................................................................... (looks extremely similar) to a famous singer.

Joanna could get any guy she wanted - so I was really surprised when she introduced me to her latest
boyfriend, who I think is ................................................................ He has curly, shoulder-length hair that
looks rather ................................... (..................................................... = messy hair, it appears that the person
doesn’t take care of their hair).

He has a square face and a ........................................................... (reddish skin). His deep-set eyes (eyes that
are far back in the person’s face) are almost hidden under his ................................................... (big eyebrows
with lots of hair), and he sports a thick ................................. and a huge, .............................................. (a beard
with lots of hair). I guess Joanna doesn’t mind his facial hair (facial hair = beard and/or mustache).

His body isn’t bad – he has an ...................................................... (body with a lot of muscles), with
broad shoulders (wide shoulders) and .........................................arms. If he would only trim his beard
(cut his beard a little shorter) and comb his hair, I suppose he could be considered somewhat
attractive (more or less beautiful/handsome).

17
Lesson 04 - Character & Behavior
When I was a teenager, I was painfully shy. I loved reading books, and I had a vivid

imagination. My best friend had a more outgoing personalit and a good sense of humor.

Unfortunately she was also brutally honest, and sometimes her comments hurt my feelings

(made me sad, upset, or angry).

Khi tôi l| một thanh niên, tôi thì cực kì nhút nh{t. Tôi thích đọc s{ch, v| tôi có một trí tƣởng tƣợng
mạnh mẽ. Ngƣời bạn tốt nhất thì tính c{ch chan ho| hơn v| có khiếu khôi h|i. Không may mắn l| cô
ấy th|nh thật đến mức l|m tổn thƣơng ngƣời kh{c, v| thỉnh thoảng lời bình luận của cô ấy làm tôi
phiền lòng .
Although I was fiercely loyal to her, she showed her true colors (revealed her true

personality) when she played a prank that humiliated me in front of the class. I bore a

grudge against her for years afterwards. Now that I look back on it, I can see that she had

low self-esteem (she considered herself inferior) and a bit of a mean streak (a "streak" is a

tiny bit of someone's personality).

Mặc dù tôi cực kì trung th|nh với cô ấy, nhƣng cô ấy đã bộc lộ tính c{ch thực sự của cô ấy khi cô ấy
chơi khăm l|m bẽ môt tôi trƣớc lớp. Tôi tiếp tục giận dữ với cô ấy những năm sau đó. B}y giờ khi
tôi nhìn lại nó, tôi có thể thấy rằng cô ấy có một chút lòng tự trọng và có chút tính nết xấu hổ.
I've come out of my shell (become less shy) since those days; I have a thicker skin and it

doesn't bother me when people speak their minds (say exactly what they think, without

considering the effects of the words on others).

Tôi đã bớt nhút nh{t từ những ng|y đó, tôi cũng trơ hơn trƣớc những lời phê bình và nó không làm
buồn bực tôi khi mọi ngƣời nói lên ý kiến của mình m| không biết nó ảnh hƣởng đến ngƣời kh{c
nhƣ thế n|o.
My biggest flaw is that I have a tendency to be arrogant - some say I have a superiority

complex (consider myself superior to others). I'll admit that it is hard for me to swallow my

pride and recognize when I've been mistaken about something. My resolution for the New

Year is to make a more concerted effort to put others first (consider the needs of other

people more important than my own).

Sai lầm lớn nhất của tôi l| tôi có khuynh hƣớng kiêu ngạo- một v|i ngƣời nói tôi có măc cảm tự tôn
(tự cảm thấy mình giỏi hơn, quan trọng hơn những ngƣời kh{c, mặc dù thực lòng anh ta cảm thấy
họ giỏi.. hơn). Tôi thừa nhận rằng thật khó để ngừng kiêu ngạo v| công nhận khi tôi mắc sai lầm
một c{i gì đó. Sự quyết t}m của tôi trong năm sau l| dự định sẽ nỗ lực hơn để luôn nghĩ cho ngƣời
kh{c trƣớc.

Dịch bởi Thanh Thiên


18
Lesson 4 – Character & Behavior
When I was a teenager, I was painfully shy (extremely shy). I loved reading books, and I had a vivid
imagination (had a creative and colorful imagination). My best friend had a more outgoing personality
(she liked to be friendly and sociable) and a good sense of humor (ability to make other people laugh).
Unfortunately she was also brutally honest, and sometimes her comments hurt my feelings (made me
sad, upset, or angry).

Although I was fiercely loyal to her, she showed her true colors (revealed her true personality) when she
played a prank (did a trick) that humiliated me in front of the class. I bore a grudge (continued feeling
angry) against her for years afterwards. Now that I look back on it, I can see that she had low self-
esteem (she considered herself inferior) and a bit of a mean streak (a “streak” is a tiny bit of someone’s
personality).

I've come out of my shell (become less shy) since those days; I have a thicker skin (I’m less sensitive to
criticism) and it doesn't bother me when people speak their minds (say exactly what they think, without
considering the effects of the words on others).

My biggest flaw is that I have a tendency to be arrogant – some say I have a superiority complex
(consider myself superior to others). I’ll admit that it is hard for me to swallow my pride (stop being
arrogant) and recognize when I've been mistaken about something. My resolution for the New Year is to
make a more concerted effort to put others first (consider the needs of other people more important
than my own).

Listen and fill the missing words


Although I was ................................... to her, she showed her true colors (.......................... her true
personality) when she ................................................. (did a trick) that humiliated me in front of the class.
I ...................................................... (continued feeling angry) against her for years afterwards. Now that I
look back on it, I can see that she had .................................................... (she considered herself inferior)
and a bit of a mean ...........................(a “..........................” is a tiny bit of someone’s personality).
I've ............................................................................. (become less shy) since those days; I have a
thicker skin (I’m less ...................................... to ......................................) and it doesn't bother me when
people ............................................. (say exactly what they think, without considering the effects of the
words on others).
My biggest .............................. is that I have a .................................. to be ........................................
– some say I have a ....................................................................... (consider myself superior to others).
I’ll ....................................... that it is hard for me to ................................................. (stop being
arrogant) and recognize when I've been mistaken about something. My resolution for the New Year is to
make a ......................................................................effort to put others first (consider the needs of
other people more important than my own).

19
Lesson 4 – Quiz
1. A lot of successful entrepreneurs have not only a bright / lucid / vivid imagination, but also the
willingness to work hard.
2. He really hurt my emotions / feelings / senses when he called me an idiot.
3. His superiority belief / complex / tendency makes him impossible to work with because he
won't listen to suggestions.
4. I had to chew / eat / swallow my pride and apologize to Janet for overreacting to her criticism.
5. I like to date men with a great feel / sense / touch of humor.
6. In some cultures, it's considered very rude to say / speak / talk your mind.
7. It's good to get / put / set others first, but not at the expense of your own well-being.
8. Most people who work as comedians have very outgoing / tendency / upcoming personalities.
9. My brother is brutally / carefully / painfully shy, but I'm trying to encourage him to come out of
his case / shell / skin.
10. My daughter gets along with her classmates, but she has a competitive spot / streak / strip
when it comes to academics.
11. My husband forgives other people very easily; he's not one to bear / hurt / swallow a grudge.
12. She would never cheat on her husband; she's angrily / brutally / fiercely loyal to him.
13. The kids were suspended for playing a grudge / prank / streak on the teacher - they put a live
snake inside her desk.
14. Working with a therapist has helped me overcome my problems with deep / low / small self-
esteem.
15. You need to develop a fatter / harder / thicker skin; you can't let every little comment upset
you.

20
Lesson 05 - Feelings
I experienced a ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS when my son was born (many different

emotions one after another).

Khi con trai tôi ch|o đời, tôi đã phải trải qua NHIỀU ĐỢT CẢM XÚC THĂNG TRẦM BẤT
CHỢT (nhiều cảm xúc kh{c nhau liên tục nối đuôi nhau).
During my wife's pregnancy, I was RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED about the prospect of

becoming a dad.

Trong thời gian vợ tôi mang thai, tôi CẢM THẤY PHẤN KHÍCH ĐẾN BUỒN CƢỜI về
viễn cảnh đƣợc l|m cha của mình.
On the big day, I'd imagined that everything would go smoothly and we'd be BLISSFULLY

HAPPY - but there were complications during the delivery and my wife had to have

emergency surgery while I waited in the reception area, WORRIED SICK (very worried).

V|o c{i ng|y trọng đại đó, tôi những tƣởng rằng mọi thứ sẽ thật suôn sẻ, v| rồi chúng tôi sẽ
CẢM THẤY VUI SƢỚNG TỘT ĐỘ - nhƣng rồi trong thời gian sinh nở xảy ra những biến
chứng phức tạp khiến vợ tôi phải phẫu thuật khẩn cấp, lúc đó tôi chỉ biết vừa ngồi chờ ở
khu vực tiếp t}n, vừa LO LẮNG ĐẾN PHÁT ỐM (cực kì lo lắng).
As time went by, I got INCREASINGLY ANXIOUS because the doctors weren't telling me

anything.

Thời gian dần trôi qua, NỖI LO LẮNG CỦA TÔI CỨ LỚN DẦN bởi vì c{c vị b{c sĩ chẳng
nói với tôi một lời n|o cả.
After two hours I was SEETHING WITH ANGER (ready to explode with anger), and I and

shouted at one of the nurses.

Sau 2 tiếng đồng hồ, LỬA GIẬN ĐÃ SÔI SÙNG SỤC (chuẩn bị nổi giận đùng đùng), tôi đã
qu{t v|o mặt một cô y t{.
Then the security guards came and escorted me out of the hospital.

Thế l| bảo vệ đến v| tống tôi ra khỏi cửa bệnh viện.

My wife was VISIBLY DISAPPOINTED (it was obvious that she was disappointed) that I wasn't

by her side when she woke up from surgery.

Vợ tôi TRÔNG THẤT VỌNG RA MẶT (rất rõ r|ng rằng cô ấy cảm thấy thất vọng) vì tôi
không ở bên cô ấy tại thời điểm cô ấy tỉnh dậy sau buổi phẫu thuật.
She didn't say anything - she's not really one to SHOW HER FEELINGS; she prefers to

BOTTLE UP HER EMOTIONS (keep her emotions hidden inside her) - but I knew I had let her

down and I was TERRIBLY SORRY that I had LOST MY TEMPER (lost control and shown

anger).

21
Cô ấy chẳng nói chẳng rằng - cô ấy thuộc dạng ngƣời ít khi THỂ HIỆN CẢM XÚC; cô ấy
thƣờng hay KIỀM NÉN CẢM GIÁC CỦA MÌNH (giấu những cảm xúc trong lòng) - nhƣng
tôi biết tôi đã l|m cô ấy thất vọng v| tôi CẢM THẤY CỰC KÌ HỐI HẬN vì đã TRÓT
KHÔNG GIỮ ĐƢỢC BÌNH TĨNH (mất kiểm so{t v| thể hiện sự giận dữ).
The months that followed were tough. My wife became DEEPLY DEPRESSED, and I too

was an EMOTIONAL WRECK (a person who is very sad, confused, and upset) as I tried to

juggle the demands of work and family life.

Những th{ng ng|y sau đó thật khó khăn. Vợ tôi trở nên HẾT SỨC BUỒN RẦU, còn tôi
cũng trở th|nh một NGƢỜI BỊ SUY NHƢỢC THẦN KINH (ngƣời cảm thấy rất buồn, bối rối
v| khó chịu) vì phải vật lộn để c}n bằng yêu cầu công việc lẫn đời sống gia đình.
But now things are starting to turn around - I've been PLEASANTLY SURPRISED at the all

help we've gotten from our friends and neighbors.

Nhƣng hiện giờ thì mọi thứ đã trở nên tƣơi s{ng hơn - tôi cảm thấy VỪA NGẠC NHIÊN
VỪA THÍCH THÚ đối với những giúp đỡ m| bạn bè v| h|ng xóm của chúng tôi mang lại.
I'm just IMMENSELY GRATEFUL that my wife and son are healthy, and sometimes I'm

OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION as I reflect on how lucky we are (when emotion is so

strong that it's difficult to think or speak).

Tôi VÔ CÙNG BIẾT ƠN rằng vợ v| con tôi đƣợc khỏe mạnh, v| đôi khi tôi TRÀN NGẬP
NHỮNG XÚC CẢM khi ngẫm nghĩ xem chúng tôi đã may mắn đến thế n|o (khi cảm xúc
qu{ mãnh liệt đến nỗi việc nghĩ tới hay nói ra đều khó khăn).

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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22
Lesson 5 – Feelings
I experienced a roller coaster of emotions when my son was born (many different emotions one after
another). During my wife’s pregnancy, I was ridiculously excited about the prospect of becoming a dad.
On the big day, I’d imagined that everything would go smoothly and we’d be blissfully happy – but there
were complications during the delivery and my wife had to have emergency surgery while I waited in the
reception area, worried sick (very worried).

As time went by, I got increasingly anxious because the doctors weren’t telling me anything. After two
hours I was seething with anger (ready to explode with anger), and I and shouted at one of the nurses.
Then the security guards came and escorted me out of the hospital.

My wife was visibly disappointed (it was obvious that she was disappointed) that I wasn’t by her side
when she woke up from surgery. She didn’t say anything – she’s not really one to show her feelings; she
prefers to bottle up her emotions (keep her emotions hidden inside her) – but I knew I had let her down
and I was terribly sorry that I had lost my temper (lost control and shown anger).

The months that followed were tough. My wife became deeply depressed, and I too was an emotional
wreck (a person who is very sad, confused, and upset) as I tried to juggle the demands of work and
family life. But now things are starting to turn around – I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the all help
we’ve gotten from our friends and neighbors.

I’m just immensely grateful that my wife and son are healthy, and sometimes I’m overwhelmed with
emotion as I reflect on how lucky we are (when emotion is so strong that it’s difficult to think or speak).

Listen and fill the missing words

I experienced a ................................................................ when my son was born (many different


emotions one after another). During my wife’s pregnancy, I was ........................................................
about the ................................................ of becoming a dad. On the big day, I’d ..................................

that everything would go smoothly and we’d be blissfully happy – but there were complications during

the delivery and my wife had to have emergency surgery while I waited in the reception area, worried
sick (very worried).

My wife was ...................................................... (it was obvious that she was disappointed) that I wasn’t
by her side when she woke up from surgery. She didn’t say anything – she’s not really one to show her

feelings; she prefers to bottle up her emotions (keep her emotions hidden inside her) – but I knew I had

let her down and I was terribly sorry that I had ......................................... (lost control and shown anger).

I’m just .......................................................... that my wife and son are healthy, and sometimes
I’m .................................................................................. as I reflect on how lucky we are (when emotion

is so strong that it’s difficult to think or speak).

23
Lesson 5 Quiz
1. At his mother's funeral, he was so incapacitated / overwhelmed /seething with emotion that he

couldn't finish his speech.

2. I was deeply / pleasantly / significantly surprised by the excellent customer service - that company

really cares about its customers.

3. I'm sorry I forgot / lost / wrecked my temper with you yesterday. It was a really stressful day at

work.

4. Instead of confronting his issues, he bottles / guards / rolls up his emotions and tries to pretend

everything's OK.

5. It's normal to go through a helicopter / roller coaster / ocean wave of emotions after the end of a

long-term relationship.

6. My mother was worried bad / ill / sick when it passed midnight and my brother still hadn't come

home.

7. The boss was pleasantly / sickly / visibly annoyed when the employees told him about the

problems.

8. The fans were seething with anger / disappointment / temper when the team lost the game in the

last 5 minutes.

9. We're badly / horribly / terribly sorry, but we won't be able to go to your graduation.

10. We're blissfully / immensely / largely grateful for all the help you've given us in this project.

24
Lesson 6 - Houses and Apartments
I recently spent a month on vacation - but instead of staying in a hotel, I looked for a short-term rental (a
place to live that can be rented for a short period of time). I ended up sharing a two-bedroom apartment -
that's an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen - with some friends.

Gần đây tôi đã dành một tháng để đi nghỉ - tuy nhiên thay vì ở khách sạn, tôi tìm một SHORT-TERM RENTAL
(một nơi để ở mà có thể thuê trong một thời gian ngắn). Cuối cùng tôi đã chia sẻ A TWO-BEDROOM
APARTMENT - căn hộ với 2 phòng ngủ, 1 phòng khách và 1 nhà bếp cùng một vài người bạn.
It was actually cheaper than renting a studio apartment (an apartment with only one big room) all by myself.

Thực ra nó còn rẻ hơn là thuê a studio apartment (một căn hộ với chỉ một phòng lớn) một mình tôi.
The apartment was on the top floor of a five-story building (that's a building with five floors) and it had a
balcony overlooking the ocean (that means you can see the ocean from the balcony). From the roof, we also
had a nice view of the city skyline (this is another expression used when you can see something from a
certain place).

Căn hộ nằm trên tầng cao nhất của a five-story building (tòa nhà có 5 tầng) và nó có một ban công
overlooking the ocean (có thể nhìn thấy biển từ ban công đó). Từ trên mái, chúng tôi cũng had a nice view
of đường chân trời của thành phố (đây là một cách diễn đạt khác được sử dụng khi bạn có thể thấy cái gì
đó từ một địa điểm cố định).
The apartment had recently been remodeled/renovated - meaning it was fixed up and improved - and was
fully furnished, so it already had furniture (beds, tables, etc.) and appliances (refrigerator, stove, etc.)

Căn hộ trước đó đã had recently been remodeled/renovated - có nghĩa là nó đã được sửa lại và cải thiện-
và đã được fully furnished, do đó nó đã có đủ nội thất (giường, bàn v..v) và các đồ dùng tiện ích (tủ lạnh, lò
nướng, ...)
We loved the spacious living room (the room was big), but unfortunately the bedrooms were rather
cramped (small and uncomfortable). It was nice to spend a month there, but by the end of the trip I started
to feel homesick - that's when you feel sad because you miss your life at home.

Chúng tôi thích the spacious living room (căn phòng rộng rãi) , nhưng không may là các the bedrooms were
rather cramped (nhỏ và không thoải mái). Thật tuyệt khi dành cả một tháng ở đó, tuy nhiên trước khi
chuyến đi kết thúc tôi bắt đầu cảm thấy feel homesick- đó là khi bạn cảm thấy buồn bời vì bạn nhớ cuộc
sống khi bạn ở nhà- bạn nhớ nhà.
I'd really like to have a place of my own so that I'm not throwing away money on rent every month, but
there's a real shortage of affordable housing (houses/apartments that are reasonably priced) in my city.
Even if I stay away from the upscale neighborhoods (areas where rich people live), I'd still have to take out a
mortgage (borrow money from the bank, in order to buy a house) and it'll take me more than 30 years to
pay it off.
Tôi rất muốn have a place of my own (có một nơi của riêng tôi) để mà tôi không phải tiêu tiền vào việc thuê
nhà mỗi tháng, tuy nhiên lại có một sự thiếu hụt thực sự affordable housing (nhà/ căn hộ mà giá cả hợp l{)
ở thành phố của tôi. Ngay cả khi tôi ở cách xa upscale neighborhoods (những khu người giàu ở), tôi vẫn
phải take out a mortgage (mượn tiền từ ngân hàng để mua nhà) và tôi phải mất hơn 30 năm nữa để pay it
off (thanh toán hết)
But still, I'm gonna start saving up for a down payment (an initial payment on a big purchase). Someday,
when I do move into a new place, I'll be sure to throw a housewarming party (a party to celebrate living in a
new house/apartment).
Tuy nhiên, tôi sẽ băt đầu dành dụm a down payment (tiền đặt cọc- khoản thanh toán ban đầu khi mua hàng
có giá trị lớn). Một ngày nào đó, khi tôi thực sự move into a new place, tôi chắc chắn là sẽ throw a
housewarming party (tiệc tân gia- một bữa tiệc để kỉ niệm việc về ở tại một căn hộ/nhà mới).
25
Lesson 6 - Houses and Apartments
I recently spent a month on vacation – but instead of staying in a hotel, I looked for a short-term rental
(a place to live that can be rented for a short period of time). I ended up sharing a two-bedroom
apartment – that’s an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen – with some friends.
It was actually cheaper than renting a studio apartment (an apartment with only one big room) all by
myself.

The apartment was on the top floor of a five-story building (that’s a building with five floors) and it had
a balcony overlooking the ocean (that means you can see the ocean from the balcony). From the roof,
we also had a nice view of the city skyline (this is another expression used when you can see something
from a certain place).

The apartment had recently been remodeled/renovated – meaning it was fixed up and improved – and
was fully furnished, so it already had furniture (beds, tables, etc.) and appliances (refrigerator, stove,
etc.)

We loved the spacious living room (the room was big), but unfortunately the bedrooms were rather
cramped (small and uncomfortable). It was nice to spend a month there, but by the end of the trip I
started to feel homesick – that’s when you feel sad because you miss your life at home.

I’d really like to have a place of my own so that I’m not throwing away money on rent every month, but
there’s a real shortage of affordable housing (houses/apartments that are reasonably priced) in my city.
Even if I stay away from the upscale neighborhoods (areas where rich people live), I’d still have to take
out a mortgage (borrow money from the bank, in order to buy a house) and it’ll take me more than 30
years to pay it off.

But still, I’m gonna start saving up for a down payment (an initial payment on a big purchase). Someday,
when I do move into a new place, I’ll be sure to throw a housewarming party (a party to celebrate
living in a new house/apartment).

Listen and fill the missing words

I recently spent a month on ..................................... – but instead of staying in a hotel, I looked for

a ............................................................................... (a place to live that can be rented for a short period

of time). I ended up sharing a two-bedroom apartment – that’s an apartment with two bedrooms, a
living room, and a kitchen – with some friends. It was actually cheaper than renting a studio apartment
(an apartment with only one big room) all by myself.

The apartment was on the top floor of a five-story building (that’s a building with five floors) and it had

a balcony ................................................................... (that means you can see the ocean from the
balcony). From the roof, we also had a nice view of the city skyline (this is another expression used

when you can see something from a certain place).

26
Lesson 6 - Quiz
1. Her father paid the affordable / down / studio payment on her apartment.

2. I can't stand living with my parents; I need a place of my independent / own / short-term.

3. I hope the apartment is decorated / furnished / upscale, because I can't afford to buy appliances.

4. I was having so much fun during my semester abroad that I didn't feel cramped / homesick /

housewarm at all.

5. It's a ten- level / room / story building with two elevators.

6. My bedroom window overlooks / oversees / overviews the mountains.

7. My parents finished paying off their borrow / budget / mortgage after 25 years.

8. This weekend I'm helping my cousin change / move / turn into his new place.

9. We're going to need a more short-term / spacious/widespread apartment now that we're going to

have a baby.

10. We're regenerating / rejuvenating / remodeling the bathroom, so you'll have to use the one on the

second floor.

Listen and fill the missing words

The apartment had recently been remodeled/renovated – meaning it was fixed up and improved – and

was ..............................................., so it already had furniture (beds, tables, etc.) and appliances
(refrigerator, stove, etc.)

We loved the .................................. living room (the room was big), but unfortunately the bedrooms

were rather .............................. (small and uncomfortable). It was nice to spend a month there, but by
the end of the trip I started to feel ................................................... – that’s when you feel sad because
you miss your life at home.

I’d really like to have a place ............................................. so that I’m not throwing away money on rent
every month, but there’s a real shortage of ....................................................................(houses/

apartments that are reasonably priced) in my city. Even if I stay away from the .........................................

neighborhoods (areas where rich people live), I’d still have to take out a ..........................................
(borrow money from the bank, in order to buy a house) and it’ll take me more than 30 years

to ................................................

27
Lesson 07 - Eating
My mother radically changed her eating habits a few years ago. In the past, she ate a lot of

junk food and was overweight. Sometimes she would try to go on a diet, but it would

never last. But now she understands how unhealthy processed foods are - they’re full of

food additives that contribute to weight gain and heart problems.

Mẹ tôi đã ho|n to|n thay đổi thói quen ăn uống một v|i năm trƣớc đ}y. Trong qu{ khứ, bà ấy ăn
rất nhiều đồ ăn vặt v| bị thừa c}n. Thỉnh thoảng bà ấy thử ăn kiêng, nhƣng việc ấy không bao giờ
kéo d|i đƣợc. Nhƣng b}y giờ b| ấy đã hiểu đƣợc thực phẩm đã qua chế biến sẵn có hại cho sức
khoẻ nhƣ thế n|o - chúng chứa rất nhiều chất phụ gia góp phần l|m tăng c}n v| dẫn đến những
vấn đề về tim.
Nowadays, she eats a balanced diet including a lot of nourishing meals that she prepares

herself. She doesn’t buy organic food because she thinks the prices are outrageous, but she

stocks up on fresh produce so that she can grab an apple or some veggies when she wants

a quick snack. She has also learned to eat in moderation and watch her portion sizes.

Những ng|y n|y, b| ấy ăn theo chế độ ăn uống hợp lí bao gồm những bữa ăn đầy đủ chất dinh
dƣỡng do chính b| ấytự chuẩn bị. B| ấy không mua thực phẩm hữu cơ bởi vì b| ấy nghĩ rằng gi{
của chúng qu{ đắt, nhƣng b| ấy tích trữ thực phẩm tƣơi nên b| ấy có thể lấy một quả t{o hoặc một
ít rau củ khi b| ấy cần một bữa ăn dặm. B| ấy cũng đã học đƣợc c{ch ăn điều độ và theo dõi khẩu
phần ăn của mình.
I often stop by her house when I’m in the mood for a home-cooked meal. The other day she

made a hearty stew that was full of beans and vegetables. My brother, who has a healthy

appetite, had a second helping - but I found the stew so filling that I could barely finish my

bowl.

Tôi thƣờng ghé qua nh| của mẹ khi tôi muốn ăn cơm nh|. Một ng|y nọ b| ấy đã l|m một món hầm
thịnh soạn với nhiều đậu v| rau củ. Anh của tôi, ngƣời có khả năng ăn khoẻ, đã ăn phần thứ hai
- nhƣng tôi thấy món hầm qu{ ng{n nên tôi chỉ có thể vừa văn ăn hết chén của mình.
My mother recently told me that she’d like to try some international cuisines. I was

surprised to hear that, because a few years ago she had a bad experience after getting food

poisoning at a Japanese restaurant. So tomorrow I’m taking her to a Brazilian steakhouse. I

told her to eat light meals during the day so that she doesn’t spoil her appetite for dinner.

Mẹ tôi gần đ}y bảo tôi rằng b| ấy muốn thử một số món ăn quốc tế. Tôi đã rất ngạc nhiên khi nghe
điều đó, bởi vì một v|i năm trƣớc mẹ đã có một trải nghiệm tồi tệ sau khi bị ngộ độc thức ăn tại
một nh| h|ng Nhật. Vì thế ng|y mai tôi sẽ đƣa mẹ tới một tiệm bít tết Brazil. Tôi đã nói b| ấy chỉ ăn
những bữa ăn nhẹ trong ng|y để b| ấy không cảm thấy mất ngon khi ăn tối.
Dịch bởi Trần Nhật Vi Trâm

28
Lesson 7 – Eating
My mother radically changed her eating habits a few years ago. In the past, she ate a lot of junk food
(food that is not nutritious/healthy) and was overweight. Sometimes she would try to go on a diet (eat
less food and healthier food), but it would never last. But now she understands how unhealthy
processed foods are – they’re full of food additives (chemicals added to food) that contribute to weight
gain and heart problems.

Nowadays, she eats a balanced diet including a lot of nourishing meals (meals that are healthy and
nutritious) that she prepares herself. She doesn’t buy organic food because she thinks the prices are
outrageous, but she stocks up on fresh produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) so that she can grab an
apple or some veggies when she wants a quick snack (something small and fast to eat). She has also
learned to eat in moderation and watch her portion sizes (how much food you take).

I often stop by her house when I’m in the mood for a home-cooked meal. The other day she made a
hearty stew (a thick soup with lots of flavors and ingredients) that was full of beans and vegetables. My
brother, who has a healthy appetite (the capacity to eat a lot), had a second helping (a second portion)
– but I found the stew so filling that I could barely finish my bowl.

My mother recently told me that she’d like to try some international cuisine. I was surprised to hear
that, because a few years ago she had a bad experience after getting food poisoning (when you get sick
because of contaminated food) at a Japanese restaurant. So tomorrow I’m taking her to a Brazilian
steakhouse. I told her to eat light meals (small meals) during the day so that she doesn’t spoil her
appetite for dinner (“spoiling your appetite” means eating food earlier, and then not being hungry for a
meal later).

Listen and fill the missing words

My mother radically changed her ....................................... a few years ago. In the past, she ate a lot
of .................................(food that is not nutritious/healthy) and was overweight. Sometimes she would
try to go on a diet (eat less food and healthier food), but it would never last. But now she understands

how unhealthy ............................................. are – they’re full of ................................... (chemicals added

to food) that contribute to weight gain and heart problems.

Nowadays, she eats a ................................................... including a lot of ................................................


(meals that are healthy and nutritious) that she prepares herself. She doesn’t buy .......................... food

because she thinks the prices are outrageous, but she stocks up on fresh produce (fresh fruits and

vegetables) so that she can grab an apple or some veggies when she wants a quick snack (something
small and fast to eat). She has also learned to eat in ..................................... and watch her portion

sizes (how much food you take).

29
Lesson 7 Quiz
cuisine / diet / fresh / helping / junk / moderation / nourishing / poisoning / processed / snack

1. During the summer, our kids eat a lot of __________ food - popcorn, candy, ice cream, cookies, etc.

2. He got food __________________ after eating some seafood from a street vendor.

3. I buy __________________ produce at the farmer's market.

4. I drink in __________________; I don't like getting drunk.

5. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican __________________. It's too spicy for me.

6. I've lost ten pounds so far while on this new __________________.

7. Spinach is one of the most __________________ vegetables - it's full of vitamins and minerals.

8. That lasagna is delicious; I think I'll have another __________________.

9. The food at this restaurant is all natural - they don't use any type of __________________food.

10. We stopped driving to grab a quick __________________ at a roadside cafe.

Listen and fill the missing words

I often stop by her house when I’m in the mood for a home-cooked meal. The other day she made
a ..............................................(a thick soup with lots of flavors and ingredients) that was full of beans

and vegetables. My brother, who has a ......................................... (the capacity to eat a lot), had a
second helping (a second ................................) - but I found the stew so filling that I could barely finish
my bowl.

My mother recently told me that she’d like to try some international ....................................... I was

surprised to hear that, because a few years ago she had a bad experience after

getting ............................................... (when you get sick because of ........................................ food) at a


Japanese restaurant. So tomorrow I’m taking her to a Brazilian ........................................................ I told
her to eat light meals (small meals) during the day so that she doesn’t ................................ her appetite

for dinner (“spoiling your appetite” means eating food earlier, and then not being hungry for a meal

later).

30
08 - Movies / Books
My brother is a huge fan of movies.

Anh tôi l| một fan h}m mộ lớn của phim ảnh.


When he sees a MOVIE TRAILER (a short video offering a preview of the movie), he counts

down the days until THE MOVIE COMES OUT.

Khi anh ấy xem PHẦN GIỚI THIỆU PHIM (một đoạn phim ngắn cung cấp một bản xem trƣớc của
bộ phim), anh ấy đếm từng ng|y cho đến khi BỘ PHIM RA MẮT.
He always goes to the MOVIE THEATER on OPENING NIGHT - that's the first day a

movie, show, concert, or performance is open to the public.

Anh ấy luôn tới RẠP CHIẾU PHIM vào ĐÊM KHAI MẠC - đó l| ng|y đầu tiên bộ phim, chƣơng
trình, buổi hòa nhạc hoặc buổi biểu diễn đƣợc mở cho công chúng.
He also loves to analyze the FILM CRITICS' REVIEWS (the evaluations of the people whose

job is to analyze movies) and tries to guess which movies will be NOMINATED FOR AN

AWARD.

Anh cũng rất thích ph}n tích CÁC ĐÁNH GIÁ CỦA CÁC NHÀ PHÊ BÌNH PHIM (đ{nh gi{ của
những ngƣời l|m công việc ph}n tích phim) v| cố gắng đo{n xem bộ phim n|o sẽ ĐƢỢC ĐỀ CỬ
CHO GIẢI THƢỞNG.
One of his favorite MOVIE STARS (famous actors/actresses) will be STARRING IN AN

UPCOMING FILM about the Vietnam War.

Một trong những NGÔI SAO ĐIỆN ẢNH yêu thích của anh ấy (c{c diễn viên nổi tiếng) sẽ tham
gia v|o một BỘ PHIM SẮP RA MẮT về Chiến tranh Việt Nam.
It's BASED ON A TRUE STORY, and they're SHOOTING THE FILM ON-SITE in Vietnam -

that means they will be recording/filming the movie in the same location as the story

occurs.

Nó DỰA TRÊN MỘT CÂU CHUYỆN CÓ THẬT, v| họ ĐANG QUAY BỘ PHIM TẠI Việt Nam
- có nghĩa l| họ sẽ quay phim / quay phim ở cùng vị trí với c}u chuyện.
This particular actor had been talking about retiring, but when he was offered

the LEADING ROLE (the opportunity to play the most important part in a movie) in a film

that's sure to be a BOX-OFFICE HIT (a movie that is very successful) he couldn't turn it

down.

Nam diễn viên đặc biệt n|y đã nói về chuyện nghỉ hƣu, nhƣng khi anh đƣợc ĐỀ CỬ VAI
CHÍNH (cơ hội đóng vai quan trọng nhất trong một bộ phim) trong một bộ phim chắc chắn sẽ l|
một HIT DOANH THU PHÒNG VÉ (một bộ phim rất th|nh công) ông không thể từ chối.

31
On the other hand, I prefer books.

Mặt kh{c, tôi cũng thích s{ch.


I'm currently ENGROSSED IN A BOOK by Stieg Larsson (the book is taking all my

attention) - it's the final part of a trilogy, and I can't wait to see how things turn out for

the MAIN CHARACTER (the most important person in the book).

Tôi hiện đang BỊ CUỐN VÀO QUYỂN SÁCH của Stieg Larsson (quyển s{ch đang thu hút
tất cả sự chú ý của tôi) - đó l| phần cuối cùng của bộ ba, v| tôi không thể chờ đợi để xem
mọi thứ diễn ra nhƣ thế n|o với NHÂN VẬT CHÍNH (ngƣời quan trọng nhất) trong cuốn
sách).
I already have a huge collection of books, and I also BORROW BOOKS FROM THE

LIBRARY.

Tôi đã có một bộ sƣu tập s{ch rất lớn, v| tôi cũng MƢỢN SÁCH TỪ THƢ VIỆN.
One book I TOOK OUT last week deals with modern feminism and motherhood.

Một cuốn s{ch tôi MUA VỀ tuần trƣớc liên quan đến chủ nghĩa nữ quyền hiện đại v| l|m mẹ.

It's a bit of a CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, but it's an INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE

READ.

Đó l| một CHỦ ĐỀ GÂY TRANH CÃI, nhƣng nó l| MỘT BÀI ĐỌC THÚ VỊ VÀ ĐÁNG QUAN
TÂM.
I'm not sure I'll have time to finish it before I have to RETURN THE BOOK TO THE
LIBRARY.
Tôi không chắc tôi sẽ có thời gian để ho|n th|nh nó trƣớc khi tôi phải TRẢ SÁCH CHO THƢ
VIỆN.
Maybe I'll RENEW IT for another week - that means to get an extension of the length of
time I can keep the book.
Có lẽ tôi sẽ MƢỢN LẠI nó v|o một tuần kh{c - điều đó có nghĩa l| để có thể kéo d|i khoảng thời
gian tôi có thể giữ cuốn s{ch.
Note: We talk about the BEGINNING AND END of a book, story, or film (not the "start and
finish").
Lƣu ý: Chúng tôi nói về SỰ BẮT ĐẦU VÀ KẾT THÚC của cuốn s{ch, c}u chuyện hoặc phim
(không phải l| "bắt đầu v| kết thúc").
The first and last parts of a story can also be called the OPENING AND CLOSING

SCENES (in a movie) or the OPENING AND CLOSING CHAPTERS (in a book).

Phần đầu tiên v| cuối cùng của một c}u chuyện cũng có thể đƣợc gọi l| CẢNH MỞ ĐẦU VÀ KẾT
THÚC (trong phim) hoặc CÁC CHƢƠNG MỞ ĐẦU VÀ KẾT THÚC (trong một cuốn s{ch).

Translated by Trinh Vương

32
Lesson 8 – Movies / Books
My brother is a huge fan of movies. When he sees a movie trailer (a short video offering a preview of
the movie), he counts down the days until the movie comes out. He always goes to the movie theater
on opening night – that’s the first day a movie, show, concert, or performance is open to the public. He
also loves to analyze the film critics’ reviews (the evaluations of the people whose job is to analyze
movies) and tries to guess which movies will be nominated for an award.

One of his favorite movie stars (famous actors/actresses) will be starring in an upcoming film about the
Vietnam War. It’s based on a true story, and they’re shooting the film on-site in Vietnam – that means
they will be recording/filming the movie in the same location as the story occurs.

This particular actor had been talking about retiring, but when he was offered the leading role (the
opportunity to play the most important part in a movie) in a film that’s sure to be a box-office hit (a
movie that is very successful) he couldn’t turn it down.

I, on the other hand, prefer books. I’m currently engrossed in a book by Stieg Larsson (the book is taking
all my attention) – it’s the final part of a trilogy, and I can’t wait to see how things turn out for the main
character (the most important person in the book). I already have a huge collection of books, and I also
borrow books from the library.

One book I took out last week deals with modern feminism and motherhood. It’s a bit of a controversial
topic, but it’s an interesting and enjoyable read. I’m not sure I’ll have time to finish it before I have to
return the book to the library. Maybe I’ll renew it for another week – that means to get an extension of
the length of time I can keep the book.

Note: We talk about the beginning and end of a book, story, or film (not the “start and finish”). The first
and last parts of a story can also be called the opening and closing scenes (in a movie) or the opening
and closing chapters (in a book).

33
Lesson 8 Quiz
1. A movie from an amateur filmmaker was based / nominated / presented for three awards at an

international film festival.

2. Did you see the trailer / trilogy / theater for the new Star Wars movie? It looks like it'll be

awesome!

3. The opening chapter / genre / scene of the movie is very violent.

4. I didn't like the close / end / finish of the movie; it just didn't seem believable.

5. I enjoyed the book because I could really identify with the main character / role / star.

6. It was a very moving film - and it was based on a factual / real / true story.

7. It's an enjoyable page / read / scene, written in a humorous and relatable style.

8. Oh no! I lost a book that I borrowed / loaned / returned from the library.

9. The documentary deals with a number of controversial / debatable / polemic topics.

10. The first movie was excellent, but the sequel got mediocre analyses / critics / reviews.

11. The movie Titanic hits / shoots / stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

12. We couldn't get a ticket for initial / opening / beginning night - they were all sold out.

Listen and fill the missing words

I, on the other hand, prefer books. I’m currently .................................... in a book by Stieg Larsson (the

book is taking all my attention) – it’s the final part of a .............................., and I can’t wait to see how
things turn out for the main ................................... (the most important person in the book). I already
have a huge collection of books, and I also borrow books from the library.

One book I took out last week deals with modern ........................................ and motherhood. It’s a bit of

a ....................... topic, but it’s an interesting and enjoyable read. I’m not sure I’ll have time to finish it
before I have to return the book to the library. Maybe I’ll ................................ it for another week – that

means to get an extension of the length of time I can keep the book.

34
Lesson 09 - Music
My older brother Alex is very musically gifted (he has a natural talent for music). He can

play any tune from memory, without looking at sheet music (musical notation written on

paper). He spends all his free time strumming a guitar (playing a guitar), composing music

(creating music), and writing song lyrics (the words to a song).

Anh trai tôi Alex l| một thiên t|i }m nhạc (anh ấy có t|i năng bẩm sinh về }m nhạc). Anh ấy có
thể chơi bất cứ b|i h{t n|o trong trí nhớ, m| không nhìn v|o trang nhạc (ký hiệu }m nhạc viết trên
giấy). Anh ấy d|nh tất cả thời gian rảnh của mình gảy đ|n ghi-ta (chơi ghi-ta), soạn nhạc (sáng
t{c nhạc), v| viết những lời b|i h{t (những ca từ trong một b|i h{t).

Alex and his friends formed a band that has attracted a sizable following (a lot of fans) in

our city. They started out playing gigs (giving small, informal performances) in bars and

clubs, and they used the money they earned to record their debut album (record their first

CD).

Alex v| những ngƣời bạn của anh ấy hình th|nh một ban nhạc đã thu hút một lƣợng lớn ngƣời
theo dõi (nhiều ngƣời h}m mộ) ở th|nh phố của chúng tôi. Họ đã bắt đầu chơi những nhạc pop
hay jazz trƣớc kh{n giả (lƣợng nhỏ, những m|n trình diễn thƣờng) ở những qu{n bar v| c{c c}u
lạc bộ, v| họ từng dùng số tiền họ kiếm đƣợc để thu }m nhạc phẩm đầu tay ( thu }m CD đầu tiên
của họ).

A remixed track (a song that has been modified electronically) from that CD then became a

massive hit (a very popular song) on the local radio station thanks to its catchy tune

(memorable melody) and upbeat tempo (fast rhythm).

Một đoạn nhạc đã đƣợc phối lại (một b|i h{t đã đƣợc thay đổi một c{ch điện tử hóa) từ CD đó
sau đó trở nên một bản th|nh công lớn (một b|i h{t rất phổ biến) trên đ|i ph{t thanh địa phƣơng
nhờ v|o giai điệu quyến rũ của nó (giai điệu dễ nhớ) v| nhịp điệu lạc quan (điệu nhanh).

Their second album will be released (it will be made available to the public) at the end of the

year; they'll record it live at their next show. Alex dreams of going on tour - he's just

waiting for his big break (big opportunity to become famous) to get his foot in the door of the

music industry.

Album nhạc thứ hai của họ sẽ ra mắt (nó sẽ đƣợc lan rộng đến công chúng) v|o cuối năm; Họ sẽ
thu }m nó trực tiếp tại buổi biểu diễn tiếp theo của họ. Alex mơ đƣợc đi tua biểu diễn- anh ấy chỉ
đang chờ sự đột ph{ lớn của mình (cơ hội lớn để trở nên nổi tiếng) để đƣa anh ấy v|o c{nh cửa của
nền công nghiệp }m nhạc.

35
As for me, I love singing along (singing together) to my brother's music, but a career in

music isn't for me - I'm completely tone-deaf (unable to correctly identify different

musical notes) and I always sing off-key (sing the incorrect melody)!

Còn với tôi, tôi yêu thích h{t với nhau (h{t cùng nhau) về }m nhạc của anh trai tôi, nhƣng sự
nghiệp }m nhạc thì không phải d|nh cho tôi- Tôi ho|n to|n điếc về tông nhạc (không có khả năng
ph}n định chính x{c những nốt nhạc kh{c nhau) v| tôi luôn luôn h{t sai điệu (h{t sai giai điệu).

Additional collocations:

Bổ sung những cụm từ :

 contemporary music = modern music : nhạc hiện đại

 classical music: nhạc cổ điển

 orchestral/instrumental music = music with instruments only (no singing): dàn nhạc ,
hòa tấu

 rock music: nhạc rock

 solo album = CD featuring one singer alone, not in a group of singers : đĩa CD đặc
trưng được thực hiện đơn độc bởi 1 ca sĩ, không ở trong nhóm các ca sĩ

 compilation album = a CD with a collection of songs from many different


singers/bands : album sưu tập, 1 đĩa CD với sự góp nhặt của nhiều bài hát từ các ca sĩ/
nhóm nhạc khác nhau

 cult following = a very dedicated/devoted group of fans : người tôn sùng, một nhóm
người hâm mộ tâm huyết
Dịch bởi Mai Lâm Trúc Linh

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36
Lesson 9 – Music
My older brother Alex is very musically gifted (he has a natural talent for music). He can play any tune
from memory, without looking at sheet music (musical notation written on paper). He spends all his free
time strumming a guitar (playing a guitar), composing music (creating music), and writing song lyrics
(the words to a song).

Alex and his friends formed a band that has attracted a sizable following (a lot of fans) in our city. They
started out playing gigs (giving small, informal performances) in bars and clubs, and they used the
money they earned to record their debut album (record their first CD).

A remixed track (a song that has been modified electronically) from that CD then became a massive hit
(a very popular song) on the local radio station thanks to its catchy tune (memorable melody) and
upbeat tempo (fast rhythm).

Their second album will be released (it will be made available to the public) at the end of the year;
they’ll record it live at their next show. Alex dreams of going on tour – he’s just waiting for his big break
(big opportunity to become famous) to get his foot in the door of the music industry.

As for me, I love singing along (singing together) to my brother’s music, but a career in music isn’t for
me – I’m completely tone-deaf (unable to correctly identify different musical notes) and I always sing
off-key (sing the incorrect melody)!

Additional collocations:

contemporary music = modern music


classical music
orchestral/instrumental music = music with instruments only (no singing)
rock music
solo album = CD featuring one singer alone, not in a group of singers
compilation album = a CD with a collection of songs from many different singers/bands
cult following = a very dedicated/devoted group of fans

37
Lesson 9 Quiz
gifted / lyrics / remixed / debut / strumming / tune / gig / following / tour / off-key / hit / upbeat

1. I can't stand that song; I don't know why it's such a _____________.

2. I like the song, but I don't understand the _________________.

3. I'm not really musically ______________, but I practice the violin every day.

4. It's such a catchy _____________, I can't get it out of my head!

5. My cousin's band is going on ____________ next summer; they've lined up shows in eleven different

states.

6. Someone in the choir was singing _____________, and it sounded terrible.

7. The band's _____________ album was a huge success.

8. The DJ played some _______________ tracks at the wedding reception.

9. The singer has attracted quite a devoted _____________ in Korea - her concerts there are always

sold out.

10. The street musician sat on a park bench, _______________ his guitar.

11. This music is so slow it's putting me to sleep. Let's listen to something with a more ___________

tempo.

12. We're going to play a ____________ at the Jazz Club on Friday night.

Listen and fill the missing words

Alex and his friends formed a band that has attracted a ................................................... (a lot of fans)
in our city. They started out ..........................................................(giving small, informal performances)

in bars and clubs, and they used the money they earned to record their ..................................................

(record their first CD).

A ............................................................... (a song that has been modified electronically) from that CD


then became ................................................................ (a very popular song) on the local radio station

thanks to its ...........................................................(memorable melody) and ............................................

(fast rhythm).

38
Lesson 10 - Sports
The first important collocation involving sports is when to use the verbs play, do, and go.

We typically use play for team sports - you play soccer, play basketball, play tennis, play

baseball, and play golf.

Hôm nay chúng ta sẽ học một trong những cụm từ quan trọng liên quan đến thể thao. Đó l| c{c
động từ PLAY, DO và GO.

Chúng ta thƣờng dùng từ PLAY cho CÁC MÔN THỂ THAO ĐỒNG ĐỘI - nhƣ bóng đ{, bóng
rổ, bóng tennis, bóng bầu dục v| đ{nh golf - (Ví dụ: you PLAY soccer (football), PLAY
basketball, PLAY tennis, PLAY baseball, and PLAY golf)

The verb do is used for more individual sports - you do yoga, do gymnastics, do martial

arts, and do aerobics. Also, in more general terms, you do exercise. Another common

individual exercise is to lift weights.

Còn động từ DO thì đƣợc dùng cho CÁC MÔN THỂ THAO CÁ NHÂN - nhƣ tập yoga, tập gym,
võ thuật, v| tập aerobics - (Ví dụ: you DO yoga, DO gymnastics, DO martial arts, and DO
aerobics.)

The verb GO is used with most activities that end in -ing : you GO swimming, go biking,

GO surfing, GO rock climbing, GO bowling, and GO fishing.

Động từ GO đƣợc dùng với đa số c{c hoạt động có kết thúc bằng -ing - nhƣ GO swimming (bơi
lội), GO biking (đạp xe), GO surfing (lƣớt sóng), GO rocking, GO climbing (leo núi), GO
bowling, and GO fishing (câu cá).

With the team sports, we can use the word game or match: a soccer game, a basketball

game, a tennis match, etc. You can win the game, lose the game, or tie the game - that's

when the final score is 1-1 or 2-2, for example.

Với những MÔN THỂ THAO ĐỒNG ĐỘI, ta dùng những từ nhƣ GAME hoặc MATCH nhƣ: a
soccer GAME, basketball GAME, tennis MATCH, etc. Chúng ta có thể win the game, lose the
game, hoặc tie the game. (gi|nh chiến thắng, thua cuộc hoặc hòa)

A team can play a home game - when they play in their own stadium or field - or an away

game - when they play at the opposing team's stadium or field. When there are many teams

that are playing many games to see which one is the best, we call this a tournament.

Một đội chơi có thể PLAY A HOME GAME - chơi trên s}n nh| - hoặc AN AWAY GAME - chơi
trên s}n kh{ch. Khi có nhiều đội bóng đang thi đấu để tranh t|i, ph}n chia đội vô địch, chúng ta gọi
đó l| a tournament. (giải đấu)

39
When one team is winning in the middle of the game - for example, 3-1 - we say that team

has the lead. However, the other team can make a comeback - score points from a losing

position - and take the lead, 4-3.

Khi một đội bóng đang chiến thắng trong thời gian giữa trận đấu, ví dụ tỉ số l| 3-1, chúng ta có thể
nói ‘that team HAS THE LEAD’ (đội bóng đó ĐANG DẪN TRƢỚC). Tuy nhiên, nếu đội chơi còn
lại đảo ngƣợc tình thế, tức l| ghi điểm v| lật lại thế trận trƣớc đó, ta có thể nói rằng ‘the other team
can MAKE A COMEBACK’ (đội kia có thể LẬT NGƢỢC TRẬN ĐẤU, LẬT KÈO) hoặc ‘TAKE
THE LEAD’ (chiếm lấy ƣu thế, vƣợt lên trƣớc).

With the sports that use "do" and "go," we typically use the word competition - a

gymnastics competition, a martial arts competition, a surfing competition, an ice skating

competition, etc. The exception is sports where you go from one place to another - like

running, biking, and swimming - in that case, we often call the event a race.

Với c{c môn thể thao m| dùng c{c động từ DO và GO, chúng ta thƣờng dùng từ COMPETITION
(sự cạnh tranh) - ví dụ nhƣ: a gymnastics COMPETITION, a martial arts COMPETITION, a
surfing COMPETITION, an ice skating COMPETITION, etc. Trƣờng hợp ngoại lệ, c{c môn
thể thao yêu cầu di chuyển từ nơi n|y đến nơi kh{c nhƣ running, biking, v| swimming - chúng ta
thƣờng gọi sự kiện đó l| A RACE.

Athletes can enter a competition and try to win first place. Some athletes try to enhance

their performance with illegal substances such as steroids. But if they fail a drug test,

they'll be disqualified from participating.

C{c vận động viên có thể ENTER A COMPETITION and TRY TO WIN FIRST PLACE (tham
gia cuộc thi và cố gắng gi|nh giải vô địch). Một v|i vận động viên TRY TO ENHANCE THEIR
PERFORMANCE (n}ng cao phong độ) với c{c chất kích thích cấm nhƣ steroids (hormone giới
tính kích thích ph{t triển cơ bắp, <). Nếu nhƣ họ FAIL A DRUG TEST (bị ph{t hiện sử dụng
thuốc cấm) thì họ sẽ bị truất quyền tham gia.

If the athlete is performing well, they may achieve a personal best - and if they perform

better than ANYONE ever has in the past, then they could even break the world record or

set a new world record. If they get injured, however, they might have to withdraw from

the competition (voluntarily leave the competition)

Nếu vận động viên thể hiện tốt phần thi của mình, họ có thể ACHIEVE A PERSONAL BEST (đạt
đƣợc giải c{ nh}n xuất sắc) - v| nếu họ trình diễn tốt hơn tất cả mọi ngƣời trong qu{ khứ, họ có thể
BREAK THE WORLD RECORD or SET A NEW WORLD RECORD (ph{ vỡ kỷ lục thế giới,
thiết lập một kỷ lục mới). Tuy nhiên, nếu họ bị chấn thƣơng, họ có thể bắt buộc phải WITHDRAW
FORM THE COMPETITION (đầu h|ng v| rời khỏi cuộc thi một c{ch tình nguyện).

40
Lesson 10 – Sports
The first important collocation involving sports is when to use the verbs play, do, and go. We typically
use play for team sports – you play soccer, play basketball, play tennis, play baseball, and play golf.

The verb do is used for more individual sports – you do yoga, do gymnastics, do martial arts, and do
aerobics. Also, in more general terms, you do exercise. Another common individual exercise is to lift
weights.

The verb go is used with most activities that end in –ing: you go swimming, go biking, go surfing, go
rock climbing, go bowling, and go fishing.

With the team sports, we can use the word game or match: a soccer game, a basketball game, a tennis
match, etc. You can win the game, lose the game, or tie the game – that’s when the final score is 1-1 or
2-2, for example.

A team can play a home game – when they play in their own stadium or field – or an away game – when
they play at the opposing team’s stadium or field. When there are many teams that are playing many
games to see which one is the best, we call this a tournament.

When one team is winning in the middle of the game – for example, 3-1 – we say that team has the
lead. However, the other team can make a comeback – score points from a losing position – and take
the lead, 4-3.

With the sports that use “do” and “go,” we typically use the word competition – a gymnastics
competition, a martial arts competition, a surfing competition, an ice skating competition, etc. The
exception is sports where you go from one place to another – like running, biking, and swimming – in
that case, we often call the event a race.

Athletes can enter a competition and try to win first place. Some athletes try to enhance their
performance with illegal substances such as steroids. But if they fail a drug test, they’ll be disqualified
from participating.

If the athlete is performing well, they may achieve a personal best – and if they perform better than
ANYONE ever has in the past, then they could even break the world record or set a new world record. If
they get injured, however, they might have to withdraw from the competition (voluntarily leave the
competition).

