I. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the
others.
1. a. lantern b. invader c. nation d. race
2. a. carnival b. command c. ceremony d. encourage
3. a. tradition b. question c. procession d. preservation
4. a. performed b. worshipped c. prayed d. offered
5. a. sound b. crowd c. found d. court

II. Rewrite the sentences without changing their meaning. Use the words in brackets.
1. Although Hue is far from Hanoi, Peter often travels to Hanoi by motorbike. (but)
Hue ____________________________________________________________________
2. Christian went to Soc Trang to join Ok Om Bok Festival. (because)
Christian ________________________________________________________________
3. Sebastien is a French, but he plays Vietnamese folk games well. (although)
Although _______________________________________________________________
4. He has to join the festival in order to play Vietnamese folk games. (so)
He _____________________________________________________________________
5. Although the weather was terrible we had a good time. (spite)
We ____________________________________________________________________
6. So that Susan would be fit for the skiing, she went to the gym three times a week. (order)
Susan __________________________________________________________________
7. My family went to Huong Pagoda Festival two months ago. (since)
It ______________________________________________________________________
8. You won’t get in to see the show if you don’t have reserved seats. (unless)
You ____________________________________________________________________
9. Brian was really interested in Vietnamese cultural and spiritual events. (interest)
Brian ___________________________________________________________________
10. If you don’t start early, you will get stuck in the traffic. (otherwise)
You ____________________________________________________________________

I. Make questions for the underlined words.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
The Elephant Race Festival is usually held /in Don Village or in forests near the Sevepoi River./
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
/Thirteen/ elephants joined the elephant race on March 12 in Lak District.
3. ___________________________________________________________________________
The Lim festival takes place /on the 13th day of the first lunar month./
4. ___________________________________________________________________________
The spring festival of Bai Dinh Pagoda lasts /for three months./
5. ___________________________________________________________________________
Saint Giong Festival was recognized by UNESCO as /world intangible cultural heritage./
6. ___________________________________________________________________________
Vu Lan Festival is so-called “Xa toi vong nhan” festival /because this is the day for the death’s
souls./
7. ___________________________________________________________________________
The Kate Festival is celebrated by /the Cham ethnic group./
8. ___________________________________________________________________________
The Perfume Pagoda is /about 70 kilometers away/ from Hanoi.
9. ___________________________________________________________________________

/Tran Temple/ Festival is held to commemorate the Kings of the Tran dynasty.
10. ___________________________________________________________________________
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, children commonly /join street parades, carrying
lanterns and wearing masks./

II. Read the text carefully, then do the tasks.
Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of Khmer people in Mekong Delta. Ok Om Bok Festival
takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at
worshipping the Moon.
At the night of the Full Moon day, Khmer people set up a table of offerings; new sticky rice,
yam, coconuts, bananas, sweeties, etc and bow their head to show their thanks to the Moon. After
that, there is a colorful and sparkling lanterns ceremony on Ba Om Lake. Khmer people not only
drop these lanterns on the lake but also fly them to the sky. Dozens of great lantern lighten the
night sky in bustling music and the joy of Khmer people. Khmer people believe that these lanterns
will bring bad luck and risk far away.
The most attractive and exciting activity of Ok Om Bok Festival is Ngo race (a special kind of
boat of Khmer people in shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in Ok Om
Bok Festival. Ngo is a long boat with 25 - 30 meters in length and 1 - 1.4 meter in width. There are
about 40 to 60 boatmen in every “Ngo” with a leader at the top to guide the whole team. Before the
race, people gather along the riverbanks making an exciting atmosphere. During the race, the
boisterous sound of drum, trumpet, cheers and applause urge boatmen row as fast as possible to the
end.
Overall, Ok Om Bok is an important festival in Khmer people’s life. Ok Om Bok Festival has
sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making a cultural characteristic of this ethnic
community.
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Ok Om Bok Festival is celebrated in October in the Western Calendar.
2. At the night of the festival, Khmer people drop lanterns on the lake and fly lanterns to the sky.
3. Ngo is a snake-shaped boat of Khmer people.
4. Ngo boat race takes place right after Ok Om Bok Festival.
5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks.
6. Ok Om Bok Festival promote traditional cultural identity of Khmer community.
B. Answer the questions.
1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?
_______________________________________________________________
2. What is Ok Om Bok Festival celebrated for?
_______________________________________________________________
3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?
_______________________________________________________________
4. How long is a Ngo boat?
_______________________________________________________________

5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?_______________________________________________________________
6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?
_______________________________________________________________