Canada is the world’s second-largest country. Its population is not very large, however. About twenty-five million people live in Canada – less than half the population of Britain or France and only one-thirtieth of the population of India. Canada is in North America and its capital is Ottawa. It is a rich country with a lot of natural resources. In southern Canada, the land is very good for farming and Canada exports a lot of wheat. In the north, there are magnificent forests. In the west, there are some very high mountains called the Rockies. Canada also has many minerals such as petroleum, gas, copper, and zinc. Canada was the first settled by French pioneers. In the eighteenth century, there were wars between Britain and France, and Canada came under British rule. Since 1931 Canada has been an independent member of the British Commonwealth. English and French are both official languages in Canada.

If you want to (11)______ English more quickly, lots of reading is important. When you read in English, you can improve your vocabulary, grammar, and writing at the same time. When you read, try to figure out the (12)______ of a new word from the words around it. Even if you are not always (13)______, it is good to practise thinking about what a new word might mean. You may need to learn the meaning of a word or phrase. The more words you understand, the better you will be able to read. A dictionary - hard copy or online version - can help you find the meanings of words (14)______ are new to you. You should keep a list of new words, their definitions, and a sentence for each word which shows how to (15)______ use it. You can keep this vocabulary list in a notebook you always have with you. This helps you to revise what you have learnt wherever you are.

It's normal to have a(n) (1) ________ when we speak English. It's OK – other people can usually understand us. It's a good idea to listen to CDs or watch DVDs and try to imitate other speakers to make your pronunciation better. If you see a new word and you don't know what it means, you can sometimes (2) ________  the meaning from words you know, or you can (3) ______ the word in a dictionary. A lot of good English learners try not to translate things from their first language. The translation is sometimes a good idea, but try (4)________ in a foreign language if you can! It's normal to make mistakes. When your teacher corrects a mistake in your writing or speaking, think about it and try to see why it's wrong. But it's more important to (5)________, so don't be afraid to speak!

Mount Everest (Mt. Everest) is the highest mountain in the world. It is 8,848 metres high. Mt. Everest was first climbed (11)….. 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Every year, a lot of people want (12)…… Mt. Everest. It is very dangerous to climb Mt. Everest. The air is very thin and cold. Most people carry bottles of oxygen; they could die without it. (13)…… the oxygen bottles are empty, people throw them on the ground. When strong winds rip their tents, people leave them behind. They do not have the energy to take the rubbish away. They only have enough energy to go down the mountain safely.

Rubbish is a (14)…….. problem. Since people first began to climb Mt. Everest, they have left tons and tons of rubbish on the mountain. Several groups have climbed the mountain just to (15)….... the rubbish. When people plan to climb the mountain, they have to plan to take away their rubbish.

Read the text and do as directed

In the world today there are 5,000 to 6,000 living languages, of which English is the most widely used. As a mother tongue, it ranks second only to Chinese, which is little used outside China.

English is the most international of languages. It is used as the language of aviation, international sports and pop music. Sixty percent of the world’s radio stations broadcast in English, and more than half of the world’s scientific papers are printed in English.

It is true that a great number of people are involved in the use of English. To people in Africa, Asia, and South America, English is an important foreign language to master. In most countries in the world, the English language is used as the language of business, commerce, and technology. English is now an effective medium of international communication. However, it is the written English which is not systematically phonetic, that causes difficulties to non-native speakers.

To learn a language well, you need to know your (21)______. You should decide if you want to improve your academic English or your everyday communication skills. This will help you choose the right way to study.

Academic English is the type of English used at university and in exams (22)______ TOEFL or IELTS. It is more formal than daily English and is also used in business. To improve this kind of English, you should read as (23)_________ as possible. Read different types of texts, such as articles, school papers, and online posts, to learn new words. You should also practise writing often. Try writing essays on different topics and ask your teacher to check your work. This will help you improve your grammar and writing skills.

If you want to improve your speaking skills, you should practise talking (24)_________ native speakers. This helps you feel more comfortable using English in daily life. You can also watch TV shows, listen to music, or hear podcasts to get used to English sounds. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. The more you practise, the (25)_________ confident you will become.

Read the passage and choose A, B, C, or D.

English is a language spoken (21)____ billions of people across the globe. But how did it become so widespread? Let’s explore! 

English (22)____ in England, a small island nation in Europe. Over centuries, due to exploration and colonization, the English traveled the world with sailors, traders, and settlers. Countries (23)____ the United States, Canada, Australia, and India were once British colonies and adopted English as an official language or a language used for government and education. 

Today, English isn’t just spoken in former colonies. It’s considered a (24)____ language, used in business, science, and communication between people from different countries. Many international organizations, like the United Nations, use English as their main language. Even in countries (25)____ English isn’t official, millions learn it to connect with the wider world.