41
Lesson 10 – Quiz
1. Barbara has made / put / set a new world record, with 5 consecutive Olympic gold medals in
judo.
2. Do you want to do / go / play hiking with us this weekend?
3. How long have you been doing / going / playing football?
4. I did / played / went volleyball in college.
5. If a soccer game is failed / led / tied, they do penalty kicks to determine the winner.
6. Jeff and Diana did / played / went rock climbing in the mountains.
7. My son wants to do / go / play karate.
8. Our team won third lead / place / record in the basketball competition/ performance /
tournament.
9. She's been doing / going / playing gymnastics since she was 5 years old.
10. The baseball team was unable to make a comeback / setback / takeback and lost the game 5-2.
11. The biker from Australia currently has the best / first / lead, but the bikers from Russia and Peru
are close behind.
12. The ice skater broke / removed / withdrew from the competition due to a knee injury.
13. The runners were stretching before the match / race / test began.
14. Tim Randall has achieved / enhanced / won a personal best with his time of 23.04 seconds.
15. What was the final place / record / score of the baseball game?

Listen and fill the missing words

The verb do is used for more individual sports - you ...................................................,

......................................, do ..............................................., and do ........................................... Also, in


more general terms, you do exercise. Another common individual exercise is to lift weights.

The verb go is used with most activities that end in –ing: you go swimming, go .................................,

......................................................, go rock ......................................, go ......................................, and

go fishing.

With the team sports, we can use the word game or match: a soccer game, a basketball game, a
tennis match, etc. You can win the game, ....................................., or .............................................. –

that’s when the final score is 1-1 or 2-2, for example.

42
Lesson 11 - Health & Sickness
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health and increase your life
expectancy (how long you are expected to live) - you can quit smoking, reduce stress, eat a balanced diet,
get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. It's also important to get vaccinations/immunizations to prevent
diseases. No matter how healthy you are, it's still a good idea to have health insurance - a program/plan to
cover expenses in case of an accident or serious illness.
Có rất nhiều cách thay đổi lối sống mà bạn có thể thực hiện để cải thiện sức khỏe toàn diện và làm tăng tuổi
thọ (khoảng thời gian mà bạn kì vọng để sống) - bạn có thể bỏ hút thuốc lá, giảm căng thẳng, ăn uống đầy
đủ dưỡng chất, ngủ đủ giấc và tập thể dục đều đặn. Tiêm vắc xin cũng là một việc quan trọng để ngăn ngừa
bệnh tật. Cho dù bạn khỏe mạnh như thế nào, việc sở hữu bảo hiểm sức khỏe - một chương trình / kế hoạch
giúp bạn chi trả chi phí trong trường hợp tai nạn hoặc bệnh nặng - vẫn là một ý tưởng hay.

If you're in a car accident, you might suffer/sustain serious injuries. Of course, if you're wearing your
seatbelt, you're more likely to have only minor injuries. If you've broken/fractured a bone - for example,
your leg - the doctor will put your leg in a cast. If you have a cut, the doctor will give you stitches. If you
have a burn, the doctor will give you an ointment to prevent infection.
Nếu bạn bị tai nạn xe hơi, bạn có thể chịu những vết thương nghiêm trọng. Tất nhiên nếu bạn thắt dây an
toàn, ít nhất bạn cũng bị những vết thương nhỏ. Nếu bạn bị gãy xương - ví dụ, gãy chân - bác sĩ sẽ đặt cái
nẹp vào chân bạn. Nếu như bạn có một vết thương bị rách sâu, bác sĩ sẽ khâu nó lại. Nếu như bạn bị bỏng,
bác sĩ sẽ kê đơn thuốc mỡ cho bạn bôi phòng tránh nhiễm trùng.

If you have a minor ailment like a headache, you can take some aspirin to relieve the pain (reduce the
effects of the pain). If you suffer from a chronic condition (a condition that continues for a long time) like
allergies, asthma, back pain, or depression, there are both over-the counter and prescription medications
that can help alleviate the symptoms (an over-the-counter medication is one that you can buy without a
doctor's prescription).
Nếu bạn hay bị ốm vặt như đau đầu, bạn có thể dùng vài viên thuốc giảm đau để giảm cơn đau (giảm sự tác
động của cơn đau đầu). Nếu như bạn bị bệnh mãn tính (tình trạng bệnh kéo dài trong một thời gian) như dị
ứng, hen suyễn, đau lưng, hoặc suy nhược, bạn có thể chọn một trong hai cách là tự điều trị hoặc uống thuốc
theo chỉ định của bác sĩ để giúp bạn giảm những triệu chứng bệnh.

When someone has a minor respiratory infection, we say they have a cold. Don't get too close to that
person, because you could catch a cold, too! You can "catch" other types of contagious diseases as well -
such as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).
Khi một người bị mắc bệnh lây nhiễm qua đường hô hấp, chúng ta cho rằng họ bị cảm lạnh. Đừng đến quá
gần họ, bởi vì bạn cũng có thể bị lây. Bạn cũng có thể bị lây bởi những căn bệnh truyền nhiễm khác như bệnh
lây lan qua đường tình dục (STDs).
If someone is diagnosed with a more serious illness such as cancer or AIDS, they'll need more extensive
treatment. When a disease has progressed so far that it will be impossible to cure, then the patient is said to
be terminally ill - in other words, the person will definitely die of the disease soon.
Nếu một người được chuẩn đoán là mắc một căn bệnh hiểm nghèo như ung thư hay AIDS, họ sẽ cần sự điều
trị lâu hơn. Khi một căn bệnh tiến triển quá nhanh mà không có khả năng để chữa trị nữa, người bệnh được
chuẩn đoán là ở giai đoạn cuối của bệnh - nói cách khác, người bệnh sẽ chắc chắn chết sớm vì căn bệnh.

(dịch bởi An Nguyễn)

43
Lesson 11 – Health & Sickness
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health and increase your
life expectancy (how long you are expected to live) – you can quit smoking, reduce stress, eat a
balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. It’s also important to get
vaccinations/immunizations to prevent diseases. No matter how healthy you are, it’s still a good idea to
have health insurance – a program/plan to cover expenses in case of an accident or serious illness.

If you’re in a car accident, you might suffer/sustain serious injuries. Of course, if you’re wearing your
seatbelt, you’re more likely to have only minor injuries. If you’ve broken/fractured a bone – for
example, your leg – the doctor will put your leg in a cast. If you have a cut, the doctor will give you
stitches. If you have a burn, the doctor will give you an ointment to prevent infection.

If you have a minor ailment like a headache, you can take some aspirin to relieve the pain (reduce the
effects of the pain). If you suffer from a chronic condition (a condition that continues for a long time)
like allergies, asthma, back pain, or depression, there are both over-the counter and prescription
medications that can help alleviate the symptoms (an over-the-counter medication is one that you can
buy without a doctor’s prescription).

When someone has a minor respiratory infection, we say they have a cold. Don’t get too close to that
person, because you could catch a cold, too! You can “catch” other types of contagious diseases as well
– such as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).

If someone is diagnosed with a more serious illness such as cancer or AIDS, they’ll need more extensive
treatment. When a disease has progressed so far that it will be impossible to cure, then the patient is
said to be terminally ill – in other words, the person will definitely die of the disease soon.

44
Lesson 11 Quiz
Match the two halves of these sentences:

1. Adults who have diabetes need to make some a) with multiple sclerosis.
lifestyle
2. After a series of exams, Diana was diagnosed b) vaccinations before traveling to a
tropical country.
3. He suffers from chronic c) the pain and reduce swelling.
4. He takes some very strong prescription d) medications to treat his bipolar
disorder.
5. If you pull a muscle, ice can help relieve e) insurance, so she had to pay for the
surgery herself.
6. Japan has the highest life f) injuries - just some cuts and bruises.
7. My daughter has a bad g) ill and should be made as
comfortable as possible.
8. My son needs to get some h) expectancy in the world, at 83 years.
9. She didn't have health i) diet and get lots of exercise.
10. The best way to lose weight is to eat a j) cold, so she's staying home from
balanced school today.
11. The patient in room 4 is terminally k) changes, such as cutting down on
sugar.
12. They walked away from the accident with l) back pain thanks to years of poor
minor posture.

Listen and fill the missing words

There are a number of ........................................... changes you can make to improve your .......................
health and increase your .................................................. (how long you are expected to live) – you can

quit smoking, reduce stress, eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. It’s also

important to get ............................................ / ................................................ to prevent ..........................


No matter how healthy you are, it’s still a good idea to have health insurance - a program/plan to cover
expenses in case of an accident or ......................................................

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Lesson 12 - Computers
I'm teaching my grandmother how to use a computer. First I showed her how to start up and shut
down the computer. Then, I helped her get online or access the internet so that she can check her
e-mail. She quickly learned how to write and send messages, reply to an e-mail and forward an
e-mail (send a complete e-mail that you received to a new person), but it was a little hard for her
to remember how to ATTACH A FILE to an outgoing message.

Tôi đang chỉ cho bà tôi cách sử dụng máy tính. Đầu tiên tôi đã chỉ cho bà cách khởi động và tắt
máy tính. Sau đó, tôi giúp bà lên mạng hay truy cập Internet để bà có thể kiểm tra thƣ điện tử (e-
mail). Bà đã nhanh chóng học đƣợc cách viết và gửi tin nhắn, trả lời e-mail và chuyển tiếp e-
mail (gửi e-mail đầy đủ mà bạn đã nhận cho một ngƣời mới), nhƣng thật khó để bà nhớ làm thế
nào ĐÍNH KÈM MỘT TẬP TIN vào một thƣ đi.

We tried to log into her bank account online, but the bank's website was down (the website was
not functional, or was not online). There was a notice on the home page (the main page of the
website) that they were doing some SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE on the system - so we'll try
again tomorrow.

Chúng tôi đã cố gắng đăng nhập vào tài khoản ngân hàng trực tuyến của bà, nhƣng trang web
của ngân hàng đã ngừng hoạt động (trang web không trực tuyến). Có một thông báo trên trang
chủ (trang chính của trang web) rằng họ đang thực hiện một số BẢO TRÌ ĐỊNH KỲ trên hệ
thống - do đó chúng tôi sẽ thử lại vào ngày mai.

This afternoon, I'll teach her how to use a SEARCH ENGINE. I think she'll really
enjoy SURFING/BROWSING THE WEB (exploring the internet) and using SOCIAL MEDIA.
If she needs to do something more advanced, like burn a CD (put files from a computer onto a
CD), then I can do that for her.

Chiều nay, tôi sẽ dạy bà cách sử dụng một CÔNG CỤ TÌM KIẾM. Tôi nghĩ bà thực sự
thích LƢỚT WEB/ DUYỆT WEB (vào Internet) và sử dụng MẠNG XÃ HỘI. Nếu bà cần làm điều
gì đó nâng cao hơn, nhƣ ghi đĩa CD (đƣa các tập tin từ máy tính vào đĩa CD), thì tôi có thể làm
điều đó cho bà.

She's a little bit afraid of pressing the wrong key and accidentally deleting an important file, but I
told her that we can always recover the file from the recycling bin. I also explained that if the
computer FREEZES OR LOCKS UP (stops moving/functioning), she can
simply RESTART/REBOOT THE COMPUTER.

46
Bà hơi sợ nhấn sai phím và vô tình xóa một tập tin quan trọng, nhƣng tôi nói với bà rằng chúng
ta luôn có thể phục hồi tập tin từ thùng rác máy tính. Tôi cũng giải thích rằng nếu máy
tính ĐÓNG BĂNG HOẶC KHÓA (dừng di chuyển / hoạt động), bà đơn giản chỉ KHỞI ĐỘNG
LẠI MÁY TÍNH.

It's also a good idea for her to back up her files (make an extra copy of the information) so that
she doesn't lose her data if the COMPUTER CRASHES (the computer breaks) and can't be
repaired. I installed a program that PERIODICALLY RUNS SCANS FOR VIRUSES AND
SPYWARE to ensure that her computer hasn't been infected.

Sao lƣu các tập tin của bà cũng là một cách hay (tạo thêm một bản sao của thông tin) để bà
không mất dữ liệu nếu MÁY TÍNH BỊ TREO (máy vi tính bị hỏng) và không thể sửa chữa đƣợc.
Tôi đã cài đặt một chƣơng trình QUÉT ĐỊNH KỲ ĐỂ TÌM VIRUT VÀ PHẦN MỀM GIÁN
ĐIỆP để đảm bảo rằng máy tính của bà không bị nhiễm.

Translated by Minh Tuan Nguyen

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47
Lesson 12 - Computers
I’m teaching my grandmother how to use a computer. First I showed her how to start up and shut
down the computer. Then, I helped her get online or access the internet so that she can check her e-
mail. She quickly learned how to write and send messages, reply to an e-mail and forward an e-mail
(send a complete e-mail that you received to a new person), but it was a little hard for her to remember
how to attach a file to an outgoing message.

We tried to log into her bank account online, but the bank’s website was down (the website was not
functional, or was not online). There was a notice on the home page (the main page of the website)
that they were doing some scheduled maintenance on the system – so we’ll try again tomorrow.

This afternoon, I’ll teach her how to use a search engine. I think she’ll really enjoy surfing/browsing the
web (exploring the internet) and using social media. If she needs to do something more advanced, like
burn a CD (put files from a computer onto a CD), then I can do that for her.

She’s a little bit afraid of pressing the wrong key and accidentally deleting an important file, but I told
her that we can always recover the file from the recycling bin. I also explained that if the computer
freezes or locks up (stops moving/functioning), she can simply restart/reboot the computer.

It’s also a good idea for her to back up her files (make an extra copy of the information) so that she
doesn’t lose her data if the computer crashes (the computer breaks) and can’t be repaired. I installed a
program that periodically runs scans for viruses and spyware to ensure that her computer hasn’t been
infected.

48
Lesson 12 - Quiz
1. After my computer was stolen, I was so glad I had backed up / locked up / started up all my
data on an external hard drive.
2. Could I use your computer for a minute? I'd like to check / look / verify my e-mail.
3. Do I need to attach / implement / install a special program to be able to view this video?
4. I burned / locked / scanned you a CD of some of my favorite music.
5. I can't check the event schedule online because the conference website seems to be off / down
/ frozen.
6. If you want more space on your hard drive, you should crash / delete / shut down old files that
you no longer need.
7. I'm trying to log into / start up / reboot my account, but I can't remember the password.
8. More and more people are getting / scanning / surfing the web on their cell phones nowadays.
9. My computer down / freezes / infected when I have too many programs open at the same time.
10. Never open attachments from people you don't know - they could disease / infect / lock up
your computer with a virus.
11. The boss wants everyone to close / shut down / turn out their computers before leaving work.
12. You forgot to add / annex / attach the file to your message.

Listen and fill the missing words

We tried to ................................................ her bank account online, but the bank’s website was down
(the website was not functional, or was not online). There was a notice on the home page (the main
page of the website) that they were doing some ............................................................................... on
the system – so we’ll try again tomorrow.

This afternoon, I’ll teach her how to use a search engine. I think she’ll really

enjoy .............................. / ....................................the web (exploring the internet) and using

social ................................... If she needs to do something more advanced, like burn a CD (put files from
a computer onto a CD), then I can do that for her.

49
Lesson 13 - Study
Most children begin their studies at 5 or 6 years old in pre-school, followed by

kindergarten. After that comes primary/elementary school, which consists of first grade

through fifth grade. Then there's middle school - sixth grade through eighth grade - and

high school, which is ninth grade through twelfth grade.

Hầu hết trẻ em bắt đầu đi học từ lúc 5 hoặc 6 tuổi trong c{c trƣờng giữ trẻ hoặc trƣờng mầm non.
Sau đó l| đến cấp tiểu học, bao gồm từ lớp 1 đến lớp 5. Tiếp theo c{c bé sẽ bƣớc v|o cấp trung học cơ
sở- từ lớp 6 đến lớp 8, v| lên cấp trung học phổ thông từ lớp 9 đến lớp 12.

After high school, you apply to colleges/universities to see which ones will accept you.

You send in/submit your application and then wait for the results. If you got good grades

in high school, you might get/be awarded a scholarship to help pay the tuition (the cost of

studying).

Sau khi tốt nghiệp cấp 3, ta đăng kí v|o c{c trƣờng cao đẳng/đại học để xem mình sẽ đậu trƣờng
n|o. Ta nộp hồ sơ đăng kí v| đợi kết quả. Nếu nhƣ chúng ta đạt điểm cao trong lúc học trung học
phổ thông, ta có thể nhận đƣợc/thƣởng học bổng giúp chúng ta trả học phí.

In college, you'll take classes/courses on various subjects. You should always take notes as

the teacher is giving the lecture. Some teachers may ask the students to give/make

presentations or do research and write an essay, an assignment, a report, or a paper. After

you hand in your work, the teacher will grade the assignment (give you an evaluation, for

example, 90%) and give you feedback (comments on your work).

Ở đại học cao đẳng, ta sẽ học theo lớp/khóa gồm nhiều môn học. Chúng ta nên thƣờng xuyên ghi chú
lại khi giảng viên giảng b|i. Một số giảng viên có thể yêu cầu sinh viên l|m b|i thuyết trình hoặc
nghiên cứu, v| viết tiểu luận, b|i tập, b{o c{o, hoặc luận văn. Sau khi nộp b|i tập, giảng viên sẽ
chấm điểm qu{ trình(đƣa ra đ{nh gi{, ví dụ, 90%) v| đƣa ra nhận xét ( bình luận dựa trên kết quả).

To evaluate your progress, you'll take tests/exams. If you get the minimum number of

points required, you've passed the test; if you don't get the minimum number of points,

you've failed the test. It's also possible to pass/fail a course.

Để đ{nh gi{ qu{ trình của mình, ta phải kiểm tra/thi. Nếu ta đạt đƣợc điểm số yêu cầu tối thiểu, ta
sẽ thi đậu; nếu không đạt đƣợc điểm tối thiểu, nghĩa l| ta thi rớt. Chúng ta cũng có thể đậu hoặc rớt
một học kỳ.

(Dịch bởi Nguyễn Thị Quznh Mai)

50
Lesson 13 - Study
Most children begin their studies at 5 or 6 years old in pre-school, followed by kindergarten. After
that comes primary/elementary school, which consists of first grade through fifth grade. Then there’s
middle school – sixth grade through eighth grade – and high school, which is ninth grade through
twelfth grade.

After high school, you apply to colleges/universities to see which ones will accept you. You send in/
submit your application and then wait for the results. If you got good grades in high school, you might
get / be awarded a scholarship to help pay the tuition (the cost of studying).

In college, you’ll take classes/courses on various subjects. You should always take notes as the teacher
is giving the lecture. Some teachers may ask the students to give/make presentations or do research
and write an essay, an assignment, a report, or a paper. After you hand in your work, the teacher will
grade the assignment (give you an evaluation, for example, 90%) and give you feedback (comments
on your work).

To evaluate your progress, you’ll take tests/exams. If you get the minimum number of points required,
you’ve passed the test; if you don’t get the minimum number of points, you’ve failed the test. It’s also
possible to pass/fail a course.

If the course proves to be too difficult, or if you don’t like it, you can withdraw from or drop the
course. “Withdraw from” is the more formal expression, and “drop” is the more informal expression.

Most college students choose a major/concentration. To talk about a concentration of studies, you
can use “major” as a verb or a noun – for example,

“I majored in biology” / “I was a biology major.”


“My daughter is majoring in philosophy.” / “My daughter’s a philosophy
major.”
When you graduate from college, you’ll get a diploma. Afterwards, you can say you have a degree
in the area of your concentration. You can have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate
(Ph.D.), for example:

“I have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.”


“I have a master’s degree in linguistics.”
“I have a Ph.D. in theology.”

51
Lesson 13 - Quiz
1. Christine has been a central / medium / middle school teacher for many years.
2. Could you give me some degree / concentration / feedback on my presentation? I'd like to
know how to improve it.
3. He's applying / submitting / trying to all the best universities in the country.
4. I think I got every question on the exam wrong - I have no doubt that I dropped / failed / lost.
5. I'm having / taking / going a course on Latin American politics.
6. My daughter's 12 - she's in sixth class / grade / level.
7. My father promised he'd buy me a car if I got / made / took good grades in my final year of high
school.
8. No, my son hasn't chosen a degree / major / series yet. He's debating between sociology and
anthropology.
9. She awarded / formed / graduated from the University of California in 1999.
10. The professor took ten points off my test because I handed it in / gave it up / passed it a few
minutes late.
11. The top five students in the class were awarded / submitted/ withdrawn a scholarship to a local
college.
12. This topic will be on the test - make sure to take detailed lectures / notes / writings.

Listen and fill the missing words

After high school, you apply to .................................. / ............................................ to see which ones
will accept you. You send in /...................................... your application and then wait for the results. If

you got good .........................................in high school, you might get / be awarded a .............................

to help pay the tuition (the cost of studying).

In college, you’ll take classes / ....................................... on various subjects. You should always take

notes as the teacher is giving the ...................................... Some teachers may ask the students to give/

make ................................................... or do research and write an ......................................................,


an ........................................................., a report, or a paper. After you hand in your work, the teacher
will grade the assignment (give you an .........................................., for example, 90%) and give

you .........................................(comments on your work).

52
Lesson 14 - Academic English
Before you begin writing a paper, it's a good idea to make an outline (a list of points in an
organized order) of the main points you plan to present. The next step is to gather evidence to
support your claims, since your work won't be credible if you propose a theory (or try to challenge
or refute a theory - argue against an existing theory) without some proof.

Trước khi bạn bắt đầu viết một bài luận văn, đó là một ý tưởng hay để vạch ra một dàn { (một
danh sách về những ý sắp xếp theo trình tự) của những { chính mà bạn lên kế hoạch để trình bày.
Bước kế tiếp đó là tổng hợp căn cứ để chứng minh lời khẳng định của bạn, bởi vì bài viết của bạn
sẽ không đáng tin nếu bạn đưa ra một l{ luận (hoặc cố nghi ngờ hoặc bác bỏ một l{ luận - biện
luận để phản đối một lý luận hiện tại) mà không có bằng chứng.

If your paper is going to touch on several issues (talk about several topics) then you'll need to be
especially organized. You can draw a distinction between topics that are different, or draw
parallels between examples that are similar. Another way to organize your ideas is to show how
they fall into different categories.

Nếu bài văn của bạn đề cập đến những vấn đề khác nhau (nói về những chủ đề khác nhau) thì bạn
sẽ cần chuẩn bị một cách riêng biệt. Bạn có thể vạch ra điểm khác biệt giữa những chủ đề khác
nhau, hoặc đưa ra những điểm tương đồng giữa các ví dụ tương tự. Một cách khác để sắp xếp các
ý tưởng của bạn đó là cho thấy bằng cách nào mà chúng được chia ra thành những loại khác nhau.

After making your outline and gathering the supporting evidence you'll use to make your case
(present your argument), you can write a first draft (first version of the paper) in which you go into
detail on the topic. Then, you revise the paper (make improvements to it) until finishing with the
final draft.

Sau khi phác thào dàn ý và tổng hợp căn cứ xác nhận bạn sẽ sử dụng chúng để trình bày luận cứ
của bạn, bạn có thể viết một bản thảo đầu tiên mà bạn đi sâu vào chi tiết trong chủ đề. Sau đó,
bạn sửa lại bài viết (hoàn thiện nó) cho đến khi hoàn thành bản thảo cuối cùng.

Let's say you're carrying out a study on market trends in developing countries. You can analyze the
key factors (important factors) that are influencing the economy, showing how local politics play a
role/part (have an effect) in shaping the country's financial future. Including some specific items
that are perfect examples and clear illustrations of your ideas will help prove your points.

Giả sử rằng bạn đang tiến hành một cuộc nghiên cứu về những xu hướng thị trường ở các nước
đang phát triển. Bạn có thể phân tích những nhân tố then chốt (những nhân tố quan trọng) mà ảnh
hưởng tới nền kinh tế, cho thấy hoạt động chính trị địa phương đóng vai trò như thế nào (có sự ảnh
53
hưởng) trong định hướng tài chính tương lai của đất nước. Việc bao gồm một vài mục cụ thể mà đó
là những ví dụ thích hợp và những minh họa rõ ràng cho những ý tưởng của bạn sẽ giúp chứng
minh { kiến của bạn.

At the end of your paper, you should briefly summarize the material you presented and draw
conclusions based on your research. The end of the article is also a good place to raise questions
(present questions) for further study.

Khi kết thúc bài luận, bạn nên tóm tắt ngắn gọn tài liệu mà bạn trình bày và rút ra kết luận dựa
trên sự nghiên cứu của bạn. Phần kết thúc của bài viết còn là một nơi thích hợp để đặt câu hỏi
(trình bày câu hỏi) cho việc nghiên cứu xa hơn.

Dịch bởi Trần Ngọc Quỳnh

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54
Lesson 14 – Academic English
Before you begin writing a paper, it’s a good idea to make an outline (a list of points in an organized
order) of the main points you plan to present. The next step is to gather evidence to support your
claims, since your work won’t be credible if you propose a theory (or try to challenge or refute a theory
– argue against an existing theory) without some proof.

If your paper is going to touch on several issues (talk about several topics) then you’ll need to be
especially organized. You can draw a distinction between topics that are different, or draw parallels
between examples that are similar. Another way to organize your ideas is to show how they fall into
different categories.

After making your outline and gathering the supporting evidence you’ll use to make your case (present
your argument), you can write a first draft (first version of the paper) in which you go into detail on the
topic. Then, you revise the paper (make improvements to it) until finishing with the final draft.

Let’s say you’re carrying out a study on market trends in developing countries. You can analyze the key
factors (important factors) that are influencing the economy, showing how local politics play a role/part
(have an effect) in shaping the country’s financial future. Including some specific items that are perfect
examples and clear illustrations of your ideas will help prove your points.

At the end of your paper, you should briefly summarize the material you presented and draw
conclusions based on your research. The end of the article is also a good place to raise questions
(present questions) for further study.

55
Lesson 14 – Quiz
1. I wasn't convinced by the article; I didn't think the author adequately helped / provided /
supported his claims.
2. In her book, Clara Jones aims to refute / refuse / revise the dominant theory using five main
counter-arguments.
3. Steve Jobs' leadership was a brief / key / perfect factor in Apple's success.
4. The first case / draft / try of his report was full of factual errors.
5. The reasons for the war fall into two main categories / summaries / theories: political reasons
and economic reasons.
6. The trajectory of the country after 1930 is a clear / obvious / main illustration of Smith's theory
in action.
7. These thought-provoking poems draw / make / raise questions about what it means to love
unconditionally.
8. This essay draws / goes / proves parallels between the main character in the novel and the
author's life.
9. This paragraph has nothing to do with any of your main cases / outlines / points, you should get
rid of it.
10. We'd like to carry out / fall into / touch on several issues in today's meeting.

Listen and fill the missing words

If your paper is going to .................... on several issues (talk about several topics) then you’ll need to be

especially organized. You can draw a ..................................... between topics that are different, or draw

parallels between examples that are similar. Another way to organize your ideas is to show how they
fall into different categories.

After making your outline and gathering the supporting .................................. you’ll use to make your

case (present your .................................), you can write a first draft (first ........................ of the paper)

in which you go into detail on the topic. Then, you revise the paper (make improvements to it) until
finishing with the final draft.

56
Lesson 15 - WORK
If you've just graduated from college and you've never had a job, you can start your career by doing
an internship (a temporary, low-level job) to gain experience. Depending on the company, the
internship could lead to an opportunity to get an entry-level job (a job that doesn't require much skill
or experience) at the same company.
Nếu bạn vừa mới tốt nghiệp đại học và chƣa đi làm bao giờ, bạn có thể bắt đầu sự nghiệp của bạn
bằng cách đi thực tập (một công việc tạm thời ở cấp thấp) để học hỏi kinh nghiệm. tùy vào từng
công ty, kỳ thực tập có thể dẫn đến một cơ hội có đƣợc một công việc không đòi hỏi nhiều kinh
nghiệm và kỹ năng ở công ty đó
Although you might be earning minimum wage (the minimum salary required by law), if you do
excellent work and are a good team player (you cooperate well with your co-workers) you could
get a promotion (get an increase in responsibility) or get a raise (get an increase in salary) -
hopefully both! Just don't slack off, otherwise you'll be fired/dismissed (lose your job).
Mặc dù bạn có thế kiếm được mức lương tối thiểu, nhưng nếu bạn làm việc tốt và là người làm
việc nhóm tốt, bạn có thể được thăng tiến hoặc tăng lương - hy vọng là cả 2. Đừng chậm chạp và
lười biếng nếu không bạn sẽ bị sa thải
It's normal for there to be periods of time when you have a heavy workload (a lot of work) and need
to work overtime (work extra hours). But if you have a very demanding job (an intense job with
lots of responsibilities) and you're stressed out all the time, then it might be time to quit your job
(leave your job voluntarily) and look for another one.
Thường thì bạn sẽ mất một khoảng thời gian phải làm rất nhiều việc và cần làm thêm giờ. Nhƣng
nếu bạn có một công việc đòi hỏi bạn phải cố gắng nhiều và lúc nào bạn cũng bị stress, thì có lẽ đã
đến lúc phải từ bỏ công việc đó và tìm một công việc khác
Now that you have experience, you'll be able to get a job with a more competitive salary (salary
that is higher than average) and generous benefits (extra benefits like health insurance, discounts,
a company car, etc). If you can't find a well-paid and rewarding job in your field, it might be time
for a career change.
Bây giờ bạn có kinh nghiệm, bạn sẽ có thể tìm được một công việc với mức lương cạnh tranh hơn
và quyền lợi hào phóng hơn. Nếu bạn không thể tìm được công việc có lương cao và đáng làm
trong lĩnh vực của bạn, thì đã đến lúc bạn nên thay đổi sự nghiệp rồi
The typical way of applying for a job is to read the job ads in the newspaper or online, then send
your resume to the company with a cover letter. The company will then interview the candidates it
feels are most qualified, based on the job description.
1 cách thông thường để nộp đơn xin việc là đọc tin đăng tuyển trên báo hoặc trên mạng, sau đó
gửi sơ yếu l{ lịch và đơn xin việc tới công ty. Công ty sẽ phỏng vấn những ứng viên đạt tiêu chuẩn
nhất dựa trên bản mô tả công việc
Sometimes job seekers (people looking for a job) need to take a menial job (job requiring a very low
level of skill) in order to earn a living (get enough money to survive) while they're between jobs. But
if you're persistent, a great job offer should come your way sooner or later - maybe even for your
dream job (a job that would be perfect for you)!
Thỉnh thoảng những người tìm việc cần chấp nhận những công việc đòi hỏi ít kỹ năng để kiếm sống
trong khi họ thất nghiệp. nhƣng nếu bạn cứ cố chấp, thì lời mời cho 1công việc tuyệt vời không sớm
thì muộn cũng sẽ vuột khỏi tay bạn - có lẽ thậm chí là cả công việc mơ ước của bạn.
(Dịch bởi Yến Nguyễn)
57
Lesson 15 - Work
If you’ve just graduated from college and you’ve never had a job, you can start your career by doing an
internship (a temporary, low-level job) to gain experience. Depending on the company, the internship
could lead to an opportunity to get an entry-level job (a job that doesn’t require much skill or
experience) at the same company.

Although you might be earning minimum wage (the minimum salary required by law), if you do
excellent work and are a good team player (you cooperate well with your co-workers) you could get a
promotion (get an increase in responsibility) or get a raise (get an increase in salary) – hopefully both!
Just don’t slack off, otherwise you’ll be fired/dismissed (lose your job).

It’s normal for there to be periods of time when you have a heavy workload (a lot of work) and need to
work overtime (work extra hours). But if you have a very demanding job (an intense job with lots of
responsibilities) and you’re stressed out all the time, then it might be time to quit your job (leave your
job voluntarily) and look for another one.

Now that you have experience, you’ll be able to get a job with a more competitive salary (salary that is
higher than average) and generous benefits (extra benefits like health insurance, discounts, a company
car, etc). If you can’t find a well-paid and rewarding job in your field, it might be time for a career
change.

The typical way of applying for a job is to read the job ads in the newspaper or online, then send your
resume to the company with a cover letter. The company will then interview the candidates it feels are
most qualified, based on the job description.

Sometimes job seekers (people looking for a job) need to take a menial job (job requiring a very low
level of skill) in order to earn a living (get enough money to survive) while they’re between jobs. But if
you’re persistent, a great job offer should come your way sooner or later – maybe even for your dream
job (a job that would be perfect for you)!

Listen and fill the missing words

Although you might be earning minimum .............................. (the minimum salary required by law), if

you do excellent work and are a good team player (you ............................... well with your co-workers)
you could get a promotion (get an increase in ............................................) or get a raise (get an

increase in salary) – hopefully both! Just don’t slack off, otherwise you’ll be

fired / ........................................... (lose your job).

58
Lesson 15 Quiz
Complete the blanks in this conversation between two managers looking to hire a journalist:

applied description interview


between dismissed living
candidates dream minimum
competitive entry-level offer
demanding generous overtime
internship rewarding

Melissa: Hi Terry, let's go over the list of people who have _____________ for the job.

Terry: Sure. There's Bob, who's fresh out of college and says this would be his "___________ job."

Melissa: Although I admire his enthusiasm, this isn't an _____________ job - we really need someone
with a bit of experience.

Terry: Here's a resume from Dana - she's a freelance writer who's looking for a more stable way to earn
a ____________. Unfortunately, she mentions in her cover letter that she's not willing to work
_____________ because she has two small kids at home.

Melissa: Hmm... this is a rather _____________ job and sometimes we do need to work late. Let's not
rule her out, though. Who else is in the running?

Terry: There's Steven, a veteran reporter who's currently ______________ jobs. He makes it clear in his
cover letter that he expects a ______________ salary and ______________ benefits.

Melissa: He might be worth it. Why did he leave his last job?

Terry: Um, well, I checked his references and it turns out he was _____________ for sexual harassment
of a co-worker.

Melissa: Oh... that's not ideal. Do we have any other __________________?

Terry: None who are particularly qualified - there's a marketing consultant looking for a ___________
change, and a few people who apparently didn't read the job _____________ and sent us generic
letters.

Melissa: Maybe we could __________ Dana the job, and if it's too much work for her to handle, we
could have Bob do an _______________ to help her out. We could only afford to pay him ____________
wage, but he might find the experience ______________.

Terry: OK – let’s ______________ both of them next week.

59
Lesson 16 - Business
If you don’t want to work for someone else, you can GO INTO BUSINESS for your self. You can
SET UP A COMPANY (establish a company) in an industry that interests you - of course, it’s always
good to DO MARKET RESEARCH (investigate the market), to determine if there’s a need for your
product or service.
Nếu bạn không muốn phải làm thuê cho một ai đó, bạn có thể TỰ KINH DOANH. Bạn có thể
THÀNH LẬP CÔNG TY (mở một công ty riêng) trong một lĩnh vực mà thu hút bạn - tất nhiên, sẽ
luôn tốt khi làm NGHIÊN CỨU THỊ TRƯỜNG (điều tra thị trường), để xác định xem liệu thị trường
có nhu cầu cho sản phẩm hoặc hàng hóa của bạn hay không.
It’s normal for small businesses to OPERATE AT A LOSS (the business is losing money) for the first
couple of years before they start to BREAK EVEN - that’s when the money coming in equals the
money going out. If there’s TOUGH COMPETITION and your start-up isn’t able to GAIN MARKET
SHARE (secure a significant number of customers), then your business runs the risk of GOING
BANKRUPT (or GOING UNDER) - losing all its money and having to shut down. But if the amount
of money coming into the company from sales is greater than the amount spent on expenses, the
you are MAKING A PROFIT.
Thông thường, những công ty nhỏ sẽ KINH DOANH BỊ LỖ (việc kinh doanh bị mất tiền) trong
những năm đầu tiên trước khi họ bắt đầu HÕA VỐN - điều đó xảy ra khi dòng tiền vào và ra bằng
nhau. Nếu có CẠNH TRANH KHỐC LIỆT và công ty của bạn không thể GIÀNH THỊ PHẦN (đảm
bảo một lượng khách hàng đủ lớn), thì công ty của bạn có NGUY CƠ PHÁ SẢN (hoặc PHÁ SẢN) -
mất tất cả tiền bạc và phải đóng cửa. Nhưng nếu lượng tiền từ doanh thu của công ty lớn hơn chi
phí thì bạn đang CÓ LỢI NHUẬN
As your business grows, you can HIRE/ TAKE ON STAFF/ EMPLOYEES. Another possibility is to
MAKE A DEAL (make an agreement) with other companies to DO BUSINESS together - in this
case, representatives from both companies will SIGN A CONTRACT (put your name on a contract)
that establishes each party’s rights and responsibilities.
Cùng với sự lớn mạnh của công ty, bạn có thể THUÊ/TUYỂN NHÂN VIÊN. Một lựa chọn khác là
THỎA THUẬN KINH DOANH (làm một bản thỏa thuận) với các công ty khác để cùng KINH DOANH
- trong trường hợp này, đại diện từ hai công ty sẽ KÝ HỢP ĐỒNG (ký tên trên bản hợp đồng) để
nêu rõ quyền và nghĩa vụ của mỗi bên.
Whenever you’re planning to LAUNCH A NEW PRODUCT, it’s essential to provide excellent
CUSTOMER SERVICE (help for the customers). Otherwise, your customers will TAKE THEIR
BUSINESS ELSEWHERE - they’ll start buying from A RIVAL COMPANY (a company that is your
competitor) instead of from yours.
Bất cứ khi nào bạn dự định TUNG RA MỘT SẢN PHẨM MỚI, việc cung cấp DỊCH VỤ KHÁCH
HÀNG tốt (giúp đỡ khách hàng) là điều cần thiết. Nếu không, khách hàng của bạn sẽ ĐẦU TƯ VÀO
CÔNG TY KHÁC - họ sẽ bắt đầu mua hàng của CÔNG TY ĐỒI THỦ (một công ty là đối thủ cạnh
tranh của công ty bạn) thay vì công ty bạn.
It’s not easy to RUN A BUSINESS (manage a business), but with a combination of luck, skill, and
hard work, your business just might TAKE OFF (become popular/ successful). One way to describe
a period of time of major growth and success is to say that “BUSINESS IS BOOMING”
Thật không dễ dàng để ĐIỀU HÀNH KINH DOANH (quản lý kinh doanh), nhưng với sự kết hợp của
may mắn, kĩ năng và chăm chỉ, việc kinh doanh của bạn sẽ KHỞI SẮC (trở nên nổi tiếng/ thành
công). Một cách khác để miêu tả khoảng thời gian rất phát triển và thành công đó là cách nói
“BUSINESS IS BOOMING”.

Dịch bởi Thanh Tâm


60
Lesson 16 – Business
If you don’t want to work for someone else, you can go into business for yourself. You can set up a
company (establish a company) in an industry that interests you – of course, it’s always good to do
market research (investigate the market), to determine if there’s a need for your product or service.

It’s normal for small businesses to operate at a loss (the business is losing money) for the first couple of
years before they start to break even – that’s when the money coming in equals the money going out. If
there’s tough competition and your start-up isn’t able to gain market share (secure a significant number
of customers), then your business runs the risk of going bankrupt (or going under) – losing all its money
and having to shut down. But if the amount of money coming into the company from sales is greater
than the amount spent on expenses, then you are making a profit.

As your business grows, you can hire/take on staff/employees. Another possibility is to make a deal
(make an agreement) with other companies to do business together – in this case, representatives from
both companies will sign a contract (put your name on a contract) that establishes each party’s rights
and responsibilities.

Whenever you’re planning to launch a new product, it’s essential to provide excellent customer service
(help for the customers). Otherwise, your customers will take their business elsewhere – they’ll start
buying from a rival company (a company that is your competitor) instead of from yours.

It’s not easy to run a business (manage a business), but with a combination of luck, skill, and hard work,
your business just might take off (become popular/successful). One way to describe a period of time of
major growth and success is to say that “business is booming.”

61
Lesson 16 Quiz
Circle the correct words to complete this auto-biography of a successful entrepreneur:

Growing up, I always knew that my father expected me to gain / make / run the family farming business
someday - but I really wanted to break in / set up / take on my own company. Plus, my dad was terrible
at managing his finances, and his business was constantly on the verge of going bankrupt / dead /
exhausted.

I didn't want to be a conflict / rival / loss to my parents' company, so I opened a small supermarket in a
neighboring town and hired / signed / drew two employees. We made a deal / share / promise with my
father, agreeing that he would be our primary supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables. Despite the tough
competition / contest / opposition in the sector, our little store managed to break equal / even / level
its first year in operation.

Our market contract / profit / research showed that there was a big demand for organic food in the
area, so we began offering primarily organic products and raised our prices. Some of our customers ran
/ took / went their business elsewhere, but others came from miles away due to our reputation for
excellent products and friendly customer attendance / kindness / service.

Last fall, we drove / hired / launched our own line of organic fruit juices, and that's when things really
started to break up / make out / take off. We opened up a café next door to the supermarket, and
business is blasting / booming / exploding.

With the budget / profit / output we're making, we can now invest in expansion and open a branch in
another city. We're even doing / making / taking business internationally - I'm about to sign a contract /
product / staff with an organic coffee supplier from South America.

Listen and fill the missing words

It’s normal for small businesses to operate at a loss (the business is losing money) for the first couple of

years before they start to break even – that’s when the money coming in .................................... the
money going out. If there’s ..................................................... and your start-up isn’t able to gain market
share (secure a ..............................................number of customers), then your business runs the risk of

going ........................................... (or going under) – losing all its money and having to shut down. But if

the amount of money coming into the company from sales is ....................................... than the amount
spent on expenses, then you are making a ............................................

62
Lesson 17 - Money
Hôm n|y chúng ta thử học v|i collocation liên quan tới tiền n|o.
There are a lot of things you can do with money! First, you need to earn money or make

money - both of these verbs refer to receiving money from your work.

Có rất nhiều thứ bạn có thể l|m với tiền! Đầu tiên, bạn cần kiếm tiền hay l|m ra tiền - cả 2 động từ
n|y đều có nghĩa l| nhận tiền từ công việc của bạn.
Another way to obtain money is to INHERIT MONEY - receive money from a family

member or friend after that person dies.

Một c{ch kh{c để thu đƣợc tiền l| THỪA KẾ TIỀN - nhận tiền từ th|nh viên trong gia đình hay
bạn bè sau khi họ chết.
If the person was very rich, you could INHERIT A FORTUNE (a fortune is a lot of money).
Nếu ngƣời đó rất gi|u, bạn có thể THỪA KẾ CẢ 1 GIA SẢN (1 gia sản nghĩa l| rất nhiều tiền).
You can take your money to the bank and MAKE A DEPOSIT - put money into your bank
account.
Bạn có thể đƣa tiền đến ng}n h|ng v| GỬI TIỀN - để tiền trong 1 t|i khoản ng}n h|ng.
Later, you can MAKE A WITHDRAWAL - remove money from your bank account.

Sau đó, bạn có thể RÚT TIỀN - lấy tiền ra khỏi t|i khoản ng}n h|ng.
Of course, everyone likes to spend money - use money to buy things - but it's important not

to WASTE/SQUANDER YOUR MONEY.

Dĩ nhiên, mọi ngƣời thích tiêu tiền - sử dụng tiền để mua mọi thứ - nhƣng điều quan trọng l|
không đƣợc LÃNG PHÍ TIỀN.
These verbs refer to using money in a way that's not productive.

Những động từ n|y để chỉ việc sử dụng tiền không hiệu quả.
If money is tight (meaning you have very little money), you should MAKE A BUDGET - a

plan for how much to spend on things every month - and then you need to STICK TO THE

BUDGET (continue following the plan).

Nếu thiếu tiền (nghĩa l| bạn có rất ít tiền), bạn cần LẬP 1 BẢNG NGÂN SÁCH - 1 kế hoạch cho
việc tiêu bao nhiêu tiền cho mọi thứ - v| sau đó bạn cần BÁM VÀO BẢNG NGÂN SÁCH (làm theo
kế hoạch).
Otherwise, you might be broke by the end of the month! Someone who is "broke" has no

money available.

Nếu không, bạn có thể trắng tay v|o cuối th{ng! Ai đó bị trắng tay sẽ không có sẵn tiền.

A person who is FINANCIALLY SAVVY (intelligent, perceptive, and well-informed on the

subject of money) will always save money.

63
1 ngƣời HIỂU BIẾT VỀ TÀI CHÍNH (thông minh, hiểu biết v| thông thạo về tiền bạc) sẽ luôn tiết
kiệm tiền.
It's a good idea to have an EMERGENCY FUND of at least 3-6 months of LIVING

EXPENSES (the amount money you use to survive in everyday life).

Có 1 QUỸ KHẨN CẤP cho CHI PHÍ SỐNG ít nhất 3 - 6 th{ng (tiền bạn dùng để tồn tại mỗi
ng|y) l| 1 ý kiến hay.
You can also invest money in the stock market - you could make a nice profit, but there's

also the risk of losing money if the economy goes downhill (starts to get worse).

Bạn cũng có thể đầu tƣ tiền v|o thị trƣờng chứng kho{n - bạn có thể tạo ra những khoảng lợi,
nhƣng cũng tồn tại nguy cơ mất tiền nếu kinh tế suy tho{i (trở nên xấu đi).
Let's say you want to purchase an expensive item like a car.

Chúng ta hãy nói về việc bạn muốn mua 1 thứ đắt tiền nhƣ xe hơi.
If you haven't saved up money or SET ASIDE MONEY for the purchase, you can borrow

money from the bank - which is also called TAKING OUT A LOAN.

Nếu bạn chƣa tiết kiệm tiền hoặc ĐỂ DÀNH TIỀN để mua, bạn có thể mƣợn tiền từ ng}n h|ng -
còn đƣợc gọi l| VAY TIỀN.
The disadvantage of this is that you'll need to PAY THE MONEY BACK IN

INSTALLMENTS - plus interest (extra money).

Nhƣợc điểm của việc n|y l| bạn sẽ phải TRẢ TIỀN NHIỀU LẦN - kèm theo lãi (tiền phụ phí).

When you travel, you'll need to change/exchange money to be able to buy things with the

local currency.

Khi bạn du lịch, bạn sẽ cần đổi tiền để có thể mua mọi thứ bằng tiền địa phƣơng.
Make sure to change money only at official locations like banks and travel agencies -

otherwise, you could be tricked into receiving COUNTERFEIT BILLS (false paper money

that is not legally valid).

Hãy chắc chắn l| chỉ đổi tiền ở những địa điểm chính thức nhƣ ng}n h|ng v| c{c công ty du lịch -
nếu không, bạn có thể bị lừa nhận TIỀN GIẢ (tiền giấy sai không hợp ph{p).
Finally, you can consider DONATING MONEY (giving money without receiving anything
in return) to a good cause, such as preserving the environment or researching cures for
diseases.
Cuối cùng, bạn có thể xem xét QUYÊN GÓP TIỀN (cho tiền đi m| không nhận lại bất cứ thứ gì)
cho những lý do tốt, nhƣ bảo vệ môi trƣờng hay tìm kiếm c{ch điều trị c{c loại bệnh tật.
Non-profit organizations are always trying to RAISE MONEY (get donations) for their

various projects.

C{c tổ chức phi lợi nhuận luôn cố gắng QUYÊN GÓP TIỀN cho c{c dự {n kh{c nhau của họ.
64
Lesson 17 – Money
There are a lot of things you can do with money!

First, you need to earn money or make money – both of these verbs refer to receiving money from your
work. Another way to obtain money is to inherit money – receive money from a family member or
friend after that person dies. If the person was very rich, you could inherit a fortune (a fortune is a lot of
money).

You can take your money to the bank and make a deposit – put money into your bank account. Later,
you can make a withdrawal – remove money from your bank account. Of course, everyone likes to
spend money – use money to buy things – but it’s important not to waste/squander your money. These
verbs refer to using money in a way that’s not productive.

If money is tight (meaning you have very little money), you should make a budget – a plan for how
much to spend on things every month – and then you need to stick to the budget (continue following
the plan). Otherwise, you might be broke by the end of the month! Someone who is “broke” has no
money available.

A person who is financially savvy (intelligent, perceptive, and well-informed on the subject of money)
will always save money. It’s a good idea to have an emergency fund of at least 3-6 months of living
expenses (the amount money you use to survive in everyday life). You can also invest money in the
stock market – you could make a nice profit, but there’s also the risk of losing money if the economy
goes downhill (starts to get worse).

Let’s say you want to purchase an expensive item like a car. If you haven’t saved up money or set aside
money for the purchase, you can borrow money from the bank – which is also called taking out a loan.
The disadvantage of this is that you’ll need to pay the money back in installments – plus interest (extra
money).

When you travel, you’ll need to change/exchange money to be able to buy things with the local
currency. Make sure to change money only at official locations like banks and travel agencies –
otherwise, you could be tricked into receiving counterfeit bills (false paper money that is not legally
valid).

Finally, you can consider donating money (giving money without receiving anything in return) to a good
cause, such as preserving the environment or researching cures for diseases. Non-profit organizations
are always trying to raise money (get donations) for their various projects.

Listen and fill the missing words

You can take your money to the bank and make a .................................... – put money into your bank
account. Later, you can make a ............................................ – remove money from your bank account. Of

course, everyone likes to spend money – use money to buy things – but it’s important not to

waste/....................................your money. These verbs refer to using money in a way that’s not
productive.

65
Lesson 17 Quiz
Circle the best word to complete each sentence:

1. I lent Bill $20; he says he'll pay / spend me back next week.
2. Excuse me, it's none of your business how much money I get / make.
3. Greenpeace raised / rose five million dollars to help preserve the Atlantic rainforest.
4. How much of my income should I inherit / invest, and how much should I put into savings?
5. I can't believe I ruined / wasted $10 on a calculator that doesn't even work!
6. I didn't have enough savings to pay my college tuition, so I had to pick / take out a student loan.
7. Sometimes your employer can pay your salary by doing / making a deposit directly in your bank
account.
8. I really admire rich people who donate / sponsor a large portion of their wealth to charity.
9. I try not to eat out at restaurants too often; I'm trying to keep / save money.
10. Let's exchange / replace money here at the airport so that we can get a taxi to the hotel.
11. My son earned / won $50 for taking care of the neighbor's dogs over the weekend.
12. We need to give / make a budget so that we don't end up spending more than we earn.

Sentence Matching
1. She moved to a smaller apartment a) all the money and end up with nothing.
because money is
2. Greg inherited a b) bills to buy some diamond jewelry.
3. I had to withdraw $500 from my c) broke and asks his friends to pay for his
emergency drinks.
4. Two men were arrested after trying d) expenses have gone down quite a bit.
to use counterfeit
5. A lot of lottery winners squander e) fortune from his great-grandfather.
6. I moved back in with my parents, so f) fund to pay for a dental treatment.
my living
7. I know nothing about the stock g) market, but I'd like to start investing - I need a
financial advisor.
8. He's not very financially h) savvy; he has no clue where his money is
going.
9. Jonathan always says he's i) that you borrowed last week
10. Hey, you still owe me the $5 j) tight at the moment.

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Lesson 18 - Travel
Last week I had the worst business trip I've ever taken. Normally a travel agency takes care

of booking my flight (buying a plane ticket) and making my hotel reservation, but this time

I decided make the travel arrangements myself. BIG MISTAKE!

Tuần trƣớc tôi có 1 chuyến công tác tệ nhất mà tôi từng trải qua. Thông thƣờng thì hãng du lịch sẽ

lo liệu chuyến bay của tôi (việc mua vé máy bay) và đặt phòng khách sạn, nhƣng lần này tôi quyết

định tự mình sắp xếp chuyến đi của mình. ĐÓ LÀ MỘT SAI LẦM LỚN!.

First of all, the plane was overbooked (there were more passengers than seats available) so I

was BUMPED to a later flight. When they gave me my new boarding pass (the ticket that

allows you to enter the airplane), they didn't ask me if I'd prefer a window seat or an aisle

seat (a seat next to the corridor)- and I was stuck in the middle. TO TOP IT OFF, it was a

very BUMPY flight(a flight with a lot of turbulence).

Trƣớc tiên, máy bay đã bị cháy vé ( có nhiều hành khách hơn là số chỗ ngồi trống) cho nên tôi bị

DỜI XUỐNG chuyến bay trễ hơn. Khi họ đã đƣa cho tôi thẻ lên máy bay ( 1 tấm vé cho phép bạn

lên máy bay), họ đã không hỏi tôi liệu tôi muốn ngôi ghế gần cửa sổ hay ghế ngồi cạnh ghế đi hơn

(ghế sát bên hành lang) và tôi đã bị mắc kẹt ở ghế giữa. MỌI CHUYỆN XONG XUÔI THÌ, chuyến

bị XÓC (1 chuyến bay với nhiều sự hỗn loạn).

I then missed my CONNECTING FLIGHT and had a TEN-HOUR LAYOVER (I had to wait

ten hours for my next flight) in Chicago. Unfortunately, my checked luggage (the bags in

the airplane's cargo compartment) had already gone through to my FINAL

DESTINATION, so all I had was my carry-on bag (the bag you take with you on the plane).

I checked into a hotel near the airport just so I could TAKE A NAP.

Sau đó tôi đã bị lỡ CHUYỀN BAY CHUYỂN TIẾP và bị HOÃN 10 TIẾNG ( tôi phải đợi 10 tiếng

cho chuyến bay kế tiếp).Không may là hành lý kí gởi của tôi (những túi hành lý ở trên buồng máy

bay) đã đƣợc chuyển tới ĐIỂM ĐẾN CUỐI CÙNG, cho nên tất cả những gì tôi đang có chỉ là hành

lý xách tay (túi xách bạn mang theo lên máy bay). Tôi đã nhận phòng ở 1 khách sạn gần sân bay chỉ

để tôi ĐÁNH 1 GIẤC NGỦ NGẮN.

