UNIT 1: FAMILY LIFE

1A. Pronunciation
• /br/, /kr/ and /tr/
I. Write the words below into the correct column.
crash brother crowded cricket trousers
truth traffic credit cream broad
create broad-minded brown train truck
breath tree browse bridge try
/br/ /kr/ /tr/

II. Write /br/, /kr/, and /tr/ under the word that has the corresponding consonant cluster sound.
Then, practise reading the sentences.
1. We tried to catch the train to Ha Noi.
2. This morning I felt crazy because the traffic was very heavy with a lot of trucks and the streets were
crowded.
3. My brother likes cream in his coffee.
4. Mr. Brown buys crisps on credit.
5. My computer crashed while I was trying to create a new directory.
6. My parents are both broad-minded, so they are willing to listen to our own opinions.
7. My brother has brown eyes and broad shoulders.
8. A breathalyser is a device to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath.
9. I spend two hours browsing the web every day.
10. Sharing housework creates a positive atmosphere and we are not critical of each other.

1B. Vocabulary
• Words and phrases related to family life
I. Fill in each blank with the correct word below.
bonds benefits example laundry
washing-up breadwinner chores role
1. Mr Long has found that his wife receives a great deal of love when he shares household ________.
2. In fact, childcare seems to have some important __________ for young children.
3. My mother was hanging out the __________ in the sun.
4. __________ in the extended family are generally very close.
5. Mothers play an enormous __________ in the lives of their children and the bond is very strong.
6. You should set a good __________ for your little brother.
7. Traditionally, the __________ in the home is the father.
8. Every day at 7 pm, dinner is finished and the __________ is done.
II. Choose the correct words.
1. Everyone in my family shares the cooking and domestic chores / housework.
2. Women became managers / breadwinners while their husbands went to fight in the war.
3. Yesterday she went to the supermarket to buy the laundry / groceries and flowers.
4. For this exercise, the teacher is going to divide / make the class into four groups.
5. You should tidy up / away your room at the weekend.
6. My sister did the laundry / groceries and hung wet clothes out to dry.
7. My grandfather can’t do heavy lifting / loud voice because he has a bad back.
8. Every day after dinner I do the routine / washing-up before I do my homework.
9. My dad is the breadwinner / game-winner. He goes to work to support the family
10. My sister tries to get some simple basic home cook / cooking from my mother.
III. Complete the sentences with the words below.
benefit relationship good gratitude life skills
benefits bond responsibility strengthens character
1. Sharing experiences __________ bonds with friends.
2. We would like to express our __________ to everyone for their help.
3. These children have not learned __________ for the future use.
4. The new system will be a great __________ to the company.
5. Sharing the responsibility for household chores can do the __________ of children’s development.
6. Parents enjoy watching their children’s __________ develop.
7. Doing physical exercise for just 30 minutes every day can bring health __________ .
8. Over six months of working together, a close __________ developed.
9. By sharing housework, family members have a very close __________ with one another.
10. Sharing housework can make children have more __________ in the future.
IV. Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of the word in brackets.
1. One recent survey found that men’s __________ in the home had increased almost threefold in the
last four decades, (contribute)
2. A mother’s love can be as __________ as breastfeeding, (benefit)
3. In the traditional Japanese family system, the entire estate of the family, and the __________ assets
are transferred from the father to the eldest son. (finance)
4. Mrs White spoke __________ of her husband because he didn’t share anything with household
chores, (criticize)
5. My aunt works __________ hard to support her family because her husband died in a car accident a
year ago. (enormous)
6. When we have some trouble in our family, we should have family meetings to work out a
__________ . (solve)
7. The husband is responsible for the family’s economic well-
being and takes pride in his role as a __________ . (provide)
8. Parenting __________ can offer children good
opportunities for their future, (collaborate)
9. We do our share of housework willingly so that we can
follow __________ interests in our free time, (recreation)
10. Researchers found that an unequal __________ of
household chores negatively affected wives’ marital
__________ . (divide - satisfy)
V. Match the pictures 1-9 to the phrases, and write the
answer in each blank. There are
some extra phrases. Number 1 has been done for you.
__1__ do the cooking
_____ do the ironing
_____ do the washing
_____ do the vacuuming
_____ lay the table
_____ make the bed
_____ tidy your room
_____ do the cleaning
_____ do the shopping
_____ do the washing-up
_____ empty the dishwasher
_____ make breakfast / lunch / dinner
_____ take the rubbish out
_____ wash the car
VI. Match 1-8 to a-h to make sentences and questions about household chores.
1. Take these dirty clothes and load ______ a. the rubbish?
2. After I get up, I usually make ______ b. the table
3. Before we eat, Dad always lays ______ c. my bed and get dressed.
4. After dinner, can you help me to do ______ d. the bath, please?
5. The bathroom is dirty. Can you clean ______ e. the washing machine.
6. When the clothes are dry, please do ______ f. the washing-up?
7. The bin is full. Can you take out ______ g. the floor.
8. The carpet isn’t clean. Let’s hoover ______ h. the ironing.

