Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Exercise 1: 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.
Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by road. Some of these are made on public transport
but most are by private car.
In Britain many people rely on their cars for daily local activities, e.g. getting to work, doing the
shopping, and visiting friends. People living in urban areas may use buses, trains or, in London, the
Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find
anywhere to park a car. Some places in the country may have a bus only two or three times a week so
people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars.
In the US large cities have good public transportation systems. The El railroad in Chicago and the
underground systems of New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC are heavily used.
Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars. Families often have two cars and, outside major
cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc. Many college and even
high-school students have their own cars.
Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though railways link most towns and cities.
Most places are linked by motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their own
convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam. Long- distance
coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may be less
comfortable. Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may be by air.
There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London. A lot of freight is also
istributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail.
In the US much long-distance travel is by air. America has two main long-distance bus companies,
Greyhound and Trailways. Amtrak, the national network, provides rail services for passengers. Private
railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of freight goes
by road.
The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion
and pollution. It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a few
years, making both these problems worse. The British government would like more people to use public
transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to share rides
with neighbours. Most people say that public transport is simply not good enough. Americans too have
resisted government requests to share cars because it is less convenient and restricts their freedom.
Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities public transport is bad, so they
see no reason to use their cars less.
(Extracted from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Oxford University Press, 2000)
Câu 1: In Britain and the US most people travel by .
A. sea B. rail C. road D. air
Câu 2: According to the passage, people in London may prefer the Underground to their own cars due
to .
A. cheap tickets B. air pollution C. long distances D. heavy traffic
Câu 3: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Few college students in the US have their own cars.
B. Families in the US often have more than one car.
C. Most Americans prefer to drive their cars outside large cities.
D. The underground systems are popular in some major US cities.
Câu 4: The phrase “at their own convenience” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to .
A. at the latest time and nearest place B. at an appropriate time and place
C. at an early time and nearby place D. at the fastest time and nearest place
Câu 5: According to the passage, people in Britain refuse public transport because .
A. they like to share rides with neighbours B. they think it is not good enough
C. they see no reason to use their cars less D. petrol is relatively cheap in Britain
(Đề số 1 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 2: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.
In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures for his business. He was not a good artist, so
he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his yard. That
was the first photograph.
The next important date in the history of photography was 1837. That year, Daguerre, another
Frenchman, took a picture of his studio. He used a new kind of camera and a different process. In his
pictures, you could see everything clearly, even the smallest details. This kind of photograph was called a
daguerreotype.
Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's process. Travelers brought back daguerreotypes from all
around the world. People photographed famous buildings, cities, and mountains.
In about 1840, the process was improved. Then photographers could take pictures of people and
moving things. The process was not simple and photographers had to carry lots of film and processing
equipment. However, this did not stop photographers, especially in the United States. After 1840,
daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities.
Matthew Brady was one well-known American photographer. He took many portraits of famous
people. The portraits were unusual because they were lifelike and full of personality. Brady was also the
first person to take pictures of a war. His 1862 Civil War pictures showed dead soldiers and ruined cities.
They made the war seem more real and more terrible.
In the 1880s, new inventions began to change photography. Photographers could buy film ready-
made in rolls, instead of having to make the film themselves. Also, they did not have to process the film
immediately. They could bring it back to their studios and develop it later. They did not have to carry lots
of equipment. And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive.
With a small camera, anyone could be a photographer. People began to use cameras just for fun.
They took pictures of their families, friends, and favorite places. They called these pictures "snapshots".
Documentary photographs became popular in newspapers in the 1890s. Soon magazines and books
also used them. These pictures showed true events and people. They were much more real than drawings.
Some people began to think of photography as a form of art. They thought that photographycould
do more than show the real world. It could also show ideas and feelings, like other art forms.
From “Reading Power” by Beatrice S. Mikulecky and Linda Jeffries
Câu 6: The first photograph was taken with .
A. a small handheld camera B. a very simple camera
C. a daguerreotype D. new types of film
Câu 7: Daguerre took a picture of his studio with .
A. a new kind of camera B. a very simple camera
C. special equipment D. an electronic camera
Câu 8: The word “this” in the passage refers to the .
A. carrying of lots of film and processing equipment
B. stopping of photographers from taking photos
C. fact that daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities
D. taking of pictures of people and moving things
Câu 9: The word “ruined” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A. poorly-painted B. heavily-polluted C. terribly spoiled D. badly damaged
Câu 10: The word “lifelike” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A. moving B. realistic C. touching D. manlike
Câu 11: Matthew Brady was well-known for .
A. inventing daguerreotypes B. the small handheld camera
C. taking pictures of French cities D. portraits and war photographs
Câu 12: As mentioned in the passage, photography can .
A. print old pictures B. convey ideas and feelings
C. show the underworld D. replace drawings
Câu 13: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?
A. Different Steps in Film Processing B. Story of Photography
C. Photography and Painting D. Story of Famous Photographers
(Đề số 1 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 3: 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 team of Russian scientists has challenged the theory that the woolly mammoths became extinct
10,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age. The scientists have reported that the beasts may have survived
until 2000 B.C. on an island off the coast of Siberia, where researchers uncovered 29 fossilized woolly
mammoth teeth ranging in age from 4,000 to 7,000 years. The question to be asked now is, how did these
prehistoric pachyderms survive in their island environment? One possibility is that they adapted to their
confined surroundings by decreasing their bulk. This theory is based on their smaller tooth size, which
has led scientists to believe that they were only 6 feet tall at the shoulder compared with 10 feet of their
full-sized counterpart. But would this be enough to enable them to survive thousands of years beyond
that of other mammoths? Researchers are still working to uncover the reasons for this isolated group's
belated disappearance.
Câu 14: With which topic is this passage mainly concerned?
A. Some scientists have challenged a theory.
B. Some small teeth have been discovered.
C. Some mammoths lived longer than others.
D. Some pachyderms survived on an island.
Câu 15: According to the passage, some researchers suggest that mammoths became extinct
A. about 2,000 years ago B. about 4,000 years ago
C. about 7,000 years ago D. about 10,000 years ago
Câu 16: The word "woolly" as used in line 1 refers to the animal's
A. body size B. feet size C. hair D. teeth
Câu 17: The author uses the word "counterpart" in line 7 to refer to
A. mammoths with more feet B. mammoths in an earlier time
C. mammoths with smaller teeth D. larger mammoths on the island
Câu 18: According to the scientists, the woolly mammoths may have managed to survive because they
A. shed their hair B. grew smaller teeth C. became herbivores D. decreased in size
(Đề số 2 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 4: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.
As heart disease continues to be the number-one killer in the United States, researchers have become
increasingly interested in identifying the potential risk factors that trigger heart attacks. High-fat diets
and "life in the fast lane" have long been known to contribute to the high incidence of heart failure. But
according to new studies, the list of risk factors may be significantly longer and quite surprising.
Heart failure, for example, appears to have seasonal and temporal patterns. A higher percentage of heart
attacks occur in cold weather, and more people experience heart failure on Monday than on any other day
of the week. In addition, people are more susceptible to heart attacks in the first few hours after waking.
Cardiologists first observed this morning phenomenon in the mid-1980, and have since discovered a
number of possible causes. An early-morning rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and concentration of heart
stimulating hormones, plus a reduction of blood flow to the heart, may all contribute to the higher
incidence of heart attacks between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.
In other studies, both birthdays and bachelorhood have been implicated as risk factors. Statistics reveal
that heart attack rates increase significantly for both females and males in the few days immediately
preceding and following their birthdays. And unmarried men are more at risk for heart attacks than their
married counterparts. Though stress is thought to be linked in some way to all of the aforementioned risk
factors, intense research continues in the hope of further comprehending why and how heart failure is
triggered.
Câu 19: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. risk factors in heart attacks B. seasonal and temporal patterns of heart attacks
C. cardiology in the 1980s D. diet and stress as factors in heart attacks
Câu 20: The word "potential" could best be re-placed by which of the following?
A. harmful B. primary C. unknown D. possible
Câu 21: The phrase "susceptible to" in line 6 could best be replaced by
A. aware of B. affected by C. accustomed D. prone to
Câu 22: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a possible cause of many heart attacks?
A. decreased blood flow to the heart B. increased blood pressure
C. lower heart rate D. increase in hormones
Câu 23: Which of the following is NOT cited as a possible risk factor?
A. having a birthday B. getting married C. eating fatty foods D. being under stress
Câu 24: The word "phenomenon" in line 7 refers to which of the following?
A. habit B. illness C. occurrence D. activity
Câu 25: word "trigger" as used in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. involve B. affect C. cause D. encounter
Câu 26: Which of the following does the passage infer?
A. We now fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
B. We recently began to study how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
C. We have not identified many risk factors associated with heart attacks.
D. We do not fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
(Đề số 2 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 5: 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.
It is estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become extinct. What causes
extinction? When a species is no longer adapted to a changed environment, it may perish. The exact
causes of a species’ death vary from situation to situation. Rapid ecological change may render an
environment hostile to a species. For example, temperatures may change and a species may not be able to
adapt. Food Resources may be affected by environmental changes, which will then cause problems for a
species requiring these resources. Other species may become better adapted to an environment, resulting
in competition and, ultimately, in the death of a species.
The fossil record reveals that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth. Recent
analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became extinct at the same time – a
mass extinction. One of the best-known examples of mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago with
the demise of dinosaurs and many other forms of life. Perhaps the largest mass extinction was the one
that occurred 225 million years ago. When approximately 95 percent of all species died, mass extinctions
can be caused by a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the close
interrelationship of many species. If, for example, something were to happen to destroy much of the
plankton in the oceans, then the oxygen content of Earth would drop, affection even organisms not living
in the oceans. Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction.
One interesting, and controversial, finding is that extinctions during the past 250 million years have
tended to be more intense every 26 million years. This periodic extinction might be due to intersection of
the Earth’s orbit with a cloud of comets, but this theory is purely speculative. Some researchers have also
speculated that extinction may often be random. That is, certain species may be eliminated and others
may survive for no particular reason. A species’ survival may have nothing to do with its ability or
inability to adapt. If so, some of evolutionary history may reflect a sequence of essentially random events.
Question 27: The word “it” in line 2 refers to
A. environment B. species C. extinction D. 99 percent
Question 28: The word “ultimately” in line 6 is closest in meaning to
A. exceptionally B. dramatically C. eventually D. unfortunately
Question 29: What does the author say in paragraph 1 regarding most species in Earth’s history?
A. They have remained basically unchanged from their original forms.
B. They are no longer in existence.
C. They have been able to adapt to ecological changes.
D. They have caused rapid change in the environment.
Question 30: The word “demise” is closest in meaning to
A. change B. recovery C. help D. death
Question 31: Why is “plankton” mentioned in line 14?
A. To illustrate a comparison between organisms that live on the land and those that live in the ocean
B. To point out that certain species could never become extinct
C. To demonstrate the interdependence of different species
D. To emphasize the importance of food resources in preventing mass extinction.
(Đề số 3 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 6: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.
Learning means acquiring knowledge or developing the ability to perform new behaviors. It is
common to think of learning as something that takes place in school, but much of human learning occurs
outside the classroom, and people continue to learn throughout their lives.
Even before they enter school, young children learn to walk, to talk, and to use their hands to
manipulate toys, food, and other objects. They use all of their senses to learn about the sights, sounds,
tastes, and smells in their environments. They learn how to interact with their parents, siblings, friends,
and other people important to their world. When they enter school, children learn basic academic subjects
such as reading, writing, and mathematics. They also continue to learn a great deal outside the classroom.
They learn which behaviors are likely to be rewarded and which are likely to be punished. They learn
social skills for interacting with other children. After they finish school, people must learn to adapt to the
many major changes that affect their lives, such as getting married, raising children, and finding and
keeping a job.
Because learning continues throughout our lives and affects almost everything we do, the study of
learning is important in many different fields. Teachers need to understand the best ways to educate
children. Psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other human-service workers need to
understand how certain experiences change people’s behaviors. Employers, politicians, and advertisers
make use of the principles of learning to influence the behavior of workers, voters, and consumers.
Learning is closely related to memory, which is the storage of information in the brain.
Psychologists who study memory are interested in how the brain stores knowledge, where this storage
takes place, and how the brain later retrieves knowledge when we need it. In contrast, psychologists who
study learning are more interested in behavior and how behavior changes as a result of a person’s
experiences.
There are many forms of learning, ranging from simple to complex. Simple forms of learning
involve a single stimulus. A stimulus is anything perceptible to the senses, such as a sight, sound, smell,
touch, or taste. In a form of learning known as classical conditioning, people learn to associate two
stimuli that occur in sequence, such as lightning followed by thunder. In operant conditioning, people
learn by forming an association between a behavior and its consequences (reward or punishment). People
and animals can also learn by observation - that is, by watching others perform behaviors. More complex
forms of learning include learning languages, concepts, and motor skills.
(Extracted from Microsoft® Student 2009 – DVD Version)
Question 32: According to the passage, which of the following is learning in broad view comprised of?
A. Knowledge acquisition outside the classroom B. Knowledge acquisition and ability development
C. Acquisition of academic knowledge D. Acquisition of social and behavioral skills
Question 33: According to the passage, what are children NOT usually taught outside the classroom?
A. literacy and calculation B. life skills
C. interpersonal communication D. right from wrong
Question 34: Getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job are mentioned in paragraph
2 as examples of .
A. the changes to which people have to orient themselves
B. the areas of learning which affect people’s lives
C. the situations in which people cannot teach themselves
D. the ways people’s lives are influenced by education
Question 35: Which of the following can be inferred about the learning process from the passage?
A. It becomes less challenging and complicated when people grow older.
B. It takes place more frequently in real life than in academic institutions.
C. It is more interesting and effective in school than that in life.
D. It plays a crucial part in improving the learner’s motivation in school.
Question 36: According to the passage, the study of learning is important in many fields due to .
A. the great influence of the on-going learning process
B. the need for certain experiences in various areas
C. the influence of various behaviors in the learning process
D. the exploration of the best teaching methods
Question 37: It can be inferred from the passage that social workers, employers, and politicians concern
themselves with the study of learning because they need to .
A. change the behaviors of the objects of their interest towards learning
B. make the objects of their interest more aware of the importance of learning
C. thoroughly understand the behaviors of the objects of their interest
D. understand how a stimulus relates to the senses of the objects of their interest
Question 38: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Psychologists are all interested in memory as much as behaviors.
B. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with how the stored knowledge is used.
C. Psychologists studying learning are interested in human behaviors.
D. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with the brain’s storage of knowledge.
Question 39: The passage mainly discusses .
A. practical examples of learning inside the classroom
B. application of learning principles to formal education
C. general principles of learning
D. simple forms of learning
(Đề số 3 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 7: 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.
On July 16, 1969, America launched the Apollo 11, Lunar Landing Mission from Kennedy Space Center.
This was a 363-foot-tall space vehicle, the five engines of which on the Saturn V rocket generated 7.5
million pounds of thrust. Twelve minutes after the launch, the astronauts were in orbit 120 miles above
the Earth. At a speed of 17,400 mph, they began their four-day journey to the moon. They had nearly a
quarter of a million miles to go.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Amstrong descended from the lunar module ladder. Just prior to taking his first
step on the moon, Armstrong pilles on a special ring, causing a TV camera to automatically deploy. as he
stepped into the moon’s surface, he proclaimed, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind.” However, Armstrong inadvertently omitted the “a” before “man”. This error slightly changed
the meaning of what was to become known as Armstrong’s famous statement.
Question 40. What is the passage mainly about?
A. the first manned mission to the moon B. how fast the rocket traveled
C. the first man in space D. the reason Neil Armstrong is so famous
Question 41. The word “they” in the passage refers to
A. Apollo 11 B. astronauts C. Americans D. engines
Question 42. The word “deploy” in the passage is closet in meaning to
A. photograph B. begin working C. stop functioning D. light up
Question 43. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. The Life of Neil Armstrong B. The History of space travel
C. The story of Apollo 11 D. The John F.Kenedy center
Question 44. It can be inferred that Armstrong’s statement was important because
A. Neil Armstrong was a great speaker
B. this was the first time America had sent people into space
C. they were the first words to be spoken on the moon
D. the statement was spoken from the lunar module ladder
(Đề số 4 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 8:Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answers sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Generally, in order to be preserved in the fossil record, organisms must possess hard body parts such as
shells or bones. Soft, fleshy structures are quickly destroyed by predators or decayed by bacteria. Even
hard parts left on the surface for any length of time will be destroyed, therefore, organisms must be buried
rapidly to escape destruction by the elements and to be protected against agents of weathering and
erosion. Marine organisms thus are better candidates for fossilization than those living on the land
because the ocean is typical the site of sedimentation, whereas the land is largely the site of erosion. The
beds of ancient lakes were also excellent sites for rapid burial of skeletal remains of freshwater organisms
and skeletons of other animals, including those of early humans, Ancient swaps were particularly
plentiful with prolific growths of vegetation, which fossilized in abundance. Many animals became
trapped in bogs overgrown by vegetation. The environment of the swaps kept bacterial decay to a
minimum, which greatly aided in the preservation of plants and animals. The rapidly accumulating
sediments in flood plains, deltas, and stream channels buried freshwater organisms, along with other
plants and animals that happened to fall into the water.
Only a small traction of all the organisms that have ever lived are preserved as fossils. Normally, the
remains of a plant or animal are completely destroyed through predation and decay. Although it seems
that fossilization is common for some organisms, for others it is almost impossible. For the most part of,
the remains of organisms are recycled in the earth, which is fortunate because otherwise soil and water
would soon became depleted of essential nutrients. Also, most of the fossils exposed on Earth’s surface
are destroyed by weathering processes. This make for an incomplete fossil record with poor or no
representation of certain species. The best fossils are those composed of that form the vast majority of
unaltered fossils. Calcite and aragonite also contributed to a substantial number of fossils of certain
organisms.
Question 45. The word “agents” is closest in meaning to
A. examples B. causes C. areas D. dangers
Question 46. The fact that the “land is largely the site of erosion” is significant because
A. erosion is less destructive than sedimentation
B. fossils are most common in areas subject to erosion
C. erosion contributes to the destruction of skeletal remains
D. few organisms live in areas that experience extensive erosion
Question 47. The best fossils are those
A. consist of Calcite and aragonite B. from hard parts of animals or plants
C. still in the shape of the original animal or plant D. animals or plants common for fossilization
Question 48. Why does the author mention “aragonite” in the last line?
A. To argue that certain fossils are more informative than others.
B. to explain why fossils are rare
C. To illustrate the kinds of inorganic hard parts that can form fossils
D. To compare aragonite fossils and calcite fossils.
Question 49. It can be inferred that flood plains, deltas, and stream channels are similar in which of the
following ways?
A. Rapid sedimentation in such locations makes it difficult to locate fossils
B. Such locations are likely to rich sources of fossils.
C. Fossilized human remains are only rarely found in such locations
D. Animals rather than plants have been preserved at such locations.
Question 50. Why are marine organisms good candidates for fossilization?
A. It take longer for them to be preserved
B. They have more fleshy structures than land organisms
C. The water environment speeds the decay caused by bacteria
D. It is likely that they will be buried rapidly
Question 51. According to the passage, an organisms without hard body parts
A. is not heavy enough to sink below the surface B. is not attractive to predators
C. is not likely to appear in the fossil record D. takes a long time to decay
Question 52. FAccording to the passage, why were the remains of organisms trapped in swamps better
preserved for the fossil record than those that were not?
