Vũ Thu Hà Trần Phú High School

READING COMPREHENSION 1
TOPIC: COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGES
I. VOICE AND PERSONALITY
A number of factors related to the voice reveal the personality of the speaker. The first is the broad area of communication,
which includes imparting information by use of language, communicating with a group or an individual, and specialized
communication through performance. A person conveys thoughts and ideas through choice of words, by a tone of voice that is pleasant
or unpleasant, gentle or harsh, by the rhythm that is inherent within the language itself, and by speech rhythms that are flowing and
regular or uneven and hesitant, and finally, by the pitch and melody of the utterance. When speaking before a group, a person's tone
may indicate unsureness or fright, confidence or calm. At interpersonal levels, the tone may reflect ideas and feelings over and
above the words chosen, or may belie them. Here the speaker's tone can consciously or unconsciously reflect intuitive sympathy or
antipathy, lack of concern or interest, fatigue, anxiety, enthusiasm or excitement, all of which are usually discernible by the acute
listener. Public performance is a manner of communication that is highly specialized with its own techniques for obtaining effects by
voice and /or gesture. The motivation derived from the text, and in the case of singing, the music, in combination with the performer's
skills, personality, and ability to create empathy will determine the success of artistic, political, or pedagogic communication.
Second, the voice gives psychological clues to a person's self-image, perception of others, and emotional health. Self-image
can be indicated by a tone of voice that is confident, pretentious, shy, aggressive, outgoing, or exuberant, to name only a few
personality traits. Also the sound may give a clue to the facade or mask of that person, for example, a shy person hiding behind an
overconfident front. How a speaker perceives the listener's receptiveness, interest, or sympathy in any given conversation can
drastically alter the tone of presentation, by encouraging or discouraging the speaker. Emotional health is evidenced in the voice by
free and melodic sounds of the happy, by constricted and harsh sound of the angry, and by dull and lethargic qualities of the depressed.
1. The word "Here" refers to _______ .
A. ideas and feelings B. words chosen
C. interpersonal interactions D. the tone
2. The word "drastically" is closest in meaning to _______ .
A. severely B. frequently C. exactly D. easily
3. The word "evidenced" is closest in meaning to _______ .
A. questioned B. exaggerated C. repeated D. indicated
4. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The production of speech
B. The connection between voice and personality
C. Communication styles
D. The function of the voice in performance
5. According to the passage, an overconfident front may hide _______ .
A. shyness B. friendliness C. strength D. hostility
6. What does the author mean by staring that, "At interpersonal levels, tone may reflect ideas and feelings over and above the
words chosen"?
A. Feelings are more difficult to express than ideas.
B. Feelings are expressed with different words than ideas are.
C. The tone of voice can carry information beyond the meaning of words.
D. A high tone of voice reflects an emotional communication.
7. According to the passage, what does a constricted and harsh voice indicate?
A. Anger B. Depression C. Lethargy D. Boredom
8. According to the passage, an exuberant tone of voice, may be an indication of a person's _______ .
A. personality B. ability to communicate C. general physical health D. vocal quality
9. Why does the author mention "artistic, political, or pedagogic communication"?
A. To introduce the idea of self-image B. As examples of basic styles of communication
C. As examples of public performance D. To contrast them to singing
10. The word "derived" is closest in meaning to _______ .
A. discussed B. obtained C. registered D. prepared

II. WRITING VS. SPEECH

Because writing has become so important in our culture, we sometimes think of it as more real than speech. A little thought,
however, will show why speech is primary and writing is secondary to language. Human beings have been writing( as far as we can
tell from surviving evidence) for at least 5000 years; but they have been talking for much longer, doubtless ever since there have been
human beings.
When writing did develop, it was derived from and represented speech, although imperfectly. Even today, there are spoken
languages that have no written form. Furthermore, we all learn to talk well before we learn to write; any human child who is not
severely handicapped physically or mentally will learn to talk: a normal human being can not be prevented from doing so. On the
other hand, it takes a special effort to learn to write; in the past many intelligent and useful members of society did not acquire the
skill, and even today many who speak languages with writing systems never learn to read or write, while some who learn the
rudiments of those skills do so only imperfectly.

