TÀI LUYỆN ÔN THI

TIẾNG ANH B1 – VSTEP

PHẦN THI ĐỌC

LÊ THANH TÚ NHÂN VÀ CỘNG SỰ

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SKIMMING

SKIMMING LÀ GÌ?

Skimming là một kỹ thuật đọc nhanh. Nó liên quan đến việc đọc có chọn lọc các phần
quan trọng nhất trong đoạn văn bản để :
 Biết được đoạn văn bản cấu tạo như thế nào, đó là cách mà nó được chia ra thành
từng phần hoặc từng đoạn văn
 Có được ý chung của đoạn văn nói về gì
 Quyết định rằng đoạn văn có thú vị hay không và liệu các em có nên đọc nó chi tiết
hơn không

Đọc lướt được làm xong nhanh gấp 3 hoặc 4 lần so với cách đọc bình thường. Mọi người
thường hay đọc lướt khi họ có quá nhiều thứ quan trọng để đọc trong một khoảng thời gian
giới hạn. Sử dụng skimming khi các em muốn biết rằng liệu đoạn văn có thú vị để các em
nghiên cứu hay không.

Gợi ý và mẹo để đọc lướt qua đoạn văn

 Đọc tiêu đề, phụ đề để biết được đoạn văn đang nói về gì
 Nhìn vào những minh họa để đưa ra cho các em những thông tin thêm về chủ đề
 Khi các em đang đọc lướt một đoạn văn để hiểu nội dung chung, đừng cố phải hiểu
từng từ một. Lưới từ đoạn này sang đoạn kìa, tìm những nội dung chính trong mỗi
đoạn trước khi sang đoạn tiếp theo. Nội dung chính của mỗi đoạn thường (không phải
luôn luôn) là câu đầu tiên của mỗi đoạn văn. Các câu mà đi với nội dung chính
thường được gọi là câu chủ đề

 Khi các em đang nhìn vào câu để hiểu nội dung chính, cố gắng tìm những từ chủ yếu
trong câu, cụ thể là các chủ từ, động từ và tân ngữ trong mệnh đề chính. Cố gắng
tránh các từ khác, cụ thể là các mệnh đề quan hệ và mệnh đề tính từ
Examples:
 Whale oil, rendered from the blubber, was used originally for lamp fuel and later as a
principle ingredient of soap, margarine, paint oils and lubricants.
Trong quá trình đọc lướt qua thì đủ để hiểu rằng : loại dầu này từng được sử
dụng cho thứ gì đó

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Hoặc thử đọc lướt qua các đoạn này

 Tea plants are grown on tea plantations, called gardens or estates, in areas
that have a great amount of rainfall and rich loamy oil.
Nó đủ để hiểu rằng cây trà được trồng ở đâu đó/bằng cách nào đó. Nếu sau đó
các em thấy một câu hỏi liên quan đến câu này thì các em có thể quay lại đoạn
này và đọc kỹ hơn
 Khi các em hoàn thành việc đọc lướt qua đoạn văn thì tiếp tục đọc lướt qua
câu hỏi. Các em cần phải biết rằng có bao nhiêu câu hỏi và các câu hỏi đó hỏi
về gì. Bây giờ các em có thể luyện tập việc đọc lướt đoạn văn. Để đọc lướt qua
nhanh nhất có thể thì có một số khoảng thời gian giới hạn gợi ý
Task types using skimming skill are:
- Heading matching
- Getting the main idea
A. Nối tiêu đề

TIÊU ĐỀ LÀ GÌ? Một tiêu đề bao gồm các ý

chính của một đoạn văn

Chiến thuật cho việc nối tiêu đề

 Đọc tất cả các tiêu đề và gạch chân hoặc tô các từ khóa
 Đọc đoạn văn đầu của bài văn và đánh dấu câu chủ đề, các câu và từ vựng
liên quan
 Đọc lại ý chính của đoạn văn trong đầu
 Đọc danh sách các tiêu đề để xem có sự liên kết nào giữa các từ khóa, các
tiêu đề và các từ mà các em đã đánh dấu trong đoạn văn
 Chọn tiêu đề mà tóm tắt đúng nhất ý chính của đoạn văn đầu
 Tiếp tục đoạn văn tiếp theo và lặp lại quá trình
 Nếu các em nghĩ 2 tiêu đề hợp với một đoạn văn, đánh dấu cả 2 rồi sau đó
xác định một trong 2 cái này

Exercise 1: which of these three headings states the main idea in the paragraph? Use
the highlighted key words to help you decide.
Time limit: 1 minute

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a. Population figures for China

b. Assessing China’s farmland
c. Global population and the future

The world’s population is forecast to reach 7.5 billion by 2020, and growing
prosperity, especially in China, is fuelling a rising appetite for meat and cereals. Yet it
is becoming harder to find new farmland, water is increasingly scare and crop-yield
growth is slowing. Already 167 million children are malnourished. Are hungry times
ahead?

1. How did the highlighted words help you?

2. How do the verb tenses help you find the answer?
3. Can you explain why the other headings are attractive, but wrong?
Exercise 2: look at these three headings
A. Britain’s modern motorway system
B. Roman principles relevant today
C. 6000km of Roman roads
As quickly ass possible decide which of the headings best matches the
paragraph, taken from a reading passage, below
Time limit: 1 minute
Between 43AD and 81 AD Roman Britain acquired 6000km network of
technically advanced, hard bearing and straight highways linking towns of
importance. Today Britain’s motorway system is only half that length. The
basic Roman philosophy of building a road to cope with different types and
volumes of vehicles and using local materials where possible still applies
today.

Exercise 3: look at the passage “difficulties commonly experiences by oversea students”.

Three are six sections A-F. Choose the most suitable heading for each section from the list of
headings below. Write the appropriate number (i-iv) in the lines.

Note: there are more headings than sections so you will not use all of them. Use may use any
of the heading more than one.

