Lexico-grammar ( 41, 42, 45, 49, 50, 51)

as sick as a parrot (thoroughly displeased)

1. I'm delighted that my children have such wonderful opportunities abroad, but I must say I feel sick as _____ at the thought of being separated from them for so long. A a duck B a lizard C a parrot D a turkey

lose your touch(to no longer be skilled in doing something)

2. Garry used to be the best player in our team, but he seems to have _____ after years dedicated to his business career. A gone cold turkey B lost his touch C blown off steam D had sticky fingers

in the red (to lose more money than you make)

3. What with the COVID-19 pandemic, my restaurant has been operating in the _____ for five consecutive months and is about to be shut down. A red B black C yellow D blue

live hand to mouth

4. Ever since I was diagnosed with cancer, my family has been _____ since all our money is poured into chemotherapy and medicines. A under the weather B living hand to mouth C sitting tight D down to Earth

cut to the chase(to talk about or deal with the important parts of a subject and not waste time with things that are not important)

5. We only have 15 minutes to finish sketching the general plan, please _____ and skip the chatter. A sail close to the wind B beat around the bush C hit the books D cut to the chase

flash

6. With a _____ of insight, the detective realised exactly who committed this horrendous crime. A glare B spark C flash D blaze

flare (nostrils become wider because they are angry)

7. The bull _____ its nostrils in anger when the torero provokes it with a big bright red flag. A flares B splays C rants D raves

beam (to have a big happy smile on your face)

8. The child _____ with delight at his teacher as he received the award. A gleamed B beamed C leered D primped

gel (v = o become clearer and more definite)

9. Don't start writing until the idea has _____ in your mind to avoid making a mess of your essay, pay attention to the time though! A glowered B gelled C vacuumed D braced

spring up (to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly)

10. Play areas for children are _____ all over the place A springing up B growing up C whipping up D bouncing out

pander to (to do what somebody wants, or try to please them, especially when this is not acceptable or reasonable)

11. The candidate was criticised for _____ a group of people with racial prejudice in order to get more votes

.A jostling for B clearing off C pandering to D horsing around

12. Watching "Twelve years a slave", I was appalled by the fact that slaves could be whipped and hanged at the _____ of their masters. A whim B quake C whir D wince

whim (n = a sudden wish to do or have something, especially when it is something unusual or unnecessary)

13. My brother's athletic career has been _____ by a serious ankle injury during training. A coiled B blenched C quailed D blighted

blight (v= to have a bad effect on something, especially by causing a lot of problems)

14. The defendant, who was convicted of rape, _____ his head in shame when facing his victim. A bent B hung C crouched D stooped

hang (hang your head in shame = to feel ashamed)

15. Your idol's reputation is not something without _____, don't forget about his drug abuse scandal! A blotch B blur C blemish D blister

blemish (n = a fault in a person's character)

1 Some rituals that were important in the agrarian society of the past are now deemed _____ and discarded. (WORN)

OUTWORN (adj = old-fashioned and no longer useful)

2 _____ surgery, developed by Joseph Lister, is employed by many hospitals in modern days to prevent infection during and after surgery. (SEPTIC)

ANTISEPTIC (adj = very clean and free from bacteria)

3 For anyone who is interested in Chinese history, this book is _____ for its detail and reliability. (RIVAL)

UNRIVALLED (adj= better or greater than any other)

4 It was very disrespectful of you to speak _____ to your grandfather, even when he does know little about your problem. (HAND)

OFFHANDEDLY (adv = in a way that does not show much interest in sb/sth and is rude)

5 I have _____ five applicants for the second round, please contact and inform them of the interview schedule. (LIST)

SHORTLISTED (v= to put sb on a shorlist)

1. Not until the doctor confirms that my sister is _____ can the whole family stop worrying.A beyond the pale B out of the woods C on the round D in the zone

out of the woods

2. After the competition, my friends tried to _____ by teasing me about my failure. A bell my cat B go to the dogs C get my goats D shoot my bull

get sb's goat

3 Only kids _____ when Tet comes because they don't have so many things to do like adults. A keep their chins up B hit the hay C carry the day D have a ball

have a ball(have an enjoyable time)

4. My younger brother keeps begging me to let him join our club's party, but it is likely that he will feel like _____. A a fifth wheel B the fourth wall C an extra pair of hands D a gift horse

a fifth wheel ( an unwelcome or extra person)

5 Work-life balance is the most important thing to me so I would never take that job for all the tea in _____. A Britain B England C Turkey D China

would not do sth for all the tea in China (used to say that nothing could persuade you to do something)

6. Large, black rain clouds _____ in the sky this morning, signalling an approaching storm. a glowered B scowled C ruptured D crouched

glower(looked likely to produce rain)