When I finally arrived in Los Angeles, it TURNS OUT that I had made a mistake with my

hotel reservation, and instead of booking a room at a five-star hotel, I had booked three

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nights at a SEEDY HOTEL (a hotel that is not very safe or comfortable) in the RED-LIGHT

DISTRICT (an area of the city where there are many sex shops, strip clubs, etc.)! So I was

stuck sleeping on an uncomfortable MATTRESS in a DINGY room (a dirty and dark room)

while my colleagues enjoyed the luxury hotel.

Cuối cùng khi tôi đến Los Angeles, HOÁ RA LÀ tôi đã đặt khách sạn sai, và thay vì đặt phòng ở 1

khách sạn năm sau, tôi đã đặt phòng 3 đêm ở 1 KHÁCH SẠN TỒI TÀN (1 khách sạn không an toàn

hoặc không thoải mái) ở KHU ĐÈN ĐỎ (1 khu vực ở 1 thành phố mà có nhiều cửa hàng bán các sản

phẩm tình dục, câu lạc bộ thoát y, vân vân) !. Cho nên tôi đã chịu đựng ngủ trong một cái

GIƢỜNG NỆM không thoải mái trong 1 căn phòng BẨN THỈU trong khi những đồng nghiệp của

tôi đang tận hƣởng ở 1 khách sạn sang trọng.

The trip home was UNEVENTFUL, but when I arrived I discovered that the airline had lost

my luggage. ALL IN ALL it was a MISERABLE experience.

Chuyến bay về nhà cũng KHÔNG GẶP SỰ CỐ GÌ, nhƣng tôi đã đến và nhận ra rằng hãng hàng

không đã làm mất hành lý của tôi. NÓI CHUNG, nó là một sự trải nghiệm THẢM THƢƠNG.

(Dịch bởi Huỳnh Lâm Thanh Xuân)

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Lesson 18 – Travel
Last week I had the worst business trip I’ve ever taken. Normally a travel agency takes care of booking
my flight (buying a plane ticket) and making my hotel reservation, but this time I decided make the
travel arrangements myself. Big mistake!

First of all, the plane was overbooked (there were more passengers than seats available) so I was
bumped to a later flight. When they gave me my new boarding pass (the ticket that allows you to enter
the airplane), they didn’t ask me if I’d prefer a window seat or an aisle seat (a seat next to the corridor)
– and I was stuck in the middle. To top it off, it was a very bumpy flight (a flight with a lot of turbulence).

I then missed my connecting flight and had a ten-hour layover (I had to wait ten hours for my next
flight) in Chicago. Unfortunately, my checked luggage (the bags in the airplane’s cargo compartment)
had already gone through to my final destination, so all I had was my carry-on bag (the bag you take
with you on the plane). I checked into a hotel near the airport just so I could take a nap.

When I finally arrived in Los Angeles, it turns out that I had made a mistake with my hotel reservation,
and instead of booking a room at a five-star hotel, I had booked three nights at a seedy hotel (a hotel
that is not very safe or comfortable) in the red-light district (an area of the city where there are many
sex shops, strip clubs, etc.)! So I was stuck sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress in a dingy room (a
dirty and dark room) while my colleagues enjoyed the luxury hotel.

The trip home was uneventful, but when I arrived I discovered that the airline had lost my luggage. All in
all it was a miserable experience.

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Lesson 18 – Quiz
1. Are you adding / bumping / checking any bags today?
2. Hello, I need to change the dates of my hotel district / layover / reservation.
3. I always try to get a window chair / seat / spot on long flights.
4. I won't be in the office next week - I'll be on a business flight / travel / trip.
5. On their honeymoon, Will and Cassie spent a week at a five-star / ten-point / gold-star hotel.
6. Sorry, sir, but your bring-in / carry-on / take-up bag is too heavy.
7. The gate number is printed on your boarding / checking / entering pass.
8. The checkout / layover / stop-off was only 30 minutes – I had to run to catch my attaching /
connecting / linking flight!
9. The rooms of the hotel were nice, but the fitness center was rather dingy / red-light / one-star.
10. The travel agency / organization / department is offering a great deal on a 5-day package in
Miami.
11. We felt sick on the plane because the flight was really bumpy / seedy / messy.
12. You should book / make / set your flight now, before prices go up.

Listen and fill the missing words

I then .................................... my connecting flight and had a ten-hour layover (I had to wait ten
hours for my next flight) in Chicago. Unfortunately, my checked luggage (the bags in the airplane’s
cargo compartment) had already gone through to my final destination, so all I had was my carry-on
bag (the bag you take with you on the plane). I checked into a hotel near the airport just so I
could .................................................................

When I finally arrived in Los Angeles, it turns out that I had made a mistake with my

hotel .........................................., and instead of booking a room at a five-star hotel, I had booked

three nights at ........................................... (a hotel that is not very safe or comfortable) in the red-light
district (an area of the city where there are many sex shops, strip clubs, etc.)! So I was stuck sleeping
on an uncomfortable mattress in a ................................................ room (a dirty and dark room) while

my colleagues enjoyed the ......................................................

70
Lesson 19 - Weather
Do you want to know if it'll be sunny or rainy next weekend? Then you should check the

weather forecast - that's the prediction of the weather in the near future.

Bạn có muốn biết trời sẽ mƣa hay nắng vào cuối tuần tới không? Vậy thì bạn nên kiểm tra DỰ BÁO
THỜI TIẾT - dự đoán về thời tiết trong thời gian gần.
If the forecast says the sun will be shining brightly, with clear skies (no clouds in the sky)

and high temperatures, then it's a good day to go to the beach and bask in the sunshine

(or soak up the sunshine) - these expressions mean to enjoy the sun's heat and light.

Nếu Đài dự báo nói rằng TRỜI NHIỀU NẮNG, BẦU TRỜI TRONG LÀNH (không mây) và
NHIỆT ĐỘ CAO, thì đó là một ngày đẹp để đi biển và ĐẮM MÌNH TRONG ÁNH NẮNG MẶT
TRỜI (hoặc TẮM NẮNG) - những cách diễn đạt này ý nói là bạn hãy cứ tận hƣởng ánh nắng và
hơi ấm mặt trời đi nhé.
However, if the forecast says it'll be oppressively hot, scorching hot, or swelteringly hot,

then you might want to stay inside and turn up the air conditioning. Another common

phrase is hot and humid - that means hot with a lot of water in the air (so you will sweat a

lot).

Tuy nhiên, nếu đài dự báo thời tiết nói rằng trời sẽ nắng nóng một cách dữ dội, nóng nhƣ thiêu đốt,
hoặc nóng ngột ngạt thì có lẽ bạn chỉ muốn ở bên trong phòng và bật điều hòa. Một cụm từ thông
dụng khác là NÓNG VÀ ẨM ƢỚT - điều đó có nghĩa là nóng và có nhiều hơi nƣớc trong không khí
(vì vậy bạn sẽ đổ mồ hôi nhiều).
The weather forecast might say it will be partly cloudy (the sky partially covered by clouds).

Another way to say this is that there are scattered clouds (just a few clouds). If there are

heavy clouds, then you won't be able to see the sun at all - and if there are storm clouds,

then it will probably rain very soon. One way to express this is to say "It looks like rain."

Dự báo thời tiết báo rằng trời sẽ có NHIỂU MÂY (bầu trời bao phủ một phần mây). Nói theo một
cách khác là trời có MÂY RẢI RÁC (có ít mây). Nếu MÂY NHIỀU bao phủ cả mặt trời - MÂY
TRÔI MẠNH DỮ DỘI, có lẽ trời sẽ sắp mƣa. Nói theo một cách khác để hiểu rõ về điều này tức là
‚ TRỜI NHÌN GIỐNG NHƢ ĐANG MƢA‛
We can have light rain (little rain) or heavy rain (lots of rain, intense rain) - and if the rain

gets REALLY intense, we can describe it as torrential rain. If the rain continues without

stopping, then we call it continuous rain or constant rain - but if it's the type of rain that

starts and stops various times throughout the day, it's called intermittent rain or scattered

showers. When it stops raining, you can say the rain let up.

Chúng ta có MƢA NHẸ HẠT (mƣa ít) và MƢA NẶNG HẠT (mƣa nhiều, mƣa dữ dội) và nếu
nhƣ mƣa thật sự dữ dội hoặc mƣa liên tục không ngớt, chúng ta có thể miêu tả đó là MƢA NHƢ
TRÚT NƢỚC. Nếu trời mƣa vẫn luôn tiếp tục mà không ngừng, chúng ta có thể gọi là MƢA
DẦM hoặc MƢA DAI DẲNG - nhƣng nếu mƣa bắt đầu và ngừng NHIỀU LẦN TRONG MỘT
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NGÀY, thì gọi là MƢA RẢI RÁC hoặc MƢA RÀO. Khi trời ngừng mƣa đột ngột, bạn có thể nói
TRỜI SẼ MƢA.
Rain is usually accompanied by wind, which can be light/slight winds or high/strong

winds. If the wind is especially strong and violent, you can say fierce winds or gale-force

winds - this last expression is usually used for winds at the level of a hurricane. When the

wind is increasing in intensity, we say "The wind is picking up," and when it is decreasing

in intensity, we say "The wind is dying down."

Trời mƣa thƣờng đi kèm với gió, có thể là gió GIẬT NHẸ/ÍT GIÓ hoặc GIÓ TO/GIÓ MẠNH. Nếu
nhƣ gió đặc biệt mạnh và dữ dội, bạn có thể nói đó là GIÓ GIẬT DỮ DỘI hoặc GIÓ GIẬT MẠNH
- ngƣời ta sử dụng sức gió để nói về cấp độ bão. Khi gió tăng lên lên đến mức kịch liệt, chúng ta có
thể gọi là GIÓ ĐANG GIẬT MẠNH, và sức gió giảm, chúng ta gọi đó là ‚ GIÓ ĐANG TAN‛
Sometimes we describe the wind with an adjective that emphasizes the cold - such as a

biting wind or an icy wind. Finally, a sudden instance of wind can be called a blast of

wind or a gust of wind.

Thỉnh thoảng chúng ta mô tả gió nhƣ một tính từ để nhấn mạnh về độ lạnh - nhƣ là GIÓ RÉT hoặc
GIÓ BUỐT. Cuối cùng, trƣờng hợp một cơn gió đột ngột có thể đƣợc gọi là LUỒNG GIÓ hoặc
CƠN GIÓ.
Snow, like rain, can be light or heavy. Light snow can also be called snow flurries. When

the snow is being blown around in the wind, we can describe it as driving snow or

swirling snow. It can be wonderful to walk through fresh, powdery, newly-fallen snow -

but not so nice to drive on it. So we clear the snow or plough the snow with vehicles to

remove it from the roads. You can also do this manually - that's called shoveling the snow.

At the end of winter, when temperatures rise, the snow melts - it turns into water and

disappears.

Tuyết, giống như mưa, nhẹ hoặc nặng. Tuyết rơi nhẹ có thể gọi là GIÓ TUYẾT. Khi tuyết
bắt đầu thổi khắp nơi vào mùa đông, chúng ta có thể mô tả đó là TUYẾT CHUYỂN ĐỘNG
hoặc LỐC TUYẾT. Một điều thật tuyệt vời là khi đi bộ trên bông TUYẾT ĐẦU MÙA, MỀM
, MÁT - nhưng thật không dễ chịu khi bạn lái xe. Vì vậy chúng ta phải DỌN TUYẾT và
CÀO TUYẾT với xe di dời tuyết trên mặt đường. Bạn cũng có thể dọn tuyết bằng tay - đó
gọi là XÚC TUYẾT. Vào cuối mùa đông, khi nhiệt độ tăng, TUYẾT TAN - tuyết tan thành
nước và biến mất.
Sometimes the weather is unusual for a particular time of year. For example, in the winter,
you might have a day that is unseasonably warm, and in the summer, you might have a
day that is unseasonably cool. When the temperature reaches an extreme, we call that a
record high or a record low.
Thỉnh thoảng thời tiết bất thưởng vào một thời điểm nào đó trong năm. Ví dụ như, vào
mùa đông, bạn có thể có một ngày ẤM TRÁI MÙA, và vào mùa hè, bạn có thể có một ngày
LẠNH TRÁI MÙA. Khi nhiệt độ đạt đến cực điểm, chúng ta gọi đó là mức CAO KỶ LỤC
hoặc THẤP KỶ LỤC.
72
Lesson 19 – Weather
Do you want to know if it’ll be sunny or rainy next weekend? Then you should check the weather
forecast – that’s the prediction of the weather in the near future.

If the forecast says the sun will be shining brightly, with clear skies (no clouds in the sky) and high
temperatures, then it’s a good day to go to the beach and bask in the sunshine (or soak up the
sunshine) – these expressions mean to enjoy the sun’s heat and light.

However, if the forecast says it’ll be oppressively hot, scorching hot, or swelteringly hot, then you
might want to stay inside and turn up the air conditioning! Another common phrase is hot and humid –
that means hot with a lot of water in the air (so you will sweat a lot).

The weather forecast might say it will be partly cloudy (the sky partially covered by clouds). Another way
to say this is that there are scattered clouds (just a few clouds). If there are heavy clouds, then you
won’t be able to see the sun at all – and if there are storm clouds, then it will probably rain very soon.
One way to express this is to say “It looks like rain.”

We can have light rain (little rain) or heavy rain (lots of rain, intense rain) – and if the rain gets REALLY
intense, we can describe it as torrential rain. If the rain continues without stopping, then we call it
continuous rain or constant rain – but if it’s the type of rain that starts and stops various times
throughout the day, it’s called intermittent rain or scattered showers. When it stops raining, you can
say the rain let up.

Rain is usually accompanied by wind, which can be light/slight winds or high/strong winds. If the wind
is especially strong and violent, you can say fierce winds or gale-force winds – this last expression is
usually used for winds at the level of a hurricane. When the wind is increasing in intensity, we say “The
wind is picking up,” and when it is decreasing in intensity, we say “The wind is dying down.”

Sometimes we describe the wind with an adjective that emphasizes the cold – such as a biting wind
or an icy wind. Finally, a sudden instance of wind can be called a blast of wind or a gust of wind.

Snow, like rain, can be light or heavy. Light snow can also be called snow flurries. When the snow is
being blown around in the wind, we can describe it as driving snow or swirling snow. It can be
wonderful to walk through fresh, powdery, newly-fallen snow – but not so nice to drive on it. So we
clear the snow or plough the snow with vehicles to remove it from the roads. You can also do this
manually – that’s called shoveling the snow. At the end of winter, when temperatures rise, the
snow melts – it turns into water and disappears.

Sometimes the weather is unusual for a particular time of year. For example, in the winter, you might
have a day that is unseasonably warm, and in the summer, you might have a day that is unseasonably
cool. When the temperature reaches an extreme, we call that a record high or a record low.
Here are some alternative ways of saying the weather was good. You can say the weather was beautiful,
lovely, ideal, superb, or perfect. To say the weather was bad, you can say the weather was lousy,
miserable, nasty, dreadful, or terrible.

Other ways to describe the weather:

gloomy/dismal weather = weather that is dark, rather rainy, and depressing


muggy/sultry weather = weather that is very hot and humid or wet
mild / calm weather = weather that is nice and not extreme
harsh/severe/wild weather = weather that is extreme and violent
73
Lesson 19 – Quiz
clear let up muggy perfect storm high mild wild

forecast light oppressively record torrential partly scattered

Now it's time for your weather ______________. Right now we have __________ weather, with
___________ skies and a _________ wind from the east. It's __________ weather for a walk in the park.
There will be some _____________ showers overnight, but it the rain should __________ by tomorrow
morning.

Saturday will be __________ cloudy and ____________ hot. We might even see a __________ high
temperature. The _________ weather continues into Sunday, with _________ clouds forming in the late
afternoon. On Monday we'll have some __________ weather, with _____________ rain and _________
winds.

cleared heavy nasty flurries

driving icy thaw unseasonably

We're seeing __________ clouds and a few snow ____________ right now, but we have some
__________ winter weather ahead, with _______ winds and record ________ temperatures at night. Be
careful if you go out in the ___________ snow, especially if you're on a road where the snow hasn't yet
been ___________. The snow will probably __________ next week, as we're expecting some
_____________ warm weather.

Listen and fill the missing words

Sometimes we describe the wind with an adjective that emphasizes the cold – such as
a ............................wind or an ............................. wind. Finally, a sudden instance of wind can be
called a ......................... of wind or a ................................. of wind.

Snow, like rain, can be light or heavy. Light snow can also be called snow ......................................
When the snow is being blown around in the wind, we can describe it as driving snow

or ............................................. snow. It can be wonderful to walk through fresh, .............................,

newly-fallen snow – but not so nice to drive on it. So we clear the snow or .................................... the
snow with vehicles to remove it from the roads. You can also do this manually – that’s

called ......................................... the snow. At the end of winter, when temperatures rise, the
snow .......................................– it turns into water and disappears.

74
Lesson 20 - City
When my parents retired last year, they traded the towering skyscrapers (very tall buildings) and

noise pollution (excessive noise) of Los Angeles for the peace and quiet of a small coastal city (a city

near the ocean) in southern France. They said they were tired of living in a high-rise building right

next to an industrial zone. Now they live in a cozy little house on the outskirts of the city (on the

outer edge of the city, not in the center).


Năm ngoái khi bố mẹ tôi nghỉ hưu, họ đã đánh đổi NHỮNG TÕA NHÀ CAO TẦNG và SỰ ỒN ÀO NÁO
NHIỆT của Los Angeles bằng sự yên tĩnh, thanh bình của một THÀNH PHỐ VEN BIỂN ở miền Nam
nước Pháp. Bố mẹ tôi nói rằng họ đã quá mệt mỏi khi sống trong NHỮNG TÕA NHÀ CAO TẦNG sát bên
một KHU CÔNG NGHIỆP rồi. Họ hiện giờ đang sống ở một căn nhà ấm cúng VÙNG NGOẠI Ô THÀNH
PHỐ.
Life in their new town is quite different from the hectic pace (the fast and chaotic rhythm) of L.A.,
where the bustling streets (busy streets filled with people) are strewn with litter (filled with garbage)

and you can count on spending hours in traffic jams (stopped traffic).
Cuộc sống ở thành phố mới khá là khác biệt với SỰ NÁO NHIỆT của L.A, nơi mà những CON ĐƢỜNG
TẤP NẬP TRÀN NGẬP TRONG RÁC và bạn có thể KẸT XE cả tiếng đồng hồ.
Instead, the narrow cobblestone streets of the city center are lined with eighteenth-century

buildings that are now home to quaint shops (charming and old-fashioned shops) and gourmet

restaurants specializing in the local cuisine (the typical food of the region).
Bây giờ thay vào đó, những CON ĐƢỜNG HẸP BẰNG ĐÁ ở trung tâm thành phố dẫn tới NHỮNG TÕA
NHÀ Ở THẾ KỈ 18 đã trở thành các CỬA HÀNG ĐỒ CỔ và NHÀ HÀNG CAO CẤP nơi chuyên về các
MÓN ẨM THỰC ĐỊA PHƢƠNG.
The best day to visit is Saturday, when there's an open-air market (an outdoor market) in the main

square. You can buy souvenirs from the street vendors (people selling things on the street) and have

lunch at one of the trendy cafes (modern, stylish, and popular cafes) in the area. There's virtually no

street crime here, in contrast to the inner-city areas (older, central, crowded part of a city, usually filled

with poor people and possibly violence) of L.A.


Thứ 7 là một ngày thích hợp để viếng thăm CHỢ TRỜI ở QUẢNG TRƢỜNG CHÍNH. Bạn có thể mua
những món đồ kỉ niệm từ NGƢỜI BÁN HÀNG VEN ĐƢỜNG và ăn trưa tại một trong những QUÁN CÀ
PHÊ HIỆN ĐẠI, SÀNH ĐIỆU VÀ NỔI TIẾNG trong khu vực. Hầu như ở đây không có TỘI PHẠM
ĐƢỜNG PHỐ, trái ngược với KHU Ổ CHUỘT ở L.A.
Is there anything that my parents miss about Los Angeles? Well, they do miss the cultural

diversity. But they're past the age where being in a place with a pulsating nightlife (having many

exciting bars and clubs) is important to them.


Còn điều gì khiến bố mẹ tiếc nuối khi nhắc về L.A không nhỉ? À, SỰ ĐA DẠNG VĂN HÓA.
Nhưng dù gì họ cũng đã qua cái tuổi mà NHỮNG NƠI TẤP NẬP VỀ ĐÊM quan trọng với họ rồi.

(Dịch bởi Pham Khai Ca)

75
Lesson 20 - City
When my parents retired last year, they traded the towering skyscrapers (very tall buildings) and noise
pollution (excessive noise) of Los Angeles for the peace and quiet of a small coastal city (a city near the
ocean) in southern France. They said they were tired of living in a high-rise building right next to an
industrial zone. Now they live in a cozy little house on the outskirts of the city (on the outer edge of the
city, not in the center).

Life in their new town is quite different from the hectic pace (the fast and chaotic rhythm) of L.A., where
the bustling streets (busy streets filled with people) are strewn with litter (filled with garbage) and you
can count on spending hours in traffic jams (stopped traffic).

Instead, the narrow cobblestone streets of the city center are lined with eighteenth-century buildings
that are now home to quaint shops (charming and old-fashioned shops) and gourmet restaurants
specializing in the local cuisine (the typical food of the region).

The best day to visit is Saturday, when there’s an open-air market (an outdoor market) in the main
square. You can buy souvenirs from the street vendors (people selling things on the street) and have
lunch at one of the trendy cafés (modern, stylish, and popular cafés) in the area. There’s virtually no
street crime here, in contrast to the inner-city areas (older, central, crowded part of a city, usually filled
with poor people and possibly violence) of L.A.

Is there anything that my parents miss about Los Angeles? Well, they do miss the cultural diversity. But
they’re past the age where being in a place with a pulsating nightlife (having many exciting bars and
clubs) is important to them.

76
Lesson 20 - Quiz
Match the two halves of these sentences:

1. I do yoga so that I can a) jam for three hours on the way home from work.
relax from the hectic
2. I was stuck in a traffic b) of the city; we'll have to take a taxi.
3. I'd really like to live in a c) pollution is until you get out of the city to a more
coastal peaceful place.
4. If you bargain with the d) litter after the New Year's party.
street
5. That nightclub is on the e) city so that I could swim in the ocean every day.
outskirts
6. The beach was strewn f) pace of modern life.
with
7. The shop is located on a g) vendors, you might be able to get a discount.
bustling
8. This lovely sixteenth- h) street in the city center.
century
9. You don't realize how i) cuisine in India; it's healthy and delicious!
bad the noise
10. You've got to try the local j) church is one of the biggest tourist attractions.

Listen and fill the missing words

When my parents retired last year, they traded the ..............................................................................


(very tall buildings) and noise .................................................. (excessive noise) of Los Angeles for the

peace and quiet of a small ................................................... city (a city near the ocean) in southern

France. They said they were tired of living in a high-rise building right next to an industrial zone. Now
they live in a ..............................................little house on the .....................................................of the city
(on the outer edge of the city, not in the center).

77
Lesson 21 - Countryside
If you’re living in an urban area and looking for a little change of scenery , why not take a

weekend trip to the surrounding countryside ? You can walk through the wildlife

preserve,where a winding footpath will lead you through varied landscapes including

dense forests, vast meadows,and gentle,rolling hills.

Nếu bạn đang sống ở khu vực đô thi và muốn thay đổi không khí một xíu (ngôn ngữ teen :đổi
gió), tại sao bạn không dành một chuyến du lịch cuối tuần để đến với những khu vực miền quên
lân cận nhỉ? Ở đó, bạn có thể đi bộ tham quan các khu bảo tồn thiên nhiên,nơi mà những con
đường mòn (ý chỉ con đƣờng mòn nhiều hƣớng rẽ do ngƣời ta đi nhiều riết thành đƣờng) sẽ dẫn
bạn tới những phong cảnh phong phú nhƣ rừng rậm, những đồng cỏ bao la và những quả đồi
thoai thoải.
More adventurous visitors will enjoy exploring the rocky landscape of Yosemite National

Park with its towering cliffs and magnificent waterfalls. You can take a hiking trail that

goes up the steepest face of the tallest mountain in the park. The trail starts at the foot of

the mountain and the ascent takes about four hours; you can stop to have lunch on the

banks of a clear, bubbling mountain stream.

Những du khách ƣa mạo hiểm sẽ thích khám phá những phong cảnh núi non của Yosemite
National Park với những vách núi đá hùng vĩ và các thác nước tuyệt đẹp . Bạn có thể đi trên
những con đường mòn(dành cho dân leo núi) để đến đƣợc nơi dốc đứng nhất của ngọn núi
cao nhất ở đó. Con đƣờng đó bắt đầu từ chân núi và leo lên đƣợc tới nơi dốc đứng ấy mất khoảng
4 giờ; bạn có thể dừng chân nghỉ ngơi để ăn trƣa bên các con suối nhỏ trong vắt men theo triền
núi.
From the summit,there’s a spectacular panoramic view of the area. To the east, you can see

the jagged,snow-covered peaks of a distant mountain range ; you can gaze at the lush

green countryside to the south ,and when looking west,you can see the slow-

moving,shallow river that flows lazily towards the ocean.

Từ đỉnh núi,bạn có thể thƣởng thức cảnh đẹp ngoạn mục từ toàn cảnh xung quanh bạn. Từ phía
Đông, bạn có thể nhìn thấy những ngọn núi lởm chởm phủ đầy tuyết của các dãy núi đằng xa;
bạn cũng có thể nhìn xuống các đồng bằng xanh bát ngát màu mỡ phía dưới chân núi từ phía
Nam,và khi bạn nhìn ra phía Tây,bạn có thể ngắm những dòng sông nông lững lờ trôi ra biển.
The coastline is just a three-hour drive from the mountains, with miles of sun-drenched

,sandy beaches. You can stay overnight at a family-run hotel in the picturesque fishing

village , where every room has an unobstructed view of the sea. The beaches tend to get

crowded in the summer ,so one option is to take a boat trip across the bay and explore the

secluded beaches on the island -it’s well worth the trip.


78
Từ ngọn núi đó, bạn chỉ cần lái xe khoảng 3 giờ là có thể đến đƣờng bờ biển,nơi có những bãi biển
đầy cát trắng và nắng. Bạn có thể ngủ qua đêm tại khách sạn trong những làng chài đẹp thơ
mộng như tranh,nơi mà mỗi phòng nghỉ đều hƣớng ra những phong cảnh biển bất tận không bị
che lấp bởi điều gì. Những bãi biển ở đây thƣờng đông kín ngƣời vào mùa hè,nên một lựa chọn
cho bạn là bạn nên đi du thuyền (du ngoạn trên tàu thuyền trên biển)và khám phá những bãi biển
còn hoang sơ trên đảo. Chắc chắn nó sẽ là một chuyến đi rất đáng nhớ đấy.

Từ vựng

Từ trong bài Nghĩa Ghi chú


1. looking for a little change Tìm kiếm nơi để thay đổi
of scenery không khí
2.Surrounding countryside Khu vực miền quê lân cận
3.Wildlife preserve Khu bảo tồn thiên Special area where animals
nhiên,động vật are projected

4.Winding footpath Con đường mòn với nhiều A road you can walk
hướng rẽ do người ta đi on,that has many turns and
nhiều riết thành đường. changes of direction
5.Varied landscapes Những phong cảnh phong
phú, đa dạng
6.Dense forests Rừng rậm
7.Vast meadows Những cánh đồng rộng lớn

8.Gentle,rolling hills Những quả đồi thoai thoải.

9.Rocky landscapes Phong cảnh núi đá


10.Towering cliffs Những vách núi đá hùng vĩ Very tall cliffs
11.Magnificent waterfalls Những thác nước tuyệt đẹp

12.Hiking trail Con đường dành cho dân


leo núi

13.Steepest face of the Nơi dốc đứng nhất của The side of mountain is
tallest mountain ngọn núi cao nhất called a “face”-and “
steep” means it is very
vertical)
79
14.Foot of the mountain Chân núi, trườn núi The base of the mountain
15.Clear,bubbling mountain Những con suối nhỏ men
stream theo triền núi
16.Spectacular panoramic Phong cảnh toàn diện từ Meaning you can see in all
view mọi hướng xung quanh direction.
17.Jagged ,snow-covered Những ngọn núi lởm chởm
peaks of a distant mountain phủ đầy tuyết từ những
range dãy núi đằng xa
18.Lush green countryside Vùng đồng bằng xanh bát An area with lots of
ngát màu mỡ healthy vegetation
19.Slow-moving,shallow Những dòng sông không
river sâu lững lờ trôi
20.Sun-drenched ,sandy Những bãi biển đầy cát
beaches trắng và nắng.
21.Picturesque fishing Làng chài đẹp thơ mộng
village như tranh
22.Unobstructed view Phong cảnh bất tận không There are no obstacles
bị che lấp blocking the view
23.Secluded beaches Những bãi biển rất đông Beaches that are hidden
người

24.It’s well worth the trip Đó là chuyến đi rất xứng


đáng( đáng để đi)/.

Dịch bởi Phạm Thị Ánh


.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

80
Lesson 21 - Countryside
If you’re living in an urban area and looking for a little change of scenery, why not take a weekend trip
to the surrounding countryside? You can walk through the wildlife preserve (special area where
animals are protected), where a winding footpath (a road you can walk on, that has many turns and
changes of direction) will lead you through varied landscapes including dense forests, vast meadows,
and gentle, rolling hills.

More adventurous visitors will enjoy exploring the rocky landscape of Yosemite National Park with its
towering cliffs (very tall cliffs) and magnificent waterfalls. You can take a hiking trail that goes up the
steepest face of the tallest mountain in the park (the side of a mountain is called a “face” – and “steep”
means it is very vertical). The trail starts at the foot of the mountain (the base of the mountain) and the
ascent takes about four hours; you can stop to have lunch on the banks of a clear, bubbling mountain
stream.

From the summit, there’s a spectacular panoramic view (meaning you can see in all directions) of the
area. To the east, you can see the jagged, snow-covered peaks of a distant mountain range (a group or
chain of mountains); you can gaze at the lush green countryside (an area with lots of healthy
vegetation) to the south, and when looking west, you can see the slow-moving, shallow river (a river
that is not very deep or fast) that flows lazily towards the ocean.

The coastline is just a three-hour drive from the mountains, with miles of sun-drenched, sandy
beaches. You can stay overnight at a family-run hotel in the picturesque fishing village (beautiful, good
for taking pictures), where every room has an unobstructed view (there are no obstacles blocking the
view) of the sea. The beaches tend to get crowded in the summer, so one option is to take a boat trip
across the bay and explore the secluded beaches (beaches that are hidden) on the island – it’s well
worth the trip (meaning it’s a good use of your time to go there).

81
Lesson 21 - Quiz
1. Don't bother going to the village - it's not merit / worth / value the trip, there's really nothing to
see.
2. From our window, we had an unobstructed look / sight / view of the castle up on the mountain.
3. If you want more privacy, there's a winding / secluded / unobstructed beach an hour's drive
outside the city.
4. Moving from New York City to a small farm in the midwest was quite a dramatic change of face
/ scenery / view.
5. The all-day boat / ship / sailor trip leaves at 7 AM every morning and takes you to 5 different
islands.
6. The hikers tried to find the trail through the dense / heavy / jagged forest.
7. The stream is quite lush / gentle / shallow - the water only comes up to your ankles.
8. This mountain range / span / scenery extends north to Canada.
9. We went bird-watching in the countryside / fauna / wildlife preserve.
10. You can't get there by car; you have to take the footpath / footroad / footstreet.

Listen and fill the missing words

From the summit, there’s a .......................................... panoramic view (meaning you can see in all
directions) of the area. To the east, you can see the..............................................., snow-covered peaks
of a distant mountain range (a group or chain of mountains); you can ........................... at
the ....................................... green countryside (an area with lots of healthy .......................................)

to the south, and when looking west, you can see the slow-moving, ................................................ river
(a river that is not very deep or fast) that flows lazily towards the ocean.

The ....................................... is just a three-hour drive from the ................................., with miles of
sun-drenched, sandy beaches. You can stay overnight at a family-run hotel in the ...................................

fishing village (beautiful, good for taking pictures), where every room has an unobstructed view (there

are no obstacles blocking the view) of the sea. The beaches tend to get crowded in the summer, so one
option is to take a ................................ trip across the bay and explore the ................................ beaches

(beaches that are hidden) on the island - it’s well worth the trip (meaning it’s a good use of your time
to go there).

82
Lesson 22 - Crime
When a person BREAKS THE LAW (does something illegal), we say they have COMMITTED A
CRIME.
Khi một người PHẠM PHÁP (làm việc gì đó bất hợp pháp), chúng ta nói họ đã PHẠM TỘI.
Especially horrible crimes - like a SAVAGE RAPE or a BRUTAL MURDER - can be described as
BARBARIC, HORRIBLE, or VICIOUS CRIMES.

Đặc biệt là những trọng án - như một vụ CƯỠNG HIẾP MAN RỢ hoặc một vụ án giết người tàn ác -
có thể được miêu tả như NHỮNG TỘI ÁC DÃ MAN, KINH KHỦNG hoặc ĐỒI BẠI.
If someone tries to commit a crime but does not succeed, we use the word ATTEMPTED - for
example, an ATTEMPTED MURDER, ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING, or ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN. If
someone accuses another person of a crime, but it is not yet proven, then we use the word
ALLEGED - for example, an ALLEGED ASSAULT, ALLEGED HARASSMENT, or ALLEGED RAPE.

Nếu một người cố ý phạm tội nhưng bất thành, chúng ta sẽ dùng từ CỐ Ý để diễn tả - ví dụ, TỘI CỐ
Ý GIẾT NGƯỜI (MƯU SÁT), CỐ Ý BẮT CÓC, hoặc CỐ Ý ĐỘT NHẬP. Nhưng nếu một người nào
đó buộc một người khácvới một tội danh, nhưng nó chưa được chứng minh, khi đó ta dùng từ BỊ
CÁO BUỘC - ví dụ, một vụ BỊ CÁO BUỘC HÀNH HUNG, một vụ BỊ CÁO BUỘC QUẤY RỐI hoặc
một vụ BỊ CÁO BUỘC CƯỠNG HIẾP.
After the victim REPORTS THE CRIME to the police, the police will begin to INVESTIGATE THE
CRIME. They'll visit the CRIME SCENE and GATHER FORENSIC EVIDENCE (collect details like
bullets, fingerprints, or blood samples that can show what happened). If WITNESSES COME
FORWARD, the police will interview them to hear a FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT (a story told by a
person who saw the event) of what happened. They also consider possible MOTIVES FOR THE
CRIME.

Sau khi nạn nhân BÁO CÁO VỤ ÁN cho cảnh sát, cảnh sát sẽ bắt đầu ĐIỀU TRA VỤ ÁN. Họ sẽ
đến HIỆN TRƯỜNG VỤ ÁN và THU THẬP BẰNG CHỨNG PHÁP LÝ (thu thập chứng cứ như vỏ
đạn, dấu vân tay hoặc mẫu máu có thể chứng minh chuyện gì đã xảy ra). Nếu NHÂN CHỨNG RA
TRÌNH DIỆN, cảnh sát sẽ thẩm vấn để nghe LỜI KHAI TRỰC TIẾP (một câu chuyện được kể bới
một người thấy sự việc) về việc đã xảy ra. Họ cũng sẽ cân nhắc về ĐÔNG CƠ GÂY ÁN.

Police can ARREST SUSPECTS who they believe have committed a crime - but the suspect can
PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE by PROVIDING A SOLID ALIBI - that means giving a confirmed
explanation of where they were at the time of the crime. If it is never discovered who committed the
crime, then the case remains an UNSOLVED CRIME. The statistics about number of crimes in a
particular area is called the CRIME RATE. And when there is a big increase in the crime rate, we
can call this a CRIME WAVE.

Cảnh sát có thể BẮT GIỮ NGHI PHẠM, là những người mà họ nghi vấn là đã phạm tội - nhưng nghi
phạm có thể CHỨNG MINH SỰ TRONG SẠCH CỦA MÌNH bằng cách CUNG CẤP CHỨNG CỨ
NGOẠI PHẠM CHẮC CHẮN - có nghĩa là đưa là một lời giải thích họ đã ở đâu trong thời gian xảy ra
vụ án. Nếu không điều tra được ai là thủ phạm, thì vụ án sẽ trờ thành một VỤ ÁN CHƯA CÓ LỜI
GIẢI. Số liệu về số lượng tội phạm ở một khu vực nhất định được gọi là TỈ LỆ TỘI PHẠM. Và khi có
sự gia tăng nhanh chóng ở tỉ lệ tội phạm, chúng ta có thể gọi nó là LÀN SÓNG TỘI PHẠM.
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There are also a number of collocations we can use to describe criminals. A FIRST-TIME
OFFENDER is someone who has broken the law for the first time, whereas someone who has
broken the law in the past HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD. A criminal who is famous - like a SERIAL
KILLER (a person who has killed multiple people over time) or a person who is heavily involved in
ORGANIZED CRIME - can be called a NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL.

Có một số cụm từ khác mà chúng ta có thể dùng để miêu tả tội phạm. Một NGƯỜI PHẠM TỘI LẦN
ĐẦU TIÊN là người phạm pháp lần đầu tiên, trong khi đó một người đã từng phạm pháp trong quá
khứ có TIỀN ÁN PHẠM TỘI. Kẻ phạm tội nổi tiếng - như SÁT NHÂN HÀNG LOẠT (một người đã
giết nhiều người sau một khoảng thời gian) hoặc một người có dính líu sâu sắc với PHẠM TỘI CÓ
TỔ CHỨC - có thể được gọi là TỘI PHẠM KHÉT TIẾNG.

Collocations for specific crimes / criminals:

Cụm từ dành cho những tội ác/ tội phạm cụ thể:

 a cold-blooded killer/murderer - a person who doesn't have feeling or emotion.


Sát nhân máu lạnh - một kẻ không hề có cảm xúc nào.
 a crazed/psychopathic killer - a killer who is insane or mentally unbalanced:
Sát nhân tâm thần - kẻ sát nhân có tâm lý không ổn định hoặc mắc chứng tâm thần.
 domestic violence - when there is violence inside a home, for example, a husband beating
his wife .
Bạo hành gia đình - khi xảy ra bạo lực trong gia đình, ví dụ, một người chồng đánh đập vợ anh
ta.
 drug trafficking - the purchase, sale, and transport of illegal drugs .
Buôn lậu ma túy - Việc mua, bán và vận chuyển chất kích thích bất hợp pháp.
 identity theft - when a criminal steals an innocent person's identifying information and uses it
in an illegal way.
Danh tặc (tội phạm đánh cắp danh tính) hay tội phạm đánh cắp thông tin cá nhân - khi tội
phạm đánh cắp thông tin của người vô tội và dùng chúng một cách phi pháp.
 sexual harassment - when one person makes undesired sexual advances towards
another person
Quấy rối tình dục - khi một người có những hành vi lạm dụng tình dục đối với người
khác.
 petty crime - a minor crime
Tội danh nhỏ - tội danh không nghiêm trọng
 armed robbery - when criminals steal something, while using weapons
Cướp có vũ trang - khi tội phạm cướp một cái gì đó trong khi sử dụng vũ khí.
Translated by Trương Hoàng Anh Thư.

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Lesson 22 - Crime
When a person breaks the law (does something illegal), we say they have committed a crime.
Especially horrible crimes – like a savage rape or a brutal murder – can be described as barbaric,
horrible, or vicious crimes.

If someone tries to commit a crime but does not succeed, we use the word attempted – for example, an
attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, or attempted break-in. If someone accuses another person
of a crime, but it is not yet proven, then we use the word alleged – for example, an alleged assault,
alleged harassment, or alleged rape.

After the victim reports the crime to the police, the police will begin to investigate the crime. They’ll
visit the crime scene and gather forensic evidence (collect details like bullets, fingerprints, or blood
samples that can show what happened). If witnesses come forward, the police will interview them to
hear a first-hand account (a story told by a person who saw the event) of what happened. They also
consider possible motives for the crime.

Police can arrest suspects who they believe have committed a crime – but the suspect can prove their
innocence by providing a solid alibi – that means giving a confirmed explanation of where they were at
the time of the crime. If it is never discovered who committed the crime, then the case remains an
unsolved crime. The statistics about number of crimes in a particular area is called the crime rate. And
when there is a big increase in the crime rate, we can call this a crime wave.

There are also a number of collocations we can use to describe criminals. A first-time offender is
someone who has broken the law for the first time, whereas someone who has broken the law in the
past has a criminal record. A criminal who is famous – like a serial killer (a person who has killed
multiple people over time) or a person who is heavily involved in organized crime – can be called a
notorious criminal.

Collocations for specific crimes / criminals:

a cold-blooded killer/murderer – a person who doesn’t have feeling or emotion


a crazed/psychopathic killer – a killer who is insane or mentally unbalanced
domestic violence – when there is violence inside a home, for example, a husband beating his
wife
drug trafficking – the purchase, sale, and transport of illegal drugs
identity theft – when a criminal steals an innocent person’s identifying information and uses it in
an illegal way
sexual harassment – when one person makes undesired sexual advances towards another
person
petty crime – a minor crime
armed robbery – when criminals steal something, while using weapons

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Lesson 22 - Quiz
arrested broke gathered proved reported

attempted committed had provided unsolved

One of my favorite TV shows is about detectives who investigate ____________ crimes. In the last
episode, they were looking into a murder that had happened over ten years ago. The suspect who was
___________ at the time was the victim's ex-boyfriend and ___________ a long criminal record - but he
___________ his innocence with a watertight alibi.

The detectives then began to investigate the person who had found the girl's body and ___________ the
crime. He had never ___________ the law, but a man who matched his description had been accused of
an ____________ kidnapping of another young woman around the same time.

The police called him in for questioning, and the alibi that he _____________ didn't match the one on
record. They then ___________ DNA evidence from the new suspect, and it proved that he had indeed
____________ the crime. It took more than ten years, but justice was finally served!

Listen and fill the missing words

When a person ..................................the law (does something illegal), we say they have committed
a ....................................... Especially horrible crimes – like a savage rape or a ......................................
– can be described as ........................................., horrible, or ............................................. crimes.

If someone tries to commit a crime but does not succeed, we use the word ................................... –

for example, an attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, or attempted break-in. If

someone ................................... another person of a crime, but it is not yet proven, then we use the
word .................................. – for example, an alleged assault, alleged harassment, or alleged rape.

After the victim reports the crime to the police, the police will begin to investigate the crime. They’ll

visit the crime ................................................ and gather ................................ evidence (collect details

like bullets, fingerprints, or blood samples that can show what happened).
If .................................come forward, the police will interview them to hear a first-hand account (a
story told by a person who saw the event) of what happened. They also consider

possible ................................ for the crime.

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Lesson 23 - Law / Justice
The government is responsible for passing laws (approving new laws to be put into practice), and the
courts and legal system are in charge of upholding and enforcing the law (applying the law to the
population).

Chính phủ sẽ chịu trách nhiệm cho việc PASSING LAWS (thông qua luật) , trong khi đó tòa án và các cơ
quan về luật pháp có thẩm quyền có nhiệm vụ UPHOLDING (duy trì) và ENFORCING THE LAW (thực
thi luật).

When a person is charged with a crime (formally accused of the crime), he or she must appear in court
to stand trial (be judged guilty or innocent). Both the prosecution and the defense will present their
cases before the judge and jury. After consideration, the judge or jury will reach a verdict (arrive at a
decision).

Khi một công dân bị CHARGED WITH A CRIME (cáo buộc một tội danh) ngƣời đó phải APPEAR IN
COURT (trình diện trƣớc tòa) để STAND TRIAL (hầu tòa). Cả bên khởi tố và bên biện hộ sẽ trình bày vụ
việc trƣớc thẩm phán và bồi thẩm đoàn.

If there is irrefutable, overwhelming, or concrete evidence, this means that it is very obvious that
the person committed the crime, and it's possible that the jury will be unanimous (meaning they all
agree) in their decision. However, if the evidence is circumstantial or inconclusive (the evidence does
not 100% prove the conclusion), then the decision will be more difficult - it's possible to have a hung
jury, which cannot agree on the verdict.

Sau khi xem xét, thẩm phán sẽ REACH A VERDICT (đƣa ra phán quyết). Nếu nhƣ có IRREFUTABLE,
OVERWHELMING, hoặc CONCRETE EVIDENCE (bằng chứng thuyết phục, không thể phủ nhận và cụ
thể), điều này có nghĩa rằng việc bị cáo vi phạm pháp luật là hoàn toàn rõ ràng, và khả năng là THE JURY
WILL BE UNANIMOUS (bồi thẩm đoàn sẽ thống nhất) về quyết định của họ. Tuy nhiên, nếu THE
EVIDENCE IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL OR INCONCLUSIVE (những chứng cứ là do suy diễn, không thể dẫn
đến kết luận) , thì quyết định sẽ khó khăn hơn, và có thể sẽ có A HUNG JURY (một ban bồi thẩm treo), khi họ
không thể thống nhất về một quyết định cuối cùng.

Less serious crimes will receive a light sentence (a small punishment) - for example, the offender may
have to pay a fine or do community service. For more serious crimes, the person will probably go
to prison - and especially heinous crimes can result in a harsh sentence such as life in prison (or
life imprisonment) or, in some places, the death penalty.

Những vụ vi phạm pháp luật không để lại hậu quả nghiêm trọng sẽ nhận một LIGHT SENTENCE (bản án
nhẹ). Ví dụ, ngƣời phạm tội có thể sẽ phải PAY A FINE (trả tiền phạt) hoặc DO COMMUNITY SERVICE
(lao động công ích). Đối với những tội nghiêm trọng hơn, phạm nhân sẽ có thể phải GO TO PRISON (vào
tù) và đặc biệt là những tội mang tính tàn ác có thể dẫn đến một HARSH SENTENCE (bản án khắc nghiệt)

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nhƣ là LIFE IN PRISON (LIFE IMPRISONMENT) ( tù chung thân), hoặc trong một vài trƣờng hợp, THE
DEATH PENALTY (bản án tử hình).

After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to appeal the verdict (try to change the decision),
and the case may turn into a prolonged legal battle as the courts decide whether to uphold or
overturn the original verdict - "uphold" meaning to continue with the original decision, and
"overturn" meaning to change the decision.

Sau khi quyết định đƣợc đƣa ra, luật sƣ có thể chọn để APPEAL THE VERDICT (kháng án) và vụ án có thể
chuyển thành một PROLONGED LEGAL BATTLE (cuộc đối đáp tranh luận pháp lí) để tòa án quyết định
xem nên UPHOLD (giữ nguyên) hay OVERTURN (thay đổi) THE ORIGINAL VERDICT (phán quyết ban
đầu).

As a convicted criminal is serving time (spending time in prison), he or she should remember the
possibility of being released from prison early for good behavior, as long as they are not deemed a
threat to society (possibly dangerous to other people).

Khi CONVICTED CRIMINAL (phạm nhân bị buộc tội) đang SERVING TIME (chấp hành bản án) , họ nên
nhận thức đƣợc khả năng của việc RELEASED FROM PRISON (ra tù) sớm hơn hạn mức do có những
GOOD BEHAVIORS (biểu hiện tốt), miễn là họ không còn bị coi nhƣ là một THREAT TO SOCIETY (mối
nguy hiểm cho xã hội)

A criminal who is released early is said to be "on parole," meaning that he or she must comply with
certain conditions after getting out of jail - such as getting a job and refraining from drug/alcohol
use.

Phạm nhân ngƣời mà đƣợc thả tự do sớm hơn quy định đƣợc gọi là " ON PAROLE " (đƣợc tạm tha), điều
này có nghĩa là họ sẽ phải tuân thủ với một vài điều kiện nhất định sau khi ra tù ví dụ nhƣ kiếm một công
việc hoặc cai nghiện ma túy, rƣợu bia.

Bài dịch của Đoàn Anh Quân

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Lesson 23 - Law/Justice
The government is responsible for passing laws (approving new laws to be put into practice), and the
courts and legal system are in charge of upholding and enforcing the law (applying the law to the
population).

When a person is charged with a crime (formally accused of the crime), he or she must appear in court
to stand trial (be judged guilty or innocent). Both the prosecution and the defense will present their
cases before the judge and jury. After consideration, the judge or jury will reach a verdict (arrive at a
decision).

If there is irrefutable, overwhelming, or concrete evidence, this means that it is very obvious that the
person committed the crime, and it’s possible that the jury will be unanimous (meaning they all agree)
in their decision. However, if the evidence is circumstantial or inconclusive (the evidence does not 100%
prove the conclusion), then the decision will be more difficult – it’s possible to have a hung jury, which
cannot agree on the verdict.

Less serious crimes will receive a light sentence (a small punishment) – for example, the offender may
have to pay a fine or do community service. For more serious crimes, the person will probably go to
prison – and especially heinous crimes can result in a harsh sentence such as life in prison (or life
imprisonment) or, in some places, the death penalty.

After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to appeal the verdict (try to change the decision),
and the case may turn into a prolonged legal battle as the courts decide whether to uphold or overturn
the original verdict – “uphold” meaning to continue with the original decision, and “overturn” meaning
to change the decision.

As a convicted criminal is serving time (spending time in prison), he or she should remember the
possibility of being released from prison early for good behavior, as long as they are not deemed a
threat to society (possibly dangerous to other people).

A criminal who is released early is said to be “on parole,” meaning that he or she must comply with
certain conditions after getting out of jail – such as getting a job and refraining from drug/alcohol use.

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Lesson 23 – Quiz
1. After being evacuated / left / released from prison, Jim found it hard to get a job.
2. Although everyone believes she's guilty, the evidence was too appealed / inconclusive /
refutable for a conviction.
3. Due to his links to terrorist groups, Mr. Smith represents a threat / battle / death to society.
4. He was declared innocent by a unanimous / universal / uniform jury.
5. I couldn't believe what a light conviction / sentence / threat she got - a mere 30 days in jail!
6. I don't support the death pain / penalty / punishment - I think everyone deserves a chance to
change.
7. Patty and her ex-husband are involved in a prolonged lawful / legal / trial battle over the
ownership of their house.
8. Ron will stand court / jury / trial for an assault charge after hitting his girlfriend.
9. The banking executive was charged / stood / upheld with fraud.
10. The U.S. government just hung / passed / served a new law about immigration.
11. There was concrete / enforced / harsh evidence that the doctor had falsified the records.
12. They haven't yet reached a court / parole / verdict in the kidnapping case.

Listen and fill the missing words

The government is ............................ for passing laws (approving new laws to be put into practice),
and the courts and .......................... system are in charge of upholding and ........................ the law
(applying the law to the population).

When a person is charged with a crime (formally accused of the crime), he or she must appear in

court to stand trial (be ................................. guilty or ...................................). Both


the .............................. and the defense will present their cases before the judge and jury. After
consideration, the judge or jury will reach a ............................................ (arrive at a decision).

If there is ............................, overwhelming, or concrete ..............................., this means that it is very


obvious that the person committed the crime, and it’s possible that the jury will
be ............................. (meaning they all agree) in their decision. However, if the evidence

is ...................................................or ................................... (the evidence does not 100% prove the

conclusion), then the decision will be more difficult – it’s possible to have a hung jury, which cannot
agree on the verdict.

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Lesson 24 - War & Peace (Chiến tranh và hòa bình)
When a war begins , we can say that WAR HAS BROKEN OUT or VIOLENCE HAS ERUPTED in
the region. When one country officially enters into a state of war, then they have DECLARED
WAR on the enemy country.

Khi một cuộc chiến tranh nổ ra, ta có thể nói CHIẾN TRANH ĐÃ BÙNG NỔ hoặc BẠO LỰC ĐÃ
NỔ RA trong khu vực. Khi một quốc gia chính thức bƣớc vào tình trạng chiến tranh, sau đó họ
TUYÊN BỐ CHIẾN TRANH đối với nƣớc thù địch.

Sometimes, one country performs a PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE (an early attack) against another - for
example, if it suspects that the other country is STOCKPILING WEAPONS (creating a collection of
weapons) that will be used for a future attack. The other country may view this as an
UNPROVOKED ATTACK (an unfair attack without a reason), and TENSIONS MAY RISE until
the area is ON THE BRINK OF WAR - meaning that war is very probable.

Đôi khi, một quốc gia phát động một CUỘC TẤN CÔNG TRƢỚC với đối phƣơng - ví dụ nhƣ, nếu
quốc gia đó nghi ngờ đối phƣơng đang TÍCH TRỮ VŨ KHÍ (sản xuất một số lƣợng lớn vũ khí) có thể
đƣợc sử dụng cho một cuộc tấn công trong tƣơng lai. Quốc gia bị tấn công có thể xem đó nhƣ một
CUỘC CÔNG KÍCH VÔ CỚ (một cuộc công kích phi lý , không có lý do), và CĂNG THẲNG CÓ
THỂ LEO THANG đến lúc khu vực TRÊN BỜ VỰC CỦA CHIẾN TRANH - nghĩa là chiến tranh rất
có khả năng nổ ra.

Sending in the military is often called DEPLOYING TROOPS. The soldiers may BE STATIONED/
POSTED in a certain area to protect it, or they may LAUNCH AN OFFENSIVE in which they
STORM / INVADE ENEMY TERRITORY. When the soldiers begin firing their guns, we say that
they OPENED FIRE.

Việc điều động trong quân đội thƣờng gọi là TRIỂN KHAI QUÂN ĐỘI. Binh lính có thể ĐÓNG
QUÂN / BỐ TRÍ ở một khu vực nhất định để bảo vệ nơi đó, hoặc họ có thể MỞ MỘT CUỘC TẤN
CÔNG vào nơi họ ĐỘT KÍCH / XÂM CHIẾM LÃNH THỔ ĐỐI PHƢƠNG. Khi binh lính nổ súng,
chúng ta nói rằng họ ĐÃ NỔ SÖNG.