Time limit: 5 minutes

Example Answer

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Section A iv

1 Section B 4 Section E

2 Section C 5 Section F

3 Section D

Danh sách các tiêu đề

i. Personal finances
ii. Language and communication
iii. Being different and apart
iv. Cultural adjustment
v. Study –related concern
vi. Family support
vii. Getting around
viii. Living independently

Difficulties commonly experienced by oversea students

The problems experienced by oversea students are now generally well documented. The
issues that cause the greatest difficulty can be summarized as follows:

A……………………………………………….

This involves getting used to the new country and different way of life, customs, and values.
In addition, students also have to deal with the sense of loss ( missing family, friends,
familiar food and places). These issues are usually referred to by the term “cultural shock”.

B…………………………………………………

Managing on a limited budget is a challenge for most, but it is especially so for people living
in an unfamiliar environment. Students may have to pay for education and living expenses,
find a reasonable place to live and, in some cases, a part time job to supplement any
scholarship or money from home.

C…………………………………………………

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Many students are not used to looking after themselves. At home, parents and family usually
assist them in coping with shopping, cooking, personal finances and general managing their
affairs. Oversea, all of these things must be done without the family’s support.

D…………………………………………………

Even some of the students who have been educated in an English language school have
problems communicating freely at university level. Many students find reading and writing in
English especially difficult. Participating in classroom discussion and asking questions of
staff often produce difficulties.

E………………………………………………………

Differences in the style and traditions of learning between Western and Asian countries
frequently cause difficulty. Many overseas students find it difficult to adapt to Western
notions of independent thinking and learning. Students from some countries may also have
difficulty because they lack experience in using well-equipped libraries and laboratories.

F…………………………………………………………..

This refers both to experiences of racial intolerance and the relatively low level of contact
that overseas students have with local people. Students often report being uncomfortable
about generalized discrimination in a later section of this book.

Unit 2 SCANNING

Scanning là gì?

Scanning là phương pháp được sử dụng khi các em cần tìm trong bài văn một cách nhanh
chóng để xác định được thông tin cụ thể mà các em cần để trả lời các câu hỏi

Khi các em quét qua để xác định một số thông tin cụ thể (ví dụ như tên, địa điểm, ngày tháng,
các cụm từ cụ thể ), không cần thiết để đọc và hiểu các từ trong bài văn. Khi các em nhìn vào
một số câu, các em chỉ cần phải hiều đủ để trả lời câu hỏi thôi : cái đó có phải là thứ mình
đang tìm hay không? Vì thế các em chỉ cần hiểu chủ đề trong mỗi câu. Ví dụ như, các em hãy
đọc đoạn này :

Example :

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Like perfumes, cosmetics were originally used as an adjunct to religious ritual, the
ceremonial aspects gradually being lost as both men and women adorned themselves with
cosmetics.

 Các em xác định được chủ từ của câu này là mỹ phẩm (cosmetics) và thế là đủ
rồi. Không cần thiết để đọc tất cả các chi tiết. Các em biết rằng câu này có thể
không chứa những thông tin mà các em cần nên các em nhanh chóng chuyển
qua câu tiếp theo. Điều này gọi là scanning

Hints and tips for better scanning

Gợi ý và mẹo để quét tốt hơn
1. Đừng cố gắng đọc tất cả từng từ một. Thay vào đó hãy để mắt các em lướt nhanh
qua trang cho đến khi các em tìm được thứ mà các em muốn
2. Sử dụng các manh mối trên trang, ví dụ như phần mở đầu và tiêu đề để giúp các em
3. Nếu các em đang đọc để học thì bắt đầu bằng việc nghĩ và viết ra một số câu hỏi mà
các em muốn trả lời. Sử dụng việc quét qua để tập trung đầu óc và giúp các em tìm
được những thông tin mà các em cần một cách nhanh chóng

Exercise: which of these types of text would you scan? Which would you skim? Tick the
appropriate box:

Types of text skimming scanning

1. A phone book
2. A newspaper article
you are interested in
3. The film review page
when looking for a
particular film
4. A letter from the
bank
5. A list of results for
an exam you’ve
taken

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D. NHIỀU LỰA CHỌN

MẸO CHO CÁC CÂU HỎI NHIỀU LỰA CHỌN

 Gạch chân hoặc tô các từ khóa trong câu hỏi

 Underline or highlight the key words of question
 Quickly read the sentences that contain the main ideas in each paragraph of the
passage.
 Đọc nhanh các câu chưa các ý chính trong mỗi đoạn văn của bài
 Eliminate choices in questions that they think are completely wrong
 Loại bỏ các lựa chọn trong các câu hỏi mà các em nghĩ là sai hoàn toàn
 Decide which option is correct.
 Quyết định sự lựa chọn đúng

Exercise 1: The text below has been edited to highlight the areas that you might read when
skimming or scanning a text. Read through it quickly and answer the following multiple-
choice questions.

Time limit: 3 minutes

GOODNESS, GRACIOUS, GREAT BALL OF FIRE

In the first of a new series, Alan Watts tackles the science of thunder and lightning

A. Despite our modern sophistication and advanced warning system, the thunderstorm still
provokes a primitive dread in most people. It is not only our helplessness in the face of
nature’s wrath that produces fear, but also the eerie listlessness that settles over animals,
birds and people in the build-up to a storm. Yet the kind of storm with a sultry calm
before its arrival is just one of many kinds of thunderstorm associated with a particular
kind of weather.
B. The kinds of intense storms that develop on hot sultry days are a mass of individual
storm cells.

“cell-theory” of storm ………….. “multicell” ………. “supercell” ………..multicell

……….. daughter-cells……….

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C. Then in spring, when the sun is warming the earth but the air is still cool, great towering
cumulonimbus clouds often develop and these can become thundery.
……… “air-mass” …………… thunderstorm France …………….. English
Channel………..
D. If you’ve lived in the coastal regions of southern Britain, then you’ll be acquainted with
a special kind of storm that comes up from France a couple of times a year.
…………………………. Spanish plume storms sierras of Spain ‘sheet-
lightning’…………………
E. Whatever the cause of a storm, there has to be lightning ……………….. pressure waves
……………. electric charge …………….. raindrops ………………. Positively
charged ………………… slivers of ice……………
F. It is estimated that there are some 1,800 storms going on at any one time somewhere in
the world – mainly in the tropics – and that the electric current induced by the lightning
from these compensates for the more-or-less continuous drift of positive ions from the
ionosphere to the earth, so balancing the atmosphere’s electric current.

