READING PRACTICE 1

Reading Passage 1:
Superstition is not an easy word to deal with. It has been used in numerous
contexts, with roughly the same meaning, for at least six hundred years, but it is always
the context in which the word appears that matters. By its very nature the concept of
superstition is highly subjective, and this is seen most clearly in the use of the word as
an adjective. Any person or group can call another 'superstitious', but this tells us
nothing about the beliefs of those thus described. The only certainty is that the person
using the word disapproves of, or wishes to belittle, the belief or custom which s/he is so
labelling. In general, dominant elements in a society dismiss the beliefs of less powerful
elements as superstitious.
It is because of this cultural baggage that modern folklorists tend to eschew the
word 'superstition' and prefer to use terms such as 'alternative belief'. Unfortunately,
such attempts to alter perception by changing language are rarely successful. Outside
the strictly scientific spheres, meaning is not under the control of the specialist.
In most dictionary definitions of superstition, the central point is irrationality:
'Irrational belief usually founded on ignorance or fear and characterized by obsessive
reverence for omens, charms, etc.' Collins English Dictionary (1986).
In the modern world, however, we are often uncomfortable with the assumption
that there is only one valid form of 'rationality'. The Encyclopedia Britannica is clearly
uneasy on this point: 'Belief, half belief, or practice of which there appears to be no
rational substance. Those who use the term imply that they have superior evidence for
their own scientific, philosophic, or religious convictions. An ambiguous word, it probably
cannot be used except subjectively."
These descriptions pose the further question of what is 'belief'. Do people really
believe, pay lip-service to, or simply know of the superstitions without following them? In
many cases we have insufficient information about 'belief" as such, but can merely
register that a superstition was recorded at a particular time and place.
In the human mind, 'belief' can vary over time according to situation, and we can
happily 'half believe' something. We can even believe and not believe at the same time if
we want to. We may notice omens on the way to an important interview but not on other
days, and our belief can result in action at some times and not at others. We are told by
the folklorist Edward Lovett that the carrying of mascots and lucky charms increased
dramatically during the First World War. Presumably, many individuals knew of mascots
before but did not bother about them until a particular need arose. This seems to
confirm that a key factor is the feeling of vulnerability, and that superstition thrives in
an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, or perceived lack of control over one's fate. But this
does not explain why some people are superstitious all the time, and others not.
Superstition represents a failure to apply intelligence and proper inductive reasoning or
to distinguish between appearance and reality. Erroneous connections are sometimes
made by less than rigorous thinking.
Certainly, the principles involved in most superstitions do not normally bear
rational scrutiny, but people often manage to believe in the teeth of all evidence. It is
clear that tradition plays a strong part in many of these beliefs, but other than that the
problem is circular. Why do people believe strange things? Because they are
superstitious. Why are they superstitious? Because they believe strange things.
But it has always been the case: many people in the early 19th century, for
example, were firmly convinced that horsehairs placed in water turned into eels. It seems
ridiculous now, but there are plenty of equally unfounded beliefs still in circulation, and
probably always will be. Many people believe that your hair can turn white instantly
through shock or fear. Others believe that it is illegal to place a stamp upside down on an
envelope, or that a tooth placed in Coca Cola will dissolve overnight.
It is common in popular works on superstition to claim that we are still very
superstitious; depending on your definition, this may be true, and anyway it makes good
copy. Undoubtedly, there are still people who would be described as 'very superstitious',
and it would be a very bold person who claimed to have no superstitious beliefs at all. But
it is clear that, as a society, we are immeasurably less superstitious than we used to be.
It is only now that superstition plays such a minimal role in medicine and everyday
life that we can afford to be nostalgic and say we regret its passing.
Decide whether the following statements are true, false or not given
TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN
1. “Superstition” is a simple term. F (P1-L1)
2. The word “superstitious” can be used in a scientific way. F(P1-L5/6)
3. The powerful tend to be less superstitious than the powerless. NG
4. Modern folklorists avoid using the word “superstition”. T(P2-L3/4)
5. It is easy to influence the way people think by changing language. F(P2-L4/5)
6. Scientists have more control over the meanings words than other specialists.
T(P2-L7/8)
8. The Encyclopedia Britannica contains the most modern ideas of its time. NG
9. In the past, many people knew of superstitions, but did not believe them. NG
10. Historians have a clear idea about what people used to believe. F(P5)
11. Soldiers tend to be more superstitious than most other people. NG
12. Difficult times increase superstition. T(P7-L6/7/8/9)
13. Superstition is a result of inadequate education. NG
14. Superstition is a result of faulty logic. T(P7-L11/12/13)
15. To some extent, superstitions are part of cultural tradition. T(P8-L4/5)
16. Nowadays, people tend not to have irrational beliefs. F(P9-L4/5/6)
17. Some people believe that postage stamps have magic powers. NG
18. Popular writers have made a lot of money by writing about superstitions. NG
19. Nowadays, the majority of people are not at all superstitious. F(P10-5/6/7/8)
20. We are fortunate that society is less superstitious than it used to be. T(P11)

Reading Passage 2:
A. How much time do you spend stuck in traffic, breathing in diesel fumes as you
commute to work or to college every day? Traffic congestion in the big cities is one of
the key issue facing city planners these days. It has only continued to get worse, despite
the attempts to solve these problems. Expensive solutions such as new flyovers, bus-only
lanes, and park-and-ride options are all under consideration in many big cities, but these
are call car-friendly solutions. What is about the humble bicycle?