A. The swamp environment reduced the amount of bacterial decay
B. Swamp waters contained higher amounts of materials such as calcium carbonate
C. There were fewer sediments in swamps than in other bodies of water
D. Swamp vegetation accelerated the decomposition of organisms
(Đề số 4 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 9: Read the following passage and blacken the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
There is a common expression in the English language referring to a blue moon. When people say that
something happens “only once in a blue moon,” they mean that it happens only very rarely, once in a
great while. This expression has been around for at least a century and a half; there are references to this
expression that date from the second half of the nineteenth century. (5) The expression “a blue moon” has
come to refer to the second full moon occurring in any given calendar month. A second full moon is not
called a blue moon because it is particularly blue or is any different in hue from the first full moon of the
month. Instead, it is called a blue moon because it is so rare. The moon needs a little more than 29 days to
complete the cycle from full moon to full moon. Because every month except February has more than 29
days, every month will have at least one full moon (except February, which will have a full moon unless
there is a full moon at the very end of January and another full moon at the very beginning of March). It is
on the occasion when a given calendar month has a second full moon that a blue moon occurs. This does
not happen very often, only three or four times in a decade. The blue moons of today are called blue
moons because of their rarity and not because of their color; however, the expression “blue moon” may
have come into existence in reference to unusual circumstances in which the moon actually appeared
blue. Certain natural phenomena of gigantic proportions can actually change the appearance of the moon
from Earth. The eruption of the Krakatao volcano in 1883 left dust particles in the atmosphere, which
clouded the sun and gave the moon a bluish tint. This particular occurrence of the blue moon may have
given rise to the expression that we use today. Another example occurred more than a century later.
When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, the moon again took on a blue tint.
Question 53. This passage is about
A. an idiomatic expression B. an unusual color
C. a month on the calendar D. a phase of the moon
Question 54. How long has the expression “once in a blue moon” been around?
A. For around 50 years B. For less than 100 years
C. For more than 100 years D. For 200 years
Question 55. A blue moon could be best described as
A. a full moon that is not blue in color B. a new moon that is blue in color
C. a full moon that is blue in color D. a new moon that is not blue in color
Question 56. The word “hue” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. shape B. date C. color D. size
Question 57. Which of the following might be the date of a “blue moon”?
A. January 1 B. February 28 C. April 15 D. December 31
Question 58. How many blue moons would there most likely be in a century?
A. 4 B. 35 C. 70 D. 100
Question 59. According to the passage, the moon actually looked blue
A. after large volcanic eruptions B. when it occurred late in the month
C. several times a year D. during the month of February
Question 60. The expression “given rise to” in the passage could be best replaced by
A. created a need for B. elevated the level of
C. spurred the creation of D. brighten the color of
(Đề số 5 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 10: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 following questions.
Colors are one of the most exciting experiences in life. I love them, and they are just as important to me
as emotions are. Have you ever wondered how the two are so intimately related?
Color directly affects your emotions. Color both reflects the current state of your emotions, and is
something that you can use to improve or change your emotions. The color that you choose to wear either
refects your current state of being, or reflects the color or emotion that you need.
The colors that you wear affect you much more than they affect the people around you. Of course they
also affect anyone who comes in contract with you, but you are the one saturated with the color all day!
I even choose items around me based on their color. In the morning, I choose my clothes based on the
color or emotion that I need for the day. So you can consciously use color to control the emotions that you
are exposed to, which can help you to feel better.
Color, sound, and emotions are all vibrations. Emotions are literally energy in motion; they are meant to
move and flow. This is the reason that real feelings are the fastest way to get your energy in motion. Also,
flowing energy is exactly what creates healthy cells in your body. So, the fastest way to be healthy is to
be open to your real feelings. Alternately, the fastest way to create disease is to inhibit your emotions.
Question 61. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Colors can help you become healthy.
B. Colorful clothes can change your mood
C. Emotions and colors are closely related to each other
D. Colors are one of the most exciting.
Question 62. Which of the following can be affected by color?
A. Your need for thrills B. Your appetite C. Your friend's feelings D. Your mood
Question 63. According to this passage, what creates disease?
A. Wearing the color black B. Ignoring your emotions
C. Being open to your emotions D. Exposing yourself to bright colors
Question 64. The term "they" in paragraph 3 refers to
A. none of these B. colors C. people D. emotions
Question 65. Why does the author mention that color and emotions are both vibrations?
A. Because vibrations make you healthy
B. Because they both affect how we feel.
C. To prove the relationship between emotions and color.
D. To show how color can affect energy levels in the body.
(Đề số 5 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 11: Read the following passage choose the correct answer to each of the question.
Around 365 B.C. in ancient Greece, the great teacher Plato told a story about a place called Atlantis. Plato
described Atlantis as a continent in the Atlantic Ocean. He said it had been the home of a powerful people
who were destroyed when the continent was swallowed by the sea.
Ever since Plato’s time, people have wondered if the story about Atlantis was really true. Was there ever
such a place as Atlantis? During the Middle Ages, many people believed in the legend of Atlantis. Some
men even made voyages to find the “lost continent”. Later, most people believed Atlantis to be just a
myth. Scientists could find no evidence to show that such a place had ever existed.
Ideas change in time, however, for now some scientists think that Atlantis might have been a real place. A
Greek professor has offered a new theory. He says that Atlantis was not a continent in the Atlantic Ocean
but an island called Thera in the Aegean Sea. The professor says that 3,500 years ago much of Thera
collapsed into the sea when a volcano erupted. He thinks that before the explosion Thera had been the
home of a people called Minoans. The Minoans were sea traders who ruled the Aegean Sea from 2,000
B.C. to 1,250 B.C.
Scientist who have come to investigate Thera have found an ancient city buried beneath volcanic ash and
stone. It appears that the people who lived in the city had an advanced civilization. They were probably
Minoans.
Is Thera the “lost continent” of Atlantis? No one may ever know for certain. Atlantis may remain a riddle
without an answer.
Question 66. According to Plato, Atlantis was in the .
A. Atlantic Ocean B. Pacific Ocean C. Red Ocean D. Aegean Sea
Question 67. The word in paragraph 3 that means “fell down” is .
A. collapsed B. existed C. erupted D. rode
Question68. A lot of people in the Middle Ages .
A. thought that Atlantis was only a myth B. found some evidence about the “lost continent”
C. made voyage to visit Atlantis D. believed in the existence of Atlantis
Question 69. Who were the ancient Minoans?
A. scientists B. sea traders C. teachers D. Greek professors
Question 70. Which statement seems true for the passage?
A. Plato was a Greek teacher who lived in Atlantis. B. There are different theories about Atlantis.
C. There are no different theories about Atlantis. D. Everyone knows where the lost continent is.
(Đề số 6 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 12:Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.
It is hard to get any agreement on the precise meaning of the term “social class”. In everyday life, people
tend to have a different approach to those they consider their equals from that which they assume with
people they consider higher or lower than themselves in the social scale. The criteria we use to “place” a
new acquaintance; however, are a complex mixture of factors. Dress, way of speaking, area of residence
in a given city or province, education and manners all play a part.
In Greece, after the sixth-century B.C., there was a growing conflict between the peasants and the landed
aristocrats, and a gradual decrease in the power of the aristocracy when a kind of “middle class” of traders
and skilled workers grew up. The population of Athens, for example, was divided into three main classes
which were politically and legally distinct. About one-third of the total were slaves, who did not count
politically at all, a fact often forgotten by those who praise Athens as the nursery of democracy. The next
main group consisted of resident foreigners, the “metics”, who were freemen, though they too were
allowed no share in political life. The third group was the powerful body of “citizens”, who were
themselves divided into sub-classes.
The medieval feudal system, which flourished in Europe from the ninth to the thirteenth century, gave
rise to a comparatively simple system based on birth. Under the King, there were two main classes - lords
and “vassals”, the latter with many subdivisions.
In the later Middle Ages; however, the development of a money economy and the growth of cities and
trade led to the rise of another class, the “burghers” or city merchants and mayors. These were the
predecessors of the modern middle class. Gradually high office and occupation assumed importance in
determining social position, as it became more and more possible for a person born to one station in life
to move to another. This change affected the town more than the country areas, where remnants of
feudalism lasted much longer.
Question 71. According to the passage, people evaluate others’ position by which following factors
EXCEPT .
A. the place they live B. the job they do
C. their dress D. the way in which they behave towards other people
Question 72. The author implies that slaves in Greece in the sixth century B.C. .
A. were not allowed to count votes at elections B. were not politically significant
C. controlled one-third of the democratic votes D. were kept ignorant as a political measure
Question 73. The word “remnants” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. opponents B. remains C. torn clothing D. garments
Question 74. It can be indicated from the passage that the decline of the Greek aristocracy’s power in the
sixth century B.C. .
A. caused international conflict in the area
B. lasted for only a short time
C. was assisted by a rise in the number of slaves
D. coincided with the rise of a new “middle class” of traders and peasants
Question 75. The word “they” in the second paragraph refers to .
A. freeman B. slaves C. metics D. citizens
Question 76. The author implies that Athens is often praised as the nursery of democracy .
A. because even very young children could vote
B. in spite of its heavy independence on slave labor
C. even though slaves were allowed to vote
D. because its three main classes were politically and legally distinct
Question 77. The word “predecessors” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. supporters B. ancestors C. descendants D. authorities
Question 78. The passage is mainly about
A. the human history
B. the modern society
C. the social life in ancient Greece
D. the division of social classes in the ancient world
(Đề số 6 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 13: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Anumber of factors related to the voice reveal the personality of the speaker. The first is the broad
area of communication, which includes imparting information by use of language, communicating with a
group or an individual and specialized communication throughperformance. Aperson conveys thoughts
and ideas through choice of words, by a tone of voice that is pleasant or unpleasant, gentle or harsh, by
the rhythm that is inherent within the language itself, and by speech rhythms that are flowing and regular
or uneven and hesitant, and finally, by the pitch and melody of the utterance. When speaking before a
group, a person’s tone may indicate uncertainty or fright, confidence or calm. At interpersonal levels,
the tone may reflect ideas and feelings over and above the words chosen, or may believe them.Here
the participant’s tone can consciously or unconsciously reflect intuitive sympathy or antipathy, lack of
concern or interest, fatigue, anxiety, enthusiasm or excitement, all of which are usually discernible by the
acute listener. Public performance is a manner of communication that is highly specialized with its own
techniques for obtaining effects by voice and /or gesture. The motivation derived from the text, and in the
case of singing, the music, in combination with the performer’s skills, personality, and ability to create
empathy will determine the success of artistic, political, or pedagogic communication. Second, the
voice gives psychological clues to a person’s self-image, perception of others, and emotional health. Self-
image can be indicated by a tone of voice that is confident, pretentious, shy, aggressive, outgoing, or
exuberant, to name only a few personality traits. Also the sound may give a clue to the facade or mask of
that person, for example, a shy person hiding behind an overconfident front. How a speaker perceives the
listener’s receptiveness, interest, or sympathy in any given conversation can drastically alter the tone of
presentation, by encouraging or discouraging the speaker. Emotional health is evidenced in the voice by
free and melodic sounds of the happy, by constricted and harsh sound of the angry, and by dull and
lethargic qualities of the depressed.
Question 79: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The function of the voice in performance
B. Communication styles
C. The connection between voice and personality
D. The production of speech
Question 80: What does the author mean by stating that, “At interpersonal levels, tone may reflect
ideas and feelings over and above the words chosen”?
A. Feelings are expressed with different words than ideas are.
B. The tone of voice can carry information beyond the meaning of words.
C. A high tone of voice reflects an emotional communication.
D. Feelings are more difficult to express than ideas.
Question 81: The word “derived” is closest in meaning to .
A. discussed B. prepared C. registered D. obtained
Question 82: Why does the author mention “artistic, political, or pedagogic communication”?
A. As examples of public performance.
B. As examples of basic styles of communication.
C. To contrast them to singing.
D. To introduce the idea of self-image.
Question 83: According to the passage, an exuberant tone of voice mat be an indication of a person’s
.
A. general physical health B. personality
C. ability to communicate D. vocal quality
Question 84: According to the passage, an overconfident front may hide .
A. hostility B. shyness C. friendliness D. strength
Question 85: According to the passage, what does a constricted and harsh voice indicate?
A. lethargy B. depression C. boredom D. anger
(Đề số 1 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 14:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions.
U.N. Abandons Treaty to Ban Cloning
U.N. diplomats abandoned efforts to draft a treaty that would outlaw human cloning. They will
likely settle for a weaker statement, and won’t seek a widespread ban, officials said. The debate began
when Italy introduced a document into the UN. to stop any attempt at cloning human life. The Belgians
objected to the use of the term “human life” in the document, because they feared it would put a stop to
all forms of human cloning.
[1] There is near universal support among the United Nations’ 191 members for a ban on
reproductive cloning-creating cloned babies. [2] Many countries have wrestled over whether to allow
cloning for stem cell and other types of research. [3] Indeed, many researchers believe that stem cells
could be used to repair nerve tissue or cure diseases, including Alzheimer’s. [4] Stem cells are taken from
embryos and cloned, but extracting these cells kills the embryo. Opponents say that this is equal to
murder.
Question 86: What is the main topic of this passage?
A. a disagreement on cloning
B. the definition of “life”
C. reasons why cloning should be banned
D. the arguments against cloning babies
Question 87: Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage?
A. a chronological listing of steps used in cloning
B. a discussion of ways to use cloning for better health
C. a description of nations’ opinions about cloning and reasons for those opinions
D. none of the answers
Question 88: The word “it” in-the text refers to .
A. a ban
B. an attempt at cloning human life
C. use of the phrase “human life”
D. research
Question 89: Which of the following can be inferred from his passage?
A. The production of cloned babies will probably be banned.
B. No one knows what life is or when life begins.
C. Cloning for medical research will probably be banned.
D. Most diseases will be cured through cloning.
Question 90: Why are some countries “wrestling” over whether to ban cloning or not?
A. Because it is a very harmful process.
B. Because they don’t want to upset the UN.
C. Because the issue is morally and legally difficult.
D. Because they want to fight with other countries over cloning.
Question 91: The phrase “universal support” means .
A. every country is against the issue
B. every country is for the issue
C. there are equal numbers for and against the issue.
D. none of the answers
Question 92: The word “extracting” in the passage is closest in meaning to .
A. growing B. removing C. curing D. killing
Question 93: Which is the best place for the following sentence?
“Another type of cloning is the cause of the controversy.”
A. [l] B. [2] C. [3] D. [4]
(Đề số 1 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 15: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The Battle of Gettysburg
One of the most important battles of the American Civil War occurred around the small town of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from July 1 to July 3, 1863. What began as a search for shoes by the
Confederate Army quickly escalated into a major battle. As the Confederate soldiers sought new shoes,
they unexpectedly encountered Union cavalry stationed west of the town at Willoughby Run, and the
battle began. After much fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, the Confederates pushed the Union
forces back through the town of Gettysburg, where they regrouped south of the town along the high
ground near a cemetery.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered General R.S. Ewell to seize the high ground from the
battle - weary Union soldiers "if practical." Ewell hesitated in the attack, giving the Union troops a
chance to establish a stronghold along Cemetery Ridge and then bring in reinforcements with artillery. By
the time Lee realized Ewell had not attacked, the opportunity had vanished. Other failures by the
Confederates included the generals' opposition to the attack plans and a lack of information about Union
defense. This combination of errors allowed the Union forces to win a critical victory in the Civil War.
By the end, a total of 160,000 men were involved in this fierce and bloody battle.
Question 94: What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Shoes were an important factor in the Battle of Gettysburg.
B. Mistakes by Confederate forces led to a critical victory for the Union at Gettysburg.
C. The Battle of Gettysburg began accidentally and involved heavy casualties on both sides.
D. General Ewell hesitated in the attack on the high ground.
Question 95: Why does the author mention that "Ewell hesitated to attack"?
A. to explain an important mistake by the Confederates
B. to show that the Confederates were afraid
C. to show that Ewell was against the war
D. none of the answers
Question 96: Which of the following best describes how the Battle of Gettysburg began?
A. an accidental meeting B. an expected fight
C. a carefully planned surprise attack D. a misunderstanding
Question 97: According to the passage, which of the following is assumed in the Battle of Gettysburg?
A. 160.000 men were killed.
B. It was a major victory for General Lee.
C. The Union soldiers were led by General Ewell.
D. Both sides had many casualties.
Question 98: The word “escalated” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by .
A. failed B. ended C. grew D. continued
Question 99: The word “they” in paragraph 1 refers to .
A. soldiers B. shoes C. battles D. Army
Question100: Complete the summary by choosing one sentence (A, B, C or D) that is among the most
important information to fill in the blank.
SUMMARY: This passage discusses the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle began when Confederate and
Federal soldiers met by accident near Gettysburg. . Failures by the Confederate
forces in planning and intelligence allowed the Union army to win the battle.
A. When Lee realized that Ewell had not attacked, the opportunity was gone.
B. Confederate General Ewell hesitated to attack, which allowed the Union forces time to prepare.
C. The Confederate soldiers regrouped south of Gettysburg on high ground.
D. A total of 160,000 men were involved in the battle.
(Đề số 2 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 16:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
You can usually tell when your friends are happy or angry by the looks on their faces or by their actions.
This is useful because reading their emotional expressions helps you to know how to respond to them.
Emotions have evolved to help us respond to important situations and to convey our intentions to others.
But does raising the eyebrows and rounding the mouth say the same thing in Minneapolis as it does in
Madagascar? Much research on emotional expressions has centered on such questions.
According to Paul Ekman, the leading researcher in this area, people speak and understand substantially
the same "facial language". Studies by Ekman's group have demonstrated that humans share a set of
universal emotional expressions that testify to the common biological heritage of the human species.
Smiles, for example, signal happiness and frowns indicate sadness on the faces of people in such far-
flung places as Argentina, Japan, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Sumatra, the United States, Vietnam, the
jungles of New Guinea, and the Eskimo villages north of Artic Circle. Ekman and his colleagues claim
that people everywhere can recognize at least seven basic emotions: sadness, fear, anger, disgust,
contempt, happiness, and surprise. There are, however, huge differences across cultures in both the
context and intensity of emotional displays - the so called display rules. In many Asian cultures, for
example, children are taught to control emotional responses - especially negative ones- while many
American children are encouraged to express their feelings more openly. Regardless of culture, however,
emotions usually show themselves, to some degree, in people's behavior. From their first days of life,
babies produce facial expressions that communicate their feelings.
The ability to read facial expressions develops early, too. Very young children pay close attention to
facial expressions, and by age five, they nearly equal adults in their skill at reading emotions on people>s
faces. This evidence all points to a biological underpinning for our abilities to express and interpret a
basic set of human emotions. Moreover, as Charles Darwin pointed out over a century ago, some
emotional expressions seem to appear across species boundaries. Cross - cultural psychologists tell us
that certain emotional responses carry different meanings in different cultures. For example, what emotion
do you suppose might be conveyed by sticking out your tongue? For Americans, this might indicate
disgust, while in China it can signify surprise. Likewise, a grin on an American face may indicate joy,
while on a Japanese face it may just as easily mean embarrassment. Clearly, culture influences
emotional expressions.
Question 101: Unlike American children, Asian children are encouraged to .
A. display their emotions openly
B. conceal their positive emotions
C. control their emotions
D. change their behaviour
Question 102: The word "evolved" is closest in meaning to .
A. increased B. reduced C. developed D. simplified
Question 103: The phrase "this evidence" refers to .