1. What is the article about?

A. Fire
B. Weather
C. Science

2. Which of the following areas do you think the writer will discuss?
A. Animals and their environment
B. Modern danger warnings
C. Types of storm
D. What to do in bad weather

Exercise 2: Look at the letter below and the following questionnaire. Complete the
questionnaire about Carlo using the information given in the letter. Choose the one letter for
each answer.

Time limit: 4 minutes

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Dear Sir,

I received a communication from you today asking me to complete a question to help

determine the spending habits of the population. I would willingly do this but you failed to
enclose the aforementioned questionnaire. In order to assist you, I will send you some details
of my lifestyle, which you can use to fill in the questionnaire at your office on my behalf.

Although I have been living in England since coming to study for my A levels, I spent my
early childhood in Australia. I am not British as my father was born in Poland and my
mother in Italy and we all hold Australian passports.

I studied for my first degree at Leeds University but am now doing postdoctoral research in
Electrical Engineering at the University of Easthampton. As I am presently not earning a
regular salary, my expenditure is kept to a minimum. I am not a house owner and am
currently living in the halls of residence at my university. I pay a subsidized rent, which is
inclusive of all utilities, so I do not have to worry about gas, electricity or water bills. I tend
to eat mostly in the university canteen so I only go shopping in the local supermarkets about
once a fortnight. At the very least I spend ten pounds but I usually pay about twice that each
time. Designer clothes are not in my budget nor do me frequently high street stores. I prefer
to wear used clothes, mostly from charity shops. If they are not perfect I manage to repair
them myself. My one real extravagance is electrical equipment. I have a state of the art sound
system and a wide screen flat panel television with DVD facilities, which I bought less than a
year ago and I am still paying for it every month on my credit card. This is rather an
expensive pastime as I really only use them about twice a week.

Concerning transportation, since I live on campus, I walk to my office or the library but if I
travel into town, I sometimes take the special university bus or more likely I cycle. I did have
a car when I began my doctorate but sold it when the cost of its upkeep became prohibitive.

As for entertainment, I occasionally go to the theatre, I play football three times a week, I
swim everyday and I go for dinner to a local restaurant once a month.

If you should require information about my life, either contact me here at the university or
send me a questionnaire which I can personally complete in full.

Yours faithfully,

Carlo Tulinski

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SIMPSON SURVEY SERVICES

British lifestyle questionnaire

Please complete the questionnaire by circling the appropriate option or giving details of your
personal lifestyle.

1. Where do you live?

A. England B. Northern Ireland C. Scotland D. Wales
2. Please state your nationality…………………………
3. Please state your current professional status

A. students B. self-employed C. private employee

D. civil servant E. unemployed

4. What is your level of education?

A. basic compulsory education

B. completion of secondary education

C. first degree attained

D. post graduation degree attained

5. Where do you live?

A. own house/ flat B. rented house/ flat

C. student accommodation D. rented room in private house

E. commercial accommodation

6. How often do you shop for food?

A. everyday B. every week

C. every two weeks D. every month

7. What is your average supermarket bill?

A. ten pounds B. twenty pounds

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C forty pounds D. eighty pounds

8. What kind of clothes do you prefer?

A. From chain stores
B. From local markets
C. Home made
D. Second hand
E. Designer wear
9. How do you prefer to pay for expensive items?

A. in cash B. by installments

C. by cheque

10. How do usually travel in cities?

A. by car B. by train C. by bus

D. by bicycle E. on foot F. by motorbike

11. What is your favorite leisure activity?

A. watching TV B. listening to music C. eating out

D. going to theatre E. doing sport

Exercise 3: look at the questions below, scan the passage then choose the best answers.

Time limit: 3 minutes

The first black literature in American was not written but was preserved in an oral tradition,
in a rich body of folklore, songs and stories, many from African origins. There are humorous
tales, Biblical stories, animal stories, and stories of natural phenomena, of good and bad
people and of the wise and foolish. Many reflect how African Americans viewed themselves
and their lives. The lyrics of blues spirituals, and work songs speak of suffering and hope, joy
and pain, loved ones, and religious faith, and are an integral part of the early literature of
black people in American.

The earliest existing written black literature was Lucy Terry’s poem “Bars fight” written in
1746. Other eighteenth –century black poets include Jupiter Hammon and George Moses

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Horton. The first African American to publish a book in American was Phillis Wheatly.
Black poetry also flourished in the nineteenth –century, during which the writing of almost
forty poets were printed, the most notable of whom was Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first black
American to achieve national acclaim for his work. Dunbar published eight volumes of
poetry and eight novels can collections of stories.

More than three dozen novels were written by blacks between 1853 and 1899, but
autobiography dominated African-American literature in the nineteenth century, as it had in
the eighteenth. In the twentieth century, however fiction has presided, with Charles W.
Chestnutt, American’s first black man of letters, successfully bridging the two centuries. He
began publishing short fiction in the mid 1880s, wrote two books that appeared in 1899, and
had three books published between 1900 and 1905. He was a pioneer of the “new literature”
of early 1990s, which aimed to persuade readers of the worth and equality of African
Americans.

1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as part of the oral tradition of
African Americans?
A. Humorous tales
B. Tales of adventure
C. Biblical stories
D. Animal stories
2. According to the passage, the lyrics of blues and spirituals are often concerned with
A. the pain an joy in life
B. loved ones and animals
C. Religion and nature
D. Wise and foolish people
3. According to the passage, an important part of early African Americans literature was
A. Novels
B. Short fiction stories
C. Biographies
D. Songs
4. According to the passage, when did the first written African American literature appear?
A. In the 1600s
B. In the 1700s
C. In the 1800s

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D. In the 1900s
5. According to the passage, who was the first African American to receive national
recognition for his writing?
A. Paul Dunbar
B. George Horton
C. Lucy Terry
D. Phillis Wheatly

IV. Reading the passage and choose the best answer to each question

Humanitarian Dorothea Dix was born in Hampden Maine, in 1802. At the age of 19, she
established a school for girls, the Dix Mansion school, in Boston, but had to close it in 1835
due to her poor health, she wrote and published the first of many books for children in 1824.
In 1841, Dix accepted an invitation to teach classes at a prison in East Cambridge,
Massachusetts. She was deeply disturbed by the sight of mentally-ill persons thrown in the
trail and treated like criminals. For the next eighteen months, she torn Massachusetts
institutions where other mental patients were confided and reported the shocking conditions
she found to the state legislature. When improvements followed in Massachusetts, she turned
her attention to the neighbouring state and to the West and South.