7. I don't know what's so interesting that my daughter always listens to this speaker with _____ attention whenever there is his show on TV. A blissful B rapt C spellbinding D griping

rapt(Mải mê, say sưa)

8. Despite his competency, the director was _____ after a conflict with his boss and was demoted to a low-level employee. A struck off B ratted out C toned down D crossed out

strike off (to remove a doctor, lawyer, etc. from an official list so that they are no longer allowed to work in that job)

9. Eight months of lockdown were eight months I was _____ in the stifling tiny flat of mine in the city, unemployed and unable to go anywhere. A bricked up B clocked up C bottled up D cooped up

coop up(to keep a person or an animal inside a building or in a small space)

10. The well-reputed CEO _____ with £10,000 of the company's money last night and has come England's most wanted man at the moment. A assailed B absconded C debunked D deflated

abscond ( to leave secretly and take with you something, especially money, that does not belong to you)

11. I thought I only liked the character Loki, but it turns out after that I like the actor himself as I can't help _____ over photos of Tom Hiddleston. A drooling B slobbing C dredging D drizzling

drool (v = to show in a silly or exaggerated way that you want or admire somebody/something very much)

12. The monument is a(n) _____ reminder of those who died in the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake 14 years ago. A poignant B affective C sardonic D pungent

poignant

13. The gentle colour _____ creates a relaxing ambience for the bedroom of my little daughter. A complexion B palette C structure D scheme

scheme (n = an ordered system or arrangement

colour scheme = the way in which colors are arranged, especially in the furniture and decoration of a room)

14. One special thing about Ron is that he never has a _____ plan - he just makes decisions as the need arises but still manages to ace any task given. A ground B base C foundation D post

ground plan (n = a plan for future action)

15. He _____ with only 152 votes out of 300, which is not at all something to brag about compared with that of his predecessor. A tucked in B dragged by C scraped in D passed through

scrape in(to manage to get a job, a position, a place at college, etc., but with difficulty)

1 When I first met your mother, I just thought she might be 40 or _____ because she looked so young. (THERE)

THEREABOUTS (adv = used to say that a particular number, quantity, time, etc. is not exact)

2 When demand for a product _____ its supply, the price of that product will increase. (STRIP)

OUTSTRIPS (v= to become larger, more important, etc. than sb/sth)

3 His love for life and optimism gave him a _____ power to overcome what the doctors refer to as "an incurable disease. (NATURAL)

PRETERNATURAL

4 Fans do not know where the event was held because its location was _____ (CLOSE)

UNDISCLOSED (adj = not made known or told to anyone)

5 You may earn a six-figure salary from that job but your health will be the cost, it's all swings and _____ (ROUND)

ROUNDABOUT (adj = not done or said using the shortest, simplest or most direct way possible)

1. Our teacher said _____ after lunch was a good way to refresh ourselves and be more productive in the afternoon. A taking a dive B catching forty winks C hitting the deck D striking a chord

catch forty winks(have a short sleep during the day)

2. You must have been crazy to challenge John in chess, he is the state champion and he will _____ with you.A wipe the floor B carry the day C buy the farm D dress to the nines

wipe the floor with sb (to beat sb easily)

3. There are 40 people coming to the party tonight, I need _____ to help me with the decoration and cooking. A all beer and skittles B all hands on deckC all ducks in a row D all mops and brooms

all hands on deck(everyone helps or must help, especially in a difficult situation)

4.I will let the kids play in the living room so please make sure the floor will be as dry as _____ when you finish. A a bone B the air C sand D Africa

as dry as a bone

5. You should hire an engineer to check that used car before making the final decision or you may end up buying a _____ in a poke. A parrot B house C horse D pig

buy a pig in a poke ( to buy something without inspecting it thoroughly, often with negative consequences)

6. Harry and his friends spent hours in the library _____ through hundreds of heavy old books to find information about the Philosopher's stone. A sifting B poring C sieving D meshing

sift (v = to examine something very carefully in order to decide what is important or useful or to find something important)

7. After volunteering in the SOS village for the orphans in Ben Tre, I now understand how lucky it is to be able to live in the _____ of your family. A center B bliss C oasis D bosom

bosom (n = a situation in which you are with people who love and protect you)

8. Marriage is a big and long-term gamble in which _____ is dubious in defiance of all oaths and promises. A jubilation B winnings C felicity D swoon

felicity (n = happiness

jubilation = a feeling of great happiness because of a success)

9. Returning home after a bad exam, I just wanted to sleep and _____ all the disappointment and worries. A bliss out B winnow out C blot out D clock out

blot out (to deliberately try to forget an unpleasant memory or thought)

10. The National Contest for the Gifted is an annual event in which students from all over Vietnam _____ their wits against each other. A hedge B pit C have D set

pit your wits against sb(=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge)