A. human facial expressions
B. the fact that children can control their feelings
C. a biological underpinning for humans to express emotions
D. the fact that children are good at recognizing others' emotions
Question 104: Young children .
A. make amazing progress in controlling their emotions
B. take time to control their facial expressions
C. are sensitive towards others' emotions
D. spend a long time learning to read others' emotions
Question 105: The biggest difference lies in .
A. how often positive emotions are shown
B. how emotional responses are controlled
C. how intensive emotions are expressed
D. how long negative emotions are displayed
Question 106: Paul Ekman is mentioned in the passage as an example of .
A. investigators on universal emotional expressions
B. researchers on universal language
C. researchers who can speak and understand many languages
D. lacked many main ingredients
Question 107: The best title for the passage is .
A. ways to control emotional expressions
B. cultural universals in emotional expressions
C. Human habit of displaying emotions
D. review of research on emotional expressions
Question 108: Many studies on emotional expressions try to answer whether .
A. eyebrow raising means the same in Minneapolis and Madagascar.
B. different cultures have similar emotional expressions.
C. rounding the mouth has the same meaning in Minneapolis and Madagascar.
D. raising the eyebrows has similar meaning to rounding the mouth.
(Đề số 2 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 17: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Although management principles have been implemented since ancient times, most management
scholars trace the beginning of modern management thought back to the early 19005, beginning with the
pioneering work of Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) Taylor was the first person to study work scientifically.
He is most famous for introducing techniques of time and motion study, differential piece rate systems,
and for systemtically specializing the work of operating employees and managers. Along with other
pioneers such as Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Taylor set the stage, labeling his philosophy and methods
“scientific management’. At that time, his philosophy, which was concerned with productivity, but which
was often misinterpreted as promoting worker interests at the expense of management, was in marked
contrast to the prevailing industrial norms of worker exploitation.
The time and motion study concepts were popularized by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The
Gilbreths had 12 children. By analyzing his children’s dishwashing and bed making chores, this pioneer
efficiency expert, Frank Gilbreth, hit on principles whereby workers could eliminate waste motion. He
was memorialized by two of his children in their 1949 book called “Cheaper by the Dozen”.
The Gilbreth methods included using stop watches to time worker movements and special
tools (cameras and special clocks) to monitor and study worker performance, and also involved
identification of “therbligs” (Gilbreth spelled backwards) - basic motions used in production jobs. Many
of these motions and accompanying times have been used to determine how long it should take a skilled
worker to perform a given job. In this way an industrial engineer can get a handle on the approximate
time it should take to produce a product or provide a service. However, use of work analysis in this way is
unlikely to lead to useful results unless all five work dimensions are considered. physical, psychological,
social, cultural, and power.
Question 109: What is the passage primarily about?
A. The limitations of pioneering studies in understanding human behavior.
B. How time and motion studies were first developed.
C. The first applications of a scientific approach to understanding human behavior.
D. The beginnings of modern management theory.
Question 110: It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .
A. workers welcomed the application of scientific management
B. Taylor’s philosophy is different from the industrial norms
C. by the early 1900s science had reached a stage where it could be applied to the workplace
D. workers were no longer exploited after the introduction of scientific management.
Question 111: The word “prevailing” is closest in meaning to .
A. predominant B. broadly accepted C. prevalent D. common
Question112: According to the passage, Frank Gilbreth discovered how workers could eliminate
waste motion by .
A. using special tools such as cameras and clocks
B. using stop watches
C. applying scientific management principles
D. watching his children do their chores
Question 113: According to the passage, the time it takes a skilled worker to perform the motion of a
given job can be measured by using .
A. stop watches B. all five work dimensions
C. special tools D. therbligs
Question 114: Where in the passage does the author comment that the principles of scientific
management were often misunderstood?
A. Lines l-5 B. Lines 7-9 C. Lines 12-15 D. Lines 16-20
Question 115: All of the following are true except .
A. Scientific management was concerned with productivity.
B. the beginnings of modern management thought commenced in the 19th century.
C. Frank Gilbreth’s fame was enhanced by two of his children writing a book.
D. Analyzing work to increase productivity is not likely to be useful unless all of the dimensions
are considered.
(Đề số 3 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 18:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions.
A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire, which provides
information concerning how people think and act. In the United States, the best-known surveys are the
Gallup poll and the Harris poll. As anyone who watches the news during presidential campaigns knows,
these polls have become an important part of political life in the United States.
North Americans are familiar with the many “person on the street” interviews on local television
news shows. While such interviews can be highly entertaining, they are not necessarily an accurate
indication of public opinion. First, they reflect the opinions of only those people who appear at a certain
location. Thus, such samples can be biased in favor of commuters, middle-class shoppers, or factory
workers, depending on which area the new people select. Second, television interviews tend to attract
outgoing people who are willing to appear on the air, while they frighten away others who may feel
intimidated by a camera. A survey must be based on a precise, representative sampling if it is to
genuinely reflect a broad range of the population.
In preparing to conduct a survey, sociologists must exercise great care in the wording of questions.
An effective survey question must be simple and clear enough for people to understand it. It must also be
specific enough so that there are no problems in interpreting the results. Even questions that are less
structured must be carefully phrased in order to elicit the type of information desired. Surveys can be
indispensable sources of information, but only if the sampling is done properly and the questions are
worded accurately.
There are two main forms of surveys: the interview and the questionnaire. Each of these forms of
survey research has its advantages. An interviewer can obtain a high response rate because people find it
more difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than to throw away a written
questionnaire. In addition, an interviewer can go beyond written questions and probe for a subject’s
underlying feelings and reasons. However, questionnaires have the advantage of being cheaper and more
consistent.
Question 116: According to the passage, the main disadvantage of person-on-the-street interviews is that
they .
A. are not based on a representative sampling
B. reflect political opinions
C. are not carefully worded
D. are used only on television
Question 117: According to the passage, one advantage of live interviews over questionnaires is that live
interviews .
A. minimize the influence of the researcher
B. are easier to interpret
C. costless
D. can produce more information
Question 118: The word “precise” is closest in meaning to .
A. accurate B. rational C. required D. planned
Question 119: Which word is given definition in the text?
A. sampling ` B. poll C. survey D. interview
Question 120: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The principles of conducting surveys.
B. The importance of polls in American political life.
C. Problems associated with interpreting surveys.
D. The history of surveys in North America.
Question 121: According to paragraph 3, which of the following is most important for an effective
survey?
A. A sociologist who is able to interpret the results
B. Carefully worded questions
C. An interviewer’s ability to measure respondents’feelings
D. A high number of respondents
Question 122: The word “indispensable” is closest in meaning to .
A. necessary B. complicated C. expensive D. simple
Question 123: It can be inferred from the passage that one reason that sociologists may become frustrated
with questionnaires is that .
A. respondents often do not complete and return questionnaires
B. questionnaires are expensive and difficult to distribute
C. respondents are too eager to supplement questions with their own opinions
D. questionnaires are often difficult to read
(Đề số 3 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 19: Read the following passage and mark the setter A, B, C or D to indicate the
correct answer to each of the questions.
Amazing Machines!
The deepest diving submarine
The Japanese research submarine Shinkai 6500 can dive deeper than any other submarine. On
August 11, 1989, it went down to a depth of 6,526 meters beneath the ocean's surface. The
submarine is in 935 meters long, about the size of a bus and can take up to three people. It is used for
ocean research all over the world.
The most useful television
The Viera is the name of the world's only digital entertainment device that can go underwater. It is
made and sold in Japan. You can listen to your favorite music, or even watch a movie, all from the
comfort of your bathtub. And the battery lasts over five hours if you're planning to spend a long time
bathing. You can even use headphones with it — all you'll need is to find a pair that is waterproof!
The smartest monitor
The Japanese company EizoNanao has invented a very special computer monitor, called the FlexScan
monitor. The FlexScan monitor can stand up to 23 centimeters high, and it can turn almost 180 degrees
left or right. It weighs only 4.3kg. What's more, it can help save electricity. It senses when you have left
your computer and turns itself off when you've been gone for more than 40 seconds. When you come
back, it knows to turns itself back on!
The smallest motorcycle
A Swedish man named Tom Wiberg built the world's smallest motorcycle that can be ridden by a person.
He calls it the Small Toe. The front wheel is only 1.6 centimeters wide, and the back wheel is 2.2
centimeters wide. The rider sits barely seven centimeters above the ground. In 2003, Wiberg rode his
machine for more than ten meters and set a new Guinness World Record for the smallest rideable
motorcycle ever built.
Question 124: According to the passage, Viera is special because .
A. it plays very loud music B. it is made in Japan
C. its battery lasts five hours D. you can use it underwater
Question 125: According to the passage, the FlexScan monitor is "smart" because .
A. it knows when you leave your computer
B. it can turn almost 180 degrees
C. it cleans the air in the room
D. it can be used underwater
Question 126: According to the passage, which machine would a deep-sea photographer probably set?
A. Shinkai 6500 B. Small Toe
C. Viera D. FlexScan
Question 127: According to the passage, what is true about all the machines in the reading?
A. they are very small B. they contain computers
C. they are unique in some way D. you can buy them in stores
Question 128: The word “waterproof” means .
A. under the water B. water-repellent
C. water-resistant D. in deep water
Question129: The word "senses" closest in meaning to .
A. sees B. hears C. touches D. feels
Question 130: The word "barely" in the last paragraph closest in meaning to .
A. only just B. not C. not exactly D. equally
(Đề số 4 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 20:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
In most of the earliest books for children, illustrations were an afterthought. But in the Caldecott
"toy books", which first appeared in 1878, they were almost as important as the lines of text, and
occupied far more space in the book. One can almost read the story from the dramatic action in the
pictures.
Since then, thousands of successful picture books have been published in the United States
and around the world. In the best the words and illustrations seem to complement each other perfectly.
Often a single person is responsible for both writing and illustrating the book. One of the greatest, and
certainly one of the most successful, illustrator-authors was Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor
Geisel. His first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, hit the market in 1937,
and the world of children's literature was changed forever. Seuss's playful drawings were a perfect
complement to his
engaging stories and unforgettable characters. In 1957, Seuss's The Cat in the Hat became the first book in
Random House's best -selling series, Beginner Books, written by Seuss and several other authors. These
combine outrageous illustrations of people, creatures, and plants, and playful stories written in very
simple language.
Dr. Seuss is not the only well-known author-illustrator, of course. There is Max Sendak, who
wrote and illustrated Where the Wild Things Are, the story of a little boy named Max, who becomes
king of the fierce ( but funny) creatures that live in the Land of the Wilds Things. Robert McCloskey
produced both the richly textured illustrations and delightful story of a family of ducks living in
downtown Boston, Make Ways for Ducklings. Some books are produced by a collaborative author
artist team. Author Margaret Wise Brown combined with illustrator Clement Hurd to produce two
delightful books loved by very young children, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Another
example is the husband-and- wife team of writer Audrey Wood and illustrator Don Wood, who were
responsible for King Bidgood's in the Bathtub and The Napping House.
Wordless and nearly wordless picture books have become popular. With a little help, three and
four-year-olds can follow the sequence of events, and they can understand the stories suggested in them.
The marvel of books with few or no words is that they allow children and their parents the opportunity to
tell and retell the same stories over and over in their own words. One of the most charming examples of a
wordless book is Jan Omerod's Sunshine. Barbara Berger's Grandfather Twilight and David Weisner's
Tuesday are examples of books containing only a few words.
U.S. publishers have also drawn on illustrators from other countries whose original., imaginative
works have brought their different visions to American children's books. Among them are Leo Lionni
from Italy, Feodor Rojankovsky from Russia, and Taro Yashimi from Japan.
hen did illustrations become important in books for children?
Question 131: When did illustrations become important in books for children?
A. In late 19th century B. In 1937
C. Only recently D. In 1957
Question 132: The word "they" in the first paragraph refers to .
A. the earliest books for children B. illustrations
C. the Caldecott "toy books" D. lines of text
Question 133: The phrase "the best" in paragraph 2 refers to the best .
A. picture books B. illustrations
C. authors D. words
Question 134: According to the passage, pictures help make children's books .
A. sell better B. unforgettable
C. more successful D. more original
Question 135: According to the passage, when was the world of children's literature changed?
A. Before Seuss's first children's book hit the market.
B. Before Seuss's made playful drawings.
C. After Seuss's first children's book hit the market.
D. After Seuss's book became Random House's best-seller.
Question 136: "Sunshine" is given in the passage as an example of a book that .
A. is very charming B. is only for children
C. contains only pictures D. contains only a few words
Question 137: Leo Lionni, Feodor Rojankovsky, and Taro Yashimi are mentioned in the passage to
show that .
A. there are talented authors in different countries.
B. U.S. publishers attract good artists from other countries.
C. illustrators from other countries want to work for U.S. publishers.
D. illustrators from other countries have different visions to U.S. publishers.
Question 138: What is the main idea of the reading passage?
A. Dr. Seuss was one of the most successful illustrator-authors.
B. Husband-and-wife teams can become successful in producing books.
C. Only wordless and nearly wordless picture books have become popular.
D. Pictures are very important in books for children.
(Đề số 4 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 21: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Most forms of property are concrete and tangible, such as houses, cars, furniture or anything else
that is included in one’s possessions. Other forms of property can be intangible and copyright deals with
intangible forms of property. Copyright is a legal protection extended to authors of creative works, for
example, books, magazine articles, maps, films, plays, television shows, software, paintings, photographs,
music, choreography in dance and all other forms of intellectual or artistic property.
Although the purpose of artistic property is usually public use and enjoyment, copyright
establishes the ownership of the creator. When a person buys a copyrighted magazine, it belongs to this
individual as a tangible object. However, the authors of the magazine articles own the research and the
writing that went into creating the articles. The right to make and sell or give away copies of books or
articles belongs to the authors, publishers, or other individuals or organizations that hold the copyright.
To copy an entire book or a part of it, permission must be received from the copyright owner, who will
most likely expect to be paid.
Copyright law distinguishes between different types of intellectual property. Music may be played
by anyone after it is published. However, if it is performed for profit, the performers need to pay a fee,
called a royalty. A similar principle applies to performances of songs and plays. On the other hand,
names, ideas, and book titles are accepted. Ideas do not become copyrighted property until they are
published in a book, a painting or a musical work. Almost all artistic work created before the 20th century
is not copyrighted because it was created before the copyright law was passed.
The two common ways of infringing upon the copyright are plagiarism and piracy. Plagiarizing
the work of another person means passing it off as one’s own. The word plagiarism is derived from the
Latin plagiarus, which means “abductor”. Piracy may be an act of one person, but, in many cases, it is a
joint effort of several people who reproduce copyrighted material and sell it for profit without paying
royalties to the creator. Technological innovations have made piracy easy and anyone can duplicate a
motion picture on videotape, a computer program, or a book. Video cassette recorders can be used by
practically anyone to copy movies and television programs, and copying software has become almost 'as
easy as copying a book. Large companies zealously monitor their copyrights for slogans, advertisements,
and brand names, protected by a trademark.
Question 139: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Legal rights of property owners.
B. Legal ownership of creative work.
C. Examples of copyright piracy.
D. Copying creating work for profit.
Question 140: It can be inferred from the passage that copyright law is intended to protect .
A. paintings and photographs from theft
B. the creator’s ability to profit from the work
C. the user’s ability to enjoy an artistic work
D. computer software and videos from being copied
Question 141: The word “principle” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to .
A. crucial point B. cardinal role
C. fundamental rule D. formidable force
Question 142: Which of the following properties is NOT mentioned as protected by copyright?
A. printed medium B. paintings and maps
C. music and plays D. scientific discoveries
Question 143: It can be inferred from the passage that it is legal if .
A. two drawings, created by two different artists, have the same images
B. two books, written by two different authors, have the same titles
C. two songs, written by two different composers, have the same melody
D. two plays, created by two different playwrights, have the same plot and characters
Question 144: The phrase “infringing upon” in paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. impinging upon B. inducting for C. violating D. abhorring
Question 145: The purpose of copyright law is most comparable with the purpose of which of the
following?
A. A law against theft B. A law against smoking
C. A school policy D. A household rule
(Đề số 5 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 22:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Did you ever watch a video on the Internet? Maybe you used YouTube. YouTube is a Website
where people can share their video. Today, YouTube is an important part of the Internet. However, that
wasn’t always true.
YouTube started with a young man named Jawed Karim and two friends. One day, Karim was on
the Internet. He wanted information about the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. He found news stories
about it, but he couldn't find any videos. This gave Karin an idea. He wanted to help people put video on
the Internet. Karim told his friends about this idea. Together, they created a company - YouTube.
YouTube become a global success. Millions of people around the world Visited the Website. It
was clear to Google, another Internet company, that YouTube had a lot of value. Google made a deal. It
bought YouTube for $1.65 billion. As a result, YouTube investors and its employees made a lot of
money. The three friends who started YouTube were very big investors. Therefore, they made an
enormous amount of money.
Karim became very rich, and he continued to work toward his PhD. There was something else he
wanted to do. He wanted to help young people go into business. He used money and experience to start a
new company called Youniversity Ventures. This company helps young people who have good business
ideas. It gives them advice and money to start Internet businesses. Milo is one business that students
started with the help of Youniversity Ventures.
Milo is a shopping Website. It helps people find products in stores near their homes. Another
example is AirBoB. This Web site helps people find for video conferences. People in different places can
use this site to have business meetings.
Karim has some advice for students who want to start business. First, find a successful company.
Do a lot of research about the company and the top people in the company. There, copy the way they do
things. For students who wants to start Interner business, Karim is probably a very good example to copy.
Question 146: What can be the best title for the passage?
A. Sharing Success on the Internet.
B. To be successful on the Internet.
C. Support from Youniversity Ventures.
D. The best Videos from YouTube.
Question 146: What does the word “This” in paragraph 2 refers to?
A. the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.
B. that he could find no Videos.
C. the news stories he could find.
D. the information of the 2004 tsunami.
Question 148: What do people use YouTube for?
A. doing shopping. B. sharing Videos.
C. starting business. D. finding vacation places.
Question 149: Which of the following in NOT mentioned about Karim?
A. He had the original idea of YouTube.
B. He created a lot of sample Videos for YouTube.
C. He earned a lot of money from YouTube.
D. He is the owner of Youniversity Ventures.
Question 150: YouTube now belongs to .
A. Milo B. Youniversity C. Google D. Tokbox
Question 151: Which of the following can replace the word “enormous” in paragraph 4?
A. increasing B. giant C. considerable D. huge
Question 152: What does Youniversity Ventures do?
A. It helps people to get PhDs at famous Universities.
B. It buys Internet companies such as Milo.
C. It gives people advice and money to start business.
D. It helps people find inexpensive vacation places worldwide.
Question 153: What is Karim’s advice for students who want to start business?
A. Get a PhD degree from famous university.
B. Copy successful people and companies.
C. Give money to Youniversity Ventures.
D. Work for successful people and companies.
(Đề số 5 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 23: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
A rather surprising geographical feature of Antarctica is that a huge freshwater, one of the world's
largest and deepest, lies hidden there under four kilometers of ice. Now known as Lake Vostok, this
huge body of water is located under the ice block that comprises Antarctica. The lake is able to exist in
its unfrozen state beneath this block of ice because its waters are warned by geothermal heat from the
earth's core. This thick glacier above Lake Vostok actually insulates it from frigid temperatures (the
lowest ever recorded on Earth) on the surface.