Unfortunately, the HORRORS OF WAR affect everyone, as innocent people are always CAUGHT
IN THE CROSSFIRE (in the middle of the violence without participating in it). Both sides are sure
to SUFFER CIVILIAN CASUALTIES (when innocent people are injured or killed) and there will be
COLLATERAL DAMAGE to the countries’ infrastructure. War also results in many REFUGEES
DISPLACED by the violence; they may RESETTLE in another area or FLEE to another country.

Thật đau thƣơng khi NỖI KINH HOÀNG CỦA CHIẾN TRANH ảnh hƣởng đến mọi ngƣời, khi ngƣời
vô tội luôn SA VÀO VÕNG LỬA ĐẠN ( đứng giữa cơn bạo động mà không tham gia). Cả hai bên

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đều CHỊU THƢƠNG VONG , TỔN THẤT VỀ DÂN THƢỜNG (khi những ngƣời vô tội bị thƣơng
hoặc bị giết) và sẽ có THÊM THIỆT HẠI về hạ tầng ở những quốc gia đó. Chiến tranh cũng dẫn đến
nhiều NGƢỜI TỊ NẠN DI TẢN bởi bạo lực; họ có thể TÁI ĐỊNH CƢ ở nơi khác hoặc BỎ TRỐN đến
quốc gia khác.

If a particular battle was an important turning point in the war, then it is called a DECISIVE
BATTLE. Sometimes another country intervenes and helps the two sides NEGOTIATE A TRUCE /
CEASEFIRE (agree to stop fighting). If successful, this can RESTORE PEACE - but it may be a
FRAGILE / UNEASY PEACE. More work will still be needed to BRING STABILITY to the area
and establish a LASTING PEACE. Often, PEACEKEEPING FORCES remain in the region to try to
AVERT WAR (avoid war).

Nếu một cuộc chiến đặc biệt là một bƣớc ngoặt quan trọng trong chiến tranh, nó đƣợc gọi là CUỘC
CHIẾN QUYẾT ĐỊNH. Đôi khi một quốc gia khác can thiệp và giúp hai bên THỎA THUẬN
NGỪNG BẮN (chấp nhận ngừng chiến đấu). Nếu thành công, nó có thể KHÔI PHỤC LẠI HÕA
BÌNH - nhƣng nó có thể là HÒA BÌNH MONG MANH. Nhiều việc cần làm để MANG LẠI ỔN ĐỊNH
đối với khu vực và thiết lập HÒA BÌNH LÂU DÀI. Thông thƣờng, NHỮNG LỰC LƢỢNG GÌN GIỮ
HÒA BÌNH vẫn duy trì trong khu vực nhằm cố NGĂN CHẶN CHIẾN TRANH xảy ra (tránh chiến
tranh xảy ra).

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Đức Tin

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Lesson 24 – War & Peace
When a war begins, we can say that war has broken out or violence has erupted in the region. When
one country officially enters into a state of war, then they have declared war on the enemy country.

Sometimes, one country performs a pre-emptive strike (an early attack) against another – for example,
if it suspects that the other country is stockpiling weapons (creating a collection of weapons) that will
be used for a future attack. The other country may view this as an unprovoked attack (an unfair attack
without a reason), and tensions may rise until the area is on the brink of war – meaning that war is very
probable.

Sending in the military is often called deploying troops. The soldiers may be stationed/posted in a
certain area to protect it, or they may launch an offensive in which they storm/invade enemy territory.
When the soldiers begin firing their guns, we say that they opened fire.

Unfortunately, the horrors of war affect everyone, as innocent people are always caught in the crossfire
(in the middle of the violence without participating in it). Both sides are sure to suffer civilian casualties
(when innocent people are injured or killed) and there will be collateral damage to the countries’
infrastructure. War also results in many refugees displaced by the violence; they may resettle in
another area or flee to another country.

If a particular battle was an important turning point in the war, then it is called a decisive battle.
Sometimes another country intervenes and helps the two sides negotiate a truce/ceasefire (agree to
stop fighting). If successful, this can restore peace – but it may be a fragile/uneasy peace. More work
will still be needed to bring stability to the area and establish a lasting peace. Often, peacekeeping
forces remain in the region to try to avert war (avoid war).

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Lesson 24 – Quiz
Read this news report from the year 3013 and circle the correct word to complete each collocation.

Special report:

Strains / Tensions are rising between the residents of Earth and Mars, causing some to speculate that
the fragile / weak peace between the two planets may soon come to an end. The latest round of
violence erupted / ruptured when Martian soldiers established / stationed at the Martian embassy on
Earth opened fire / shooting on a group of Earth residents who were protesting outside the consulate.

Although war has not been declared / stated, both planets are ready to react if the other launches an
affront / offensive. There are rumors that Mars has been stockpiling / storming illegal weapons to
defend itself from Earth’s much better-equipped military.

Diplomats from both planets are doing everything possible to bring stability / steadiness to the
situation, but there are concerns that radical extremist groups on Earth may be planning an uneasy /
unprovoked attack for the express purpose of causing a war to break out / take off.

Everyone remembers the hatreds / horrors of the last interplanetary war, in which the decisive /
determined battle resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties / collateral and a large
number of refugees who fled / deployed to the colony on the Moon.

Even after a ceasefire / crossfire was negotiated, isolated incidents of violence against Martian citizens
brought the two planets to the brink / edge of war several times. The president of Earth has authorized
the recruitment and training of additional peacekeeping forces / truces; however, a forever / lasting
peace continues to be a complicated issue for our Solar System.

Listen and fill the missing words

When a war begins, we can say that war has broken out or violence has ................................ in the
region. When one country officially enters into a state of war, then they have declared war on
the ........................................ country.

Sometimes, one country performs a ............................................ strike (an early attack) against

another – for example, if it suspects that the other country is ............................................. weapons

(creating a collection of weapons) that will be used for a future attack. The other country may view
this as an ............................................... attack (an unfair attack without a reason), and tensions may
rise until the area is on the brink of war – meaning that war is very .....................................

Sending in the military is often called deploying troops. The soldiers may be ............................./

posted in a certain area to protect it, or they may launch an ................................... in which they
storm/.................................................. enemy territory. When the soldiers begin firing their guns, we

say that they opened fire.


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Lesson 25 - Global Problems
Bài 25 - Các vấn đề mang tính toàn cầu

In today's lesson, we'll focus on several major global problems.

Trong bài học hôm nay, chúng ta sẽ tập trung vào một số vấn đề mang tính toàn cầu chính
One critical issue is preserving and protecting the environment. The burning of fossil fuels (oil,

coal, and natural gas) produces greenhouse gases (gases that heat up the atmosphere) that deplete the

ozone layer and result in global warming and climate change (changes in the earth's temperature and

weather patterns).

Một vấn đề quan trọng là chúng ta cần bảo tồn và bảo vệ môi trường. Việc đốt cháy các nhiên liệu hóa

thạch (dầu, than hay khí ga tự nhiên) làm sản sinh khí nhà kính (loại khí làm nóng bầu khí quyển) thứ đã

chọc thủng tầng ô-zôn và gây ra sự nóng lên toàn cầu và biến đối khí hậu (sự thay đổi nhiệt độ của Trái

Đất và các yếu tố thời tiết).

Some scientists believe that we have already done irreparable damage to the planet, and now we

are suffering the consequences of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent natural disasters such

as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados. A number of animal species have gone extinct, and

many more are endangered. To reverse this trend, we must invest in clean energy (energy sources

that do not pollute the environment) with renewable resources (elements like water and air, which can be

re-used) and utilize manufacturing methods that are not harmful to the environment

Một số nhà khoa học tin rằng, chúng ta đã gây ra những sự phá hoại không thể cứu chữa đƣợc tới hành

tinh của chúng ta, và giờ đây, chúng ta đang phải gánh chịu hậu quả là nước biển dâng cao và thảm họa

thiên nhiên ngày càng thƣờng xuyên hơn nhƣ là động đất, bão và sóng thần. Rất nhiều loài động vật đã

tuyệt chủng, nhiều loài khác cũng đang đối diện với nguy cơ này. Để đảo ngƣợc lại tình thế này, chúng ta

cần phải đầu tƣ vào nguồn nhiên liệu sạch (nguồn nguyên liệu không gây ô nhiễm môi trƣờng) và những

nguồn nguyên liệu tái tạo (các yếu tố nhƣ nƣớc và không khí, thứ mà có thể tái sử dụng) và vận dụng các

phƣơng pháp sản xuất không gây hại tới môi trường.

There are still many regions of the world where children die of hunger/starvation (die from not

having enough food). Unfortunately, extreme poverty is common in the rural areas of developing

countries, where the population often suffers from food shortages (not enough food) and lack of

access to clean water.

Vẫn còn rất nhiều khu vực trên thế giới mà ở đó rất nhiều trẻ em phải chết vì đói/nạn đói (đói vì không có

đủ thứ ăn). Thật không may, tình trạng cực nghèo này lại phổ biến ở những vùng nông thôn của các quốc

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gia đang phát triển, nơi ngƣời dân thƣờng xuyên phải chịu đựng với vấn đề thiếu ăn (không đủ thức ăn)

và thiếu nguồn nước sạch.

In the cities, homeless people sleep on the streets if there is not enough room in local homeless

shelters. There are also many families on the margins of society (outside the dominant society and

culture) who are living below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet every month.
Although many governments create welfare programs (programs that give money to poor people) to

alleviate poverty, the widening gap between rich and poor suggests that poverty may never be

completely eradicated.

Ở thành phố, khi không còn đủ chỗ trong các trạm lánh nạn tập thể dành cho người vô gia cư, những

ngƣời này thƣờng ngủ trên các con phố. Rất nhiều gia đình sống bên lìa xã hội (bên ngoài xã hội và văn

hóa) sống dưới mức danh giới nghèo và đang phải đấu tranh hàng tháng để có thể đáp ứng mức sống của

mình. Mặc dù nhiều chính phủ đã tạo ra các chương trình phúc lợi xã hội (các chƣơng trình chu cấp tiền

cho ngƣời nghèo) để làm giảm bớt tình trạng nghèo đói, nhƣng khoảng cách giàu nghèo ngày càng gia
tăng lại báo hiệu một điều rằng sự nghèo đói ấy sẽ chẳng bao giờ có thể hoàn toàn đƣợc xóa bỏ.

Poverty and underdevelopment contribute to a host of additional problems as well. For example,
many people die of preventable diseases because they have no access the safe and effective
vaccines that exist. A number of large corporations use child labor in the manufacturing of their

products, as poor families may feel they have no other option for survival. In addition, young

women from disadvantaged backgrounds (poor families and situations) are prime targets for human

trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Sự nghèo đói và kém phát triển cũng đã phát sinh ra rất nhiều vấn đề khác. Ví dụ, nhiều ngƣời đã chết vì

không đƣợc tiếp cận với các loại vắc xin an toàn và hữu hiệu để phòng tránh những loại bệnh có thể

ngăn được. Nhiều tập đoàn lớn đã sử dụng nguồn lao động trẻ em trong sản xuất sản phẩm của họ, bởi với

những gia đình nghèo, họ chẳng còn lựa chọn nào khác để có thể tiếp tục sinh sống. Thêm vào đó, nhiều phụ
nữ xuất thân từ những hoàn cảnh thiếu thốn (gia đình hoặc hoàn cảnh nghèo khó) cũng trở thành những

đối tƣợng chính của nạn mua bán người và xâm hại tình dục.

Dịch bởi Nguyen Thuy Linh

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Lesson 25 – Global Problems
In today’s lesson, we’ll focus on several major global problems.

One critical issue is preserving and protecting the environment. The burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and
natural gas) produces greenhouse gases (gases that heat up the atmosphere) that deplete the ozone
layer and result in global warming and climate change (changes in the earth’s temperature and weather
patterns).

Some scientists believe that we have already done irreparable damage to the planet, and now we are
suffering the consequences of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent natural disasters such as
earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados. A number of animal species have gone extinct, and many more
are endangered. To reverse this trend, we must invest in clean energy (energy sources that do not
pollute the environment) with renewable resources (elements like water and air, which can be re-used)
and utilize manufacturing methods that are not harmful to the environment.

There are still many regions of the world where children die of hunger/starvation (die from not having
enough food). Unfortunately, extreme poverty is common in the rural areas of developing countries,
where the population often suffers from food shortages (not enough food) and lack of access to clean
water.

In the cities, homeless people sleep on the streets if there is not enough room in local homeless
shelters. There are also many families on the margins of society (outside the dominant society and
culture) who are living below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet every month. Although
many governments create welfare programs (programs that give money to poor people) to alleviate
poverty, the widening gap between rich and poor suggests that poverty may never be completely
eradicated.

Poverty and underdevelopment contribute to a host of additional problems as well. For example, many
people die of preventable diseases because they have no access the safe and effective vaccines that
exist. A number of large corporations use child labor in the manufacturing of their products, as poor
families may feel they have no other option for survival. In addition, young women from disadvantaged
backgrounds (poor families and situations) are prime targets for human trafficking and sexual
exploitation.

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Lesson 25 – Quiz
Read this debate between two politicians and fill in the gaps with the correct words:

alleviating endangered irreparable shelters

clean fossil line shortages

climate harming margins warming

disadvantaged hunger renewable welfare

Jim: If I'm elected, my number one priority will be ___________ poverty. A large portion of our country's
population lives below the poverty ____________, and it's a fact that young people from
_____________ backgrounds are more likely to engage in criminal activity. My opponent, on the other
hand, wants to cut funding for the ____________ program and leave millions of people without help.

George: I believe it is a mistake to focus on our country alone; we must remember that we are part of a
global community. Opening up more homeless ______________ is not a long-term solution to help
those on the ___________ of society. However, investing in _____________ energy will enable us to
grow our economy without __________ the environment. This will benefit our country and our world.

Jim: That's a noble goal, but we have more pressing problems. I seriously doubt our citizens who are
dying of _____________ care about protecting ____________ species and preventing global
___________. Plus, it's not scientifically proven that humans can even cause ____________ damage to
the planet.

George: Don't you see that the two issues are related? Due to _________ change, the rain patterns have
changed and our agricultural sector is not as strong as it once was. This results in food __________. It's
only going to get worse unless we end our dependence on __________ fuels and start using
____________ resources.

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Lesson 26 - Time
Are you always IN A RUSH, or do you TAKE YOUR TIME? Do you SPEND YOUR TIME

efficiently, or do you WASTE TIME and procrastinate important tasks - then stay up

working until UNGODLY HOURS (very late at night/early in the morning)?.

Bạn có luôn ở trong TÌNH TRẠNG GẤP GÁP, hay là luôn biết TẬN DỤNG THỜI GIAN? Bạn có SỬ
DỤNG THỜI GIAN một cách hiệu quả, hay là đang LÃNG PHÍ THỜI GIAN và trí hoãn những công
việc quan trọng - sau đó tiếp tục làm việc cho đến tận TỐI MỊT TỜ MỜ SÁNG?.

It has TAKEN ME AGES (taken a very long time), but I've finally adopted some TIME-

MANAGEMENT habits:.

Tôi đã TIÊU TỐN RẤT NHIỀU THỜI GIAN, nhưng cuối cùng thì cũng đã thu nhặt được những thói
quen QUẢN LÝ THỜI GIAN:.

 Plan things WELL IN ADVANCE and don't underestimate the AMOUNT OF TIME

things will take - otherwise you'll end up being a slave to your GRUELING

SCHEDULE (very intense schedule).


Lên kế hoạch KỸ TỪ TRƯỚC và đừng đánh giá thấm KHOẢNG THỜI GIAN mà công việc sẽ
cần đến - nếu không bạn sẽ kết thúc bằng việc trở thành một nô lệ cho LỊCH TRÌNH KÍN MÍT
của mình.
 Take care of TIME-CONSUMING TASKS (things that take a lot of time) on a day when

you have no PRESSING COMMITMENTS (urgent appointments or things to do).


Xử l{ NHỮNG CÔNG VIỆC TỐN NHIỀU THỜI GIAN trong một ngày mà bạn KHÔNG CÓ
NHIỀU CUỘC GẶP HOẶC CÔNG VIỆC KHẨN CẤP.
 ESTABLISH A TIMELINE for major projects, so that you don't LEAVE THINGS

TO THE LAST MINUTE and risk RUNNING OUT OF TIME. Then, STICK TO

THE SCHEDULE and try to GET AHEAD if possible. There's nothing worse than

FALLING BEHIND on a project with a STRICT DEADLINE (a definite date

before which it needs to be finished).


THIẾT LẬP MỘT LỊCH TRÌNH cho những dự án lớn, nhờ thế mà bạn không để ‘NƯỚC ĐẾN
CHÂN MỚI NHẢY’ và đánh cược việc TIÊU TỐN HẾT QUỸ THỜI GIAN. Sau đó, BÁM SÁT LỊCH
TRÌNH và cố gắng TIẾN LÊN nếu có thể. Không có việc gì tệ hơn là RƠI LẠI PHÍA SAU ở một
dự án có THỜI HẠN CUỐI NGHIÊM NGẶT (có một ngày nhất định cần phải hoàn thành).

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 Leave home and work a little earlier than normal to avoid RUSH HOUR (the time when

there is a lot of traffic because everyone is going to work or coming home from work).
Rời khỏi nhà và làm việc sớm hơn bình thường để hạn chế GIỜ CAO ĐIỂM (thời điểm mà
giao thông tấp nập bởi vì mọi người đi làm hay trở về nhà từ chỗ làm).
 Sleep for EIGHT SOLID HOURS (eight hours without interruption) every night; you'll

wake up with more energy.

Ngủ đủ TÁM GIỜ CĂN BẢN (tám giờ mà không bị ai làm phiền) mỗi đêm; bạn sẽ thức dậy
với nhiều năng lượng hơn.

If you're working FROM DAWN TILL DUSK (from the early morning to the late evening) and

you have little or no SPARE/FREE TIME, it could mean that you're overworked, and you

should CUT BACK ON YOUR HOURS (reduce your working hours) to free up some time

(make more time available).


Nếu bạn đang làm việc TỪ SÁNG SỚM ĐẾN TỐI MỊT và có rất ít/ không có THỜI GIAN RẢNH, điều
có có thể hiểu rằng bạn đang làm việc quá sức, và bạn nên GIẢM BỚT GIỜ LÀM để DÀNH THỜI
GIAN CHO VIỆC KHÁC.

Translated by Dao Le Tran Chanh

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Lesson 26 – Time
Are you always in a rush, or do you take your time? Do you spend your time efficiently, or do you waste
time and procrastinate important tasks – then stay up working until ungodly hours (very late at
night/early in the morning)?

It has taken me ages (taken a very long time), but I’ve finally adopted some time-management habits:

Plan things well in advance and don’t underestimate the amount of time things will take –
otherwise you’ll end up being a slave to your grueling schedule (very intense schedule).
Take care of time-consuming tasks (things that take a lot of time) on a day when you have no
pressing commitments (urgent appointments or things to do).
Establish a timeline for major projects, so that you don’t leave things to the last minute and
risk running out of time. Then, stick to the schedule and try to get ahead if possible. There’s
nothing worse than falling behind on a project with a strict deadline (a definite date before
which it needs to be finished).
Leave home and work a little earlier than normal to avoid rush hour (the time when there is a lot
of traffic because everyone is going to work or coming home from work).
Sleep for eight solid hours (eight hours without interruption) every night; you’ll wake up with
more energy.

If you’re working from dawn till dusk (from the early morning to the late evening) and you have little or
no spare/free time, it could mean that you’re overworked, and you should cut back on your hours
(reduce your working hours) to free up some time (make more time available).

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Lesson 26 – Quiz
1. He worked on fixing the computer for two compact / solid / tight hours before giving up and
calling tech support.
2. He's always in a press / quick / rush; he never has time to chat.
3. I have a consuming / grueling / ungodly schedule this semester - classes from Monday to
Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM!
4. I left / spent / took the assignment to the last minute and then stayed up all night to write it.
5. In my rush / spare / stick time, I like to read.
6. Organizing all these files is very time- consuming / pressing / falling; I wish I had someone to
help me.
7. Sarah cut back on / got ahead with / stuck to her hours as she entered her eighth month of
pregnancy.
8. She's a fitness nut; she passes / runs / spends ten hours a week at the gym.
9. Leave / Take / Waste as much time as you need to review this information - we don't need a
response right away.
10. The amount / quantity / portion of time my daughter spends on her cell phone is unbelievable.
11. The company is offering training in time administration / commitment / management to
improve the efficiency of its staff.
12. There is a strict deadline / limit / period for the delivery of this shipment - it must arrive by
January 1, otherwise we'll lose the contract.
13. There's a slowdown on highway I-84 due to rush hour / time / span traffic.
14. We've fallen back / before / behind on our English lessons; the class is on Lesson 10 but we're
on Lesson 6.
15. You need to schedule your dentist appointment two weeks in advance / ahead / forward.

Listen and fill the missing words

If you’re working from .............................. till ...................................... (from the early morning to
the late evening) and you have little or no spare/free time, it could mean that

you’re ................................., and you should cut back on your hours

(reduce your working hours) to free up some time (make more time available).

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Lesson 27 - Sound
Let's begin by looking at the difference between "sound" and "noise." Sometimes these

words are interchangeable, but not always. A "sound" can be pleasant, neutral, or

unpleasant - but "noise" is always either neutral or unpleasant.

Hãy bắt đầu với việc tìm kiếm sự khác nhau giữa âm thanh và tiếng ồn. Đôi lúc những từ này có
khả năng thay thế cho nhưng không phải luôn luôn như vậy. Một âm thanh có thể là dễ chịu, sự
trung lập hay sự không hài lòng nhưng tiếng ồn luôn luôn hoặc là sự trung lập hoặc là sự không hài
lòng.

 I woke up to the lovely sound of my wife playing the piano. (pleasant)

Tôi thức dậy trong tiếng piano dễ thương (lovely sound) của vợ tôi (sự dễ chịu)

 I could hear the soft sound of their voices in the other room. (neutral)
Tôi có thể nghe được tiếng thì thầm (soft sound) của họ trong phòng khác ( sự trung lập)
 The fighting cats made horrible screeching sounds. (unpleasant)
Những con mèo đánh nhau tạo nên những âm thanh khó chịu chói tai (horrible
screeching sounds) (sự khó chịu)

 I can't hear you; there's a lot of background noise. Could you call me back?
(neutral)
Tôi không thể nghe bạn nói, có nhiều tiếng ồn phía sau (background noise). Bạn có thể
gọi lại cho tôi sau? (sự trung lập)

 My car is making an annoying buzzing noise whenever I turn on the A/C.


(unpleasant)

Xe của tôi tạo nên những tiếng ồn khó chịu (annoying buzzing noise) bất cứ khi nào tôi
mở nguồn (sự không hài lòng)

If a noise or sound is very strong, we can describe it as a loud sound/noise - and if it is

REALLY intense, then we can describe it as a deafening sound/noise. On the other hand, if

we can barely hear it, then it is a faint or soft sound/noise. There's also a muffled sound -

when it seems that something is blocking the sound.

Nếu một âm thanh hay tiếng động mạnh, chúng ta có thể diễn tả như một âm thanh inh ỏi (loud
sound/ noise) - và nếu nó cực kỳ lớn, chúng ta có thể diễn tả nó như một âm thanh chói tai
(deafening sound/ noise). Một mặt khác, nếu chúng ta có thể nghe được những âm thanh, nó có
thể là tiếng thì thào (faint) hay (thì thầm tiếng soft sound/ noise). Còn có những tiếng nghẹt
(muffled) khi diễn tả những âm thanh bị chặn lại

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Noise that doesn't stop is called constant/incessant noise. You'll hear this type of noise if

your house is close to the highway, for example - you'll hear the roar of traffic day and

night. If you work in a factory, then you might hear the hum of machinery all day long.

And if you live next door to college students, you'll probably hear music blaring as they

party every night.

Tiếng động không thể dừng lại được gọi là tiếng ồn liên miên (constant/ incessant noise). Bạn
có thể nghe được loại của tiếng ồn nếu như nhà bạn gần với đường cao tốc. Chẳng hạn- bạn sẽ
nghe được tiếng ầm ầm của phương tiện (roar of traffic) giao thông suốt ngày và đêm. Nếu
bạn làm việc trong một nhà máy, bạn có thể nghe được tiếng rền của máy móc (hum of
machine) suốt ngày dài. Và nếu bạn sống gần với các trường đại học, bạn có thể sẽ được nghe
được tiếng nhạc ầm ĩ (music blaring).

Nature is full of noises, too - such as birds chirping and dogs barking. If you sit near the

ocean, you can listen to the waves crashing. When you're in a remote, deserted area, you

might hear the wind whistling through the trees. And if there's a storm, you'll hear the

rumble of thunder - or be scared by a sudden thunderclap.

Ngoài tự nhiên cũng có rất nhiều âm thanh - chẳng hạn như tiếng chim hót (birds chirping) và
tiếng chó sủa (dog barking). Nếu bạn ngồi gần biển, bạn có thể lắng nghe tiếng sóng vỗ (wave
crashing). Khi bạn ở vùng ra xôi, khu vực hẻo lánh, bạn có thể nghe thấy tiếng gió rít (wind
whistling) giữa những hàng cây. Và nếu có bão, bạn sẽ nghe được tiếng sấm đùng đùng
(rumble of thunder) hoặc hoảng sợ bởi tiếng sấm đột ngột

Now let's talk about the absence of sound. There's a difference between the words "quiet"

and "silent." "Quiet" means that there is very little noise, whereas "silent" means there is no

noise at all.

Bây giờ hãy nói tới sự vắng mặt của âm thanh. Ở đây có sự khác biệt giữa từ “tĩnh lặng” và “im
lặng”. Tĩnh lặng mang ý nghĩa ở đây có rất ít âm thanh, còn trong khí đó im lặng mang ý nghĩa
không có âm thanh nào cả

You can emphasize the totality of the silence by saying that it was absolutely, completely,

or perfectly silent. When it begins to be silent, you can say that silence descended or fell,

and then when a noise interrupts the silence, it breaks or shatters the silence.

Bạn có thể nhấn mạnh sự im lặng bằng cách chỉ ra rằng nó hoàn toàn tĩnh lẵng (absolutely, completely
or perfectly silent). Khi nó bắt đầu rơi vào tình trạng im lặng, ban có thể nói rơi vào tĩnh lặng (silence

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descended or fell) hoặc khi một âm thanh phá vỡ sự tĩnh lặng, nó đập tan, phá tan bầu không khí tĩnh
lặng ( breaks or shatters the silence)

It's also common to use collocations to give an emotional tone to the quiet/silence:

Nó cũng thƣờng xuyên để sử dụng sắp xếp tầng lớp cảm xúc đạt tới sự tĩnh lặng

 The kids were oddly/strangely/uncharacteristically quiet (the fact that it is quiet is

unusual, not normal)


Bọn trẻ đã im lặng một cách kỳ quặc/ kỳ lạ/ không được bình thường (oddly/
strangely/ uncharacteristically quiet) (thực tế sự im lặng là không được bình thường)

 His joke about sex was followed by an awkward/uncomfortable silence. (the silence

is due to embarrassment)
Câu chuyện phiếm về tình dục của anh ta bị chìm vào sự im lặng vụng về/ khó chịu
(awakward/uncomfortable silence). (sự im lặng là do bối rối)
 After yelling at her brother, she lapsed into a stony/sullen silence. (the silence is due

to anger)
Sau khi hét vào mặt anh trai, cô ấy rơi vào tình trạng im lặng một cách đáng sợ(stony/
sullen silence).(im lặng bởi giận dữ)

 There was a shocked/stunned silence after the president announced his resignation.

(the silence is due to extreme surprise)


Có một sự im lặng bất ngờ (shocked/ stunned silence) sau khi chủ tịch thông báo từ
chức (sự im lặng bởi quá kinh ngạc)

 The city becomes ominously/eerily quiet after midnight. (the quiet is frightening

and possibly dangerous)


Thành phố trở nên im lặng đáng sợ (ominously/ eerily quiet) sau nữa đêm (sự tĩnh lặng
khúng khiếp và đáng sợ)

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................
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Lesson 27 - Sound
Let’s begin by looking at the difference between “sound” and “noise.” Sometimes these words are
interchangeable, but not always. A “sound” can be pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant – but “noise” is
always either neutral or unpleasant.

I woke up to the lovely sound of my wife playing the piano.


(pleasant)
I could hear the soft sound of their voices in the other room.
(neutral)
The fighting cats made horrible screeching sounds.
(unpleasant)
I can’t hear you; there’s a lot of background noise. Could you call me back?
(neutral)
My car is making an annoying buzzing noise whenever I turn on the A/C.
(unpleasant)

If a noise or sound is very strong, we can describe it as a loud sound/noise – and if it is REALLY intense,
then we can describe it as a deafening sound/noise. On the other hand, if we can barely hear it, then it
is a faint or soft sound/noise. There’s also a muffled sound – when it seems that something is blocking
the sound.

Noise that doesn’t stop is called constant/incessant noise. You’ll hear this type of noise if your house is
close to the highway, for example – you’ll hear the roar of traffic day and night. If you work in a factory,
then you might hear the hum of machinery all day long. And if you live next door to college students,
you’ll probably hear music blaring as they party every night.

Nature is full of noises, too – such as birds chirping and dogs barking. If you sit near the ocean, you can
listen to the waves crashing. When you’re in a remote, deserted area, you might hear the wind
whistling through the trees. And if there’s a storm, you’ll hear the rumble of thunder – or be scared by a
sudden thunderclap.

Now let’s talk about the absence of sound. There’s a difference between the words “quiet” and “silent.”
“Quiet” means that there is very little noise, whereas “silent” means there is no noise at all.

You can emphasize the totality of the silence by saying that it was absolutely, completely, or perfectly
silent. When it begins to be silent, you can say that silence descended or fell, and then when a noise
interrupts the silence, it breaks or shatters the silence.

It’s also common to use collocations to give an emotional tone to the quiet/silence:

The kids were oddly/strangely/uncharacteristically quiet (the fact that it is quiet is unusual, not
normal)
His joke about sex was followed by an awkward/uncomfortable silence. (the silence is due to
embarrassment)
After yelling at her brother, she lapsed into a stony/sullen silence. (the silence is due to anger)
There was a shocked/stunned silence after the president announced his resignation. (the
silence is due to extreme surprise)
The city becomes ominously/eerily quiet after midnight. (the quiet is frightening and possibly
dangerous)
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Lesson 27 - Quiz
1. A high / loud / strong noise woke me up from my nap.
2. His cell phone makes an angering / annoying / incessant noise every time he gets a text
message.
3. I could tell Dan was still mad, as he glared at me in stony / strange / stunned silence.
4. I wasn't able to relax on the beach because some teenagers had a stereo with music blaring /
crashing / deafening.
5. It was extremely / hardly / perfectly silent inside the old, abandoned house.
6. It's eerily / oddly / sullen quiet in that classroom - are the students taking a test?
7. My neighbor's dogs start barking / chirping / whistling whenever someone walks past their
house.
8. She sang a lullaby lightly / muffled / softly to help put the baby to sleep.
9. The complete / constant / long noise in the office makes it difficult to concentrate.
10. The conversation on their first date was full of awkward / ominous / uncharacteristic silences.

Listen and fill the missing words

Noise that doesn’t stop is called constant/............................................. noise. You’ll hear this type of
noise if your house is close to the highway, for example – you’ll hear the roar of traffic day and night. If
you work in a factory, then you might hear the .................................... of machinery all day long. And if
you live next door to college students, you’ll probably hear music ............................. as they party every
night.

Nature is full of noises, too – such as birds ............................................ and dogs barking. If you sit near
the ocean, you can listen to the waves ......................................... When you’re in a remote, deserted

area, you might hear the wind .................................. through the trees. And if there’s a storm, you’ll

hear the ................................................of thunder – or be scared by a sudden thunderclap.

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Lesson 28 - Size
This lesson will help clarify when to use the confusing words big, small, large, little, tall,

short, high, and low. Often, the only difference between them is in their collocations.

Bài học này sẽ giúp làm sáng tỏ khi sử dụng các từ khó hiểu to, nhỏ, lớn, ít, cao, ngắn, cao và thấp.
Thông thường, sự khác biệt duy nhất giữa chúng là trong các cụm từ của chúng.

"Big" is much more common than "large." The word "large" is a little more formal, but in

many sentences, it makes no difference: She lives in a big house. = She lives in a large

house.

"To" phổ biến hơn nhiều so với "lớn". Từ "lớn" là hơi trang trọng hơn, nhưng trong nhiều câu, nó
không có gì khác biệt: Cô ấy sống trong một ngôi nhà to = cô ấy sống trong một ngôi nhà lớn.

So let's focus on the collocations in which large is almost always used - knowing that you

can use "big" for other objects. We tend to use large with drink sizes - a large coffee, a large

soda - as well as with clothing sizes - small, medium, and large.

Vì vậy hãy tập trung vào các cụm từ trong đó lớn hầu như luôn luôn được sử dụng rộng rãi - biết
rằng bạn có thể sử dụng "to" cho các đối tượng khác. Chúng ta thường sử dụng lớn cho kích thước
của các loại đồ uống - một ly cà phê lớn, một ly soda lớn - cũng như quần áo với kích thước nhỏ, vừa
và lớn.
Large is usually used with words referring to statistics and measurements, such as

quantity, number, amount, increase, and proportion. We say:

 A large number of students enrolled in the course.

 A big number of students enrolled in the course.

Lớn thường được sử dụng với các từ liên quan đến số liệu thống kê và số đo, chẳng hạn như số
lượng, tổng số, tổng số lượng, tăng và tỷ lệ. Chúng ta nói:
• Một số lượng lớn sinh viên ghi danh vào khóa học.
• Một số lượng to sinh viên ghi danh tham gia khóa học.

We also use the expressions "large scale" and "small scale" to refer to the size of an

operation; for example, "The factory began large-scale production of automotive parts."

Chúng ta cũng sử dụng các cách diễn đạt "quy mô lớn" và "quy mô nhỏ" để chỉ kích thước của một
hoạt động; ví dụ, "Nhà máy đã bắt đầu sản xuất quy mô lớn các bộ phận ô tô."

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There are a number of collocations in which we must use "big" and we cannot use "large."

These include situations and events, for example: a big accomplishment, a big decision, a

big disappointment, a big failure, a big improvement, a big mistake, and a big surprise. You

can also use the informal expressions big brother and big sister to refer to a sibling who is

older than you.

Có một số cách sắp xếp trong đó chúng ta phải sử dụng "big" và chúng ta không thể sử dụng
"large". Bao gồm các tình huống và sự kiện, ví dụ: thành tựu lớn, quyết định lớn, thất vọng lớn, thất
bại lớn, cải tiến lớn, sai lầm lớn và bất ngờ lớn. Bạn cũng có thể sử dụng các cách diễn đạt không
trang trọng anh lớn và chị gái lớn để chỉ một anh chị em lớn tuổi hơn bạn.

The words "tall" and "short" are used for physical objects, and refer to the total height from

the bottom to the top. So we talk about a tall building, tall trees, and a tall man/woman. The

words "high" and "low" refer to distance above the ground - so we say that an airplane is

flying 10,000 feet high, or that an apple is on a low branch of a tree.

Các từ "cao" và "ngắn" được sử dụng cho các vật thể có vật chất, và liên quan đến tổng chiều cao
từ dưới lên trên. Vì vậy, chúng ta nói về một tòa nhà cao, cây cao, và một người đàn ông/phụ nữ
cao. Các từ "cao" và "thấp" chỉ khoảng cách trên mặt đất - vì vậy chúng ta nói rằng một chiếc máy
bay đang bay cao 10.000 feet, hoặc quả táo nằm trên một nhánh cây thấp.
High and low are also used with non-physical things, especially those which have

different "levels":

 high/low prices

 high/low levels

 high/low quality

 high/low rate

 high/low degree

Cao và thấp cũng được sử dụng với những thứ phi vật chất, đặc biệt là những người có "mức độ"
khác nhau:
 giá cao/thấp
 mức độ cao/thấp
 chất lượng cao/thấp
 tỷ lệ cao/thấp
 bằng cấp cap/thấp
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Finally, let's tackle "small" and "little." The word "little" can imply that you feel some

affection or sympathy for the object, whereas the word "small" is neutral. Thus, "little" often

appears together with adjectives like nice, cute, pretty, poor, and tiny.

 She lives in a small house.

 She lives in a cute little house.

 They have three small children.

 They have three pretty little girls.

 We adopted a small dog.

 We adopted a poor little dog that had been abandoned in the park.

Cuối cùng, hãy giải quyết "nhỏ" và "ít". Từ "nhỏ" có thể ngụ { rằng bạn cảm thấy có tình cảm
hoặc sự thông cảm đối với đối tượng, trong khi từ "nhỏ" là trung lập. Do đó, "ít" thường xuất
hiện cùng với các tính từ như: đẹp, dễ thương, xinh đẹp, nghèo, và nhỏ bé.
 Cô ấy sống trong một căn nhà nhỏ.
 Cô ấy sống trong một căn nhà nhỏ dễ thương.
 Họ có ba đứa con nhỏ.
 Họ có ba bé gái xinh đẹp.
 Chúng tôi nhận nuôi một con chó nhỏ.
 Chúng tôi nhận nuôi một con chó nhỏ tội nghiệp bị bỏ rơi ở công viên.

Another difference is that the word "small" usually refers to physical size, whereas the

word "little" can refer to quantity - it means "not very much" and is the opposite of "a lot":

For example, we can say:

 I made a little money from a temporary job. (not "small money")

 I slept very little last night. (not "slept very small")

 There's little salt in this food. (not "small salt")


Một khác biệt nữa là từ "nhỏ" thường dùng để chỉ kích thước vật l{, trong khi từ "ít" có thể đề cập
đến số lượng - nghĩa là "không nhiều" và ngược lại "rất nhiều":
Ví dụ, chúng ta có thể nói:
• Tôi kiếm được một ít tiền từ một công việc tạm thời. (không phải là "tiền nhỏ")
• Tối qua tôi ngủ rất ít. (không phải "ngủ rất nhỏ")
• Có rất ít muối trong thức ăn này. (không phải là "muối nhỏ")

(Translated by Vu Le Quynh Phuong)

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Lesson 28 - Size
This lesson will help clarify when to use the confusing words big, small, large, little, tall, short, high, and
low. Often, the only difference between them is in their collocations.

“Big” is much more common than “large.” The word “large” is a little more formal, but in many
sentences, it makes no difference: She lives in a big house. = She lives in a large house.

So let’s focus on the collocations in which large is almost always used – knowing that you can use “big”
for other objects. We tend to use large with drink sizes – a large coffee, a large soda – as well as with
clothing sizes – small, medium, and large.

Large is usually used with words referring to statistics and measurements, such as quantity, number,
amount, increase, and proportion. We say:

A large number of students enrolled in the course.


A big number of students enrolled in the course.

We also use the expressions “large scale” and “small scale” to refer to the size of an operation; for
example, “The factory began large-scale production of automotive parts.”

There are a number of collocations in which we must use “big” and we cannot use “large.” These include
situations and events, for example: a big accomplishment, a big decision, a big disappointment, a big
failure, a big improvement, a big mistake, and a big surprise. You can also use the informal expressions
big brother and big sister to refer to a sibling who is older than you.

The words “tall” and “short” are used for physical objects, and refer to the total height from the bottom
to the top. So we talk about a tall building, tall trees, and a tall man/woman. The words “high” and
“low” refer to distance above the ground – so we say that an airplane is flying 10,000 feet high, or that
an apple is on a low branch of a tree.

High and low are also used with non-physical things, especially those which have different “levels”:

high/low prices
high/low levels
high/low quality
high/low rate
high/low degree

Finally, let’s tackle “small” and “little.” The word “little” can imply that you feel some affection or
sympathy for the object, whereas the word “small” is neutral. Thus, “little” often appears together with
adjectives like nice, cute, pretty, poor, and tiny.

She lives in a small house.

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She lives in a cute little house.
They have three small children.
They have three pretty little girls.
We adopted a small dog.
We adopted a poor little dog that had been abandoned in the park.

Another difference is that the word “small” usually refers to physical size, whereas the word “little” can
refer to quantity – it means “not very much” and is the opposite of “a lot”:

For example, we can say:

I made a little money from a temporary job. (not “small money”)


I slept very little last night. (not “slept very small”)
There’s little salt in this food. (not “small salt”)

Lesson 28 - Quiz
1. A big / large percentage of the human body is made up of water.
2. Choosing whether or not to have children is a big / large decision.
3. I'll have a hamburger and a big / large milkshake.
4. My wedding ring has tiny little / small diamonds embedded in it.
5. The biggest / largest challenge in losing weight is changing your eating habits.
6. The number of people buying CDs is getting littler / smaller every year as MP3s become more
popular.
7. The police have released little / small information about the case.
8. There was a big / large mistake in the report; we'll have to print a revised copy.
9. These jeans are too little / small for me.
10. This foundation provides grants for little / small businesses in developing countries.
11. This new policy will affect a big / large number of our employees.
12. We had a lovely little / small picnic by the lake.

Listen and fill the missing words

So let’s focus on the ...................................... in which large is almost always used – knowing that
you can use “big” for other objects. We tend to use large with drink sizes – a large coffee, a

large ...................................– as well as with clothing sizes – small, medium, and large.

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Lesson 29 - Light (ánh sáng)
We use the expression "the sun is shining" to talk about the sun emitting light. If the light is

so strong that it's difficult to see, we can describe it as blinding sunlight – and if the light is

not very strong, then it is weak sunlight.

Ta diễn đạt câu "Mặt trời đang chiếu sáng" để nói rằng mặt trời đang phát ra ánh sáng. Nếu mặt
trời phát ra ánh sáng quá mạnh khó để nhìn thấy, ta có thể nói là ánh nắng chói chang/chói mắt - và
nếu ánh sáng không mạnh, ta gọi là ánh nắng nhẹ.

When the sun sets (disappears below the horizon), everything grows dark. If there's a full

moon, then there will still be some light. But if there's a crescent moon or a new moon, then

it will be pitch dark/black (completely black) and you'll be able to see the stars twinkling in

the night sky.

Khi mặt trời lặn (biến mất phía sau chân trời), mọi thứ trở nên tối sầm lại. Nếu có trăng rằm/trăng
tròn, trời vẫn có chút ánh sáng. Nhƣng nếu là trăng lƣỡi liềm hay là trăng non thì trời sẽ đen
thui/tối thui (hoàn toàn tối đen) và bạn có thể thấy những vì sao lấp lánh trên bầu trời đêm.

To describe the strength of a light, you can use the words "bright" and "dim." A fluorescent

light bulb emits bright light, and the faint glow of a flickering candle is dim light. When

light shines on an object, it makes the object cast a shadow. An area that protected from the

sunlight is often called "the shade. " If you don't want to get sunburned, it's a good idea to

sit in the shade.

Để diễn tả độ mạnh của ánh sáng, bạn có thể dùng từ "sáng" hoặc "mờ". Một bóng đèn huỳnh
quang sẽ cho ra ánh sáng mờ, và ánh sáng mờ nhạt của ngọn nến lập lòe gọi là sáng mờ. Khi ánh
sáng chiếu vào một đối tƣợng nào đó, nó sẽ tạo ra bóng. Khu vực đƣợc bảo vệ khỏi ánh sáng ngƣời ta
gọi là bóng râm. Nếu bạn không muốn bị cháy nắng thì ngồi trong bóng râm là một ý hay.

We use the word "lighting" to refer to a system of artificial lights, especially inside a house

or building. A place can have bright/strong lighting or the opposite -soft/subdued lighting

(a low level of illumination for artistic/romantic purposes). And along the highways and roads,

we have street lights.

Ta dùng từ ‚hệ thống chiếu sáng‛ để nói về hệ thống các ánh sáng nhân tạo, nó đặc biệt dùng bên
trong ngôi nhà hay công trình. Một nơi có thể có hệ thống chiếu sáng rõ/mạnh hay ngƣợc lại hệ
thống chiếu sáng dịu/nhẹ (mức độ rọi sáng thấp dùng cho mục đích nghệ thuật hay tạo sự lãng

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mạn). Và dọc theo các đƣờng cao tốc và các lối phố, ta lại có hệ thống chiếu sáng trên đƣờng hay còn
gọi là đèn đƣờng.

If it's nighttime and the power goes out (or there is a power outage a lack of electrical

power), then the city will be plunged into darkness. You can describe the darkness as

complete/total darkness to emphasize that it is 100% dark. People will have to use

flashlights or light candles to be able to see - until the next morning when the sun

rises/comes up.

Nếu vào ban đêm và mất điện (cúp điện, thiếu năng lƣợng điện), cả thành phố đó sẽ chìm trong bóng
tối. Bạn có thể nói về bóng tối lúc đó là tối hoàn toàn để nhấn mạnh rằng nó tối 100%. Ngƣời ta
dùng đèn pin hay thắp đèn cầy để có thể nhìn thấy mọi vật - cho tới sáng hôm sau khi mặt trời mọc
lên.

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Văn Tài

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Lesson 29 - Light
We use the expression “the sun is shining” to talk about the sun emitting light. If the light is so strong
that it’s difficult to see, we can describe it as blinding sunlight – and if the light is not very strong, then it
is weak sunlight.

When the sun sets (disappears below the horizon), everything grows dark. If there’s a full moon, then
there will still be some light. But if there’s a crescent moon or a new moon, then it will be pitch
dark/black (completely black) and you’ll be able to see the stars twinkling in the night sky.

To describe the strength of a light, you can use the words “bright” and “dim.” A fluorescent light bulb
emits bright light, and the faint glow of a flickering candle is dim light. When light shines on an object,
it makes the object cast a shadow. An area that protected from the sunlight is often called “the shade.”
If you don’t want to get sunburned, it’s a good idea to sit in the shade.

We use the word “lighting” to refer to a system of artificial lights, especially inside a house or building. A
place can have bright/strong lighting or the opposite – soft/subdued lighting (a low level of illumination
for artistic/romantic purposes). And along the highways and roads, we have street lights.

If it’s nighttime and the power goes out (or there is a power outage – a lack of electrical power), then
the city will be plunged into darkness. You can describe the darkness as complete/total darkness to
emphasize that it is 100% dark. People will have to use flashlights or light candles to be able to see –
until the next morning when the sun rises/comes up.

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Lesson 29 - Quiz
Read this passage from a story and select the right word to complete each sentence:

Amanda knelt in an enclave of the seventeenth-century church and said a silent prayer. The church was
completely / ultimately dark except for the dozens of flickering / shining candles which lit up the image
of Mary, mother of Jesus. Amanda enjoyed the quiet, sacred atmosphere of these ancient cathedrals
much more than the bright / vivid lighting and loud music of modern churches.

She hit / lit a candle in honor of her grandmother and left the church, shielding her eyes from the
blinding / glowing afternoon sunlight. She climbed a hill near the city and sat in the darkness / shade of
an enormous oak tree, where she remained lost in thought until the sky began to grow / plunge dark.

The sliver / crescent moon rose over the mountains and the stars twinkled / weakened in the mostly
clear sky. Amanda could see the road / street lights and the faint / pitch glow of a television set through
the window of each house. She decided to maintain her vigil until the sun came up / went out.

Listen and fill the missing words

We use the expression “the sun is shining” to talk about the sun ............................... light. If the light is
so strong that it’s ....................................... to see, we can describe it as ..................................... sunlight
– and if the light is not very strong, then it is weak sunlight.

When the sun sets (disappears below the horizon), everything ..................................... dark. If there’s a
full moon, then there will still be some light. But if there’s a ........................................ moon or a new
moon, then it will be pitch dark/black (completely black) and you’ll be able to see the
stars ..................................... in the night sky.

To describe the strength of a light, you can use the words “bright” and “dim.” A .................................

light bulb emits bright light, and the faint glow of a ............................................... candle is dim light.

When light shines on an object, it makes the object cast a ....................................... An area that
protected from the sunlight is often called “the shade.” If you don’t want to get sunburned, it’s a good
idea to sit in the ....................................................

116
Lesson 30 - Color
Today you're going to expand your vocabulary by learning various collocations about

colors.

Hôm nay bạn sẽ mở rộng vốn từ vựng của mình bằng việc học các các cụm từ về màu sắc nhé.

You can describe a color as light or dark - for example, someone can have LIGHT BROWN

or DARK BROWN hair. If a color is very intense, you can describe it as bright - for example,

a BRIGHT RED apple. If the color is not very intense, you can describe it as pale - for

example, a PALE GREEN dress.

Bạn có thể mô tả một màu là light hay dark (nhạt hoặc đậm) - Ví dụ, ai đó có thể có mái tóc MÀU
NÂU NHẠT hoặc NÂU ĐẬM. Nếu một màu mạnh, bạn có thể mô tả nó là bright (tƣơi, sáng) - Ví
dụ, 1 trái táo ĐỎ TƢƠI. Nếu một màu không quá mạnh, bạn có thể mô tả nó là nhạt - Ví dụ, một
cái váy MÀU XANH NHẠT.

When describing colors in general, you can talk about BOLD/VIVID COLORS - which are

very intense - or PASTEL COLORS, which are light or pale.

Khi mô tả màu sắc chung chung, bạn có thể dùng MÀU SẮC SẶC SỠ- những màu rất mạnh - hoặc
những GAM MÀU KEM- màu nhẹ hay nhạt.

We can use other words to describe specific SHADES OF A COLOR (variations of a specific

color). These words are usually a typical object with that particular color. For example, "sky

blue" is a light shade of blue, like the color of the sky.

Chúng ta có thể sử dụng những từ khác để mô tả những SẮC THÁI RIÊNG BIỆT CỦA MỘT
MÀU (những biến thể của một màu). Những từ này thƣờng là chỉ một màu điển hình của một màu
cụ thể. Ví dụ, ‚sky blue‛ là một sắc thái nhẹ của màu xanh, giống nhƣ màu xanh da trời.

When you have something that is primarily one color, but with a little bit of another color
included, we can use the word "tinge”. There are two ways to structure the sentence:.
Khi bạn có cái gì đó mà nó có một màu chủ đạo nhƣng lại chứa một ít màu khác, chúng ta có thể
dùng từ ‚tinge‛-nhẹ. Có hai cách dùng trong câu:.

The flowers are yellow with a TINGE OF PINK in the middle.

Những bông hoa màu vàng với một chút HỒNG PHẤN ở giữa.

My cat's fur is light gray with a slight BROWNISH TINGE.

Lông con mèo của tôi màu xám nhẹ và NÂU NHẠT.

117
You can also use this form - a color word plus -ISH - to describe mixes of colors. For

example, "REDDISH BROWN" is a shade of brown with a strong portion of red, whereas

"YELLOWISH BROWN" is a shade of brown with a strong portion of yellow.

Bạn cũng có thể dùng cấu trúc này - một từ chỉ màu sắc+ISH- để mô tả hỗn hợp của các màu. Ví dụ,
‚MÀU NÂU ĐỎ‛ là một sắc thái của màu nâu với phần màu đỏ rõ rệt, trong khi MÀU NÂU
VÀNG là một sắc thái của màu nâu với phần màu vàng rõ rệt.

Some colors look good together - in this case, we can say that THE COLORS MATCH.

Other colors look terrible together - in this case, we can say that THE COLORS CLASH.

When the color of a person's clothes looks good with that person's SKIN TONE (color of

their skin), you can say "THAT COLOR SUITS YOU" or "THAT COLOR LOOKS GOOD

ON YOU”.

Một số màu nhìn hợp với nhau - trong trƣờng hợp này, chúng ta có thể nói là NHỮNG MÀU NÀY
HỢP VỚI NHAU. Những màu khác khi đi chung với nhau nhìn rất ghê - trong trƣờng hợp này,
chúng ta có thể nói là NHỮNG MÀU NÀY CHÓI NHAU QUÁ. Khi màu sắc trang phục của một
ngƣời trông hợp với MÀU DA của ngƣời đó, bạn có thể nói rằng ‛MÀU ĐÓ HỢP VỚI BẠN‛
hoặc ‚BẠN TRÔNG HỢP VỚI MÀU ĐÓ‛.

Finally, one tip about changing the color of something. We use the verb "paint" in most

cases - you PAINT A HOUSE and PAINT YOUR NAILS. But we use the verb "dye" for hair

and cloth/fabric - so you DYE YOUR HAIR BLONDE and DYE A SHIRT BLUE.

Cuối cùng là một lời khuyên về việc thay đổi màu sắc của cái gì đó. Chúng ta sử dụng động từ ‚tô
vẽ, sơn‛ trong hầu hết các trƣờng hợp - bạn SƠN MỘT NGÔI NHÀ và SƠN MÓNG TAY.
Nhƣng chúng ta lại sử dụng động từ ‚nhuộm‛ cho tóc và quần áo/vải - bạn NHUỘM MÁI TÓC
MÀU VÀNG HOE và NHUỘM MỘT CÁI ÁO SƠ MI MÀU XANH.
(Dịch bởi Ngọc Phan Thị Thúy)
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118
Lesson 30 - Color
Today you’re going to expand your vocabulary by learning various collocations about colors.

You can describe a color as light or dark – for example, someone can have light brown or dark brown
hair. If a color is very intense, you can describe it as bright – for example, a bright red apple. If the color
is not very intense, you can describe it as pale – for example, a pale green dress.

When describing colors in general, you can talk about bold/vivid colors – which are very intense – or
pastel colors, which are light or pale.

We can use other words to describe specific shades of a color (variations of a specific color). These
words are usually a typical object with that particular color. For example, “sky blue” is a light shade of
blue, like the color of the sky. Here are some of the most common collocations:

ruby red
cherry red
fiery orange
burnt orange
lemon yellow
golden yellow
emerald green
olive green
sky blue
royal blue
navy blue / midnight blue

When you have something that is primarily one color, but with a little bit of another color included, we
can use the word “tinge.” There are two ways to structure the sentence:

The flowers are yellow with a tinge of pink in the middle.


My cat’s fur is light gray with a slight brownish tinge.

You can also use this form – a color word plus –ISH – to describe mixes of colors. For example,
“reddish brown” is a shade of brown with a strong portion of red, whereas “yellowish brown” is a
shade of brown with a strong portion of yellow.

