XI. Read the passage and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom (UK). It is on January 1st. People in the UK usually celebrate New Year from the evening of December 31st to January 1st.

On New Year’s Eve, at midnight, when the Big Ben clock strikes to mark the coming of New Year, people welcome New Year and sing the traditional song “Auld-Lang-Syne”. They open the back door to let the old year out and ask the first dark-haired man to come through the front door carrying bread, salt, and coal. This means that in the following year everyone in the house will have enough food (bread), earn enough money (salt), and be warm enough (coal).

Many people have parties at home or go out. There is also a popular tradition of exchanging New Year gifts while wishing each other well. New Year parades are the biggest attraction of New Year celebrations in the UK. They are organised in almost all major cities of the UK.

- exchange (v): trao đổi                                            - parade (n): cuộc diễu hành

1. New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the UK.                                                             

2. It is on the first day of the lunar calendar.                                                                   

3. The New Year’s celebration is only on December 31st.                                              

4. In the UK, salt symbolises money.                                                                                

5. Everyone has parties at home on New Year’s Day.                                                     

6. People exchange gifts on New Year’s Day.                                                                   

7. New Year parades are the biggest attraction on this occasion.                                 

8. The parades are organised in the countryside of the UK.                                          

XI. Read the passage and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE.

New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom (UK). It is on January 1st. People in the UK usually celebrate New Year from the evening of December 31st to January 1st.

On New Year’s Eve, at midnight, when the Big Ben clock strikes to mark the coming of New Year, people welcome New Year and sing the traditional song “Auld-Lang-Syne”. They open the back door to let the old year out and ask the first dark-haired man to come through the front door carrying bread, salt, and coal. This means that in the following year everyone in the house will have enough food (bread), earn enough money (salt), and be warm enough (coal).

Many people have parties at home or go out. There is also a popular tradition of exchanging New Year gifts while wishing each other well. New Year parades are the biggest attraction of New Year celebrations in the UK. They are organised in almost all major cities of the UK.

- exchange (v): trao đổi                                            - parade (n): cuộc diễu hành

1. New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the UK.                                                             

2. It is on the first day of the lunar calendar.                                                                   

3. The New Year’s celebration is only on December 31st.                                              

4. In the UK, salt symbolises money.                                                                                

5. Everyone has parties at home on New Year’s Day.                                                     

6. People exchange gifts on New Year’s Day.                                                                   

7. New Year parades are the biggest attraction on this occasion.                                 

8. The parades are organised in the countryside of the UK.                                          

Read the passage then decide which answer best fits each numbered blank. (Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau, sau đó tìm đáp án thích hợp để điền vào chỗ trống)

There are many Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. The Western New Year starts on the first day of January but the Chinese begin New Year on the first day of the first moon of the Chinese calendar. Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes. New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner. People (3)____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

On New Year's Day, they visit their friends and relatives. The children get lucky money in red envelopes. Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck. Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

 New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner.

A. when 

B. after 

C. before 

D. during

Read the passage then decide which answer best fits each numbered blank. (Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau, sau đó tìm đáp án thích hợp để điền vào chỗ trống)

There are many Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. The Western New Year starts on the first day of January but the Chinese begin New Year on the first day of the first moon of the Chinese calendar. Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes. New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner. People (3)____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

On New Year's Day, they visit their friends and relatives. The children get lucky money in red envelopes. Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck. Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

A. hopeful 

B. hopeless 

C. hope 

D. hoping

Read the passage and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space

Read the passage then decide which answer best fits each numbered blank. (Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau, sau đó tìm đáp án thích hợp để điền vào chỗ trống)

There are many Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. The Western New Year starts on the first day of January but the Chinese begin New Year on the first day of the first moon of the Chinese calendar. Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes. New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner. People (3)____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

On New Year's Day, they visit their friends and relatives. The children get lucky money in red envelopes. Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck. Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes.

A. take 

B. bring 

C. cook 

D. sell

Read the passage then decide which answer best fits each numbered blank. (Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau, sau đó tìm đáp án thích hợp để điền vào chỗ trống)

There are many Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. The Western New Year starts on the first day of January but the Chinese begin New Year on the first day of the first moon of the Chinese calendar. Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes. New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner. People (3)____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

On New Year's Day, they visit their friends and relatives. The children get lucky money in red envelopes. Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck. Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

 People (3) ____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

A. meet 

B. see 

C. end 

D. celebrate

Read the passage then decide which answer best fits each numbered blank. (Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau, sau đó tìm đáp án thích hợp để điền vào chỗ trống)

There are many Chinese festivals in Hong Kong. The Western New Year starts on the first day of January but the Chinese begin New Year on the first day of the first moon of the Chinese calendar. Before New Year's Day comes, people clean and decorate their houses, (1)_____ a lot of traditional food and go shopping for presents and new clothes. New Year’s Eve is the time (2) _____every family gathers its members together for dinner. People (3)____ the New Year with a music performance and a firework display to light up the sky.