• Prepositions
VII. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.
1. Who is responsible __________ taking care of the children?
2. Would you like to share your feelings __________ the group?
3. Parents should set an example __________ their children.
4. Doing exercise regularly is good __________ you.
5. Close relationship is one of the most effective ways __________ creating a good atmosphere
__________ all of us.
6. The most important thing that my old grandparents care __________ is health.
7. I have quite a good relationship __________ my teachers and classmates.
8. She’d like to show a deep gratitude __________ the teacher who had encouraged her to go to
university.
9. What are the qualities that are needed __________ the job?
10. My dad and I do the repairs __________ the house.

1C. Grammar
• Present simple vs present continuous
I. Complete the sentences with a verb below in the correct form.
do empty lay make (x3) take tidy wash (x2)
1. Why didn’t you __________ your bed this morning?
2. I can’t come out now. I’m __________ the cleaning.
3. Could you __________ the dishwasher and put the things away, please?
4. It’s not fair. I __________ breakfast yesterday. Nam should __________ it today.
5. Look at this bin! Please __________ the rubbish out now.
6. Mum, I’ve __________ up my room. Can I go out now?
7. Phong, __________ the table. It’s nearly dinner time.
8. A: Where’s Dad?
B: He’s __________ the car. He always __________ the car on Sunday morning.
II. Fill the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. Ms Lan is not in the office today. She (work) __________ at home today.
2. “Where (you / come) __________ from?” “I’m Italian - from Rome.”
3. “(you / speak) __________ French?” “Just a little.”
4. Don’t forget your umbrella. It (rain) __________ again.
5. “Can you help me with the dinner?” “Not now. I (watch) __________ TV.”
6. In Viet Nam, children (look) __________ after their old parents.
7. “Hi! What (you / do) __________ here?” “I (wait) __________ for a friend.”
8. Can I look at the newspaper now? (you / read) __________ it?
9. Can I phone you back? We (have) __________ dinner.
10. Mr Long (work) __________ in an office every day, but now he (help) __________ his wife to
prepare dinner.
III. Complete the sentences with the verbs below in the correct form: the present simple or
present continuous.
tidy help play (x2) do (x2) look after
water prepare watch go study
1. My dad often __________ tennis on Sunday morning. Now he __________ the garden.
2. My mother often __________ dinner for the whole family after work. At present she __________
shopping in the supermarket.
3. My sister often __________ the film after dinner. At the moment she __________ for her test
tomorrow.
4. I usually __________ football at the park with my classmates on Sunday morning.
Now I __________ my father with the chores around the house.
5. Mai __________ to school every morning. Now she __________ her mother in hospital.
6. Nam often __________ his room at the weekend. Now he __________ some heavy lifting with his
brother.
IV. Complete the pairs of sentences with the present simple or the present continuous form of
the verb in brackets.
1. a She always __________ (wear) a white dress for work.
b I __________ (wear) new shoes. Do you like them?
2. a We __________ (go) hiking next month.
b They __________ (go) hiking every summer.
3. a I __________ (love) this music. What is it?
b I __________ (enjoy) this music. What is it?
4. a Light __________ (travel) faster than sound.
b That car __________ (travel) very fast. Be careful.
5. a My brother often __________ (sing) in the shower.
b My friend, Peter, __________ (sing). What a terrible noise!
6. a I __________ (not believe) him. It’s a lie.
b He __________ (not tell) the truth. It’s a lie.
V. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. He never __________ (go) to parties.
2. __________ you __________ (want) another drink?
3. She __________ (wait) for a phone call from Jack. He usually __________ (phone) at this time.
4. ‘Why __________ you __________ (never wear) T-shirts?’ - ‘No real reason.’
5. ‘__________ you __________ (understand) these questions?’ - ‘I don’t.’
6. We __________ (go) to Can Tho tomorrow.
7. __________ you always __________ (go out) for a meal on Sundays?
8. Hurry up! The bus __________ (leave) in five minutes.
9. What time __________ you __________ (meet) Nam?
10. I __________ (not enjoy) listening to classical music.
VI. Complete the dialogue with the verbs below. Use the present simple or present continuous.
do come have like stay study want work not work
Nick Hi, I’m Nick.
Mai Hi, I’m Mai. Where 1 __________ you __________ from, Nick?
Nick England. I2 __________ with a family here in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mai 3
__________ you __________ it here?
Nick Yes, it’s a nice city. I4 __________ a great time.
Mai Can you speak Vietnamese?
Nick Yes. I 5 __________ at a language school. What 6 __________ you __________ , Mai?
Mai I’m a nurse.
Nick That’s interesting.
Mai I usually 7__________ at night, but I 8__________ this evening.
Nick 9
__________ you __________ to have a drink?
Mai OK.
VII. Make questions from the given words.
1. Which book / you read / at the moment?
__________________________________________________
2. What grammar notes/ you study / at present?
__________________________________________________
3. Which coffee / you prefer / Italian / French?
__________________________________________________
4. What / you usually have / for breakfast?
__________________________________________________
5. What / your father / do now?
__________________________________________________

