Ôn tập Tiếng Anh 12: Từ vựng, ngữ pháp và đọc hiểu

Review of English for Grade 12: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension

Welcome to this comprehensive course designed for high‑school students preparing for the English exam. The material is organized around real quiz questions, each followed by clear explanations, examples, and useful tips. By the end of the lesson you will be able to:

• Identify the tense that shows an ongoing action interrupted by another event.
• Understand the meaning of the word adopted in a family‑law context.
• Explain the environmental term carbon footprint.
• Distinguish between reuse, recycling, and waste reduction.
• Use relative pronouns such as which correctly.
• Connect environmental reading passages to health implications.
• Describe the benefits of intercultural dialogue.
• Select the appropriate article before a countable noun that begins with a consonant sound.

1. Ongoing Action vs. Interrupted Action

Quiz question: In the sentence “We were strolling along the beach when a man approached us”, which action is ongoing when the other action interrupts?

• Answer: We were strolling – the people are walking.

The structure was/were + verb‑ing (past progressive) describes an activity that was in progress. The simple past verb approached signals a sudden event that occurs while the first action is happening. This pattern is common in narrative writing to create a vivid sequence of events.

Tip: When you see when or while linking two verbs, check the tense. The progressive form usually marks the background action; the simple past marks the foreground, interrupting action.

2. Meaning of “Adopted” in a Family Context

Quiz question: In the context of parents who cannot raise a child, what does the word adopted mean?

• Answer: Being taken as a legal child.

In legal and social contexts, adopted refers to a child who is permanently placed under the care of parents other than the biological ones, with full parental rights and responsibilities. It does not mean “adjusted” or “advertised”.

Related vocabulary:

• Foster care – temporary care for children whose biological parents cannot care for them.
• Guardian – a person legally appointed to manage the affairs of a minor.

3. Understanding “Carbon Footprint”

Quiz question: What does the phrase “carbon footprint” refer to in an environmental context?

• Answer: The amount of greenhouse‑gas emissions produced by an individual or organization.

The term combines two ideas: carbon (the element most commonly emitted as CO₂) and footprint (the mark left behind). Calculating a carbon footprint helps people and companies identify where they can reduce emissions, such as by using public transport, conserving energy, or choosing renewable energy sources.

SEO note: Including keywords like “greenhouse‑gas emissions”, “environmental impact”, and “sustainable living” improves search visibility for eco‑education content.

4. Reuse vs. Recycling vs. Waste Reduction

Quiz question: When you put food into an old glass bottle, which action are you performing?

• Answer: Reusing the item for a different purpose.

Reuse means using a product again without altering its basic form. In the example, the glass bottle is still a bottle; you simply give it a new function (food storage). This differs from:

• Recycling – breaking down the material to create a new product (e.g., melting glass to make new containers).
• Waste reduction – consuming fewer items overall.

Encouraging reuse is a key strategy in the reduce‑reuse‑recycle hierarchy, which ranks waste‑management practices by environmental benefit.

5. Using the Relative Pronoun “Which”

Quiz question: In the sentence “Many celebrities adopt a green lifestyle, which helps the environment”, what does which refer to?

• Answer: The entire idea expressed in the preceding clause.

Here which is a relative pronoun that substitutes for the whole preceding clause, not just a single noun. It links the clause “Many celebrities adopt a green lifestyle” to the result “helps the environment”. This structure is often used to add explanatory information without starting a new sentence.

Practice: Rewrite the sentence using that or a separate sentence: “Many celebrities adopt a green lifestyle. This lifestyle helps the environment.” Both are correct, but which provides a smoother flow.

6. Environmental Reading: Plastic Pollution and Human Health

Quiz question: According to the passage, why can ocean plastic pollution pose a risk to human health?

• Answer: People may eat contaminated seafood.

Micro‑plastics and chemicals attached to plastic debris enter the marine food chain. When fish, shellfish, or other seafood ingest these particles, the contaminants accumulate in their tissues. Humans who consume such seafood are exposed to harmful substances, linking marine pollution directly to public health concerns.

Key terms to remember:

• Micro‑plastics – tiny plastic fragments less than 5 mm in size.
• Bioaccumulation – the buildup of substances in an organism over time.
• Food chain – the sequence of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

7. Intercultural Dialogue and Inclusion

Quiz question: In a multicultural society, encouraging dialogue and respect among cultures creates what kind of environment?

• Answer: A welcoming, inclusive setting where everyone feels valued.

When diverse cultural groups engage in open conversation, stereotypes diminish and mutual understanding grows. This leads to a socially cohesive atmosphere that supports creativity, innovation, and emotional well‑being.

Academic relevance: Many English curricula assess students’ ability to discuss cultural diversity, making this concept essential for both speaking and writing tasks.

8. Choosing the Correct Article Before a Countable Noun

Quiz question: When referring to a single, countable dish that begins with a consonant sound, which article should be used?

• Answer: The indefinite article “a”.

English articles follow a simple rule: use a before words that start with a consonant sound (e.g., a pizza, a sushi roll) and an before vowel sounds (e.g., an apple). The definite article the is reserved for specific, previously mentioned items.

Quick checklist:

• Is the noun countable? → Use a/an for singular, indefinite references.
• Does the noun start with a vowel sound? → Use an.
• Is the noun already known to the listener/reader? → Use the.

9. Integrating the Concepts: Sample Writing Prompt

Combine the vocabulary and grammar points you have learned. Write a short paragraph (80‑100 words) describing how you could reuse a glass bottle to reduce your carbon footprint, and explain why this small action matters for human health and cultural inclusion.

Model answer:

I reuse my old glass bottles as containers for homemade salad dressing, which reduces the amount of new plastic produced and therefore lowers my carbon footprint. By choosing reusable items, I help limit the micro‑plastics that eventually enter the ocean and may end up in the seafood we eat, protecting public health. Moreover, sharing this practice with friends from different cultural backgrounds encourages dialogue about sustainable living, creating a more inclusive community.

10. Review Checklist for Exam Success

• Identify progressive vs. simple past verbs to spot interrupted actions.
• Know the legal meaning of adopted in family contexts.
• Define carbon footprint and be able to calculate it qualitatively.
• Distinguish reuse, recycling, and waste reduction.
• Use relative pronouns (which, that, who) correctly.
• Connect environmental reading passages to health outcomes.
• Explain the social benefits of intercultural dialogue.
• Select the proper article (a, an, the) before countable nouns.

By mastering these points, you will be well‑prepared for the vocabulary, grammar, and reading sections of the Grade 12 English exam. Good luck, and keep practicing!