Some colors look good together – in this case, we can say that the colors match. Other colors look
terrible together – in this case, we can say that the colors clash. When the color of a person’s clothes
looks good with that person’s skin tone (color of their skin), you can say “that color suits you” or “that
color looks good on you.”

Finally, one tip about changing the color of something. We use the verb “paint” in most cases – you
paint a house and paint your nails. But we use the verb “dye” for hair and cloth/fabric – so you dye
your hair blonde and dye a shirt blue.

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Lesson 30 - Quiz
Circle the correct word to complete this commentary from a reporter at a fashion show.

Cassandra is wearing a fiery / flaming orange blouse and a king / royal blue skirt - those certainly are
very bold / brave colors! Here comes Susan, wearing a long, fair / light pink dress and navy / ruby red
heels. Those pastel / pasty colors look wonderful with her skin tone / type.

The designer of the next outfit is known for his highly innovative style... Joanne is wearing an ember /
emerald green top and cherry / olive green shorts - hmmm... in my opinion the two different shades /
tinges of green don't look so great together. They kind of clash / dye.

Up next is Tanya, with a retro-style greenest/greenish-blue dress with some lemon / lime yellow details
- very interesting look, although the colors might not match / suit everybody. Finally we have Ashley,
who's wearing a sexy burnt / dark purple dress with a golden / silvery yellow belt, a combining /
matching purse, and cloud / sky blue heels - that's quite unusual, but the overall visual effect is
stunning.

Listen and fill the missing words

You can also use this form – a color word ................... –ISH – to describe mixes of colors. For example,
“..................................... brown” is a shade of brown with a strong portion of red, whereas “yellowish
brown” is a shade of brown with a strong .................................... of yellow.

Some colors look good together – in this case, we can say that the colors match. Other colors look
terrible together – in this case, we can say that the colors ........................................... When the color of
a person’s clothes looks good with that person’s skin tone (color of their skin), you can say “that

color ........................................ you” or “that color looks good on you.”

Finally, one tip about changing the color of something. We use the verb “paint” in most cases – you

paint a house and paint your .................................. But we use the verb “dye” for hair and cloth/fabric

– so you dye your hair blonde and dye a shirt blue.

120
Lesson 31 - Texture
The word "texture" refers to the way something feels, and there are many different

collocations used to describe it. Let's look at them in pairs of opposites.

Từ ‚texture‛ ám chỉ tới cách mà sự vật đƣợc cảm nhận, và có rất nhiều cụm từ khác nhau đƣợc
dùng để mô tả nó. Hãy xem xét chúng (look at them) trong những cặp từ trái nghĩa (pairs of
opposites ) sau:
Dry hair / Oily or greasy hair - You need to wash oily hair more often than you need to

wash dry hair.

Tóc xơ (khô)/ Tóc dầu (bết) - Bạn cần gội tóc bết thƣờng xuyên hơn là tóc khô.
Dry skin / Oily skin - Oily skin is prone to acne, whereas dry skin often needs moisturizer.

Da khô / Da dầu - Da dầu dễ có mụn trứng cá, trong khi đó da khô lại cần nhiều chất dƣỡng ẩm.
A Smooth / Rough surface - Surfaces such as the ground, a road, and your skin can be

smooth (with a consistent surface) or rough (with a varied surface).

Bề mặt mịn màng (phẳng)/ Bề mặt thô ráp (xù xì, gồ ghề) - Những bề mặt chẳng hạn nhƣ mặt đất,
con đƣờng và làn da của bạn có thể bằng phẳng, mịn màng (với một bề mặt săn chắc, đặc quánh)
hoặc cũng có thể thô ráp, xù xì (với một bề mặt phong phú, nhiều hình dạng)
Calm / Choppy or rough water - The water of the ocean is calm when the weather is mild,

and it is choppy/rough when there are high winds.

Mặt nƣớc êm ả (biển lặng) / Mặt nƣớc dậy sóng (biển động) - Biển lặng sóng khi thời tiết êm đềm,
và nó sẽ dậy sóng khi có những trận cuồng phong (gió lớn).
Hard / Soft object - A mattress or pillow, for example, can be hard or soft.

Vật cứng/ vật mềm - Ví dụ nhƣ, một cái đệm hoặc một cái gối có thể cứng cũng có thể mềm.
Tender / Tough meat - Meat that is "tender" is easy to cut and chew, and meat that is

"tough" is difficult to cut and chew.

Thịt mềm (nhũn)/ cứng (dai) - Thịt mềm thì dễ cắt và nhai, thịt cứng thì khó cắt và khó nhai.
A Sharp / Dull blade or point - A knife or a pencil can be "sharp" - meaning it can cut - or

"dull," meaning it has lost its ability to cut.

Vết cắt sắc bén/ nhụt (cùn) hoặc Điểm rõ nét/ mờ nhạt - Một con dao hoặc một cây bút chì có thể sắc
nhọn - nghĩa là nó có thể cắt; hoặc cùn (nhụt) - nghĩa là nó không thể cắt đƣợc nữa.
The verbs "soften" and "harden" describe the process of becoming soft and becoming hard.

For example, potatoes soften when you cook them in boiling water. And snow hardens if

the temperature decreases and the snow begins turning into ice.

Các động từ ‚soften‛ (trở nên mềm hơn) và ‚harden‛ (trở nên cứng hơn) mô tả quá trình của việc
trở nên mềm hơn và trở nên cứng hơn. Ví dụ, khoai tây sẽ trở nên mềm hơn khi bạn nấu chúng
trong nƣớc sôi (in boiling water). Tuyết sẽ trở nên rắn hơn nếu thời tiết cứ tiếp tục giảm nhiệt độ và
tuyết sẽ bắt đầu chuyển thành (turning into) băng.
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We can also use "soften" and "harden" in a more metaphorical way - we can say a person's

voice softens when they begin speaking in a more friendly tone, and their voice hardens

when they begin speaking in a less friendly tone. A person's attitude or views can also

"soften" (become more friendly/tolerant) or "harden" (become less friendly/less tolerant).

Chúng ta cũng có thể sử dụng "soften" và "harden" theo lối ẩn dụ hơn (a more metaphorical way) -
Chúng ta có thể nói rằng giọng của một ai đó nhẹ nhàng/ êm tai/ dễ nghe khi họ bắt đầu câu chuyện
với âm điệu thân thiện (a more friendly tone), và giọng của họ đanh thép/ thô bạo khi họ bắt đầu nói
chuyện với một âm điệu ít thân thiện (a less friendly tone). Thái độ hoặc cách nhìn của ai đó cũng có
thể nhẹ nhàng/ hòa nhã (trở nên thân thiện hơn, khoan dung hơn) hoặc có thể cứng rắn/ lạnh lùng
(trở nên ít thân thiết và khoan dung).
Texture words are often used when describing food:

Các từ ngữ diễn tả cảm nhận về sự vật thƣờng đƣợc dùng trong việc mô tả đồ ăn:
 creamy - describes a smooth and rich texture, like cream. Sauces, soups, puddings,

and chocolate can be creamy.

Mƣợt mịn nhƣ kem/ có nhiều kem (Creamy) - mô tả cấu trúc mịn màng, màu mỡ nhƣ kem.
Nƣớc xốt, súp, bánh Pudding, và Sô-cô-la đều có thể mƣợt mịn nhƣ kem bông.
 crunchy/crispy - describe something that makes a noise when you chew it. Crackers,

chips, bacon, granola, and other "hard" foods can be crunchy or crispy.

Giòn (crunchy/crispy) - Mô tả thứ mà khi bạn nhai nó sẽ tạo ra âm thanh (makes a noise).
Bánh quy giòn, khoai tây chiên, thịt xông khói, ngũ cốc dinh dƣỡng Granola, và một số loại
đồ ăn cứng khác đều giòn.
 chewy - describes food that requires some effort to chew. Caramels and other types

of candy can be chewy. This word can have a negative connotation if the food is not

supposed to be chewy - for example, when you overcook meat, it becomes tough and

chewy.

Dai/ khó nhai (Chewy) - mô tả loại thức ăn phải tốn nhiều công sức (requires some effort) để
nhai. Kẹo kéo và một số loại kẹo khác đều rất dai, khó nhai. Từ này cũng có một ý nghĩa khác
mang tính tiêu cực (a negative connotation) nếu đồ ăn không đƣợc cho là khó nhai - Ví dụ,
khi bạn nấu món thịt quá lâu, nó sẽ trở nên săn lại và khó nhai.
 greasy - describes food with a lot of oil. Hamburgers, French fries, and chicken

wings can be greasy

Béo ngậy/ nhiều dầu mỡ - mô tả loại thực phẩm có rất nhiều dầu mỡ. Ham-ber-ger, món
chiên rán kiểu Pháp và cánh gà đều rất nhiều dầu mỡ.
Link bài dịch gốc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/180zRZBy0XyFQuMxzi8qTgWDW7O9fUZ3QNwS2CPNWTuQ/edit?usp=sharing

Dịch bởi: Đỗ Thị Hồng Gấm

122
Lesson 31 - Texture
The word “texture” refers to the way something feels, and there are many different collocations used to
describe it. Let’s look at them in pairs of opposites.

Dry hair / Oily or greasy hair – You need to wash oily hair more often than you need to wash dry hair.

Dry skin / Oily skin – Oily skin is prone to acne, whereas dry skin often needs moisturizer.

A Smooth / Rough surface – Surfaces such as the ground, a road, and your skin can be smooth (with a
consistent surface) or rough (with a varied surface).

Calm / Choppy or rough water – The water of the ocean is calm when the weather is mild, and it is
choppy/rough when there are high winds.

Hard / Soft object – A mattress or pillow, for example, can be hard or soft.

Tender / Tough meat – Meat that is “tender” is easy to cut and chew, and meat that is “tough” is
difficult to cut and chew.

A Sharp / Dull blade or point – A knife or a pencil can be “sharp” – meaning it can cut – or “dull,”
meaning it has lost its ability to cut.

The verbs “soften” and “harden” describe the process of becoming soft and becoming hard. For
example, potatoes soften when you cook them in boiling water. And snow hardens if the temperature
decreases and the snow begins turning into ice.

We can also use “soften” and “harden” in a more metaphorical way – we can say a person’s voice
softens when they begin speaking in a more friendly tone, and their voice hardens when they begin
speaking in a less friendly tone. A person’s attitude or views can also “soften” (become more
friendly/tolerant) or “harden” (become less friendly/less tolerant).

Texture words are often used when describing food:

creamy - describes a smooth and rich texture, like cream. Sauces, soups, puddings, and
chocolate can be creamy.
crunchy/crispy – describe something that makes a noise when you chew it. Crackers, chips,
bacon, granola, and other “hard” foods can be crunchy or crispy.
chewy – describes food that requires some effort to chew. Caramels and other types of candy
can be chewy. This word can have a negative connotation if the food is not supposed to be
chewy – for example, when you overcook meat, it becomes tough and chewy.
greasy – describes food with a lot of oil. Hamburgers, French fries, and chicken wings can be
greasy.

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Lesson 31 - Quiz
Match the two halves of these sentences:

1. After my dental surgery, I could only a) alfredo sauce is my favorite dish.


eat soft
2. His facial expression b) bits of Oreo cookies in this ice cream.
3. I felt sick after eating four greasy c) chewy; I think it's overcooked.
4. My skin gets really d) choppy; it's not a good day to go sailing.
5. Pasta with creamy e) dry in the wintertime.
6. She simmered the stew for hours f) dull it won't even cut a tomato.
until the meat
7. The boss' voice g) foods for three weeks.
8. The skin on his hands is h) hardened when he mentioned his ex-wife.
9. The water is quite i) rough due to years of manual labor.
10. There are some crunchy j) slices of pizza.
11. This chicken is a little bit k) softened after we told her that the mistake
could be fixed.
12. This knife is so l) was wonderfully tender.

Listen and fill the missing words

The verbs “soften” and “harden” describe the process of becoming soft and becoming hard. For

example, potatoes ............................ when you cook them in boiling water. And snow .........................

if the temperature decreases and the snow begins ........................................... into ice.

We can also use “soften” and “harden” in a more ........................................ way – we can say a

person’s voice softens when they begin speaking in a more friendly tone, and their voice hardens

when they begin speaking in a less friendly tone. A person’s ........................................ or views can also
“soften” (become more friendly/tolerant) or “harden” (become less friendly/less ................................).

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Lesson 32 - Smell
Today we'll continue learning collocations related to the five senses, with expressions for

describing different smells. Let's begin by looking at some commonly confused words.

Ngày hôm nay chúng ta sẽ tiếp tục học các cụm từ liên quan đến năm giác quan với những từ ngữ
mô tả các mùi vị khác nhau. Hãy cùng xem một số từ vựng rắc rối phổ biến.

AROMA, SCENT, and FRAGRANCE all describe a good smell. You can talk about the

WONDERFUL AROMA of a cake that has just been taken out of the oven, the FRESH

SCENT of flowers, and the SWEET FRAGRANCE of a woman's perfume.

MÙI THƠM mô tả hƣơng thơm. Bạn có thể nói về HƢƠNG THƠM TUYỆT HẢO của một chiếc
bánh ngọt mà bạn vừa lấy ra khỏi lò nƣớng, HƢƠNG THƠM TINH KHIẾT của những bông hoa,
và HƢƠNG THƠM NGỌT NGÀO của nƣớc hoa phụ nữ.

The word SMELL is neutral; you can have the LOVELY SMELL of fresh-baked bread, or

the HORIBLE SMELL of rotting food. The word "smell" can be a noun or a verb - so you

can also say “IT SMELLS DELICIOUS” or “IT SMELLS NASTY”.

Từ MÙI VỊ là từ trung lập; bạn có thể có MÙI THƠM của chiếc bánh mì vừa ra lò, hoặc MÙI
KINH KHỦNG của đồ ăn ôi thiu. Từ ‚mùi vị‛ có thể là danh từ hoặc động từ - vì vậy bạn có thể
nói ‚NÓ MÙI THƠM NGON‛ hoặc ‚NÓ MÙI KHÓ CHỊU‛.

The words STENCH, STINK, and ODOR all describe bad smells - there's the FOUL ODOR

of a dead animal, and the REVOLTING STENCH of sewage. The unpleasant smell of a

person who doesn't take showers or use deodorant is called BODY ODOR.

Từ MÙI HÔI THỐI đều là những mùi khó chịu - có MÙI HÔI HÁM của động vật đã chết, và MÙI
KINH KHỦNG của chất thải. Mùi khó chịu từ một ngƣời không tắm hoặc dùng chất khử mùi gọi là
MÙI CƠ THỂ.

To describe the strength of smells, you can say they are LIGHT/ FAINT SMELLS or

STRONG SMELLS. When a smell is extremely strong, you can say it is an

OVERPOWERING SMELL. A smell that you recognize can be called a FAMILIAR SMELL,

and a smell that is unique and easy to identify can be called a DISTINCTIVE SMELL or an

UNMISTAKABLE SMELL.

Để mô tả sự nặng nhẹ của mùi vị, bạn có thể nói MÙI NHẸ hoặc MÙI NẶNG. Khi một mùi rất
nặng, bạn có thể nói đó là NẶNG MÙI. Mùi mà bạn nhận ra đƣợc có thể gọi là MÙI QUEN
THUỘC, mùi độc nhất và dễ dàng nhận biết có thể đƣợc gọi là MÙI ĐẶC TRƢNG hoặc MÙI
KHÔNG THỂ NHẦM LẪN.

125
Smells can "waft" - that means float through the air. For example, the MOUTH-WATERING

SCENT of chocolate chip cookies wafted across the room. Another verb used with smell is

"fill" - the ACRID SMELL of smoke filled the hallway. Finally, if a smell stays in a place for

a long time, we can use the verb "linger" - the SPICY AROMA of her cooking lingered in the

kitchen for hours.

Mùi có thể ‚ lan tỏa‛ - có nghĩa là lơ lửng trong không trung. Ví dụ, HƢƠNG THƠM NGÀO
NGẠT của những chiếc bánh quy vị sô-cô-la lan tỏa qua căn phòng. Một động từ nữa dùng với mùi
đó là ‚tràn đầy‛ - MÙI HÔI của khói thuốc tràn ngập hành lang. Cuối cùng, nếu một mùi lƣu lại ở
một nơi trong khoảng thời gian dài, chúng ta có thể sử dụng động từ ‚phảng phất‛ - HƢƠNG
THƠM CAY CAY từ món ăn cô ấy nấu phảng phất trong căn bếp hàng giờ đồng hồ.

Here are some additional collocations for describing smells:

 EARTHY/ FISHY/ FRUITY/ METALLIC SMELL - smells like soil/dirt, fish, fruit, or

metal

 RANCID/ PUTRID SMELL - a disgusting smell of things that are rotten

 DAMP/ DANK SMELL - a smell of wet things and mold

 A PERVASIVE SMELL - a smell that tends to fill the space and remain there

 A PUNGENT SMELL - a smell that is "sharp" and strong; it almost hurts your nose

when you smell it.

Dƣới đây là một số cụm từ bổ sung để mô tả mùi vị:

 EARTHY/ FISHY/ FRUITY/ METALLIC SMELL - mùi đất/ bẩn, mùi cá, hoa hỏa hoặc kim
loại
 RANCID/ PUTRID SMELL (MÙI ÔI THỐI) - loại mùi ghê tởm của đồ bị thối rữa
 DAMP/ DANK SMELL (MÙI ẨM ƢỚT) - mùi của những đồ ẩm ƣớt
 A PERVASIVE SMELL (MÙI LAN TỎA) - mùi tràn ngập ở không gian và lƣu lại ở đó
A PUNGENT SMELL ( MÙI CAY) - mùi ‚gắt‛ và mạnh; nó hầu nhƣ làm tổn thƣơng mũi của bạn
khi bạn ngửi nó.

Dịch bởi Vũ Thị Hồng Nhung

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126
Lesson 32 - Smell
Today we’ll continue learning collocations related to the five senses, with expressions for describing
different smells. Let’s begin by looking at some commonly confused words.

Aroma, scent, and fragrance all describe a good smell. You can talk about the wonderful aroma of a
cake that has just been taken out of the oven, the fresh scent of flowers, and the sweet fragrance of a
woman’s perfume.

The word smell is neutral; you can have the lovely smell of fresh-baked bread, or the horrible smell of
rotting food. The word “smell” can be a noun or a verb – so you can also say “It smells delicious” or “It
smells nasty.”

The words stench, stink, and odor all describe bad smells – there’s the foul odor of a dead animal, and
the revolting stench of sewage. The unpleasant smell of a person who doesn’t take showers or use
deodorant is called body odor.

To describe the strength of smells, you can say they are light/faint smells or strong smells. When a
smell is extremely strong, you can say it is an overpowering smell. A smell that you recognize can be
called a familiar smell, and a smell that is unique and easy to identify can be called a distinctive smell or
an unmistakable smell.

Smells can “waft” – that means float through the air. For example, the mouth-watering scent of
chocolate chip cookies wafted across the room. Another verb used with smell is “fill” – the acrid smell of
smoke filled the hallway. Finally, if a smell stays in a place for a long time, we can use the verb “linger” –
the spicy aroma of her cooking lingered in the kitchen for hours.

Here are some additional collocations for describing smells:

earthy/fishy/fruity/metallic smell – smells like soil/dirt, fish, fruit, or metal


rancid/putrid smell – a disgusting smell of things that are rotten
damp/dank smell – a smell of wet things and mold
a pervasive smell – a smell that tends to fill the space and remain there
a pungent smell – a smell that is “sharp” and strong; it almost hurts your nose when you smell it

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Lesson 32 - Quiz
1. I can't stand the extensive / pervasive / prevalent odor of smoke in that bar.
2. I love the familiar / pungent / revolting smell of my grandmother's chicken soup.
3. I sensed the differential / distinctive / distinguished smell of frying onions.
4. She breathed in the earthy / metallic / putrid fragrance of the forest.
5. Something in the fridge smells damp / rancid / stink - like rotting meat.
6. The bathroom smells so fresh / frisky / foul right after it's been cleaned!
7. The smell of vomit continued / lasted / lingered in the hospital room.
8. There was a faint / small / mild smell of alcohol on his breath.
9. This wine has a light fruity aroma / odor / stench.
10. Your sweaty gym clothes smell faint / nasty / spicy.

Listen and fill the missing words

Today we’ll continue learning ................................. related to the five senses, with expressions for
describing different smells. Let’s begin by looking at some commonly ..................................... words.

Aroma, scent, and ................................ all describe a good smell. You can talk about the
wonderful ........................................ of a cake that has just been taken out of the oven, the fresh
scent of flowers, and the sweet fragrance of a woman’s .......................................

The word smell is neutral; you can have the lovely smell of fresh-baked bread, or the ......................

smell of .......................................... food. The word “smell” can be a noun or a verb – so you can
also say “It smells ...................................” or “It smells .........................................”

The words .........................................., stink, and odor all describe bad smells – there’s the foul odor

of a dead animal, and the ........................................ stench of sewage. The unpleasant smell of a
person who doesn’t take showers or use ....................................... is called body odor.

128
Lesson 33 - Taste
Let's begin this lesson by looking at the commonly confused words TASTE and FLAVOR.

Chúng ta cùng bắt đầu bài học bằng cách xem những từ thông thƣờng vị giác và mùi vị.

The word TASTE is often used as a verb, so you can say that a food TASTES GOOD or

TASTES BAD. If you want to be a little more extreme in your description, you can say that

a food TASTES DIVINE/HEAVENLY (for an extremely good taste) or TASTES

GROSS/DISGUSTING (for an extremely bad taste).

Vị giác thƣờng đƣợc sử dụng nhƣ một động từ, do đó bạn có thể nói rằng món ăn có VỊ NGON hoặc
KHÔNG NGON. Nếu bạn muốn mô tả một cách cao hơn, bạn có thể nói món ăn ngon TUYỆT
DIỆU/TUYỆT TRẦN (với vị giác cực kỳ ngon) hoặc món ăn MÙI KHÓ CHỊU/KINH TỞM (với vị
giác thực sự không ngon)

Another expression is "IT TASTES FUNNY" - that means it tastes unusual, with a negative

connotation. For example, "This milk tastes funny - it might be past its expiration date." It's

very common to say that something TASTES LIKE something else: "I had frog's legs once -

they TASTED LIKE chicken."

Một thành ngữ khác là ‚MÙI VỊ LÀ LẠ‛ có nghĩa là nó có vị giác không bình thƣờng, với ý nghĩa
tiêu cực. Ví dụ, cốc sữa này có mùi vị là lạ - điều này có thể là sữa quá hạn. Thông thƣờng để nói
rằng cái gì đó VỊ GIỐNG NHƢ một vị khác: Một lần tôi ăn chân ếch, mùi vị nó giống gà.

The word FLAVOR is typically used as a noun. We can say something has a NUTTY,

FRUITY, CHEESY, MINTY, or SALTY FLAVOR to compare the flavor to another food

(nuts, fruit, cheese, etc.) You can also use the word TASTE as a noun - for example: "This

wine has a FRUITY TASTE / FRUITY FLAVOR."

Thông thƣờng từ MÙI VỊ đƣợc sử dụng nhƣ một danh từ. Chúng ta cũng có thể nói cái gì đó có
MÙI VỊ QUẢ HẠCH, HOA QUẢ, PHO MÁT, hoặc BẠC HÀ để so sánh với mùi vị món ăn khác
(quả hạch, hoa quả, pho mát<). Bạn cũng có thể sử dụng từ vị giác nhƣ một danh từ. Ví dụ: Rƣợu
này có VỊ HOA QUẢ/MÙI HOA QUẢ.

Flavors or tastes can also be described by category, or by the sensation they cause in your

mouth - a BITTER FLAVOR, A SOUR TASTE, A SWEET TASTE. When you enjoy the

taste of something, and want to keep it in your mouth for a long time, we say you SAVOR

THE TASTE.

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Mùi vị hoặc vị giác có thể cũng đƣợc phân theo loại, hoặc bởi cảm giác chúng gây ra trong miệng
bạn - VỊ ĐẮNG, VỊ CHUA, VỊ NGỌT. Khi bạn thích mùi vị của cái gì đó, và muốn giữ nó trong
miệng lâu, chúng tôi gọi là THƢỞNG THỨC HƢƠNG VỊ.

If a food has a LOT of flavor, then it can be described as STRONg or RICH - the STRONG

FLAVOR of garlic, the RICH FLAVOR of chocolate. When the level of flavor is low, it is a

MILD FLAVOR or a SUBTLE FLAVOR. Both of these words have a positive connotation -

"This cheese has a nice, MILD FLAVOR" or, "The SUBTLE FLAVOR of ginger adds a nice

touch to this marinade."

Nếu món ăn có nhiều hƣơng vị, vì thế nó có thể đƣợc mô tả MẠNH HOẶC ĐẬM ĐÀ - mùi vị
mạnh của tỏi, mùi vị đậm đà của socola. Ở mức độ thấp, MÙI VỊ NHẸ HOẶC PHẢNG PHẤT.
Những từ trên có ý nghĩa tích cực - Pho mát ngon, mùi nhẹ hoặc ‚Mùi vị phảng phất của gừng
thêm hƣơng vị cho nƣớc sốt marinade‛

The expression BLAND TASTE OR BLAND FLAVOR is a way to describe food with little

flavor, with a negative connotation. For example - "These crackers have such a BLAND

FLAVOR that it feel like I'm snacking on cardboard."

Thành ngữ VỊ GIÁC NHẠT NHẼO HOẶC MÙI VỊ NHẠT NHẼO là cách để mô tả món ăn ít mùi
vị, với ý nghĩa tiêu cực. Ví dụ - Những chiếc bánh quy này có mùi vị NHẠT NHẼO cảm giác nhƣ
tôi đang ăn bìa cứng.

There are some foods that people usually don't enjoy the first time they try them... but with

time, people learn to like the flavor. A food like this can be described as AN ACQUIRED

TASTE.

Có một số món ăn mọi ngƣời thƣờng xuyên không thích khi nếm thử chúng lần đầu tiên, nhƣng
theo thời gian, con ngƣời học cách làm quen với mùi vị. Món ăn tƣơng tự nhƣ thế có thể đƣợc mô tả
nhƣ là SỞ THÍCH DO QUEN MÀ CÓ.

Dịch bởi Mai Duc Tho

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130
Lesson 33 - Taste
Let’s begin this lesson by looking at the commonly confused words taste and flavor.

The word taste is often used as a verb, so you can say that a food tastes good or tastes bad. If you want
to be a little more extreme in your description, you can say that a food tastes divine/heavenly (for an
extremely good taste) or tastes gross/disgusting (for an extremely bad taste).

Another expression is “it tastes funny” – that means it tastes unusual, with a negative connotation. For
example, “This milk tastes funny – it might be past its expiration date.” It’s very common to say that
something tastes like something else: “I had frog’s legs once – they tasted like chicken.”

The word flavor is typically used as a noun. We can say something has a nutty, fruity, cheesy, minty, or
salty flavor to compare the flavor to another food (nuts, fruit, cheese, etc.) You can also use the word
taste as a noun – for example: “This wine has a fruity taste / fruity flavor.”

Flavors or tastes can also be described by category, or by the sensation they cause in your mouth – a
bitter flavor, a sour taste, a sweet taste. When you enjoy the taste of something, and want to keep it in
your mouth for a long time, we say you savor the taste.

If a food has a LOT of flavor, then it can be described as strong or rich – the strong flavor of garlic, the
rich flavor of chocolate. When the level of flavor is low, it is a mild flavor or a subtle flavor. Both of
these words have a positive connotation – “This cheese has a nice, mild flavor” or, “The subtle flavor of
ginger adds a nice touch to this marinade.”

The expression bland taste or bland flavor is a way to describe food with little flavor, with a negative
connotation. For example – “These crackers have such a bland flavor that it feel like I’m snacking on
cardboard.”

There are some foods that people usually don’t enjoy the first time they try them… but with time,
people learn to like the flavor. A food like this can be described as an acquired taste.

There’s no quiz today – but to expand your vocabulary even more, check out this link for 101+ words for
describing food (with example sentences): http://www.squidoo.com/food-vocabulary

131
Lesson 34 - Statistics
First, let's clarify the difference between "number" and "amount" - we use "number" with
countable nouns, and "amount" with uncountable nouns.
Đầu tiên chúng ta hãy làm sáng tỏ sự khác nhau giữa “number’’ và “amount’’- chúng ta sử dụng
“number” với danh từ có thể đếm được, và “amount” với danh từ không thể đếm được.
 A large number of people

Một số lượng lớn người


 A massive amount of damage
Một lượng lớn thiệt hại
 A significant number of countries
Một số lượng đáng kể quốc gia
 A considerable amount of money
Một lượng đáng kể tiền bạc
 A tiny number of computers
Một số lượng nhỏ máy tính
 A minuscule amount of alcohol
Một lượng ít rượu
Numbers and statistics can increase or decrease (more formal), rise or fall (also formal) or go
up and go down (more informally). When a number goes up or down very fast, we can describe
this as sharp or dramatic - for example, the sudden improvement in the economy has resulted
in a dramatic drop in unemployment and a sharp rise in consumer spending. When a number
goes up or down slowly, then we can talk about a gradual increase in population or a slow
decline in the number of violent crimes. And if a number doesn't change, then it remains steady
or remains constant.

Những con số và số thống kê có thể tăng “increase” hoặc giảm “decrease” ( trang trọng hơn), rise
hoặc fall ( cũng trang trọng) hoặc go up và go down ( không trang trọng). Khi một con số tăng lên
hoặc giảm xuống rất nhanh, chúng ta có thể miểu tả điều này như sharp hoặc dramatic - ví dụ, sự
tiến bộ bất ngờ trong nền kinh tế đã gây ra một sự giảm đột ngột “ dramatic drop” về tình trạng
thất nghiệp và một sự tăng đột ngột “sharp rise” trong chi tiêu của người tiêu dùng. Khi một số
tăng hoặc giảm chậm, thì chúng ta có thể nói về một sự tăng dần dần “a gradual increase” về dân
số hoặc một sự giảm chậm “a slow decline” trong số lượng những tội phạm bạo lực. Và nếu một
số không thay đổi, thì nó duy trì ổn định “remain steady’’ hoặc duy trì liên tục “remain constant”.

We use the word "widespread" to describe something that is happening frequently in many
places. For example, there being widespread dissatisfaction with the government, or a new
book winning widespread acclaim in the literary world. A hurricane can cause widespread
damage, and a presidential candidate can have widespread support among voters of a certain
demographic.
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Chúng ta sử dụng từ lan rộng, phổ biến “widespread” để miểu tả một điều gì đó đang xảy ra
thường xuyên ở nhiều nơi. Ví dụ, đang có sự bất mãn phổ biến rộng rãi “ widespread
dissatisfaction’’ với chính phủ, hoặc một quyển sách mới đang giành được sự ca ngợi rộng rãi
trong thế giới văn học. Một cơn bão có thể gây thiệt hại rộng lớn (trên diện rộng) “widespread
damage”, và một ứng cử viên tổng thống có thể có sự ủng hộ rộng rãi “widespread support” giữa
những người bổ phiếu trong một nhân khẩu học nào đó.

In conversational English, we often use the structure keep + -ING to describe something that
happens frequently. For example,

Trong tiếng anh đàm thoại, chúng ta thường sử dụng cấu trúc keep + ING để miểu tả cái gì đó xảy
ra thường xuyên. Ví dụ,

 "I'm trying to work, but my colleagues keep interrupting me."


Tôi đang cố gắng làm việc, nhưng các đồng nghiệp của tôi cứ cản trở tôi.
 "Why do you keep asking me about the problem? I've told you a thousand times I don't
know how to solve it."
Tại sao bạn cứ hỏi tôi về vẫn đề này? Tôi đã nói với bạn một nghìn lần tôi không biết giải
quyết nó như thê nào.

Dịch bởi Trang Lê, Check bởi Phương Hoa


Link bài gốc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UVwbPbyWoXz622KxvMWIoJmj9nDY1GpDXzeteXNqUz0/edit?usp=sharing

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.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Lesson 34 - Statistics
First, let’s clarify the difference between “number” and “amount” – we use “number” with countable
nouns, and “amount” with uncountable nouns.

A large number of people


A massive amount of damage
A significant number of countries
A considerable amount of money
A tiny number of computers
A miniscule amount of alcohol

Numbers and statistics can increase or decrease (more formal), rise or fall (also formal) or go up and go
down (more informally). When a number goes up or down very fast, we can describe this as sharp or
dramatic – for example, the sudden improvement in the economy has resulted in a dramatic drop in
unemployment and a sharp rise in consumer spending. When a number goes up or down slowly, then
we can talk about a gradual increase in population or a slow decline in the number of violent crimes.
And if a number doesn’t change, then it remains steady or remains constant.

We use the word “widespread” to describe something that is happening frequently in many places. For
example, there being widespread dissatisfaction with the government, or a new book winning
widespread acclaim in the literary world. A hurricane can cause widespread damage, and a presidential
candidate can have widespread support among voters of a certain demographic.

In conversational English, we often use the structure keep + -ING to describe something that happens
frequently. For example,

“I’m trying to work, but my colleagues keep interrupting me.”


“Why do you keep asking me about the problem? I’ve told you a thousand times I don’t know
how to solve it.”

134
Lesson 34 - Quiz
Choose the best word to complete this opinion letter in a magazine:

The heavy / sharp rise in obesity is a major cause for concern. A significant / steady percentage of
adults are now overweight, and the amount / number of children with weight problems is also getting
up / going up. This crisis is partly due to the overall / widespread consumption of processed foods with
high amounts / numbers of fat and sugar. We're exposed to an excessive amount / number of
advertisements that keep / stay encouraging us to consume more and more food with less and less
nutritional value.

Other contributing factors to the obesity epidemic include a gradual / low increase in portion sizes and a
drop / lack in the average amount / number of physical exercise practiced by the population. A short /
miniscule number of kids nowadays play sports; instead, they prefer to spend a considerable /
conventional amount of time in front of computers, TVs, and video games.

Health problems caused by excess weight have resulted in a dramatic / vivid increase in health care
costs, and although the life expectancy has remained reliable / steady over the past 30 years, we can
expect to see a decay / decline if the trend of over-eating and under-exercising continues.

Listen and fill the missing words

Numbers and ...................................... can increase or decrease (more formal), rise or fall (also formal)
or go up and go down (more informally). When a number goes up or down very fast, we can describe
this as sharp or ..................................... – for example, the sudden improvement in the economy has
resulted in a dramatic drop in unemployment and a sharp rise in consumer spending. When a number
goes up or down slowly, then we can talk about a ......................................... increase in population or a
slow decline in the number of violent crimes. And if a number doesn’t change, then it remains steady

or remains constant.

We use the word “widespread” to describe something that is happening frequently in many places. For

example, there being widespread ...........................................with the government, or a new book


winning widespread acclaim in the literary world. A hurricane can cause widespread damage, and
a ..................................... candidate can have widespread support among voters of a

certain .......................................

135
Lesson 35 - Movement & Speed
English has a number of words that mean "fast" - but each one has different collocations.

Tiếng Anh có rất nhiều từ có nghĩa ‚nhanh‛- nhƣng mỗi từ lại đi với những cụm từ cố định khác
nhau.
Use fast to describe a vehicle, person, or action: a fast car, a fast train, a fast runner, work

fast, drive fast, learn fast

Dùng fast để miêu tả về phƣơng tiện, con ngƣời hoặc hành động nhƣ: chiếc ô tô chạy nhanh, chiếc
tàu nhanh, vận động viên chạy nhanh, làm việc mau lẹ, lái xe nhanh, học nhanh.
Use quick to describe an event or action: a quick lunch, a quick glance, a quick shower, a

quick decision

Dùng quick để miêu tả sự kiện hoặc hành động nhƣ: bữa ăn trưa nhanh, cái liếc qua nhanh,
tắm qua loa, quyết định nhanh chóng.
Use rapid to describe a change: a rapid increase/decline, a rapid change, rapid growth,

rapid progress

Dùng rapid để miêu tả sự thay đổi nhƣ: tăng/giảm nhanh, sự thay đổi nhanh chóng, phát triển
nhanh, sự tiến bộ nhanh chóng
The word speedy is often used with recovery and resolution: a speedy recovery from

surgery, a speedy resolution to the problem.

Từ speedy thƣờng đƣợc dùng với recovery và resolution: sự phục hồi nhanh chóng sau phẫu
thuật, giải pháp nhanh chóng cho vấn đề.
The word swift is often used with action, response, and reaction: The swift action of the

police enabled the criminal to be caught immediately; we received a swift response to our

request for information.

Từ swift thƣờng đi với action, response và reaction như: hành động mau lẹ của cảnh sát có khả
năng bắt đƣợc tội phạm ngay lập tức; chúng tôi nhận đƣợc phản hồi nhanh chóng về thông tin
theo yêu cầu của chúng tôi.
The word prompt means "fast and punctual" - it is often used with information and

payment or customer service. For example, you can give a prompt reply to an e-mail, and

receive prompt delivery of a product you ordered.

Từ promtp nghĩa là ‚ nhanh và đúng hẹn‛- thƣờng đƣợc dùng với thông tin và trả phí hoặc dịch
vụ khách hàng. Ví dụ, bạn có thể trả lời ngay sau email này và nhận dịch vụ giao hàng nhanh với
sản phẩm đã đặt.
The word hasty means "fast and in a rush" - He made a hasty exit from the party when he

saw his exgirlfriend walk in. This word often has connotation of doing something without

136
sufficient consideration. You might come to a hasty conclusion before considering all the

evidence, and make a hasty decision that you'll regret later.

Từ hasty có nghĩa là ‚ nhanh và gấp gáp‛- Anh ấy đã vội rời khỏi bữa tiệc khi nhìn thấy ngƣời
yêu cũ bƣớc vào . Từ này thƣờng biểu trƣng cho làm việc gì đó mà không suy tính kĩ lƣỡng. Bạn có
thể đi đến kết luận vội vã trƣớc khi suy tính về những chứng cứ, và đƣa ra quyết định nóng vội
mà sau này bạn sẽ phải hối tiếc.
When you're driving, you need to pay attention to the speed limit - the maximum velocity

permitted. If you're driving at breakneck speed (extremely fast), then you might need to

slow down. If you get caught in a speed trap (where the police measure the velocity of passing

cars), you might have to pay a speeding ticket (penalty for driving too fast).

Khi đang lái xe, bạn cần chú ý đến giới hạn tốc độ- tốc độ tối đa đƣợc cho phép. Nếu bạn đang lái
với tốc độ cắt cổ (cực kì nhanh), sau đó bạn nên đi chậm chậm lại. Nếu bạn bị bắt ở bẫy tốc độ
(nơi mà cảnh sát đo tốc độ của ô tô đi qua), bạn sẽ phải trả phí tốc độ (hình phạt vì lái xe quá
nhanh).
Of course, you might need to put on a burst of speed (sudden increase in speed) to pass a car

that's moving at a snail's pace (very slowly). If major construction is being done on the road,

then traffic might slow to a crawl (slow down to a very slow speed) and eventually come to a

standstill (stop completely). To talk about changes in speed, we can say something is gaining

speed or speeding up (to describe moving faster) or losing speed or slowing down (to

describe moving slower).

Dĩ nhiên, bạn cần tăng tốc (bất ngờ tăng tốc độ) để vƣợt qua những ô tô đang di chuyển như sên
bò (rất chậm). Nếu công trình xây dựng đƣờng bộ chính đang đƣợc hoàn thành, sau đó giao thông
có thể chậm (giảm tốc độ xuống rất thấp) và cuối cùng dẫn đến ùn tắc (ngừng hoàn toàn). Để nói
về thay đổi tốc độ, chúng ta có thể nói một số việc nhƣ đạt tốc độ hoặc tăng tốc (để miêu tả di
chuyển nhanh hơn) hoặc giảm tốc hoặc chậm lại (để miêu tả việc di chuyển chậm hơn).
Finally, to talk about eating or walking in a slow and relaxed way, you can use the word

"leisurely" - After a leisurely breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll through the park.

Cuối cùng, để nói về ăn uống hoặc đi bộ ở trạng thái chậm và thƣ giãn, bạn có thể sử dụng từ
LEISURELY- Sau BỮA SÁNG THONG THẢ, chúng tôi có CUỘC TẢN BỘ THONG DONG
qua công viên.
(Dịch bởi Vũ Thị Oanh)

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

137
Lesson 35 - Movement & Speed
English has a number of words that mean “fast” – but each one has different collocations.

Use fast to describe a vehicle, person, or action: a fast car, a fast train, a fast runner, work fast, drive
fast, learn fast

Use quick to describe an event or action: a quick lunch, a quick glance, a quick shower, a quick decision

Use rapid to describe a change: a rapid increase/decline, a rapid change, rapid growth, rapid progress

The word speedy is often used with recovery and resolution: a speedy recovery from surgery, a speedy
resolution to the problem.

The word swift is often used with action, response, and reaction: The swift action of the police enabled
the criminal to be caught immediately; we received a swift response to our request for information.

The word prompt means “fast and punctual” – it is often used with information and payment or
customer service. For example, you can give a prompt reply to an e-mail, and receive prompt delivery
of a product you ordered.

The word hasty means “fast and in a rush” – He made a hasty exit from the party when he saw his ex-
girlfriend walk in. This word often has connotation of doing something without sufficient consideration.
You might come to a hasty conclusion before considering all the evidence, and make a hasty decision
that you’ll regret later.

When you’re driving, you need to pay attention to the speed limit – the maximum velocity permitted. If
you’re driving at breakneck speed (extremely fast), then you might need to slow down. If you get caught
in a speed trap (where the police measure the velocity of passing cars), you might have to pay a
speeding ticket (penalty for driving too fast).

Of course, you might need to put on a burst of speed (sudden increase in speed) to pass a car that’s
moving at a snail’s pace (very slowly). If major construction is being done on the road, then traffic might
slow to a crawl (slow down to a very slow speed) and eventually come to a standstill (stop completely).
To talk about changes in speed, we can say something is gaining speed or speeding up (to describe
moving faster) or losing speed or slowing down (to describe moving slower).

Finally, to talk about eating or walking in a slow and relaxed way, you can use the word “leisurely” –
After a leisurely breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll through the park.

138
Lesson 35 - Quiz
Match the two halves of these sentences:

1. After he got five speeding a) action saved the little boy from drowning.
2. Both sides are hoping for a b) crawl because I'm downloading a big file.
speedy
3. He ended up regretting his c) decision to quit his job.
hasty
4. I took a quick d) down when driving in the rain.
5. If this bill is not paid e) expansion of that company.
6. I'm impressed by the rapid f) internet connection at the university.
7. It's nice to have a leisurely g) limit on the highway is 65 miles per hour.
8. My computer has slowed h) lunch on Sunday afternoon.
to a
9. The lifeguard's swift i) nap after I got home from work.
10. The marching soldiers j) promptly, a late fee will be applied.
came to a
11. The speed k) resolution to the lawsuit.
12. This project is moving at a l) snail's pace due to government bureaucracy.
13. We have a fast m) speed, the runner passed his opponent and won
the race.
14. With a burst of n) standstill at the admiral's signal.
15. You should slow o) tickets, his driver's license was suspended.

Listen and fill the missing words

When you’re driving, you need to pay ....................................... to the speed limit – the
maximum ......................... permitted. If you’re driving at ........................................ speed (extremely
fast), then you might need to slow down. If you get caught in a speed ....................................(where the

police measure the velocity of passing cars), you might have to pay a speeding ticket (...........................

for driving too fast).

139
Lesson 36 - Changes
To talk about making small changes, you can say make adjustments, make

alterations, or make modifications. More informally, you can say make tweaks - "We

made a few tweaks to the website."

Để nói về việc thực hiện những thay đổi nhỏ, bạn có thể nói thực hiện điều chỉnh
(adjustments), thực hiện sửa đổi (alterations) hoặc thực hiện cải tạo (modifications). Thân
mật hơn, bạn có thể nói thực hiện chỉnh sửa (tweaks) - ‚chúng tôi đã thực hiện một vài chỉnh sửa
cho trang web‛.
To talk about bigger changes, you can use the verbs "transform" and

"revolutionize":

Để nói về những thay đổi lớn hơn, bạn có thể sử dụng những động từ ‘’biến đổi’’ và ‚cách
mạng hóa‛
 The internet has revolutionized the way people communicate.

 Mạng internet đã cách mạng hóa cách thức con ngƣời giao tiếp với nhau.
 The city transformed the vacant lot into a playground.

 Thành phố đã biến lô đất trống thành một sân chơi


(you usually "transform" one thing "into" something else)

Bạn thƣờng ‚biến đổi‛ một thứ này ‚thành‛ một thứ khác
When you put on different clothes, you change your clothes. When you remove a

baby's dirty diaper and put on a clean one, you change the baby's diaper. When you

reverse a decision or opinion, then you change your mind. And when you introduce a

different topic of conversation, then you change the subject. When you change your

religion, then we often use the verb convert - I converted to Christianity; my brother wants

to convert to Islam.

Khi bạn mặc lên ngƣời những bộ quần áo khác nhau, bạn thay quần áo. Khi bạn tháo tã
giấy bẩn của em bé và mặc vào tã sạch, bạn thay tã giấy của em bé. Khi bạn đảo ngƣợc quyết định
hoặc ý kiến, thì bạn thay đổi ý định. Và khi bạn giới thiệu một chủ đề khác của cuộc hội thoại, thì
bạn thay đổi chủ đề. Khi bạn thay đổi tôn giáo, sau đó chúng ta thƣờng sử dụng động từ convert
(cải đạo) - Tôi cải đạo sang Cơ đốc giáo, anh trai tôi muốn cải đạo sang Hồi giáo.
Other verbs used for changes are "turn," "become," and "get." Let's look at their

different collocations.
‚Những động từ khác đƣợc sử dụng chỉ sự thay đổi nhƣ “turn - chuyển/đổi/biến”, “become - trở
thành/trở nên” và “get - nhận được”. Chúng ta hãy xem các collocations khác nhau.

Use turn with colors: Sử dụng turn với màu sắc


 Bananas turn black if you put them in the refrigerator.
 Chuối chuyển sang màu đen nếu bạn để chúng trong tủ lạnh.

140
You can also use turn into as a less formal expression for "transform into":

Bạn cũng có thể sử dụng ‚turn into‛ nhƣ một cách diễn đạt ít trang trọng hơn thay cho
‚transform into‛
 Our living room couch turns into a bed.

 Cái ghế ở phòng khách của chúng tôi biến thành một chiếc giƣờng
Use become with emotions and states of being, including comparative adjectives:

Sử dụng từ ‚trở nên‛ với những cảm xúc và trạng thái bao gồm cả những tính từ so sánh:
 My sister became angry when she found out I'd broken her computer.

 Chị gái tôi trở nên giận dữ khi chị ấy phát hiện ra tôi đã phá hỏng máy tính của chị ấy.
 It's becoming apparent/clear that the treatment isn't working.

 Việc chữa trị không hiệu quả là điều đang dần trở nên rõ ràng.
 The band's music became popular among teenagers.

 Bài hát của ban nhạc trở nên nổi tiếng trong giới trẻ
 It's becoming more difficult to separate one's personal and professional life.

 Việc phân biệt rạch ròi đời sống cá nhân và đời sống nghề nghiệp của một ngƣời ngày
càng trở nên khó khăn.
You can also use become with professions: My brother became an actor.

Bạn cũng có thể sử dụng ‚become‛ với nghề nghiệp: Anh trai tôi trở thành diễn viên
The word get can be used as a less formal alternative to "become" with emotions and

comparative adjectives (but NOT with professions or states of being).

Từ get có thể đƣợc sử dụng với cảm xúc và tính từ so sánh (nhƣng không sử dụng với từ chỉ
nghề nghiệp hoặc trạng thái) nhƣ một phƣơng án ít trang trọng hơn thay cho từ ‚become‛
 I'm getting excited about my upcoming trip to Spain.

 Tôi rất háo hức về chuyến đi đến Tây Ban Nha sắp tới
 It's getting more expensive to rent a place in this neighborhood.

 Việc thuê một nơi trong khu vực này đang ngày càng trở nên tốn kém.
 Will it ever get easier for me to understand movies in English?

 Liệu việc hiểu phim tiếng anh có trở nên dễ dàng hơn với tôi không?
We also use the word go in a few specific collocations involving changes:

Chúng ta cũng có thể sử dụng từ ‚go‛ trong một vài collocations đặc biệt về sự thay đổi
 go bald = lose your hair: hói đầu

 go blind = lose your ability to see: bị mù

 go deaf = lose your ability to hear: bị điếc

go crazy/insane = lose your mental control: mất khả năng kiểm soát.
Dịch bởi Đỗ Thị Hồng Nhung

141
Lesson 36 - Changes
To talk about making small changes, you can say make adjustments, make alterations, or make
modifications. More informally, you can say make tweaks – “We made a few tweaks to the website.”

To talk about bigger changes, you can use the verbs “transform” and “revolutionize”:

The internet has revolutionized the way people communicate.


The city transformed the vacant lot into a playground.
(you usually “transform” one thing “into” something else)

When you put on different clothes, you change your clothes. When you remove a baby’s dirty diaper
and put on a clean one, you change the baby’s diaper. When you reverse a decision or opinion, then
you change your mind. And when you introduce a different topic of conversation, then you change the
subject. When you change your religion, then we often use the verb convert – I converted to
Christianity; my brother wants to convert to Islam.

Other verbs used for changes are “turn,” “become,” and “get.” Let’s look at their different collocations.

Use turn with colors:

Bananas turn black if you put them in the refrigerator.

You can also use turn into as a less formal expression for “transform into”:

Our living room couch turns into a bed.

Use become with emotions and states of being, including comparative adjectives:

My sister became angry when she found out I’d broken her computer.
It’s becoming apparent/clear that the treatment isn’t working.
The band’s music became popular among teenagers.
It’s becoming more difficult to separate one’s personal and professional life.

You can also use become with professions: My brother became an actor.

The word get can be used as a less formal alternative to “become” with emotions and comparative
adjectives (but NOT with professions or states of being).

I’m getting excited about my upcoming trip to Spain.


It’s getting more expensive to rent a place in this neighborhood.
Will it ever get easier for me to understand movies in English?

We also use the word go in a few specific collocations involving changes:

go bald = lose your hair


go blind = lose your ability to see
go deaf = lose your ability to hear
go crazy/insane = lose your mental control

142
Lesson 36 - Quiz
Complete the sentences with make, turn, change, become, get, or go:

(note: you may need to change the form of the verb: makes, made, making, etc.)

1. After losing his job, George decided to _____________ a consultant.


2. Daniel is embarrassed that he's starting to __________ bald, so he often wears a hat.
3. Her face _________ red when she gets embarrassed.
4. He's not going to ___________ his mind. He seems pretty firm in his decision.
5. I like to experiment in the kitchen - I __________ tweaks to the recipes in the cookbook.
6. I'll be ready in 10 minutes - just let me ___________ my clothes.
7. I'm ___________ annoyed with my bank's terrible customer service.
8. My conversations with my sister always ___________ into arguments.
9. We have fewer funds available than we expected, so we need to ____________ some
adjustments to the budget.
10. If you want to ____________ better at playing the piano, you should practice more.

Listen and fill the missing words

When you put on different ...................................., you change your clothes. When you remove a
baby’s dirty ..........................................and put on a clean one, you change the baby’s diaper. When
you ....................................... a decision or opinion, then you change your mind. And when you
introduce a different topic of conversation, then you change the ............................................ When
you change your ................................., then we often use the verb convert – I converted

to ...............................................; my brother wants to convert to Islam.

143
Lesson 37 - Speaking
Want to become a better conversationalist? Here are a few tips for MAKING SMALL TALK

(talking casually about simple topics):

Muốn trở thành một ngƣời có tài nói chuyện thu hút mọi ngƣời hơn? Sau đây là những cách để
THỰC HIỆN CUỘC HỘI THOẠI NGẮN (nói một cách tự nhiên về những chủ đề đơn giản):

 To STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION, you can MAKE COMMENTS about the

weather or the local surroundings.

 Để BẮT ĐẦU MỘT CUỘC HỘI THOẠI, bạn có thể ĐƢA RA NHỮNG BÌNH LUẬN về
thời tiết hoặc những điều về môi trƣờng xung quanh.

 Stay away from DELICATE SUBJECTS like religion and politics - you don't want to

get into a LENGTHY DISCUSSION or HAVE AN ARGUMENT.

 Tránh xa những CHỦ ĐỀ NHẠY CẢM chẳng hạn nhƣ tôn giáo và chính trị - nếu bạn
không muốn cuốn vào MỘT CUỘC THẢO LUẬN DÀI hoặc MỘT CUỘC TRANH CÃI.

 If there's a LULL IN THE CONVERSATION ask the other person a question about

themselves.

 Nếu nhƣ CÂU CHUYỆN TẠM LẮNG, hãy hỏi ngƣời đối thoại câu hỏi về bản thân họ.

 If you TELL A STORY, don't GO ON AND ON - remember that you're having a

BRIEF CHAT; you're not MAKING A SPEECH.

 Nếu bạn KỂ MỘT CÂU CHUYỆN, đừng NÓI QUÁ NHIỀU - nhớ rằng bạn có một
ĐOẠN TÁN GẪU NGẮN, chứ không phải bạn ĐANG DIỄN THUYẾT.

 Be careful about CRACKING JOKES- you might end up having to APOLOGIZE

PROFUSELY if the person is offended.

 Hãy cận thận về NHỮNG CÂU NÓI ĐÙA - kẻo không bạn có thể phải kết thúc bằng việc
XIN LỖI RẤT NHIỀU LẦN nếu ngƣời nghe cảm thấy bị xúc phạm.

Having good communication skills can really improve your relationships. People

appreciate it when you GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT rather than DROPPING HINTS.

