Essay Exercise: Storytelling (writing test)

Prepare the essay Exercise: Storytelling (writing test)

Prepare the essay Exercise: Storytelling (writing test), Short 1

Question 1 (page 124 Vietnamese textbook Grade 4): Retell the story 'Andrew's Regret' in the words of the boy

Answer:

'Dear friends of mine! I'm Andrew, sharing with you a story related to me that still haunts me to this day. Yes! I am at fault in this story

Back then, I was just nine, living with my mother and grandfather. My grandfather was 96 years old, so his health was very frail. One afternoon, my grandfather told my mother, 'Dear, I'm having difficulty breathing!' Hearing him say that, my mother told me to go to the street and buy medicine for him. I hurriedly went out. On the way, I met some close friends inviting me to play ball. I joined in immediately. In the midst of the game, I suddenly remembered I had to buy medicine, rushed to buy it, and brought it back to my mother.

In addition to Composition: Storytelling (writing assessment), to excel in Vietnamese Grade 4, students should explore more articles such as Compose the essay People Searching for the Way to the Stars, listen and write, as well as Compose the essay People Searching for the Way to the Stars, reading practice found in the Writing textbook for Grade 4.

Compose the essay: Storytelling (writing assessment), Brief 2

1. Tell a story that you have heard or read about a person with a compassionate heart.

Answer:

Reference Work

The exemplary doctor, renowned outside the Trung family, surname Pham, with the title of hereditary medical profession, holds the position of Royal Physician to serve Tran Anh Vuong.

He often brings all the wealth at home to buy good medicines and stockpile rice. Encountering the disabled and suffering, he provides food and care, treating them. Even those with severe illnesses and flowing blood and pus, he does not shy away from. Patients come for treatment until they recover and leave. It is as if the bed is never empty.

Suddenly, in that year of famine and epidemic outbreak, he built additional houses for those in dire need of food and those suffering from illness, saving the lives of over a thousand people. He was highly esteemed by his contemporaries.

One day, there was a knock on the door, urgently inviting:
- In the house, a woman suddenly fell critically ill, blood flowing like a stream, her face turning pale.

Upon hearing this, the nobleman immediately followed the person. However, upon reaching the door, he encountered an envoy sent by the king, who said:
- Within the palace, a distinguished person is suffering from a fever, and the king commands your presence for examination.

The nobleman said:
- This illness is not urgent. The life of this person's family only hangs in the balance for a moment. Let me save them first, and I will come to the royal palace shortly.

The Fourth-ranked Imperial Envoy, in anger, said:
- How can fate treat me like this? Are you planning to save someone else's life without saving your own?

He replied:
- Guilty as charged, and I'm unsure how to proceed. If the other person isn't saved, they'll die in an instant, with no hope in sight. The destiny of this humble being depends on the mercy of the Almighty. I'm willing to bear my sins.

Having said that, he rushed to rescue the other person. They were successfully saved. Later, when he went to present himself, the king reprimanded him. He humbly took off his hat, expressed remorse, and showed his sincere gratitude. The king joyfully said:
- You are truly a genuine medical expert, skilled in your profession and possessing a compassionate heart. Your mercy towards my subjects is truly deserving of my admiration.

In the future, his descendants became high-ranking medical officials, with some even reaching the ranks of the top two or three positions. People praised them for not neglecting their family's legacy.

Hồ Nguyên Trừng (translated and annotated by Nam Ông Mộng Lục Đàm - La Sơn, introduced by Nguyên Dãng Na, Publishing House of Literature, Hanoi, 1999). Note: Hồ Nguyên Trừng (1374-1446), the eldest son of Hồ Quý Ly, zealously resisted the Ming invaders, was captured and taken to China. Thanks to his skill in weapon manufacturing, he rose to a high position in the Ming court, equivalent to the modern-day Minister. He passed away in China. Nam Ông Mộng Lục is a work written by Hồ Nguyên Trừng during his time there.

(1) Trừng: also known as Hồ Nguyên Trừng.
(2) Húy: here refers to the person who has passed away, often discreetly avoided in conversation.
(3) Heritage: passing down from one generation to another within the family.
(4) Royal Physician: an official responsible for medical matters within the royal court.
(5) Devotion: serving wholeheartedly.
16) Tran Anh Vuong, also known as Tran Anh Tong, reigned from 1293 to 1314.
(Vuong: king; the highest rank in the ancient court).
(17) Suffering: hardship (co: hunger).
(8) Esteem: highly value and admire.
(9) Distinguished Person: here, referring to individuals of high status and respect.
(10) Royal Palace: the residence and workplace of kings, lords, and ancient aristocracy.
(11) Imperial Envoy: an official serving the affairs of the court.
(12) Humble Being: a term used to denote someone of lower rank, spoken in a humble manner.
(13) The Almighty: a term used to address a king or ruler with reverence in feudal times.
(14) Audience: meeting with a superior.
(15) Medical Expert: a skilled physician.
(16) Commoners: translated from 'con đỏ,' indicating ordinary people as referred to by kings in ancient times.
(17) Five Ranks: hierarchical grades. Four Ranks: lower hierarchical grades (rank: a form indicating the level of an official in feudal times. There were nine ranks in total. The highest being the first rank - the first-class hierarchical rank. The lowest being the ninth rank - the ninth-class hierarchical rank. Each rank had two types: primary and secondary).