1D. Reading
I. Reading the text, and choose the best answers.
Benefits of doing housework
Children can learn a lot from doing household chores. Doing chores helps children learn about
what they need to do to care for themselves, a house and a family. They learn skills that they can use in
the adult lives, like preparing meals, cleaning, organising and keeping a garden. Being involved in
chores also gives children experience of relationship skills, like communicating clearly, co-operating
and working as a team.
 When children contribute to family life, it helps them feel competent and responsible. Even if they
don’t enjoy the chore, when they keep going they get the feeling of satisfaction that comes with
finishing a task.
Sharing housework can also help families work better and reduce family stress. When children
help out, chores get done more quickly, and parents have less to do. This frees up time for the family
to do fun things together.
In order to get children involved in chores, it is best to start by choosing chores that works for
children’s ages and abilities. Chores that are too hard can be frustrating, and chores that are too easy
might be boring. If children are old enough, we can have a family discussion about chores. This can
reinforce the idea that the whole family contributes to how the household runs.
1. Doing chores can have children have some benefits EXCEPT __________.
A. learning life skills B. looking after the family
C. getting a job D. learning relationship skills
2. By sharing housework with other family members, children also can .
A. join a team B. become a co-operator
C. develop language skills D. express themselves better
3. When children don’t like a task, they also have the feeling of __________ in finishing it.
A. pleasure B. achievement C. desire D. acceptance
4. Which statement that the author of the text supports most?
A. Children should do as much as they can to help their parents out.
B. Children should be old enough to share the chores.
C. The chores that children do should be based on their qualities.
D. The chores that children do should be hard to develop life skills.
5. The phrase ‘works for’ in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. does B. suits C. succeeds in D. involves

II. Read the two texts, and do the tasks that follow.
Family Welcomes Baby Sixteen
Baby Katelyn is the latest child of Jeni and Ray Bonell of
Queensland, Australia. They have got sixteen children -
seven girls and nine boys.
Life in the Bonell house is noisy, but they’ve got rules so
things don’t get too crazy. The house has got seven
bedrooms but each child sleeps in his or her own bed.
Jesse and Brooke, the two oldest kids, don’t live with the family. They have got their own homes in the
neighbourhood but they often visit.
Jeni says that having a big family is normal for them. Her day-to-day life is similar to the life of other
mums, just with more washing to do and bigger meals to cook. Food shopping costs about $600 a
week. Meals and house cleaning are big jobs, but all the children help from the age of eight. One of the
Bonell’s neighbours says, ‘I’ve only got two children and I don’t know how Jeni and Ray do it. And
they love it. They’re great parents.’
Giving each of their children enough time and attention isn’t easy, but it’s important for both parents.
‘Jeni and Ray spend so much time with the kids,’ says a family friend. ‘The kids definitely feel loved
and happy and the new baby is beautiful.’
BIG is beautiful
 For Sue and Noel Radford, ‘Big is beautiful’ when you talk about
families. They’ve got sixteen children - nine boys and seven girls.
They are also grandparents, as their daughter Sophie has got a one-
year-old daughter, Daisy.
The Radford family lives in a nine-bedroom house. Sue and Noel have
got a bakery down the road from the house, and the family travels
everywhere in their seventeen-seat minibus.
Life in the Radford house starts early. Noel goes to the bakery at 4.30 a.m., gets home for breakfast at
7.30, takes the school-age children to school and then goes back to the bakery. At 3 p.m., he brings the
children home from school and then he cooks dinner every night - often spaghetti or homemade pizza.
So why do they have so many children? Sue smiles and says, ‘I love having children around me. I like
all the noise and activity.’ A family friend says, ‘They’re a lovely family and the children are really
good kids. Sue and Noel are great parents.’
It’s true. Sue and Noel don’t have very much time alone. They don’t go out to restaurants or to the
cinema and they only talk about the children - there’s no time to talk about other things.
But the children are happy. ‘They’ve always got friends around them,’ says Noel.
Task 1. What do the numbers below refer to? Some numbers refer to more than one thing.
600 17 16 9 8 7 3 2 1
600 _______________________________________________________________________
17 _______________________________________________________________________
16 _______________________________________________________________________
9 _______________________________________________________________________
8 _______________________________________________________________________
7 _______________________________________________________________________
3 _______________________________________________________________________
2 _______________________________________________________________________
1 _______________________________________________________________________
Task 2. Match each family to the pieces of information. Write the full sentences.
don’t all live together.
The Bonell family have got a bakery.
all do housework together.
The Radford family like their big family.
sometimes make pizza.
1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________

III. Read the text, and do the tasks that follow.

Stay-at-home Mum
Fiona Gilbert is married with three teenage sons. Her husband gets up
early every morning and goes to work by train. He works in a bank in
the centre of London. The boys leave for school at 8 a.m. and Fiona
puts away the breakfast things and turns on the dishwasher. Fiona goes
to work at about nine o’clock, but she doesn’t travel very far. Her
office is in the spare bedroom in the house. That’s because Fiona is one of the 3.7 million people in the
UK who work but don’t go out to work. They are homeworkers.
Fiona is a freelance writer and a finance expert. Every week she writes articles for magazines and
newspapers. She describes how people can save money. Occasionally, she appears on TV too. Fiona
really enjoys her job. She says that the best thing about it is when it’s warm and sunny. She doesn’t
stay at her desk. She takes her laptop into the garden and works outside. It isn’t all good though. Fiona
sends and receives a lot of email every day, but sometimes she doesn’t speak to anyone all day. She
hates that.
Fiona turns off her laptop when the boys come back from school. They sit down together and chat
about their day at school. Fiona becomes a mother again then, and starts making dinner for her family.
Task 1. Which two topics below aren’t mentioned in the text?
1. daily routine 2. family 3. favourite food
4. favourite TV programme 5. job 6. likes and dislikes
Task 2. Answer the questions.
1. What does Mr Gilbert do?
2. What does Fiona do before she goes to work?______________________________________
3. How many British people are homeworkers?______________________________________
4. What does Fiona write about in her articles?_______________________________________
5. Where does she work when the weather is good?___________________________________
6. How does she usually communicate with people at work?____________________________
7. Does Fiona cook?____________________________________________________________
Task 3. Complete the summary of the text with the words below.
children home money negative positive woman
The text is about a British __________ , Fiona Gilbert, who works from __________ . She knows a
1 2

