PASSAGE 11:

NEIGHBOURS INFLUENCE BUYING DECISIONS

However objective we believe ourselves to be, most of us do not judge a product solely on its merits,
considering quality, value and style before making a decision. (1)________, we are easily influenced
by the people around us.
Objective: khách quan
Solely: hoàn toàn
Merits = benefit >< demerits
There is nothing (2) _________with this. It is probably a smarter way to make decisions than (3)
________ on only our own opinions. But it does make life hard for companies. They have long
understood that groups of friends and relatives tend to buy the same products, but understanding
the reasons has been tricky. It is because they are so similar with (4) _______ to how much money
they make and what television ads they watch that they independently (5)_________ at the same
decision? Or do they copy one another, perhaps (6) ______ envy or perhaps because they have shared
information about the products?
Research in Finland recently found overwhelming evidence that neighbours have a big influence on
buying decisions. When one of a person’s (A’s) ten nearest neighbours bought a car, the chances that
that person (A) would buy a car of the same brand during the next week and a half (7) __________ by
86 per cent. The researchers argued that it was not just a (8)_________ of envy. Used cars seemed to
attract neighbours even more than new cars. This suggested that people were not trying to (9)
__________up with their neighbours, they were keen to learn from them. Since used cars are less
reliable, a recommendation of one can (10) _____________ influence a buying decision.
have a big influence on
the chances that: rất có thể
reliable (máy móc): hoạt động tốt
Question 1: A. What’s more B. Instead C. Unlike D. In place
Question 2: A. wrong B. silly C. bad D. daft
Question 3: A. basing B. trusting C. supposing D. relying
Question 4: A. connection B. regard C. relation D. concern
With regard to sth: về cái gì = in terms of sth
In relation to sth
In connection with sth
Question 5: A. reach B. come C. arrive D. get
Reach a decision/Come to a decision/Arrive at a decision
Question 6: A. for B. as to C. out of D. about
I scold (criticize, kids) you out of consideration for you.
Out of sth: bởi vì cái gì
as to = about
Question 7: A. boosted B. rose C. enlarged D. lifted
Boost sth/lift sth/enlarge sth
Question 8: A. thing B. point C. matter D. fact
Question 9: A. keep B. stay C. hold D. follow
Keep up with: theo kịp
Question 10: A. fiercely B. strongly C. firmly D. intensely
Strongly influence sth: ảnh hưởng mạnh mẽ đến cái gi
PASSAGE 12:
Not everybody recognises the benefits of new developments in communication technology. Indeed,
some people fear that text messaging may actually be having a negative (41)_____ on young people's
communication and language skills, especially when we hear that primary school children may be at
(42)______ of becoming addicted to the habit. So widespread has texting become, however, that even
pigeons have started doing it. (43) _____, in this case, it's difficult to view the results as anything but
positive. Twenty of the birds are about to (44) ______ to the skies with the task of measuring air
pollution, each (45) _____ with sensor equipment and a mobile phone. The (46) _____ made by the
sensors will be automatically (47) _____ into text messages and beamed to the Internet - where they
will appear on a dedicated 'pigeon blog'. The birds will also each have a GPS receiver and a camera to
capture aerial photos, and researchers are building a tiny 'pigeon kit' containing all these (48)_____.
Each bird will carry these in a miniature backpack, (49) _____ , that is, from the camera, which will
hang around its neck. The data the pigeons text will be displayed in the (50) _____of an interactive
map, which will provide local residents with up-to-the-minute information on their local air quality.
Widespread: phổ biển
up-to-the-minute: cập nhật liên tục
air quality: chất lượng không khí
Question 41. A. result B. outcome C. effect D. conclusion
Question 42. A. danger B. threat C. risk D. peril
At risk of sth: chịu rủi ro
Question 43. A. Therefore B. What's more C. Whereas D. That is
Question 44. A. make B. launch C. reach D. take
Take to the skies = to begin flying
Launch (tên lửa, tàu vũ trụ)
Question 45. A. armed B. loaded C. granted D. stocked
Arm (v): trang bị
Sensor à sense
Censor à che/kiểm duyệt
Question 46. A .studies B. readings C. reviews D. inquiries
Reading = measurement: à con số trên “sensor equipment”
Question 47. A. adapted B. converted C. revised D. applied
Convert sth into sth: chuyển cái gì thành cái gì (thay đổi bản chất/dạng)
Apply: áp dụng
Adapt: thích nghi
Question 48. A. gadgets B. utensils C. appliances D. implements
Gadget: a small tool or device that does sth useful: dụng cụ
Miniature: thu nhỏ
Question 49. A. instead B. except C. apart D. besides
Question 50. A. shape B. way C. form D. size
PASSAGE 13:
THE HISTORY OF WRITING
The development of writing (1) ________ a huge difference to the world and might see it as the
beginning of the (2)_________. Pieces of pottery with marks on that are probably numbers have been
discovered in China that date from around 4000 BC. Hieroglyphics and other forms of "picture
writing" developed in the (3) ________ around Mesopotamia (mordern-day Iraq), where the ancent
Sumerian civilization was based, from around 3300 BC onwards. However, the first (4) ________
alphabet was used by the Phoenicians around 1050BC. Their alphabet had 22 letters and it is
estimated that it lasted for 1000 years. The first two signs were called "aleph" and "beth", which in
Greek became "alpha" and "beta" which gave us the (5)__________ word "alphabet" The modern
European alphabet is based on the Greek and (6)________ to other European countries under the
Romans. A number of changes took place as time passed. The Romans added the letter G, and the
letter J and V were (7)___________to people in Shakespeare's time.
Base in somewhere: tồn tại ở đâu
If we (8) ________ the history of punctuation, we also find some interesting facts. The Romans used to
write quaesto at the end of a sentence in (9)______ to show that it was a Question, they started to
write Qo in (10) __________ of the whole word, and then put the Q above the 0. In the end, that
became the question mark "?"

