Practice 2

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Sustainable energy for developing countries
Overall, at least 1.6 billion people—one-fourth of the world‟s population—currently live without electricity and
this (26) ________ has hardly changed in absolute terms since 1970. And yet, the electricity required for people
to read at night, pump a minimal amount of drinking water and listen to radio broadcasts would amount to less
than 1 percent of overall global energy demand.
Developing and emerging economies (27) _______ thus a two-fold energy challenge in the 21st century:
Meeting the needs of billions of people (28) _______ still lack access to basic, modern energy services while
simultaneously participating in a global transition to clean, low-carbon energy systems. And historic rates of
progress toward increased efficiency, de-carbonization, greater fuel diversity and lower pollutant emissions
need to be greatly accelerated in order to do so.
To a significant extent, fortunately, the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions may be aligned with the
pursuit of (29) _______ energy-related objectives, such as developing indigenous renewable resources and
reducing local forms of pollution. In the near term, (30) _______ , there will be tensions. Sustainable energy
policies are more likely to succeed if they also contribute toward other societal and economic development
objectives. Governments should look across policies to maximize positive synergies where they exist and avoid
creating cost-cutting incentives.
(Adapted from https://journals.openedition.org)
Question 26: A. sum B. number C. total D. amount
Question 27: A. face B. cope C. deal D. manage
Question 28: A.who B. which C. whom D. when
Question 29: A. much B. other C. another D. each
Question 30: A. however B. hence C. moreover D. therefore

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions from 30 to 34.
A report released by MOET in December 2018 showed that there are three wage levels for state-owned
school teachers. The lowest is applied to new graduates. Preschool and primary school teachers receive VND
3.2 million a month, including allowances. Secondary school teachers receive VND 3.5 million and high school
teachers VND 3.9 million. The average level belongs to teachers with 15-25 years of experience, ranging from
VND 7 million to VND 8.5 million for high school teachers and university lecturers. The highest pay is applied
to teachers who have been working for 25 and more years, ranging from VND 9 million (preschool, primary
school), VND 10 million (secondary school) and VND 11 million (high school and university). Dao Tuan Dat,
headmaster of Einstein High School (private) in Hanoi said the wages are different, depending on school
prestige. The schools which collect VND 2 million in tuition can pay VND 8-10 million a month to teachers
who have 20 teaching periods a week. As for the schools which collect VND 5 million in tuition, the pay could
be VND 20 million. Nguyen Xuan Khang, headmaster of Marie Curie School, which sets higher tuition than
Einstein, said the wages paid by private schools are high enough for teachers to devote all of their time to
teaching. At Marie Curie, only a few teachers have a low income of VND10 million. The most common wage
level is VND15-20 million, while senior teachers can receive VND 30-40 million. The figures showed the big
difference in the salaries paid by state-owned schools and by private schools.

The incomes of state-owned university lecturers are more flexible than state-owned general school
teachers. In addition to the official pay set by the state, lecturers can also get extra income from research
projects. However, Tran Van Top, rector of the Hanoi University of Science & Technology, said that the low
salaries paid to state-owned school lecturers are a big problem. “About 10 excellent lecturers left our school for
other schools in 2017. Some of them expected high salaries of VND 80-150 million from the new schools,” he
said. “The only solution to retain talents is offering good working conditions. But state-owned cannot do this.
We cannot pay VND100-150 million a month,” he explained. Meanwhile, state-owned schools need more
talented lecturers to improve their training quality in the competition with other schools in Vietnam, in the
region and the world. Experts say the problem will be settled once state-owned schools have autonomy.