lot of things about3 __________ for her job. Fiona is mostly 4 __________ about what she does, but
she is 5 __________ about one thing. She stops working in the afternoon to talk to her 6 __________ .
IV. Read the lecture to parents, and mark the sentences T (true), F (false), or NG (not given).
Some people point out that today’s children have more homework and have less time to do chores
around the house. If they’re teenagers, they also don’t have much energy because their bodies and
brains are developing very quickly, and that can be tiring for them.
Children also say, ‘It’s not my house, why should I clean it?’ Actually, they use it, and if they
don’t learn how to do basic chores like cooking and cleaning, how can they look after themselves
when they leave home? Helping with chores is training in basic survival skills. It’s also a good way to
remind children that they are a part of something bigger than themselves - the family. And, by giving
them some responsibilities, you’re also telling them that you trust them, and that increases their
confidence.
But it’s often tricky to get children to do chores. There is no ‘I’ in the words ‘work’ or ‘chores’,
and most kids only like to do things that help them or give them something back immediately. The best
way to deal with this is to make some family rules and the family chore chart, and also point out some
of the long-term benefits: studies show that children and teenagers who help around the house are
happier and have better family values. When they take out the rubbish, lay the table or clean the floor,
they are actually learning how to become more helpful members of society.
The most important thing is to help children start good habits early, and also help them become
good and responsible citizens in the future.
1. Children today don’t have as much homework as children in the past. __________
2. Teenagers have more energy than young children. __________
3. It’s important for children to learn how to cook and clean. __________
4. Chores remind children of their responsibility to other people. __________
5. Children who do chores feel more confident. __________
6. Most children like doing things that have long-term benefits. __________
7. Parents are usually very lazy. __________
8. Children who do chores become better members of society. __________
V. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized
societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother
and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the
single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is
formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of
single-parent and blended families has increased.
In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the
same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including
grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles,
aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of
the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.
1. The nuclear family ranks as the most common family type __________.
A. in many industrialized countries B. in countries with nuclear weapons
C. that consists of more than two generations D. that leads to the divorce of parents
2. In the single-parent family, __________.
A. there are often no children
B. only one parent lives with his or her child or children
C. the number of blended children has increased
D. children live with their grandparents
3. Grandparents, parents and children are mentioned as __________.
A. the three typical generations of an extended family
B. three branches of a family tree
C. the closest and happiest relatives in family units
D. a complex combination
4. The second paragraph is about __________.
A. American culture B. relatives and family members
C. the relationship between family members D. the extended family
5. The word “blended” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. complex B. married C. mixed D. formed

VI. Read the passage carefully, and do the tasks that follow.
The Role of the Japanese Mother
The focus of the mother is her home and family, with particular attention to the rearing of children.
While most Japanese believe that a woman's place is in the home, women make up almost 40 percent
of the labour force. More than half of these women are married. Many mothers with small children
work only part-time so they can be home when their children are not in school. The extra income
earned by the mother is often used to meet the cost of their children’s education.
Japanese mothers take the responsibility of their child’s education and upbringing very seriously. They
seldom confront their preschool children because they want to foster an intimate, dependent
relationship. The purpose of this approach is to get the child to obey willingly with the mother’s
wishes and to shape the child’s behaviour over a long period of time. The close nature of the mother-
child relationship and the strong parental commitment help to provide a
strong foundation for the child’s entry into elementary school.
 Mothers are involved directly in with the child’s school. Each day a notebook is sent back and
forth between mother and teacher remarking on the child’s mood, behavior, health, and activities both
in school and at home. Mothers attend PTA meetings usually twice a month and are involved with
school committee’s working on special projects such as gardening and hot lunch preparation. School is
a very stressful and competitive process so the Japanese mother concentrates all her efforts on getting
her children through so they can get accepted into the appropriate universities.
Task 1: Match words 1-5 with definition A-E, writing the answer in each blank.
1. rearing ____ A. encourage something to develop
2. foster ____ B. giving an opinion or thought
3. intimate ____ C. a promise to support someone or something
4. commitment ____ D. the practice of looking after children until they’re old enough
5. remarking ____ E. having a close relationship
Task 2: Read the passage, and then decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).
T F
1. Most Japanese women are housewives.  
2. Taking care of children and bringing them up are of great importance to  
Japanese mothers.
3. Japanese mothers tend to be very strict to their children at home.  
4. Japanese mothers and teachers work together for the children’s study progress  
and comfort at school.
5. The Japanese mother concentrates all her efforts on getting her children through,  
so the atmosphere at home is very stressful.