Question 1: A. did B. had C. made D. took

Make a difference to sth: ảnh hưởng đến cái gì
A difference of opinion: a disagreement
Question 2: A. media B. bulletin C. programme D. journalism
Question 3: A. distance B. area C. length D. earth
Question 4: A. true B. accurate C. exact D. precise
Question 5: A. new B. trendy C. modern D. fashionable
Question 6: A. spread B. appeared C. was D. occurred
Question 7: A. infamous B. unpopular C. unknown D. hidden
Infamous: tai tiếng mang tiếng xấu = notorious
Question 8: A. look into B. bring on C. make off D. hold up
Question 9: A. turn B. fact C. order D. intention
Question 10: A. position B. space C. spot D. place
Instead of = in place of: thay cho cái gì
Many parents believe that they should begin to teach their children to read when they are (36)…..
more than toddlers. This is fine if the child shows a real interest but (37)…… a child could be counter-
productive if he isn’t ready. Wise parents will have a (38)….. attitude and take the lead from their
child. What they should provide is a selection of (39)….. toys, books and other activities. Nowadays
there is a plenty of good (40)….. available for young children, and of course, seeing plenty of books in
use about the house will also (41)….. them to read.
Show a real interest: cho thấy một sự ưa thích thực sự
counter-productive: phản tác dụng
take the lead: dẫn đầu

Of course, books are no longer the only (42)….. of stories and information. There is also a huge range
of videos, which can (43)…. and extend the pleasure a child finds in a book and are (44) … valuable in
helping to increase vocabulary and concentration. Television gets a bad (45)…. as far as children are
concerned, mainly because too many children spend too much time watching programmes not
intended for their age group.
extend the pleasure: mở mang sự thích thú
(Not) intended for: không dành cho
age group (collo)
Too many television programmes induce an incurious, uncritical attitude that is going to make
learning much more difficult. However, (46) _____ viewing of programmes designed for young
children can be useful. Just as adults enjoy reading a book after seeing it serialised on television, so
children will pounce on books which (47)_________ their favourite television characters, and videos
can add a new (45)____ to a story known from a book.
Induce: gây ra
Incurious: không tò mò
pounce on/upon something: to quickly notice something that somebody has said or done, especially
in order to criticize it
SYNONYM seize on/upon
His comments were pounced upon by the press.
36. A. scarcely B. rarely C. slightly D. really
37. A. insisting B. forcing C. making D. starting
38. A. cheerful B. contented C. relaxed D. hopeful
39. A. bright B. thrilling C. energetic D. stimulating
40. A. material B. sense C. produce D. amusement
Material: tài liệu
Materialistic: sống vật chất
41. A. provoke B. encourage C. provide D. attract
42. A. source B. site C. style D. basis
43. A uphold B. found C. reinforce D. assist
44. A. properly B. worthily C. perfectly D. equally
45. A. review B. press C. criticism D. result
Press (n): báo chí
46. A. cautious B. choice C. approved D. discriminating
Discriminating (adj): biết đánh giá, khôn khéo
A discriminating audience/customer
47. A. illustrate B. extend C. feature D. possess
Feature (v): có sự góp mặt
48. A. revival B. dimension C. option D. existence
Dimension: góc nhìn, cách hiểu

