V.

PRACTICE
Exercise 1. Look at the bold word, use single underline with the word containing
sound /n/ and double underline with the word containing sound /ŋ/.
1. The national anthem is played before every sports game.
2. I saw an ant crawling on the kitchen counter.
3. The Sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear.
4. I'm really thirsty, can I get a drink of water?
5. I can't find my phone, have you seen it? It’s a black thing.
6. There's something strange about that person, I can't put my finger on it.
7. He sat by the window, looking out and lost in pensive thought.
8. Can you bring the dessert to the party tonight?
9. My uncle is coming to visit us next week.
10. Don't leave anything behind when you leave the hotel room.
Exercise 2. Read the sentences in Exercise 1 aloud and pay attention to the sound /n/
and /ŋ/.
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences with the words or phrases from the box.
represent possessed relationships ceremony decorative
festival-goers family reunion lantern applause hurricane
1. Her acrobatics were greeted with loud ______________.
2. The ______________ opened with a fanfare of trumpets.
3. It was believed that people could be ______________ by bad spirits.
4. Many coastal towns were damaged by the ______________.
5. A green bamboo pole is used to ______________ the deity.
6. She carried a ______________ to light her way.
7. Thousands of ______________ come here every year.
8. Family bonding is important for building strong ______________.
9. We have a ______________ every New Year's Day.
10. She drew a ______________ border around the picture
Exercise 5. Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of the word in brackets.
1. I'm so ______________ about my trip. It's going to be amazing. (excite)
2. Ao dai is our ______________ dress. We wear it every Monday at school. (tradition)
3. In Viet Nam, we usually wait for the ______________ person to sit down before we sit
down. (old)
4. After ______________ food from the plate, you should put it into your bowl before
eating. (take)
5. What is the ______________ between a custom and a tradition? (similar)
6. You should use both hands when giving and ______________ things. (receive)
7. In my family, the ______________ that has been passed down is eating together every
Sunday. (traditional)
8. When being ______________ to a Vietnamese home, you should bring gifts wrapped in
brightly colored paper. (invite)
Exercise 6. Fill in the blanks with the correct form or tense of the verbs in the box.
reflect pass break worship
wrap respect reunite take
1. She ______________ the present in red paper and tied it with a yellow ribbon.
2. All students should ______________ their teachers.
3. The culture of Xoe dancing ______________ Thai people's lifestyle and culture.
4. We decided ______________ with tradition and go away for Tet holidays.
5. In my family, the tradition that has been ______________ down is eating together every
Sunday.
6. Almost every Vietnamese household sets an altar ______________ their ancestors.
7. It is considered very impolite not ______________ off your shoes before entering a house
in Japan.
8. Lots of people come back ______________ with their families during Tet holiday.
Exercise 7. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. I bought _______ blue sweater yesterday.
2. I 'd like _______ cup of tea.
3. There is _______ apple and _______ banana on the table
4. I bought _______ beef, vegetables and milk. _______ beef is very good.
5. Mai has _______ many books. _______ books are mostly about English grammar.
6. I took _______ suitcase and _______ backpack on holiday. _______ suitcase was much
more useful.
7. Julie read _______ book and _______ magazine. She said _______ books was quite
boring though.
8. She offered us _______ piece of cake and _______ biscuits.
9. They drank _______ coffee and _______ tea.
10. James has _______ son and _______ two daughters.
Exercise 8. Fill in the blank with a/ an/ the or zero article (x).
1. Lan often watches _______ films and _______ TV programmes all night.
2. She has _______ black umbrella and I have _______ blue one. _______ blue one is
bigger.
3. I bought _______ new dress, but I was annoyed to find that _______ zip was broken.
4. We should take _______ taxi because it’s getting dark.
5. I met _______ very nice American last night.
6. _______ Sun rises in _______ east and sets in _______ west.
7. _______ Moon moves around _______ Earth.
8. We often play soccer in _______ afternoon.
9. _______ guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments.
10. I often go to _______ school at 6.30 a.m.
Exercise 9. Fill in the blank with a/ an/ the or zero article (x).
1. Pop music always appealed more to _______ young then _______ old.
2. I often listen to _______ music in my free time.
3. Donald Trump becomes the 45th _______ president of _______ United States on January
20, 2017.
4. We often take _______ exam each semester.
5. There will be _______ interesting movie this weekend.
6. Hoa is _______ most intelligent student in my class.
7. When I was at _______ school, I had to wear _______ uniform.
8. _______ poor and _______ elderly are often left behind when it comes to _______
modern technology.
9. Is there _______ bank near here?
10. On _______ Christmas Eve, people often have parties late at _______ midnight.
Exercise 10. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. I am studying in _______ university in Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Miss Lin speaks _______ Chinese.