1E. Speaking
• Everyday English
I. Choose the correct response. Then practise the short exchanges in pairs.
1. A: Does your father help with chores? B: a/ He enjoys watching TV in the evening.
b/ He does electric repairs around the house.
2. A: Can your father cook? B: a/ His chicken soup is the best, I think.
b/ Yes, he does some gardening.
3. A: Do your family have the chart of family B: a/ Yes, everyone shares the chores,
chores? b/ No, everyone shares the chores equally.
4. A: What’s your share of the chores? B: a/ Yes, we help each other to do it.
b/ I sweep the floor and take out the rubbish.
5. A: Are you willing to take out the rubbish B: a/ No, I’m not willing to help you.
every day? b/ I do, but I don’t like it.
6. A: What do you like to do most? B: a/ I like to help my father repair things.
b/ I like doing it because it’s interesting.
7. A: Is your mum a working mother? B: a/ Yes, she can follow her interests.
b/ Yes, she’s a nurse in a big hospital.
8. A: Do you enjoy sharing housework? B: a/ Yes, we like the feeling of contributing to
the household chores.
b/ Yes, I have a lot of homework to do at school,
and have little free time.
9. A: Do you belong to a nuclear or extended B: a/ I prefer a nuclear family.
family? b/ I live with my parents, and my sister.
 10. A: Who’s responsible for earning the money B: a/ Both my parents are willing to help me.
in your family? b/ Both my parents are.

• Explaining why children should or shouldn’t do housework

II. Complete the dialogue with the phrases below. There is one extra phrase that you do not
need.
A. for the first time E. what about you
B. you’re lucky F. no way
C. how strict G. ask permissions first
D. without your parents
Nick 1
__________ are your parents? Are you allowed to go to bed when you want?
Phong 2
__________ . I have to go to bed at 10 p.m. What about you?
Nick I'm allowed to decide when I go to bed - it’s my choice.
Phong 3
__________ . And can you have friends over when you want?
Nick Yes, I can. What about you?
Phong I’m allowed to have friends round, but I have to 4 __________ .
Nick What about when you were younger? When were you allowed to go to shops on your own 5
__________ ?
Phong I think I was about 9. But I could only go to the shop just down the road then. What about
you? When could you first go to shops 6 __________ ?
Nick I think I was first allowed to go out alone when I was 7.
III. Rearrange the sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation, writing the letter (A-
H) in each blank.
1. ______ A. Nam: It’s not only for our mother’s benefits but it also makes us more independent
when we have grown up.
2. ______ B. Nam: Besides cleaning and cooking, my mother also does a lot of other things around
the house although she goes to work.
3. ______ C. Nam: I agree with that saying. All of us take it for granted that our mother is responsible
for doing all the housework.
4. ______ D. Nam: Besides the relationship, we enjoy a friendlier atmosphere in our home all the
time when we attend to each other.
5. ______ E. Mai: So does my mother. My father, my brother and I try to share the burden so that my
mother can follow her own interests.
6. ______ F. Mai: I’ve just read a saying about household chores, Nam. It’s “Housework is what a
woman does that nobody notices unless she hasn't done it.”
7. ______ G. Mai: It’s very useful for our future life. And I think we will have better relationship
when we share household chores with one another.
8. ______ H. Mai: Yeah, when we come home from school, our house is clean and tidy and lunch or
dinner is ready for us to eat.
IV. Complete the dialogue with the phrases below. There is one extra that you do not need.
A. we should show gratitude to our parents by sharing housework
B. we learn to become independent
C. because we learn how to work with others
D. everyone can have some time to relax
E. chores can emphasise the value of keeping things clean
F. because they help teach us life skills
 G. chores help us improve planning and time management skills
Anna Hello Nam. What are you doing now?
Nam Hello Anna. I’m cleaning the floor. I often clean the floor on Sunday morning.
Anna Good. I also help my parents with chores around the house. Do you find any benefits of
sharing housework, Nam?
Nam Well, I think we should do chores 1 _________________________ . It’s good for our
character development.
Anna I think so. We also learn teamwork when we help other members share housework 2
_________________________ . Have you got any more ideas?
Nam Yes, 3 _________________________ when we work with others.
Anna I agree with you, Nam. Chores help us learn responsibility, too. When we do the cleaning of
our room or our own laundry, 4 _________________________ . It’s good for our future.
Nam Yes, independence can help us become adults. And we know how hard our parents have been
to grow us up.
Anna That’s right. 5 _________________________ , and ‘many hands make light work’.
Nam You’re right, Anna. The burden is less and 6 _________________________ .