The lake was first discovered in the 1970s while a research team was conducting an aerial survey
of the area. Radio waves from the survey equipment penetrated the ice and revealed a body of water
of indeterminate size. It was not until much more recently that data collected by satellite made
scientists aware of the tremendous size of the lake; satellite-borne radar detected an extremely flat
region where the ice remains level because it is floating on the water of the lake.
The discovery of such a huge fresh water lake trapped under Antarctica is of interest to the
scientific community because of the potential that the lake contains ancient microbes that have survived for
thousands upon thousands of years, unaffected by factors such as nuclear fallout and elevated ultraviolet
light that have affected organisms in more exposed areas. The downside of the discovery, however, lies in
the difficulty of conducting research on the lake in such a harsh climate and in the problems associated
with obtaining uncontaminated samples from the lake without actually exposing the lake to contamination.
Scientists are looking for possible ways to accomplish this.
Question 154: The purpose of the passage is to .
A. explain how Lake Vostok was discovered
B. provide satellite data concerning Antarctica
C. discuss future plans for Lake Vostok
D. present an unexpected aspect of Antarctica's geography
Question 155: What is true of Lake Vostok?
A. It is completely frozen.
B. It is a saltwater lake.
C. It is beneath a thick slab of ice
D. It is heated by the sun.
Question 156: Which of the following is closest in meaning to "frigid" in the first paragraph?
A. extremely cold B. never changing
C. quite harsh D. rarely recorded
Question 157: All of the following are true about the 1970 survey of Antarctica EXCEPT that it .
A. was conducted by air
B. made use of radio waves
C. did not measure the exact size of the lake
D. was controlled by a satellite
Question 158: It can be interfered from the passage that ice would not be flat if .
A. there were no lake B. the lake were not so big
C. Antarctica were not so cold D. radio waves were not used
Question 159: The word "microbes" in paragraph 3 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. pieces of dust B. trapped bubbles
C. tiny organism D. rays of light
Question 160: The paragraph following the passage most probably discusses .
A. further discoveries on the surface of Antarctica
B. problems with satellite-borne radar equipment
C. ways to study Lake Vostok without contaminating it
D. the harsh climate of Antarctica
(Đề số 6 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 24:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
It is estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become extinct. What
causes extinction? When a species is no longer adapted to a changed environment, it may perish. The
exact causes of a species' death vary from situation to situation. Rapid ecological change may render an
environment hostile to a species. For example, temperatures may change and a species may not be
adapted. Food resources may be affected by environmental changes, which will then cause problems for
a species requiring these resources. Other species may become better adapted to an environment,
resulting in competition and, ultimately, in the death of a species.
The fossil record reveals that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth. Recent
analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became extinct at the same time - a
mass extinction. One of the best-known examples of mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago with
the demise of dinosaurs and many other forms of life. Perhaps the largest mass extinction was the one
that occurred 225 million years ago, when approximately 95 percent of all species died. Mass
extinctions can be caused by a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the
close interrelationship of many species. If, for example, something were to happen to destroy much of the
plankton in the oceans, then the oxygen content of Earth would drop, even affect organisms not living in
the oceans. Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction.
One interesting, and controversial, finding is that extinctions during the past 250 million
years have tended to be more intense every 26 million years. The periodic extinction might be due to
intersection of the earth's orbit with a cloud of comets, but this theory is purely speculative. Some
researchers have also speculated that extinction may often be random. That is, certain species may be
eliminated and others may survive for no particular reason. A species' survival may have nothing to do
with its ability or inability to adapt. If so, some of revolutionary history may reflect a sequence of
essentially random events.
Question 161: The word "it" refers to .
A. extinction B. species C. 99 percent D. environment
Question 162: he word "ultimately" is closest meaning to .
A. dramatically B. unfortunately
C. eventually D. exceptionally
Question 163: What does the author say in paragraph 1 regarding most species in Earth's history?
A. they have remained basically unchanged from their original forms.
B. they are no longer in existence.
C. they have been able to adapt to ecological changes.
D. they have caused rapid change in the environment.
Question 164: The word "demise" is closest in meaning to .
A. change B. help C. recovery D. death
Question 165: Why is "plankton" mentioned?
A. to illustrate a comparison between organisms that live on the land and those that live in the
ocean
B. to point out that certain species could never become extinct.
C. to demonstrate the interdependence of different species
D. to emphasize the importance of food resources in preventing mass extinction.
Question 166: According to paragraph 2, evidence from fossils suggests that
A. extinctions on Earth have generally been massive
B. dinosaurs became extinct much earlier than scientists originally believed
C. there has been only one mass extinction in Earth's history
D. extinction of species has occurred from time to time throughout Earth's history
Question 167: Which of the following can be inferred from the theory of periodic extinction mentioned in
paragraph 3?
A. many scientists could be expected to disagree with it.
B. most scientists believe the theory to be accurate.
C. the theory is no longer seriously considered.
D. evidence to support the theory has recently been found.
Question168: In paragraph 3, the author makes which of the following statements about a
species' survival?
A. it may depend on chance events.
B. it does not vary greatly from species to species
C. it reflects the interrelationship of many species.
D. it is associated with astronomical conditions.
(Đề số 6 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 25: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Light from a living plant or animal is called bioluminescence, or cold light, to distinguish it from
incandescence or heat-generating light. Life forms could not produce incandescent light without being
burned. Their light is produced in chemicals combining in such a way that little or no measurable heat is
produced, and the life forms generating it are unharmed. Although bioluminescence is a relatively
complicated process, it can be reduced to simple terms. Living light occurs when luciferin and oxygen
combine in the presence of luciferase. In a few cases, fireflies the most common, an additional compound
called ATP is required.
The earliest recorded experiments with bioluminescence in the late 1800s are attributed to Raphael
Dubois, who extracted a luminous fluid from a clam, observing that it continued to glow in the test tube
for several minutes. He named the substance luciferin, which means “the bearer of life”. In further
research, Dubois discovered that several chemicals were required for bioluminescence to occur. In his
notes, it was recorded that a second important substance, which he called luciferase, was always present.
In later study of small, luminous sea creatures, Newton Harley concluded that luciferin was composed of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are the building blocks of all living cells. He also proved that there
are a variety of luciferin and luciferase, specific to the plants and animals that produce them.
Much remains unknown, but many scientists who are studying bioluminescence now believe that
the origin of the phenomenon may be traced to a time when there was no oxygen in the Earth’s
atmosphere. When oxygen was gradually introduced to the atmosphere, it was actually poisonous to life
forms, plants and animals produced light to use up the oxygen in a gradual but necessary adaptation. It is
speculated that millions of years ago, all life may have produced light to survive. As the millennia passed,
life forms on Earth became tolerant of, and finally dependent on oxygen, and the adaptation that produced
bioluminescence was no longer necessary, but some primitive plants and animals continued to use the
light for new functions such as mating or attracting prey.
Question 169: Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Cold light B. Luciferase
C. Primitive plants and animals D. Earth’s atmosphere
Question 170: According to the author, why has bioluminescence continued in modern plants and
animals?
A. For survival B. For attracting prey
C. For producing heat D. For burning excess oxygen
Question171: The word “primitive” is closest meaning to .
A. very old B. very large C. very important D. very common
Question 172: The word “it” refers to:
A. a plant B. an animal C. bioluminescence D. incandescence
Question 173: Where in the passage does the author explain how living light occurs?
A. Line 3-4 B. Line 5-7 C. Line 8-l0 D. Line 10-12
Question 174: Bioluminescence is described as all of the following EXCEPT .
A. a complex chemicals process
B. an adaptation of early plants and animals to the environment
C. a form of cold light
D. a poisonous substance
Question 175: The paragraph following the passage most probably discuss .
A. incandescence in prehistoric plants and animals
B. incandescence in modern plants and animals
C. bioluminescence in prehistoric plants and animals
D. bioluminescence in modern plants and animals
(Đề số 7 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 26:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions.
Many of the most damaging and life-threating types of weather-torrential rains, severe
thunderstorms, and tornadoes-begin quickly, strike suddenly, and dissipate rapidly, devastating small
regions while leaving neighboring areas untouched. One such event, a tornado, struck the northeastern
section of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tornado exceeded $250 million, the
highest ever for any Canadian storm. Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited
value in predicting short-live local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data
are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to discern the subtle atmospheric changes that
precede these storms. In most nations, for example, weather balloon observations are taken just once
every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data,
conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large
regions than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation-intensive approach needed for accurate, very short range forecasts,
or “Nowcasts”, was not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional
weather stations was prohibitively high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing
the raw weather data from such a network were insurmountable. Fortunately, scientific and technological
advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and
satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a
relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and
instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyzing this large volume of weather
information. Meteorologists and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and
video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic
displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new
technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.
Question 176: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Computers and weather B. Dangerous storms
C. Weather forecasting D. Satellites
Question 177: Why does the author mention the tornado in Edmonton, Canada?
A. To indicate that tornadoes are common in the summer
B. To give an example of a damaging storm
C. To explain different types of weather
D. To show that tornadoes occur frequently in Canada
Question 178: The word “subtle” is closest in meaning to: .
A. complex B. regular C. imagined D. slight
Question 179: Why does the author state that observations are taken “just once every twelve hours”?
A. To indicate that the observations are timely
B. To show Why the observations are of limited value
C. To compare data from balloons and computers
D. To give an example of international cooperation
Question 180: The word “they” refers to: .
A. models B. conditions C. regions D. events
Question 181: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advance in short-range weather
forecasting?
A. Weather balloons B. Radar systems
C. Automated instruments D. Satellites
Question 182: With which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree?
A. Communications satellites can predict severe weather.
B. Meteorologists should standardize computer programs.
C. The observation-intensive approach is no longer useful.
D. Weather predictions are becoming more accurate.
Question 183: Which of the following would best illustrate Nowcasting?
A. A five-day forecast
B. A warning about a severe thunderstorm on the radio.
C. The average rainfall for each month.
D. A list of temperatures in major cities.
(Đề số 7 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 27: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, tr or I) to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Humans have struggled against weeds since the beginnings of agriculture. Marring our
gardens is one of the milder effects of weeds - any plants that thrive where they are unwanted. They clog
waterways, destroy wildlife habitats, and impede fanning. Their spread eliminates grazing areas and
accounts for one-third of all crop loss. They compete for sunlight, nutrients, and water with useful plants.
The global need for weed control had been answered mainly by the chemical industry. Its herbicides are
effective and sometimes necessary, but some pose serious problems, particularly if misused.
Toxic compounds threaten animal and public health when they accumulate in food plants, groundwater,
and drinking water. They also harm workers who apply them.
In recent years, the chemical industry has introduced several herbicides that are more
ecologically sound. Yet new chemicals alone cannot solve the world's weed problems. Hence, scientists
are exploring the innate weed-killing powers of living organisms, primarily insects and microorganisms.
The biological agents now in use are environmentally benign and are harmless to humans. They
can be chosen for their ability to attack selected targets and leave crops and other plants untouched. In
contrast, some of the most effective chemicals kill virtually all the plants they come in contact with,
sparing only those that are naturally resistant or have been genetically modified for resistance. Furthermore, a
number of biological agents can be administered only once, after which no added applications are needed.
Chemicals typically must be used several times per growing season.
Question 184: With what topic does this passage primarily deal?
A. The importance of the chemical industry.
B. The dangers of toxic chemicals.
C. A proposal to ban the use of all herbicides.
D. Advantages of biological agents over chemical ones.
Question185: The word "marring" in bold is closest in meaning to .
A. spoiling B. planting C. dividing D. replacing
Question 186: Which of the following terms does the author define in the first paragraph?
A. weeds B. nutrients C. wildlife habitats D. grazing area
Question 187: Which of the following statements about the use of chemical agents as herbicides would
the author most likely agree?
A. It is occasionally required. B. It is safe but inefficient.
C. It should be increased. D. It has become more dangerous recently.
Question 188: Which of the following is NOT given as an advantage of using biological agents over
chemical herbicides?
A. They are safer for workers.
B. They are less likely to destroy desirable plants.
C. They are more easily available.
D. They do not have to be used as often.
Question 189: The word "innate" is closest in meaning to .
A. effective B. organic C. natural D. active
Question 190: Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A. A general idea is introduced and several specific examples are given.
B. Two possible causes of a phenomenon are compared.
C. A problem is described and possible solutions are discussed.
D. A recommendation is analyzed and rejected.
Exercise 28:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being
corrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day
the difference between the language he uses and the language those around him use. Bit by bit, he
makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people's. In the same way, children learn all
the other things they learn to do without being taught - to talk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle -
compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed
changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes for himself, let alone
correct them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless
it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the
teacher. Let him do it himself. Let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this
word says, what the answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or
not.
If it is a matter of right answers, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer
book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our
job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can't find the way to get the right answer. Let's
end all this nonsense of grades, exams, and marks. Let us throw them all out, and let the children
learn what all educated persons must someday learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to
know what they know or do not know.
Let them get on with this job in the way that seems most sensible to them, with our help as
school teachers if they ask for it. The idea that there is a body of knowledge to be learnt at school and
used for the rest of one's life is nonsense in a world as complicated and rapidly changing as ours.
Anxious parents and teachers say, "But suppose they fail to learn something essential, something they
will need to get on in the world?" Don't worry! If it is essential, they will go out into the world and
learn it.
Question 191: What does the author think is the best way for children to learn things?
A. By listening to explanations from skilled people.
B. By making mistakes and having them corrected.
C. By asking a great many questions.
D. By copying what other people do.
Question 192: The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are .
A. basically the same as learning other skills.
B. more important than other skills.
C. basically different from learning adult skills.
D. not really important skills.
Question 193: The word "he" in the first paragraph refers to .
A. other people B. their own work C. children D. a child
Question 194: What does the author think teachers do which they should not do?
A. They encourage children to copy from one another
B. They point out children's mistakes to them
C. They allow children to mark their own work
D. They give children correct answers
Question 195: According to the first paragraph, what basic skills do children learn to do without being
taught?
A. Talking, climbing and whistling B. Reading, talking and hearing
C. Running, walking and playing D. Talking, running and skiing
Question 196: Exams, grades and marks should be abolished because children's progress should only be
estimated by .
A. parents B. the children themselves
C. teachers D. educated persons
Question 197: The word "complicated" in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. comfortable B. competitive C. complex D. compliment
Question 198: The author fears that children will grow up into adults who are .
A. unable to think for themselves B. too independent of others
C. unable to use basic skills D. too critical of themselves
Exercise 29: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Scientists have discovered the bones of what may be the largest meat-eating dinosaur ever to walk
the earth. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Argentina and North America in
Patagonia, a desert on the eastern slopes of the Andes in South America. Besides the interesting fact
that the dinosaur was huge and horrifying, it is even more astounding that the bones of a number of the
dinosaurs were found together. This discovery challenges the prior theory that the biggest meat-eaters
lived as loners and instead indicates that they may have lived and hunted in packs. The Tyrannosaurus
Rex lived in North America and was believed to hunt and live alone.
The newly discovered meat-eater appears to be related to the Giganotosaurus family, being as
closely related to it as a fox would be to a dog. It is actually not of the same family at all as the
Tyrannosaurus Rex, being as different from it as a cat is from a dog.
The fossilized remains indicate that the animals lived about 100 million years ago. With
needle-shaped noses and razor sharp teeth, they were larger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex, although their
legs were slightly shorter, and their jaws were designed to be better able to dissect their prey quickly and
precisely.
Question 199: The author states that the newly discovered dinosaur remains are evidence that it was
the largest .
A. carnivorous dinosaur B. dinosaur ever
C. South American dinosaur D. herbivorous dinosaur
Question 200: The word horrifying in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. frightening B. fast C. large D. interesting
Question 201: The word astounding in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. pleasing B. displeasing C. surprising D. terrifying
Question 202: The author implies that the most interesting fact about the find is that this dinosaur
.
A. was found in the Andes B. had a powerful jaw and sharp teeth
C. was larger than Tyrannosaurus Rex D. lived and hunted with others
Question 203: The passage indicates that prior to this discovery scientists believed
.
A. there were no meat-eating dinosaurs in the Andes
B. meat-eating dinosaurs lived alone
C. Tyrannosaurus Rex lived in the Andes
D. meat-eating dinosaurs were small in stature
Question 204: The word it in the second paragraph refers to .
A. Relationship B. dog
C. newly discovered meat-eater D. Giganotosaurus
Question 205: The author states that the newly discovered meat-eating dinosaur is .
A. closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex.
B. not closely related to Tyrannosaurus Rex.
C. not closely related to Giganotosaurus
D. closely related to the large cat family
(Đề số 9– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 30:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Learning means acquiring knowledge or developing the ability to perform new behaviors. It is
common to think of learning as something that takes place in school, but much of human learning occurs
outside the classroom, and people continue to learn throughout their lives.
Even before they enter school, young children learn to walk, to talk, and to use their hands to
manipulate toys, food, and other objects. They use all of their senses to learn about the sights, sounds, tastes,
and smells in their environments. They learn how to interact with their parents, siblings, friends, and other
people important to their world. When they enter school, children learn basic academic subjects such as
reading, writing, and mathematics. They also continue to learn a great deal outside the classroom. They
learn which behaviors are likely to be rewarded and which are likely to be punished. They learn social
skills for interacting with other children. After they finish school, people must learn to adapt to the many
major changes that affect their lives, such as getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a
job.
Because learning continues throughout our lives and affects almost everything we do, the
study of learning is important in many different fields. Teachers need to understand the best ways to
educate children. Psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other human-service workers need to
understand how certain experiences change people's behaviors. Employers, politicians, and advertisers make
use of the principles of learning to influence the behavior of workers, voters, and consumers.
Learning is closely related to memory, which is the storage of information in the brain.
Psychologists who study memory are interested in how the brain stores knowledge, where this storage
takes place, and how the brain later retrieves knowledge when we need it. In contrast, psychologists who
study learning are more interested in behavior and how behavior changes as a result of a person's
experiences.
There are many forms of learning, ranging from simple to complex. Simple forms of learning
involve a single stimulus. A stimulus is anything perceptible to the senses, such as a sight, sound, smell,
touch, or taste. In a form of learning known as classical conditioning, people learn to associate two
stimuli that occur in sequence, such as lightning followed by thunder. In operant conditioning, people
learn by forming an association between a behavior and its consequences (reward or punishment).
People and animals can also learn by observation - that is, by watching others perform behaviors. More
complex forms of learning include learning languages, concepts, and motor skills.
Question 206: According to the passage, which of the following is learning in broad view comprised of?
A. Knowledge acquisition outside the classroom
B. Knowledge acquisition and ability development
C. Acquisition of academic knowledge
D. Acquisition of social and behavioral skills
Question 207: According to the passage, what are children NOT usually taught outside the
classroom?
A. literacy and calculation B. life skills
C. interpersonal communication D. right from wrong
Question 208: Getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job are mentioned in
paragraph 2 as examples of .
A. the changes to which people have to orient themselves
B. the areas of learning which affect people's lives
C. the situations in which people cannot teach themselves
D. the ways people's lives are influenced by education
Question 209: Which of the following can be inferred about the learning process from the passage?
A. It becomes less challenging and complicated when people grow older.
B. It takes place more frequently in real life than in academic institutions.
C. It is more interesting and effective in school than that in life.
D. It plays a crucial part in improving the learner's motivation in school.
Question 210: According to the passage, the study of learning is important in many fields due
to .
A. the great influence of the on-going learning process
B. the need for certain experiences in various areas
C. the influence of various behaviors in the learning process
D. the exploration of the best teaching methods
Question 211: It can be inferred from the passage that social workers, employers, and politicians
concern themselves with the study of learning because they need to .