Dix’s work was interrupted by the civil War, she served as superintendent of women hospital
nurse for federal government.

Dix saw special hospital for the mentally ill built in some fifteen states. Although her plan to
obtain public land for her cause failed, she arouses concern for the problem of mental
illnesses all over the United State as well as in Canada and Europe.

Dix’s success was due to her independent and thorough research, her gentle but persistent
manners, and her ability to secure the help of powerful and wealthy supporters.

1. In what year was the Dix Mansion school closed?

A. 1822
B. 1824
C. 1835
D. 1841
2. Why did Dorothea Dix first go to a prison?
A. She taught classes there

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B. She was sent there by the state legislature

C. She was convicted of a crime
D. She was doing research for a book
3. Where was Dorothea Dix first able to bring about reforms in the treatment of the mentally
ill?
A. Canada
B. Massachusetts
C. The West and South
D. Europe
4. Dorothea Dix was Not successful in her attempt to
A. Become superintendent of nurse
B. Publish books for children
C. Arouse concern for mentally ill
D. Obtain publish land
5. At what point of the passage does the author discuss specific reason for Dix’s success
A. Lines 19-21
B. Lines 14-16
C. Lines 12-13
D. Lines 17-18

SỰ LIÊN QUAN

What is reading for reference?

Đọc để liên tưởng là gì?

Việc đọc thành công có nghĩa là các có thể thấy được mối quan hệ giữa các từ khác nhau, và
có thể nối với các thông tin lại chứ không phải là hiểu các từ riêng biệt. Hãy nhìn ví dụ dưới
đây :

How do humans produce speech? First the brain issues a command to the lungs to initiate an
airstream. Before this stream can become speech, however, it must pass through, or by, the
larynx, pharynx, tongue, teeth, lips and nose _ all of which can modify the airstream in
various ways.

You might understand every word in the paragraph but you need to see the relationship of the
words to one another to be a successful reader. You have to see what “it” and “all of which”

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relate to. “It” relates to “the airstream” and “all of which” relates to “the larynx, pharynx,
tongue, teeth, lips and nose”.

Các em có thể hiểu mỗi từ trong đoạn văn này nhưng các em cần phải thấy mối quan hệ giữa
các từ này với từ khác để trở thành một đọc giả thành công. Các em cần phải biết được “it” và
“all of which” liên quan đến cái gì. “It” liên quan đến the airstream và “all of which” liên
quan đến the larynx, pharynx, tongue, teeth, lips and nose.

The most typical example of matching information is matching reference, that is, how one
word refers to other words. If you cannot understand all the references, you cannot
understand the passage. There are many types of referece.

Một ví dụ điển hỉnh của việc nối thông tin đó là nối các từ liên quan, có nghĩa là một từ này
đề cập đến từ kia như thế nào. Nếu các em không thể hiểu tất cả các từ liên quan, các em
không thể hiểu bài văn. Có rất nhiều loại từ liên quan

1. Các đại từ : (he, she, it, they, himself, herself, this, that, these, what, who, where)

Many people wrote to complain. They particularly objected to….

We received about twenty calls a day. These range from requests for….

The hospital receives insufficient funding. This is a major problem.

He asked if I could lend him a torch. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one.

2. Trợ động từ : (e.g. do/did, have/had, can/could, will/would)

We all tell white lies occasionally. Life would be difficult if we didn’t.

You need to pay the fee now. If you can’t, please let us know.

They asked me to help. I said I would.

3. There, then, so, much…

At the beginning of the 19th century…. Things were very different then.

You may experience symptoms of nausea. Such symptoms are not uncommon.

4. Cách diễn tả song song

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His fellow mathematicians his colleague

Feelings of anger and betrayal strong emotions.

5. Mạo từ

A survey….( First reference) the survey …. (later reference)

Làm sao có thể tìm ra các từ liên quan? Các từ liên quan trong là các đại từ như “it”, “them”,
“they”, hoặc “this”. Khi từ liên quan là là một đại từ thì hãy tìm các danh từ ở trước mà có thể
khớp với đại từ này. Hãy chắc chắn ràng bạn nối chúng cùng giới tính (trai hoặc gái), số đếm
(số nhiều hoặc số ít),…thay thế đại từ với danh từ đó và kiểm tra xem nếu nghĩa của chúng có
thích hợp hay không. Ví dụ như ở câu bên dưới, khi ‘her’ được thay cho ‘Sandra’. Vì thế
‘her’ liên tưởng đến ‘Sandra’

Sandra’s closest friends are Amy and Lee. They study with her at the university.

Lưu ý:

 Khi trả lời một câu hỏi về các từ liên quan, hãy cảnh giác rằng những danh từ gần với
từ liên quan nhất có thể không luôn luôn là câu trả lời đúng
 Các từ liên quan có thể liên quan đến một danh từ hoặc cụm danh từ được cấu tạo
bằng một vài từ

Exercise 1: Read the following sentences and state what the underlined words
refer to

1. Once in the café you must buy something, so you spend your last fifty centimes on a
glass of black coffee with a dead fly in it.
2. You spend your last eighty centimes on half a liter of milk and you are boiling it over the
spirit lamp
3. The city’s busiest underground station- St. Paul’s in Cheapside- unlocks its gates. To get
there on time, the station foreman, John Milne, has to come in by bus from Good Mayes
in Essex.
4. The tiny number of residents -7500, many of them caretakers, 4000 of them living in the
Barbican- is suddenly and dramatically increased.

