Đề luyện Reading Unit 5 (Feelings) - Sách COMPLETE PET

Reading passage 1 (1-10): A Surprise Reunion

Last Saturday was my grandmother’s 70th birthday, and my family decided to plan a surprise party for her. It was quite a challenge because she is very clever and usually guesses our plans, so we had to be very secretive. My older sister, Chloe, was in charge of decorations, filling the house with balloons and old photographs which was a lovely touch. I had to invite all the guests without letting my grandmother know, which was difficult as I had to avoid phone calls when she was around. I felt quite nervous about it because I might accidentally say something. We told her we were just having a small, quiet family dinner at home. She seemed a bit disappointed with that, but she didn't say anything. I think she might have expected something more exciting for such a special birthday, and I felt a little guilty for misleading her, even for a good reason.

The most amazing part of the surprise was my uncle, who lives in Australia. We hadn’t seen him for over five years, and we all missed him terribly. My dad secretly arranged for him to fly over, a huge expense and effort that showed his love. Keeping this a secret was the hardest part, especially from my cousins who are known to be terrible at keeping secrets. On the day of the party, everyone arrived early and hid in the living room, holding their breath in the dark. When my grandmother walked in, we all shouted "Surprise!" She was so shocked she couldn't speak for a moment, her hands flying to her face. But when she saw my uncle step out from the crowd, she burst into tears of happiness. She was absolutely delighted and couldn't stop hugging him, repeating his name over and over.

The rest of the evening was fantastic. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and music from her favourite era. We all shared old stories, and my uncle told us about his life in Australia, showing us pictures of his home. It was a cheerful and emotional evening for everyone. Looking at my grandmother’s happy face, I felt so proud of our family for making it happen. We all agreed that we should get together more often, as moments like these are truly precious. You can't imagine how happy she was. It was a truly memorable celebration, and it reminded us all of the importance of family connections across any distance.

Reading passage 2 (11-20): My First Marathon

I had never been a serious runner, but last year, my friend Leo, who is very athletic, persuaded me to sign up for a marathon. At first, I thought he was crazy. The idea of running 42 kilometers seemed impossible and quite frightening. I was really nervous about the commitment, and I was afraid of failing in front of everyone. Leo told me, "You don't have to be a great athlete to finish it. You just have to be determined." He said he would train with me, which made me feel a bit more relaxed about the whole thing. He gave me some advice: "You should start slowly and build up your distance each week. You mustn't push yourself too hard at the beginning, or you might get injured. Remember that consistency is more important than speed."

The training was incredibly difficult, both physically and mentally. There were days when I felt so tired that I wanted to give up completely. Waking up at 5 a.m. to run in the cold was awful, and my muscles ached constantly. I remember one morning, it was raining heavily, and I felt miserable. I told Leo I couldn't do it anymore and that it was a stupid idea from the start. He was very supportive and reminded me of my goal. He said, "You ought to remember why you started this. Think about how satisfied you will feel when you cross that finish line." His words were encouraging, and I decided to continue. We had to follow a strict diet, and there were many foods we couldn't eat, which was also a challenge, especially during social events.

Race day was a mix of excitement and fear. The atmosphere was amazing, with thousands of runners and cheering crowds creating a wave of positive energy. During the race, there were several moments when I felt I couldn't take another step. Around the 30-kilometer mark, I hit what runners call 'the wall'. My legs were heavy, and I was exhausted. But then I would see a supportive sign in the crowd or hear someone shout my name, and it gave me a new wave of energy. Seeing Leo running beside me, looking just as tired but still smiling, was also a huge motivation. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, I saw the finish line. Crossing it was one of the most emotional moments of my life. I was too tired to jump around, but I was so proud of myself. It was a fantastic experience that taught me I can achieve anything if I work hard for it.

Reading passage 3 (21-30): The Island Trip

Last summer, my friends and I decided to visit a small, remote island that was famous for its beautiful, quiet beaches. We were all very excited about the trip. We had seen amazing photos online, showing crystal-clear water and white sand, and we couldn't wait to go swimming and relax in the sun. The journey to get there was long and tiring. First, we had to take a six-hour bus ride on a bumpy road, and then we had to get on a small, old ferry. The sea was quite rough, and many people on the ferry felt sick. I was just glad when we finally arrived, hoping the destination would be worth the difficult journey.

