Read the task below. Then prepare a plan for your blog post.

You recently went to a show performed by a number of different clubs at school. Write a blog post about it.

• Where and when did the show take place?

• Who attended the event and how did they react?

• Give your personal opinion of the event.

• Suggest two improvements for next year.

Paragraph 1: the time, the place and the clubs

Paragraph 2: the attendees and their reactions.

Paragraph 3: your opinions

Paragraph 4: suggested improvements

PART D. READING

A. Read a brochure about Hue Festival and answer the questions about it .

Hue Festival

Welcome to Hue Citadel. This is the place where Hue Festival will be taken place in the next few days. Every two years in April, Hue Festival is held with the main purpose is to honor the cultural heritages of Hue. The festival is also the chance to introduce Vietnam’s national identity to the tourists worldwide. Coming to Hue Festival, you will have the opportunities to enjoy many cultural and sporting activities. The festival is started with a colourful ceremony with art performance. This is a greeting to visitors and also a big cultural exchange performance of different countries such as France, Italia,England , Korea,and Brazil. Moreover, Hue festival is famous for Ao Dai Grand show, Sea festival, Kite Flying competition, Human chess, and Boat race. The unique Ao Dai performance is considered one of the most attractive shows. You can see the gentle beauty of Vietnam’s traditional costume . Especially ,the Royal Refined Music of Hue and scenery of Nguyen Dynasty will bring you back to the ancient time of Hue. I am sure that you will experience joy and happiness during Hue Festival.

Questions.

1. Where and How often does Hue Festival happen ?                                           ……………………………………………………………………………………

2. Why does Hue Festival take place ?                                           …………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Which countries share a performance at the beginning of the festival ?          ……………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Which performance helps tourists know more about Vietnamese women’s traditional costume?                                                                                          ………………………………………………………………………………………

5. How can we imagine about ancient time of Hue ?                                            ………………………………………………………………………………………

B. Read the text carefully, then do the tasks.

     People visiting Spain for the first time can find it difficult to get used to the eating customs of the Spanish. It’s not so much the food itself, but the timing of the meals that visitors aren’t used to. I used to live in Cadiz myself for a few years and I actually quite like the way they do things. Breakfast is a light continental affair – justa roll and some coffee usually – eatenbetween 8 and 9.30 a.m. The main meal of the day is lunch, which people usually eat sometime between 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. Quite a few of the shops, museums and galleries close around this time, because the locals like to take time over lunch. They will rest for a short time afterwards, although the traditional afternoon siesta is not as common as it used to be. People eat late in the evening – rarelybefore 9 p.m. and at the weekend the locals often won’t eat before 11 p.m. or even midnight. This is a much lighter meal than lunch – oftenjust a few tapas taken with a drink.

Read the articles about the two famous festivals in Viet Nam, and then decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).Nha Trang Sea Festival Nha Trang Sea Festival takes place every two years for a week in around June in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. This is a colorful and dynamic sea festival which honors natural beauty of Nha Trang – the charming city overlooking the sea. The first Nha Trang Sea Festival was held in 2003 when Nha Trang Beach was proclaimed as a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. Coming to Nha Trang at the time of festival, visitors will be able to take part in various cultural and recreational events. First of all is an abundant opening ceremony by Vietnamese and international art groups. Besides, many interesting activities also take place during the festival like seafood competition, wine festival, beach volleyball, art kite flying festival, underwater group wedding, etc. The festival is also a great chance for tourists to know more about Viet Nam through special events. Nha Trang Sea Festival will definitely give you an unforgettable impression about Vietnam’s charming beauty as well as time-honored traditional values. Ha Long Carnival The festival is joined by thousand of actors, dancers, singers, musicians as well as students. Most of them are the local residents of Ha Long Bay. The highlight of Ha Long Carnival is street parades with variety of colorful costumes and dance on wide streets along the coast. Moreover, a laser, sound and water performance combining with a sparkling aerial firework show is an amazing party of light and color which tourist shouldn’t miss at the festival. Ha Long Carnival is the heart of the series of events within the schedule of Ha Long Tourism Week – a tourism promotional celebration which has been held yearly for six years. It’s usually taken place in a week in late-April to early-May. On the occasion of the 6th celebration in 2012, Ha Long Bay was officially recognized as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature of the world by the New 7 Wonders Organization. T F

1. Both festivals are held yearly at the two famous sea cities in Viet Nam  

2. Coming to the two festivals, visitors can take part in various cultural and recreational events.  

 3. Only professional actors or actresses can take part in Ha Long Carnival   4. Nha Trang and Ha Long are internationally well known for their natural beauty.  

5. Ha Long Carnival is held in a week (late-April to early-May), and Nha Trang Sea Festival is in June.  

6. Weddings can be held in both festivals.  

7. Ha Long Carnival is older than Nha Trang Sea Festival  

8. There are several sports events held in both festivals  

9. Both festivals have the same purpose of promoting tourism.  

10. Ha Long Bay was officially recognized as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature of the world on its first celebration.  