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5. The city’s working day ends earlier than most of the rest of London. That’s reasonable, it
starts earlier.
6. Good husbandry – forest ecology, wisdom in planning, less greed and stupidity – could
keep man and the delicate rain forest relationship in balance indefinitely. This is our last
great store house…our last wonderland.
7. Birthmarks, once almost untreatable, are a mass of blood vessels and, being red, they
absorb the laser beam strongly. It seals them so that the mark becomes conspicuous.
8. Britain, though, is one of the leaders in the laser treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers and
this, combined with new medicines can mean ulcer treatment without conventional
surgery.
9. When you think that you too might be asked to pay two sous extra, and would have to
confess you could not, you bolt in panic. What could you not do?
10. Many people clutch when asked to think about their abilities,. Some think that they have
none at all. But everyone does, and one of yours may just be the ticket an employer
would be glad to punch- if only you show it. Everyone does what? One of your what?
What does it refers to?
11. Before writing a resume, take four or five hours off, not necessarily consecutive, and
simply write down every accomplishment in your life, on or off the job, that made you
feel effective. Don’t worry at first about what it all means. What does it prefer to?
12. When you are satisfied, send your resume to printer, a printed resume is far superior to
photocopies. It shows an employer that you regard job hunting as serious work, worth
doing right. What does it refer to?
13. To be fair to all concerned, the film was made in Greece, partly in the USA and partly in
Britain, and that probably explains why so many filled so seemingly identical roles. What
does that refer to?
14. In determining the shape and content of his narrative, the writer of prose fiction is
constrained by nothing except purely artistic criteria. This does not necessarily make hos
task easer than that of the writer of plays and screenplays.
15. Tiger moths are covered with highly conspicuous oranges and black or yellow and black
patterns of sport and stripes, such boldly patterned colour combinations are
commonplace in animal world, serving the function of forewarning potential predators of
unpleasant tastes and smell.
16. Detergents clean clothes by first removing particles of dirt from the fabric, then
suspending the particles until they can be washed away.

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17. A number of sculptors have rejected the abstractions of minimalist artists. These
sculptors have developed a style of extreme realism involving ordinary subjects.
18. The details information in maps is now produced almost entirely from satellite
photography rather than by ground surveying because this method is faster, cheaper and
more accurate.
19. Ruth sat three- hour papers- algebra and geometry, calculus, probability and statistics,
and math, pure and applied. I was happy with the first two, she said yesterday, but I
wasn’t sure about the third.
20. The major educational distinction between on campus and distance teaching is the
reliance on group based strategies in the former and the obligation to individualise
instruction the latter
Exercise2: read the following passage and state what the underlined words refer to
The flows of illegal immigrants have persisted in a number of countries. These flows
have been fostered by the demographic imbalance between the developed and developing
countries, differentials in economic growth, employment opportunities and wages, and a
demand for low-wage workers in a number of developed countries.
Although some countries have sought to strengthen the sovereignty of their frontier
through such measures as the extension of visa requirements and increased checks on
employers to ensure they have not hired illegals, illegal immigration still continues.
For example, the scale of illegal immigration to the United States is massive. It has been
estimated that three million illegals enter the united stated successfully every year with
perhaps twenty five per cent of them remaining permanently.
What do the underlined words refer to?
1. “these” in paragraph 1:……………………………………….
2. “their” in paragraph 2:…………………………………………
3. “they” in paragraph 3:………………………………………….
4. “them” in paragraph 4:…………………………………………….
Exercise 3: read following passage and state what the underlined words refer to
The local café is as much of an institution in Poland as the local pub in some English
speaking countries. Even small towns and large villages have cafes, and in the cities there
are hundreds of them. They are always well patronized, the reason being that local cafes
are ideal spots for meeting friends and for stopping at during long walks. They also have
the right atmosphere to entertain, the privacy to discuss business and the convenience
simply to gossip for a while over a glass of wine or an espresso coffee and piece of cake.

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For retired people, spending a few hours at a café over a cup of coffee watching other
people is probably better entertainment than watching television. When poles go out to
spend some time with friends, especially when they date or meet informally, they prefer
to go to a café than to a restaurant. They either stay there for the whole evening or
proceed to other places.
Most young people in Poland enjoy similar form of entertainment as their peers in
English speaking countries. These include popular music concerts, discos, movies,
sporting events- soccer being by far the most popular sport in Poland – and attractions
available in the city and local center. People with children , as elsewhere, tend to go out
less, especially if they do not have parents or in-laws to look after the children. They tend
to go for walks in local parks or visit other people with children.
What do the underlined words refer to?
1. “them” in line 3:……………………………..
2. “they” in line 5:………………………………….
3. “they” in line 10:………………………………………
4. “there” in line 12:………………………………………….
5. “their” in line 13:………………………………………
6. “ these” in line 14:………………………………………………
7. “they” in line 17:…………………………………………….
8. “they” in line 18:……………………………………………..

Exercise 4: read the following passage and choose the right answer for each of the reference
words

George Lucas’s star wars changed the direction of America film with some of the most
ingenious special effects contrived for movies of its time. Twenty two months needed to
design the equipment and more than 1000 story boards for effects sequences.

A special computerized camera, called a Dykstraflex, was designed to give the illusion of
real screen movement. This system, controlled by the camera operator, enabled him or her to
pan, tilt, and track around the model, always keeping it in focus. The breakthrough was the
camera’s ability to repeat the identical movement from shot to shot, thus the effects
sequences could be built like a music track; layer upon layer. The illusion was complete:
none of the spaceships in star wars ever moved- only the camera did.

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The star-field backdrop in space was by punching holes in black Plexglas. More than 75
models were constructed, with astonishing detail work. On the rebel blockade runner artists
built a tiny cockpit, all done to scale. The miniaturized laser canons were fully motorized to
swivel and tilt by the remote control. The light sabers were four-sided blades coated
reflective aluminum, attached to a small motor. When retated, they created a flashing light
later enhanced by animation.

1. The word “some” in line 1 refers to

A. American film
B. Direction
C. Movies
D. Special effects
2. In line 6, “ this system” refers to
A. The creation of an illusion
B. Screen movement
C. Panning and tilting around a model
D. A special computerized camera
3. The word “ it” in line 7 refers to
A. Model
B. Camera
C. Focus
D. System
4. The word “ they” in line 17 refers to
A. miniaturized laser canons
B. artists
C. four-sided blades
D. seventy-five models

Exercise 5: read the following passage and choose the right answer for each of the reference
words.