Có kĩ năng giao tiếp tốt thật sự có thể giúp bạn cải thiện những mối quan hệ. Mọi ngƣời sẽ đánh giá
cao khi bạn THỂ HIỆN TRỰC TIẾP THÔNG ĐIỆP CẦN TRUYỀN TẢI hơn là CỐ GẮNG GIAO
TIẾP THEO KIỂU GIÁN TIẾP.
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Of course, nobody trusts a person who TELLS LIES or STRECTCHES THE TRUTH. If you

always TELL THE TRUTH, then people know they can count on you when you GIVE

YOUR WORD.

Dĩ nhiên, chẳng ai tin một ngƣời NÓI DỐI hoặc PHÓNG ĐẠI HOẶC XUYÊN TẠC SỰ THẬT.
Nếu bạn luôn luôn NÓI SỰ THẬT, thì ngƣời ta sẽ tin tƣởng bạn khi bạn HỨA HẸN HOẶC NÓI
LỜI THẬT.

It's also important to watch your TONE OF VOICE and avoid making SARCASTIC

REMARKS or DISPARAGING COMMENTS. If you must MAKE A COMPLAINT, try to

give CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. And if you need to ASK A FAVOR of someone, always

do it politely - don't forget to say "Please"!

Cũng quan trọng để quan sát GIỌNG ĐIỆU của bạn và tránh NHỮNG NHẬN XÉT MỈA MAI
hoặc BÌNH LUẬN GÂY TỔN THƢƠNG. Nếu nhƣ bạn buộc phải PHÀN NÀN, hãy cố gắng đƣa
ra những PHÊ BÌNH CÓ TÍNH CHẤT XÂY DỰNG. Và nếu cần NHỜ SỰ GIÚP ĐỠ của ai đó,
hãy luôn nhờ một cách lịch sự và cũng đừng quên nói Làm ơn!‛

Dịch bởi Trần Ngọc Anh

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Lesson 37 - Speaking
Want to become a better conversationalist? Here are a few tips for making small talk (talking casually
about simple topics):

To strike up a conversation (start a conversation), you can make comments about the weather
or the local surroundings.
Stay away from delicate subjects (sensitive topics) like religion and politics – you don’t want to
get into a lengthy discussion (a long discussion) or have an argument (have a verbal fight).
If there’s a lull in the conversation (a pause in the conversation) ask the other person a question
about themselves.
If you tell a story, don’t go on and on (talk too much) - remember that you’re having a brief chat
(a quick conversation); you’re not making a speech.
Be careful about cracking jokes – you might end up having to apologize profusely (apologize
many times) if the person is offended.

Having good communication skills can really improve your relationships. People appreciate it when you
get straight to the point (talk directly about the essential message) rather than dropping hints (trying to
communicate very indirectly).

Of course, nobody trusts a person who tells lies (says things that aren’t true) or stretches the truth
(exaggerates and distorts the facts). If you always tell the truth, then people know they can count on
you when you give your word (make a promise or statement of the truth).

It’s also important to watch your tone of voice (the emotion with which you speak) and avoid making
sarcastic remarks or disparaging comments (very negative and destructive comments). If you must
make a complaint, try to give constructive criticism (criticism that helps the situation improve). And if
you need to ask a favor of someone, always do it politely – don’t forget to say “Please”!

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Lesson 37 - Quiz
ask hints lull profusely stretched tone

brief lengthy made remarks struck went

had lies make straight told

1. After the last argument I ___________ with my brother, we didn't speak to each other for
months.
2. At my college graduation, a famous entrepreneur ___________ a speech about the importance
of innovation.
3. Bill ___________ on and on about his weekend fishing trip - I really didn't need to know all the
details!
4. Can I ___________ you a favor? I need a ride to the doctor's office tomorrow morning.
5. Dave apologized ___________ for forgetting about our appointment.
6. During a ___________ in the conversation, she excused herself to go make a phone call.
7. Have I ever ___________ you the story of how I met my husband?
8. I don't like networking events - spending hours trying to ___________ small talk with strangers
just isn't my cup of tea.
9. I had a ___________ chat with my manager and gave him an update on the project.
10. I ___________ up a conversation with a woman at the library, and she gave me some interesting
book recommendations.
11. Jim and Nicole had a ___________ discussion about the best school to put their children in.
12. John may have ___________ the truth a bit when talking about how successful his company is.
13. My father doesn't talk a lot; when he has something to say, he gets ___________ to the point.
14. My mother taught me always to speak with a respectful ___________ of voice.
15. Rachel's sarcastic ___________ kept making me laugh during the movie.
16. Sally has been dropping ___________ that she's interested in Kevin.
17. Telling ___________ may be convenient at the time, but it can get you into trouble later.

Listen and fill the missing words


It’s also important to watch your .............................. of voice (the emotion with which you speak)

and avoid making ................................. remarks or ....................................... comments (very

negative and .............................................. comments). If you must make a complaint, try to give
constructive criticism (criticism that helps the situation improve). And if you need to ask a favor of

someone, always do it politely – don’t forget to say “Please”!


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Lesson 38 - Starting / Finishing
Let's get started with a common question: is there a difference between the verbs "start" and

"begin"? There's no difference in meaning - "I started studying English 3 years ago" is the

same as "I began studying English 3 years ago" - but "begin" is a little more formal than

"start."

Hãy bắt đầu với một câu hỏi thông thƣờng : Có sự khác nhau nào giữa các động từ ‚bắt đầu" and
"bắt đầu". Không có sự khác nhau về nghĩa- ‚ Tôi bắt đầu học tiếng anh từ 3 năm trƣớc‛ cùng
nghĩa với ‚ Tôi bắt đầu học tiếng anh từ 3 năm trƣớc‛- nhƣng ‚ begin‛ trang trọng trọng hơn ‚
start‛

The phrase "let's get started" is an informal way to announce the beginning of an activity.

You can also say that something "got off to a good start" if it began well. Other collocations

for a good start include an encouraging start or promising start - these expressions show

that there is hope for good results in the future. For example, "The soccer team got off to a

promising start, winning the first four games of the season."

Cụm từ ‛ Bắt đầu thôi nào‛ là cách nói thân mật để thông báo sự khởi đầu của một hoạt động.
Bạn cũng có thể nói rằng điều gì đó ‚ khởi đầu tốt‛ nếu bắt đầu một cách chính xác và thành công.
Những cụm từ khác cho một sự khởi đầu tốt bao gồm: sự khởi đầu đáng khích lệ hay sự khởi đầu
đầy hứa hẹn- những cách diễn đạt này đều thể hiện rằng có hi vọng cho những kết quá tốt đẹp
trong tƣơng lai. Ví dụ, ‚ Đội bóng đá đã có một sự khởi đầu đầy hứa hẹn, đó là chiến thắng 4 trận
thi đấu đầu tiên của mùa giải‛

If it is not so certain that there will be good results in the future, then you can say a shaky

start or unsteady start - "The business had a shaky start in the second quarter of 2013, with

sales numbers fluctuating daily."

Nếu không chắc chắn là kết quả tốt đẹp sẽ xảy đến trong tƣơng lai, thì bạn có thể nói một sự khởi
đầu không ổn định hay là một sự khởi đầu không vững chắc- ‚ Doanh nghiệp có một sự khởi
đầu không ổn định‛ trong kì thƣ 2 của năm 2013, với số lƣợng bán hàng dao động hàng ngày.

If the beginning of something did not meet expectations, you can call it a disappointing

start - and if it was REALLY terrible, you can describe it as a disastrous start. "Kevin failed

every single one of his first exams - his semester was off to a disastrous start."

Nếu sự khở đầu không nhƣ mong đợi, you có thể gọi đó là một sự khởi đầu đầy thất vọng- và nếu
nó thực sự tồi tệ, thì bạn có thể miêu tả nó nhƣ một sự khởi đầu thảm hại. ‚ Kevin đã trƣợt tất cả

148
các môn của bài kiểm tra đầu tiên của anh ấy. Kì học của anh ấy xuất phát với sự khởi đầu thảm
hại.”

Sometimes things go so badly that you need to get out of the situation and have a

completely fresh start or new beginning. When a successful person or company started

without being famous or rich, then we say they had a humble/modest beginning.

Đôi khi sự việc trở nên tồi tệ đến mức bạn cần phải thoát ra khỏi cái tình cảnh ấy và có một sự khởi
đầu hoàn toàn mới hay một sự bắt đầu mới. Khi một ngƣời hay một công ty thành công bắt đầu
mà không nổi tiếng hay giàu thì chúng ta nói họ có một sự khởi đầu khiêm tốn.

Now let's talk about "finish" and "end" - there is a difference between these two verbs.

"Finish" usually implies completing something, whereas "end" is used for a more passive

situation/state:

 I finished my homework.

 The semester ends in December.

 We need to finish the project.

 We ended our partnership with that company.

Bây giờ hãy nói về‛ hoàn thành‛ và kết thúc‛- Có sự khác nhau giữa hai động từ này. ‚Finish‛
thƣờng để chỉ một thứ gì đó hoàn thành, trái lại ‚ end‛ đƣợc dùng những trƣờng hợp hay tình
trạng bị động hơn.

 Tôi đã hoàn thành bài tập về nhà của mình.


 Kì học này kết thúc vào tháng 12.
 Chúng ta cần hoàn thành một sự án.
 Chúng ta đã kết thúc việc hợp tác với công ty đó rồi.

When you make the final changes to something before it is completed, we say you put the

finishing touches on it.

Khi bạn có thể tạo nên những thay đổi cuối cùng đối với điều gì đó trƣớc khi nó đƣợc hoàn thành,
chúng ta nói bạn trau chuốt để hoàn thành nó.

Two expressions used to talk about ending something are come to an end or draw to a

close. You can also say "the beginning of the end" to describe something that will probably

end soon - "The explosion at the factory was the beginning of the end for our company." In

149
other words, the explosion began a process of the company failing and eventually shutting

down.

Hai cách diễn đạt đƣợc sử dụng để nói về sự kết thúc một điều gì đó đó là ‚ chấm dứt‛ hay ‚ kết
thúc‛. Bạn cũng có thể nói ‚ bắt đầu của một kết thúc‛ để miêu tả điều gì đó sẽ có thể chấm dứt
sớm. - ‚ Vụ nổ ở nhà máy là bắt đầu của một kết thúc đối với với ty của chúng ta‛. Nói cách khác,
Vụ nổ đã bắt đầu một quá trình của công ty thất bại và cuối cùng là đóng cửa.

When something ends quickly, then it comes to an abrupt/sudden end. On the other hand,

when an activity appears that it will continue forever, then we say there's no end in sight.

Khi một điều gì đó kết thúc nhanh, thì nó sẽ kết thúc một cách đột ngột. Mặt khác, khi một hoạt
động dƣờng nhƣ là nó sẽ tiếp tục mãi mãi, thì chúng ta nói không có hồi hết.

Từ vựng Nghĩa

let's get started Bắt đầu thôi nào


got off to a good start Khởi đầu tốt
encouraging start Khởi đầu đáng khích lệ
shaky start / unsteady start Khởi đầu không chắc chắn, ổn định
disappointing start Khởi đầu đáng thất vọng
disastrous start Khởi đầu thảm hại
fresh start / new beginning Khởi đầu mới
put the finishing touches on it Trau chuốt để hoàn thiện

draw to a close Kết thúc


come to an end Chấm dứt
abrupt/sudden end Kết thúc đột ngột
no end in sight Không có hồi kết

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Ngọc Huyền

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150
Lesson 38 - Starting / Finishing
Let’s get started with a common question: is there a difference between the verbs “start” and “begin”?
There’s no difference in meaning – “I started studying English 3 years ago” is the same as “I began
studying English 3 years ago” – but “begin” is a little more formal than “start.”

The phrase “let’s get started” is an informal way to announce the beginning of an activity. You can also
say that something “got off to a good start” if it began well. Other collocations for a good start include
an encouraging start or promising start – these expressions show that there is hope for good results in
the future. For example, “The soccer team got off to a promising start, winning the first four games of
the season.”

If it is not so certain that there will be good results in the future, then you can say a shaky start or
unsteady start – “The business had a shaky start in the second quarter of 2013, with sales numbers
fluctuating daily.”

If the beginning of something did not meet expectations, you can call it a disappointing start – and if it
was REALLY terrible, you can describe it as a disastrous start. “Kevin failed every single one of his first
exams – his semester was off to a disastrous start.”

Sometimes things go so badly that you need to get out of the situation and have a completely fresh start
or new beginning. When a successful person or company started without being famous or rich, then we
say they had a humble/modest beginning.

Now let’s talk about “finish” and “end” – there is a difference between these two verbs. “Finish” usually
implies completing something, whereas “end” is used for a more passive situation/state:

I finished my homework.
The semester ends in December.
We need to finish the project.
We ended our partnership with that company.

When you make the final changes to something before it is completed, we say you put the finishing
touches on it.

Two expressions used to talk about ending something are come to an end or draw to a close. You can
also say “the beginning of the end” to describe something that will probably end soon – “The explosion
at the factory was the beginning of the end for our company.” In other words, the explosion began a
process of the company failing and eventually shutting down.

When something ends quickly, then it comes to an abrupt/sudden end. On the other hand, when an
activity appears that it will continue forever, then we say there’s no end in sight.

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Lesson 38 - Quiz
1. As the concert drew / took / went to a close, the lead singer thanked the fans for their support.
2. I like moving to a new city because you can make a fresh / pure / nice start.
3. It rained continuously for the first three days we were in Miami - a bit of a deadly /
disappointing / disbelieving start to our vacation.
4. My son got a job working directly under a prominent businessman. It's a very complimentary /
excellent / promising start to his career.
5. Our kids are sad that their summer vacation is being / coming / running to an end.
6. The artist put the completing / finishing / finalizing touches on her painting.
7. The back injury put a direct / rushed / sudden end to his tennis career.
8. The famous athlete talked about his humble / lowly / simple beginnings on his town's local
basketball team.
9. The negotiations got off to a scary / shaky / steady start, as neither side was willing to even
consider the other's proposal.
10. There seems to be no end in sight / view / watch to the country's political conflicts.

Listen and fill the missing words

Let’s get started with a ........................................ question: is there a difference between the verbs
“start” and “begin”? There’s no .............................................. in meaning – “I started studying
English 3 years ago” is the same as “I began studying English 3 years ago” – but “begin” is a little
more formal than “start.”

The phrase “let’s get started” is an informal way to .............................. the beginning of an activity.
You can also say that something “got off to a good start” if it began well. Other collocations for a

good start include an encouraging start or promising start – these expressions show that there is

hope for good results in the future. For example, “The ................................ team got off to a

promising start, winning the first four games of the season.”

If it is not so certain that there will be good results in the future, then you can say a ........................

start or .......................... start – “The business had a shaky start in the second quarter of 2013, with
sales numbers ................................ daily.”

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39 - Success & Failure
Successful Samantha has a long list of IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Samantha thành công sở hữu một danh sách dài chứa đầy những THÀNH TÍCH ẤN TƢỢNG.
It seems like everything she does ends up being a PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.

Hầu nhƣ mọi điều cô ấy làm đều trở nên THÀNH CÔNG PHI THƢỜNG.
In her very first job, she created a HIGHLY EFFECTIVE way to motivate the company's

employees, resulting in a DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT in workplace morale.

Đối với công việc đầu tiên, cô đã sáng tạo ra một phƣơng pháp CỰC KÌ HIỆU QUẢ để tạo động lực
cho nhân viên trong công ty, kết quả là tinh thần làm việc của nhân viên đã đƣợc CẢI THIỆN RÕ
RỆT.
Now she's developing a system for real-time translation among 100 different languages.

Hiện nay cô ấy đang phát triển một hệ thống phiên dịch thời gian thực đối với 100 ngôn ngữ khác
nhau.
If she can pull it off, it'll be an UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS (success in something for the

first time in history) and the CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT (best or most significant

achievement) of her career.

Nếu cô ấy có thể hoàn thành thì nó sẽ trở thành một THÀNH CÔNG CHƢA TỪNG THẤY (thành
công ở một lĩnh vực nào đó lần đầu tiên trong lịch sử) và một THÀNH TỰU NỔI BẬT NHẤT
(thành tựu xuất sắc nhất hoặc quan trọng nhất) trong sự nghiệp của cô.
So far, the program has enjoyed MODEST SUCCESS (some limited success) but there is still

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT (potential for improvement).

Đến nay, chƣơng trình đã có đƣợc những THÀNH CÔNG NHẤT ĐỊNH (vài thành công giới hạn)
nhƣng vẫn CÒN CÓ KHẢ NĂNG CẢI THIỆN THÊM (tiềm năng cải thiện).
However, Samantha says that the team is MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, and that in the

next month or two she hopes to MAKE A BREAKTHROUGH (make a sudden advance in

success, especially when you overcome an obstacle).

Tuy nhiên, Samantha cho rằng nhóm hiện đang CÓ NHỮNG TIẾN TRIỂN TỐT, trong một hoặc
hai tháng tới cô kỳ vọng sẽ TẠO NÊN MỘT BƢỚC ĐỘT PHÁ (tạo một bƣớc tiến thành công bất
ngờ, nhất là khi vƣợt qua đƣợc chƣớng ngại).
Although Samantha is very ambitious, she's also a very likeable person.

Mặc dù Samantha rất tham vọng, cô ấy vẫn là một ngƣời dễ mến.

She BRINGS OUT THE BEST in other people, and quickly WINS THE RESPECT of

colleagues.

Cô ấy KHAI THÁC ĐƢỢC NHỮNG ĐIỀU TỐT NHẤT của ngƣời khác, nhờ vậy Samantha
nhanh chóng ĐƢỢC NHIỀU ĐỒNG NGHIỆP KÍNH NỂ.
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Samantha's brother, Disastrous Dan, is the opposite - everything he attempts seems to FAIL

MISERABLY.

Anh trai của Samantha, Dan thất bại, thì lại trái ngƣợc hoàn toàn - mọi điều anh ấy làm hầu nhƣ
đều THẤT BẠI THẢM HẠI.
He wanted to be a doctor, but his teachers told him he wasn't smart enough, DASHING

HIS HOPES (making him abandon hope) of a career in medicine.

Anh ấy muốn làm bác sĩ, nhƣng giáo viên lại bảo rằng anh không đủ thông minh, LÀM TIÊU TAN
MỌI HI VỌNG (làm cho anh ấy từ bỏ hy vọng) của mình đối với nghề thầy thuốc.
He had the opportunity to do a prestigious internship in another country, but he LOST HIS

NERVE (lost his courage) and turned down the offer.

Anh ấy lại có cơ hội đƣợc thực tập tại một nơi có danh tiếng ở nƣớc ngoài, nhƣng lại MẤT TINH
THẦN (mất hết dũng khí) và từ chối lời mời.
He then applied for various jobs, but COMPLETELY FAILED to show up to the interviews

on time.

Sau đó anh xin việc ở khắp nơi, nhƣng LÚC NÀO CŨNG QUÊN đi phỏng vấn đúng giờ.
He was eventually hired, but later lost his job during an economic downturn due to his

MEDIOCRE PERFORMANCE (average work, not very special) and total lack of

REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS.

Cuối cùng thì anh ấy cũng đƣợc nhận vào làm việc, nhƣng sau đó lại bị sa thải trong thời kỳ suy
thoái kinh tế do NĂNG SUẤT LÀM VIỆC TẦM THƢỜNG (làm việc trung bình, không có gì đặc
biệt lắm) và không có THÀNH TÍCH NỔI TRỘI.
Dan then tried to start his own software company to compete with Samantha's; that was a

SPECTACULAR FAILURE.

Sau đó Dan lập nên công ty phần mềm do chính mình làm chủ để cạnh tranh với công ty của
Samantha; và đó lại là một THẤT BẠI Ê CHỀ.
He invested his life savings in the business, despite all his friends telling him that it would

be A RECIPE FOR DISASTER (very likely to result in disaster).

Anh ấy đầu tƣ hết khoản tiết kiệm cả đời vào kinh doanh, mặc dù bạn bè đều bảo rằng CÁCH LÀM
ĐÓ CHỈ DẪN ĐẾN THẢM HỌA mà thôi (rất có khả năng dẫn đến tai họa).
His sales predictions were WAY OFF THE MARK (completely inaccurate), and the

company WENT UNDER (lost all its money and shut down) just eight months after it was

founded.

Dự báo doanh số của anh ta HOÀN TOÀN XA RỜI THỰC TẾ (hoàn toàn không chính xác), dẫn
đến công ty PHÁ SẢN (mất hết vốn và đóng cửa) chỉ sau 8 tháng kể từ khi đƣợc thành lập.
Poor Dan - it seems like he's DOOMED TO FAILURE (destined to be unsuccessful).
154
Tội nghiệp Dan - có vẻ nhƣ anh ấy phải CHỊU KIẾP THẤT BẠI (thất bại đƣợc trù định trƣớc).

But IF ALL ELSE FAILS (if everything is unsuccessful), he can always move into Samantha's

mansion AS A LAST RESORT (a final possibility)!

Nhƣng NẾU TẤT CẢ MỌI THỨ ĐỀU HỎNG CẢ (nếu mọi thứ đều không thành công), anh ấy
vẫn còn MỘT PHƢƠNG KẾ CUỐI CÙNG (khả năng cuối cùng) để viện đến, đó là chuyển vào ở
nhờ trong biệt thự của Samantha!.

Dịch bởi Ngọc Trần

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Lesson 39 - Success & Failure
Successful Samantha has a long list of impressive accomplishments. It seems like everything she does
ends up being a phenomenal success. In her very first job, she created a highly effective way to
motivate the company’s employees, resulting in a dramatic improvement in workplace morale.

Now she’s developing a system for real-time translation among 100 different languages. If she can pull it
off, it’ll be an unprecedented success (success in something for the first time in history) and the
crowning achievement (best or most significant achievement) of her career.

So far, the program has enjoyed modest success (some limited success) but there is still room for
improvement (potential for improvement). However, Samantha says that the team is making good
progress, and that in the next month or two she hopes to make a breakthrough (make a sudden
advance in success, especially when you overcome an obstacle).

Although Samantha is very ambitious, she’s also a very likeable person. She brings out the best in other
people, and quickly wins the respect of colleagues.

Samantha’s brother, Disastrous Dan, is the opposite – everything he attempts seems to fail miserably.
He wanted to be a doctor, but his teachers told him he wasn’t smart enough, dashing his hopes (making
him abandon hope) of a career in medicine. He had the opportunity to do a prestigious internship in
another country, but he lost his nerve (lost his courage) and turned down the offer.

He then applied for various jobs, but completely failed to show up to the interviews on time. He was
eventually hired, but later lost his job during an economic downturn due to his mediocre performance
(average work, not very special) and total lack of remarkable achievements.

Dan then tried to start his own software company to compete with Samantha’s; that was a spectacular
failure. He invested his life savings in the business, despite all his friends telling him that it would be a
recipe for disaster (very likely to result in disaster). His sales predictions were way off the mark
(completely inaccurate), and the company went under (lost all its money and shut down) just eight
months after it was founded.

Poor Dan – it seems like he’s doomed to failure (destined to be unsuccessful). But if all else fails (if
everything is unsuccessful), he can always move into Samantha’s mansion as a last resort (a final
possibility)!

156
Lesson 39 - Quiz
1. Edward certainly bet / took / won my respect when he turned down an unethical business deal.
2. Efforts to reduce teen pregnancy through better sex education have seen average / modest /
ordinary success.
3. Getting a new haircut has made a crowning / dramatic / theatrical improvement in his overall
appearance.
4. I made a real breakdown / breakover / breakthrough in my English when I started practicing
listening more often.
5. I wanted to try waterskiing, but I lost my heart / nerve / spirit and ended up staying inside the
boat.
6. I'm not a complete pacifist; I just believe war should be the last option / prospect / resort.
7. Immigration reform was the championing / charming / crowning achievement of the
president's term in office.
8. My attempts at losing weight have failed inadequately / miserably / strongly - in fact, I've
gained a few pounds!
9. My girlfriend really brings / gets / helps out the best in me - I'm a better person thanks to our
relationship.
10. Putting inexperienced teachers into the country's worst schools is a method / program / recipe
for disaster.
11. Researchers have invented a new, highly / richly / sharply effective treatment for leukemia.
12. The company's advertising campaign was a miraculous / spectacular / wonderful failure - it
didn't attract a single new customer.
13. The new movie has been a mediocre / phenomenal / supernatural success, with billions of
dollars in ticket sales.
14. There's a lot of area / room / space for improvement in his writing skills.
15. We thought the repairs on the car would cost about $500, but our estimate was way off the
mark / point / spot - it was $4000.

Listen and fill the missing words

He then applied for various jobs, but completely failed to show up to the interviews on time. He was

eventually hired, but later lost his job during an economic downturn due to his ............................
performance (average work, not very special) and total lack of remarkable ............................................

157
Lesson 40 - Cause & Effect
The word "cause" is primarily used with negative results: a storm can cause damage, a

mechanical defect can cause a problem, unclear instructions can cause confusion, a

political scandal can cause an uproar (a strong negative reaction/manifestation from the public),

a high-risk sport can cause injury, and an infection in a hospital can cause death.

Từ ‚cause‛ lúc đầu đƣợc sử dụng với nghĩa tiêu cực: một trận bão có thể gây ra thiệt hại, một
nhƣợc điểm của máy móc gây ra một vấn đề, sự chỉ dẫn không rõ ràng có thể gây ra hiểu lầm,
một sự bê bối chính trị có thể gây ra tiếng vang (tức là những phản ứng tiêu cực/ cuộc biểu tình,
thị uy từ phía cộng đồng), một môn thể thao mang tính rủi ro cao có thể sẽ gây chấn thương, một
ca lây nhiễm trong bệnh viện có thể dẫn đến cái chết.

You can describe something as cause for concern or cause for alarm - meaning a reason for

concern or alarm. For example, "The growing number of teenagers dropping out of school

is cause for concern."

Bạn có thể miêu tả thứ gì đó nhƣ một nguyên nhân của một sự lo lắng, hay nguyên nhân cho sự
cảnh báo - làm rõ lí do của một vấn đề hay sự cảnh báo. Chẳng hạn, ‚ Con số học sinh bỏ học tăng
lên là nguyên nhân của mối lo lắng‛.

The word "alarm" is a little stronger and more urgent: "The rapid spread of the virus is

cause for alarm." One of the only positive collocations with "cause" is cause for celebration:

"The opening of the new school was cause for celebration in the community."

Từ ‚alarm‛ mang một chút mạnh mẽ và thuyết phục hơn: ‚ Sự gia tăng nhanh chóng của vi-rút là
nguyên nhân của việc cảnh báo.‛ Một trong những từ hay đi cùng với ‚cause‛ mang nghĩa tích
cực là ‚cause for celebration‛ (lí do cho việc tổ chức tiệc kỉ niệm): ‚ Sự khởi đầu của một trƣờng
học mới là nguyên nhân tổ chức hoạt động kỉ niệm trong cộng đồng.‛

When analyzing a problem, you can identify the main/primary cause of the issue - but keep

in mind that there may be hidden/underlying causes as well. The deepest or most

fundamental cause is sometimes called the root cause.

Khi phân tích một vấn đề, bạn có thể nhận định đƣợc nguyên nhân của vấn đề - nhƣng hãy giữ nó ở
trong đầu, đó cũng có thể là nguyên nhân ngầm ẩn. Nguyên nhân sâu xa hay nói cách khác là
nguyên chủ yếu đôi khi đƣợc gọi là root cause (nguyên nhân cốt lõi).

Interestingly, we do not use the verb "cause" together with "effect." Instead, we say that

something has an effect - for example, "Television has a strong effect on public opinion."

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Another way to say "a strong effect" is the expression a significant impact or a profound

impact.

Thật thú vị là chúng ta không sử dụng ‚cause‛ đi cùng với ‚ effect‛ đƣợc. Thay vào đó, chúng ta
nói thứ gì đó có sự ảnh hưởng - ví dụ, ‚ Tivi có sự ảnh hưởng mạnh mẽ trong quan điểm cộng
đồng.‛ Nói cách khác là ‚một sự ảnh hƣởng mạnh mẽ‛ là sự diễn đạt một sự tác động đáng kể
hoặc sự ảnh hưởng sâu rộng.

There are many different ways to describe effects:

Có rất nhiều cách khác nhau để mô tả những sự tác động:

 short-term vs. long-term effects - the time of the effect

 visible effects vs. subtle effects - whether or not the effects are obvious

 powerful effect vs. minimal/negligible effect - how strong the effect was

 beneficial effect vs. adverse effect - to describe positive and negative effects

 main effect vs. side effect - to describe the primary effect or an additional effect

 Sự ảnh hưởng ngắn hạn và ảnh hưởng dài hạn - khoảng thời gian của sự tác động.
 Sự ảnh hưởng có thể nhìn thấy được và ảnh hưởng mà bạn không thể thấy - sự ảnh
hƣởng đó có hiển nhiên hay không.
 Sự ảnh hưởng mạnh mẽ và sự ảnh hưởng tối thiểu/ không đáng kể - sự ảnh hƣởng
mạnh mẽ nhƣ thế nào.
 Sự ảnh hưởng có lợi hay sự ảnh hưởng có hại - để miêu tả sự ảnh hƣởng tích cực và tiêu
cực.
 Sự ảnh hưởng chính và sự ảnh hưởng bên lề (phụ) - để miêu tả sự tác động chủ yếu hay
chỉ là cái đƣợc thêm vào.

Something can also have/produce results - the preliminary results are the early ones, and

after more time passes, you'll get the final results. Results that obviously exist and can be

proved are called concrete/tangible results, and a result that is impossible to avoid is an

inevitable result. Results can also be direct or indirect, and the result that you want is

called the desired result.

Điều gì đó có thể có/ đưa đến kết quả - những kết quả đầu tiên là những cái mở đầu, và sau
khoảng thời gian trôi qua, bạn sẽ có đƣợc kết quả cuối cùng. Những kết quả tồn tại hiển nhiên và
có thể chứng minh đƣợc, ta gọi là kết quả cụ thể hay rõ ràng, và một kết quả không thể tránh đƣợc,

159
gọi là kết quả thường thấy. Kết quả trực tiếp hay gián tiếp, và kết quả mà bạn muốn đƣợc gọi là
kết quả kết quả được trông đợi hoặc khao khát.

One word that is similar to "result" is "outcome" - it describes a resulting situation. You can

try to guess the likely/probable outcome - the logical outcome is the result you would

expect, and an unexpected outcome is one you didn't predict.

Một từ nữa giống nhƣ từ ‚ result‛ là từ ‚outcome‛ - nó miêu tả một tình huống đƣa đến kết quả cố
gắng đoán kết quả có thể/ có khả năng xảy ra - kết quả hợp lí là kết quả mà bạn mong muốn, và
thứ không thể đoán đƣợc là điều không mong muốn.

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Lan Anh

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Lesson 40 - Cause & Effect
The word “cause” is primarily used with negative results: a storm can cause damage, a mechanical
defect can cause a problem, unclear instructions can cause confusion, a political scandal can cause an
uproar (a strong negative reaction/manifestation from the public), a high-risk sport can cause injury,
and an infection in a hospital can cause death.

You can describe something as cause for concern or cause for alarm – meaning a reason for concern or
alarm. For example, “The growing number of teenagers dropping out of school is cause for concern.”
The word “alarm” is a little stronger and more urgent: “The rapid spread of the virus is cause for alarm.”
One of the only positive collocations with “cause” is cause for celebration: “The opening of the new
school was cause for celebration in the community.”

When analyzing a problem, you can identify the main/primary cause of the issue – but keep in mind
that there may be hidden/underlying causes as well. The deepest or most fundamental cause is
sometimes called the root cause.

Interestingly, we do not use the verb “cause” together with “effect.” Instead, we say that something has
an effect – for example, “Television has a strong effect on public opinion.” Another way to say “a strong
effect” is the expression a significant impact or a profound impact.

There are many different ways to describe effects:

short-term vs. long-term effects – the time of the effect


visible effects vs. subtle effects – whether or not the effects are obvious
powerful effect vs. minimal/negligible effect – how strong the effect was
beneficial effect vs. adverse effect – to describe positive and negative effects
main effect vs. side effect – to describe the primary effect or an additional effect

Something can also have/produce results – the preliminary results are the early ones, and after more
time passes, you’ll get the final results. Results that obviously exist and can be proved are called
concrete/tangible results, and a result that is impossible to avoid is an inevitable result. Results can also
be direct or indirect, and the result that you want is called the desired result.

One word that is similar to “result” is “outcome” – it describes a resulting situation. You can try to guess
the likely/probable outcome – the logical outcome is the result you would expect, and an unexpected
outcome is one you didn’t predict.

161
Lesson 40 - Quiz
1. An earthquake has caused extensive damage / defects / uproar in the countryside.
2. Everyone was surprised by the understated / unexpected / unimpressive outcome of the
presidential election.
3. Food additives may be one of the critical / elementary / underlying causes of the rising
incidence of cancer.
4. I'd like to see some concrete / material / stable results from your work - so far, all you've
presented are theories.
5. New regulations on pollution have unfortunately had a negligible / preliminary / tangible effect
on water contamination levels.
6. Parents are concerned about the long-span / long-term / long-time effects of kids playing
violent video games.
7. Paulo Coelho's books have had a profound / reflective / thorough impact on my life.
8. The company's financial problems are the inevitable / inflexible / irresistible result of years of
poor management.
9. The increase in gang violence in the neighborhood is cause for alarm / alert / injury.
10. The medication I'm taking has a few unpleasant border / lateral / side effects.
11. The singer caused a huge unhappiness / uproar / upset when he announced he was leaving the
band.
12. We need to find the base / origin / root cause of our employees' lack of motivation.

Listen and fill the missing words

The word “cause” is ......................................... used with negative results: a storm can cause damage,
a mechanical defect can cause a problem, unclear instructions can cause ...........................................,
a political scandal can cause an .................................. (a strong negative reaction/..............................

from the public), a high-risk sport can cause injury, and an infection in a hospital can cause death.

You can describe something as cause for .............................. or cause for alarm – meaning a reason
for concern or alarm. For example, “The growing number of teenagers dropping out of school is cause
for concern.” The word “alarm” is a little stronger and more urgent: “The rapid .................................

of the virus is cause for alarm.” One of the only positive collocations with “cause” is cause

for .........................................: “The opening of the new school was cause for celebration in the
community.”

162
Lesson 41 - Memories (Kỉ niệm)
I'm trying to think of my earliest memory. I vaguely remember (remember a little bit, not in

much detail) when my brother was born - I was three years old at the time - but I distinctly

remember my first day of kindergarten, when I was around five.

Tôi đang cố gắng nghĩ về kỷ niệm gần đây nhất của mình. Tôi không nhớ rõ lắm (nhớ đƣợc một ít,
không nhớ nhiều chi tiết) khi mà em trai tôi đƣợc sinh ra - Tôi lúc đó mới 3 tuổi - nhƣng tôi nhớ rất
rõ đó là ngày đầu tiên đi mẫu giáo của mình, khi đó tôi khoảng 5 tuổi.

When I look at photos, even more memories come flooding back (memories come to mind) - I

remember my school, my classmates, and my teacher, who would constantly remind us to

clean up the classroom, because we were always making a mess. I'd completely forgotten

the teacher's name, though, and my mother had to refresh my memory (remind me of a fact

I'd forgotten).

Khi tôi nhìn vào những bức ảnh, nhiều ký ức khác ùa về (ký ức xuất hiện trong tâm trí)- Tôi nhớ
về trƣờng học của mình, những ngƣời bạn cùng lớp và cả giáo viên của mình, ngƣời luôn luôn
nhắc nhớ chúng tôi dọn dẹp lớp học, bởi vì chúng tôi luôn làm nó bừa bãi. Tôi đã hoàn toàn quên
mất tên của giáo viên đó, mặc dù mẹ tôi đã phải nhắc tôi nhớ lại (nhắc nhở tôi về một sự thật mà
tôi đã quên)

I still have a lot of my toys from when I was a kid. They bring back fond memories

(pleasant memories) of long afternoons spent playing with my brother. I also remember a

family vacation to Switzerland when I was about eight - that was an unforgettable
experience.

Tôi vẫn còn giữ đƣợc rất nhiều đồ chơi hồi nhỏ của mình. Chúng mang về những ký ức đẹp
(những ký ức dễ chịu) vào một buổi chiều khi tôi dành thời gian chơi với em trai của mình. Tôi cũng
nhớ về một kỳ nghỉ của gia đình tôi đến Thụy Sĩ khi tôi khoảng 8 tuổi- nó là một trải nghiệm
không thể quên.

My most traumatic memory is of my uncle dying in a car crash when I was ten. He was

only 32 years old - younger than my dad - and the memory of the funeral still haunts me

(the sad/profound memory stays with me). I still wear a bracelet that was a Christmas present

from him; it serves as a sobering reminder (it provides a serious reminder) not to take a single

day of life for granted.

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Ký ức đau buồn nhất của tôi là về sự ra đi của bác tôi trong một tai nạn xe hơi khi tôi 10 tuổi. Bác
ấy mới chỉ 32 tuổi - trẻ hơn cả bố tôi - và ký ức về đám tang đó vẫn ám ảnh tôi (ký ức buồn mà tôi
luôn nhớ). Tôi vẫn đeo một chiếc vòng tay là món quà giáng sinh từ bác ấy, nó có nhiệm vụ như
một người nhắc nhở nghiêm túc (nó nhƣ một ngƣời nhắc nhở nghiêm túc) không sống lãng phí
một ngày nào trong cuộc đời.

Unfortunately, I have a terrible memory for peoples' names, unless the name is unusual or

particularly memorable. Just the other day, I was talking to an acquaintance from church

and my mind went blank (I couldn't think of anything) when I tried to think of her name. I

racked my brain (tried hard to remember something), but nothing came to mind. My husband

gently reminds me that I really need to pay more attention, because it makes a bad

impression when I call people by the wrong name.

Thật không may, tôi có một trí nhớ rất tồi về việc nhớ tên mọi ngƣời, trừ khi là tên đó không thông
thƣờng hay rất dễ nhớ. Mới ngày hôm trƣớc, tôi nói chuyện với một ngƣời quen từ nhà thờ và đầu
óc tôi trống rỗng khi tôi cố gắng nhớ lại tên của cô ấy. Tôi đã vắt óc suy nghĩ (cố gắng rất nhiều
để nhớ ra điều gì đó), nhƣng tôi không nhớ ra gì cả. Chồng của tôi đã nhẹ nhàng nhắc tôi rằng tôi
cần chú ý nhiều hơn bởi vì nó mang đến ấn tượng xấu khi tôi gọi sai tên họ.
Dịch bởi: Nguyễn Thị Hiền

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164
Lesson 41 - Memories
I’m trying to think of my earliest memory. I vaguely remember (remember a little bit, not in much detail)
when my brother was born – I was three years old at the time – but I distinctly remember my first day
of kindergarten, when I was around five.

When I look at photos, even more memories come flooding back (memories come to mind) – I
remember my school, my classmates, and my teacher, who would constantly remind us to clean up the
classroom, because we were always making a mess. I’d completely forgotten the teacher’s name,
though, and my mother had to refresh my memory (remind me of a fact I’d forgotten).

I still have a lot of my toys from when I was a kid. They bring back fond memories (pleasant memories)
of long afternoons spent playing with my brother. I also remember a family vacation to Switzerland
when I was about eight – that was an unforgettable experience.

My most traumatic memory is of my uncle dying in a car crash when I was ten. He was only 32 years old
– younger than my dad – and the memory of the funeral still haunts me (the sad/profound memory
stays with me). I still wear a bracelet that was a Christmas present from him; it serves as a sobering
reminder (it provides a serious reminder) not to take a single day of life for granted.

Unfortunately, I have a terrible memory for peoples’ names, unless the name is unusual or particularly
memorable. Just the other day, I was talking to an acquaintance from church and my mind went blank
(I couldn’t think of anything) when I tried to think of her name. I racked my brain (tried hard to
remember something), but nothing came to mind. My husband gently reminds me that I really need to
pay more attention, because it makes a bad impression when I call people by the wrong name.

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Lesson 41 - Memories
blank distinctly gently refresh traumatic

completely flooding particularly sobering unforgettable

constantly fond racked terrible vaguely

1. Did you put my jacket somewhere? I ____________ remember leaving it here on this chair.
2. He ____________ his brain, but he couldn't think of the password to his online bank account.
3. I have ____________ memories of summer camp when I was a kid - I looked forward to it every
year.
4. I ____________remember reading that book... remind me how exactly it ended?
5. If I pause while giving a presentation, my mind goes ____________ and I have to look at my
notes.
6. I'm ____________ reminding myself to sit with good posture.
7. I'm studying a beginner English grammar book to ____________ my memory of the basics.
8. My boss has a ____________ memory, so he keeps track of all his appointments on a calendar
on his cell phone.
9. Oh no! I ____________ forgot that today is my wife's birthday. I need a present - quick!
10. All the circus performers were great, but I thought the acrobats were ____________
memorable.
11. Rachel ____________ reminded me that I still needed to e-mail her the information.
12. Seeing my ex-boyfriend made all the memories of our relationship come ____________ back.
13. She has ____________ memories of the time she was robbed while walking home alone at
night.
14. Taking a helicopter ride over New York City was an ____________ experience.
15. The monument is a ____________ reminder of how many innocent people died in the war.

Listen and fill the missing words

When I look at photos, even more memories come ................................... back (memories come to
mind) - I remember my school, my classmates, and my teacher, who would constantly remind us
to clean up the classroom, because we were always making a ............................. I’d completely

forgotten the teacher’s name, though, and my mother had to refresh my memory (remind me of

a fact I’d forgotten).

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Lesson 42 - Agreeing & Disagreeing
When you agree with someone completely, you can say "I TOTALLY AGREE" or "I

STRONGLY AGREE." Another way to describe 100% agreement is to say a person AGREES

WHOLEHEARTEDLY. On the other hand, you can say "I AGREE UP TO A POINT" if you

agree with part of the person's opinion, but disagree with another part. Another expression

is "I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE" if you agree with the idea, but not with the practical

application. Avoid the common error of saying "I'm agree." The correct phrase is "I AGREE"

(more informally) or "I'M IN AGREEMENT" (more formally).

Khi bạn hoàn toàn đồng ý với một ai đó, bạn có thể nói ‚TÔI HOÀN TOÀN ĐỒNG Ý‛ hoặc ‚TÔI
HOÀN TOÀN ĐỒNG Ý‛. Một cách khác để diễn tả sự đồng ý 100% là có thể nói tôi là
ngƣời TOÀN TÂM TOÀN Ý ĐỒNG LÒNG. Một cách khác, bạn có thể TÔI ĐỒNG Ý VỚI ĐIỂM
NÀY nếu bạn đồng ý với một phần của ý kiến ngƣời nói, nhƣng lại không đồng ý với những phần
khác. Một cách biểu đạt khác là ‚TÔI ĐỒNG Ý VỚI NGUYÊN TẮC‛ nếu nhƣ bạn đồng ý với ý
tƣởng đó, nhƣng lại không đồng ý với việc ứng dụng trong thực tế. Tránh lỗi phổ biến khi nói ‚I’m
agree‛. Câu chuẩn xác sẻ là ‚I agree‛ ( thân mật hơn, ít trang trọng hơn) hoặc ‚I'M IN
AGREEMENT‛ (Trang trọng, lịch thiệp hơn).

We can say that two people SHARE AN OPINION or SHARE A VIEW if they have the

same perspective. But if there are differences, then we call this a DIFFERENCE OF

OPINION. If the difference of opinion is very big, then the two sides are said to BE

"WORLDS APART" on the issue. Hopefully, two people who think differently will be able

to REACH A COMPROMISE (agree on a fair solution) without having a HEATED

ARGUMENT (angry/intense argument) about the issue.

Chúng ta có thể nói khi 2 ngƣời CHIA SẺ QUAN ĐIỂM nếu họ đang có cùng chung quan điểm.
Nhƣng nếu quan điểm của họ khác nhau, chúng ta sẽ gọi là CÓ SỰ KHÁC BIỆT VỀ QUAN
ĐIỂM. Nếu sự khác biệt về quan điểm quá lớn, thì 2 bên sẽ đƣợc gọi là be ‚HAI NỬA THẾ
GIỚI‛ về vấn đề này. Hy vọng, hai ngƣời suy nghĩ khác nhau sẽ có thể ĐẠT ĐƢỢC SỰ THỎA
HIỆP (đồng ý trong một cách giải quyết công bằng cho 2 bên) mà không có SỰ TRANH CÃI NÃY
LỬA về vấn đề trên.

One polite way to express your disagreement is: "I'M AFRAID I DISAGREE." You can also

say "I SEE YOUR POINT" to communicate the fact that you understand the other person's

idea or opinion. We call a small disagreement a MINOR/SLIGHT DISAGREEMENT, and a

big disagreement is a MAJOR/SERIOUS DISAGREEMENT. It's easy to reason with a person

who DISAGREES RESPECTFULLY, but it's more difficult to SETTLE A


167
DISAGREEMENT (resolve a disagreement) if the other person DISAGREES

VEHEMENTLY (with intense emotion and expression).

Một cách lịch sự khi biểu lộ sự không đồng tình của bạn đó là: ‚TÔI E RẰNG TÔI KHÔNG
ĐỒNG Ý‛. Bạn cũng có thể nói rằng ‚TÔI THẤY Ý KIẾN/ĐIỂM NÀY CỦA BẠN‛ (để truyền
đạt sự thật về những gì bạn hiểu từ ý tƣởng hoặc ý kiến của ngƣời khác. Chúng tôi gọi một sự
không đồng tình nhẹ là SỰ BẤT ĐỒNG NHẸ, và một sự không đồng tình nhiều hơn là một SỰ
BẤT ĐỒNG NGHIÊM TRỌNG. Nó sẽ dễ để giải thích với ngƣời mà không ĐỒNG TÌNH MỘT
CÁCH TÔN TRỌNG, nhƣng nó khó hơn để GIẢI QUYẾT SỰ BẤT ĐỒNG nếu ngƣời
khác KHÔNG ĐỒNG TÌNH MỘT CÁCH KỊCH LIỆT (với cảm xúc và cách diễn đạt một cách thái
quá/ nghiêm trọng).

If a conflict continues for a long time, it can be called a LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE - and if

it involves lots of angry and negative emotions, then it's a BITTER DISPUTE. If the two

sides cannot AGREE TO DISAGREE (tolerate the other person's opinion, despite

disagreeing), then they may need the help of a third party to RESOLVE THE CONFLICT.

Nếu sự xung đột tiếp tục trong một thời gian dài, nó có thể đƣợc gọi là một CUỘC TRANH LUẬN
KÉO DÀI - và nếu nó có bao gồm cả rất nhiều sự tức giận và cảm xúc tiêu cực, nó sẽ là SỰ
TRANH CẢI GAY GẮT/ ÁC LIỆT. Nếu 2 phía không thể ĐỒNG Ý VỚI SỰ KHÔNG ĐỒNG
TÌNH CỦA BÊN KIA (chịu đựng ý kiến của ngƣời khác), sau đó họ có lẽ sẽ cần sự giúp đỡ của một
bên thứ 3 để GIẢI QUYẾT XUNG ĐỘT.

(Dịch bởi: Hoàng Nguyễn Hữu Huy)

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Lesson 42 - Agreeing & Disagreeing
When you agree with someone completely, you can say “I totally agree” or “I strongly agree.” Another
way to describe 100% agreement is to say a person agrees wholeheartedly. On the other hand, you can
say “I agree up to a point” if you agree with part of the person’s opinion, but disagree with another
part. Another expression is “I agree in principle” if you agree with the idea, but not with the practical
application.

Avoid the common error of saying “I’m agree.” The correct phrase is “I agree” (more informally) or “I’m
in agreement” (more formally).

We can say that two people share an opinion or share a view if they have the same perspective. But if
there are differences, then we call this a difference of opinion. If the difference of opinion is very big,
then the two sides are said to be “worlds apart” on the issue. Hopefully, two people who think
differently will be able to reach a compromise (agree on a fair solution) without having a heated
argument (angry/intense argument) about the issue.

One polite way to express your disagreement is: “I’m afraid I disagree.” You can also say “I see your
point” to communicate the fact that you understand the other person’s idea or opinion. We call a small
disagreement a minor/slight disagreement, and a big disagreement is a major/serious disagreement.
It’s easy to reason with a person who disagrees respectfully, but it’s more difficult to settle a
disagreement (resolve a disagreement) if the other person disagrees vehemently (with intense emotion
and expression).

If a conflict continues for a long time, it can be called a long-running dispute – and if it involves lots of
angry and negative emotions, then it’s a bitter dispute. If the two sides cannot agree to disagree
(tolerate the other person’s opinion, despite disagreeing), then they may need the help of a third party
to resolve the conflict.

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Lesson 42 - Quiz
1. I agree in basis / foundation / principle that we need to spend less time on our iPhones... but I
can't seem to stop using mine!
2. I am worlds along / apart / away from my parents when it comes to our religious views.
3. I highly / totally / very agree with the company's decision to relax the dress code for
employees.
4. I'm afraid / fearful / scared I disagree with your analysis; I think you've overlooked some
important points.
5. My best friend and I have always been able to conclude / satisfy / settle our disagreements
without fighting.
6. My roommates and I arrived / entered / reached a compromise about cleaning the apartment.
7. She agreed comprehensively / generously / wholeheartedly with my suggested changes to the
design.
8. Some people prefer to argue indefinitely rather than trying to answer / resolve / resume the
conflict.
9. The other students combine / divide / share my opinion that the teacher is not very
knowledgeable.
10. The soccer players had a large-scale / major / principal disagreement with the referee.
11. Those two countries have a long-running dispel / dispute / disturbance over that particular
territory.
12. Tom and Larry had a slight / slim / weak disagreement about where to park the car.
13. We agree with your plans up to a limit / place / point, but we think you should reconsider a few
aspects.

Listen and fill the missing words

Avoid the common ................................ of saying “I’m agree.” The correct phrase is “I agree” (more
informally) or “I’m in agreement” (more formally).

We can say that two people share an ............................. or share a view if they have the
same ..................................... But if there are differences, then we call this a difference of opinion.

If the difference of opinion is very big, then the two sides are said to be “worlds apart” on the

issue. Hopefully, two people who think differently will be able to reach a ..........................................
(agree on a fair solution) without having a heated argument (angry/...................................

argument) about the issue.

170
Lesson 43 - Beliefs & Doubts
When you STRONGLY/FIRMLY BELIEVE something, we can call it a DEEPLY-HELD

BELIEF or an UNSHAKABLE BELIEF - the latter phrase implies that it would be difficult to

convince you to change your mind. It's possible to have a SUBCONSCIOUS BELIEF - a

belief that you are not actively aware of. Your emotions can also COLOR YOUR

JUDGMENT (influence your opinions/decisions).

Khi bạn TIN TƢỞNG MỘT CÁCH MẠNH MẼ/CHẮC CHẮN điều gì đó, chúng ta có thể gọi đó
là MỘT NIỀM TIN SÂU SẮC hoặc một SỰ TIN TƢỞNG KHÔNG THỂ LAY CHUYỂN - cụm
từ sau ngụ ý rằng sẽ khó khăn để thuyết phục bạn thay đổi suy nghĩ của bạn. Có khả năng có một
SỰ TIN TƢỞNG THUỘC VỀ TIỀM THỨC - một sự tin tƣởng mà bạn không chủ động nhận thức
đƣợc. Những cảm xúc của bạn cũng có thể ẢNH HƢỞNG NHỮNG PHÁN XÉT CỦA BẠN (ảnh
hƣởng đến những ý kiến/quyết định của bạn).

A lot of people BELIEVE IN SUPERSTITIONS - irrational beliefs that have no basis in fact,

like the number 13 being unlucky. Others have a BLIND FAITH (believe in something without

thinking) in fate or destiny. When new evidence appears, it can either

STRENGTHEN/REINFORCE YOUR BELIEF (make it stronger) or UNDERMINE/WEAKEN

YOUR BELIEF (make it weaker).

Nhiều ngƣời TIN VÀO NHỮNG SỰ MÊ TÍNH - những lòng tin phi lý mà thật sự không có cơ sở,
nhƣ số 13 là không may mắn. Những ngƣời khác có một LÒNG TIN MÙ QUÁNG (tin tƣởng vào
điều gì đó mà không cần suy nghĩ) vào định mệnh hoặc số phận. Khi xuất hiện dẫn chứng mới, nó
hoặc có thể CỦNG CỐ/TĂNG CƢỜNG SỰ TIN TƢỞNG CỦA BẠN (làm nó mạnh mẽ hơn) hoặc
làm SUY MÒN/YẾU ĐI LÒNG TIN CỦA BẠN (làm nó yếu hơn).

When forming your beliefs, be careful about MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, which can LEAD

TO ERRONEOUS CONCLUSIONS. False BELIEFS HELD by many people are called

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS. Scientists and other researchers often publish material to

help DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS (eliminate them) - for example, "CONTRARY TO

POPULAR BELIEF, it's not harmful to go swimming immediately after eating."

Khi hình thành những niềm tin của bạn, hãy cẩn thận về VIỆC ĐƢA RA CÁC GIẢ ĐỊNH, cái có
thể DẪN TỚI NHỮNG KẾT LUẬN SAI LẦM. Những SỰ TIN TƢỞNG SAI LẦM ĐƢỢC TIN
bởi nhiều ngƣời thì đƣợc gọi là những QUAN NIỆM SAI LẦM THÔNG THƢỜNG. Các nhà khoa
học và những nhà nghiên cứu khác thƣờng công bố những tài liệu nhằm giúp XUA TAN NHỮNG
QUAN NIỆM SAI LẦM (loại bỏ chúng) - ví dụ, ‚NGƢỢC LẠI VỚI SỰ TIN TƢỞNG PHỔ
BIẾN‛, đi bơi sau bữa ăn thì không hề có hại.

171
If you are completely sure about something, then you can describe it as

"BEYOND/WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT." But sometimes DOUBTS ARISE - or

another person VOICES THEIR DOUBTS - thus making you reconsider. Maybe the doubts

don't even come from a fact, but you just have A SNEAKING SUSPICION - a persistent

feeling - that CASTS DOUBTS ON things you previously assumed to be true.