A. change the behaviors of the objects of their interest towards learning
B. make the objects of their interest more aware of the importance of learning
C. thoroughly understand the behaviors of the objects of their interest
D. understand how a stimulus relates to the senses of the objects of their interest
Question 212: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Psychologists are all interested in memory as much as behaviors.
B. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with how the stored knowledge is used.
C. Psychologists studying learning are interested in human behaviors.
D. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with the brain's storage of knowledge.
Question 213: The passage mainly discusses .
A. practical examples of learning inside the classroom
B. application of learning principles to formal education
C. general principles of learning
D. simple forms of learning
(Đề số 9– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 31: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
It is commonly believed in the United States that school is where people go to get an education.
Nevertheless, it has been said that today children interrupt their education to go to school. The
distinction between schooling and education implied by this remark is important.
Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling. Education knows no
bounds. It can take place anywhere, whether in the shower or on the job, whether in a kitchen or on a
tractor. It includes both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole universe of informal
learning. The agents of education can range from a revered grandparent to the people debating politics on
the radio, from a child to a distinguished scientist. Whereas schooling has a certain predictability,
education quite often produces surprises. A chance conversation with a stranger may lead a person to
discover how little is known of other religions. People are engaged in education from infancy on.
Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive term. It is a lifelong process, a process that starts long before
the start of school and one that should be an integral part of one's entire life.
Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose general pattern varies little
from one setting to the next. Throughout a country, children arrive at school at approximately the same
time, take assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do homework, take exams, and
so on. The slices of reality that are to be learned, whether they are the alphabet or an understanding
of the workings of government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of the subject being
taught. For example, high school students know that they are not likely to find out in their classes the
truth about political problems in their communities or what the newest filmmakers are experimenting with.
There are definite conditions surrounding the formalized process of schooling.
Question 214: What does the author probably mean by using the expression "children interrupt their
education to go to school"?
A. Going to several different schools is educationally beneficial.
B. School vacations interrupt the continuity of the school year.
C. Summer school makes the school year too long.
D. All of life is an education.
Question 215: The word "chance" is closest in meaning to .
A. unplanned B. unusual C. lengthy D. lively
Question 216: The word "an integral" is closest in meaning to .
A. an equitable B. a profitable C. a pleasant D. an essential
Question 217: The word "they" refers to .
A. slices of reality B. similar textbooks
C. boundaries D. seats
Question 218: From the passage, we can infer that a high school teacher
A. is free to choose anything to teach
B. is bound to teach programmed subjects
C. is not allowed to teach political issues
D. has to teach social issues to all classes
Question 219: The passage is organized by .
A. listing and discussing several educational problems
B. contrasting the meanings of two related words
C. narrating a story about excellent teacher
D. giving examples of different kinds of schools
Question 220: The passage supports which of the following conclusions?
A. Without formal education, people would remain ignorant.
B. Education systems need to be radically reformed.
C. Going to school is only part of how people become educated.
D. Education involves many years of professional training.
(Đề số 10– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 32:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
In the West, cartoons are used chiefly to make people laugh. The important feature of all these
cartoons is the joke and the element of surprise which is contained. Even though it is very funny,
Unlike most American and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past
have also attempted to educate people, especially those who could not read and write. a good cartoon
is always based on close observation of a particular feature of life and usually has a serious purpose.
Cartoons in the West have been associated with political and social matters for many years. In wartime,
for example, they proved to be an excellent way of spreading propaganda. Nowadays cartoons are often
used to make short, sharp comments on politics and governments as well as on a variety of social
matters. In this way, the modern cartoon has become a very powerful force in influencing people in
Europe and the United States.
Unlike most American and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past
have also attempted to educate people, especially those who could not read and write. Such cartoons
about the lives and sayings of great men in China have proved extremely useful in bringing education
to illiterate and semi-literate people throughout China. Confucius, Mencius and Laozi have all appeared in
very interesting stories presented in the form of cartoons. The cartoons themselves have thus served to
illustrate the teachings of the Chinese sages in a very attractive way.
In this sense, many Chinese cartoons are different from Western cartoons in so far as they do not
depend chiefly on telling jokes. Often, there is nothing to laugh at when you see Chinese cartoons. This
is not their primary aim. In addition to commenting on serious political and social matters, Chinese
cartoons have aimed at spreading the traditional Chinese thoughts and culture as widely as possible
among the people.
Today, however, Chinese cartoons have an added part to play in spreading knowledge. They offer a
very attractive and useful way of reaching people throughout the world, regardless of the particular
country in which they live. Thus, through cartoons, the thoughts and teachings of the old Chinese
philosophers and sages can now reach people who live in such countries as Britain, France, America,
Japan, Malaysia or Australia and who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture.
Until recently, the transfer of knowledge and culture has been overwhelmingly from the West to the
East and not vice versa. By means of cartoons, however, publishing companies in Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Singapore are now having success in correcting this imbalance between the East and the West.
Cartoons can overcome language barriers in all foreign countries. The vast increase in the popularity
of these cartoons serves to illustrate the truth of Confucius's famous saying "One picture is worth a
thousand words."
Question 221: Which of the following clearly characterizes Western cartoons?
A. Seriousness, propaganda, and attractiveness.
B. Enjoyment, liveliness, and carefulness.
C. Humor, unexpectedness, and criticism.
D. Originality, freshness, and astonishment.
Question 222: Chinese cartoons have been useful as an important means of .
A. amusing people all the time
B. educating ordinary people
C. spreading Western ideas
D. political propaganda in wartime
Question 223: The major differences between Chinese cartoons and Western cartoons come from their
.
A. purposes B. values C. nationalities D. styles
Question 224: The pronoun "this" in paragraph 4 mostly refers to .
A. a propaganda campaign B. a funny element C. a piece of art D. an educational purpose
Question 225: The passage is intended to present .
A. a description of cartoons of all kinds the world over
B. an opinion about how cartoons entertain people
C. an outline of Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons
D. a contrast between Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons
Question 226: Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. An Excellent Way of Spreading Propaganda
B. A Very Powerful Force in Influencing People
C. Cartoons as a Way of Educating People
D. Chinese Cartoons and Western Cartoons
Question 227: Which of the following is most likely the traditional subject of Chinese cartoons?
A. The stories and features of the lives of great men the world over.
B. The illiterate and semi-literate people throughout China.
C. The philosophies and sayings of ancient Chinese thinkers.
D. Jokes and other kinds of humor in political and social matters.
Question 228: According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. Language barriers restricted cartoons.
B. Cartoons will replace other forms of writing.
C. Western cartoons always have a serious purpose.
D. Cartoons can serve various purposes.
(Đề số 10– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 33: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The concept of obtaining fresh water from iceberg that is towed to populated areas and arid
regions of the world was once treated as a joke more appropriate to cartoons than real life. But now it is
being considered quite seriously by many nations, especially since scientists have warned that the human
race will outgrow its fresh water supply faster than it runs out of food. Glaciers are a possible source of
fresh water that has been overlooked until recently. (A)
Three-quarters of the Earth's fresh water supply is still tied up in glacial ice, a reservoir of
untapped fresh water so immense that it could sustain all the rivers of the world for 1,000 years. Floating
on the oceans every year are 7,659 trillion metric tons of ice encased in 10,000 icebergs that break away
from the polar ice caps, more than ninety percent of them from Antarctica. (B)
Huge glaciers that stretch over the shallow continental shelf give birth to icebergs throughout the
year. Icebergs are not like sea ice, which is formed when the sea itself freezes; rather, they are formed
entirely on land, breaking off when glaciers spread over the sea. As they drift away from the polar region,
icebergs sometimes move mysteriously in a direction opposite to the wind, pulled by subsurface
currents. Because they melt more slowly than smaller pieces of ice, icebergs have been known to drift as
far north as 35 degrees south of the equator in the Atlantic Ocean. (C)
The difficulty arises in other technical matters, such as the prevention of rapid melting in warmer
climates and the funneling of fresh water to shore in great volume. But even if the icebergs lost half of
their volume in towing, the water they could provide would be far cheaper than that produced by
desalination, or removing salt from water. (D)
Question 229: What is the main topic of the passage?
A. The movement of glaciers.
B. Icebergs as a source of fresh water.
C. Future water shortages.
D. The future of the world's rivers.
Question 230: The word “arid” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. anhydrous B. fruitful C. remote D. distant
Question 231: The word “it” in the first paragraph refers to .
A. an iceberg that is towed B. obtaining fresh water from icebergs
C. the population of arid areas D. real life
Question 232: According to the author, most of the world's fresh water is to be found in .
A. oceans B. rivers C. glaciers D. reservoirs
Question233: The word “currents” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. pulls B. waves C. weather D. flows of water
Question 234: Which is the best place where the following sentence will most properly fit?
“To corral them and steer them to parts of the world where they are needed would not be too difficult.”
A. (A) B. (B) C. (C) D. (D)
Question 235: What are the technical matters mentioned as the difficulty arising in the process of
obtaining fresh water from the iceberg?
A. The prevention of rapid melting iceberg
B. The filtering water and the funneling it to shore in a large amount
C. The purifying the fresh water and carrying it to shore
D. The prevention of rapid melting and the funneling to shore in great volume
(Đề số 11– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 34:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
New surveys suggest that the technological tools we use to make our lives easier are killing our
leisure time. We are working longer hours, taking fewer and shorter vacations (and when we do go away,
we take our cell phones, PDAs, and laptops along). And, we are more stressed than ever as increased use
of e-mail, voice mail, cell phones, and the Internet is destroying any idea of privacy and leisure.
Since the Industrial Revolution, people have assumed that new labor-saving devices would free
them from the burdens of the workplace and give them more time to grow intellectually, creatively, and
socially - exploring the arts, keeping up with current events, spending more time with friends and family,
and even just "goofing off".
But here we are at the start of the 21st century, enjoying one of the greatest technological boom
times in human history, and nothing could be further from the truth. The very tools that were supposed to
liberate us have bound us to our work and study in ways that were inconceivable just a few years ago. It
would seem that technology almost never does what we expect.
In “the old days”, the lines between work and leisure time were markedly clearer. People left their
offices at a predictable time, were often completely disconnected from and out of touch with their jobs
as they traveled to and from work, and were off-duty once they were home. That is no longer true. In
today's highly competitive job market, employers demand increased productivity, expecting workers to
put in longer hours and to keep in touch almost constantly via fax, cell phones, e-mail, or other
communications devices. As a result, employees feel the need to check in on what is going on at the
office, even on days off. They feel pressured to work after hours just to catch up on everything they have
to do. Workers work harder and longer, change their work tasks more frequently, and have more and
more reasons to worry about job security.
Bosses, colleagues, family members, lovers, and friends expect instant responses to voice mail and
e-mail messages. Even college students have become bound to their desks by an environment in which
faculty, friends, and other members of the college community increasingly do their work online. Studies
of time spent on instant messaging services would probably show staggering use.
This is not what technology was supposed to be doing for us. New technologies, from genetic
research to the Internet, offer all sorts of benefits and opportunities. But, when new tools make life more
difficult and stressful rather than easier and more meaningful - and we are, as a society, barely conscious
of it - then something has gone seriously awry, both with our expectations for technology and our
understanding of how it should benefit us.
(From "Summit 1" by Joan Saslow & Allen Ascher)
Question 236: According to the first three paragraphs, technological tools that were designed to make our
lives easier .
A. have turned out to do us more harm than good
B. have brought us complete happiness
C. have not interfered with our privacy
D. have fully met our expectations
Question 237: This passage has probably been taken from .
A. a political journal B. an advertisement
C. a science review D. a fashion magazine
Question 238: The word “They” in the fourth paragraph refers to .
A. tasks B. employees C. employers D. workers
Question 239: It can be inferred from the fourth paragraph that .
A. life is more relaxing with cell phones and other technological devices
B. employers are more demanding and have efficient means to monitor employees
C. it is compulsory that employees go to the office, even on days off
D. employees have more freedom to decide what time they start and finish work
Question 240: The word “inconceivable” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A. unforgettable C. unimaginable
B. foreseeable D. predictable
Question 241: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?
A. expectations and Plain Reality
B. research on the Roles of Computers
C. benefits of Technology
D. changes at the Workplace
Question 242: Which of the following could be the main idea of the fifth paragraph?
A. The coming of new technological advances has spoiled family and social relationships.
B. New technological advances have reduced work performance.
C. New technological applications are wise entertainment choices of our modern time.
D. New technological advances have added more stress to daily life.
Question 243: With the phrase “at a predictable time”, the author implies that
A. people were unable to foresee their working hours
B. people wanted to be completely disconnected from their work
C. people used to have more time and privacy after work
D. people had to predict the time they were allowed to leave offices
(Đề số 11– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 35: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Life expectancy is the period of time that a person can expect to live. Life expectancy varies
greatly between genders and cultures. It used to be that women had a lower life expectancy than men
(1 in every 4 women died in childbirth), but now they live an average of four to five years longer than
men. Life expectancy has been increasing rapidly over the last centuries. With the advent of such
modern
miracles as sewers, medicine and a greater understanding of how diseases are spread, our life
expectancy has increased by 25-30 years.
In developing countries like Swaziland, where there is a high HIV/ AIDS rate, life expectancy is
as low as 32.6 years. In developed countries like Australia, life expectancy rates are as high as 81 years.
There are an increasing number of factors which can cancel out the disadvantages you have. The one that
we are looking at now is how your career can affect your life expectancy. Choosing the wrong career
can result in a shorter life!
If you want your career to positively influence your life expectancy, you have to be made of
money. That's right. Rich people in wealthy areas of England and France live 10 years longer than the
people in poorer areas. Having a successful career has its drawbacks, too if the result of hard work is
stress.
Stress can lead to a number of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, fatigue,
tension and aggression. These conditions may result in a lack of concentration and an increase in
serious injuries at work. They can also lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks which seriously
affect life expectancy.
If you are worried that your job might decrease your life expectancy, you probably need to avoid
careers on "dangerous jobs" list such as timber cutters, pilots, construction workers, roofer, truck drivers.
So if you don't want to kick the bucket at an early age, choose a career in something other than
timber cutting, but above all, remember to relax.
From Pre-Essence Reading by Rachel Lee, Longman
Question 244: According to the passage, which of following is true if you have a successful career?
A. Your life expectancy increases by a decade.
B.You can afford to exercise and eat well.
C. You can buy an expensive car.
D. You can spend most of your day in an office.
Question 245: The passage mainly discusses .
A. the definition of life expectancy
B. the comparison of life expectancy between women and men
C. the importance of a successful career
D. the effects of a career on one's life expectancy
Question 246: According to the passage, all of the following are true EXCEPT
A. our life expectancy has increased by 25-30 years because there are fewer wars nowadays.
B. in the past, women's life expectancy was lower than that of men.
C. life expectancy varies greatly depending on genders and cultures.
D. there has been a dramatic increase in average life expectancy over the last centuries.
Question 247: Why does an increase in stress lead to an increase in workplace accidents?
A. workers are too busy to observe safety regulations.
B. workers don't care as much about their jobs.
C. it leads to a decrease in concentration and depression.
D. workers like to take sick leave and stay home.
Question 248: The word "They" in bold in paragraph 1 refers to .
A. woman B. cultures C. women D. genders
Question 249: The phrase "kick the bucket" in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A. live B. relax C. succeed D. die
Question 250: What is the main idea of the 1st paragraph?
A. Stress negatively affects life expectancy.
B. Stress results in lower life expectancy.
C. Making a bad career choice will make your life shorter.
D. Life expectancy has increased greatly over the last few centuries.
(Đề số 12– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 36:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
It can be shown in facts and figures that cycling is the cheapest, most convenient, and most
environmentally desirable term of transport in towns, but such cold calculations do not mean much
on a frosty winter morning. The real appeal of cycling is that it is so enjoyable. It has none of the
difficulties and tensions of other ways of traveling so you are more cheerful after a ride, even though the
rush hour.
The first thing a non-cyclist says to you is: "But isn't it terribly dangerous?" It would be foolish to
deny the danger of sharing the road with motor vehicles and it must be admitted that there are an
alarming number of accidents involving cyclists. However, although police records indicate that the car
driver is often to blame, the answer lies with the cyclist. It is possible to ride in such a way as to reduce
risks to a minimum.
If you decide to join the thousands in Britain who are now returning to cycling as a cheap,
satisfying form of transport your first problem will be trying to decide what bike to buy. Here are three
simple rules for buying a bike:
1. Always buy the best you can afford. Of course there has to be a meeting point between
what you would really like and economic reality, but aim as high as you can and you will get the benefit
not only when you ride but also if you want to sell. Well-made bikes keep the value very well. And
don't forget to include in your calculations the fact that you'll begin saving money on
fares and petrol the minute you leave the shop.
2. Get the best frame, the main structure of the bicycle, for your money as you can. Cheap
brakes, wheels or gears can easily be replaced by more expensive ones, but the frame sets the
upper limit on any transformation. You should allow for the possibility our cycling ambitions will
grow with practice. When you begin, the four miles to work may the most you ever dream of, but
after a few months a Sunday ride into the country begins to look more and more desirable. The best
thing is to buy a bike just a little bit better than you think you'll need, and then grow into it.
Otherwise, try to get a model that can be improved.
3.The fit is vital. Handlebars and seat height can be adjusted but you must get the right sized
frame. On the whole it is best to get the largest size you can manage. Frame sizes are measured in
inches and the usual adult range is from 21 inches to 25 inches, though extreme sizes outside those
measurements can be found. Some people say if you take four inches off from your inside leg
measurement you will end up with the right size of bike. The basic principle though is that you should
be able to stand with legs either side of the crossbar (the bar that goes from the handlebars to the
seat) with both feet comfortably flat on the ground.
Question 251: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as the advantages of
cycling?
A. it's not costly
B. it's convenient and psychologically comfortable
C. it's good for environment
D. it's good for exercise
Question 252: The phrase "coliel callziantions" inparagraph 2 canbest be replacedby .
A. unfriendly remarks B. poor judgments
C. unconvincing explanations D. cruel suggestions
Question 253: As regards road safety, the author thinks that .
A. people who say cycling is dangerous are foolish
B. driving is as dangerous as cycling
C. cyclists can often avoid accidents by riding with caution
D. cyclists are usually responsible for causing accidents
Question 254: The phrase "to be a meeting point" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
.
A. to reach a compromise B. to meet somewhere
C. to be in development D. to go and meet at a place
Question 255: People who are buying their first bicycle are advised to .
A. buy a cheap model to begin with
B. get a bicycle which suits their current needs
C. buy as big a bicycle as they can afford
D. spend as much money on a bicycle as they can
Question 256: After you have been cycling for a few months the author suggests that you will
.
A. want to ride only at weekends
B. want to ride further than you first imagined
C. find riding to work every day boring
D. find cycling in towns less dangerous
Question 257: The word "transformation" in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to .
A. transition B. amendment
C. change D. correction
Question 258: The author thinks that the main attraction of cycling is .
A. the pleasure it gives people B. the benefits to people's health
C. its comparative safety D. its relative comfort
(Đề số 12– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 37: Read the following passage and mark the letter A. B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
In ancient Greece, athletic festivals were very important and had strong religious associations.
The Olympic athletic festival, held every four years in honour of Zeus, eventually lost its local
character, became first a national event, and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been
abolished, international. No one knows exactly how far back the Olympic Games go, but some
official records date from 776 B.C.