Planes are subjected to drag forces because an object moving forward through the air is
hampered by it to greater or lesser extent, since the air or any gas has friction. A plane in
subsonic flight is preceded by the pressure waves it creates as it makes its way through the
air. These pressure waves push away the air in front of the plane so there is less drag than

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would otherwise be the case. But when a plane reaches sonic speed, or the speed of sound,
the pressure waves no longer precede the plane. They no longer push away any of the air in
front of the craft, so the drag forces become much greater. The large rise in drag as the plane
approaches Mach 1, or the speed of sound, is referred to as the sonic barrier.

Even a conventional subsonic plane travelling at the speed below Mach 1 can encounter an
extreme rise in drag. This is because the pressure over the wing is decreased as the wing
moves through the air. This results from the increase in the speed of the air stream over the
wing in accordance with the law of physics called Bernoulli’s principle.

1. The word “ it” in line 2 refers to

A. Drag force
B. An object
C. The air
D. A plane
2. The word “ it” in line 3 refers to
A. a plane in subsonic flight
B. a pressure wave
C. air or any gas
D. drag force
3. in line 6, the word “ they” refers to
A. planes reaching sonic speed
B. pressure waves
C. drag forces
D. conventional subsonic planes
4. To which of the following does the word “ this” in line 11 refer?
A. A decrease in pressure over the wing
B. An increase in the speed of the air stream over the wing
C. Pressure waves preceding the plane
D. A rise in drag encountered by a subsonic plane
5. In line 12, the word “this” refers to
A. An extreme rise in drag
B. A decrease in pressure over the wing
C. An increase in the speed of the air stream over the wing
D. Pressure waves preceding the plane

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Exercise 6: read the following passage and choose the right answer for each of the reference
words

On a drop shot, a tennis player “drop” the ball just over the net, hoping that his or her
opponent won’t get to it at all or will just barely reach it, thus making a weak return. The
drop shot works well in a number of situations. It can be used to tire an opponent, to bring a
baseline player to the net, win points outright when an opponent is slow in moving forward or
is out of position, or to substitute for the approach shot

A perfect situation for a drop shot occurs when a player’s opponent is far out of court and hits
well to inside of the service line. A good drop shot is a sure winner, but a bad one is equally
certain disaster. The opponent who gets to the ball early has been handed the net position,
which is a distinct advantage for the net rusher who will usually win the point in short order

There are two types of drop shots, each requiring a distinct stroke. The first is used to drop
slow balls descending from the peak of the bounce. The second is used on rising balls. These
shots require excellent timing and a simple stroke, such as the swing on waist high
volleyballs.

1. The word “ it” in line 2 refer to

A. His or her opponent
B. The ball
C. The net
D. A weak return
2. In line 8, the word” one” refers to
A. A disaster
B. A sure winner
C. The service line
D. A drop shot
3. The word “who” in line 8 refers to
A. The net rusher
B. The net position
C. The advantage
D. The opponent
4. In line 9 the word “ which” refers to
A. The opponent

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B. A distinct advantage
C. The net position
D. The winning point
5. In line 13 the phrase “these shots” refers to
A. The shots requiring a distinct stroke
B. The shots used to drop slow balls
C. The shots used on rising balls
D. The shots requiring a simple and timing stroke

Exercise 7: read the following passage and choose the right answer for each of the reference
words

Design is the arrangement of materials to produce certain effects. Design plays a role in
visual arts in the creation of commercial products as well. Designers are concerned with the
direction of lines, the size of shapes and the shading of colours. They arrange these patterns
in a way that they are satisfying to viewers. There are various elements involved in creating a
pleasing design

Harmony, or balance, can be obtained in a number of ways. It may be either symmetrical (in
balance) or asymmetrical (out of balance, but still pleasing to the eye). Or a small area, ay
balance a large area if it has importance to the eye (because of colour and treatment) that
equals that of a large area

Contrast is the opposite of harmony. The colours red and orange harmonize. Since orange
contains red. A circle and oval harmonize, as they are both made up of curved lines. But a
short line does not harmonize a long line. It is in contrast.

Unity occurs when all the elements in a design combine to form a consistent whole. Unity
resembles balance. A design has balance if its masses are balanced, of if its tones or colours
harmonize. But unity differs from balance because it implies that balance elements work
together to form harmony in the design as a whole.

1. The word “they” in line 3 refers to

A. Designers
B. Lines, shapes and colours
C. Directions, size and shape
D. Visual artists

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2. The word “ that” in line 9 is used as a referent to

A. Colour
B. Area
C. Importance
D. Balance
3. The word “ it” in line 12 is used as a referent to
A. A circle
B. The colour red
C. A long line
D. A short line
4. In line 15 the word “it” refers to
A. Unity
B. Balance
C. A design
D. A consistent whole

XỬ LÝ CÁC TỪ KHÔNG QUEN THUỘC

Từ vựng hạn chế có thể là một trong những vấn đề khó khăn nhất của các em

Không cần thiết để hiểu mọi từ có trong bài văn. Tuy vậy, các em cần phải biết được hơn
50% các từ nếu các em muốn hiểu được nội dung chính của bài viết

Phương pháp giải quyết các từ không biết khi đọc đoạn văn:

- Phớt lờ chúng
- Tìm nghĩa được đưa ở đâu đó trong câu hoặc ở câu sau hoặc trước đó
- Đoán nghĩa của chúng từ ngữ cảnh

Phớt lờ các từ không quen thuộc

Ví dụ hãy xem bài tập này, đọc đoạn văn về sự béo phì và trả lời các câu hỏi

Obesity is a medical disorder that affects approximately 20-30% of the population of the
United States of America. It is an excessive accumulation of body fat that results from the
storage of excess food energy calories in the body’s fat cells.