Nếu bạn hoàn toàn chắc chắn về một điều gì đó, bạn có thể mô tả nó nhƣ KHÔNG HỀ CÓ/KHÔNG
CÓ MỘT CHÚT MẢY MAY NGHI NGỜ. Nhƣng đôi lúc NHỮNG SỰ NGHI NGỜ PHÁT
SINH, hoặc một ngƣời khác BÀY TỎ NHỮNG NGHI NGỜ CỦA HỌ - nên làm bạn cân nhắc lại.
Thậm chí những nghi ngờ đó có thể không bắt nguồn từ một sự thật, nhƣng bạn cũng có một SỰ
NGHI NGỜ DAI DẲNG - một cảm giác kéo dài triền miên - mà GÂY RA NHỮNG SỰ NGỜ
VỰC vào những thứ mà bạn trƣớc đó đã giả định là đúng.

When you have a small doubt that persists and continues to bother you - this is called a

GNAWING/LINGERING/NAGGING/NIGGLING DOUBT. This might be an indication

that it's time to RETHINK/ REEXAMINE YOUR BELIEFS - after FURTHER

CONSIDERATION, you just might ARRIVE AT A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION.

Khi bạn có một chút nghi ngờ mà nó cứ dai dẳng và tiếp tục làm phiền bạn - điều đó đƣợc gọi là
MỘT SỰ NGHI NGỜ DAY DỨT/KÉO DÀI/DAI DẲNG/TRIỀN MIÊN. Điều đó có thể là một
dấu hiệu cho thấy đến lúc để SUY NGHĨ LẠI/XEM XÉT LẠI NHỮNG NIỀM TIN CỦA BẠN -
sau khi CÂN NHẮC KĨ HƠN, lúc đó bạn có thể ĐI ĐẾN MỘT KẾT LUẬN KHÁC.

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Hoài Thƣơng

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172
Lesson 43 - Beliefs & Doubts
When you strongly/firmly believe something, we can call it a deeply-held belief or an unshakable belief
– the latter phrase implies that it would be difficult to convince you to change your mind. It’s possible to
have a subconscious belief – a belief that you are not actively aware of. Your emotions can also color
your judgment (influence your opinions/decisions).

A lot of people believe in superstitions – irrational beliefs that have no basis in fact, like the number 13
being unlucky. Others have a blind faith (believe in something without thinking) in fate or destiny. When
new evidence appears, it can either strengthen/reinforce your belief (make it stronger) or
undermine/weaken your belief (make it weaker).

When forming your beliefs, be careful about making assumptions, which can lead to erroneous
conclusions. False beliefs held by many people are called common misconceptions. Scientists and other
researchers often publish material to help dispel misconceptions (eliminate them) – for example,
“Contrary to popular belief, it’s not harmful to go swimming immediately after eating.”

If you are completely sure about something, then you can describe it as “beyond/without a shadow of a
doubt.” But sometimes doubts arise – or another person voices their doubts – thus making you
reconsider. Maybe the doubts don’t even come from a fact, but you just have a sneaking suspicion – a
persistent feeling – that casts doubts on things you previously assumed to be true.

When you have a small doubt that persists and continues to bother you – this is called a
gnawing/lingering/nagging/niggling doubt. This might be an indication that it’s time to rethink/
reexamine your beliefs – after further consideration, you just might arrive at a different conclusion.

173
Lesson 43 - Quiz
1. Aaron is so arrogant; he seems to have an unfeasible / unlikeable / unshakable belief in his own
superiority.
2. After another / further / supplemental consideration, we decided to buy a van rather than a
car.
3. Although I was hired for the job, I still have a bothering / nagging / staying doubt about
whether or not I'm truly qualified for it.
4. Bill Clinton's affair cast / put / thrust doubt on his honesty as a president.
5. Against / Contrary / Opposite to popular belief, blonde and blue-eyed Brazilians do exist.
6. Don't let your fears color / light / sound your judgment.
7. I hate it when people make assumptions / inferences / suspicions about me based on my skin
color.
8. I have a cunning / sneaking / tricky suspicion that my friends are planning a surprise birthday
party for me.
9. I heavily / securely / strongly believe that everything happens for a reason.
10. If you have a psychic / subconscious / unaware belief that you don't deserve success, then
you'll probably never attain it.
11. Meeting an 80-year-old professional athlete enlarged / hardened / strengthened my belief that
age is no limit!
12. The evidence proved, before / beside / beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Carson was guilty of
the crime.
13. The results of the customer satisfaction survey lead / put / take us to the conclusion that our
service needs to be improved.
14. There's a common misconception / misconstruction / misunderstanding that tomatoes are
vegetables - but they're technically fruits.
15. We sounded / told / voiced doubts about the feasibility of the plan, but our colleagues said we
were worrying too much.

Listen and fill the missing words

When forming your beliefs, be careful about making ....................................., which can lead
to ........................................... conclusions. False beliefs held by many people are called

common ............................................ Scientists and other researchers often publish material to

help dispel misconceptions (eliminate them) – for example, “............................................ to


popular belief, it’s not harmful to go swimming immediately after eating.”

174
Lesson 44 - Deciding & Choosing (Quyết định & lựa chọn)
How do you MAKE A DECISION? Do you make lists of PROS AND CONS (advantages

and disadvantages) and carefully CONSIDER ALL THE OPTIONS... or do you TRUST

YOUR INTUITION (listen to your deep, instinctive feelings) and then MAKE A CHOICE

based on your feelings?

Bạn ĐƯA RA MỘT QUYẾT ĐỊNH nhƣ thế nào? Bạn có lập danh sách ƯU ĐIỂM VÀ NHƯỢC
ĐIỂM (lợi thế và bất lợi) và XEM XÉT CẨN TRỌNG MỌI LỰA CHỌN<hay bạn TIN VÀO
TRỰC GIÁC CỦA MÌNH (lắng nghe cảm giác sâu thẳm, theo bản năng của bạn) rồi đƣa ra lựa
chọn dựa trên cảm giác?

If it's an especially TOUGH DECISION, you might want to ASK FOR ADVICE from a

good friend. After DISCUSSING THE ISSUE IN-DEPTH (talking about it in a lot of detail)

and listening to your friend's suggestions, you can choose to either TAKE THEIR ADVICE

(implement their advice) or IGNORE THEIR ADVICE.

Nếu nó là một LỰA CHỌN NAN GIẢI, bạn có thể muốn XIN LỜI KHUYÊN từ một ngƣời bạn
tốt. Sau khi THẢO LUẬN VÀO SÂU VẤN ĐỀ (nói chuyện chi tiết về nó) và lắng nghe những gợi
ý từ ngƣời bạn, bạn có thể lựa chọn TIẾP NHẬN LỜI KHUYÊN của họ (áp dụng lời khuyên của
họ) hoặc BỎ QUA LỜI KHUYÊN của họ.

When you make a decision very quickly, we call it a SNAP DECISION. That's somewhat

similar to a SPUR-OF- THE-MOMENT DECISION - a decision made spontaneously,

without very much thinking or planning. If you do this, then you might need to DEFEND

YOUR DECISION against people who believe it was an ARBITRARY DECISION (one

determined by chance or impulse, not by logic or principle).

Khi bạn đƣa ra một quyết định rất nhanh chóng, ta gọi nó là một QUYẾT ĐỊNH ĐỘT XUẤT. Nó
có một chút tƣơng tự nhƣ một QUYẾT ĐỊNH BẤT NGỜ - một quyết định đƣợc đƣa ra tức thời
mà không có nhiều suy nghĩ hay kế hoạch. Nếu bạn làm điều này thì bạn có thể phải cần BÊNH
VỰC CHO QUYẾT ĐỊNH CỦA MÌNH trƣớc những ngƣời cho rằng nó là một QUYẾT ĐỊNH
TÙY TIỆN (cái đƣợc xác định ngẫu nhiên hay liều lĩnh, không phải bằng logic hay nguyên tắc).

Some people REMAIN UNDECIDED because they're afraid to make a COSTLY

MISTAKE (a mistake with serious negative consequences). In this case, WEIGHING THE

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES (analyzing the possible future results) can be helpful. Other people

are always questioning themselves and HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS (reconsidering,

doubting your previous decision) about the choices they've already made.

175
Vài ngƣời LƯỠNG LỰ vì họ sợ phải TRẢ GIÁ ĐẮT (một lỗi lầm gây ra những hậu quả tiêu cực
nghiêm trọng). Trong trƣờng hợp này, ĐO LƯỜNG CÁC KẾT CUỘC CÓ THỂ XẢY RA (phân
tính các kết quả tƣơng lai có thể xảy ra) có thể hữu ích. Những ngƣời khác luôn tự vấn bản thân và
SUY NGHĨ LẠI (xem xét lại, nghi ngờ quyết định trƣớc đó) về những lựa chọn họ đã đƣa ra.

Although it might seem attractive to KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN as long as possible,

you run the risk of waiting so long that you end up HAVING NO CHOICE (being limited to

only one course of action). It's far better to develop SOUND JUDGMENT (the intelligent

ability to decide things) so that you can make WISE DECISIONS (good and smart decisions)

and be confident about them.

Dù việc GIỮ CHO MÌNH CÓ NHIỀU SỰ LỰA CHỌN càng lâu càng tốt có vẻ hấp dẫn, bạn
đang mang rủi ro chờ đợi quá lâu dẫn đến KHÔNG CÒN LỰA CHỌN NÀO (bị hạn chế chỉ có thể
hành động theo một hƣớng). Phát triển PHÁN ĐOÁN (khả năng thông minh để quyết định mọi
việc) tốt hơn nhiều để bạn có thể đƣa ra NHỮNG QUYẾT ĐỊNH KHÔN NGOAN (những quyết
định tốt và thông minh) và tự tin về chúng.

Dịch bởi Nguyễn Hoàng Mai

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176
Lesson 44 - Deciding & Choosing
How do you make a decision? Do you make lists of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) and
carefully consider all the options… or do you trust your intuition (listen to your deep, instinctive
feelings) and then make a choice based on your feelings?

If it’s an especially tough decision, you might want to ask for advice from a good friend. After discussing
the issue in-depth (talking about it in a lot of detail) and listening to your friend’s suggestions, you can
choose to either take their advice (implement their advice) or ignore their advice.

When you make a decision very quickly, we call it a snap decision. That’s somewhat similar to a spur-of-
the-moment decision - a decision made spontaneously, without very much thinking or planning. If you
do this, then you might need to defend your decision against people who believe it was an arbitrary
decision (one determined by chance or impulse, not by logic or principle).

Some people remain undecided because they’re afraid to make a costly mistake (a mistake with serious
negative consequences). In this case, weighing the possible outcomes (analyzing the possible future
results) can be helpful. Other people are always questioning themselves and having second thoughts
(reconsidering, doubting your previous decision) about the choices they’ve already made.

Although it might seem attractive to keep your options open as long as possible, you run the risk of
waiting so long that you end up having no choice (being limited to only one course of action). It’s far
better to develop sound judgment (the intelligent ability to decide things) so that you can make wise
decisions (good and smart decisions) and be confident about them.

177
Lesson 44 - Quiz
asked discussed keep take

considering have make trust

defend having remained weigh

Choosing which college to attend was tough. I was ______________ 12 different universities, and every
person who I _____________ for advice gave me a different suggestion. I ______________ undecided
until a week before the deadline, when my parents reminded me that if I didn't ______________ my
decision soon, I would ______________ no choice but to wait another year before reapplying. My
mother told me to ______________ my intuition, and I decided to ______________ her advice - but the
college I most wanted to go to was also the most expensive, and I started ______________ second
thoughts. I ______________ the issue in-depth with my dad, and he helped me ______________ the
possible outcomes of taking out student loans. In the end, I chose to go to a less expensive university
that was also excellent - though I had to ______________ my decision from my grandmother, who had
wanted me to go to the "best" college in the country. The next choice I'll have to make is what area to
major in - I really have no idea, so I'm going to ______________ my options open as long as possible!

Listen and fill the missing words


How do you make a decision? Do you make lists of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages)
and carefully consider all the options… or do you trust your ......................................(listen to your
deep, ................................................... feelings) and then make a choice based on your feelings?

If it’s an especially tough decision, you might want to ask for advice from a good friend. After
discussing the ..................................... in-depth (talking about it in a lot of detail) and listening to your
friend’s suggestions, you can choose to either take their advice (................................................... their

advice) or ignore their advice.

When you make a decision very quickly, we call it a ...................................... decision. That’s somewhat

similar to a spur-of-the-moment decision - a decision made ......................................................,


without very much thinking or planning. If you do this, then you might need to defend your decision

against people who believe it was an ................................................ decision (one determined by

chance or impulse, not by logic or principle).

178
Lesson 45 - Claiming & Denying
Randy Fisher, president of the software company NewTech, is FACING ACCUSATIONS

of fraud by its chief financial officer, Brian King, who has OPENLY ACCUSED Fisher of

hiding millions of dollars of profit in offshore bank accounts in order to avoid paying taxes.

Randy Fisher, chủ tịch của công ty phần mềm NewTech, đang phải ĐỐI MẶT VỚI NHỮNG CÁO
BUỘC gian lận bởi Brian King, giám đốc tài chính, ngƣời đã CÔNG KHAI CÁO BUỘC Fisher đã
giấu hàng triệu đô la lợi nhuận trong các tài khoản ngân hàng nƣớc ngoài để tránh phải đóng thuế.

Fisher DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS (says the accusations are not true) and CLEARLY

STATES that King has no evidence to SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIMS (prove his claims are

true or reasonable). However, in a LEAKED DOCUMENT (a secret document that was

accidentally released to the public) from the company's internal archives, Fisher HEAVILY

IMPLIES (says indirectly but strongly) that the company is in fact much more profitable than

it appears on paper. Some journalists are now SPREADING THE RUMOR (transmitting the

comment) that these "invisible" funds were used to finance Fisher's recent real estate

investments in Central America.

Fisher TỪ CHỐI CÁC CÁO BUỘC ( nói rằng các cáo buộc là không đúng sự thật) và rõ ràng rằng
KING không có bằng chứng để CHỨNG MINH CÁC TUYÊN BỐ CỦA MÌNH (chứng minh
những tuyên bố của ông là đúng hay hợp lý). Tuy nhiên, trong MỘT TÀI LIỆU BỊ RÒ RỈ (một tài
liệu bí mật vô tình bị công bố ra khỏi công chúng), Fisher đã NHẤN MẠNH NGỤ Ý (nói gián tiếp,
nhƣng mạnh mẽ) rằng công ty thực sự có lợi nhuận cao hơn nhiều so với khi xuất hiện trên giấy tờ.
Một số nhà báo hiện đang TUNG TIN ĐỒN (truyền tải lời bình) rằng những quỹ "vô hình" này đã
đƣợc sử dụng để tài trợ các khoản đầu tƣ bất động sản gần đây của Fisher ở Trung Mỹ.

According to King, Fisher wanted him to participate in the illegal financial scheme, and

became angry when King REFUSED HIS OFFER. It is WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGE (known

by many people) that if Fisher were to resign, King would be the logical successor to the

position of CEO. This has FUELED SPECULATION (created beliefs) that there may be an

ULTERIOR MOTIVE (a hidden reason) for his accusations.

Theo King, Fisher muốn ông tham gia vào kế hoạch tài chính bất hợp pháp, và trở nên tức giận khi
King từ chối đề nghị của ông ta. AI CŨNG BIẾT RẰNG (biết đến bởi nhiều ngƣời) nếu Fisher từ
chức, King sẽ là ngƣời kế thừa hợp lý cho vị trí Giám đốc điều hành. Điều này đã THÚC ĐẨY
ĐÀU CƠ (niềm tin đƣợc tạo ra) rằng có thể có một ĐỘNG CƠ KÍN ĐÁO (một lý do ẩn) cho
những cáo buộc của ông ta.
179
NewTech's public relations department has ISSUED A STATEMENT affirming its total

compliance with tax regulations. If indeed King's CLAIMS ARE UNFOUNDED (his claims

have no basis in fact), then he will probably face legal action for UNJUSTLY and

MALICIOUSLY ACCUSING Fisher, thus resulting in damage to his reputation.

Phòng quan hệ công chúng của NewTech đã ĐƢA RA MỘT TUYÊN BỐ việc tuân thủ các quy
định về thuế. Nếu thực sự tuyên bố của King là VÔ CĂN CỨ (tuyên bố của ông không có cơ sở trên
thực tế), sau đó ông sẽ phải đối mặt với trừng phạt pháp lý cho CÁO BUỘC KHÔNG ĐÚNG và
CÓ HIỀM THÙ về Fisher, do đó gây thiệt hại cho danh tiếng của ông.

DỊCH BỞI Đinh Phương Thảo


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180
Lesson 45 - Claiming & Denying
Read and listen to this news report about a corruption scandal in a large company:

Randy Fisher, president of the software company NewTech, is facing accusations of fraud by its chief
financial officer, Brian King, who has openly accused Fisher of hiding millions of dollars of profit in off-
shore bank accounts in order to avoid paying taxes.

Fisher denies the allegations (says the accusations are not true) and clearly states that King has no
evidence to substantiate his claims (prove his claims are true or reasonable). However, in a leaked
document (a secret document that was accidentally released to the public) from the company’s internal
archives, Fisher heavily implies (says indirectly but strongly) that the company is in fact much more
profitable than it appears on paper. Some journalists are now spreading the rumor (transmitting the
comment) that these “invisible” funds were used to finance Fisher’s recent real estate investments in
Central America.

According to King, Fisher wanted him to participate in the illegal financial scheme, and became angry
when King refused his offer. It is widely acknowledged (known by many people) that if Fisher were to
resign, King would be the logical successor to the position of CEO. This has fueled speculation (created
beliefs) that there may be an ulterior motive (a hidden reason) for his accusations.

NewTech’s public relations department has issued a statement affirming its total compliance with tax
regulations. If indeed King’s claims are unfounded (his claims have no basis in fact), then he will
probably face legal action for unjustly and maliciously accusing Fisher, thus resulting in damage to his
reputation.

181
Lesson 45 - Quiz
1. A disclosed / escaped / leaked document shows that the U.S. is planning to build additional
military bases in Central America.
2. A lot of people believe the completely impossible / malicious / unfounded claims they read on
the internet, and never actually research the issue.
3. In the interview, the director heavily implied / included / intended that there would be a sequel
to the film.
4. My cousin wanted to give me a job at his restaurant, but I denied / refused / repelled the offer.
5. Some parents are honestly / openly / transparently accusing the teacher of favoritism in the
classroom.
6. That university is hugely / unjustly / widely acknowledged to be the best place in the world to
study law.
7. The corporation laid off 10,000 workers, inflaming / firing / fueling speculation that it is close to
bankruptcy.
8. The human resources manager defends / denies / denounces the allegations that the company
hired illegal immigrants.
9. The police are claiming / facing / implying accusations of using excessive violence to arrest a
teenager, after some witnesses filmed the situation on their cell phones.
10. The sports team declared / issued / transmitted a statement apologizing for the athlete's
offensive behavior.
11. The tabloid magazines are divulging / growing / spreading the rumor that the actress is
pregnant.
12. Whenever my brother calls me "just to say hi," there's always an ulterior / ultimate /
undercover motive - usually he needs to borrow some money.

Listen and fill the missing words

Fisher denies the ............................................... (says the ....................................... are not true) and

clearly states that King has no evidence to ............................................ his claims (prove his claims
are true or reasonable). However, in a ............................................ document (a secret document
that was accidentally released to the public) from the company’s internal archives, Fisher

heavily .......................................... (says indirectly but strongly) that the company is in fact much

more profitable than it appears on paper. Some journalists are now ..............................................
the rumor (transmitting the comment) that these “invisible” funds were used to finance Fisher’s

recent real estate investments in Central America.


182
Lesson 46 - Liking & Disliking
Read and listen to these three people talking about likes and dislikes:

"I'm a lifelong fan of U2 - they're my all-time favorite band. In addition to the sheer

enjoyment (pure pleasure) of listening to their music, I'm also a great admirer of Bono and

his philanthropic work. He's concerned not only with the fleeting pleasure (momentary

enjoyment) of fame and fortune, but also with making a difference in the world. I hold him

in the highest regard (have great respect for him) for this reason."

‚Tôi là một người hâm mộ cả đời của U2 - họ là ban nhạc yêu thích mọi thời đại của tôi. Ngoài
sự hoàn toàn thích thú khi nghe nhạc của họ, tôi còn là một người hâm mộ to lớn của Bono và
công việc từ thiện của anh. Anh ấy không chỉ quan tâm tới niềm vui thích thoáng qua (sự thích
thú tạm thời) của tiền tài và danh vọng mà còn về việc tạo một sự khác biệt trên thế giới. Tôi rất
ngưỡng mộ anh vì lí do này.

"When my daughter was a baby, I noticed that she developed a particular liking for

classical music, and when she was six I signed her up for violin classes. It was a real

pleasure to see her obvious enjoyment of the lessons. She grew quite attached (strongly

like/love over time) to her teacher, who says that she has the potential to turn her great love

of music into a professional career. Now my daughter is 13 and lately she's expressed a

clear preference for the most difficult pieces of music - she says she wants a challenge."

‚Khi con gái tôi còn là một đứa bé, tôi để ý rằng con bé ngày càng bộc lộ niềm yêu thích nhạc cổ
điển, và khi con bé lên 6 tuổi tôi đã đăng kí cho nó lớp học đàn vi-ô-lông. Thật vui mừng khi thấy sự
thích thú rõ ràng của nó đối với các bài học. Con bé trở nên khá gắn bó (rất thích/yêu mến sau
một khoảng thời gian) với giáo viên, ngƣời nói rằng con bé có tiềm năng làm cho tình yêu to lớn
với âm nhạc thành một nghề chuyên nghiệp. Bây giờ con gái tôi lên 13 và thời gian gần đây con bé
bày tỏ một sở thích rõ rệt với những bản nhạc khó nhất - con bé nói nó muốn có sự thử thách.‛

"I took an instant dislike to Sam from the moment we were introduced. Within five

minutes, he was talking about his deep dislike of foreigners - without knowing that my

own parents were immigrants from Argentina. He said he had nothing but contempt (only

hate) for people who abandoned their own countries to come to ours, and then began

making horribly racist jokes and comments. I have no idea where Sam's blind/irrational

hatred (hatred without a logical reason) of foreigners comes from, but he seems to have

developed a strong aversion (developed an intense dislike) to interacting with anyone who's

183
the slightest bit different from him. I try to be polite, but deep down I hate him with a

passion (hate him a LOT)."

‚Tôi ngay tức khắc không ưa Sam kể từ lúc chúng tôi làm quen. Trong vòng năm phút, anh ta nói
về việc vô cùng ghét những ngƣời nƣớc ngoài - mà không biết rằng bố mẹ của chúng tôi là những
ngƣời nhập cƣ từ Argentina. Anh ta nói rằng anh ta không có gì ngoài khinh thường (chỉ ghét)
những ngƣời từ bỏ đất nƣớc của họ để đến với đất nƣớc của chúng ta, và sau đó bắt đầu gieo rắc
những câu nói đùa và chỉ trích kinh khủng về phân biệt chủng tộc. Tôi không hình dung đƣợc cái
lòng căm ghét mù quáng/vô lý (lòng căm ghét mà không có lý do hợp lý) của Sam đối với ngƣời
nƣớc ngoài đến từ đâu, nhƣng anh ta dƣờng nhƣ bộc lộ rõ sự ác cảm mạnh với bất kì ai anh ta
tiếp xúc dù cho họ có một chút khác biệt không đáng kể nhất với anh ta. Tôi cố gắng tỏ ra lịch sự,
nhƣng trong thân tâm tôi rất ghét anh ta.

Dịch bởi Trần Ngọc Quỳnh

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184
Lesson 46 - Liking & Disliking
Read and listen to these three people talking about likes and dislikes:

“I’m a lifelong fan of U2 – they’re my all-time favorite band. In addition to the sheer enjoyment (pure
pleasure) of listening to their music, I’m also a great admirer of Bono and his philanthropic work. He’s
concerned not only with the fleeting pleasure (momentary enjoyment) of fame and fortune, but also
with making a difference in the world. I hold him in the highest regard (have great respect for him) for
this reason.”

“When my daughter was a baby, I noticed that she developed a particular liking for classical music,
and when she was six I signed her up for violin classes. It was a real pleasure to see her obvious
enjoyment of the lessons. She grew quite attached (strongly like/love over time) to her teacher, who
says that she has the potential to turn her great love of music into a professional career. Now my
daughter is 13 and lately she’s expressed a clear preference for the most difficult pieces of music – she
says she wants a challenge.”

“I took an instant dislike to Sam from the moment we were introduced. Within five minutes, he was
talking about his deep dislike of foreigners – without knowing that my own parents were immigrants
from Argentina. He said he had nothing but contempt (only hate) for people who abandoned their own
countries to come to ours, and then began making horribly racist jokes and comments. I have no idea
where Sam’s blind/irrational hatred (hatred without a logical reason) of foreigners comes from, but he
seems to have developed a strong aversion (developed an intense dislike) to interacting with anyone
who’s the slightest bit different from him. I try to be polite, but deep down I hate him with a passion
(hate him a LOT).”

185
Lesson 46 - Quiz
1. Brian caught / got / took an instant dislike to his father's new girlfriend.
2. I hate soap operas with a frenzy / passion / rage; I don't understand why anyone would watch
that trash.
3. I have nothing but aversion / condemn / contempt for parents who abandon their children.
4. I was sad when my parents gave away my childhood toys; I had brought / come / grown quite
attached to them.
5. I'm a big / great / large admirer of your poetry - it's really inspiring.
6. Life is Beautiful is my all-time / everlasting / long-term favorite movie.
7. My grandfather is a forever / lifelong / permanent fan of his old college basketball team.
8. My husband has an impossible / incoherent / irrational hatred of cats.
9. Some people don't like their parents, but I hold mine in the highest regard / reserve / value.
10. The customers have a clear / fair / light preference for inexpensive products.

Listen and fill the missing words

“I’m a lifelong fan of U2 – they’re my all-time favorite band. In addition to the ............................
enjoyment (pure pleasure) of listening to their music, I’m also a great ................................ of
Bono and his .................................................... work. He’s concerned not only with the fleeting
pleasure (momentary enjoyment) of fame and fortune, but also with making a difference in the
world. I hold him in the highest regard (have great respect for him) for this reason.”

“When my daughter was a baby, I noticed that she developed a ....................................... liking for

classical music, and when she was six I signed her up for violin classes. It was a real pleasure to

see her ...................................... enjoyment of the lessons. She grew quite attached (strongly
like/love over time) to her teacher, who says that she has the potential to turn her great love of
music into a professional career. Now my daughter is 13 and lately she’s expressed a

clear ................................................... for the most difficult pieces of music – she says she wants a

challenge.”

186
Lesson 47 - Praising & Criticizing
When I told my family I wanted to be a professional musician, I faced a barrage of criticism

from my parents, who strongly disapproved of the idea. I'd had a feeling that they would

only give their blessing to a more "traditional" career track.

Khi tôi nói với gia đình tôi rằng tôi muốn trở thành một nhạc sĩ chuyên nghiệp, tôi đã phải đối mặt
với RẤT NHIỀU SỰ CHỈ TRÍCH NẶNG NỀ từ bố mẹ tôi, họ PHẢN ĐỐI ý kiến này VÔ CÙNG
QUYẾT LIỆT. Tôi cảm thấy rằng họ sẽ chỉ ỦNG HỘ tôi nếu tôi làm việc trong những ngành nghề
truyền thống khác.

I countered their criticism by pointing out that I'd rather follow my passion and enjoy my

job than get rich working a job I hated. Although they gave their grudging approval to my

enrollment in music school, I could tell by my father's frown of disapproval that he wished

I'd study law or medicine instead.

Tôi CHỐNG LẠI SỰ CHỈ TRÍCH CỦA HỌ bằng việc chỉ ra rằng tôi thích theo đuổi đam mê của
mình và hƣởng thụ công việc này hơn việc trở nên giàu có từ một công việc khác mà tôi không thích.
Mặc dù sau cùng họ đã CHẤP NHẬN việc tôi đăng kí học ở một trƣờng âm nhạc MỘT CÁCH
MIỄN CƢỠNG, tôi có thể nhận ra SỰ THẤT VỌNG TRÊN GƢƠNG MẶT của bố tôi đã nói lên
rằng ông ấy mong muốn tôi đã chọn học Luật hoặc Dƣợc.

The only person who encouraged me was my aunt, who thinks the world of me and has

always offered enthusiastic support for my hopes and dreams. She heartily approved my

plans and dismissed my parents' criticisms as ridiculous.

Ngƣời duy nhất động viên tôi chính là cô của tôi, ngƣời luôn DÀNH CHO TÔI SỰ TÔN TRỌNG
VÀ YÊU QUÝ và luôn dành SỰ ỦNG HỘ NHIỆT TÌNH đối với những mong muốn và ƣớc mơ
của tôi. Cô ấy HOÀN TOÀN ỦNG HỘ những kế hoạch của tôi và CHO RẰNG SỰ CHỈ TRÍCH
từ bố mẹ tôi thật kì quặc.

My parents finally came around when I gave my first concert in Carnegie Hall, to a

standing ovation. The critics had given my show rave reviews, describing it as an

outstanding performance.

Cuối cùng thì bố mẹ tôi cũng đến thăm khi tôi có buổi biểu diễn đầu tiên tại sảnh Carnegie KHI
CÁC THÍNH GIẢ ĐANG ĐỨNG VỖ TAY. Những nhà phê bình đã dành cho tôi nhiều lời đánh
giá tích cực, và họ cho rằng buổi biểu diễn của tôi chính là một BUỔI BIỂU DIÊN RẤT XUẤT
SẮC.

187
After seeing me on stage, my parents congratulated me warmly and apologized for the

scathing criticisms they had made in the past. Later, I heard them speaking highly my

music to some of their friends. I had finally won their approval.

Sau khi thấy tôi biểu diễn trên sân khấu, bố mẹ tôi CHÚC MỪNG TÔI RẤT NỒNG NHIỆT và ngỏ
lời xin lỗi tôi vì SỰ CHỈ TRÍCH NẶNG NỀ họ đã dành cho tôi trƣớc đây. Sau đó, tôi còn nghe
đƣợc rằng họ KHEN NGỢI tài năng âm nhạc của tôi trƣớc mặt bạn bè của họ. Cuối cùng thì tôi đã
thực sự GIÀNH ĐƢỢC SỰ CHẤP THUẬN từ phía bố mẹ mình.

Dịch bởi Minh Tâm

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Lesson 47 - Praising & Criticizing
When I told my family I wanted to be a professional musician, I faced a barrage of criticism (intense
attack of negative comments) from my parents, who strongly disapproved of the idea. I'd had a feeling
that they would only give their blessing (give their approval/support) to a more "traditional" career
track.

I countered their criticism (argued against their criticism) by pointing out that I'd rather follow my
passion and enjoy my job than get rich working a job I hated. Although they gave their grudging
approval (angry and reluctant approval) to my enrollment in music school, I could tell by my father's
frown of disapproval (disapproving facial expression) that he wished I'd study law or medicine instead.

The only person who encouraged me was my aunt, who thinks the world of me (has great respect and
admiration for me) and has always offered enthusiastic support for my hopes and dreams. She heartily
approved (completely and sincerely approved) of my plans and dismissed my parents' criticisms as
ridiculous.

My parents finally came around when I gave my first concert in Carnegie Hall, to a standing ovation
(when the audience stands up and claps for an extended period of time). The critics had given my show
rave reviews (extremely positive evaluations), describing it as an outstanding performance (an
excellent, superior performance).

After seeing me on stage, my parents congratulated me warmly (congratulated me with love) and
apologized for the scathing criticisms (very strong and hurtful criticisms) they had made in the past.
Later, I heard them speaking highly of (saying good things about) my music to some of their friends. I
had finally won their approval.

189
Lesson 47 - Quiz
1. Her parents refused to give their blessing / grace / thanksgiving to her marriage to a man from
a different culture.
2. I animatedly / enthusiastically / forcefully support the campaign for humane treatment of farm
animals.
3. My son is my parents’ only grandchild, so of course they think the globe / earth / world of him.
4. Some men will do anything to catch / stand / win the approval of the woman they love.
5. That course seems excellent - everyone who takes it speaks very deeply / greatly / highly of it.
6. The actress' distinguished / outstanding / warm performance in the film won her an Oscar.
7. The article made some burning / grudging / scathing criticisms of the corruption in the
country's political system.
8. The author's new book received a barrage / barricade / blast of criticism from people who
disagree with her philosophy.
9. The manager attacked / countered / defended criticism that he was overspending by showing
how the investments would grow the business' profit in the future.
10. We emotionally / heartily / politely approve of your proposal.

Listen and fill the missing words

When I told my family I wanted to be a professional musician, I faced a .................................. of


criticism (............................... attack of negative comments) from my parents, who strongly
disapproved of the idea. I'd had a feeling that they would only give
their ............................................ (give their approval/support) to a more "traditional" career track.

I ........................................ their criticism (argued against their criticism) by pointing out that I'd

rather follow my passion and enjoy my job than get rich working a job I hated. Although they gave
their ...................................... approval (angry and reluctant approval) to my enrollment in music
school, I could tell by my father's frown of disapproval (disapproving facial expression) that he

wished I'd study law or medicine instead.

The only person who encouraged me was my aunt, who thinks the world of me (has

great .............................. and ........................................ for me) and has always offered enthusiastic
support for my hopes and dreams. She heartily approved (completely and sincerely approved) of

my plans and ............................................. my parents' criticisms as ridiculous.

190
Lesson 48 - Metaphor (Phép ẩn dụ)
A number of words in English are used metaphorically - with a meaning that is not exactly

the same as their literal meaning. Usually they apply a quality of one word to another

word. For example, when we say that something is lightning fast, we are using the quality

of lightning (which is almost instantaneous) to describe something that is extremely fast.

Có rất nhiều từ trong tiếng anh đƣợc dùng một cách ẩn dụ với ý nghĩa không sát nhƣ là nghĩa đen
của chúng. Thông thƣờng chúng đi kèm một loại từ này với loại từ kia. Ví dụ, khi chúng ta nói rằng
thứ nào đó NHANH NHƢ CHỚP, chúng ta sẽ dùng từ lightning (mà gần nhƣ xảy ra ngay lập
tức) để miêu tả điều đó cực kỳ nhanh.

Another example is the root of the problem - the literal meaning of the word "root" is the

part of a plant or tree that is under the soil. The roots are what support and sustain the

entire tree. Therefore, "the root of the problem" is the deepest, most basic or fundamental

reason for the problem.

Một ví dụ khác là NGUYÊN NHÂN GỐC RỄ CỦA VẤN ĐỀ- nghĩa đen của từ ‚rễ‛ là một bộ
phận của một loài thực vật hoặc loài cây mà nằm ở dƣới đất. Những chiếc rễ nuôi dƣỡng và chống
đỡ cho toàn bộ cây. Chính vì vậy, nguyên nhân gốc rễ của vấn đề là nguyên nhân sâu xa nhất, cơ
bản nhất hoặc chủ yếu nhất của vấn đề.

Many metaphors are related to elements in the natural world, such as light and dark, water,

fire, and plants - in this lesson, you'll learn 5 collocations in each category.

Rất nhiều những phép ẩn dụ liên quan đến các hiện tƣợng trong thế giới tự nhiên nhƣ là ánh sáng
và bóng tối, nƣớc, lửa và thực vật- trong bài này, chúng ta sẽ học 5 cụm từ thƣờng đi với nhau
trong mỗi phạm trù.

LIGHT AND DARK

 If someone's face or eyes light up, it means that they suddenly get very happy or

excited. You can also say someone's eyes are shining with delight.

 The expression lighten the mood means to make a depressing atmosphere/situation

more relaxed and happy.

 On the other hand, if someone's face/eyes/expression darkens, it means that they

suddenly appear sad or angry.

 Dark days or dark times refer to periods of time that are bad or unpleasant, full of

problems

191
ÁNH SÁNG VÀ BÓNG TỐI
 Nếu KHUÔN MẶT HOẶC ÁNH MẮT CỦA AI ĐÓ SÁNG NGỜI LÊN, điều đó có nghĩa
là họ đột nhiên cảm thấy hạnh phúc hoặc phấn khởi. Bạn cũng có thể nói rằng ÁNH MẮT
CỦA AI ĐÓ RẠNG NGỜI NIỀM VUI SƢỚNG.
 Cụm từ TÂM TRẠNG TỐT LÊN có nghĩa là khiến một bầu không khí/một hoàn cảnh trở
nên thƣ thái và hạnh phúc hơn.
 Mặt khác, nếu KHUÔN MẶT/ÁNH MẮT/BIỂU CẢM U ÁM, điều đó có nghĩa là họ đột
nhiên cảm thấy buồn và tức giận.
 NGÀY U ÁM và THỜI ĐIỂM U ÁM đề cập tới khoảng thời gian tồi tệ hoặc không vui, đầy
những vấn đề.
WATER

 You can say that ideas are flowing or conversation is flowing to describe when it is

proceeding easily and naturally.

 Water metaphors are often used to describe the movement of groups of people - you

can say that people poured/streamed into the stadium (to describe continuous

movement of large groups of people) or that people trickled into the church (when

only a few people come, occasionally).

 The expressions waves of disappointment or waves of sadness refer to strong

feelings.

Nƣớc

 Bạn có thể nói rằng KẾ HOẠCH DIỄN RA TRÔI CHẢY hoặc CUỘC HỘI THOẠI DIỄN
RA TRÔI CHẢY để miêu tả khi điều đó đang diễn ra một cách dễ dàng và tự nhiên.

 Những ẩn dụ liên quan đến nƣớc thƣờng đƣợc dùng miêu tả sự di chuyển của một nhóm
những ngƣời- mà bạn có thể nói rằng NGƢỜI ĐỔ XÔ/TRÀN RA sân vận động (để miêu
tả sự di chuyển liên tục của một nhóm đông ngƣời) hoặc LÁC ĐÁC NHỮNG NGƢỜI vào
nhà thờ (khi mà thỉnh thoảng chỉ một vài ngƣời đến).

 Cụm từ CUỘN TRÀO NỖI THẤT VỌNG hoặc CUỘN TRÀO NỖI BUỒN đề cập đến
những cảm xúc mạnh mẽ.
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192
FIRE

 A heated discussion or heated debate is one that is very intense, often with negative

emotions like anger.

 If someone has a fiery temper, it means that when they get angry, they get VERY

angry, and could possibly explode. There's also the expression tempers flared to

describe a situation when people began to get angry.

• The verbs kindle and spark describe the act of starting fires. "Kindle" is usually used for

starting positive things - something can kindle interest/enthusiasm/hope - and "spark" is

usually used for starting negative things - something can spark outrage/controversy.

LỬA
 Một CUỘC THẢO LUẬN NẢY LỬA hoặc TRANH LUẬN NẢY LỬA là một cuộc thảo
luận rất sôi nổi, thƣờng đi kèm với những cảm xúc tiêu cực nhƣ tức giận.
 Nếu ai đó có TÍNH PHẪN NỘ, điều đó có nghĩa là khi họ tức giận, họ CỰC KỲ giận và có
thể bùng nổ. Cũng có biểu hiện KÍCH ĐỘNG để miêu tả hoàn cảnh mà một ngƣời bắt đầu
tức giận.
 Những động từ NHEN NHÓM và KHƠI MÀO để miêu tả hành động phát ra những ngọn
lửa. NHEN NHÓM thƣờng đƣợc dùng cho việc bắt đầu những điều tích cực- nhƣ là có thể
NHEN NHÓM LÊN NIỀM ĐAM MÊ/SỰ NHIỆT TÌNH/NIỀM HI VỌNG và KHƠI
MÀO thƣờng đƣợc dùng chỉ việc bắt đầu những thứ mang nghĩa tiêu cực- nhƣ là KHƠI
MÀO VỤ TRẤN ĐỘNG/KHƠI MÀO CUỘC CHIẾN.

PLANTS

 It's difficult for a plant to grow in soil that has a lot of rocks. So if something gets off

to a rocky start, it means that it encountered many problems in the beginning.

 Thorns are the small, sharp growths that appear on some plants (such as roses). The

expression a thorny issue describes a matter that is difficult, complicated, and

possibly dangerous.

 The word "blossom" is used to describe when a flower appears and opens, revealing

all its beauty. So if a romance/friendship is blossoming, then it is developing in a

beautiful way.

 If your efforts begin to produce the desired results, we can say your efforts are

bearing fruit.

193
 A seed represents something very small that can grow into something big. So if

some event plants seeds of hope / seeds of jealousy, it means it produces a small

feeling that can grow into a stronger emotion over time.

THỰC VẬT

 Một loài thực vật rất khó phát triển trong vùng đất toàn đá. Vì vậy nếu thứ mà KHỞI ĐẦU
GIAN NAN có nghĩa là nó gặp phải rất nhiều vấn đề từ khi mới bắt đầu.

 Những cái gai sắc và nhỏ xuất hiện trên một vào loài thực vật nhƣ hoa hồng. Cụm từ VẤN
ĐỀ HÓC BÚA miêu tả một vấn đề khó, phức tạp và có thể nguy hiểm.

 Từ ‚NỞ‛ đƣợc dùng để miêu tả khi một bông hoa xuất hiện và khoe ra, bộc lộ tất cả vẻ đẹp
của nó. Vì vậy nếu CHUYỆN TÌNH LÃNG MẠN/TÌNH BẠN ĐANG NỞ HOA thì nó
đang phát triển theo một hƣớng tốt đẹp.

 Nếu những nỗ lực của bạn bắt đầu có những kết quả nhƣ mong đợi thì chúng ta có thể nói
NỖ LỰC CỦA BẠN ĐÃ MANG LẠI QUẢ NGỌT.

 Hạt giống tƣợng trƣng cho thứ gì đó rất nhỏ mà có thể phát triển thành thứ lớn hơn. Vì vậy
việc GIEO NIỀM HI VỌNG/GIEO SỰ GHEN GHÉT có nghĩa là điều đó gây ra từ một
cảm xúc nhỏ mà có thể lớn dần lên thành cảm xúc mãnh liệt hơn theo thời gian.
Dịch bởi Nguyễn Thu Hà

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Lesson 48 - Metaphor
A number of words in English are used metaphorically – with a meaning that is not exactly the same as
their literal meaning. Usually they apply a quality of one word to another word. For example, when we
say that something is lightning fast, we are using the quality of lightning (which is almost instantaneous)
to describe something that is extremely fast.

Another example is the root of the problem – the literal meaning of the word “root” is the part of a
plant or tree that is under the soil. The roots are what support and sustain the entire tree. Therefore,
“the root of the problem” is the deepest, most basic or fundamental reason for the problem.

Many metaphors are related to elements in the natural world, such as light and dark, water, fire, and
plants – in this lesson, you’ll learn 5 collocations in each category.

LIGHT AND DARK


If someone’s face or eyes light up, it means that they suddenly get very happy or excited. You
can also say someone’s eyes are shining with delight.
The expression lighten the mood means to make a depressing atmosphere/situation more
relaxed and happy.
On the other hand, if someone’s face/eyes/expression darkens, it means that they suddenly
appear sad or angry.
Dark days or dark times refer to periods of time that are bad or unpleasant, full of problems

WATER
You can say that ideas are flowing or conversation is flowing to describe when it is proceeding
easily and naturally.
Water metaphors are often used to describe the movement of groups of people – you can say
that people poured/streamed into the stadium (to describe continuous movement of large
groups of people) or that people trickled into the church (when only a few people come,
occasionally).
The expressions waves of disappointment or waves of sadness refer to strong feelings.

FIRE
A heated discussion or heated debate is one that is very intense, often with negative emotions
like anger.
If someone has a fiery temper, it means that when they get angry, they get VERY angry, and
could possibly explode. There’s also the expression tempers flared to describe a situation when
people began to get angry.

The verbs kindle and spark describe the act of starting fires. “Kindle” is usually used for starting
positive things – something can kindle interest/enthusiasm/hope – and “spark” is usually used
for starting negative things – something can spark outrage/controversy.

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PLANTS
It’s difficult for a plant to grow in soil that has a lot of rocks. So if something gets off to a rocky
start, it means that it encountered many problems in the beginning.
Thorns are the small, sharp growths that appear on some plants (such as roses). The expression
a thorny issue describes a matter that is difficult, complicated, and possibly dangerous.
The word “blossom” is used to describe when a flower appears and opens, revealing all its
beauty. So if a romance/friendship is blossoming, then it is developing in a beautiful way.
If your efforts begin to produce the desired results, we can say your efforts are bearing fruit.
A seed represents something very small that can grow into something big. So if some event
plants seeds of hope / seeds of jealousy, it means it produces a small feeling that can grow into
a stronger emotion over time.

Lesson 48 - Quiz
1. A new TV show has sparked argument / contention / controversy by showing the positive side
of dropping out of college.
2. A flood / roll / wave of disappointment came over me when I heard that the show had been
canceled.
3. Having lots of pets as I was growing up ignited / kindled / started my interest in studying
veterinary medicine.
4. Her face lit / shone / turned up when I asked her about the award she'd recently won.
5. I was thrilled to see a romance blossoming / rooting / shining between two of my best friends.
6. My grandmother remembers the black / dark / shady days of the civil war.
7. The boxer dodged his opponent's punch and threw a lightning / streaming / thunder fast
counterattack.
8. The city's efforts to cut down on pollution are finally bearing / growing / producing fruit.
9. The legality of abortion is a flowing / sharp / thorny issue involving questions of human life,
women's rights, and societal responsibility.
10. Hundreds of people dripped / poured / trickled into the store the moment the doors opened.

Listen and fill the missing words

A number of words in English are used ................................................ – with a meaning that is not
exactly the same as their literal meaning. Usually they apply a quality of one word to another
word. For example, when we say that something is lightning fast, we are using the quality of

lightning (which is almost ......................................................) to describe something that is

extremely fast.

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Lesson 49 - Confusing Words

We've already looked at a few pairs of Chúng ta đã xem xét một vài cặp từ dễ

confusing words, like end and finish, big and nhầm lẫn, ví dụ như end và finish, big và

large, or fast and quick. Here are some large, hoặc fast và quick. Dưới đây là một

additional verbs that are frequently confused số động từ khác thường bị nhầm lẫn bởi

by English learners, with their different những người học tiếng Anh, với những sự

collocations explained. sắp xếp khác nhau của chúng được giải

thích.

close / shut Close/shut (đóng)

Close and shut are the same for doors, Close and shut dùng như nhau đối với cửa,

windows, mouths, and eyes. cửa sổ, miệng và mắt.

 Close the door / Shut the door so that  Đóng cửa để muỗi không bay vào

the mosquitoes don't get in.

 It's cold in here; could you please close  Ở trong đây lạnh, bạn có thể làm ơn

the window / shut the window ? đóng cửa sổ?

 She shut her eyes / closed her eyes as  Cô ấy nhắm mắt khi cô ấy bắt đầu

she began to meditate. thiền.

 Dan's mouth was closed / shut.  Miệng của Dan bị đóng (Dan ngừng

nói).

Note: The word "shut" can be used with a Note: Từ “shut” có thể được dùng với một

word that implies the action was noisy: từ ngụ ý hành động ồn ào

 She slammed the door shut.  Cô ấy đóng sầm cửa.

 The wind made the gate bang shut.  GIó làm cánh cổng đóng sầm lại

Note: The phrase "Shut your mouth!" is a rude Note: Cụm từ ‚Ngậm miệng lại‛ là một cách

way to tell somebody to stop talking. thô lỗ để bảo ai đó ngừng nói chuyện.

Close (not shut) is used for shops, banks, etc. Close (không phải “shut”) được dùng cho

as well as for airports and roads that are not cửa hàng, ngân hàng< cũng như sân bay

open or available at a particular time: và tuyến đường không mở hoặc chỉ mở tại

một thời điểm cụ thể:

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 What time does the bank close?  Mấy giờ ngân hàng đóng cửa?

 The roads are closed due to  Các tuyến đƣờng bị đóng do xây dựng

construction.

 The shop is closing in 30 minutes.  Cửa hàng sẽ đóng cửa sau 30 phút

nữa

We use expressions with "close" to refer to Chúng ta sử dụng các cách diễn đạt với

the end of an event or process: “close” để nói đến sự kết thúc của một sự

kiện hoặc quy trình:

 Let's bring this meeting to a close.  Chúng ta hãy kết thúc cuộc họp này.

 It appears that the economic crisis is  Dường như cuộc khủng hoảng kinh tế

drawing to a close / coming to a close. đang đi đến hồi kết.

 Messi scored a goal in the closing  Messi ghi một bàn thắng trong

moments of the game. những phút cuối của trận đấu.

gain / win / earn gain / win / earn

The word win means to be #1 in a Từ “win” có nghĩa là đứng đầu trong một

competition, or to receive an award. cuộc thi hoặc nhận một giải thưởng.

 My soccer team won the game 3-1.  Đội bóng của tôi đã chiến thắng trận

đấu 3-1

 I want to win the lottery!  Tôi muốn giành giải xổ số / đoạt


giải xổ số

 John won a prize in the science  John đã giành một giải thưởng trong

competition. cuộc thi khoa học

You can win a game, win a race, win a Bạn có thể thắng một trận đấu, giành giải

competition, or win the lottery. thưởng ở một cuộc đua, giành giải ở một

cuộc thi hoặc trúng số.

You can also win a medal (like in the Bạn cũng có thể giành huy chương (như ở

Olympics), a prize, or an award. Olympics), hoặc giải thưởng.

In conflicts, you can win an argument, win a Trong một cuộc xung đột, bạn có thể giành

battle or win the war. chiến thắng một cuộc tranh luận, chiến thắng

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một trận chiến hoặc chiến thắng trong chiến

tranh.

The word earn means to get something in Từ “earn” có nghĩa là việc bạn đạt được

exchange for your work or effort. một điều gì đó, được đổi lại với công việc

hoặc nỗ lực của bạn. (điều bạn đạt được là

kết quả của công việc hay nỗ lực của bạn).

 Sarah is a famous lawyer; she earns a  Sarah là một luật sư nổi tiếng; cô

lot of money. kiếm được rất nhiều tiền.

 I'm not rich, but I earn a decent salary.  Tôi không giàu, nhưng tôi kiếm

được một mức lương khá.

 My bank account earns 2% interest per  Tài khoản ngân hàng của tôi kiếm

month. được 2% lãi suất mỗi tháng.

 The salesman earns a 10% commission  Người bán hàng kiếm được 10%

on every sale he makes. hoa hồng cho mỗi lần bán hàng.

The word “gain” means to receive/obtain or Từ “gain” có nghĩa là nhận được /đạt được

to increase (it may or may not be the result of hoặc tăng lên (nó có thể hoặc không phải là

work or effort). kết quả của công việc hay nỗ lực).

 I've gained weight ever since I  Tôi đã tăng cân kể từ khi tôi ngừng

stopped exercising. tập thể dục.

 Jack's car gained speed as he drove  Xe của Jack đã tăng tốc khi anh ấy

down the mountain. lái xe xuống núi.

 This training has helped me gain  Khóa đào tạo này đã giúp tôi hiểu

insight into modern educational sâu hơn về các phương pháp giáo

methods. dục hiện đại.

 In my last job, I gained a lot of  Trong công việc cuối cùng của mình,

experience. tôi đã tích lũy nhiều kinh nghiệm.

 He has gained a reputation for  Ông ấy đã tạo dựng một danh tiếng

complete honesty in his business cho sự hoàn toàn trung thực trong

dealings. kinh doanh.

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Save / keep Save/keep

Save is used for conserving something - you Save được sử dụng khi bạn tiết kiệm thứ gì

can save energy, save time, or save space. đó - bạn có thể tiết kiệm năng lượng, tiết

kiệm thời gian, tiết kiệm không gian.

It can also be used for rescuing, as in the Nó cũng có thể được sử dụng với ý nghĩa

expression "save someone's life”. giải cứu, ví dụ như trong cụm từ “cứu

mạng sống của ai đó”.

The expression "save money" has two Cụm từ "tiết kiệm tiền" có hai ý nghĩa - tiết

meanings - to conserve money by paying less, kiệm tiền bằng cách trả ít hơn, ví dụ: "Phiếu

for example: "Coupons help me save money giảm giá giúp tôi tiết kiệm tiền tại siêu thị".

at the supermarket." It also means to keep Nó cũng có ý nghĩa là cất giữ tiền trong

money for a long time, for example: "I'm một khoảng thời gian dài, ví dụ: "Tôi tiết

saving money for my vacation in December." kiệm tiền cho kỳ nghỉ của tôi vào tháng

Mười Hai."

In this second case, we often say "saving up Trong trường hợp thứ hai, chúng ta thường

money." nói "saving up money".

The word keep means to maintain something Từ keep có nghĩa là gìn giữ thứ gì đó trong

in your possession - for example, if someone sở hữu của bạn - ví dụ, nếu ai đó đưa cho

gives you a jacket, and you try to return it, bạn một cái áo khoác, và bạn cố gắng trả lại

but the other person tells you to keep it. There nó, nhưng người kia bảo bạn giữ nó. Có

are various other expressions using keep in nhiều cách diễn đạt sử dụng keep theo ý

the sense of maintaining or continuing: nghĩa duy trì hoặc tiếp tục:

 keep trying = continue trying  keep trying = tiếp tục cố gắng

 keep an eye on / keep track of =  keep an eye on/keep track of= tiếp

continue to observe/monitor a tục quan sát / theo dõi tình huống

situation

 keep in mind = continue being aware  keep in mind = giữ nhận thức về

of something điều gì đó

 keep in touch = maintain contact with  keep in touch = duy trì liên lạc với

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a person một người

 keep something clean/safe, keep  keep something clean/safe, keep

someone happy/quiet = maintain the someone happy/quite = tiếp tục giữ

object or person in that state vật hoặc người đó ở trạng thái cũ

(tiếp tục giữ một vật sạch sẽ/an toàn,

giữ một người hạnh phúc/yên tĩnh)

 keep a promise = do the action that  keep a promise= thực hiện những

you promised to do hành động mà bạn hứa sẽ làm

 keep a secret = maintain a secret  keep a secret = tiếp tục giấu điều bí

hidden, not tell it to anybody mật, không nói với bất cứ ai

spend / pay spend/pay

You spend money and time: Bạn sử dụng spend với tiền và thời gian

 I spent $100 on tickets to the baseball  Tôi đã giành 100 đô la để mua vé

game. trận bóng chày.