The Games took place in August on the plain by Mount Olympus. Many thousands of spectators
gathered from all parts of Greece, but no married woman was admitted even as a spectator. Slaves,
women and dishonoured people were not allowed to compete. Records show that the evening of the
third day was devoted to sacrificial offerings to the heroes of the day, and the fourth day, that of the
full moon,
was set aside as a holy day. On the sixth and last day all the victors were crowned with holy garlands of
wild olive from a sacred wood. So great was the honour that the winner of the foot race gave his name
to the year of his victory. How their results compared with modern standards, we unfortunately had no
means of telling.
After an uninterrupted history of almost 1,200 years, the Games were abolished in A. D. 394
because of their pagan origin. It was a great many years before there was another such international
athletic gathering. The Greek institution was brought back into existence in 1896 and the first small
meeting took place in Athens. After the 1908 London Olympics, success was re-established and nations
sent their best representatives.
Today, the Games are held in different countries in turn. The host country provides vast facilities,
including a stadium, swimming pools and living accommodation, but competing countries pay their
own athletes' expenses. Athletic contests are still the main feature, but now many more sports are
represented, women compete, the ancient pentathlon, for example, has been modified into a more
comprehensive test, and the marathonraces, initiated in 1896, are now a celebrated event.
The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch, lighted on Mount Olympus by
the sun's rays. It is carried by a succession of runners to the stadium. The torch symbolizes the
continuation of the ancient Greek athletic ideals, and it burns throughout the Games until the closing
ceremony.
Question 259: The first Olympic Games took place .
A. in the 17th century A.D B. certainly before 700 B.0
C. over three thousand years D. a thousand years ago
Question 260: At the ancient Olympic Games, any competitor had to be .
A. Greek B. male
C. unmarried D. neither a slave nor a foreign
Question 261: During the Games, on the evening before the moon was full, .
A. sheep and cattle were sacrificed to Zeus
B. all the victors were crowned with garlands
C. olive branches were gathered from a sacred wood
D. the heroes were honoured with sacrificed offerings
Question 262: The word "pagan" (3rd paragraph) is closest in meaning to .
A. Greek B. Olympic C. religious D. sporty
Question 263: The continuity of the Olympic Games .
A. was broken in the year A.D 1200
B. was broken in 1896
C. was interrupted for over 1,500 years
D. was interrupted for almost 1,200 years
Question 264: The word "continuation" (the last paragraph) is closest in meaning to .
A. keep going B. a progress C. process D. marching
Question 265: The modern Olympics compared with the ancient ones are .
A. inspired by the same ideas
B. more restricted in the variety of events
C. different in every respect
D. too much concerned with international rivalry
(Đề số 13– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 38:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The technology of the North American colonies did not differ strikingly from that of Europe,
but in one respect, the colonists enjoyed a great advantage. Especially by comparison with Britain,
Americans had a wonderfully plentiful supply of wood.
The first colonists did not, as many people imagine, find an entire continent covered by a climax
forest. Even along the Atlantic seaboard, the forest was broken at many points. Nevertheless, all sorts of
fine trees abounded, and through the early colonial period, those who pushed westward encountered new
forests. By the end of the colonial era, the price of wood had risen slightly in eastern cities, but wood
was still extremely abundant.
The availability of wood brought advantages that have seldom been appreciated. Wood was a
foundation of the economy. Houses and all manner of buildings were made of wood to a degree
unknown in Britain. Secondly, wood was used as fuel for heating and cooking. Thirdly, it was used as
the source of important industrial compounds, such as potash, an industrial alkali; charcoal, a component
of gunpowder; and tannic acid, used for tanning leather.
The supply of wood conferred advantages but had some negative aspects as well. Iron at that
time was produced by heating iron ore with charcoal. Because Britain was so stripped of trees, she was
unable to exploit her rich iron mines. But the American colonies had both iron ore and wood; iron
production was encouraged and became successful. However, when Britain developed coke smelting, the
Colonies did not follow suit because they had plenty of wood and besides, charcoal iron was stronger
than coke iron. Coke smelting led to technologic innovations and was linked to the emergence of the
Industrial Revolution. In the early nineteenth century, the former colonies lagged behind Britain in
industrial development because their supply of wood led them to cling to charcoal iron.
Question 266: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The advantages of using wood in the colonies.
B. The effects of an abundance of wood on the colonies.
C. The roots of the Industrial Revolution.
D. The difference between charcoal iron and coke iron.
Question 267: The word strikingly in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. realistically B. dramatically
C. completely D. immediately
Question 268: Which of the following is a common assumption about the forests of North America
during the colonial period?
A. They contained only a few types of trees.
B. They existed only along the Atlantic seaboard.
C. They had little or no economic value.
D. They covered the entire continent.
Question 269: The word "abundant" in paragraph 3 is closest meaning to -.
A. redundant B. sufficient C. insufficient D. plentiful
Question 270: According to the passage, by the end of the colonial period, the price of wood in Eastern
cities .
A. rose quickly because wood was becoming so scarce.
B. was much higher than it was in Britain.
C. was slightly higher than in previous years.
D. decreased rapidly because of lower demand for wood.
Question 271:What can be inferred about houses in Britain during the period written about in
the passage?
A. They were more expensive than American houses.
B. They were generally built with imported materials.
C. They were typically smaller than homes in North America.
D. They were usually built from materials other than wood.
Question 272: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source of industrial compounds?
A. potash B. charcoal C. gunpowder D. tan
Question 273: According to the passage, why was the use of coke smelting advantageous?
A. It led to advances in technology.
B. It was less expensive than wood smelting.
C. It produced a stronger type of iron than wood smelting.
D. It stimulated the demand for wood.
(Đề số 13– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 39: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Life originated in the early seas less than a billion years after the Earth was formed. Yet
another three billions years were to pass before the first plants and animals appeared on the continents.
Life's transition from the sea to the land was perhaps as much of an evolutionary challenge as was the
genesis of life.
What forms of life were able to make such a drastic change in lifestyle? The traditional view
of the first terrestrial organisms is based on megafossils - relatively large specimens of essential whole
plants and animals. Vascular plants, related to modern seed plants and ferns, left the first comprehensive
megafossil record. Because of this, it has been commonly assumed that the sequence of
terrestrialization reflected the evolution of 10 modern terrestrial ecosystems. In this view, primitive
vascular plants first colonized the margins of continental waters, followed by animals that fed on the
plants, and lastly by the animals that preyed on the plant-eaters. Moreover, the megafossils suggest that
terrestrial life appeared and diversified explosively near the boundary between the Silurian and the
Devonian periods, a little more than 400 million years ago.
Recently, however, paleontologists have been taking a closer look at sediments below this
Silurian- Devonian geological boundary. It turns out that some fossils can be extracted from these
sediments by putting the rock in an acid bath. The technique has uncovered new evidence from
sediments that were deposited near the shores of the ancient oceans - plant microfossils and microscopic
pieces of small animals. In many instances, the specimens are less than one-tenth of a millimeter in
diameter. Although they were entombed in the rocks for hundreds of millions of years, many of the
fossils consist of the organic remains of the organism.
These discovered fossils have not only revealed the existence ofpreviously unknown organisms, but
have also pushed back these dates for the invasion of land by multicellular organisms. Our view about
the nature of the early plants and animal communities are now being revised. And with those revisions
come new speculations about the first terrestrial life-forms.
Question 274: The word "drastic" is closest in meaning to .
A. widespread B. radical C. progressive D. risky
Question 275: According to the theory that the author calls "the traditional view", what was the first
form of life to appear on land?
A. Bacteria B. Meat-eating animals
C. Plant-eating animals D. Vascular plants
Question 276: According to the passage, what happened about 400 million years ago?
A. Many terrestrial life-forms died out.
B.New life-forms on land developed at a rapid rate.
C.The megafossils were destroyed by floods.
D. Life began to develop in the ancient seas.
Question 277: The word "extracted" is closest in meaning to .
A. located B. preserved C. removed D. studied
Question 278: The word "they" refers to .
A. rocks B. shores C. oceans D. specimens
Question 279: Which of the following resulted from the discovery of microscopic fossils?
A. The time estimate for the first appearance of the terrestrial life forms was revised.
B. Old techniques for analyzing fossils were found to have new uses.
C. The origins of primitive sea life were explained.
D. Assumptions about the locations of ancient seas were changed.
Question 280: With which of the following conclusions would the author probably agree?
A. The evolution of terrestrial life was as complicated as the origin of life itself.
B . The discovery of microfossils supports the traditional view of how terrestrial life
evolved. C.New species have appeared at the same rate over the cause of the last 400 million
years.
D . The technology used by paleontologists is too primitive to make accurate determinations about
ages of fossils.
(Đề số 14– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 40:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The need for a surgical operation, especially an emergency operation, almost always comes
as a severe shock to the patient and his family. Despite modern advances, most people still have an
irrational fear of hospitals, and anaesthetics. Patients do not often believe they really need surgery -
cutting into a part of the body as opposed to treatment with drugs.
In the early years of the 20th century there was little specialization in surgery. A good surgeon
was capable of performing almost every operation that had been advised up to that time. Today the
situation is different. Operations are now being carried out that were not even dreamed of fifty years
ago. The heart can be safely opened and its valves repaired. Clogged blood vessels can be cleaned
out, and broken ones mended or replaced. A lung, the whole stomach, or even part of the brain can
be removed and still permit the patient to live comfortable and satisfactory life. However, not every
surgeon wants to, or is qualified to carry out every type of modern operation.
The scope of surgery has increased remarkably in the past decades. Its safety has increased
too. Deaths from most operations are about 20% of what they were in 1910 and surgery has been
extended in many directions, for example to certain types of birth defects in new born babies, and, at
the other end of the scale, to life saving operations for the octogenarian. The hospital stay after
surgery has been shortened to as little as a week for most major operations. Most patients are out of
bed on the day after an operation and may be back at work in two or three weeks.
Many developments in modern surgery are almost incredible. They include replacement of
damaged blood vessels with simulated ones made of plastic: the replacement of heart valves with
plastic substitutes; the transplanting of tissues such as lens of the eye; the invention of the artificial
kidney to clean the blood of poisons at regular intervals and the development of heart and lung
machines to keep patients alive during very long operations. All these things open a hopeful vista for
the future of surgery.
One of the most revolutionary areas of modem surgery is that of organ transplants. Until a
few decades ago, no person, except an identical twin, was able to accept into his body the tissues of
another person without reacting against them and eventually killing them. Recently, however, it has
been discovered that with the use of X-rays and special drugs, it is possible to graft tissues from one
person to another which will survive for periods of a year or more. Kidneys have been successfully
transplanted between non-identical twins. Heart and lung transplants have also been reasonably
successful.
"Spare parts" surgery, the simple routine replacement of all worn-out organs by new ones, is
still a dream of the future but surgery is ready for such miracles. In the meantime, you can be happy if
your doctors say to you, "Yes, I think it is possible to operate on you for this condition."
Question 281: Most people are afraid of being operated on .
A. in spite of improvements in modem surgery
B. because they think modem drugs are dangerous
C. because they do not believe they need anaesthetics
D. unless it is an emergency operation
Question 282: Surgeons in the early 20th century, compared with modem ones .
A. had less to learn about surgery
B. needed more knowledge
C. could perform every operation known today
D. were more trusted by their patients
Question 283: A patient can still live a comfortable life even after the removal of .
A. his brain
B. his lungs
C.a major organ such as the stomach or one lung
D. part of the stomach or the whole liver
Question 284: The word "clogged" in the second paragraph is most likely to correspond to
.
A. clean B. blocked C. covered D. unwashed
Question 285: Today, compared with 1910 .
A. 20% fewer of all operation patients die
B. 20% of all operation patients recover
C. operation deaths have increased by 20%
D. five times fewer patients die after being operated on
Question 286: Some of the more astonishing innovations in modern surgery include .
A. ear, nose and throat transplants B. valve less plastic hearts
C. plastic heart valves D. leg transplants
Question 287: Which of the following has the same meaning as "vista" in the fourth paragraph?'
A. support B. prospect C. history D. visit
Question 288: You can be happy if your surgeon can operate because it means .
A. he thinks your condition may be incurable
B. he is a good doctor
C. he thinks you will survive
D. you are getting better already
(Đề số 14– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 41: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Diversity is a hallmark of life, an intrinsic feature of living systems in the natural world. The
demonstration and celebration of this diversity is an endless rite. Look at the popularity of museums,
zoos, aquariums and botanic gardens. The odder the exhibit, the more different it is from the most
common and
familiar life forms around us, the more successful it is likely to be. Nature does not tire of providing
oddities for people who look for them. Biologists have already formally classified 1.7 million species.
As many as 30 to 40 million more may remain to be classified. (1)
Most people seem to take diversity for granted. If they think about it at all they assume it
exists in endless supply. Nevertheless, diversity is endangered as never before in its history.
Advocates of perpetual economic growth treat living species as expendable. As a result an extinction
crisis of unprecedented magnitude is under way. Worse yet, when diversity needs help most, it is
neglected and misunderstood by much of the scientific community that once championed it. (2)
Of the two great challenges to the legitimacy of this diversity, the familiar one comes
primarily from economists. Their argument, associated with such names as Julian Simon, Malcolm
McPherson and the late Herman Kahn, can be paraphrased: "First, if endangered species have a
value as resources - which has been greatly exaggerated - then we should be able to quantify that
value so that we can make unbiased, objective decisions about which species, if any, we should
bother to save, and how much the effort is worth. Secondly, the global threat to the diversity of
species, particularly in the tropics, has been overestimated. Thirdly, we have good substitutes for the
species and ecosystems that are being lost, and these substitutes will nullify the damage caused by
the extinctions". (3)
The structure of the argument seems to me to be identical in form to that of an old joke from the
American vaudeville circuit. One elderly lady complained to another about her recent vacation at a
resort in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. "The food was terrible", she moaned. "Pure
poison, I couldn't eat a bite. And the portions were so tiny!" (4)
Species may be valuable, but not especially so, and the threat to them has been exaggerated. But
this does not matter anyway, say the economists, because we can replace any species that vanishes.(5)
It is not clear how much of an impact this argument has on the informed public, but it has certainly
provoked an outcry among scientific conservationists. It has set the terms for, and dominated, most of
the pro-diversity literature of the past few years, making it a literature of
response, thus limiting its scope and creative force.
Question 289: The word "intrinsic" in the passage is closest in meaning to .
A. basic B. special C. different D. changeable
Question 290: Which feature of the natural world do people find especially fascinating?
A. its great variety B. its ancient forms
C. its strange ritual D. its unclassified species
Question 291: Which does the author mean by saying "Most people seem to take diversity for
granted"?
A. Many people appreciate diversity.
B. Most people think diversity is special
C. Most people assume that diversity shouldn't be put in museum.
D. Many people do not realize the true value of diversity.
Question 292: Which adjective best describes the writer's attitude towards the community?
A. respectful B. supportive
C. critical D. uncomprehending
Question 293: Which statement represents the views of economists?
A. It is important to conserve endangered species.
B. Endangered species have no value in themselves.
C. Only some parts of the natural world are under threat.
D. New species could be introduced as necessary.
Question 294: What point is the writer trying to make about the economists' arguments by including the
joke in paragraph 4?
A. Their case is overstated.
B. Their logic is unsound.
C. They are unduly pessimistic.
D. They ignore the views of ordinary people
Question 295: The position of the scientific conservationists has been weakened because they have
.
A. adopted the economists' arguments
B. failed to communicate with public
B. lost the initiative in the debate
C. protested too loudly
(Đề số 15– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 42:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
A useful definition of an air pollutant is a compound added directly or indirectly by humans to the
atmosphere in such quantities as to affect humans, animals, vegetaions, or materials adversely. Air
pollution requires a very flexible definition that permits continuous change. When the first air
pollution laws were established in England in the fourteenth century, air pollutants were limited to
compounds that could be seen or smelled-a far cry from the extensive list of harmful substances known
today. As technology has developed and knowledge of the health aspects of various chemicals has
increased, the list of air pollutants has lengthened. In the future, even water vapor might be considered an
air pollutant under certain conditions.
Many of the more important air' pollutants, such as sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen
oxides, are found in nature. As the Earth developed, the concentrations of these pollutants were altered
by various chemical reactions; they became components in biogeochemical cycles. These serve as an air
purification scheme by allowing the compounds to move from the air to the water or soil on a global
basis, nature's output of these compounds dwarfs that resulting from human
activities. However, human production usually occurs in a localized area, such as a city.
In this localized regions, human output may be dominant and may temporarily overload
the natural purification scheme of the cycle. The result is an increased concentration of noxious
chemicals in the air. The concentrations at which the adverse effects appear will be greater than the
concentrations that the pollutants would have in the absence of human activities. The actual
concentration need not be large for a substance to be a pollutant; in fact the numerical value tells us
littleuntil we know how much of an increase this represents over the concentration that would occur
naturally in the area. For example, sulfurdioxide has detectable health effects at 0.08 parts per
million (ppm), which is about 400 times its natural level. Carbon monoxide, however, as a natural
level of 0.1 ppm and is not usually a pollutant until its level reaches about 15 ppm.
Question 296: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The economic impact of air pollution.
B. What constitutes an air pollutant.
C. How much harm air pollutants can cause.
D. The effects of compounds added to the atmosphere.
Question 297: The word "adversely" is closest in meaning to .
A. negatively B. quickly
C. admittedly D. considerably
Question 298: It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .
A water vapor is an air pollutant in localized areas
B. most air pollutants today can be seen or smelled
C. the definition of air pollution will continue to change
D. a substance becomes an air pollutant only in cities
Question 299: The word "altered" is closest in meaning to .
A. eliminated B. caused C. slowed D. changed
Question 300: Natural pollutants can play an important role in controlling air pollution for which of
the following reasons?
A. They function as part of a purification process.
B. They occur in greater quantities than other pollutants.
C. They are less harmful to living beings than are other pollutants.
D. They have existed since the Earth developed.
Question 301: According to the passage, which of the following is true about human-generated air
pollution in localized regions?
A. It can be dwarfed by nature's output of pollutants in the localized region.
B. It can overwhelm the natural system that removes pollutants.
C. It will damage areas outside of the localized regions.
D. It will react harmfully with naturally occurring pollutants.
Question 302:According to the passage, the numerical value of the concentration level of a substance is only
useful if .
A. the other substances in the area are known
B. it is in a localized area
C. the naturally occurring level is also known
D. it can be calculated quickly
Question 303: Which of the following is best supported by the passage?
A. To effectively control pollution local government should regularly review their air pollution
laws.
B. One of the most important steps in preserving natural lands is to better enforce air pollution
laws.
C. Scientists should be consulted in order to establish uniform limits for all air pollutants.
D. Human activities have been effective in reducing air pollution.
(Đề số 15– Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Câu109: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa. Bài viết chủ yếu nói về vấn đề gì?
A. Những hạn chế của nghiên cứu tiên phong trong việc hiểu hành vi con con người
B. Nghiên cứu thời gian và chuyển động được lần đầu phát triển như thế nào
C. Ứng dụng phương pháp khoa học đầu tiên để hiểu hành vi con người
D. Sự bắt đầu của học thuyết quản lí hiện đại
Giải thích: Ngay trong câu đầu, tác giả đã giới thiệu về chủ để bài viết “mặc dù quy tắc quản lý đã có từ
thời cổ đại nhưng những nhà học giả theo đuổi quản lí đương đại đều luôn nghĩ về thời 1900 với sự bắt
đầu của các nhà tiên phong”. Trong đó, thời 1900 với sự bắt đầu của các nhà tiên phong” chính là thời kì
đầu của nghiên cứu đương đại. Ở các đoạn sau, tác giả trình bày những nghiên cứu của nhiều nhà khoa
học khác nhau để làm rõ hơn về vấn đề.