Question 31: What could be the best title for the passage?
A. Low wage and state-owned schools suffer from teacher brain drain.
B. The high tuition of private schools attracts more and more students.
C. The lecturers of Hanoi University of Science & Technology are well paid.
D. state-owned schools require talented lecturers to improve their training quality.
Question 32: According to paragraph 1, high school teachers of public schools _________.
A. earn from VND 7 million to VND 8.5 million per month.
B. earn as much as VND 11 million every month.
C. are better paid than those who work in preschool, primary and secondary schools.
D. have to teach more classes than others.
Question 33: The word “figures” inparagraph 1 refers to ______.
A. the tuition fee B. the new graduates
C. private schools D. different levels of money teachers earn
Question 34: The word “talented” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. diligent B. gifted C. industrious D. lovely
Question 35: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned ?
A. Extra income from research project contributes to the flexible incomes of state-owned university lecturers.
B. Good working conditions can attract gifted teachers.
C. The tuition fee of Marie Curie school is higher than that of Einstein school.
D. Senior teachers of public school earn VND 30-40 million a month

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
A study conducted by Deloitte Consulting showed that 70 percent of purchasing decisions are made in
stores. Modern retailers, in order to lure buyers, have to pay attention to convenience and shopping experiences
for customers.
„Easy payment‟ is a method that encourages customers to buy more goods. Customers like to spend
money, but they find it a nightmare to queue up for payment. This explains why in recent years, leading
retailers globally have applied Scan & Go technology, with special attention to Check-out Free.
Each retailer customizes Scan & Go to make it fit their operations. However, in general, technology
brings two major features: shortening the time for payment and ordering products from a distance and door
delivery. Experts believe the technology will be used in Vietnam soon. Accounting for 26 percent of market
share, modern retail channels have seen high growth rate of 11 percent, while traditional retail, which accounts
for 70 percent, has a modest growth rate of 1 percent. While retail chains in the world have gone far with the
application of high technologies over many years, the retailers in Vietnam are still starting. An analyst said in
order to implement this technology, enterprises need to have sufficient resources and long-term vision. A
Vietnamese retailer once tried a similar payment method, but did not have the desired effects.
Most recently, VinMart and VinMart Plus, the two retail brands owned by Vingroup, a conglomerate
with powerful financial capability, joined the technology race with VinMart Scan & Go, allowing customers to
use Check-out Free . With the move, Vietnam‟s retail industry has officially joined the Check-out Free
technology market.
VinMart Scan &Go has been customized to both inherit the strong points of international Scan & Go
and fit Vietnamese consumption habits. It is estimated that VinMart Scan & Go can help reduce payment time
to 30 seconds, or 90 percent lower than usual shopping process.
It‟s unclear how far the Vietnamese version of Scan & Go developed by VinCommerce and VinID will go, but
it has gained initial success in luring customers. More than 15,000 bills were paid after three days of launch.
VinID, the developer of the shopping technology, said Scan & Go is just the first feature of a chain of features
to be developed by VinID and to be launched this year.
Question 36: Which best serves as the title for the passage?
A. VinMart and VinMart plus: The two potenital brands owned by Vingroup.
B. Retailers in Vietnam are ready for technology race in 4.0 era.
C. Scan & Go: The first feature of a chain of features to be developed by VinID
D. The Check-out Free technology market.
Question 37: In paragraph 1, the study was conducted in order to ________.
A. show that most of customers‟ buying decisions are made in stores
B. indicate that almost customers plan to buy things before going shopping.
C. see if customers agree to pay online or not.
D. mention the difference between traditional and modern retailers.
Question 38: The word “they” inparagraph 2 refers to ______.
A. goods B. retailers C. customers D. stores
Question 39: The word “enterprises” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. companies B. technologies C. offices D. governments
Question 40: The word “luring” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. agreeing B. accepting C. tempting D. understanding
Question 41: Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
A. Retail chains in the world have applied high technologies for many years.
B. Customers feel terrible to stand in a line, waiting for payment.
C. Scan and Go has an international version and a loca one for Vietnamese.
D. Ordering goods and door delivery are the shortcomings of the technology.
Question 42: Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 4?
A. Scan and Go is owned by Vingroup.
B. With the financial capacity, Vingroup has supported its two retail brands to intergrate in technology race.
C. Check-out Free will be used soon in Vietnam.
D. Vinmart and Vinmart Plus belong to Hoa Phat group.