Why read books?

Is it worth reading books, (27) _____ nowadays there are so many other forms of entertainment?
Some people say that even (28) _______ books are expensive, and not everyone can borrow books
from a library. They might add that television is more exciting and that viewers can relax as they
watch their favourite (29) _____. All that may be true, but books are still very popular. They
encourage the reader to use his or her (30) _________ for a start. You can read a chapter of a book, or
just a few pages, and then stop. Of course, it may be so (31) _____ that you can’t stop! There are many
different kinds of books, so you can choose a crime (32) ________ or an autobiography, or a book
which gives you interesting (33) ________. If you find it hard to choose, you can read reviews, or ask
friends for ideas. Personally, I can’t (34)________without books, but I can (31) _____ up television
easily enough. You can’t watch television at bus stops!
27. A. in B. for C. why D. since
28. A. paperback B. the C. so D. when
29. A. ones B. programs C. episodes D. cereals
30. A. imagination B. author C. index D. amusement
31. A. current B. imagined C. interest D. gripping
Gripping = captivating = fascinating: thú hút, lôi kéo
32. A. history B. novel C. booklet D. poetry
Crime novel: tiểu thuyết trinh thám
Autobiography: tự truyện
32. A. advise B. idea C. information D. fact
33. A. announcements B. gossips C. reviews D. prefaces
34. A. do B. make C. have D. take
Do without sth: sống thiếu cái gì, làm cái gì mà thiếu cái gì
35. A. pick B. look C. give D. turn
Stories about how people somehow know when they are being watched have been going around for
years. However, few attempts have been made to investigate the phenomenon scientifically. Now,
with the completion of the largest ever study of the so-called staring effect, there is impressive
evidence that this is a recognizable and (55) _____ sixth sense. The study involved hundreds of
children. For the experiments, they sat with their eyes (56) _____ so they could not see, and with their
backs to other children, who were told to either stare at them or look away. Time and time again the
results showed that the children who could not see were able to tell when they were being stared at.
In a (57) _____ of more than 18,000 trials (58) _____ worldwide, the children correctly sensed when
they were being watched almost 70% of the time. The experiment was repeated with the (59) _____
precaution of putting the children who were being watched outside the room, (60) _____ from the
starers by the windows. This was done just in case there was some (61) _____ going on with the
children telling each other whether they were looking or not. This (62) _____ the possibility of sounds
being transmitted between the children. The results, though less impressive, were more or less the
same. Dr Sheldrake, the biologist who designed the study, believes that the results are (63) _____
enough to find out through further experiments precisely how the staring effect might actually (64)
_____.
go around: lan truyền
Make attempts
Phenomenon: hiện tượng
so-called: cái mà được gọi là
Precaution: sự cảnh báo, nhắc trước
Rule out the possibility: loại bỏ khả năng
Transmit: truyền
more or less:
55. A. genuine B. accepted C. received D. sure
56. A. shaded B. covered C. masked D. wrapped
57. A. sum B. collection C. total D. mass
58. A. worked over B. carried out C. carried on D. worked through
59. A. added B. attached C. connected D. increased
60. A. parted B. seperated C. split D. divided
61. A. pretending B. lying C. deceiving D. cheating
62. A. prevented B. omitted C. evaded D. ended
Evade: né tránh (evade responsibility)
Omitted: loại bỏ, bỏ ra cái gì
63. A. satisfying B. persuading C. concluding D. convincing
64. A. set out B. be looked at C. come about D. be held up
come about: xảy ra, diễn ra
Health is something we tend to (45) _______ when we have it. When our body is doing well, we are
hardly___ (46) ________ of it. But illness can come, even (47) _______ we are young. In fact, childhood
has been a very susceptible time. Many diseases attack children in particular, and people know very
little ___(48) ______ to cure them once they struck. The result was that many children died. About a
century ago,____(49) _________, scientists found out about germs, and then everything changed. The
(50) _____ of many diseases was found, and cures were developed. As this medical discovery spread,
the world became____ (51) _____ safer for children. The result is that (52) _________ a hundred years
ago, the average man lived for 35 years, nowadays, in many areas of the world, people can ___(53)
_______ to live for 75 years. And what do we expect by the year 2020 ? Undoubtedly, medical science
will continue to_____(54) ________. Some people will be able to avoid medical problems that are
unavoidable today.
Susceptible: dễ bị tổn thương
(disasters/diseases) strike: ập tới
Question 45. A. forget B. ignore C. give up D. throw away
Question 46. A. awake B. keen C. aware D. concerned
Question 47. A. if B. so C. when D. while
Question 48. A. how B. what C. which D. when
Question 49. A. therefore B. however C. although D. moreover
Question 50. A. reason B. origin C. source D. cause
The cause of the disease: nguồn gốc của căn bệnh
Question 51. A. more B. much C. very D. quite
Much/far + so sánh hơn: nhấn mạnh
Question 52. A. where B. when C. why D. whereas
Question 53. A. desire B. hope C. want D. expect
Question 54. A. speed up B. advance C. accelerate D. run

