VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE WORLD

      Italy

      There is custom in Italy for young couples to get engaged on Valentine’s Day. Some shops sell baskets and cups which are filled with sweets and tied with ribbons. The young lovers offer these to each other as a sign of their love.

      Korea                                                    

      On February 14^th many young women give sweets to their boyfriends, and on March 14^th their boyfriends buy them chocolate. However, the young who do not have a girlfriend or boyfriend can celebrate their own day on April 14^th. On this special day, called “Black Day”, these young people sit with their friends, who are in the same situation, and eat jajang noodles, which are black. This ensures that everyone has a day to celebrate.

      United State of America

      Most people in the USA take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express their feelings towards their loved one or to offer the hand of friendship to others. However, it is popular on these days to send an “anti-valentine” card. These cards either have an insulting message (to person you hate) or say goodbye (to your current partner). If you receive a card with the message C-Ya! (See you), it means your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to end your relationship.

      1.   What do Italians give for their lovers on Valentine’s Day?

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      2.   What is April 14^th called in Korea?

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      3.   What do young Koreans who do not have a boyfriend or girlfriend do on April 14^th?

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      4.   What is popular for Americans on Valentine’ Day?

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Rewrite these sentences, using the words in brackets 3. The painting is bigger than the photograph. (not … as) 4. This painting is more expensive than my painting. (not as … as) 5. This picture is the same as the picture in our room. (not different from)

VII.     Fill each blank with a word/ phrase in the box.

      1. I like drawing very much. My hobby is    ..............                               .

      2. My sister likes collecting                  ............               . Now she has more than 100.

      3. Her hobby is      ..............                       . She plants many beautiful flowers in her garden.

      4. My father likes                 .............                    . He often goes to the lakes or rivers when he has free time.

      5. When we have some days off, my close friends and I often go    ..............                              .

      6. My sister likes doing             ............               . She looks very fit.

      7. I always take a lot of         .............                    when I go on holidays.

      8. A: Can you play     ..........                   ?

          B: No, I can’t, but I can play the piano.

      9. My brother’s hobby is watching             ............         , he likes horses very much.

      10. Her brother likes collecting              ...........             , especially glasses.

VI.       Read the passage carefully, and then answer the questions.

Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy)

            The Temple of Literature was built in 1070 under the reign of Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to honour Confucius and later used as a royal school, where Emperor Ly Nhan Tong studied when he was a five- year-old prince.

            The Imperial Academy, which can be considered Vietnam’s first university, was built in 1076 next to the temple. Over the next seven centuries and more, theuniversity produced thousands of scholars for the country. Under the reign of Emperor Tran Minh Tong (1314-1329), the teacher Chu Van An, was appointed the school’s principal. After his death in 1370, Emperor Tran Nghe Tong (1321 - 1394) had him worshiped beside Confucius at the Temple of Literature. Many schools in Vietnam are also named after Chu Ban An.

            In 1946, the Imperial Academy in Hanoi was destroyed by French bombing, but gradually restored later.

            To enter the main area of the Temple of Literature, visitors must go through three gates. The first gate is called Van Mieu Mon; the second is called Dai Trung Mon and the third, Dai Thanh Mon.

            In the space between Dai Trung Mon and Dai Thanh Mon is the one-storey, two-roof pavilion called Khue Van Cac. Behind Khue Van Cac is the Thien Quang Tinh (Well of Heavenly Clarity), on either side of which 41 Doctors’ stone tablets stand in two rows. They stand upon stone turtles with the names and birthplaces of successful doctoral candidates from the examinations held at the Imperial Academy from 1484 to 1780.

            Now as a major tourist site, the Temple of Literature - Imperial Academy also hosts award ceremonies to recognize outstanding students. An annual poetry festival is held here on the 15^th of the first lunar month.

41.What was the Temple of Literature built for?

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42What was the Imperial Academy considered?

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43.What did the Imperial Academy do for the country at that time?

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44.Who was Chu Van An? Where was he worshiped?

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45.How many Doctors’ stone tablets are there? Where are they

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I.    Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others.

1.   a. food                         b. cook                        c. soup                         d. noodle

2.   a. spicy                        b. fry                           c. shy                           d. try

3.   a. salt                          b. tablet                       c. ham                         d. pancake

4.   a. musician                  b. sugar                       c. ocean                       d. television

5.   a. scholar                    b. architect                  c. machine                   d. choir