B. Cycling is a key way of reducing traffic congestion and has other benefits as well. It
saves fuel, is healthier for the cyclists (if they survive the trip unharmed), and reduced
air pollution for all other commuters who walk or travel on other forms of transport. It
provides a more cost-effective and efficient use of city space by reducing the need for
enormous parking buildings and inner-city motorways. Another point is that cycling is
cheaper alternative than car ownership with its registration fees, fuel costs, and regular
mechanical expenses. At present, many people drive over relatively short distances that
could equally the traveled by bike. However, often the fear of cycling in heavy commuter
traffic keeps such people off their bikes.
C Take a moment to think about those who risk the dangers of busy city roads on a
bicycle. Cyclists are the most vulnerable people in heavy traffic. They move fast, they
are balanced on two wheels, and they have no outer metal shell to protect them. If they
are on their way to work, they may well be carrying work-related documents in a
backpack or pannier, which increases the balance problem. As cyclists are much smaller
than vehicles, drivers frequently do not even notice them and accidents are common.
Often, especially in hot weather, cyclists only wear light clothing, which means the
injuries they suffer are likely to be serious. Even helmets cannot always prevent fatal
head injuries.

D What needs to happen for cyclists to feel comfortable cycling to work? The first
major requirement is changing our ideas so that cycling becomes a sensible transport
choice and cyclists are on the roads. Public education is an essential part of this to
ensure that other road users are more considerate to cyclists and learn how to drive
safely when bicycles are sharing the roads. Employers also need to be aware of cyclists'
needs. These usually range from secure cycle racks to prevent theft to the provision of
showers and lockers so people can change from cycling to business clothes once they
arrive at work. Larger companies might also find that providing "fleet cycles' to enable
employees to go on errands during work hours is an effective policy.

E The second major necessity is the development of a safe, convenient network of cycling
pathways that link different parts of the city, but ideally are separate from the regular
road system. These cycle paths should also allow for some separation of cyclists and
pedestrians, as people walking can be badly injured or even killed if a cyclist collides with
them. In areas where this is not possible, city streets should have clearly marked cycle
lanes with restrictions to prevent drivers from using them.

F Some cities, for example, Copenhagen and Amsterdam, have made a particular effort to
achieve this. They have developed areas that are either car-free (only for pedestrians
and cyclists) or 'pedestrian priority', where pedestrians and cyclists have the right-of-
way and cars are only permitted to move at low speeds. Planners believe that the
presence of cyclists at all hours of the day and evening keeps the city safer. Since 1995,
there has been a city bike system in Copenhagen which allows anyone to borrow a bike
from one of 110 bike stands around the city for a small deposit. Once the bike is
returned to the same or another stand, this money is refunded. There has also been an
active policy of establishing bike lanes, adding bike crossings to intersections, and
reducing the number of car parks to discourage cars in the central city. Currently, about
34% of commuters in Copenhagen cycle to work.

G Cycling is clearly a healthy and effective alternative to the private car in our congested
cities. The greater the proportion of cyclists to other vehicles, the safer cycling
becomes. As some forward-thinking cities have demonstrated, there are many ways in
which local city governments can actively encourage and subsidize cycling as a positive
option for commuters. The most important of these requires some brave decisions to
curb the dominance of the private car, and the gridlock experienced in all major cities
shows that such action has become essential.
Choose a correct heading for each paragraph.
List of headings
i. Planning to Reduce Traffic Congestion A
ii. Reasons for Cycling B
iii. Educating Drivers and Employers D
iv. Cyclists at Risk C
v. Necessity for action G
vi. Problems of Traffic Congestion
vii. Examples of Effective Cycle-friendly Development F
viii. Safe Cycling Networks E
Match the words given to the meanings below.
humble mechanical fatal ideal forward-thinking
efficient vulnerable essential separate congested
enormous frequent considerate particular
a. being at risk of harm VULNERABLE
b. necessary ESSENTIAL
c. modern, progressive FORWARD-THINKING
d. happening very often FREQUENT
e special, focused PARTICULAR
f perfect. IDEAL
g causing death FATAL
h. crowded CONGESTED
i. simple, modest HUMBLE
j. not joined or linked SEPARATE
k related to machines MECHANICAL
l effective, without wasted time or effort EFFICIENT
m. huge. ENORMOUS
n. thinking about the needs of others CONSIDERATE
Complete the following sentences, using the adjectives above or adverb forms if
necessary.
a. Given that traffic congestion is worsening, official action to encourage cycling has
become ________ ESSENTIAL________.
b. ____ IDEALLY____________, cycle paths will be divided from the regular road
system by walls or hedges.
c. Most parking buildings are ______ ENORMOUS__________ and ugly.
d. Copenhagen and Amsterdam are both cities with _FORWARD-THINKING
__________ policies for cyclists.
e. Cyclists are at risk in heavy traffic, as drivers ___ FREQUENTLY____________ do
not even notice them.
f Drivers need to be educated to be ____ CONSIDERATE ____________ to cyclists.
g. Sadly, a collision between a cyclist and a car is often ____ FATAL____________ for
the cyclist.
h. Equally, pedestrians are _____ VULNERABLE___________ when cyclists and
pedestrians share the same paths.