1F. Writing
• Writing about family routines
I. Write an email about your family routines and their benefits, using the information below. The
first and the last paragraphs have been done for you.
- my family / often / dinner together / at weekends / we / spend / more time together / lunch and
dinner together
- we / celebrate celebrations / like Tet or Christmas / before that / we / go shopping together / my
parents / us / some presents / new clothes/ then / we work together / decorate our house / help my
mother / a lot of special dishes / spend time together / having meals / singing / visiting our relatives
- on Saturday morning / we all / clean up the house / we / tidy up our rooms / clean the floor / brush
the walls / ceiling / clean / furniture / wash the blankets
- Spending time / our family / a great way / make / family bonds / memories / last forever
Hi Nick,
How are you? We’re all doing fine here. You asked me about my family routines. We have some
routines to help us learn life skills as well as build family bonds. Here are the three main ones.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
What do you think about my family routines? Please write back soon and let me know.
Best wishes,
Phong
II. Write a short essay telling your family routines and their benefits, using the prompts below.
Introduction:
spending time / our family / very enjoyable
participating / common activities as a family / not only bring love, unity , in the family / but also /
help / keep / our bodies fit / at the same time.
Routines When / How often Things to do
 1. go to the park every weekend my father and brother / play / badminton my mother and
I / walk / park / an hour we all / go shopping / eat out
2. go fishing every two weeks choose / a good fishing point / the suburb / choose a
good weather day
Dad / tell / how to fish / Mum / remind / patience to do
fishing

3. go on a picnic every month find / a good place / a beautiful scenery / go to also bring
/ tent / water / some favourite food / everyone during the
picnic

Benefits of family routines

- these activities / helpful / creating / a strong bond / the family
- also the time / the family members / close to each other / they / share / problems / offer advice / get
over them
Spending time with our family is________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

TEST 1 (UNIT 1)
I. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined.
1. A. take B. family C. grateful D. table
2. A. nursing B. curtain C. turn D. picture
3. A. society B. sociable C. groceries D. finance
Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from the others.
4. A. breadwinner B. homemaker C. washing-up D. homemaking
5. A. routine B. laundry C. household D. finance
II. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences.
6. Do you have to do ________?
A. the mess B. your bed C. the washing-up D. the cook
7. Do you have to ________ the rubbish out?
A. take B. make C. empty D. do
8. My mother ________ the responsibility for running the household.
A. holds B. takes C. runs D. bears
9. We share the house with our grandparents and our uncle’s family. It is a(n) ________ family.
A. nuclear B. extended C. crowded D. multi-generation
10. Are you free on Sunday evening? I’d like to ________ to the cinema?
A. ask you B. ask out you C. ask you out D. ask you away
11. My mother is very good at ________ her time between work and family.
 A. leaving B. splitting C. sharing D. taking
12. When a couple can ________ chores in a way that both spouses feel satisfied with the outcome,
they are showing mutual respect for one another.
A. cut B. run C. take D. divide
13. The children, all three, have done ________, mopped, dusted, helped on the house and in the yard.
A. laundry B. clothes C. groceries D. rubbish
14. Our parents ________ hands to provide for the family and make it happy.
A. were joining B. are always joining C. join D. joins
15. My grandparents ________ with my family at present and my grandmother ________ me how to
cook several traditional Vietnamese dishes.
A. stay - instructs B. stay - is instructing
C. are staying - instructs D. are staying - is instructing
III. Fill in each blank with the correct word / phrase below.
breadwinner heavy lifting iron chores responsibilities
share strengthen homemaker groceries laundry
16. If your partner has agreed to buy the __________ , you might plan the week’s meals and make the
shopping list.
17. We should pay attention to the conditions that foster and __________ early childhood development
and health across the life course.
18. Past studies have shown that couples who __________ household chores report feeling happier
overall.
19. Couples who share __________ at home are happier overall.
20. It takes a housewife a lot of time to __________ clothes for the household.
21. I have watched my husband and children take over much of my role as a(n) __________ .
22. The husband replaces the light bulbs while the wife does the __________ .
23. Nowadays in nuclear families, homemaker and __________ roles have evolved into something that
makes it impossible to define exactly.
24. Many couples find that they look at the division of __________ differently.
25. Men and boys do most of the __________ in the family.
IV. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following
passage.
Working Mothers
In the United States today, more than half of mothers with young children work, compared to
about one third 26 __________ 1970s. Women have been moving into the workforce not only for career
27
__________ but also for the income.
In many families today, mothers continue to work because
they have careers that they have spent years 28 __________ Some
women 29 __________ to work soon after 30 __________ birth
because they know that most employers are not sympathetic to
working mothers who wish to take time off to be with their young
children.
Some people still think that a “good mother” is one who 31
__________ work to stay home with her children. However, no scientific evidence says children are
harmed when their mothers work. A child who is emotionally well adjusted, well loved, and well cared
for will thrive regardless of32 __________ the mother works outside the home.
In most families with working mothers, each person 33 __________ a more active role in the
household. The children tend to 34 __________ one another and help in other ways. The father as a 35
__________ is more likely to help with household chores and child rearing. These positive outcomes
are most likely when the working mother feels valued and supported by family, friends, and
coworkers.
26. A. in B. in the C. at D. at the
27. A. enjoy B. satisfy C. satisfaction D. pleasant
28. A. develop B. to develop C. developing D. developed
29. A. return B. turn C. happen again D. exchange
30. A. producing B. making C. taking D. giving
31. A. gives up B. stop C. end D. puts up
32. A. where B. when C. how D. whether
33. A. plays B. does C. makes D. takes
34. A. look at B. look after C. look for D. look up
35. A. bread B. breadwinning C. breadstick D. breadwinner
V. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Home Life in Japan
It is common in Japan for three generations to live under the same
roof. This is becoming less common today, but still exists, certainly
in the countryside.
Husbands in Japan give their salaries to their wives. They are
returned a sum of money as pocket money, otherwise how to use the
rest is the wife's decision. The finances of a family are the
responsibility of the women who handle most of the household
expenses. There are exceptions in instances when something of
value, like a car, is being bought. This is changing with more women going to work.
Japanese fathers in contemporary urban households spend so much time at work, and the company
demands on them are so great. It means that they often really have very little time or energy to spend
with their children. The responsibility for raising children, overseeing the education fall onto the
mothers. Mothers play an enormous role in the lives of their children and the bond is very strong.
Babysitters are rarely used, and mothers often sleep with their babies. A mother will also spend hours
with children doing schoolwork. Few Japanese men help with housework. There is more pressure
today for this to change.
Most families in Japan today are nuclear families, such as those in the United States. That is to say that
a married couple lives together with their children, perhaps with one grandparent. But for the most
part, the Japanese family today looks much like the American family.
36. In Japan, extended families are still popular ________.
A. in big cities B. in the countryside C. everywhere D. in urban areas
37. A Japanese woman is responsible for all of these EXCEPT ________.
A. raising children B. handle household expenses
C. making decisions on very valuable things D. taking care of children’s schoolwork
38. Japanese fathers in contemporary urban households ________.
A. are under great pressure of work B. are responsible for most household chores
C. handle most of the household expenses D. stay at home to work as babysitters
39. Nowadays there is a pressure that men should ________.
A. earn more money B. help their wives with housework
C. leave important decisions to their wives D. work harder at work
40. Most families in Japan nowadays may be ________.
A. extended families B. three-generation families
C. the same as the traditional ones D. similar to those in the Western
VI. Complete the conversation, using the sentences (A-F) given. There is one sentence that you
do not need.
A. It’s hard work, and it may hurt your back.
B. I can do it in my free time.
C. I do the laundry, fold the clothes after doing the laundry, and iron the clothes.
D. I hate ironing most.
E. I don’t mind cooking.
F. I love eating, and I think it’s one of the most important skills in my life later.