11 Despite his fame and talent, the well-known rock star's reputation was seriously damaged by the _____ factor. A plague B smugness C haul D sleaze

sleaze (n= dishonest or immoral behaviour)

12 Please tell Severus to come to my office should you see him, I need him to help me _____ the applications that have no chance of succeeding. A make out B sift out C leaf through D muddle through

sift out (to separate something, usually something you do not want, from a group of things)

13. As an inexperienced first-time traveller, I was _____ by a local vendor, who charged me $40 for a little souvenir fridge magnet. A ragged on B eaten away C ripped off D torn up

rip off (to cheat somebody, by making them pay too much, by selling them something of poor quality, etc)

14. I don't think congratulating someone on acing a test and adding that you have never expected that is a real praise but more like a _____! A faint praise B false note C two-handed comment D backhanded compliment

a backhanded compliment( a comment that seems to express approval but could also be understood as expressing a poor opinion of somebody/something)

15. Some people believe that the increase in crime shows that society is losing its moral _____. A magnet B anchor C compass D arrow

moral compass (a natural feeling that makes people know what is right and wrong and how they should behave)

1 Thanks to months of _____. research by the film producers, the enthronement ceremony of Qianlong in "The story of Ruyi" was highly commended for being historically accurate. (PAIN)

PAINSTAKING

2 "Under the hawthorn tree" is a romantic movie with a lovely but tragic _____ (STORY)

STORYLINE

3 The death of Bruno and Shmuel in "The boy in the striped pajamas" really tugs at your _____ (HEART)

HEARTSTRINGS(to tug at sb's HEARTSTRINGS = to cause strong feelings of love or sympathy in somebody)

4 Border _____ between the two countries is one of the issues that receive the most public attention. (LIMIT)

DELIMITATION (n = the process of deciding what the limits of something are)

5 Following the release of Den Vau's MV "Hide and Seek", VTV24 made a _____ joke to advise against running away from COVID-19 isolation centres. (TOPIC)

TOPICAL (adj= connected with something that is happening or of interest at the present time)

2. Negotiations went _____, but we did manage to reach an agreement on thecontract by the deadline. A down to the short strokes C down to the ground B down for the count D down to the wire

down to the wire(until the last possible second)

3. I have to clean this mess up before 5:00 or I will be pushing up _____ whenmy mom gét home.A roses B lily C daisies D grasses

push up daisies(die)

4. With your present ability, it will be a cold day in _____ when you can beat your brother in chess.A June B Spring C July D Summer

a cold day in July( impossible)

5. Believe me, in this ever-changing era, that ridiculous pants may be _____ fonow but, before long, probably nobody will be wearing them.A on the ball B all the rage C piping hot D on point

all the rage (very popular)

6. While capital punishment has been abolished in many countries, drugtrafficking still _____ the death penalty in Philippines.A carries B bears C holds D contains

carry (v = if a crime carries a particular punishment, that is the usual punishment for the crime)

7. Even when in the most severe state of his illness, he still _____ himself withrigid composure and great dignity of a proud soldier.A carried B sent C bore D forged

bear yourself (v = to move, behave or act in a particular way)

8. My boss is quite an adamant man, so when he has had a plan, he would_____ no interference or opposition.A staunch B brook C consign D contain

brook no sth (v = to not allow something)

9. James Conrad was described as a(n) _____ explorer who would always be willing to venture into the most dangerous corners for new discoveries despite all the risks.A ardent B staunch C stalwart D audacious

audacious (adj = willing to take risks in order to achieve something)

10. Nothing could _____ the memory of that tragic night from the minds of Titanic survivors.A obliterate B deracinate C extinguished D extort

obliterate (Xóa sạch, xoá bỏ)

11. I used to be my team's treasure, but since my injury, I do realize I havebecome more of a _____ than an asset to them.A debit B culpability C liability D baggage

liability (n = a person or thing that causes you a lot of problems)

12. The _____ of the Slytherin house in Harry Potter was a snake and the house's colours were green and silver.A emblem B stature C calibre D motto

emblem (n= a design or picture that represents a country or an organization)

13. The portrayal of Professor Snape in Harry Potter will forever stand as a(n)_____ to actor Alan Rickman after he passes away.A epitaph B epitome C compendium D conceit

epitaph (n = something that is left to remind people of a particular person, a period of time or an event)

14. I know you have matters that trouble you but please _____ for heaven'ssake Anthony, you are ruining the whole party!A buck up B sift out C blaze up D air out

buck up(to tell sb to cheer up)

15. Both his parents used to be out at work all day when he was small, hencehis deep understanding of the lonesome and dangers of being a _____ child.A rag B self-supporting C boomerang D latchkey

latchkey kid/child(a child who is at home alone after school because both parents are at work)

1. Don't waste your _____ and fancy-free days because you won't have as much freedom after marriage and parenthood. (FOOT)

FOOTLOOSE (adj = free to go where you like or do what you want because you have no responsibilities)

2. I hope my clumsy wording and expression won't prevent the teacher from recognizing my _____ gratitude to her. (HEART)

HEARTFELT (sincere)

"A child called "it"" is a misery _____ written by Dave Pelzer, chronicling history as the victim of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. (MEMORY)

MEMOIR

4. You literally _____ your son by treating him as a failure for not attending university despite his business success. (CHANGE)

SHORT-CHANGE (v= to treat sb unfairly by not giving them what they have earned or deserve)

5. Parents should pay close attention to their children's health because many respiratory symptoms can be the _____of asthma - a medical condition that makes breathing difficult.