Phong Nha Cave

Phong Nha Cave is one of the most famous caves in Viet Nam. It is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. The cave is well known for its underground river and amazing rock formations.

Visitors can explore the cave by boat along the Son River. During the trip, tourists can enjoy the peaceful natural environment and admire the beauty of the cave.

Although the cave is very large, only a small part is open to visitors. Inside the cave, travellers can see many stalactites and stalagmites that formed over millions of years.

Phong Nha Cave is an important natural attraction and a great destination for people who love nature and sustainable tourism.

Fansipan Mountain

Fansipan is the highest mountain in Viet Nam and is often called “the Roof of Indochina.” It is located near the town of Sa Pa in the northern part of the country. The mountain is famous for its beautiful landscapes, fresh air, and rich natural environment. Many visitors come to climb the mountain and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. In the past, reaching the top required several days of trekking through forests and steep paths, which was a great challenge for many climbers. Today, visitors can reach the summit more easily thanks to the modern cable car system. From the top, tourists can enjoy spectacular views of mountains, forests, and clouds. Fansipan has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern Viet Nam and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Both of my parents love travelling, and they usually take us along. My mum told me that I started travelling with them when I was just four months old. It was a short trip to a city 120 kilometres away from our home town. Mum said I was a good girl since I ate and slept during the trip without ever crying. Every year my family goes on different trips from 2 days to 2 weeks. We normally don’t stay in resorts. Instead, we stay at homestays where we can get to know more about the life and culture of the people in those areas. We eat with them, watch them cook, and go hiking with them. Sometimes we go abroad for our holidays. I still remember when I went to Disneyland in Hong Kong and later visited the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. I will never forget the moment seagulls took some snacks from my hands when we were sitting outside the Sydney Opera House. I believe that when we travel together, we can strengthen our bonds and have great memories with our beloved family members.

Hans: Good morning, Mr. Ford. I'm Hans from class 9A17 at Greensland school.

Mr. Ford: Good morning, Hans. How can I help you?

Hans: I'd like to improve my English skills because I want to study overseas when I'm 16. Can you give me some advice, Mr. Ford?

Mr. Ford: How old are you now?

Hans: I'm turning 15 this week.

Mr. Ford: Interesting. You know, one common tip is to practice everyday. First, you should focus on building a strong vocabulary.

Hans: How can I do that, Mister Ford?

Mr. Ford: First, read regularly, Hans. You can read books, magazines, newspapers or online articles. It's important to choose something appropriate for your language level so that you won't lose your interest just before you start.

Hans: I understand. What else do I need to do, Mr. Ford?

Mr. Ford: Second, you need to work on your English grammar. Most students think grammar is boring because it's all about complicated rules. But it helps you organize your ideas very well, especially when you write.

Hans: I got it. And how can I improve my English grammar, Mr. Ford?

Mr. Ford: There are several ways. You can read a grammar book or use an online tool to help you understand and use grammar correctly.

Hans: It sounds like it'll work well for me, but I'm merely worried about making a mistake when I practice grammar.

Mr. Ford: No worries. You'll learn from mistakes, Hans.

Hans: I think so, Mr. Ford.

Nga: Hi, Sam. How was your summer holiday?

Sam: Hi, Nga. It was amazing. My family and I travelled to Hà Giang, a picturesque mountainous province in the northern part of Vietnam.

Nga: Great. How did you get there?

Sam: We flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in the morning. We then took a car from Noi Bai airport straight to Hà Giang. Well, we had a stop in Tuyên Quang for lunch actually.

Nga: Sounds exciting.

Sam: Absolutely. The scenery was so beautiful that we couldn't stop taking photos along the way.

Nga: I can't wait to hear more. Where did you stay during your trip?

Sam: We stayed in a city guesthouse one night and a homestay in an ethnic village the other days. Surprisingly, the homestay was not expensive.

Nga: That sounds like a great way to learn about the local culture. How long did you stay in Hà Giang?

Sam: Well, we plan to stay for four days. However, we decided to stay longer and ended up having a wonderful week.

Nga: Where did you go during your stay?

Sam: We visited Đồng Văn Town, Mèo Vạc Market and the scenic Mã Pí Lèng Pass.

Nga: That's fantastic. What else did you do there?

Sam: Our favorite part of the trip was Đồng Văn Town. It was peaceful and charming. The locals even shared their ethnic languages and culture with us. We even had an adventurous hike along Mã Pí Lèng Pass and experienced a scenic boat ride on the Nho Quế River.

Nga: Sam, your trip sounds absolutely fantastic. I'd like to go to Hà Giang someday.