Anna What household chores do you do to help your parents?

Mai 41___________________________________________________________________________
____________________. Sometimes I help to cook dinner.
Anna Which of the chores do you like doing the most?
Mai 42___________________________________________________________________________
Anna What do you like about it?
Mai 43_____________________________________________________________________________
Anna Which of the chores do you dislike the most?
Mai 44___________________________________________________________________________
Anna Can you give the reason for that?
Mai 45___________________________________________________________________________
VII. Write complete sentences using the words / phrases given in their correct forms. You can
add some more necessary words, but you have to use all the words given.
46. family members / divide / household chores / based / who / better / doing them
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
47. for example / the wife / cook / dinner / and then / the husband / clean / kitchen
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
48. we also / divide chores / based / consideration / love
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
49. the one / who / arrive / home earlier / cook the meal /and the others / lay / table / or do / washing up
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
50. parents / train / children / help with housework / and / most cases / they / willing / give a hand
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

TEST 2 (UNIT 1)
I. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined.
1. A. heavy B. breadwinner C. cleaning D. breakfast
2. A. many B. prepare C. parent D. share
3. A. laundry B. iron C. ingredient D. cream
Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from the others.
4. A. enormous B. extended C. ungrateful D. elderly
5. A. vulnerable B. psychologist C. society D. responsible
II. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences.
6. My responsibility is to wash the dishes and ________ the rubbish.
A. take up B. get out C. get up D. take out
7. The father typically works outside the home while the mother is ________ domestic duties such as
homemaking and raising children.
A. suitable for B. capable of C. responsible for D. aware of
8. When both our parents go on business, our next-door neighbours come and ________ with the
cooking.
A. help out B. help us out C. help out us D. help us in
9. A healthy ________ between work and play ensures that everyone has a chance to enjoy their lives.
A. balance B. equality C. share D. control
10. One of the ways we ________ our teenager’s needs as parents is by giving them attention.
A. watch B. solve C. share D. meet
11. Our parents needn’t ask us ________ our rooms. We do it every day.
A. tidy up B. to tidy up C. tidying up D. tidy
12. My brother and I ________ to clean the toilets and take out the rubbish.
A. takes turn B. take turn C. takes turns D. take turns
13. My mother gets annoyed with my younger brother because he ________ his dirty clothes over the
floor.
A. always throws B. is throwing C. is always throwing D. is going to throw
14. Mrs Hang likes wearing casual clothes, but today she ________ “ao dai”.
A. wears B. is wearing C. takes off D. is taking off
15. It’s nearly midnight, but our upstairs neighbours ________ karaoke loudly.
A. are singing B. have sung C. sing D. should sing
III. Fill in each blank with the correct word below.
nuclear extended iron lay homemaker
household chores care share groceries responsibility
16. Family members should develop a plan together to __________ responsibilities more fairly.
17. Some husbands may view __________ as woman's work and not manly.
18. A(n) __________ is a person who works at home and takes care of the house and family.
19. My sister can wash clothes but she can’t __________ even a baby’s handkerchief.
20. __________ are food and other goods sold at a supermarket.
21. In order to become a waiter in a restaurant, you have to learn how to __________ a table for a
formal dinner party.
22. Traditionally parents regard their most important __________ as training their children.
23. Vietnamese tend to live together in extended families rather than __________ families.
24. A Vietnamese proverb says, “If a father or mother dies, children are always taken __________ for
by an aunt or uncle”.
25. A typical __________ family often includes three or even four generations, and typically
consisting of grandparents, father and mother, children, and grandchildren, all living under the same
roof.
IV. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following
passage.
 It is a common belief in Britain that nowadays men do more housework than they did in 26
__________ generations. But is this really so? A recent survey has 27 __________ some interesting
discoveries. When men help out, they enjoy cooking and shopping but most are 28 __________ to do
the washing. A quarter of men think that women are better suitable for 29 __________ after the home
than men and 19% admit to making no 30 __________ to housework.
The average man says that he does a third of the housework, 31 __________ the average woman
says she does three-quarters of it, so someone isn’t 32 __________ the truth! It was impossible to find
any men who shared housework 33 __________ with their partners. Perhaps it isn’t so 34 __________
that there are some politicians who want a new law forcing men to do their35 __________ .
26. A. old B. last C. first D. previous
27. A. made B. given C. done D. found
28. A. willing B. unwilling C. interested D. uninterested
29. A. taking B. seeing C. watching D. looking
30. A. part B. help C. share D. contribution