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To affirm the primacy of speech over writing is not, however, to disparage the latter. One advantage writing has over speech is that it
is more permanent and makes possible the records that any civilization must have. Thus, if speaking makes us human, writing makes
us civilizes.
11. The word " acquire" in the passage mostly means ..............
A. "gain something by our own efforts or ability" B. "help somebody learn something by giving information about it"
C. "become aware of something by hearing about it" D. " develop a natural ability or quality so that it improves
12. The author of the passage argues that......................
A. writing has become too important in today's society B. everyone who learns to speak must learn to write
C. all languages should have a written form D. speech is more basic to language than writing
13. According to the passage, speech began to exist in our life ...............
A. when human beings were able to communicate in writing B. just when human beings appeared
C. when writing became important in our culture D. at least 5000 years ago
14. In the passage, the author judges that ........................
A. writing has more advantages than speech B. speech conveys ideas less accurately than writing does
C. writing is more real speech. D. speech is essential but writing has important benefits
15. The following statements are true EXCEPT .................
A. every spoken language has written form B. writing was derived from speech
C. we can talk before we can write D. men have been writing for at least 5000 years
16. According to the passage, writing ..............
A. is imperfect, but less so than speech B. developed from imperfect speech
C. is represented perfectly by speech D. represents speech, but not perfectly
17. In order show that learning to write requires effort, the author gives the example of............
A. people who learn the rudiments of speech B. intelligent who could not write
C. severely handicapped children D. people who speak many languages
18. According to the author, one mark of society is that it ........
A. keeps written records B. affirms the primacy of speech over writing
C. teaches its children to speak perfectly D. affirms the primacy of writing over speech
19. The word " disparage" in the passage mostly means ...............
A. " think that something is more important" B. " make something seem more important"
C. " think about something carefully" D. " suggest that something is not important or valuable"
20. The word " doubtless" in the passage mostly means .....................
A. " almost uncertainly" B. "almost certainly" C. " almost impossibly" D. " almost doubtfully"

III. ENGLISH
Over the past 600 years, English has grown from a language of few speakers to become the dominant language of
international communication. English as we know it today emerged around 1350, after having incorporated many elements of French
that were introduced following the Norman invasion of 1030. Until the 1600s, English was, for the most part, spoken only in England
and had not extended even as far as Wales, Scotland, or Ireland. However, during the course of the next two centuries, English began
to spread around the globe as a result of exploration, trade (including slave trade), colonization, and missionary work. Thus, small
enclaves of English speakers became established and grew in various parts of the world. As these communities proliferated, English
gradually became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy.
Currently, about 80 percent of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English. Two-thirds of the world's
science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airports, and air traffic
controllers. Today there are more than 700 million English users in the world, and over half of these are nonnative speakers,
constituting the largest number of nonnative users than any other language in the world.
21. The word "proliferated" is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. organized B. disbanded C. prospered D. expanded
22. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "course"?
A. time B. subject C. track D. policy
23. According to the passage, approximately how many nonnative users of English are there in the world today?
A. a quarter million B. half a million C. 350 million D. 700 million
24. The word "emerged" could best be re-placed by which of the following?
A. frequented B. engaged C. hailed D. appeared
25. The word "extended" is more similar to which of the following?
A. experienced B. conferred C. spread D. stretched
26. What is the main topic of this passage?
A. the expansion of English as an international language B. the number of nonnative users of English
C. the French influence on the English language D. the use of English for science and technology
27. The word "elements" is most similar to which of the following?
A. features B. declaration C. customs D. curiosities
28. The word "enclaves" could best be replaced by which of the following?