Reading Passage 3:
The Albatross
A. Albatrosses are the largest seabirds in existence, with wingspans which extend to
over three metres in width. They represent a small subset of the larger group known as
tube-nosed petrels, which have strong, curved sharp beaks which they use for catching
fish and squid on the surface of the ocean. While there is some debate about the exact
taxonomy of the species, it is agreed that there are somewhere between 21 and 24
species of albatrosses.
Taxonomy(n) sự phân loại
Albatross(n) chim hải âu lớn
B. Of these species, approximately half breed in New Zealand and about 80 percent
breed or fish within New Zealand's territorial waters Six species breed only in New
Zealand or on its offshore islands. One of only two mainland nesting sites for these birds
in the world, for the northern royal albatross, is on the Otago Peninsula in the South
Island of New Zealand; it is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can view the albatross
colony from a special building which has been established beside the nesting ground and,
while the site is closed during breeding season, at other times, it is often possible to see
parents and their chicks living and feeding only metres away from human observers

C. Albatrosses spend most of their lives at sea, coming to land only to mate and raise
their chicks. Male and female birds cooperate in raising their offspring. At the Talaroa
nesting site in New Zealand, eggs are laid in October or November each year, Incubation
takes about 11 weeks, and during this time, both parents take turns to sit on the eggs for
periods of up to three weeks, while the other bird goes off to sea to eat. It takes the
chicks up to five or six days to hatch from their tough shell Once they are hatched, the
parents take turns in looking after them for about five or six weeks. After this time,
they are left alone except for regular feeding until they get their feathers and are
ready to fly, at about eight months of age.
Incubation(n) thời gian ủ trứng, sự ấp ủ
D. Once the young birds are ready to fly they are off to sea. Albatrosses spend about 80
per cent of their lives at sea, soaring over the waves and feeding off surface fish and
squid. Some albatrosses travel long distances over the pelagic or deep, ocean, while
others find food closer to land over areas of continental shelf. They can fly at great
speed, at bursts of up to 140km/hour, and they can cover huge distances in one day, even
as much as 1,800km.
E. The royal albatrosses at Taiaroa Head stay at sea for the first three years of their
lives, after which they return to the colony once a year for several years before finding
a mate and beginning to breed at around the age of eight. Albatrosses are faithful birds,
they mate for life and raise one chick every two years on average. They are also long
lived, and birds have been recorded still laying eggs into their 50s and even 60s.
However, their relatively low reproductive rate is one of the factors which make them
vulnerable to the threat of extinction.

F. There are also risks to albatross chicks on land. Natural predators such as seagulls can
eat eggs and young birds, and in mainland areas, there are also threats from dogs, cats,
and other land animals. On some offshore islands, sea lions have been observed raiding
nests for eggs. It is thought that this is a new behavior.

G. The main threats to the adult albatross occur at sea, and most of these are man-made.
Albatrosses like to travel close to fishing boats to eat the leftover scraps of fish that
are dropped over the side of the boat. Sometimes, however, they also eat the bait and
accidentally ingest fish hooks, or get dragged along on fishing lines and drown. The
number of albatrosses that any one boat catches is small, but because there are so many
fishing boats, this may have a long-term impact on population numbers. It is estimated
that at least 100,000 albatrosses die in this way each year. As for all seabird species,
there are other threats, such as drift nets, oil spills, and rubbish such as plastic in the
ocean. While there are international agreements and fishing conventions to try and
protect seabirds, albatrosses are among the million or so seabirds that get caught in
drift nets and die each year.

H. The albatross is a magnificent, beautiful, and awe-inspiring creature. We need to work

together to protect this bird and others from threats posed by human activity.
Choose a correct heading for each paragraph.
i. World Locations for Albatrosses
ii. Predators F
iii. Eggs and Chicks C
iv. Major Diseases
v. Hazards for Mature Albatrosses G
vi. Breeding Patterns E
vii. What Is an Albatross? A
viii. The Albatross in Flight D
ix. Why Albatrosses Matter H
x. A Special Breeding Site B
xi. Conservation Plans