If you want to prepare yourself for great achievement and have more to (1) ______ to your education
or your work, try reading more books. (2) ______ up some of the interestingly informative books and
search for well-researched material that can help you grow. We should (3) ______ our children to
read more books and (4) ______ less time watching TV. Some people have commented that this is
inconsistent. "Why is the written word a superior way to get information than television?" That is (5)
______ interesting point of view worth further (6) ______. Reading is a skill that is in much greater
demand than the demand for watching TV. There are no jobs that (7) ______ a person to be able to
watch TV but reading is an integral part of many jobs. The written word is an incredibly flexible and
efficient way of communication. You can write something down and, in no time, it can be (8) ______
to many different people. Not only that, we can (9) ______ vast amounts of information through
reading in a very short time. A good reader can acquire more information in reading for two hours
than someone watching TV can acquire in a full day. You are able to gain a lot of information quickly
because you are a fast reader with good (10) ______ skills. It will save you massive amounts of time
and you will be able to assimilate vast quantities of information.
Integral: quan trong, thiết yếu
Inconsistent: mâu thuẫn
Superior: ưu việt
Acquire: trang bị
assimilate vast quantities of information = understand = absorb = take in (information)
Question 1: A. gain B. gather C. collect D. contribute
Question 2: A. Make B. Pick C. Set D. Take
Question 3: A. discuss B. define C. suggest D. encourage
Question 4: A. apply B. spend C. train D. waste
Question 5: A. a B. an C. the D. X
Question 6: A. exploration B. explore C. explorer D. explorative
Question 7: A. require B. inquire C. tell D. ask
Question 8: A. submitted B. communicated C. handed D. sent
Communicate: truyền tải
Question 9: A. digest B. inhale C. breathe D. eat
Question 10: A. apprehension B. enjoyment C. entertainment D. comprehension
Be apprehensive about sth: lo lắng, bồn chồn về cái gì à apprehension
Comprehend = understand –> comprehensible à reading comprehension