FORERUNNER (n = a sign of what is going to happen)

1. As courageous as he seems to be, Falstaff is nothing but a _____ cowardwho would flee first in the face of threat.

A stoic B spineless C deviant D shrewd

Key: B

spineless (adj) = (of people) weak and easily frightened

A. rout

2. The game turned into a _____ when Harry caught the golden snitch, with theGryffindor winning by 180 to 40.

A rout B shutout C fit D bash

= a situation in which somebody is defeated completely in a battle or competition

B. poignant

3. "Under the hawthorn" is a(n) _____ tale of pure young love set during the Cultural Revolution that has brought many people to tears.

A amorous B poignant C mordant D doting = having a strong effect on your feelings, especially in a way that makes you feel sad

B. home truth

4. When the school year ends and I won't have to meet my annoying deskmateagain, I will definitely tell her the _____!

A Ps and Qs B home truth C good grief D nuts and bolts

= a true but unpleasant fact about yourself that another person tellsyou

D. a pie in the sky

5. I had an ambition of getting the First prize in the National Contest, but I knewit was just a _____ in the sky.

A pig B star C buffalo D pie

= something good that is unlikely to happen

D. green around the gills

6. After having a whale of a time at my wedding yesterday, my colleague was looking a little _____ when he came to work this morning.

A around the bend C off his trolley B in a fog D green around the gills

= to look ill, as if going to vomit

B. come down the pike

7. Temporarily, the number of COVID-19 cases has ceased to increase, but Ican see more problems _____.

A carrying the day C arriving on the scene B coming down the pikeD drifting with the tide

= = to happen; to become easy to notice, in the offing

C. stem the tide

8. The authority seems powerless to _____ of violence across the city after thenew law was implemented.

A beat the air B hold the fire C stem the tide D step off the curb

= stop something from increasing or continuing

A. pitched battle

9. The small-scale demonstration later escalated into a _____ battle with the police, involving more than 800 protesters and causing serious traffic congestion across the city.

A pitched B racked C heaped D scrap

= a fight that involves a large number of people

D. cloak

10. What this government is doing to its female citizens is clearly gender discrimination under the _____ of religion.

A gown B coat C cape D cloak

= thing that hides or covers something/somebody

C. clout

. In the system of constitutional monarchy, the Queen may have privilege butshe has no real political _____.

A loft B swathe C clout D nought

= power and influence

B. paradigm

12. The needs of today's children cannot be met by the traditional _____ of education we're using, in which emphasis is placed solely on theoretical knowledge.

A prototype B paradigm C emblem D epitome

= a model of sth

A. bristle with

13. Newspapers _____ tributes to Professor Albus Dumbledore after his heroicsacrifice in the battle against the evils.

A bristled with B hedged in C plucked at D talked into

= to have a large amount of something, or to be full of something

gobble up

My parents thought the costs of the trip would only remain in theircalculations, but unexpected additional expenses later _____ their budget. A drank in B gobbled up C harped on D copped out

= to use something very quickly

simmer down = to become calm after a period of anger or excitement

15. Scout decided that her brother Jem needed some time to _____ after a terrible night so she tried to keep some distance from him.

A cry off B drill down C come off D simmer down

= to become calm after a period of anger or excitement

GUNSMITH

1. Many gun shops offer _____ services on the premises for customers to buy,custom and fix right at the shop. (GUN)(

(n) = a person who makes and repairs guns

SHOWCASE

2. The science fair is an annual event of this school and is regarded as a(n)_____ of their scientific superiority. (SHOW)

= an event that presents somebody's abilities or the good qualities of something in an attractive way

WOODLAND

3. With so many areas of ancient _____ being cut down, many rare species areput under threat of habitat loss and extinction. (WOOD)

= an area of land that is covered with trees)

EX-SERVICEWOMAN

4. My children always take pride in their grandmother, who is a(n) _____ of the Vietnam People's Navy with lots of old stories to tell. (SERVICE)

= a woman who used to be in the army, navy

FLOORING

My whole family has agreed on the living room design but wood _____ is still something that requires consideration due to its cost. (FLOOR)

= material used to make the floor of a room