However, our feelings of excitement quickly turned to disappointment. The hotel we had booked looked nothing like the pictures online. It was old, smelled musty, and our room was not very clean. We were annoyed about this, but we tried to stay positive. We thought, "The beach is the most important thing." So, we quickly changed and went to find the famous beach. To our surprise, it was crowded with tourists, and there was rubbish everywhere, from plastic bottles to food wrappers. It was a very disappointing sight. The water didn't look clean either, and there was a strange smell in the air. We couldn't believe it. This wasn't the peaceful paradise we had been dreaming of.

We tried to make the best of the situation. We walked for a long time and found a smaller, less crowded spot, but it still wasn't what we had hoped for. The food at the local restaurants was also very expensive and not very tasty; my fish was overcooked and dry. I felt quite bored for most of the trip because there was nothing interesting to do. We couldn't go swimming in the dirty water, and we didn't want to stay on the crowded beach. We spent most of our time in the hotel room, playing cards and feeling sorry for ourselves. I think we all felt a bit depressed by the experience. We learned that you shouldn't always trust the amazing pictures you see on the internet. It was an awful holiday, and we were all happy to go home.

Reading passage 4 (31-40): The Joy of Painting

For a long time, I believed I had no artistic talent at all. At school, my art classes were always embarrassing. I couldn't draw or paint well, and I felt ashamed of my work compared to my classmates who seemed effortlessly gifted. So, for many years, I was sure that art just wasn't for me and I avoided it completely. However, my perspective changed last year when I was feeling stressed from work and needed an escape. A friend suggested I should try a creative hobby to relax. She was very fond of painting, so she invited me to an amateur art class with her. I was nervous and hesitant, but I agreed to go. I thought it might be a good way to take my mind off my problems, even if I was bad at it.

The first class was surprisingly fun and welcoming. The teacher, a kind older woman named Mrs. Gable, was very encouraging and had a warm smile. She said, "You don't have to be a great artist to enjoy painting. The goal is to express your feelings, not to create a masterpiece. There are no mistakes here, only happy accidents." This advice made me feel much more relaxed. She taught us some basic techniques, and we started with simple landscapes. My first painting was not fantastic, but I wasn't ashamed of it. I was actually quite satisfied with the result, a colourful and cheerful, if a bit messy, sunset. It was interesting to see how mixing different colours could create something new and beautiful. I couldn't wait for the next class.

I have been painting for over a year now, and it has become my favourite hobby. It is a very relaxing activity that feels almost like meditation. When I am painting, I forget about everything else. I am completely focused on the canvas in front of me, the feel of the brush, and the richness of the colours. I have learned that I can be creative, and I am proud of the progress I have made. My paintings are still not perfect, but they are full of colour and emotion, which is what matters to me. I have even given some of them to my friends and family as gifts, and they have them on their walls. This experience taught me that you ought to try new things, even if you think you can't do them. You might discover a hidden talent or, at the very least, a wonderful new way to feel happy and relaxed.

Reading passage 5 (41-50): My Brother's Success

My younger brother, Sam, and I have always been close, but recently I have been struggling with some negative feelings towards him. Sam is a very talented musician. Last month, his band won a national competition, and suddenly he was all over the news and social media. Everyone was talking about how amazing he was. At first, I was genuinely proud of him. But as the days went by, I started to feel a strange emotion: jealousy. I felt jealous of all the attention he was getting. I am a writer, and I have been working hard for years, but I haven't had much success. It felt unfair that his success seemed to come so easily and quickly.

I became quite mean to him, which is not in my nature. I would make negative comments about his music or say he was just lucky, dismissing his years of practice. I was not being generous with my praise. I felt ashamed of my behaviour, but I couldn't seem to stop the bitter words from coming out. My feelings were making me a miserable person to be around, and I started avoiding family gatherings. Sam was confused and hurt. He couldn't understand why I was so angry with him. He once asked me, "Don't you have to be happy for me?" His question made me feel even worse. I knew I should be supportive, but the jealous feelings were too strong. It was a very difficult and depressing time for me.

One evening, my dad sat down with me. He is a very wise man. He didn't shout at me or tell me I was wrong. He just said, "You mustn't compare your own journey to someone else's. Your path is different from Sam's, with its own timeline and its own challenges. You can be proud of him and still be proud of your own efforts. You don't have to achieve the same things at the same time." His words were simple but powerful. I realised he was right. My jealousy was not helping anyone; it was only hurting my brother and me. The next day, I apologised to Sam. I told him I was incredibly proud of him but also a bit jealous. He was very understanding. We had a long talk, and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Our relationship is much better now, and I am learning to focus on my own path and celebrate his without feeling bad about myself.