2. Retell the story of Andrew-ca's Torment in the words of the boy Andrew-ca.

Response:

Reference Solution

My grandfather has been resting in peace for a long time, but his memory lingers on, especially the final days etched with an incessant torment in my heart.

Back then, I lived with my mother and grandfather. When I turned nine, my grandfather was ninety-six.

One afternoon, my grandfather was very weak. He said to my mother:
- It's hard for me to breathe!

Upon hearing this, my mother sent me to buy medicine while she stayed home to watch over him. I hurriedly set off but encountered some friends playing soccer along the way, inviting me to join. Enthusiastically, I forgot my mother's instructions. The intense match made me forget completely about my ailing grandfather. After a while, the realization struck, and I ran to the drugstore to buy the medicine. Then, I dashed home. Stepping into the room where my grandfather lay, I was shocked to see my mother sobbing uncontrollably. It turned out my grandfather had passed away. Overwhelmed with guilt, I recounted my thoughtlessness to my mother. She comforted me:
- No, you're not to blame; no medicine could have saved him. He stopped breathing the moment you left the house.

Despite my mother's reassurances, I always carry a heavy burden in my heart. It was my passion for soccer and the delayed medicine purchase that led to my grandfather's demise. That night, I sat sobbing bitterly under the apple tree he had planted. Even now, as a grown-up, I continue to blame myself:
- If only I hadn't been so indulgent in playing and had bought the medicine on time, my grandfather might have lived a few more years.

Despite my remorse and stern self-criticism, my grandfather is no longer alive. I've drawn a bitter early-life lesson from this experience.

3. Retell the story of the 'Ship King' Bạch Thái Bưởi from the perspective of a French or Chinese shipowner.

Response:

Reference Solution

I am a French shipowner who was once dubbed the 'Ship King,' but I willingly passed that title to a contemporary 'economic hero.' That hero is Bạch Thái Bưởi - a person rich in determination and resilience. These qualities elevated him to the throne I admired - the 'Ship King' Bạch Thái Bưởi.

Orphaned at a young age, he trailed his mother in street vending. Due to his outstanding qualities, the Bạch family adopted him and provided education and sustenance.

At the age of 21, Bạch Thái Bưởi worked as a clerk for a trading company. After a brief period, he ventured into independent business. He opened a timber shop, traded corn, pawned items, established a printing house, and mined... There were times when he faced bankruptcy, losing his assets, but he remained undeterred. He persevered, rebuilding his business empire from scratch.

Bạch Thái Bưởi ventured into the waterway transport business at a time when Chinese ships monopolized the northern rivers.

Witnessing this, I silently thought:
- He can only survive for a short while. Where will he find passengers?

However, I was mistaken. Bạch Thái Bưởi organized lectures at the docks. On each ship, he plastered the words 'People take our ships.' He even hung a pipe, encouraging passengers who agreed to support him by dropping coins into the pipe. At that moment, I envisioned my failure. As predicted, my ships had fewer passengers every day. The patriotic spirit of Bạch Thái Bưởi's passengers supported him. His ships gained more passengers each day. The currency notes and coins from the passengers supported him. Meanwhile, I suffered losses. Eventually, I had to sell my ships to him. He prospered, owning up to thirty ships, each bearing historical names like Lạc Long, Hồng Bàng, Trưng Trắc, Trưng Nhị,... He also acquired several ship repair yards, each supervised by skilled engineers.

With his determined spirit, Bạch Thái Bưởi quickly rose to become an economic hero. He resembled a king in the maritime business community.

I truly admire his determination, resilience, and work ethic.

Reference Solution

I am Nguyen Hien, from Duong Mien village, Ha Nam province. Born and raised in a poor family in the rural area during the reign of King Tran Nhan Tong.

At the age of six, my parents sent me to study with a village teacher, and I loved it. Wherever I studied, I memorized it quickly, only needing to read the lessons once. I not only enjoyed learning but also loved flying kites. Once, with other poor children, we went to herd buffalo and took the opportunity to fly kites, caught by our teacher. The next day, the teacher called me to check my lessons. I read over twenty pages fluently, surprising the teacher. However, due to extreme poverty, I had to stop studying shortly after. I missed the class, the teacher, and longed to study like my peers. So, every day, I studied on my own. When herding buffalo, I would sneak outside the classroom to listen to the teacher's lectures. When my peers finished studying, I borrowed their notebooks to study. Like everyone else, I used makeshift materials: a finger as a pen, a branch, or a piece of broken tile. My makeshift lamp for studying was an eggshell with a firefly inside. Juggling between herding buffalo, flying kites, and studying, my knowledge was not inferior to those who had a proper education. Despite being busy, my kite soared high, and its melodious tune echoed in the vast and deep sky.

At the age of thirteen, the king organized an academic competition to select talents. Unexpectedly, I found myself participating in the event in the capital city. One day, while flying kites with friends outside the village, the village teacher sought me out and said:
- I know you're a diligent and ambitious student. Despite your humble background, your eagerness to learn never wavers in the face of life's difficulties. You should participate in the upcoming competition in the capital to showcase your abilities.

Hearing this, I felt both joy and hesitation.

Understanding my apprehension, the teacher continued:
- I comprehend your circumstances, and I will assist you with everything necessary for your participation in this competition.

So, I bid farewell to my parents, the teacher, and friends, heading towards the bustling capital for the examination. I passed the Trạng Nguyên examination and was recorded in history as the 'Youngest Trạng Nguyên in the Southern region.'