Không chọn A vì bài viết không nói gì về những mặt hạn chế, tiêu cực cả. Nếu chọn B thì bài viết phải
nói về việc nghiên cứu này được phát triển ở đâu, bao giờ, do ai, các bước phát triển như thế nào qua thời
gian, mà những thông tin này hoàn toàn không có trong bài. Cũng không nói gì về việc ứng dụng các
nghiên cứu này ra sao trong thực tế công việc nên không chọn C được.
Câu 110: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Có thể suy ra từ đoạn đầu là .
A. những công nhân rất hưởng ứng sự áp dụng quản lí khoa học.
B. triết học của Taylor rất khác so với tiêu chuẩn trong công nghiệp
C. đến những năm 1900 thì khoa học đã chạm đến nấc mà có thể được áp dụng ở nơi làm việc
D. sau khi có quản lí khoa học thì công nhân không còn bị bóc lột nữa.
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 1 “was in marked contrast to the prevailing industrial norms of worker
exploitation”
Câu 111: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. Từ “prevailing”- đang thịnh hành ở một thời điểm- gần nghĩa nhất với
A. thịnh hành B. được công nhân rộng rãi
C. thịnh hành D. phổ biến
Giải thich: Mặc dù nghĩa của từ gốc và các phương án khá tương đương nhau, nhưng prevailing và
predominant thường được sử dụng tương đương, còn common và prevalent thì gần nghĩa nhau hơn.
Câu 112: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa. Theo bài viết, Frank Gilbreth tìm ra cách mà công nhân có thể loại bỏ những hành động thừa
thãi bằng cách .
A. sử dụng những công cụ đặc biệt như camera và đồng hồ
B. sử dụng đồng hồ bấm giờ
C. ứng dụng nguyên tắc quản lí khoa học
D. xem xét cách mà những đứa con của ông làm việc nhà
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 2 “By analyzing his children’s dishwashing and bed making chores,
this pioneer efficiency expert, Frank Gilbreth, hit on principles whereby workers could eliminate waste
motion”.
Câu 113: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa. Theo bài viết, thời gian để một công nhân đã có kinh nghiệm hoàn thành một công việc được
giao có thể đo băng cách sử dụng .
A. đồng hồ bấm giờ B. năm khía cạnh công việc
C. công cụ đặc biệt D. therbligs
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 2 “involved identification of “therbligs” - basic motions used in
production jobs. Many of these motions and accompanying times have been used to determine how long
it should take a skilled worker to perform a given job”. Trong đó, these motions and accompanying times
chính là therbligs.
Câu 114: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Chỗ nào trong bài văn tác giả nói rằng những nguyên tắc quản lí khoa học bị hiểu nhầm?
A. dòng 1-5 B. dòng 7-9 C. dòng 12-15 D. dòng 16-20
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 1 “At that time, his philosophy, which was concerned with
productivity, but which was often misinterpreted as promoting worker interests at the expense of
management”.
Câu 115: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Tất cả những điều sau đều đúng TRỮ.
A. Quản lí khoa học liên quan đến năng suất
B. Sự bắt đầu của nhũng suy nghĩ về quản lí hiện đại bắt đầu từ thế kỉ 19.
C. Sự nổi tiếng của Flank Gilbreth được nâng tầm bởi việc hai đứa con của ông viết sách
D. Nghiên cứu công việc để tăng năng suất sẽ ít có ích trừ phi tất cả các khía cạnh được xem xét.
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 1 “management principles have been implemented since ancient
times”. Thực tế có từ thời cổ đại chứ, thế kỉ 19 là sự bắt đầu của thời kì nghiên cứu quản lí đương đại.
Bài dịch
Mặc dù những nguyên tắc quản lý đã được áp dụng từ thời cổ đại, hầu hết các học giả về quản lý
theo đuổi quản trị đương đại đều truy tìm nguồn gốc của quản trị hiện đại những năm đầu l900s, cùng với
sự tiên phong của Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) Taylor là người đầu tiên nghiên cứu công việc một cách
khoa học. Ông nổi tiếng nhất về giới thiệu các kỹ thuật của nghiên cứu về thời gian và chuyển động, các
hệ thống tỷ lệ vi phân mảnh, và có hệ thống chuyện về các công việc điều hành quản lý và nhân viên.
Cùng với những người tiên phong khác như Frank Va Lillian Gilbreth, Taylor thiết lập các giai đoạn, gắn
mác cho các triết lý và phương pháp của ông là “quản lý khoa học”. Tại thời điểm đó, triết lý của ông,
thực chất là liên quan đến năng suất, nhưng lại thường bị hiểu sai là thúc đẩy lợi ích cho người lao động
và làm hại đến công tác quản lý, trái ngược hẳn với yêu cầu của thời công nghiệp lúc đó là khai thác, bóc
lột công nhân.
Các khái niệm nghiên cứu thời gian và chuyển động đã được phổ biến rộng rãi bởi Frank và
Lillian Gilbreth. Gilbreths có 12 đứa con. Bằng cách phân tích cách chúng rửa chén và dọn giường, nhà
chuyên gia hiệu quả tiên phong Frank Gilbreth, tìm ra nguyên tắc theo đó người lao động có thể loại bỏ
những hành động thừa. Ông được hai con tưởng nhớ đến trong cuốn sách mà họ viết năm 1949, “Cheaper
by the Dozen”.
Các phương pháp Gilbreth bao gồm sử dụng đồng hồ bấm giờ để tính thời gian những chuyển
động của công nhân và những công cụ đặc biệt (máy ảnh và đồng hồ đặc biệt) để giám sát và nghiên
cứu hiệu suất lao động, và có liên quan đến việc nhận dạng “therbligs” (tên Gilbreth viết ngược) - chuyển
động cơ bản được sử dụng trong việc sản xuất. Nhiều chuyển động và thời gian đi kèm đã được sử dụng
để xác định xem một công nhân có tay nghề cao thực hiện một nhiệm vụ cho trước trong bao lâu. Bằng
cách này, một kỹ sư công nghiệp có thể biết được lượng thời gian tương đối để sản xuất ra một sản phẩm
hoặc cung cấp một dịch vụ. Tuy nhiên, việc sử dụng phân tích công việc theo cách này không thể dẫn đến
những kết quả hữu ích trừ khi tất cả năm khía cạnh công việc được xem xét, đó là: thể chất, tâm lý, xã
hội, văn hóa, và năng lực.
Câu 116: According to the passage, the main disadvantage of person-on-the-street interviews is that they
.
A. are not based on a representative sampling B. reflect political opinions
C. are not carefully worded D. are used only on television
Dịch nghĩa. Theo bài đọc điểm bất lợi chính của những cuộc phỏng vấn người trên đường là chúng
.
A. không dựa trên những người điển hình B. phản ánh quan điểm chính trị
C. không được dùng từ cẩn thận D. chỉ được sử dụng trên tivi
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở đoạn 2, tác giả nói 2 lí do: đó là ý kiến của những người ở địa điểm đó, và
những người sẵn sàng nói trước ống kính, không phải tất cả mọi người nên không điển hình.
Câu 117: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa. Theo bài đọc, một lợi ích của việc phỏng vấn trực tiếp bằng mẫu hỏi đó là phỏng vấn trực
tiếp .
A. hạn chế tối đa ảnh hưởng của người nghiên cứu
B. dễ hiểu hơn
C. không tốn kém
D. có thế đưa ra nhiều thông tin hơn
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “In addition, an interviewer can go beyond written questions and probe for a
subject’s underlying feelings and reasons”
Câu 118: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. từ “precise”- chính xác - gần nghĩa nhất với .
A. chính xác B. có lí trí C. được yêu cầu D. được dự định
Câu 119: Đáp án C
Dịch nghĩa. Từ nào được định nghĩa trong bài?
A. mẫu B. bầu cử, thăm dò dư luận
C. cuộc khảo sát D. cuộc phỏng vấn
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a
questionnaire, which provides information concerning how people think and act.”
Câu 120: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. Bài văn bản luận chủ yếu về vấn đề gì?
A. Các quy tắc tiến hành phỏng vấn
B. Tầm quan trọng của những cuộc thăm dò ý kiến trong đời sống chính trị nước Mỹ
C. Những vấn để liên quan đến việc hiểu bài khảo sát
D. Lịch sử khảo sát của Bắc Mỹ
Giải thích: Đoạn 1 giới thiệu đề tài, đoạn 2 nói về nguyên nhân khiến cho khảo sát không còn đúng, đoạn
3 nói về các lưu ý trong khảo sát và đoạn 4 phân tích mặt tích cực, tiêu cực của hai loại hình khảo sát. Nói
tóm lại, qua bài văn, người đọc hiểu được về các quy tắc phỏng vấn thông qua những sai lầm được nhắc
đến, biết lựa chọn hình thức phù hợp qua mặt lợi/ hại được bàn đến.
B, C, D không phải là mục tiêu mà tác giả hướng tới khi viết.
Câu 121: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Theo đoạn 3, yếu tố nào quan trọng nhất để có một bài khảo sát hiệu quả?
A. Một nhà xã hội học có thể hiểu rõ kết quả
B. Những câu hỏi có từ ngữ được sử dụng cẩn thận
C. Kĩ năng nhận thấy cảm xúc người trả lời của người phỏng vấn
D. Một số lượng lớn những người tham gia phỏng vấn
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “An effective survey question must be simple and clear enough for people to
understand it.”
Câu 122: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. Từ “indispensable” - không thể thiếu – gần nghĩa nhất với
A. cần thiết B. phức tạp C. đắt D. đơn giản
Câu 123: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. Có thể suy ra rằng một lí do khiến các nhà xã hội học có thế bị nản lòng bởi những mẫu câu
hỏi là .
A. người trả lời thường không điền vào và trả lại mẫu hỏi
B. mẫu hỏi rất đắt và khó phân chia
C. người trả lời quá hào hứng để bổ sung thêm câu hỏi với ý kiến của mình
D. mẫu hỏi rất khó đọc
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “An interviewer can obtain a high response rate because people find it more
difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than to throw away a written questionnaire”
Bài dịch
Cuộc khảo sát là một nghiên cứu, thường có dạng một cuộc phỏng vấn hoặc một mẫu câu hỏi,
cung cấp thông tin liên quan đến cách thức con người suy nghĩ và hành động. Tại Hoa Kỳ, các cuộc khảo
sát nổi tiếng nhất là các cuộc thăm dò Gallup và Harris. Bất cứ ai xem tin tức trong các chiến dịch chạy
đua tổng thống đều biết, những cuộc thăm dò này đã trở thành một phần quan trọng trong đời sống chính
trị tại Hoa Kỳ.
Bắc Mỹ khá quen thuộc với những cuộc phỏng vấn “người trên phố” trong các chương trình
truyền hình thời sự địa phương. Trong khi các cuộc phỏng vấn như vậy có thể đem đến tính giải trí cao,
chúng không hẳn đã phản ánh đúng dư luận. Đầu tiên, chúng chỉ phản ảnh ý kiến của những người xuất
hiện tại một địa điểm nhất định. Do do, các ví dụ này đôi khi chỉ điển hình cho những du khách, những
người mua sắm tầng lớp trung lưu, hoặc những công nhân nhà máy, tùy thuộc vào khu vực được chọn.
Thứ hai, các cuộc phỏng vấn truyền hình có xu hướng thu hút những người cởi mở, sẵn sàng xuất hiện
trên báo đài, trong khi những người cảm thấy không thoải mái với camera sẽ tránh đi. Một cuộc khảo sát
phải dựa trên đại diện chính xác nếu muốn phản ảnh chân thực trên một phạm vi dân số rộng lớn.
Trong quá trình chuẩn bị tiến hành một cuộc khảo sát, các nhà xã hội học phải quan tâm rất kĩ đến
cách diễn đạt câu hỏi. Một câu hỏi khảo sát có hiệu quả phải đủ đơn giản và rõ ràng để mọi người hiểu.
Nhưng cũng phải đủ cụ thể để không có vấn để trong việc cố gắng hiểu câu hỏi. Ngay cả những câu hỏi
mà cấu trúc đơn giản cũng phải được đặt một cách cẩn thận để có thể lấy được thông tin mong muốn.
Khảo sát có thể là nguồn thông tin không thể thiếu, nhưng chỉ khi việc lấy mẫu được thực hiện đúng cách
và các câu hỏi được diễn đạt chính xác.
Có hai hình thức chủ yếu của khảo sát: phỏng vấn và mẫu hỏi. Mỗi hình thức nghiên cứu khảo sát
có lợi thế riêng của nó. Một người phỏng vấn có thể đạt được tỷ lệ trả lời cao bởi vì mọi người thấy từ
chối yêu cầu riêng xin được phỏng vẫn khó hơn là vứt bỏ một mẫu câu hỏi được viết sẵn. Ngoài ra, một
người phỏng vấn có thể hỏi thêm ngoài những câu hỏi được viết sẵn và có thể thăm dò cảm xúc và
nguyên nhân cơ bản của đối tượng. Tuy nhiên, mẫu câu hỏi có lợi thế là rẻ hơn và tính thống nhất cao
hơn.
Bài dịch
Phần lớn các loại tài sản đều cụ thể và hữu hình thấy, ví dụ như là nhà của, xe cộ, đồ đạc hay bất
cứ thứ gì khác bao hàm trong sự sở hữu của một người. Các loại hình tài sản khác có thể vô hình và vấn
đề bản quyền giải quyết các việc liên quan đến loại hình tài sản không thể nhìn thấy này. Bản quyền là sự
bảo vệ hợp pháp mở rộng đến tác giả của những sản phẩm sáng tạo, ví dụ như là sách, báo chí, bản đồ,
phim ảnh, kịch, chương trình truyền hình, phần mềm, tranh ảnh, âm nhạc, vũ đạo múa và tất cả những
loại tài sản trí tuệ hay nghệ thuật khác.
Mặc dù mục đích của những tài sản nghệ thuật là để cho công chúng thường thức, nhưng bản
quyền xác định sự sở hữu của người sáng tạo. Khi một người mua một quyển tạp chí có bản quyền, nó
thuộc quyền sở hữu của họ như một vật hữu hình. Tuy nhiên, chỉ có tác giả của nó được sở hữu bản
nghiên cứu và ngôn từ được dùng để làm nên quyển tạp chí. Quyền được sản xuất và bán hoặc bỏ đi
những bản sao của sách, tạp chí thuộc về tác giả, nhà xuất bản hoặc những cá nhân, tổ chức giữ quyền tác
giả. Để sao chép toàn bộ hay chỉ một phần của nó, phải có sự cho phép của người sở hữu bản quyền,
thường thì họ sẽ muốn được trả tiền cho việc đó.
Luật bản quyền khác nhau giữa những loại hình tài sản trí tuệ khác nhau. Âm nhạc có thể được
trình diễn bởi bất cứ ai sau khi nó được xuất bản. Tuy nhiên, nếu biểu diễn vì mục đích lợi nhuận, người
biểu diễn phải trả một khoản phí gọi là tiền bản quyền tác giả. Một quy định tương tự cũng áp dụng cho
việc biểu diễn những bài hát hay ca kịch. Mặt khác, tên, ý tưởng và tên sách được chấp nhận. Ý tưởng sẽ
không trở thành tài sản có bản quyền cho đến khi nó được xuất bản ra trong một cuốn sách, một bức tranh
hay một ấn phẩm âm nhạc. Hầu hết các tác phẩm nghệ thuật ra đời trước thế kỉ 20 đều không có bản
quyền vì nó được tạo ra trước khi luật sở hữu trí tuệ được ban hành.
Hai trường hợp vi phạm phổ biến là đạo văn và lậu. Đạo tác phẩm của người khác nghĩa là lấy của
người khác và coi đó là của mình. Từ plagiarism – đạo văn - bắt nguồn từ một từ Latinh “plagiarus”,
nghĩa là kẻ bắt cóc. Lậu có thể là hành vi của một người, nhưng trong nhiều trường hợp thì nó là sự kết
hợp của nhiều người, tải bản một tác phẩm có bản quyền và bản lấy lợi nhuận mà không trả tiền bản
quyền cho người sáng tác. Những tiến bộ trong công nghệ đã tạo điều kiện cho việc vi phạm trở nên dễ
dàng hơn và bất cứ ai cũng có thể sao chép nguyên bản một bức ảnh trong một video, một chương trình
máy tính, một quyển sách. Bất kì ai cũng có thế sử dụng máy ghi video để sao chép phim hoặc những
chương trình truyền hình và việc sao chép một phần mềm bấy giờ dễ dàng như việc sao chép một cuốn
sách. Những công ty lớn đều sốt sắng làm bản quyền cho slogan, quảng cáo và tên hãng được, bảo vệ bởi
một thương hiệu hợp pháp.
Câu146: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa. Đâu là tiêu để phù hợp nhất cho bài văn?
A. Chia sẻ thành công trên Internet B. Để thành công trên Internet
C. Sự hỗ trợ từ nhà kinh doanh Youniversity D. Những video hay nhất trên Youtube
Giải thích: Bài văn đi từ việc Youtube hình thành, phát triển và sự ra đời của Youniversity để giúp đỡ
những người khởi nghiệp. Như vậy, xuyên suốt bài văn là sự chia sẻ về thành công. Phương án B và C
quá chi tiết, chỉ là một đoạn chứ không phải nội dung cả bài. Phương án D không được nhắc gì đến trong
bài.
Câu 147: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Từ “This” ở đoạn 2 là nhắc đến đối tượng nào?
A. sóng thần năm 2004 ở Đông Nam Á
B. anh ta không thể tìm thấy video nào
C. những câu chuyện thời sự anh ta có thể tìm thấy
D. thông tin về trận sóng thần năm 2004
Giải thích: “Việc này” đem đến cho Karim một ý tưởng. Trong bốn phương án thì B là nguyên nhân duy
nhất hợp lí khiến Karim nghĩ ra ý tưởng mới, theo logic.
Câu 148: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Mọi người dùng Youtube để làm gì?
A. mua sắm B. chia sẻ video
C. khởi nghiệp D. tìm địa điểm du lịch
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “YouTube is a Website where people can share their video”
Câu 149: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Điều gì không được để cập đến khi nói về Karim?
A. Ông ấy có ý tưởng ban đầu về Youtube
B. Ông ấy tạo ra rất nhiều video mẫu trên YouTube
C. Ông ấy kiếm rất nhiều tiền từ YouTube
D. Ông ấy là chủ của Youniversity Ventures
Giải thích: A được nhắc đến ở “This gave Karim an idea.....Together, they created a company -
YouTube”, C được nhắc đến ở “they made an enormous amount of money”, D được nhắc đến ở “He used
money and experience to start a new company called Youniversity Ventures” Chỉ có B là không thấy
trong bài.
Câu 150: Đáp án C
Dịch nghĩa. YouTube ngày nay thuộc về
A. Milo B. Youniversity C. Google D. Tokbox
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “It was clear to Google, another Internet company, that YouTube had a lot
of value. Google made a deal. It bought YouTube for $1.65. As a result, YouTube investors and its
employees made a lot of money.”
Câu 151: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa. Từ nào trong số các từ sau có thể thay thế được từ “enormous” ở đoạn 4?
A. tăng B. rất to, bất thường C. đáng kể D. rất lớn
Câu 152: Đáp án C
Dịch nghĩa. Youniversity Ventures làm gì?