On New Year's Day, they visit their friends and relatives. The children get lucky money in red envelopes. Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck. Chinese people in Hong Kong celebrate the New Year with (5) _____ and happiness.

 Many people go to the (4)____ to wish for good health and good luck.

A. houses 

B. pagodas 

C. family 

D. camps

Read the following passage and answer the questions

Tet holiday is celebrated on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Viet Nam. Some weeks before the New Year, the Vietnamese clean their houses and paint the walls. New clothes are bought for the occasion. One or two days before the festival, people make Banh Chung, which is the traditional cake, and kinds of jam. On the new Year’s Eve, the whole family get together for a reunion dinner. Every member of the family should be present during the dinner in which many different kinds of dishes are served. On the New Year morning, the young members of the family pay their respects to the elders. And the children receive lucky money wrapped in red tiny envelops. Then people go to visit their neighbors, friends and relatives.

Is Tet holiday celebrated on the second day of the Lunar New Year?

……………………………………………………………………….…………

Read the text and answer the following questions by choosing the best option A, B, C, or D.

                                       How Do You Celebrate?

New Year’s Day

       New Year is one of the most popular festivals in the world, even though it is celebrated at different times and in different ways. In many western countries, people get together with family and friends on December 31st to eat, drink, and dance as they wait for January 1st. Some of the biggest parties are held on New Year’s Eve. In many countries, crowds gather in the centre of town to welcome the new year at midnight with fireworks.

      For many Asian countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, the New Year is based on lunar calendar. The date changes year to year, but usually falls between January 21st to February 21st. It is traditionally seen as a time for family reunions, with people travelling across the country and from overseas. Many people wear red clothes, as it is thought to be a lucky colour. They also give “lucky money” in red envelopes to friends and family, and set off firecrackers to scare away bad luck.

      What's common among these celebrations is the meaning of the new year; it is a time to say goodbye to the past and to think about new beginnings. For example, in Japan, people organize bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties"), which are dedicated to leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind. In many countries, people make New Year's resolutions - promises to themselves to make changes in their lives over the coming year, such as to lose weight, stop smoking, or learn a new skill.

Carnival

In late February or early March, some countries celebrate a special festival called Carnival. Carnival is thought to have originated in Italy or Greece, and was held just before Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. People dressed in costumes, wore colourful masks, ate, drank, and danced all night. This tradition spread to France, Spain, Portugal, and later to Brazil and the United States.

       Now, two of the biggest Carnival celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and New Orleans in the United States. There are grand parades where people wear flashy costumes and dance and sing in the streets. In New Orleans, Carnival is known as Mardi Gras. Many roads and shops are shut down for the celebrations which can last for up to three weeks. Millions of visitors travel from around the world to join the party, and many more watch the event on television.

1. Which is NOT true about New Year’s Day all over the world?

A. It is celebrated in the same ways at the same time country to country

B. It is one of the most popular festivals worldwide

C. New Year’s Day celebration is based on both lunar and solar calendar

D. It’s an occasion for people to gather with their beloved ones

2. Where do Western people gather to welcome the new year with fireworks?

A. In the city centre                     B. At the church                                     

C. At home                                  D. Along the river banks

3. The phrase "bad luck" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _____.

A. big hit       B. misfortune          C. godsend             D. triumph

4. Why do a majority of Asian people wear red in the New Year’s day?

A. Because it is matched with other decorations like firecrackers

B. Because it is thought to scare away bad luck

C. Because it is believed to be a lucky colour

D. Because it makes people look more cheerful in the new year

5. What is the common meaning of the new year celebrations?

A. The New Year’s celebration is the time to say goodbye to friends and family

B. The New Year’s celebration is the time for people all over the world have bonenkai parties

C. The New Year’s celebration is the time to welcome new beginnings and let the past behind

D. The New Year’s celebration is the chance for people to lose weight, stop smoking and learn a new skill

6. What is 'Lent'?

A. a period of 40 days before Christmas

B. a period of 20 days after Christmas

C. a period of 40 days before Easter

D. a period of 20 days after Easter

7. What did people NOT do in Carnival?

A. danced all night                                               B. wore colourful masks

C. dressed in frightening costumes                     D. ate and drank

8. Where are the biggest Carnivals held nowadays?

A. Spain and the US                   B. Brazil and the US

C. France and Brazil                   D. Portugal and Spain