The World Cup is a competition which encourages men and women (1) ___________ to talk about football. All over the world, fans root for their team and their country, and its hard not to get (2) ____________ up in the enthusiasm. Even people who are not normally into football, or never watch it, express interest, especially if their national team is (3) _____________ part.

On the other hand, however, it is usually the male members of the population who avidly follow the fate of their favourite team from week to (4) _____________ throughout the year, year in year out.

Players and supporters of opposing teams are regarded as the enemy; colours and emblems, like uniforms, display (5) _______________ their loyalties lie. Feelings of comradeship are strong (6) ______________ supporters of the same side, and the game (7) _____________ hinges on tactics and strategy. Moreover, violence and acts of destruction often surface in the form of hooliganism. The similarities (8) ______________ football and war are striking. Why do football fans become so fanatical in (9) ____________ support of teams? Is (10) ____________, perhaps, among some members of the population, a deep-rooted craving for battle even in times of peace?

EX2: Complete the sentences with the correct from of the words in the brackets: 1/ The red brick houses are.........of my village. (character) 2/ The sight was so.........that she had to turn away. ( horror) 3/ The World Cup is regarded as the world......of the sport. (champion) 4/ John made a sudden.......and frightened the dog away. ( move) 5/ His guitar playing was....... and extremely skillful. ( passion) 6/ He’s hoping to....... In the London marathon. ( competition) 7/ The event was organized...... by students and staff. ( joint) 8/ When I was at primary school, I was made to....... a poem every week. ( memory) 9/ We met with many.......from various technology companies. ( represent) 10/ The room was.........arranged for the party. ( attract

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentences that combines each pair of sentences in the following questions. 

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is an important competition in international football. Almost everyone around the world is looking forward to it. 

A. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is so important a competition in international football that almost everyone around the world is looking forward to it

B. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is too important a competition in international football that almost everyone around the world to look forward to it

C. So important is the 2022 FIFA World Cup competition in international football that almost everyone around the world is looking forward 

D. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is such important competition in international football that almost everyone around the world is looking forward to it. 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

It is difficult to get tickets for 2018 World Cup. It was wise of him to buy the tickets for 2018 World Cup in advance.

A. Since they are difficult to get, he should have brought the tickets for 2018 World Cup beforehand

B. Although he bought the tickets for 2018 World Cup in advance, he wasn’t wise enough to do so

C. Such is te difficulty in getting the tickets for 2018 World Cup that it was wise of him to buy them beforehand

D. The tickets for 2018 World Cup is so difficult to get that he had enough wisdom to buy them

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

It is difficult to get tickets for 2018 World Cup. It was wise of him to buy the tickets for 2018 World Cup in advance.

A. Since they are difficult to get, he should have brought the tickets for 2018 World Cup beforehand.

B. Although he bought the tickets for 2018 World Cup in advance, he wasn’t wise enough to do so.

C. Such is te difficulty in getting the tickets for 2018 World Cup that it was wise of him to buy them beforehand.

D. The tickets for 2018 World Cup is so difficult to get that he had enough wisdom to buy them.

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

It is difficult to get tickets for 2018 World Cup. It was wise of him to buy the tickets for 2018 World Cup advance.

A. Since they are difficult to get, he should have brought the tickets for 2018 World Cup beforehand

B. Although he bought the tickets for 2018 World Cup in advance, he wasn’t wise enough to do so

C. Such is the difficulty in getting the tickets for 2018 World Cup that it was wise of him to buy them beforehand

D. The tickets for 2018 World Cup is so difficult to get that he had enough wisdom to buy them

5. Complete the sentences. Then write the past simple form of the missing verbs in the puzzle. Then use the letters in the grey boxes to make a mystery word.

France won the football World Cup in 2018.

(Nước Pháp đã chiến thắng World Cup bóng đá năm 2018.)

The mystery word is ................

1. Phan Thị Hà Thanh......... ...born in Việt Nam.

2. Usain Bolt ................. the world record in Beijing.

3. Pheidippides. ............ from Marathon to Athens.

4. Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên..... 3 gold medals at the SEA Games 27.

5. My dad…………….the match on Saturday.

6. ........... all my homework last night.

7. The 2016 Olympics……………..in Rio.

Some people argue that the pressures on international sportsmen and sportswomen kill the essence of sport—the pursuit of personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. However, the individual representing his/her country cannot afford to think about enjoying him/herself; he has to think only about winning. He/She is responsible for an entire nation’s hope, dreams and reputation.

A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world’s most important sport. It is even more important now that the United States is seriously taking it up. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting success. Mention “Argentina” to someone and chances are that he/she’ll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup “puts Argentina on the map.”

Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1966. Years ago thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses, and spent all their money travelling to Argentina, where the finals were played.

So, am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport? Certainly not! Do the Argentineans really believe that because eleven of their men proved the most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really. But it’s nice to know that you won, and that in one way at least your country is best.

53. According to the passage, the United States .

(A) has begun to give much attention to football

(B) is fond of playing football

(C) has won the football World Cup

(D) is getting sick of football

54. In the second paragraph, the word “summit” means the

(A) highest point

(B) mountain top

(C) award

(D) summary

55. According to the passage, if a sportsman only thinks about winning, he will .

(A) fail to succeed

(B) be successful

(C) lose enjoyment

(D) be irrational

56. What is the author’s attitude towards international games?

(A) Nations that meet on a football field are unlikely to meet on a battlefield.

(B) Nations that win the football World Cup are regarded as best in all aspects.

(C) Nations that win in international games prove best on the sports field at least.

(D) Nations that give much attention to international competitions are world-famous in many ways.