1. The most American people suffer from obesity. True, false, or not given?

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2. This paragraph presents….

a. Some examples of obesity
b. A definition of obesity
c. The different types of obesity
d. The treatment of obesity

When reading this passage, a student may find many unknown words and underline them.
However, both questions can be answered without knowing the meaning of the italic words.
It is even unnecessary to know the meaning of the word “obesity”

Khi đọc bài văn này, học sinh có thể tìm thấy các từ mà mình không biết và gạch chân chúng.
Tuy vậy, cả 2 câu hỏi đề có thể được trả lời mà không cần phải biết nghĩa của từng từ một.
Thậm chí chúng ta không cần phải biết nghĩa của từ “obesity”

Tìm nghĩa của các từ không quen thuộc được đưa ra ở đâu đó trong câu

Thỉnh thoảng một câu đưa ra định nghĩa của một từ vựng mới hoặc thông tin về nó. Thông tin
này có thể ở trong dấu ngoặc đơn, sau (-), hoặc sau (,).

Ví dụ : there were sixty one identical cats in the classroom, each one exactly like the one on
the board.

 Vậy identical nghĩa là gì? Nó có nghĩa là hoàn toàn giống nhau

Thỉnh thoảng nghĩa hoặc gợi ý đến nghĩa của từ vựng mới năm ở trong câu khác

Ví dụ : a teacher from western country recently visited elementary school in an Asian

country. In one class, she watched sixty young children.

 Vậy nghĩa của từ elenmentary là gì? Đó là một trường học cho trẻ em

Đoán nghĩa của từ trong ngữ cảnh

Nếu như việc đoán nghĩa chính xác của một từ mà em không biết là điều cần thiết thì các em
không thể tra mỗi từ đó ở trong từ điển được bởi vì điều đó rất chán và tốn thời gian, đặc biệt
là khi các em đọc một đoạn văn dài và quan trọng hơn là nó bị cấm khi các em đang làm bài
kiểm tra. Bây giờ hãy chú ý làm thế nào để sử dụng ngữ cảnh để đoán nghĩa của từ

Trong một bài đọc thông thường, có một số các tín hiệu mà có thể giúp các em xác định được
nghĩa của các từ không biết

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 Từ đồng nghĩa :

The first state to institute compulsory was Massachusetts, which made is mandatory for
students to attend school twelve weeks a year.

Mandatory là từ đồng nghĩa của compulsory

Ví dụ :

Many gardeners use some kind of mulch , such as chopped leaves, peat moss, grass
clippings, pine needles, or wood chips, in order to stop the growth of weeds and hold in
moisture.

Từ ví dụ đã cho, rõ rãng mulch là một vấn đề của thực vật

 Tương phản

In the 1820s, the southern states supported improvements in the national transportation
system, but the northern states disagreed with the idea, and that the word balked must mean
objected or refused

 Ngữ cảnh chung

In the desert, vegetarian is so scanty as to be incapable of supporting any large human

population

As is generally known desert contain little vegetation , so clearly scanty must mean scare or
barely sufficient.

Theo hiểu biết chung sa mạc có rất ít thảm thực vật, vì vậy rõ ràng scanty có nghĩa là sợ hãi
hoặc là không đủ

Các bước để đoán nghĩa từ ngữ cảnh

Step 1: nhìn vào các từ chưa biết và hãy xem nó là danh từ, động từ, tính từ hay trạng từ ?

Step 2: Xem các mệnh đề và các câu mà chứa các từ đó

Nếu từ chưa biết đó là một danh từ thì tính từ nào diễn tả nó? Động từ nào gần nó? Danh từ
này làm gì?

If the unknown word is a verb, what noun does it go with? Is it modified by an adverb?

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Nếu từ đó là một động từ, danh từ nào đi với nó? nó có bị thay đổi bởi một trạng từ không?

Đó là một tính từ thì danh từ nào đi với nó?

Nếu đó là một trạng từ thì động từ nào mà bị nó thay đổi?

Step 3: Xem mối quan hệ giữa câu chứa từ đó với các câu khác

 Thỉnh thoảng mối quan hệ này được ký hiểu bởi một liên từ như but, because, if,
when hoặc một trang từ như however, as a result
 The possible types of relationship include cause and effect, contrast, inclusion, time,
exemplification, and summary.... punctuation may also serve as a clue. Semicolons
often signal a list of inclusion relationships; dashes may signal restatement.
Reference words like “this” “that”, and “such” also provide useful information
 Các loại mối quan hệ có thể bao gồm nguyên nhân và kết quả, tương phản, bao hàm,
minh họa. Các từ liên quan như this, that và such cũng có thể cung cấp những thông
tin hữu ích

Step 4: Sử dụng kiến thức mà bạn có được từ bước 1-3 để đoán nghĩa của từ đó

Step 5: Kiểm trang rằng bạn đoán có đúng hay không

 Thay thế từ không biết bằng từ mà bạn đoán. Nếu câu có nghĩa thì sự phán đoán của
bạn có thể là đúng

Exercise 1: find the meaning of the underlined words in the sentence.

1. A children’s art lesson produced a room full of unique pictures, each one completely
different from the other.
2. The instructor also teachers the culture (the ideas and beliefs of society)
3. People highly value individualism- the differences among people
4. Most Asian societies value discipline, or self-control
5. All insects are invertebrate, that is, they have no backbone.
6. The teacher drew a big circle on the black board, and the children copied it. Then she
drew a smaller circle, and the class drew it in the same way
7. The teaching methods were very different from the ways of teaching in her county.
8. Students memorize information; they learn and remember basis rules and facts.
9. They work individually and find answers themselves.

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10. Each education system is a mirror that reflects the value of the society. In the orient, it
shows society’s beliefs in group goals rather than individualism.
11. People in western cultures value individualism highly. Teachers place a lot of
importance on the qualities that make each person special
12. The word filibuster comes from the Dutch freebooter, or pirate.
13. The flu, influenza, is probably the most common cause of absenteeism.

Exercise 2: find the meaning of the underlined words in the sentence.