31. A. so B. because C. while D. therefore
32. A. telling B. saying C. speaking D. talking
33. A. equal B. equally C. same D. the same
34. A. surprise B. surprises C. surprising D. surprised
35. A. part B. role C. share D. condition
V. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Building positive family relationships
The ordinary, everyday things that families do together can help build strong relationships with
teenagers. Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone to chat about their day, or about
interesting things that are going on or coming up. If parents encourage everyone to have a say, no one
will feel they’re being put on the spot to talk. Also, many families find that meals are more enjoyable
when the TV isn’t turned on!
We should all take turns choosing outdoor activities for our
families. A relaxing holiday or weekend away together as a family
can also build togetherness.
One-on-one time with the child gives the parents the chance to
stay connected and enjoy each other’s company. It can also be a
chance to share thoughts and feelings.
Parents should celebrate the child’s accomplishments, share his
disappointments, and show interest in his hobbies. Sometimes it’s
just a matter of showing up to watch the child play sport or music, or giving him a lift to
extracurricular activities.
Family traditions, routines and rituals can help parents and their children set aside regular dates
and special times. For example, we might have a movie night together, a favourite meal or cooking
session on a particular night, a family games afternoon or an evening walk together.
Agreed household responsibilities give kids of all ages the sense that they’re making an important
contribution to family life. These could be things like chores, shopping or helping older or younger
members of the family.
36. Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone ________.
A. to have an opportunity share their daily activities
B. to talk about TV programmes during the meal
C. to have the spot to talk about
D. to talk about interesting things that are coming soon
37. The following things are true about outdoor activities for our families EXCEPT ________.
A. all family members try to find out suitable activities
 B. they should be held on holidays or at weekends
C. they offer a chance to share secret thoughts and feelings
D. they offer the pleasant feeling of being united
38. Parents can show their attention to their child by all these things EXCEPT ________.
A. watching the child play sport or music
B. giving him a lift to extracurricular activities
C. having a movie night together
D. setting aside regular dates to do housework
39. Children who share household chores with their parents will ________.
A. enjoy each other’s company
B. make the family life better
C. be given a chance to do extracurricular activities
D. have a family games afternoon or an evening walk together
40. The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. to give advice on staying connected and enjoying each other’s company
B. how to share household chores between family members
C. to offer pieces of advice to improve family relationships
D. the important role of family traditions, routines and rituals
VI. Complete the conversation, using the responses (A-F) given. There is an extra one.
A. Nowadays more and more men are willing to give a hand to household chores around the house.
B. Yes, last but not least, we should be flexible and allow the other members to finish the tasks in
his or her own way.
C. Well, we should also make a list of the chores that each of us absolutely hates to do.
D. All the members of the family should sit down together and make a list of household chores.
E. Try to discover the reasons why there is such delay. Maybe the husband may view household
chores as women’s work and not manly.
F. Or we could do the chore together, as a team.
Mrs Lan: What should we do first to share the household chores?
Mrs Hang: 41_______________________________________________________________________
Mrs Lan: A list of the items we have to do around the house. But there are the chores that somebody
hates to do.
Mrs Hang: 42_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________. What one hates, others may be able to tolerate.
Mrs Lan: What will we do if all of us hate the same chore?
Mrs Hang: Perhaps we should think of a way to compromise in getting this particularly unpleasant
task done.
43
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
Mrs Lan: I think it works in practice. If one member doesn’t do his or her share of the work around
the house, how can we deal with the matter?
Mrs Hang: 44_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
Mrs Lan: Is there anything else we should take notice of when sharing housework?
Mrs Hang: 45_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________. If having the clothes folded in a certain way is
important to you, then you fold them.
VII. Write complete sentences using the words/ phrases given in their correct forms. You can
add some more necessary words, but you have to use all the words given.
46. teenagers / need / love and support / their parents / when they face / many changes / their lives
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
47. for teenagers / parents and families / a source / care / emotional support
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
48. families / teenagers / practical, financial and material help
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
49. teenagers / also going through / rapid physical changes
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
50. supporting each other / be important / them / get through these challenges
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________