Buổi 89: Thi thử cuối khóa – Writing (Task 1 + Task 2, 60 phút)

The table compares the proportions of commuters in City T who travelled by five different modes of transport in 2005 and 2025.

Overall, the motorbike remained by far the most common way of commuting in both years, although its share fell considerably. The most notable changes were the appearance of the metro and the doubling of car use, while the bicycle and the bus became less popular.

In 2005, over three fifths of commuters (62%) travelled by motorbike. By 2025, this figure had dropped to just under half, at 48%. Bicycles also lost popularity, with their share halving from 12% to 6%, and the proportion of people taking the bus fell slightly from 18% to 14%.

By contrast, car use more than doubled, rising from 8% to 17% of commuters. The metro, which did not exist in 2005, was used by 15% of commuters in 2025, making it almost as popular as the car and slightly more popular than the bus.

Dear Ms Lam,

I am writing to thank you for a very positive first week at the Da Nang office. Everyone in the team has been extremely welcoming, and I particularly appreciated the time Tuan spent showing me the new reporting system.

There are a few practical questions I would like to ask about my working arrangements. Firstly, I understand that some staff work from home on Fridays, and I would like to know whether this option will also be available to me after my probation period. Secondly, I am not sure how I should claim back the travel costs from my visit to the Hanoi office last Tuesday. Finally, I would be grateful if you could tell me when I will receive training on the customer database.

I know you are very busy this week, so perhaps we could meet briefly on Monday afternoon, at any time after 2 p.m. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss these questions by phone.

Thank you again for your support.

Yours sincerely, Vu Hoang Nam

In an increasingly global economy, shoppers can choose from products made all over the world. Some people argue that governments should encourage citizens to buy local goods instead of imports. I partly agree with this view: promoting local products can bring real benefits, but governments should not discourage imports altogether.

There are clear advantages to supporting local production. When people buy goods made in their own country, the money tends to stay in the local economy, which helps small businesses grow and creates jobs. For example, campaigns that promote local fruit or handmade products can help farmers and craft villages find new customers in the cities. In addition, goods produced nearby usually travel shorter distances, which may reduce transport costs and pollution. Buying local can also help to preserve traditional skills that might otherwise disappear.

However, I do not believe that governments should push people away from imported products. Firstly, no country can produce everything efficiently. Many modern products, such as medicines and electronic devices, depend on parts and expertise from different countries, and restricting imports could make them more expensive or harder to obtain. Secondly, competition from foreign companies often encourages local businesses to improve their quality and lower their prices. Admittedly, cheap imports can harm some local producers; however, the solution is to help these producers become more competitive, rather than to limit consumers' choices.

In conclusion, I believe governments are right to promote locally made goods through campaigns and support for small businesses, but they should also accept that imports play an important role in providing affordable, high-quality products. A balanced approach would benefit both producers and consumers.