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A. communities B. countries C. organizations D. regions
29. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "stored"?
A. bought B. saved C. spent D. valued
30. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "constituting"?
A. making up B. setting down C. doing in D. looking over
31. Approximately when did English begin to be used beyond England?
A. around 1350 B. before 1600 C. in 1066 D. after 1600
32. According to the passage, all of the following contributed to the spread of English around the world EXCEPT ............
A. missionaries B. the slave trade C. the Norman invasion D. colonization

IV. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Being aware of one's own emotions - recognizing and acknowledging feelings as they happen - is at the very heart of
Emotional Intelligence. And this awareness encompasses not only moods but also thoughts about those moods. People who are able to
monitor their feelings as they arise are less likely to be ruled by them and are thus better able to manage their emotions.
Managing emotions does not mean suppressing them; nor does it mean giving free rein to every feeling. Psychologist Daniel
Goleman, one of several authors who have popularized the notion of Emotional Intelligence, insisted that the goal is balance and that
every feeling has value and significance. As Goleman said, "A life without passion would be a dull wasteland of neutrality, cut off and
isolated from the richness of life itself." Thus, we manage our emotions by expressing them in an appropriate manner. Emotions can
also be managed by engaging in activities that cheer us up, soothe our hurts, or reassure us when we feel anxious.
Clearly, awareness and management of emotions are not independent. For instance, you might think that individuals who
seem to experience their feelings more intensely than others would be less able to manage them. However, a critical component of
awareness of emotions is the ability to assign meaning to them - to know why we are experiencing a particular feeling or mood.
Psychologists have found that, among individuals who experience intense emotions, individual differences in the ability to assign
meaning to those feelings predict differences in the ability to manage them. In other words, if two individuals are intensely angry, the
one who is better able to understand why he or she is angry will also be better able to manage the anger.
Self-motivation refers to strong emotional self-control, which enables a person to get moving and pursue worthy goals,
persist at tasks even when frustrated, and resist the temptation to act on impulse. Resisting impulsive behavior is, according to
Goleman, "the root of all emotional self-control."
Of all the attributes of Emotional Intelligence, the ability to postpone immediate gratification and to persist in working
toward some greater future gain is most closely related to success - whether one is trying to build a business, get a college degree, or
even stay on a diet. One researcher examined whether this trait can predict a child's success in school. The study showed that 4-year-
old children who can delay instant gratification in order to advance toward some future goal will be "far superior as students" when
they graduate from high school than will 4-year-olds who are not able to resist the impulse to satisfy their immediate wishes.
33. Which of the following can we infer from paragraph 1?
A. People who can manage their emotions will be controlled by them.
B. If people pay attention to their feelings, they can control their emotions better.
C. Some people can understand their feelings better than others.
D. If people pay attention to their feelings, they will not be able to manage them.
34. From paragraph 2, we can see that Daniel Goleman ______.
A. treated patients who had emotional problems B. trained people to increase their Emotional Intelligence
C. studied how people manage their emotions D. wrote about Emotional Intelligence
35. The word "them" in paragraph 3 refers to ______.
A. individuals B. individual differences C. intense emotions D. psychologists
36. According to paragraph 5, children might be more successful in school if they can resist impulses because they can ______.
A. have more friends at school B. focus on their work and not get distracted
C. be more popular with their teachers D. easily understand new information
37. In paragraph 3, the author explains the concept of awareness and management of emotions by ______.
A. explaining why some people are not aware of their emotions B. describing how people learn to control their emotions
C. giving an example of why people get angry D. comparing how two people might respond to an intense emotion
38. The word "critical" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. indecisive B. dynamic C. inessential D. important
39. According to paragraphs 1 to 3, people should be aware of their emotions so that they can ______.
A. experience feelings more intensively B. explain their emotions to others
C. stop feeling angry D. manage their emotions appropriately
40. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 2 about our emotions EXCEPT ______.
A. every feeling is important B. we can manage our emotions
C. emotions are part of a satisfying life D. we should ignore some feelings
41. The word "pursue" in paragraph 4 mostly means ______.
A. be involved in something B. find out about something C. improve or develop something D. try to achieve something
42. The word "soothe" in paragraph 2 could be best replaced by ______.
A. reduce B. worsen C. relieve D. weaken