 We spent three hours waiting in line  Chúng tôi đã giành ba giờ xếp hàng

to buy the tickets! để mua vé!

You can also spend a period of time like the Bạn cũng có thể dùng spend với một

morning, afternoon, night, weekend, week, khoảng thời gian như buổi sáng, buổi

etc. chiều, ban đêm, cuối tuần, tuần, v.v.

 I spent the weekend making repairs to  Tôi đã giành cuối tuần để sửa nhà.

the house.  Các sinh viên đã giành cả buổi

 The students spent the afternoon chiều tình nguyện tại trại tạm trú

volunteering at the animal shelter. của động vật.

You pay the request, bill, or demand for the Bạn sử dụng pay cho các yêu cầu, hóa đơn,

money: pay rent, pay a fine, pay your bills, hoặc các nhu cầu về tiền: trả tiền thuê, trả

pay your taxes tiền phạt, thanh toán hóa đơn, nộp thuế

It's also possible to use pay with quantities of Bạn cũng có thể sử dụng pay với một số

money, but we use a different preposition: tiền, nhưng chúng ta sử dụng một giới từ

khác nhau:

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 I spent $100 on the tickets.  I spent $100 on the tickets

 I paid $100 for the tickets.  I paid $100 for the tickets

Dịch bởi Mai Thi Kim Cúc

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Lesson 49 - Confusing Words
We’ve already looked at a few pairs of confusing words, like end and finish, big and large, or fast and
quick. Here are some additional verbs that are frequently confused by English learners, with their
different collocations explained.

close / shut
Close and shut are the same for doors, windows, mouths, and eyes.

Close the door / Shut the door so that the mosquitoes don’t get in.
It’s cold in here; could you please close the window / shut the window ?
She shut her eyes / closed her eyes as she began to meditate.
Dan’s mouth was closed / shut.

Note: The word "shut" can be used with a word that implies the action was noisy:

She slammed the door shut.


The wind made the gate bang shut.

Note: The phrase "Shut your mouth!" is a rude way to tell somebody to stop talking.

Close (not shut) is used for shops, banks, etc. as well as for airports and roads that are not open or
available at a particular time:

What time does the bank close?


The roads are closed due to construction.
The shop is closing in 30 minutes.

We use expressions with "close" to refer to the end of an event or process:

Let’s bring this meeting to a close.


It appears that the economic crisis is drawing to a close / coming to a close.
Messi scored a goal in the closing moments of the game.

gain / win / earn


The word win means to be #1 in a competition, or to receive an award.

My soccer team won the game 3-1.


I want to win the lottery!
John won a prize in the science competition.

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You can win a game, win a race, win a competition, or win the lottery. You can also win a medal (like in
the Olympics), a prize, or an award. In conflicts, you can win an argument, win a battle or win the war.

The word earn means to get something in exchange for your work or effort.

Sarah is a famous lawyer; she earns a lot of money.


I’m not rich, but I earn a decent salary.
My bank account earns 2% interest per month.
The salesman earns a 10% commission on every sale he makes.

The word gain means to receive/obtain or to increase (it may or may not be the result of work or effort).

I’ve gained weight ever since I stopped exercising.


Jack’s car gained speed as he drove down the mountain.
This training has helped me gain insight into modern educational methods.
In my last job, I gained a lot of experience.
He has gained a reputation for complete honesty in his business dealings.

save / keep
Save is used for conserving something – you can save energy, save time, or save space. It can also be
used for rescuing, as in the expression "save someone's life." The expression "save money" has two
meanings - to conserve money by paying less, for example: "Coupons help me save money at the
supermarket." It also means to keep money for a long time, for example: "I'm saving money for my
vacation in December." In this second case, we often say "saving up money."

The word keep means to maintain something in your possession – for example, if someone gives you a
jacket, and you try to return it, but the other person tells you to keep it. There are various other
expressions using keep in the sense of maintaining or continuing:

keep trying = continue trying


keep an eye on / keep track of = continue to observe/monitor a situation
keep in mind = continue being aware of something
keep in touch = maintain contact with a person
keep something clean/safe, keep someone happy/quiet = maintain the object or person in that
state
keep a promise = do the action that you promised to do
keep a secret = maintain a secret hidden, not tell it to anybody

spend / pay
You spend money and time:

I spent $100 on tickets to the baseball game.

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We spent three hours waiting in line to buy the tickets!

You can also spend a period of time like the morning, afternoon, night, weekend, week, etc.

I spent the weekend making repairs to the house.


The students spent the afternoon volunteering at the animal shelter.

You pay the request, bill, or demand for the money: pay rent, pay a fine, pay your bills, pay your taxes

It’s also possible to use pay with quantities of money, but we use a different preposition:

I spent $100 on the tickets.


I paid $100 for the tickets.

Lesson 49 - Quiz
Complete the sentences with close, shut, gain, win, earn, save, keep, spend, or pay.

(Note: You may need to change the form of the verb: close, closed, closing)

1. As the movie drew to a ______________, there were some surprising twists in the story.
2. He slammed his book _____________ and stormed out of the room.
3. I have so many different projects, it's hard to ____________ track of everything that needs to be
done.
4. I love shopping - I _____________ several hundred dollars on new clothes every month.
5. I was thrilled that my daughter _____________ first place in the skating competition.
6. I've ____________ in touch with my childhood friends for over 30 years.
7. Last week, he ____________ two days in the hospital recovering from surgery.
8. Let's take the highway, not the local roads - it'll ____________ time.
9. My son is ______________ up money to buy a new video game system.
10. No thanks, I don't want any chocolate cake. I'm trying to avoid __________ weight.
11. Some people ____________ outrageous salaries considering how little work they do!
12. The supermarket is _____________ on Sundays.
13. The Union forces ______________ the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
14. This is a part-time job; you'll ______________ about $700 a month.
15. Volunteering as a teacher's assistant enabled me to ___________ experience in the classroom.
16. We prefer to ____________ our bills electronically; it's much more convenient.

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Lesson 50 - Everyday Verbs
To finish up our study of collocations, Để kết thúc nghiên cứu của chúng ta về những

we're going to focus on some expressions collocations, chúng ta sẽ tập trung vào một số

with everyday verbs. thành ngữ với động từ hàng ngày. Rất nhiều

A lot of learners make mistakes with these học viên mắc sai lầm với những động từ này vì

verbs because the collocations are often collocations thường khác nhau trong ngôn ngữ

different in their native languages. Listen mẹ đẻ của họ. Lắng nghe và lặp lại:

and repeat:

HAVE HAVE

 have a baby / have children • có con / có con

 have a good time / have a blast / • có một thời gian vui vẻ / có một vụ nổ / vui

have fun

 have breakfast/lunch/dinner/ a • ăn sáng / trưa / tối / một món ăn

snack

 have an opportunity • có cơ hội

 have an advantage • có một lợi thế

TAKE TAKE

 take a shower/bath • tắm vòi sen / bồn tắm

 take a class/test/exam • tham gia một lớp học / kiểm tra / kì thi

 take a bus/train/taxi • đi xe buýt / tàu / xe taxi

 take a break / take a rest • nghỉ giải lao / nghỉ ngơi

= pause from an activity in progress = tạm dừng một hoạt động đang làm

 take advantage of • tận dụng

 take care of • chăm sóc

 take action • hành động

PAY PAY

In the previous lesson, you learned Trong bài học trước, bạn đã học được

206
collocations with pay involving money. collocations với PAY liên quan đến tiền bạc.

Here are some collocations with pay that Dưới đây là một số collocations với PAY mà

have nothing to do with money: không lien quan với tiền:

 pay attention = give attention, • pay attention = chú ý

observe

 pay tribute = give honor or • pay tribute = tôn vinh, công nhận

recognition

 pay someone a compliment = give •pay someone a compliemnt =khen ngợi ai đó

someone a compliment

 pay someone a visit = an informal • pay someone a visit = một cách gần gũi để

way to say "visit someone" nói “visit someone”

 pay (your) respects = express your • pay (your) respects =bày tỏ sự ngưỡng mộ

admiration for someone (often của bạn cho một người nào đó (thường dùng

used for someone who has died) cho những người đã qua đời)

BREAK BREAK

 break a habit = stop doing a habit  break a habit =ngừng làm một thói

quen.

 break a promise = fail to do what  break a promise = thất hứa

you promised to do

 break the ice = (informal) initiate  break the ice = (informal) bắt đầu cuộc

conversation and social interaction, trò chuyện và tương tác, đặc biệt trong

especially in a group that is a little một nhóm đang yên lặng.

quiet or reserved

 break the rules/law = disobey  break the rules/law = không tuân theo.

 break the news to someone = tell  break the news to someone = nói cho ai

someone important news (usually đó tin tức quan trọng (thường là tin

bad news) xấu).

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CATCH CATCH

 catch a cold / the flu = when  catch a cold / the flu = khi bạn

you get sick due to a bệnh do vi khuẩn, vi rút truyền từ

bacteria/virus transmitted người khác

from another person

 catch fire = when something begins  catch fire =khi cái gì đó bắt đầu cháy

to burn

 catch sight of / catch a glimpse of =  catch sight of / catch a glimpse of = có

get the opportunity to look at cơ hội nhìn cái gì đó

something

 catch someone's eye = make eye  catch someone's eye = giao tiếp bằng

contact with someone mắt

 catch the bus/train/subway = an  catch the bus/train/subway = một cách

informal way to say that you went thân mật để nói bạn đi xe buýt, đi tàu

on the bus, train, or subway hoặc tàu điện ngầm.

COME COME

 come into force/effect = begin to  come into force/effect = bắt đầu có ảnh

have an effect hưởng

 come to an end  đi đến một kết thúc

 come to terms with = learn to  come to terms with =học cách chấp

accept someone or something nhận ai đó hoặc điều gì đó

 come under attack/scrutiny  bị tấn công/ giám sát

 come close = to approximate  come close = tiếp cận hoặc đến gần với

someone or something in a specific chất lượng cụ thể của ai đó, điều gì đó.

quality

GET GET

As you learned in Lesson 36 about Như bạn đã học được trong Lesson 36 về

changes, get can be used in the sense of những thay đổi, “get” có thể được dùng theo

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"become": nghĩa "become":

 Kết hôn/ li hôn


 get married/divorced
 say rượu/ mang thai
 get drunk/pregnant
 trở nên tức giận/lo sợ/vui mừng/ mệt
 get angry/scared/excited/tired
mỏi

Dịch bởi Hoài Thương

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Lesson 50 - Everyday Verbs
To finish up our study of collocations, we’re going to focus on some expressions with everyday verbs. A
lot of learners make mistakes with these verbs because the collocations are often different in their
native languages. Listen and repeat:

HAVE
have a baby / have children
have a good time / have a blast / have fun
have breakfast/lunch/dinner/ a snack
have an opportunity
have an advantage

TAKE
take a shower/bath
take a class/test/exam
take a bus/train/taxi
take a break / take a rest
= pause from an activity in progress
take advantage of
take care of
take action

PAY
In the previous lesson, you learned collocations with pay involving money. Here are some collocations
with pay that have nothing to do with money:

pay attention = give attention, observe


pay tribute = give honor or recognition
pay someone a compliment = give someone a compliment
pay someone a visit = an informal way to say “visit someone”
pay (your) respects = express your admiration for someone (often used for someone who has
died)

BREAK
break a habit = stop doing a habit
break a promise = fail to do what you promised to do

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break the ice = (informal) initiate conversation and social interaction, especially in a group that is
a little quiet or reserved
break the rules/law = disobey
break the news to someone = tell someone important news (usually bad news)

CATCH
catch a cold / the flu = when you get sick due to a bacteria/virus transmitted from another
person
catch fire = when something begins to burn
catch sight of / catch a glimpse of = get the opportunity to look at something
catch someone’s eye = make eye contact with someone
catch the bus/train/subway = an informal way to say that you went on the bus, train, or subway

COME
come into force/effect = begin to have an effect
come to an end
come to terms with = learn to accept someone or something
come under attack/scrutiny
come close = to approximate someone or something in a specific quality

GET
As you learned in Lesson 36 about changes, get can be used in the sense of “become”:

get married/divorced
get drunk/pregnant
get angry/scared/excited/tired

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Lesson 50 - Quiz
Complete the sentences with have, take, pay, break, catch, come, and get.

(Note: You may need to change the form of the verb: take, taking, took, etc.)

1. Are you ___________ married in a church?


2. Billy ___________drunk and started making really stupid comments.
3. He smiled when I ___________ him a compliment.
4. He ___________ a quick shower after his workout.
5. I can't seem to ___________ the habit of procrastination.
6. I ___________ a glimpse of the wolf before it disappeared into the forest.
7. I'm ___________ close to my limit of cell phone minutes for the month.
8. I'm going to ___________ a computer class.
9. I'm ___________ care of my sister's kids this weekend.
10. It took years for his family to ___________ to terms with his sexual orientation.
11. Let's ___________ the 6 AM train.
12. Our kids ___________ a blast at the amusement park.
13. Regina is going to ___________a baby next month.
14. She was disqualified for ___________ the rules of the competition.
15. The car engine ___________ fire after the accident.
16. The doctor ___________ the news to me that I'd need another operation.
17. The new policy will ___________ into effect next Monday.
18. We haven't seen Frank in a long time. Let's ___________ him a visit soon.
19. We're ___________ dinner right now; can I call you back later?
20. You're not ___________ attention - look at me when I'm talking to you!

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Lesson 1 Quiz Answers
1. A friend of mine gave birth to her son at home with the help of a nurse.
2. A number of the kids in my classroom come from broken homes.
3. After a bitter divorce from his wife of 20 years, the actor married a woman young enough to be
his daughter.
4. I see my extended family once a year, during our annual family vacation.
5. I was raised in a very loving family, in which everyone helped each other.
6. I was raised by my grandparents after my parents passed away.
7. I'm on good terms with all my former boyfriends.
8. John had a carefree childhood, growing up with happily married parents and three brothers.
9. Many women regret having an abortion years afterwards.
10. My aunt's going through a messy divorce; she's paying a fortune in legal fees.
11. My husband doesn't get along with a few of my family members.
12. Although my salary is low, I get child support from my ex-husband.
13. My sister got pregnant immediately after she got married.
14. My son is making a diagram of our family tree for a school project.
15. My wife is pregnant with twins. They're due in February.
16. Sally was granted sole custody of the children from her first marriage.
17. Teenagers who had a troubled childhood often have behavior problems in school.
18. The celebrity wrote a book about his dysfunctional family.
19. The divorce settlement awarded the wife $500,000.
20. There are four people in my immediate family.
21. They have three biological children and two adopted children.

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Lesson 2 Quiz Answers
1. The process of creating friendships is called... c) making friends

2. A "close friend" is someone... c)with whom you have a strong friendship

3. When you develop romantic feelings for another person, you're... b) falling in love

4. If only one of the two people has romantic feelings, we say the feeling is not... a) mutual

5. A polite way to say you're not attracted to someone is: "He/she's not my..." c) type

6. A man who marries a woman who he met when both were very young, has married his childhood...

c) sweetheart

7. When two people get married, they make a a) commitment to each other.

8. Many men try to find a creative and romantic way to a) propose to their girlfriends.

9. A lot of marriages end when one member of the couple has an... a) affair

10. If you catch your significant other in bed with another person, then he/she is b) cheating on you.

Lesson 3 Quiz Answers


1. This moisturizer will give you a radiant complexion.
2. She has a slender waist and wide hips.
3. He bears a striking resemblance to a good friend of mine.
4. I've never liked my curly hair; I wish it was straight.
5. His deep-set eyes make him look very pensive.
6. I love men with facial hair - I think it's sexy.
7. Would you please comb your hair? It looks like you've just gotten out of bed.
8. I'm not changing my hairstyle – I’m just getting a trim.
9. He has a medium build - he's not particularly strong, but not especially skinny either.
10. My soccer coach has very muscular legs.

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Lesson 4 – Quiz Answers
1. A lot of successful entrepreneurs have not only a vivid imagination, but also the willingness to
work hard.
2. He really hurt my feelings when he called me an idiot.
3. His superiority complex makes him impossible to work with because he won't listen to
suggestions.
4. I had to swallow my pride and apologize to Janet for overreacting to her criticism.
5. I like to date men with a great sense of humor.
6. In some cultures, it's considered very rude to speak your mind.
7. It's good to put others first, but not at the expense of your own well-being.
8. Most people who work as comedians have very outgoing personalities.
9. My brother is painfully shy, but I'm trying to encourage him to come out of his shell.
10. My daughter gets along with her classmates, but she has a competitive streak when it comes to
academics.
11. My husband forgives other people very easily; he's not one to bear a grudge.
12. She would never cheat on her husband; she's fiercely loyal to him.
13. The kids were suspended for playing a prank on the teacher - they put a live snake inside her
desk.
14. Working with a therapist has helped me overcome my problems with low self-esteem.
15. You need to develop a thicker skin; you can't let every little comment upset you.

Lesson 5 Quiz Answers


1. At his mother's funeral, he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn't finish his speech.
2. I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent customer service - that company really cares about
its customers.
3. I'm sorry I lost my temper with you yesterday. It was a really stressful day at work.
4. Instead of confronting his issues, he bottles up his emotions and tries to pretend everything's
OK.
5. It's normal to go through a roller coaster of emotions after the end of a long-term relationship.
6. My mother was worried sick when it passed midnight and my brother still hadn't come home.
7. The boss was visibly annoyed when the employees told him about the problems.
8. The fans were seething with anger when the team lost the game in the last 5 minutes.
9. We're terribly sorry, but we won't be able to go to your graduation.
10. We're immensely grateful for all the help you've given us in this project.

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Lesson 6 Quiz Answers
1. Her father paid the down payment on her apartment.
2. I can't stand living with my parents; I need a place of my own.
3. I hope the apartment is furnished, because I can't afford to buy appliances.
4. I was having so much fun during my semester abroad that I didn't feel homesick at all.
5. It's a ten- story building with two elevators.
6. My bedroom window overlooks the mountains.
7. My parents finished paying off their mortgage after 25 years.
8. This weekend I'm helping my cousin move into his new place.
9. We're going to need a more spacious apartment now that we're going to have a baby.
10. We're remodeling the bathroom, so you'll have to use the one on the second floor.

Lesson 7 Quiz Answers


1. During the summer, our kids eat a lot of junk food - popcorn, candy, ice cream, cookies, etc.
2. He got food poisoning after eating some seafood from a street vendor.
3. I buy fresh produce at the farmer's market.
4. I drink in moderation; I don't like getting drunk.
5. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican cuisine. It's too spicy for me.
6. I've lost ten pounds so far while on this new diet.
7. Spinach is one of the most nourishing vegetables - it's full of vitamins and minerals.
8. That lasagna is delicious; I think I'll have another helping.
9. The food at this restaurant is all natural - they don't use any type of processed food.
10. We stopped driving to grab a quick snack at a roadside cafe.

Lesson 8 Quiz Answers


1. A movie from an amateur filmmaker was nominated for three awards at an international film
festival.
2. Did you see the trailer for the new Star Wars movie? It looks like it'll be awesome!
3. The opening scene of the movie is very violent.
4. I didn't like the end of the movie; it just didn't seem believable.
5. I enjoyed the book because I could really identify with the main character.

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6. It was a very moving film - and it was based on a true story.
7. It's an enjoyable read, written in a humorous and relatable style.
8. Oh no! I lost a book that I borrowed from the library.
9. The documentary deals with a number of controversial topics.
10. The first movie was excellent, but the sequel got mediocre reviews.
11. The movie Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
12. We couldn't get a ticket for opening night - they were all sold out.

Lesson 9 Quiz Answers


1. I can't stand that song; I don't know why it's such a hit.
2. I like the song, but I don't understand the lyrics.
3. I'm not really musically gifted, but I practice the violin every day.
4. It's such a catchy tune, I can't get it out of my head!
5. My cousin's band is going on tour next summer; they've lined up shows in eleven different
states.
6. Someone in the choir was singing off-key, and it sounded terrible.
7. The band's debut album was a huge success.
8. The DJ played some remixed tracks at the wedding reception.
9. The singer has attracted quite a devoted following in Korea - her concerts there are always sold
out.
10. The street musician sat on a park bench, strumming his guitar.
11. This music is so slow it's putting me to sleep. Let's listen to something with a more upbeat
tempo.
12. We're going to play a gig at the Jazz Club on Friday night.

Lesson 10 – Quiz Answers


1. Barbara has set a new world record, with 5 consecutive Olympic gold medals in judo.
2. Do you want to go hiking with us this weekend?
3. How long have you been playing football?
4. I played volleyball in college.
5. If a soccer game is tied, they do penalty kicks to determine the winner.
6. Jeff and Diana went rock climbing in the mountains.
7. My son wants to do karate.
8. Our team won third place in the basketball tournament.

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9. She's been doing gymnastics since she was 5 years old.
10. The baseball team was unable to make a comeback and lost the game 5-2.
11. The biker from Australia currently has the lead, but the bikers from Russia and Peru are
close behind.
12. The ice skater withdrew from the competition due to a knee injury.
13. The runners were stretching before the race began.
14. Tim Randall has achieved a personal best with his time of 23.04 seconds.
15. What was the final score of the baseball game?

Lesson 11 Quiz Answers

1. k 4. d 7. j 10. i

2. a 5. c 8. b 11. g

3. l 6. h 9. e 12. f

Lesson 12 Quiz Answers


1. After my computer was stolen, I was so glad I had backed up all my data on an external hard
drive.
2. Could I use your computer for a minute? I'd like to check my e-mail.
3. Do I need to install a special program to be able to view this video?
4. I burned you a CD of some of my favorite music.
5. I can't check the event schedule online because the conference website seems to be down.
6. If you want more space on your hard drive, you should delete old files that you no longer
need.
7. I'm trying to log into my account, but I can't remember the password.
8. More and more people are surfing the web on their cell phones nowadays.
9. My computer freezes when I have too many programs open at the same time.
10. Never open attachments from people you don't know - they could infect your computer
with a virus.
11. The boss wants everyone to shut down their computers before leaving work.
12. You forgot to attach the file to your message.

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Lesson 13 Quiz Answers
1. Christine has been a middle school teacher for many years.
2. Could you give me some feedback on my presentation? I'd like to know how to improve it.
3. He's applying to all the best universities in the country.
4. I think I got every question on the exam wrong - I have no doubt that I failed.
5. I'm taking a course on Latin American politics.
6. My daughter's 12 - she's in sixth grade.
7. My father promised he'd buy me a car if I got good grades in my final year of high school.
8. No, my son hasn't chosen a major yet. He's debating between sociology and anthropology.
9. She graduated from the University of California in 1999.
10. The professor took ten points off my test because I handed it in a few minutes late.
11. The top five students in the class were awarded a scholarship to a local college.
12. This topic will be on the test - make sure to take detailed notes.

Lesson 14 – Quiz Answers


1. I wasn't convinced by the article; I didn't think the author adequately supported his claims.
2. In her book, Clara Jones aims to refute the dominant theory using five main counter-
arguments.
3. Steve Jobs' leadership was a key factor in Apple's success.
4. The first draft of his report was full of factual errors.
5. The reasons for the war fall into two main categories: political reasons and economic
reasons.
6. The trajectory of the country after 1930 is a clear illustration of Smith's theory in action.
7. These thought-provoking poems raise questions about what it means to love
unconditionally.
8. This essay draws parallels between the main character in the novel and the author's life.
9. This paragraph has nothing to do with any of your main points, you should get rid of it.
10. We'd like to touch on several issues in today's meeting.

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Lesson 15 Quiz Answers
Melissa: Hi Terry, let's go over the list of people who have applied for the job.

Terry: Sure. There's Bob, who's fresh out of college and says this would be his "dream job."

Melissa: Although I admire his enthusiasm, this isn't an entry-level job - we really need someone with a
bit of experience.

Terry: Here's a resume from Dana - she's a freelance writer who's looking for a more stable way to earn
a living. Unfortunately, she mentions in her cover letter that she's not willing to work overtime because
she has two small kids at home.

Melissa: Hmm... this is a rather demanding job and sometimes we do need to work late. Let's not rule
her out, though. Who else is in the running?

Terry: There's Steven, a veteran reporter who's currently between jobs. He makes it clear in his cover
letter that he expects a competitive salary and generous benefits.

Melissa: He might be worth it. Why did he leave his last job?

Terry: Um, well, I checked his references and it turns out he was dismissed for sexual harassment of a
co-worker.

Melissa: Oh... that's not ideal. Do we have any other candidates?

Terry: None who are particularly qualified - there's a marketing consultant looking for a career change,
and a few people who apparently didn't read the job description and sent us generic letters.

Melissa: Maybe we could offer Dana the job, and if it's too much work for her to handle, we could have
Bob do an internship to help her out. We could only afford to pay him minimum wage, but he might
find the experience rewarding.

Terry: OK – let’s interview both of them next week.

Lesson 16 Quiz Answers


Growing up, I always knew that my father expected me to run the family farming business someday -
but I really wanted to set up my own company. Plus, my dad was terrible at managing his finances, and
his business was constantly on the verge of going bankrupt

I didn't want to be a rival to my parents' company, so I opened a small supermarket in a neighboring


town and hired / signed / drew two employees. We made a deal with my father, agreeing that he would
be our primary supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables. Despite the tough competition in the sector, our
little store managed to break even its first year in operation.

Our market research showed that there was a big demand for organic food in the area, so we began
offering primarily organic products and raised our prices. Some of our customers took their business
elsewhere, but others came from miles away due to our reputation for excellent products and friendly
customer service.
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Last fall, we launched our own line of organic fruit juices, and that's when things really started to take
off. We opened up a café next door to the supermarket, and business is booming.

With the profit we're making, we can now invest in expansion and open a branch in another city. We're
even doing business internationally - I'm about to sign a contract with an organic coffee supplier from
South America.

Lesson 17 Quiz Answers


1. I lent Bill $20; he says he'll pay me back next week.
2. Excuse me, it's none of your business how much money I make.
3. Greenpeace raised five million dollars to help preserve the Atlantic rainforest.
4. How much of my income should I invest, and how much should I put into savings?
5. I can't believe I wasted $10 on a calculator that doesn't even work!
6. I didn't have enough savings to pay my college tuition, so I had to take out a student loan.
7. Sometimes your employer can pay your salary by making a deposit directly in your bank
account.
8. I really admire rich people who donate a large portion of their wealth to charity.
9. I try not to eat out at restaurants too often; I'm trying to save money.
10. Let's exchange money here at the airport so that we can get a taxi to the hotel.
11. My son earned $50 for taking care of the neighbor's dogs over the weekend.
12. We need to make a budget so that we don't end up spending more than we earn.

Sentence Matching

1. j 6. d

2. e 7. g

3. f 8. h

4. b 9. c

5. a 10. i

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Lesson 18 – Quiz Answers
1. Are you checking any bags today?
2. Hello, I need to change the dates of my hotel reservation.
3. I always try to get a window seat on long flights.
4. I won't be in the office next week - I'll be on a business trip.
5. On their honeymoon, Will and Cassie spent a week at a five-star hotel.
6. Sorry, sir, but your carry-on bag is too heavy.
7. The gate number is printed on your boarding pass.
8. The layover was only 30 minutes – I had to run to catch my connecting flight!
9. The rooms of the hotel were nice, but the fitness center was rather dingy
10. The travel agency is offering a great deal on a 5-day package in Miami.
11. We felt sick on the plane because the flight was really bumpy.
12. You should book your flight now, before prices go up.

Lesson 19 – Quiz Answers


Now it's time for your weather forecast. Right now we have mild weather, with clear skies and a light
wind from the east. It's perfect weather for a walk in the park. There will be some scattered showers
overnight, but it the rain should let up by tomorrow morning.

Saturday will be partly cloudy and oppressively hot. We might even see a record high temperature. The
muggy weather continues into Sunday, with storm clouds forming in the late afternoon. On Monday
we'll have some wild weather, with torrential rain and high winds.

We're seeing heavy clouds and a few snow flurries right now, but we have some nasty winter weather
ahead, with icy winds and record low temperatures at night. Be careful if you go out in the driving snow,
especially if you're on a road where the snow hasn't yet been cleared. The snow will probably thaw next
week, as we're expecting some unseasonably warm weather.

Lesson 20 Quiz Answers


1. f 6. d

2. a 7. h

3. e 8. j

4. g 9. c

5. b 10. i

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6. The hikers tried to find the trail through the dense forest.
7. The stream is quite shallow - the water only comes up to your ankles.
8. This mountain range extends north to Canada.
9. We went bird-watching in the wildlife preserve.
10. You can't get there by car; you have to take the footpath.

Lesson 22 - Quiz Answers


One of my favorite TV shows is about detectives who investigate unsolved crimes. In the last episode,
they were looking into a murder that had happened over ten years ago. The suspect who was arrested
at the time was the victim's ex-boyfriend and had a long criminal record - but he proved his innocence
with a watertight alibi.

The detectives then began to investigate the person who had found the girl's body and reported the
crime. He had never broken the law, but a man who matched his description had been accused of an
attempted kidnapping of another young woman around the same time.

The police called him in for questioning, and the alibi that he provided didn't match the one on record.
They then gathered DNA evidence from the new suspect, and it proved that he had indeed committed
the crime. It took more than ten years, but justice was finally served!

Lesson 23 – Quiz Answers


1. After being released from prison, Jim found it hard to get a job.
2. Although everyone believes she's guilty, the evidence was too inconclusive for a conviction.
3. Due to his links to terrorist groups, Mr. Smith represents a threat to society.
4. He was declared innocent by a unanimous jury.
5. I couldn't believe what a light sentence she got - a mere 30 days in jail!
6. I don't support the death penalty - I think everyone deserves a chance to change.
7. Patty and her ex-husband are involved in a prolonged legal battle over the ownership of
their house.
8. Ron will stand trial for an assault charge after hitting his girlfriend.
9. The banking executive was charged with fraud.
10. The U.S. government just passed a new law about immigration.
11. There was concrete evidence that the doctor had falsified the records.
12. They haven't yet reached a verdict in the kidnapping case.

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Lesson 24 – Quiz Answers
Special report:

Tensions are rising between the residents of Earth and Mars, causing some to speculate that the fragile
peace between the two planets may soon come to an end. The latest round of violence erupted when
Martian soldiers stationed at the Martian embassy on Earth opened fire on a group of Earth residents
who were protesting outside the consulate.

Although war has not been declared, both planets are ready to react if the other launches an offensive.
There are rumors that Mars has been stockpiling illegal weapons to defend itself from Earth’s much
better-equipped military.

Diplomats from both planets are doing everything possible to bring stability to the situation, but there
are concerns that radical extremist groups on Earth may be planning an unprovoked attack for the
express purpose of causing a war to break out.

Everyone remembers the horrors of the last interplanetary war, in which the decisive battle resulted in
hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties and a large number of refugees who fled to the colony on
the Moon.

Even after a ceasefire was negotiated, isolated incidents of violence against Martian citizens brought the
two planets to the brink of war several times. The president of Earth has authorized the recruitment and
training of additional peacekeeping forces; however, a lasting peace continues to be a complicated issue
for our Solar System.

Lesson 25 – Quiz Answers


Jim: If I'm elected, my number one priority will be alleviating poverty. A large portion of our country's
population lives below the poverty line, and it's a fact that young people from disadvantaged
backgrounds are more likely to engage in criminal activity. My opponent, on the other hand, wants to
cut funding for the welfare program and leave millions of people without help.

George: I believe it is a mistake to focus on our country alone; we must remember that we are part of a
global community. Opening up more homeless shelters is not a long-term solution to help those on the
margins of society. However, investing in clean energy will enable us to grow our economy without
harming the environment. This will benefit our country and our world.

Jim: That's a noble goal, but we have more pressing problems. I seriously doubt our citizens who are
dying of hunger care about protecting endangered species and preventing global warming. Plus, it's not
scientifically proven that humans can even cause irreparable damage to the planet.

George: Don't you see that the two issues are related? Due to climate change, the rain patterns have
changed and our agricultural sector is not as strong as it once was. This results in food shortages. It's
only going to get worse unless we end our dependence on fossil fuels and start using renewable
resources.

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Lesson 26 – Quiz Answers
1. He worked on fixing the computer for two solid hours before giving up and calling tech
support.
2. He's always in a rush; he never has time to chat.
3. I have a grueling schedule this semester - classes from Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM!
4. I left the assignment to the last minute and then stayed up all night to write it.
5. In my spare time, I like to read.
6. Organizing all these files is very time- consuming; I wish I had someone to help me.
7. Sarah cut back on her hours as she entered her eighth month of pregnancy.
8. She's a fitness nut; she spends ten hours a week at the gym.
9. Take as much time as you need to review this information - we don't need a response right
away.
10. The amount of time my daughter spends on her cell phone is unbelievable.
11. The company is offering training in time management to improve the efficiency of its staff.
12. There is a strict deadline for the delivery of this shipment - it must arrive by January 1,
otherwise we'll lose the contract.
13. There's a slowdown on highway I-84 due to rush hour traffic.
14. We've fallen behind on our English lessons; the class is on Lesson 10 but we're on Lesson 6.
15. You need to schedule your dentist appointment two weeks in advance.

Lesson 27 Quiz Answers


1. A loud noise woke me up from my nap.
2. His cell phone makes an annoying noise every time he gets a text message.
3. I could tell Dan was still mad, as he glared at me in stony silence.
4. I wasn't able to relax on the beach because some teenagers had a stereo with music blaring.
5. It was perfectly silent inside the old, abandoned house.
6. It's oddly quiet in that classroom - are the students taking a test?
7. My neighbor's dogs start barking whenever someone walks past their house.
8. She sang a lullaby softly to help put the baby to sleep.
9. The constant noise in the office makes it difficult to concentrate.
10. The conversation on their first date was full of awkward silences.

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Lesson 28 – Quiz Answers
1. A large percentage of the human body is made up of water.
2. Choosing whether or not to have children is a big decision.
3. I'll have a hamburger and a large milkshake.
4. My wedding ring has tiny little diamonds embedded in it.
5. The biggest challenge in losing weight is changing your eating habits.
6. The number of people buying CDs is getting smaller every year as MP3s become more
popular.
7. The police have released little information about the case.
8. There was a big mistake in the report; we'll have to print a revised copy.
9. These jeans are too small for me.
10. This foundation provides grants for small businesses in developing countries.
11. This new policy will affect a large number of our employees.
12. We had a lovely little picnic by the lake.

Lesson 29 – Quiz Answers


Amanda knelt in an enclave of the seventeenth-century church and said a silent prayer. The church was
completely dark except for the dozens of flickering candles which lit up the image of Mary, mother of
Jesus. Amanda enjoyed the quiet, sacred atmosphere of these ancient cathedrals much more than the
bright lighting and loud music of modern churches.

She lit a candle in honor of her grandmother and left the church, shielding her eyes from the blinding
afternoon sunlight. She climbed a hill near the city and sat in the shade of an enormous oak tree, where
she remained lost in thought until the sky began to grow dark.

The crescent moon rose over the mountains and the stars twinkled the mostly clear sky. Amanda could
see the street lights and the faint glow of a television set through the window of each house. She
decided to maintain her vigil until the sun came up.

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Lesson 30 – Quiz Answers
Cassandra is wearing a fiery orange blouse and a royal blue skirt - those certainly are very bold colors!
Here comes Susan, wearing a long, light pink dress and ruby red heels. Those pastel colors look
wonderful with her skin tone / type.

The designer of the next outfit is known for his highly innovative style... Joanne is wearing an emerald
green top and olive green shorts - hmmm... in my opinion the two different shades of green don't look
so great together. They kind of clash.

Up next is Tanya, with a retro-style greenish-blue dress with some lemon yellow details - very
interesting look, although the colors might not suit everybody. Finally we have Ashley, who's wearing a
sexy dark purple dress with a golden yellow belt, a matching purse, and sky blue heels - that's quite
unusual, but the overall visual effect is stunning.

Lesson 31 – Quiz Answers


1. g 4. e 7. k 10. b

2. h 5. a 8. i 11. c

3. j 6. l 9. d 12. f

Lesson 32 – Quiz Answers


1. I can't stand the pervasive odor of smoke in that bar.
2. I love the familiar smell of my grandmother's chicken soup.
3. I sensed the distinctive smell of frying onions.
4. She breathed in the earthy fragrance of the forest.
5. Something in the fridge smells rancid - like rotting meat.
6. The bathroom smells so fresh right after it's been cleaned!
7. The smell of vomit lingered in the hospital room.
8. There was a faint smell of alcohol on his breath.
9. This wine has a light fruity aroma.
10. Your sweaty gym clothes smell nasty.

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Lesson 34 – Quiz Answers
The sharp rise in obesity is a major cause for concern. A significant percentage of adults are now
overweight, and the number of children with weight problems is also going up. This crisis is partly due
to the widespread consumption of processed foods with high amounts of fat and sugar. We're exposed
to an excessive number of advertisements that keep encouraging us to consume more and more food
with less and less nutritional value.

Other contributing factors to the obesity epidemic include a gradual increase in portion sizes and a drop
in the average amount of physical exercise practiced by the population. A miniscule number of kids
nowadays play sports; instead, they prefer to spend a considerable amount of time in front of
computers, TVs, and video games.

Health problems caused by excess weight have resulted in a dramatic increase in health care costs, and
although the life expectancy has remained steady over the past 30 years, we can expect to see a decline
if the trend of over-eating and under-exercising continues.

Lesson 35 – Quiz Answers


1. o 4. i 7. h 10. n 13. f

2. k 5. j 8. b 11. g 14. m

3. c 6. e 9. a 12. l 15. d

Lesson 36 – Quiz Answers


1. After losing his job, George decided to become a consultant.
2. Daniel is embarrassed that he's starting to go bald, so he often wears a hat.
3. Her face turns red when she gets embarrassed.
4. He's not going to change his mind. He seems pretty firm in his decision.
5. I like to experiment in the kitchen - I make tweaks to the recipes in the cookbook.
6. I'll be ready in 10 minutes - just let me change my clothes.
7. I'm getting annoyed with my bank's terrible customer service.
8. My conversations with my sister always turn into arguments.
9. We have fewer funds available than we expected, so we need to make some adjustments to
the budget.
10. If you want to get better at playing the piano, you should practice more.

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Lesson 37 – Quiz Answers
1. After the last argument I had with my brother, we didn't speak to each other for months.
2. At my college graduation, a famous entrepreneur made a speech about the importance of
innovation.
3. Bill went on and on about his weekend fishing trip - I really didn't need to know all the
details!
4. Can I ask you a favor? I need a ride to the doctor's office tomorrow morning.
5. Dave apologized profusely for forgetting about our appointment.
6. During a lull in the conversation, she excused herself to go make a phone call.
7. Have I ever told you the story of how I met my husband?
8. I don't like networking events - spending hours trying to make small talk with strangers just
isn't my cup of tea.
9. I had a brief chat with my manager and gave him an update on the project.
10. I struck up a conversation with a woman at the library, and she gave me some interesting
book recommendations.
11. Jim and Nicole had a lengthy discussion about the best school to put their children in.
12. John may have stretched the truth a bit when talking about how successful his company is.
13. My father doesn't talk a lot; when he has something to say, he gets straight to the point.
14. My mother taught me always to speak with a respectful tone of voice.
15. Rachel's sarcastic remarks kept making me laugh during the movie.
16. Sally has been dropping hints that she's interested in Kevin.
17. Telling lies may be convenient at the time, but it can get you into trouble later.

Lesson 38 – Quiz Answers


1. As the concert drew to a close, the lead singer thanked the fans for their support.
2. I like moving to a new city because you can make a fresh start.
3. It rained continuously for the first three days we were in Miami - a bit of a disappointing
start to our vacation.
4. My son got a job working directly under a prominent businessman. It's a very promising
start to his career.
5. Our kids are sad that their summer vacation is coming to an end.
6. The artist put the finishing touches on her painting.
7. The back injury put a sudden end to his tennis career.
8. The famous athlete talked about his humble beginnings on his town's local basketball team.
9. The negotiations got off to a shaky start, as neither side was willing to even consider the
other's proposal.
10. There seems to be no end in sight to the country's political conflicts.

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Lesson 39 – Quiz Answers
1. Edward certainly won my respect when he turned down an unethical business deal.
2. Efforts to reduce teen pregnancy through better sex education have seen modest success.
3. Getting a new haircut has made a dramatic improvement in his overall appearance.
4. I made a real breakthrough in my English when I started practicing listening more often.
5. I wanted to try waterskiing, but I lost my nerve and ended up staying inside the boat.
6. I'm not a complete pacifist; I just believe war should be the last resort.
7. Immigration reform was the crowning achievement of the president's term in office.
8. My attempts at losing weight have failed miserably - in fact, I've gained a few pounds!
9. My girlfriend really brings out the best in me - I'm a better person thanks to our
relationship.
10. Putting inexperienced teachers into the country's worst schools is a recipe for disaster.
11. Researchers have invented a new, highly effective treatment for leukemia.
12. The company's advertising campaign was a spectacular failure - it didn't attract a single new
customer.
13. The new movie has been a phenomenal success, with billions of dollars in ticket sales.
14. There's a lot of room for improvement in his writing skills.
15. We thought the repairs on the car would cost about $500, but our estimate was way off the
mark - it was $4000.

Lesson 40 – Quiz Answers


1. An earthquake has caused extensive damage in the countryside.
2. Everyone was surprised by the unexpected outcome of the presidential election.
3. Food additives may be one of the underlying causes of the rising incidence of cancer.
4. I'd like to see some concrete results from your work - so far, all you've presented are
theories.
5. New regulations on pollution have unfortunately had a negligible effect on water
contamination levels.
6. Parents are concerned about the long-term effects of kids playing violent video games.
7. Paulo Coelho's books have had a profound impact on my life.
8. The company's financial problems are the inevitable result of years of poor management.
9. The increase in gang violence in the neighborhood is cause for alarm.
10. The medication I'm taking has a few unpleasant side effects.
11. The singer caused a huge uproar when he announced he was leaving the band.
12. We need to find the root cause of our employees' lack of motivation.

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Lesson 41 – Memories
1. Did you put my jacket somewhere? I distinctly remember leaving it here on this chair.
2. He racked his brain, but he couldn't think of the password to his online bank account.
3. I have fond memories of summer camp when I was a kid - I looked forward to it every year.
4. I vaguely remember reading that book... remind me how exactly it ended?
5. If I pause while giving a presentation, my mind goes blank and I have to look at my notes.
6. I'm constantly reminding myself to sit with good posture.
7. I'm studying a beginner English grammar book to refresh my memory of the basics.
8. My boss has a terrible memory, so he keeps track of all his appointments on a calendar on
his cell phone.
9. Oh no! I completely forgot that today is my wife's birthday. I need a present - quick!
10. All the circus performers were great, but I thought the acrobats were particularly
memorable.
11. Rachel gently reminded me that I still needed to e-mail her the information.
12. Seeing my ex-boyfriend made all the memories of our relationship come flooding back.
13. She has traumatic memories of the time she was robbed while walking home alone at night.
14. Taking a helicopter ride over New York City was an unforgettable experience.
15. The monument is a sobering reminder of how many innocent people died in the war.

Lesson 42 – Quiz Answers


1. I agree in principle that we need to spend less time on our iPhones... but I can't seem to
stop using mine!
2. I am worlds apart from my parents when it comes to our religious views.
3. I totally agree with the company's decision to relax the dress code for employees.
4. I'm afraid I disagree with your analysis; I think you've overlooked some important points.
5. My best friend and I have always been able to settle our disagreements without fighting.
6. My roommates and I reached a compromise about cleaning the apartment.
7. She agreed wholeheartedly with my suggested changes to the design.
8. Some people prefer to argue indefinitely rather than trying to resolve the conflict.
9. The other students share my opinion that the teacher is not very knowledgeable.
10. The soccer players had a major disagreement with the referee.
11. Those two countries have a long-running dispute over that particular territory.
12. Tom and Larry had a slight disagreement about where to park the car.
13. We agree with your plans up to a point, but we think you should reconsider a few aspects.

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Lesson 43 – Quiz Answers
1. Aaron is so arrogant; he seems to have an unshakable belief in his own superiority.
2. After further consideration, we decided to buy a van rather than a car.
3. Although I was hired for the job, I still have a nagging doubt about whether or not I'm truly
qualified for it.
4. Bill Clinton's affair cast doubt on his honesty as a president.
5. Contrary to popular belief, blonde and blue-eyed Brazilians do exist.
6. Don't let your fears color your judgment.
7. I hate it when people make assumptions about me based on my skin color.
8. I have a sneaking suspicion that my friends are planning a surprise birthday party for me.
9. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason.
10. If you have a subconscious belief that you don't deserve success, then you'll probably never
attain it.
11. Meeting an 80-year-old professional athlete strengthened my belief that age is no limit!
12. The evidence proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Carson was guilty of the crime.
13. The results of the customer satisfaction survey lead us to the conclusion that our service needs to
be improved.
14. There's a common misconception that tomatoes are vegetables - but they're technically fruits.
15. We voiced doubts about the feasibility of the plan, but our colleagues said we were worrying too
much.

Lesson 44 - Quiz Answers


Choosing which college to attend was tough. I was considering 12 different universities, and every
person who I asked for advice gave me a different suggestion. I remained undecided until a week before
the deadline, when my parents reminded me that if I didn't make my decision soon, I would have no
choice but to wait another year before reapplying. My mother told me to trust my intuition, and I
decided to take her advice - but the college I most wanted to go to was also the most expensive, and I
started having second thoughts. I discussed the issue in-depth with my dad, and he helped me weigh
the possible outcomes of taking out student loans. In the end, I chose to go to a less expensive university
that was also excellent - though I had to defend my decision from my grandmother, who had wanted
me to go to the "best" college in the country. The next choice I'll have to make is what area to major in -
I really have no idea, so I'm going to keep my options open as long as possible!

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Lesson 45 – Quiz Answers
1. A leaked document shows that the U.S. is planning to build additional military bases in
Central America.
2. A lot of people believe the completely unfounded claims they read on the internet, and
never actually research the issue.
3. In the interview, the director heavily implied that there would be a sequel to the film.
4. My cousin wanted to give me a job at his restaurant, but I refused the offer.
5. Some parents are openly accusing the teacher of favoritism in the classroom.
6. That university is widely acknowledged to be the best place in the world to study law.
7. The corporation laid off 10,000 workers, fueling speculation that it is close to bankruptcy.
8. The human resources manager denies the allegations that the company hired illegal
immigrants.
9. The police are facing accusations of using excessive violence to arrest a teenager, after some
witnesses filmed the situation on their cell phones.
10. The sports team issued a statement apologizing for the athlete's offensive behavior.
11. The tabloid magazines are spreading the rumor that the actress is pregnant.
12. Whenever my brother calls me "just to say hi," there's always an ulterior motive - usually he
needs to borrow some money.

Lesson 46 – Quiz Answers


1. Brian took an instant dislike to his father's new girlfriend.
2. I hate soap operas with a passion; I don't understand why anyone would watch that trash.
3. I have nothing but contempt for parents who abandon their children.
4. I was sad when my parents gave away my childhood toys; I had grown quite attached to
them.
5. I'm a great admirer of your poetry - it's really inspiring.
6. Life is Beautiful is my all-time favorite movie.
7. My grandfather is a lifelong fan of his old college basketball team.
8. My husband has an irrational hatred of cats.
9. Some people don't like their parents, but I hold mine in the highest regard.
10. The customers have a clear preference for inexpensive products.

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Lesson 47 – Quiz Answers
1. Her parents refused to give their blessing to her marriage to a man from a different culture.
2. I enthusiastically support the campaign for humane treatment of farm animals.
3. My son is my parents’ only grandchild, so of course they think the world of him.
4. Some men will do anything to win the approval of the woman they love.
5. That course seems excellent - everyone who takes it speaks very highly of it.
6. The actress' outstanding performance in the film won her an Oscar.
7. The article made some scathing criticisms of the corruption in the country's political system.
8. The author's new book received a barrage of criticism from people who disagree with her
philosophy.
9. The manager countered criticism that he was overspending by showing how the investments
would grow the business' profit in the future.
10. We heartily approve of your proposal.

Lesson 48 – Quiz Answers


1. A new TV show has sparked controversy by showing the positive side of dropping out of
college.
2. A wave of disappointment came over me when I heard that the show had been canceled.
3. Having lots of pets as I was growing up kindled my interest in studying veterinary medicine.
4. Her face lit up when I asked her about the award she'd recently won.
5. I was thrilled to see a romance blossoming between two of my best friends.
6. My grandmother remembers the dark days of the civil war.
7. The boxer dodged his opponent's punch and threw a lightning fast counterattack.
8. The city's efforts to cut down on pollution are finally bearing fruit.
9. The legality of abortion is a thorny issue involving questions of human life, women's rights,
and societal responsibility.
10. Hundreds of people poured into the store the moment the doors opened.

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Lesson 49 – Quiz Answers
1. As the movie drew to a close, there were some surprising twists in the story.
2. He slammed his book shut and stormed out of the room.
3. I have so many different projects, it's hard to keep track of everything that needs to be
done.
4. I love shopping - I spend several hundred dollars on new clothes every month.
5. I was thrilled that my daughter won first place in the skating competition.
6. I've kept in touch with my childhood friends for over 30 years.
7. Last week, he spent two days in the hospital recovering from surgery.
8. Let's take the highway, not the local roads - it'll save time.
9. My son is saving up money to buy a new video game system.
10. No thanks, I don't want any chocolate cake. I'm trying to avoid gaining weight.
11. Some people earn outrageous salaries considering how little work they do!
12. The supermarket is closed on Sundays.
13. The Union forces won the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
14. This is a part-time job; you'll earn about $700 a month.
15. Volunteering as a teacher's assistant enabled me to gain experience in the classroom.
16. We prefer to pay our bills electronically; it's much more convenient.

Lesson 50 – Quiz Answers


1. Are you getting married in a church?
2. Billy got drunk and started making really stupid comments.
3. He smiled when I paid him a compliment.
4. He took a quick shower after his workout.
5. I can't seem to break the habit of procrastination.
6. I caught a glimpse of the wolf before it disappeared into the forest.
7. I'm coming close to my limit of cell phone minutes for the month.
8. I'm going to take a computer class.
9. I'm taking care of my sister's kids this weekend.
10. It took years for his family to come to terms with his sexual orientation.
11. Let's catch the 6 AM train.
12. Our kids had a blast at the amusement park.
13. Regina is going to have a baby next month.
14. She was disqualified for breaking the rules of the competition.
15. The car engine caught fire after the accident.
16. The doctor broke the news to me that I'd need another operation.
17. The new policy will come into effect next Monday.
18. We haven't seen Frank in a long time. Let's pay him a visit soon.
19. We're having dinner right now; can I call you back later?
20. You're not paying attention - look at me when I'm talking to you!

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236
Nội dung Trang
Lesson 1 - Family................................................................................................... 007
Lesson 2 - Relationships.........................................................................................011
Lesson 3 - Appearance............................................................................................015
Lesson 4 - Character & Behavior........................................................................... 018
Lesson 5 - Feelings.................................................................................................021
Lesson 6 - Houses and Apartments....................................................................... 025
Lesson 7 - Eating.................................................................................................... 028
Lesson 8 - Movies / Books.......................................................................................031
Lesson 9 - Music.................................................................................................... 035
Lesson 10 - Sports.................................................................................................039
Lesson 11 - Health & Sickness...............................................................................043
Lesson 12 - Computers..........................................................................................046
Lesson 13 - Study................................................................................................... 050
Lesson 14 - Academic English................................................................................053
Lesson 15 - Work................................................................................................... 057
Lesson 16 - Business..............................................................................................060
Lesson 17 - Money...................................................................................................063
Lesson 18 - Travel................................................................................................. 067
Lesson 19 - Weather.............................................................................................. 071
Lesson 20 - City..................................................................................................... 075
Lesson 21 - Countryside........................................................................................ 078
Lesson 22- Crime................................................................................................... 083
Lesson 23 - Law/Justice...........................................................................................087
Lesson 24 - War & Peace........................................................................................091
Lesson 25 - Global Problems................................................................................. 095
Lesson 26 -Time..................................................................................................... 099
Lesson 27 - Sound................................................................................................. 103
Lesson 28 - Size.......................................................................................................108
Lesson 29 - Light.................................................................................................... 113
Lesson 30 - Color................................................................................................... 117

237
Lesson 31 - Texture.................................................................................................121
Lesson 32 - Smell....................................................................................................125
Lesson 33 - Taste.....................................................................................................129
Lesson 34 - Statistics..............................................................................................132
Lesson 35 - Movement & Speed..............................................................................136
Lesson 36 - Changes............................................................................................. 140
Lesson 37 - Speaking...............................................................................................
144
Lesson 38 - Starting / Finishing.............................................................................. 148
Lesson 39 - Success & Failure................................................................................153
Lesson 40 - Cause & Effect......................................................................................
158
Lesson 41 - Memories.............................................................................................163
Lesson 42 - Agreeing & Disagreeing...................................................................... 167
Lesson 43 - Beliefs & Doubts................................................................................. 171
Lesson 44 - Deciding & Choosing.......................................................................... 175
Lesson 45 - Claiming & Denying..............................................................................179
Lesson 46 - Liking & Disliking..................................................................................183
Lesson 47 - Praising & Criticizing.............................................................................
187
Lesson 48 - Metaphor............................................................................................ 191
Lesson 49 - Confusing Words.................................................................................197
Lesson 50 - Everyday Verbs.................................................................................. 107
Quiz answer............................................................................................................213

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