3. I borrowed _______ pen from your pile of pencils and pens.
4. Eli likes to play _______ football.
5. I bought _______ umbrella to go out in the rain.
6. I lived on _______ Main Street when I first came to town.
7. Albany is the capital of _______ New York State.
8. My husband’s family speaks _______ Polish.
9. _______ apple a day keeps your enemy away.
10. Our neighbors have _______ cat and _______ dog.
Exercise 11. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. Your soup is so good. _______ meat is pretty tender.
2. Are you interested in _______ Science or _______ Music?
3. They got married but _______ marriage wasn’t very successful.
4. Do you know any of _______ people who live across _______ road?
5. After _______ work, the boss usually invites his staff to _______ pub.
6. When mom was ill, _______ lot of her friends came to _______ hospital to visit her.
7. Many people hate _______ violence, but they like to watch it in _______ movies.
8. Have you ever visited _______ Madame Tussauds in London?
9. _______ life would be difficult without _______ useful machines and gadgets we have
today.
10. I’m on _______ night duty this week.
11. I know someone who wrote _______ book about _______ American presidents.
12. _______ World War II ended in 1945.
13. _______ fumes of cars and factories are _______ primary reasons for _______ air
pollution.
14. He was _______ unsuccessful musician when he came to this town.
15. Don't stay in that hotel. _______ beds there are very uncomfortable.
16. The car sped away at _______ hundred km _______ hour.
17. John doesn't usually go to _______ church on _______ Sundays.
18. He was sent to _______ prison for _______ murder.
19. At _______ beginning of his speech, he spoke about _______ tourism in general.
20. We usually go by _______ train, but today we're taking _______ bus.
Exercise 12. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
1. I would live to live by _______ sea
A. the B. a C. an D. x
2. Harry is a sailor. He spends most of his life at _______ sea.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
3. There are billions of stars in _______ space.
A. a B. an C. x D. the
4. He tried to park his car but _______ space wasn't big enough.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
5. We often watch _______ television
A. the B. a C. an D. x
6. Can you turn off _______ television, please?
A. the B. a C. an D. x
7. We had _______ dinner in a restaurant.
A. a B. an C. x D. the
8. We had _______ meal in a restaurant.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
9. Thank you. That was _______ very nice lunch.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
10. Where can _______ people buy everything they need?
A. the B. a C. an D. x
11. Her parents are now working in _______ Europe.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
12. He majors in _______ English.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
13. Mark Twain, _______ American writer, wrote “Life on the Mississippi River”.
A. an B. a C. the D. x
14. Paris is splendid by _______ night.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
15. We might be able to catch _______ last train if we hurried.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
16. _______ used razor blade is useless thing.
A. The – the B. A-a C. An – an D. x – x
17. We live at _______ third house from the church.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
18. My aunt has _______ interesting novel.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
19. It was _______ best film I had ever read.
A. the B. an C. a D. x
20. A video lab is _______ useful means for language learning.
A. the B. an C. a D. x
Exercise 13. Read the following passage then answer the questions.
Gong culture in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam has been recognized by UNESCO
as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Gong culture covers five provinces
of the Central Highlands: Kon Turn, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong. The
masters of gong culture are the ethnic groups of Bahnar, Sedang, Mnong, Coho... The Gong
Festival is held annually in the Central Highlands. In the festival, artists from these provinces
give gong performances, highlighting the gong culture of their own province. For the ethnic
groups of the Central Highlands, gongs are musical instruments of special power. It is
believed that every gong is the symbol of a god who grows more powerful as the gong gets
older. Therefore, gongs are associated with special occasions in people's lives, such as the
building of new houses, funerals, crop praying ceremonies... The gong sound is a way to
communicate with the gods.
1. Where does Gong culture exist?
__________________________________________________________________________
_________
2. How often is the Gong Festival held?
__________________________________________________________________________
_________
3. What do artists do in the Gong Festival?
__________________________________________________________________________
_________
4. Is the gong sound a way to communicate with the ancestors?

Exercise 14. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answers.
GIFT-GIVING CUSTOMS IN VIET NAM
Gift-giving is important in Viet Nam because of the significance of interpersonal
relationships in Vietnamese culture.
First and foremost, do not encourage corruption. There is a clear cut between gift-
giving and bribery. Nevertheless, it is common in Viet Nam for exchanging small gifts on
certain occasions such as anniversaries, Tet holidays... to express respect, love, appreciation,
or gratitude.
Gift-giving customs depend on the context. If it is a private gift for one Vietnamese
partner you should give the gift at a private occasion. If you have a gift for the whole office
or company, you should give it after the business meeting with the whole office employee.
Do not wrap a gift in black paper because this color is unlucky and associated with
funerals in Viet Nam. Gifts that symbolize cutting such as scissors, knives, and other sharp
objects should be avoided because they mean the cutting of the relationship.