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V. BODY LANGUAGE
Unconscious facial expressions and "body language" often give information to other people. Many people's "hidden"
emotions are actually quite visible to anyone who knows how to read people's faces. Some reactions are so widespread in all cultures
that there seems to be a physical basis for them. All people react in the same way to certain exciting situations by breathing more
rapidly and experiencing increased heart rates. Facial expressions of basic emotions, such as anger, surprise, and excitement, appear to
be universal.
Other reactions are not so universal. Many, but not all, people respond to an embarrassing situation by blushing (when the
face and neck turn bright red). Some people show that they are bored by growing less active
and becoming sleepy or inattentive. Others respond to boring situations by becoming more active and showing such physical signs as
jiggling feet or wiggling fingers. But for other people, such reactions may be united signs of nervousness or anxiety, not boredom.
There are not only differences in this "silent language" between different people, but there are also important differences
between cultures. Certain kinds of "silent language" give one particular message in one culture, but a conflicting message in another
culture. For example, eye contact has very different meanings in different cultures. In American culture, if someone is shifty eyed
while talking, it means that he or she is dishonest and cannot be trusted. But in many Asian cultures, avoiding eye contact is a sign of
politeness and respect. Mistaken "body language" can often result in even more misunderstanding than using the wrong word or
incorrect grammar.
43. Which of the following is most probable an unconscious facial expression ?
A. Jiggling feet or wiggling fingers B. Blushing C. Shouting angrily D. Waving one's hand
44. The word "conflicting" appears in the last paragraph, and "conflict" can also be used as a noun. For example, the two
companies are into conflict. It means "the two companies" …………
A. do businesses in different ways B. have had a serious disagreement about something important
C. have been similar with each other in many ways D. deal in different businesses
45. It is good manners while talking in America ……………………………
A. not to look directly into the listener's eyes. B. to look directly into the listener's eyes.
C. not to be attentive. D. to avoid eye contact.
46. According to the text, people probably react to the same situation ……………………….
A. in different ways B. in the same way
C. in a universal way D. either in the same way or in different ways
47. What can we learn from the text about "body language" or "silent language"?
A. It is even more important than speech or writing. B. It is also very important means of communication.
C. It gives different messages in different situations. D. It is quite difficult to understand.

VI. TELECOMUNICATING
Telecommunicating is a form of computer communication between employees' homes and offices. For employees whose jobs
involve sitting at a terminal or word processor entering data or typing reports, the location of the computer is of no consequence. If the
machine can communicate over telephone lines, when the work is completed, employees can dial the office computer from a distant
site and transmit the material to their employers. A recent survey in USA Today estimates that there are approximately 8.7 million
telecommuters. But although the numbers are rising annually, the trend does not appear to be as significant as predicted when
Business Week published "The Portable Executive" as its cover story a few years ago. Why hasn't telecommuting become more
popular?
Clearly, change simply takes time. But in addition, there has been active resistance on the part of many managers. These
executives claim that supervising the telecommuters in a large work force scattered across the country would be too difficult, or, at
least, systems for managing them are not yet developed, thereby complicating the manager's responsibilities.
It is also true that employees who are given the option of telecommuting are often reluctant to accept the opportunity. Most people
feel that they need regular interaction with a group, and many are concerned that they will not have the same consideration for
advancement if they are not more visible in the office setting. Some people feel that even when a space in their homes is set aside as a
work area, they never really get away from the office.
48. How many American workers are involved in telecommuting?
A. More than predicted in Business Week B. Fewer than last year
C. More than 8 million D. Fewer than estimated in USA Today
49. The author mentions all of the following as concerns of telecommuters EXCEPT_____ .
A. the opportunities for advancement B. the different system of supervision
C. the lack of interaction with a group D. the fact that the work space is in the home
50. The word "resistance" could best be replaced by_______.
A. participation B. consideration C. alteration D. opposition
51. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. The failure of telecommuting B. A definition of telecommuting
C. The advantages of telecommuting D. An overview of telecommuting
52. It can be inferred from the passage that the author is _______.
A. the manager of a group of telecommuters B. a telecommuter

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C. a reporter D. a statistician