V. Make sentences about King Hung Temple Festival, using the words and phrases given. You can add some words and make changes. King Hung Temple Festival

1. King Hung Temple Festival/ take place/ yearly/ King Hung Temple/ the 8th/ 11th day/ the third lunar month. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 2. During the festival/ Vietnamese people/ go/ King Hung Temple/ Nghia Linh Mountain, Phu Tho Province/ take part/ this festival. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 3. The festival/ feature/ many folk games/ bamboo swings/ rice cooking competitions/ lion dance/ human chess/ water puppet performance/ wrestling/ crossbow shooting, etc. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 4. the 10th day/ a national ceremony/ held/ participation/ about 40 villages. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 5. Governmental leaders/ will lead/ precession/ up/ Upper Temple. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 6. There/ a ceremony/ offering incense/ five-fruit trays/ and specialities/ Chung cakes/ Day cakes/ which/ two traditional foods/ Vietnam. _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

HELP MEEEEEEEEE

Read the passage about Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, and answer the questions.

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival

          This holiday is the New Year festival in ancient calendar of Khmer people. Held in mid-April, the festival occurs in 3 days (4 days for the leap year). People prepare new clothes, food and drinks for whole festival days. They also repair, clean and decorate their house. Everyone is excited to care for holiday.

          At night of New Year's Eve, every family prepares a lavish meal, burns incense and candles to welcome the new god, farewell the old god. On the altar, they present 5 flower branches, 5 candles, 5 incense, 5 cereal seeds and fruit crops. They pray for health and luck in the New Year.

          On the first New Year - Chol Sangkran Chmay, major activities are bathing, dressing nice, bringing sacrifice gifts to the temple in good time which has been selected.
          On Wonbof day - the second day, they make rice offerings and cover the sand mountain. People cook rice and bring it to the temple in the morning and the afternoon.

          On Lom Sak day - the third day, they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony. In the morning, people bring breakfast to monks and listen to the sermon. At noon, they burn the lamps, offer sacrifice gifts and bring fragrant water to bathe Buddha statues. After the ceremony at the temple, the monks go to the grave to pray for the souls of those who died.

1. What is the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

2. When is it held? And how long does it last?

_________________________________________________________________

3. What do people prepare to celebrate the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

4. How do Khmer people prepare the altar at night of New Year's Eve?

_________________________________________________________________

5. What do people do on the first New Year Day?

_________________________________________________________________

6. When do people cook rice and bring it to the temple?

_________________________________________________________________

7. When do they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_________________________________________________________________

8. What do the monks do after doing Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_____________________________________________________________________

Read Ken's blog post about his family and circle the correct answers.

(Đọc nhật ký điện tử của Ken về gia đình của bạn ấy và khoanh chọn câu trả lời đúng.)

III. Read the passage about Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, and answer the questions.

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival

          This holiday is the New Year festival in ancient calendar of Khmer people. Held in mid-April, the festival occurs in 3 days (4 days for the leap year). People prepare new clothes, food and drinks for whole festival days. They also repair, clean and decorate their house. Everyone is excited to care for holiday.

          At night of New Year's Eve, every family prepares a lavish meal, burns incense and candles to welcome the new god, farewell the old god. On the altar, they present 5 flower branches, 5 candles, 5 incense, 5 cereal seeds and fruit crops. They pray for health and luck in the New Year.

          On the first New Year - Chol Sangkran Chmay, major activities are bathing, dressing nice, bringing sacrifice gifts to the temple in good time which has been selected.
          On Wonbof day - the second day, they make rice offerings and cover the sand mountain. People cook rice and bring it to the temple in the morning and the afternoon.

          On Lom Sak day - the third day, they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony. In the morning. people bring breakfast to monks and listen to the sermon. At noon, they burn the lamps, offer sacrifice gifts and bring fragrant water to bathe Buddha statues. After the ceremony at the temple, the monks go to the grave to pray for the souls of those who died.

1. What is the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

2. When is it held? And how long does it last?

_________________________________________________________________

3. What do people prepare to celebrate the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

4. How do Khmer people prepare the altar at night of New Year's Eve?

_________________________________________________________________

5. What do people do on the first New Year Day?

_________________________________________________________________

6. When do people cook rice and bring it to the temple?

_________________________________________________________________

7. When do they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_________________________________________________________________

8. What do the monks do after doing Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_____________________________________________________________________

Mid-Autumn Festival

            Mid-Autumn Festival is held on 15^th day of the eight lunar month to celebrate biggest full moon in the year. In Viet Nam, this festival is for children (56)___________ children are center of all activities on that day. (57)_____________ the festival is coming, the adults and the parents prepare many different foods -  moon cakes, candies, biscuits, jellies, and fruit. (58)_____________, the children are given many nice lanterns – star lanterns, flower lanterns and diverse funny masks, (59)__________ they can light the lantern during the Mid-Autumn night.

            (60)______________ the autumn is the time of the beginning of the new school year, the adults and parents give gifts to the children. The festival takes place (61)_______________ people have had good crops. (62)____________, it is also the congratulation for the full harvest.

            Nowadays, (63)__________ some of the traditional toys have been replaced by modern toys, the meaning of the festival has been kept and developed. It is certain that Mid-Autumn Festival is a good example of the traditional culture of the Vietnamese.

Task 1: Complete each blank in the passage with the correct linking word. (There may be more than one possibility)

Task 2: Read the passage again, and then answer the following questions.

64.                        When is Mid-Autumn Festival held? What is it for?

________________________________________________________________________________

65.                        What do the adults and the parents do to prepare for the festival?

________________________________________________________________________________

66.                        What are children given besides moon cakes?

________________________________________________________________________________

67.                        What can children do with their lanterns?

________________________________________________________________________________

68.                        Why is Mid-Autumn Festival also considered the congratulation for the full harvest?

________________________________________________________________________________

69.                        What is the importance of this festival?

________________________________________________________________________________