Vietnamese may or may not open these gifts when they are received; leave the option
to them. You will also receive gifts and should defer to your host as to whether you should
open them when receiving or not. Regardless of when it is opened or what it is, profuse
thanks are always appropriate.
1. According to the passage, why is gift-giving important in Viet Nam?
A. Because it helps to establish a friendship.
B. Because it's common in Vietnamese culture.
C. Because it's the best way to build up a stable relationship.
D. Because personal relationships play a vital role in Vietnamese culture.
2. Which of the followings should not be a reason for gift-giving?
A. To show appreciation B. To bribe somebody
C. To express gratitude D. To show affection
3. When giving a gift, you should ______________.
A. wrap it in black or white paper
B. give it in the business meeting
C. never give sharp objects, such as knives or scissors
D. avoid giving it on a private occasion
4. When receiving a gift, you should ______________.
A. always say "thank you" B. try to find what is it
C. open it in front of the giver D. ask your host to open it
5. Which of the following is NOT true about gift-giving customs in Viet Nam?
A. Gift-giving is a good way of strengthening relationships.
B. Gifts for your partners should be given at private occasions.
C. You should avoid giving anything sharp.
D. It is considered rude not to open the gift in front of the giver.
Exercise 15. Read the passage and answer the question below.
Wedding custom in Viet Nam is quite complicated. Before an official wedding, a
ceremony of engagement must be held first. In Vietnamese tradition, an engagement
ceremony is an official occasion for families of fiancé and fiancee to mark their relationship
and to arrange the wedding.
 Each family needs to prepare a representative who is a family member having a happy
life and a high-ranking position in the family. On the day of the engagement, the
representatives of the two families will have some announcements about the wedding and
exchange gifts. The time of the wedding is chosen suitably based on the lunar calendar. Gifts
which are put in trays are prepared by the family of fiance a few days before the engagement
ceremony. The number of trays must be an odd number. In Vietnamese habits, odd numbers
are thought to bring luck to the couple. In the trays, there are betel leaves, areca nut fruits,
wine, tea, husbandwife, and sticky rice. On the wedding day, the couple has to stay apart to
avoid unlucky things. The wedding ceremony starts in front of the ancestor altar. The master
of the wedding ceremony will declare the couple becomes a new family.
1. What ceremony occurs before the official wedding?
__________________________________________________________________________
________
2. Who is selected to be the representative of each family?
__________________________________________________________________________
________
3. Who prepares gift trays for the engagement ceremony?
__________________________________________________________________________
________
4. Why must the number of trays be an odd number?
__________________________________________________________________________
________
5. Where does the wedding ceremony occur?
__________________________________________________________________________
________
Exercise 16. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meanings.
1. gifts/ and have a/ meet/ to exchange/ traditional meal./ Most families/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
2. with/ Homes/ and kumquat./ are decorated/ the apricot blossom,/ peach blossom,/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
3. during Tet./ are encouraged/ Children/ or cry/ not to fight/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
4. the house./ plant/ a new year's tree/ Many families/ in front of/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
5. to worship/ After/ attend/ the local pagoda/ ancestors./ the family meal,/ many Vietnamese
people/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
6. festival./ exciting/ music/ The Glastonbury Festival/ is an/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
7. that/ the first person/ is a generous/ and kind-hearted./ to enter/ their house/ Vietnamese
people/ hope
__________________________________________________________________________
________
8. colorful flowers./ the festival/ people/ Before/ with/ prepare/ their houses/ to decorate/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
9. on the/15th day/ The Vu Lan Festival/ seventh/ of the/ lunar month./ takes place/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
10. to/ seeing/I am/ festival/ in Dak Lak./ looking forward/ the elephant race/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
11. first day/ of Tet./ shouldn' t/ You/ on the/ sweep/ the house/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
12. about/ other/ cultures./I am/ interested/ in learning/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
Exercise 17. Write in full sentences using the given words.
1. We/ wish/ our mom/ health/ longevity!/
__________________________________________________________________________
________
2. He/ released/ after being/ questioned/ by/ police/ yesterday.
__________________________________________________________________________
________
3. He/ prays/ luck/ happiness./
__________________________________________________________________________
________
4. The man/ monk/ from/ Emei Mountain./
__________________________________________________________________________
________
5. They/ make/ sacrificial offerings/ the gods./
__________________________________________________________________________
________
6. The ornamental tree/ in our front yard/ growing/ rapidly./
__________________________________________________________________________
________
7. Martial arts/ originates/ the East.
__________________________________________________________________________
________
8. Young rice cake/ a specialty/ this area.
__________________________________________________________________________
________
9. You should/ learn/ Vietnamese table manners./
__________________________________________________________________________
________
10. We/ have/ a family/ reunion/ next week./
__________________________________________________________________________
________