A. Some doctors recently carried out several experiments to evaluate the effectiveness
of different analgesics. They did every experiment with three groups of people. One
group took one of the pain-killing drugs which were being tested, another took no drug
and the third took a placebo that is a pill containing only sugar. The doctors then caused
the subjects to feel a certain amount of pain by typing a band tightly around their arms.
The doctors were interested in the length of time that the people in the experiments could
tolerate the pain, when the doctors compared the period of time that the people were able
to stand the pain, they found that there were no significant variations among the periods
of tolerance of the group which took a placebo or no drug. However there were important
differences among the times of the group which took the different drugs. In fact, the some
of subjects who took the drugs tolerated the pain for less time than those who took no
drug or a placebo. In other words, some analgesics seemed to diminish the time that the
people could tolerate the pain- a strange finding. Since the purpose of the analgesics is to
increase the period of tolerance, not to reduce it, this result obviously calls into question
the effectiveness of some pain- killing drugs.

B.Is there any restriction on human lifespan? At the moment nobody lives longer than
120 years, but scientists think this is feasible to raise this limit. Experiments have show
that it is possible to prolong lifespan. But do people really want to extend their lives?
They may not want to live longer it the additional years are spent in poor health. As
people age, senses such as their sight and hearing deteriorate and their general health
becomes worse. However, people can take action to promote good health: for example,
they can take exercise and eat a sensible diet. It they try to improve their health in this
way, they have better chance of enjoying any extra period of life.

Exercise 3: Guess the meaning of the words in italics

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1. Lazy peter disposed of, got rid of, three bags of money
2. Seeing the bag of money was such a surprise the farmer stood with his mouth open in
astonishment
3. The farmer offered a thousand pesos, Spanish coins, for the hat
4. Today, pranks and jokes like this are common ,and many are spread using e-mail
5. My expenses foe every semester are 15000$
6. Undergraduate tuition at a public university can cost between 2000$ and 10000$ a year.
7. Today, a dog and or cat owner can make from 200$ to 400$ per day. Of course, the
talent agency gets part of that fee.
8. In japan, on the second Monday in January, twenty- year olds celebrate by first going to
a shrine to pray with their families.

Exercise 4:

a. Underline the context clues that help you guess the meaning of the boldfaced words.
1. After 24 hours without sleep, Gardner had trouble reading and watching TV. The
words and pictures were too blurry
2. By the fourth day, Gardner was hallucinating. Foe example, when he saw a street
sign, he thought it was a person
3. Over the next few days, Gardner’s speech became so slurred that people could not
understand him
b. Use the context to guess the general meaning of the boldfaced words.
1. several people fainted because it was so hot in the room
a. lost consciousness
b. were happy
c. had fun
2. I feel like I am suffocating because there are so many people in the room
a. Am able to breathe
b. Am not able to breathe
c. Am able to relax
3. I ran to my class because I didn’t want to be tardy again
a. Early
b. Late
c. On time
4. The ground was soggy because it rained all night

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a. Wet
b. Dry
c. Hot
5. I could not make out his face because it was so dark
a. Hear
b. Feel
c. See
6. Having just learnt to drive, and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car, I
readily accepted.
a. Quickly
b. Quietly
c. Sadly
7. My protests, my apologies, and the rest of my utterances were useless
a. Friends
b. Clothes
c. Words
8. Because I had a few hours to spare, I decide to catch a couple of movies at the
theater near the garage
a. Find
b. watch
c. ignore
9. We went to a trattoria after work. I ordered pasta and he had salad.
a. A place to work
b. A place to eat
c. A place to rest
10. I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a remote
village called mijas, about miles away, on the condition that take the car in to be
serviced at a nearby garage.
a. Building
b. Restaurant
c. Repaired shop
11. Samuel latham Mitchell helped found Rutgers medical college in New Jersey in
1826. And he produced several important works in chemistry and geology
a. Books

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b. Accomplishments
c. Factories
12. Future design and manufacture were originally the work of individuals, but by the
eighteenth century, many furniture makers had teams of craftsmen to help the,
carry out their plans
a. Transport
b. Obey
c. Implement
13. A public library is a resource the entire community can draw on
a. Illustrate
b. Approach
c. utilise
14. Every atlas has its own legend
a. Mythical story
b. Famous person
c. Explanation of symbols
15. The planet mercury is visible to the naked eye but is not the easiest planet to spot.
a. Unclothed
b. Unaided
c. Unarmed

Exercise 5: Choose the right meaning of the underlined words in the following sentences:

1. People should educate children with something curious.

a. Thrilling
b. Productive
c. Appealing
d. Odd
2. Light can distort the shape of objects when it goes through water.
a. Deform
b. Shift
c. Hide
d. Highlight
3. When the gas leaked, hazardous chemicals spread through the city
a. Futile

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b. Dangerous
c. Gigantic
d. Arbitrary
4. The painter used such a vibrant color in his work that people were amazed
a. Critical
b. Intriguing
c. Unacceptable
d. Brilliant
5. The early settlers had such a rudimentary farming method that they needed more
technology
a. Basic
b. Elaborate
c. Advanced
d. Numerous
6. The country was very prosperous during the Roman Empire
a. Flawed
b. Thriving
c. Courageous
d. Prominent
7. Rigid pavements are made of concrete which is composed of coarse materials.
a. Embedded
b. Far-sighted
c. Stiff
d. Complex
8. Humans have memories that are enduring for the rest of their lives
a. Restricted
b. Thriving
c. Lasting
d. Intact
9. The unique way of thinking is well reflected in his work of art.
a. Influenced
b. Mirrored
c. Released
d. Accelerated

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10. Diverse kinds of forms can be categorized into concept

a. Recognized
b. Different
c. Acknowledge
d. Dramatic
11. Solar energy is of prime importance to maintain life on earth
a. Chief
b. Dubious
c. Critical
d. Superficial
12. The building is believed to be the most impressive and unique style of its time
a. Imposing
b. Sporadic
c. Influential
d. Versatile
13. As all the files that contained the valuable resources were eliminated in the storage
system, new information is necessary
a. Exuded
b. Released
c. Exaggerated
d. Deleted
14. China has an immense domestic market for consuming goods
a. Massive
b. Successful
c. Prominent
d. Significant
15. A person who has a good hearing can distinguish the tones of different voices
a. Divert
b. Discriminate
c. Conceal
d. dissuade

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