Ever since it was first possible to make a real robot, people have been hoping for the invention of a
machine that would do all the necessary jobs (1) _________ the house. If boring and repetitive factory
work could be (2) ________by robots, why not boring and repetitive household chores too?
Repetitive: lặp đi lặp lại
For a long time the only people who really (3) __________the problem their attention were amateur
inventors. And they came up against a major difficulty. That is, housework is actually very complex.
It has never been one job it has always been many. A factory robot (4) ________ one task endlessly (5)
_______ it is reprogrammed to do something else. It doesn’t run the whole factory. A housework
robot on the other hand, has to do several different (6) ________ of cleaning and carrying jobs and
also has to cope (7) ________ all the different shapes and positions of rooms, furniture, ornaments,
cats and dogs. (8) ________, there have been some developments recently. Sensors are available to (9)
_______ the robot locate objects and avoid obstacles. We have the technology to produce the
hardware. All that is missing is the software – the programs that will (10) _______ the machine.
major difficulty: khó khan lớn
Amateur: nghiệp dư
Sense à Sensors
Obstacles: vật cản
Question 1: A. through B. over C. around D. for
Question 2: A. managed B. succeeded C. made D. given
Question 3: A. did B. took C. gave D. showed
Question 4: A. carries over B. carries out. C. carries off D. carries away
Question 5 A. until B. while C. since D. when
Question 6: A. systems B. types C. ways D. methods
Question 7: A. from B. with C. by D. for
Cope with = deal with
Question 8: A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Moreover
Question 9: A. enable B. help C. assist D. allow
Question 10: A. practice B. operate C. order D. perform

Parrots and macaws have become so (34) ____ that special varieties of these birds are (35) ____ up to
£9,000 each on the black market in Britain. Macaws from Brazil cost from £1,000 and parrots from
Australia can cost £7,500 a pair. The demand for parrots, cockatoos and macaws has led to a (36) ____
increase in thefts from zoos, wildlife parks and pet shops. London and Whipsnade zoos are among
the many places from which parrots have been stolen. Some thefts have not been (37) ____ in an effort
to prevent further (38) ____ Parrot rustling, as it is known among bird fanciers, has increased rapidly
in Britain since 1976 when imports and exports of (39) ____ birds became (40) ____ controlled.
Quarantine controls, (41) ____ with the scarcity of many types of parrots in the wild in Africa,
Australia, Indonesia, and South America, have caused a shortage of birds which can be sold legally
under (42) ____. This has sent prices to (43) ____ levels. Working at night and equipped with wire-
cutters, nets and substances to dope the birds, the rustlers are prepared to (44) ____ serious risks to
capture the parrots they want. At Bird world, a specialist zoo, thieves (45) ____ two parrots after
picking their (46) ____ through an enclosure containing cassowaries. The cassowary is a large
flightless bird, related to the emu, which can be extremely (47) ____, and has been (48) ____ to kill
humans with blows from its powerful legs.
Varieties: giống
Scarcity: sự khan hiến
Dope: đánh thuốc
Enclosure: lồng tự nhiên
Question 34. A. costly B. extinct C. outlandish D. rare
Question 35. A. raising B. reaching C. lifting D. fetching
fetch something to be sold for a particular price
SYNONYM sell for
The painting is expected to fetch $10 000 at auction.
Question 36. A. acute B. peak C. sharp D. high
A sharp increase: sự tăng mạnh
Peak: điểm cao nhất (reach a peak at _____)
Question 37. A. published B. publicized C. advertised D. told
Publicize: đưa đến công chúng, cho mọi người biết
Question 38. A. happenings B. incidents C. acts D. activities
Incidents: vụ việc
Question 39. A. unusual B. uncommon C. exotic D. strange
Exotic: ngoại lại (lạ)
Question 40. A. tightly B. hardly C. toughly D. grimly
Tightly control: kiểm soát chặt chẽ
Question 41. A. coupled B. doubled C. attached D. accompanied
Attach importance to sth: coi cái gì là quan trọng
Coupled with: cùng với
Accompanied + by: đi cùng với cái gì
Question 42. A. warranty B. guarantee C. license D. law
under license: hợp pháp, được cho phép
(of a product) made with the permission of a company or an organization
They are Italian trains, but they will be built in Britain under license.
The beer is brewed under license in the UK.
Question 43. A. unknown B. unheard C. record D. highest
Record high/levels: mức kỉ lục, chưa từng có
Question 44. A. sustain B. assume C. take D. make
Question 45. A. thieved B. robbed C. misappropriated D. stole
Misappropriate: lạm quỹ (lấy quỹ làm của riêng)
Rob: cướp
Question 46. A. way B. road C. path D. lane
Pick one’s way through sth: tìm đường qua đâu đó
Question 47. A. aggressive B. fighting C. bad-tempered D. rough
Question 48. A. heard B. known C. considered D. able