Topic 17: Puzzles (May–December 2025)

Question 1: Is it good for old people to do puzzles?

Absolutely, engaging in puzzles is highly beneficial for the elderly as it helps stimulate their cognitive functions (cognitive functions – chức năng nhận thức – brain processes like thinking, memory, and attention).
This kind of mental exercise can delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases (neurodegenerative diseases – bệnh thoái hóa thần kinh – illnesses like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s that affect the brain), which are common in later life.
For example, my grandfather has been doing crossword puzzles daily, and he’s still sharp and articulate despite being in his eighties.
Besides, puzzles serve as a low-cost, mentally engaging pastime (low-cost, mentally engaging pastime – thú tiêu khiển tiết kiệm và kích thích trí tuệ) that keeps them mentally active without requiring physical exertion.

Question 2: Do you prefer doing word puzzles or number puzzles?

Personally, I gravitate towards word-based challenges (word-based challenges – thử thách về từ ngữ – tasks involving vocabulary, spelling, or language), as they not only enrich my language skills but also enhance my verbal fluency (verbal fluency – khả năng sử dụng ngôn từ trôi chảy – the ability to speak or write easily and well).
Unlike number puzzles, which can be mind-numbing (mind-numbing – gây chán nản – extremely dull or repetitive), word games are full of variety and often expand my lexical repertoire (lexical repertoire – vốn từ vựng – the range of words someone knows or uses).>> tham khảo CẦN VIẾT & THU ÂM BAO NHIÊU BÀI ĐỂ ĐẠT 8.0 SPEAKING & 7.0 WRITING?
For instance, playing Scrabble with my friends has exposed me to rare words and idioms that I wouldn’t have encountered in daily conversation.
Moreover, I find word puzzles to be a brain-boosting hobby (brain-boosting hobby – sở thích giúp phát triển trí não) that sharpens my thinking and creativity.

✅ New Vocabulary (with definitions & translations)

1. Cognitive functions – brain processes like thinking, memory, and attention (chức năng nhận thức)

   • Synonyms: mental capacity, cognition, intellectual ability

   • Antonyms: mental decline, confusion, cognitive impairment

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "It helps stimulate their cognitive functions."

2. Neurodegenerative diseases – illnesses like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s that affect the brain (bệnh thoái hóa thần kinh)

   • Synonyms: brain disorders, dementia-related illnesses, neurological conditions

   • Antonyms: healthy aging, neural health, cognitive wellness

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "It can delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases."

3. Low-cost, mentally engaging pastime – an affordable activity that challenges the brain (thú tiêu khiển tiết kiệm và kích thích trí tuệ)

   • Synonyms: budget-friendly hobby, mind-stimulating activity, affordable mental challenge

   • Antonyms: expensive entertainment, passive activity, mindless pastime

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "Puzzles serve as a low-cost, mentally engaging pastime."

4. Word-based challenges – tasks involving vocabulary or language (thử thách về từ ngữ)

   • Synonyms: language games, verbal puzzles, lexical tasks

   • Antonyms: numeric puzzles, math games, logical tests

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "I gravitate towards word-based challenges."

5. Verbal fluency – ability to use words smoothly and effectively (khả năng sử dụng ngôn từ trôi chảy)

   • Synonyms: articulateness, eloquence, language proficiency

   • Antonyms: speech difficulty, inarticulateness, verbal block

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "They enhance my verbal fluency."

6. Mind-numbing – extremely boring or tedious (gây chán nản)

   • Synonyms: dull, repetitive, boring

   • Antonyms: stimulating, engaging, interesting

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "Number puzzles can be mind-numbing."

7. Lexical repertoire – range of vocabulary known or used (vốn từ vựng)

   • Synonyms: word bank, vocabulary knowledge, linguistic stock

   • Antonyms: limited vocabulary, language deficiency, word gap

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "They expand my lexical repertoire."

8. Brain-boosting hobby – a hobby that improves mental ability (sở thích giúp phát triển trí não)

   • Synonyms: intellectual pastime, cognitive activity, mind-enhancing pursuit

   • Antonyms: brain-draining habit, mental stagnation, idle diversion

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ: "Word puzzles are a brain-boosting hobby."

✅ Difficult Grammar Structures Used

1. Relative clause with passive voice

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ "which are common in later life"

   • → mệnh đề quan hệ với bị động – điều này phổ biến ở tuổi già

2. Cleft sentence for emphasis

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ "What I find most valuable is how these puzzles delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases."

   • → Câu nhấn mạnh – Điều tôi thấy giá trị nhất là cách những câu đố làm chậm sự xuất hiện của bệnh thoái hóa thần kinh

3. Participial phrase to add detail

   • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ "Engaging in puzzles, especially for the elderly, helps stimulate their cognitive functions."

   • → Cụm phân từ – Tham gia vào các câu đố, đặc biệt là với người già, giúp kích thích chức năng nhận thức của họ

4. Compound adjectives and noun phrases

   • low-cost, mentally engaging pastime

   • word-based challenges

   • → Tính từ ghép – Thú tiêu khiển tiết kiệm và kích thích trí não; Thử thách về từ ngữ

📩 MN AI CHƯA CÓ ĐÁP ÁN FORECAST QUÝ MỚI PART 1-2-3 NHẮN ZALO 0905834420 IELTS TUTOR GỬI FREE HẾT NHA