A. Nó giúp mọi người lấy được bằng tiến sĩ ở những trường đại học nổi tiếng
B. Nó mua những công ty Internet như là Milo
C. Nó cho lời khuyên và tiền để khởi nghiệp
D. Nó giúp tìm kiếm những địa điểm du lịch giá rẻ khắp thế giới.
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “This company helps young people who have good business ideas. It gives
them advice and money to start Internet businesses”.
Câu 153: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa. Đâu là lời khuyên của Karim dành cho những người muốn khởi nghiệp?
A. Lấy được bằng tiến sĩ từ một trường đại học nổi tiếng.
B. Bắt chước những người và công ty thành đạt.
C. Đầu tư tiền vào Youniversity Ventures.
D. Làm việc cho những người và những công ty thành đạt.
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “First, find a successful company. Do a lot of research about the company
and the top people in the company. There, copy the way they do things”
Bài dịch
Bạn đã bao giờ xem một video trên Internet chưa? Có thể bạn đã sử dụng Youtube. Youtube là
một trang web nơi mà mọi người có thể chia sẻ video của họ. Youtube là một phần rất quan trọng của
Internet. Tuy nhiên, trước đây thì không phải vậy.
Youtube được lập ra từ một người đàn ông trẻ tên là Jawed Karim và hai người bạn. Một ngày,
Karim lang thang trên mạng. Ông ấy muốn tìm thông tin về vụ sóng thần năm 2004 ở Đông Nam Á. Ông
ấy tìm thấy những câu chuyện thời sự về nó, nhưng không thể tìm thấy bất cứ video nào. Việc này đưa
đến Karim một ý tướng. Ông ấy muốn giúp mọi người đăng tải những video lên mạng Internet. Karim nói
với những người bạn về ý tưởng của ông ấy. Rồi họ cùng nhau thành lập một công ty - Youtube.
Youtube trở nên nổi tiếng toàn cầu. Hàng triệu người trên thế giới ghé thăm trang web. Rõ ràng là
Google, một công ty Internet khác, thấy được Youtube có rất nhiều giá trị. Google tiến hành một vụ giao
dịch. Nó mua lại Youtube với giá 1.65 tỷ đô. Kết quả là, những nhà đầu tư Youtube và nhân viên kiếm
được rất nhiều tiền. Ba người bạn đã sáng lập Youtube là những đầu tư lớn. Vì vậy, họ cũng kiếm được
khoản tiền khổng lồ.
Karim trở nên giàu có và tiếp tục hoàn thành bằng tiến sĩ. Có một thứ khác nữa mà Karim muốn
làm. Ông muốn giúp đỡ những người trẻ khởi nghiệp. Ông sử dụng tiền bạc và kinh nghiệm để mở một
công ty tên là Youniversity Ventures. Công ty này giúp những người trẻ có những ý tưởng kinh doanh tốt.
Nó cho họ những lời khuyên và tài chính để họ khởi nghiệp trên Internet.
Milo là một doanh nghiệp mà sinh viên đã bắt đầu với sự giúp đỡ của Youniversity Ventures.
Milo là một trang web mua sắm. Nó giúp mọi người tìm ra sản phẩm ở của hàng gần họ nhất. Một ví dụ
khác đó là Airbob. Trang web này giúp con người tham dự cuộc họp Video. Mọi người từ nhiều nơi
khác nhau có thể sử dụng trang web này để họp doanh nghiệp.
Karim có vài lời khuyên cho những sinh viên muốn khởi nghiệp. Đầu tiên, hãy tìm một công ty
thành đạt. Nghiên cứu thật nhiều về công ty và những người đứng đầu công ty đó. Từ đó, bắt chước cách
mà họ làm việc. Đối với sinh viên muốn khởi nghiệp từ Internet, Karim có lẽ là một tấm gương sáng để
nói theo.
Câu169: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Chủ đề chính của bài viết là gì?
A. Ánh sáng lạnh
B. Luciferase
C. Thực vật và động vật nguyên thủy
D. Khi hậu trên trái đất
Giải thích: Ta thấy đoạn văn chủ yếu nói về bioluminescence (sự phát quang sinh học) hay còn gọi là
cold light (ánh sáng lạnh)
Câu 170: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa: Theo tác giả, tại sao sự phát quang sinh học lại tiếp diễn đối với thực và động vật hiện đại?
A. Để sinh tồn
B. Để hấp dẫn con mồi
C. Để sản sinh nhiệt
D. Để đốt cháy oxy thừa
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở “. . .but some primitive plants and animals continued to use the light for new
functions such as mating or attracting prey” - “nhưng một số loài động thực vật nguyên thủy vẫn tiếp tục
sử dụng ánh sáng với những chức năng mới như tìm bạn đời hay hấp dẫn con mồi.”
Câu 171: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Từ “primitive” gần nghĩa nhất với .
A. rất nhiều tuổi
B. rất lớn
C. rất quan trọng
D. rất phổ biến
Giải thích: be primitive: rất lâu đời, nguyên thủy = very old
Câu 172: Đáp án C
Dịch nghĩa: Từ “it” để cập đến
A. một loài cây
B. một loài động vật
C. sự phát quang sinh học
D. sự cháy
Giải thích: Đọc câu đầu bài viết: “Light from a living plant or animal is called biolumines - cence, or
cold light, to distinguish it from incandescence. . .” - “Ánh sáng từ một loài động hay thực vật còn sống
được gọi là sự phát quang sinh học, hay ánh sáng lạnh, để phân biệt nó với sự cháy...”
Câu 173: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa: Ở đâu trong đoạn văn tác giả giải thích ánh sáng tự nhiên tồn tại như thế nào?
A. Dòng 3-4
B. Dòng 5-7
C. Dòng 8-10
D. Dòng 10-12
Giải thích: Thông tin nằm ở dòng 5-7 đoạn văn: “Living light occurs when luciferin and oxygen combine
in the presence of luciferase. In a few cases, fireflies the most common, an additional compound called
ATP is required” - “Ánh sáng sống diễn ra khi luciferin và oxy kết hợp với sự có mặt của luciferase.
Trong một số ít trường hợp, phổ biến nhất đối với đom đóm, cần một chất hóa học khác là ATP.”
=> Có thể thấy trong 2 câu này tác giả đã giải thích quá trình hình thành của ánh sáng sống.
Câu 174: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa: Sự phát quang sinh học được miêu tả như tất cả những điều sau NGOẠI TRỮ .
A. một quá trình hóa học phức tạp
B. một sự thích ứng của những loài động thực vật tiền sử với môi trường
C. một dạng ánh sáng lạnh
D. một chất có độc
Giải thích: Ta thấy các đáp án còn lại đều được nói đến như những đặc tính của sự phát quang sinh học:
A. Đoạn 1: “Although bioluminescence is a relatively complicated process, it can be reduced to simple
terms” - “Mặc dù sự phát quang sinh học là một quá trình tương đối phức tạp, nó có thể được giảm xuống
đến những khái niệm đơn giản.”
B. Đoạn cuối: “It is speculated that millions of years ago, all life may have produced light to survive” -
“Người ta đoán rằng hàng triệu năm về trước, toàn bộ sự sống có thể đã phải tạo ra ánh sáng để sinh tồn.”
C. Câu đầu bài viết: “Light from a living plant or animal is called bioluminescence, or cold light...” -
“Ánh sáng từ một loài động vật hay thực vật còn sống được gọi là sự phát quang sinh học, hay ánh sáng
lạnh. . .”
Câu 175: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa: Đoạn văn tiếp theo bài viết có thể nói về
A. sự cháy trong động thực vật tiền sử
B. sự cháy trong động thực vật đương đại
C. sự phát quang sinh học trong động thực vật tiền sử
D. sự phát quang sinh học trong động thực vật đương đại
Giải thích: Câu cuối bài viết: “...but some primitive plants and animals continued to use the light for new
functions such as mating or attracting prey” - “nhưng một số loài động thực vật nguyên thủy vẫn tiếp tục
sử dụng ánh sáng với những chức năng mới như tìm bạn đời hay hấp dẫn con mồi.”
=> Có thể hiểu đoạn văn tiếp theo sẽ tiếp tục thảo luận về sự phát quang sinh học của những loài sinh vật
này trong thời hiện đại.
Bài dịch
Ánh sáng từ một loài động hay thực vật còn sống được gọi là sự phát quang sinh học, hay ánh
sáng lạnh, để phân biệt nó với sự cháy hay nhiệt độ - tạo ra ánh sáng. Các loài sinh vật không thể tạo ra
ánh sáng cháy mà không bị đốt cháy. Ánh sáng của chúng được sinh ra bởi các chất hóa học kết hợp với
nhau bằng một cách mà rất ít hoặc không có một chút nhiệt nào được sản sinh ra, và các loài sinh vật tạo
ra nó không hề bị tổn hại. Mặc dù sự phát quang sinh học là một quá trình tương đối phức tạp, nhưng nó
có thể được giảm xuống đến những khái niệm đơn giản. Ánh sáng tự nhiên diễn ra khi luciferin và oxy
kết hợp với sự có mặt của luciferase. Trong một số ít trường hợp, phổ biến nhất là trường hợp của đom
đóm, cần một chất hóa học khác là ATP.
Thí nghiệm sớm nhất được ghi lại về sự phát quang sinh học vào cuối những năm 1800 được cho
là của Raphael Dubois, người đã tách một chất lỏng lấp lánh từ một con sò, quan sát thấy rằng nó tiếp tục
phát sáng trong ống nghiệm trong vài phút. Anh ta đã đặt tên cho chất đó là luciferin, nghĩa là “người giữ
sự sống”. Trong những nghiên cứu sâu hơn, Dubois tìm ra rằng cần một vài chất hóa học để sự phát
quang sinh học có thế diễn ra. Trong những ghi chép của ông ấy, một chất quan trọng thứ hai, mà ông ấy
gọi là lucifcrase, luôn luôn có mặt. Trong những nghiên cứu sau đó về những sinh vật biển nhỏ và lấp
lánh, Newton Harley kết luận rằng luciferin được tạo thành từ cacbon, hidro và oxy, những nhân tố tạo
nên cấu trúc của hầu hết tế bào sống. Ông ấy cũng chứng minh rằng có rất nhiều loại luciferin và
luciferasc, phụ thuộc vào loại động hay thực vật tạo ra chúng.
Rất nhiều điều chưa được biết đến, nhưng nhiều nhà khoa học đang nghiên cứu về sự phát quang
sinh học tin rằng hiện tượng này có thể bắt nguồn từ lúc chưa hề có oxy trong khí quyển trái đất. Khi oxy
dần được đưa vào khí quyển, nó thực ra lại độc hại đối với sinh vật sống, thực vật và động vật sản sinh ra
ánh sáng để sử dụng hết lượng oxy trong một sự thích ứng chậm chạp nhưng cần thiết. Người ta đoán
rằng hàng triệu năm về trước, toàn bộ sinh vật sống có thể đã phải tạo ra ánh sáng để sinh tồn. Khi hàng
thiên niên kỉ trôi qua, sinh vật sống trên trái đất bắt đầu chịu đựng được oxy và cuối cùng là phụ thuộc
vào oxy, và quá trình thích ứng sản sinh ra sự phát quang sinh học đã không còn cần thiết, nhưng một số
loài động thực vật nguyên thủy vẫn tiếp tục sử dụng ánh sáng với những chức năng mới như tìm bạn đời
hay hấp dẫn con mồi.
Câu 176: Đáp án C
Dịch nghĩa: Bài viết thảo luận chủ yếu về điều gì?
A. máy tính và thời tiết
B. những cơn bão nguy hiểm
C. dự báo thời tiết
D. vệ tinh nhân tạo
Giải thích: Đọc bài ta thấy bài viết chủ yếu thảo luận về việc dự báo thời tiết.
Câu 177: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa: Tại sao tác giả lại đề cập đến vòi rồng ở Edmonton, Canada?
A. Để chỉ ra rằng vòi rồng rất phổ biến trong mùa hè
B. Để cho ví dụ về một cơn bão gây thiệt hại
C. Để giải thích những loại thời tiết khác nhau
D. Để chỉ ra rằng vòi rồng thường xảy ra ở Canada
Giải thích: Ta đọc đoạn 1: “Many of the most damaging and life-threatening types of weather... One such
event, a tornado, struck the northeastern section of Edmonton, Alberta” - “Rất nhiều trong số những kiểu
thời tiết nguy hiểm và đe dọa mạng sống... Một sự kiện như thế, một cơn vòi rồng, đã đánh vào miền
Đông Bắc của Edmonton, Alberta”
Câu 178: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Từ “subtle” gần nghĩa nhất với .
A. phức tạp
B. thông thường
C. tưởng tượng ra
D. nhẹ mỏng
Giải thích: (to) be subtle = (to) be complex: phức tạp
Câu 179: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa: Tại sao tác giả lại khẳng định rằng những quan sát được thực hiện “chi một lần vào mỗi 12
giờ”?
A. Để chỉ ra rằng sự quan sát rất đúng giờ.
B. Để giải thích tại sao sự quan sát có giá trị giới hạn.
C. Để so sánh số liệu từ khinh khí cầu và máy tính.
D. Đế cho ví dụ về sự hợp tác quốc tế.
Giải thích: Trong đoạn 1 có nói rằng: “the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to
allow computers to discern the subtle atmospheric changes... In most nations, for example, weather
balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds
of miles” - “số liệu thời tiết sẵn có thường không đủ chi tiết để cho phép máy tính phân biệt những thay
đổi thời tiết phức tạp... Ở hầu hết các quốc gia, ví dụ, quan sát từ khinh khí cầu chỉ được thực hiện một
lần mỗi 12 giờ đồng hồ ớ những địa điểm bị chia cách bởi hàng trăm dặm”
=> Như vậy có thể hiểu dữ liệu mang lại từ quan sát truyền thống không đủ giá trị để dự báo chính xác.
Câu 180: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Từ “they” nói đến
A. khuôn mẫu
B. điều kiện
C. vùng miền
D. sự kiện
Giải thích: Đọc cả câu ta thấy: “conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general
weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events” - “những kiểu dự báo
truyền thống làm tốt hơn nhiều trong việc dự báo điều kiện thời tiết nói chung ớ những khu vực rộng lớn
hơn là chúng có thế làm với dự báo những sự kiện thời tiết địa phương cụ thể.
Câu 181: Đáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Cái nào trong những cái sau KHÔNG được nói đến như một tiến bộ trong dự báo thời tiết
ngắn hạn?
A. Khinh khí cầu thời tiết
B. Hệ thống ra-da
C. Công cụ tự động hóa
D. Vệ tinh nhân tạo
Giải thích: Ta thấy các đáp án còn lại đầu được để cập như tiến bộ về dự báo thời tiết ngắn ngày:
“Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar
systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly
continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost.” - “May mắn thay, tiến bộ khoa học và
công nghệ đã vượt qua hầu hết những vấn đề này. Hệ thống ra-da, công cụ thời tiết tự động hóa, và vệ
tinh nhân tạo đều có khả năng thực hiện những quan sát chi tiết, liên tục trên những khu vực rộng lớn với
chi phí thấp.”
Câu182: Đáp án D
Dịch nghĩa: Với khẳng định nào trong số sau tác giả có thể đồng ý nhất?
A. Vệ tinh giao tiếp có thể dự báo thời tiết khắc nghiệt
B. Những nhà thiên văn học nên chuẩn hóa những chương trình máy tính
C. Cách quan sát thường xuyên không còn có tác dụng
D. Dự báo thời tiết đang trở nên chính xác hơn
Giải thích: Đọc câu cuối của đoạn văn: “As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in
weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming reality” - “Khi những nhà thiên văn học bắt đầu sử
dụng những công nghệ mới này trong những cơ quan dự báo thời tiết, Nowcasting đang trở thành hiện
thực.”
=> Như vậy có thể thấy tác giả có cái nhìn lạc quan về độ chính xác của dự báo thời tiết trong tương lai.
Câu 183: Đáp án B
Dịch nghĩa: Câu nào sau đây miêu tả chính xác nhất Nowcasting?
A. Một dự báo thời tiết cho 5 ngày
B. Cảnh báo về một cơn bão nghiêm trọng trên đài
C. Lượng mưa trung bình mỗi tháng
D. Một danh sách nhiệt độ ở những thành phố lớn
Giải thích: Ta thấy tác giả nói về Nowcast: “the observation-intensive approach needed for accurate,
very short range forecasts, or “Nowcasts”, was not feasible” - “cách dự báo bằng quan sát cần thiết cho
dự báo chính xác, rất ngắn ngày, hay Nowcast, không còn khả thi”
=> Trong các phương án thì B là ngắn ngày nhất.
Bài dịch
Rất nhiều trong số những kiểu thời tiết nguy hiểm và đe dọa mạng sống như mưa to, bão lớn, và
vòi rồng - bắt đầu nhanh chóng, và tan biến cũng nhanh chóng, phá hủy những khu vực nhỏ trong khi
những khu vực quanh đó hoàn toàn nguyên vẹn. Một sự kiện như thế, một cơn vòi rồng, đã đổ bộ vào
miền Đông Bắc của Edmonton, Alberta, tháng 7 năm 1987. Tổng thiệt hại từ trận bão đã vượt qua 250
triệu đô la, cao nhất trong số những cơn bão ở Canada. Những mẫu máy tính dự báo thời tiết truyền thống
có giá trị hữu hạn trong việc dự báo những cơn bão địa phương ngắn như vòi rồng ở Edmonton, bởi vì số
liệu thời tiết sẵn có thường không đủ chi tiết để cho phép máy tính phân biệt những thay đổi thời tiết phức
tạp trước mỗi trận bão. Ở hầu hết các quốc gia, ví dụ, quan sát từ khinh khí cầu chỉ được thực hiện một
lần trong 12 giờ đồng hồ ở những địa điểm bị chia cách bởi hàng trăm dặm. Với những dữ liệu hạn chế
như thế, những kiểu dự báo truyền thống làm tốt hơn nhiều trong việc dự báo điều kiện thời tiết nói chung
ở những khu vực rộng lớn hơn là chúng có thể đưa ra dự báo những sự kiện thời tiết địa phương cụ thể.
Cho đến gần đây, cách quan sát cần thiết cho dự báo chính xác, rất ngắn ngày, hay còn gọi là
Nowcast, không khả thi. Chi phí trang thiết bị và vận hành hàng nghìn trạm thời tiết truyền thống quá lớn,
và những khó khăn gặp phải trong vệc nhanh chóng thu thập và xử lí dữ liệu cơ bản từ những mạng lưới
như thế là không thể vượt qua được. May mắn thay, tiến bộ khoa học và công nghệ đã giải quyết hầu hết
những vấn đề này. Hệ thống ra đa, công cụ thời tiết tự động hóa, và vệ tinh nhân tạo đều có khả năng thực
hiện những quan sát chi tiết, liên tục trên những khu vực rộng lớn với chi phi thấp. Những vệ tinh liên lạc
có thể truyền thông tin đi vòng quanh thế giới với chi phí rẻ và nhanh chóng, và hệ thống máy tính hiện
đại có thể nhanh chóng thu thập và xử lí lượng thông tin thời tiết khổng lồ này. Những nhà thiên văn học
và khoa học máy tính đang làm việc với nhau để thiết kế ra những chương trình máy tính và thiết bị ghi
hình có thể chuyển thông tin cơ bản về thời tiết thành dạng văn bản, kí hiệu, và những hình ảnh đồ họa
sống động mà những nhà dự báo thời tiết có thể đọc được dễ dàng và nhanh chóng. Khi những nhà thiên
văn học bắt đầu sử dụng những công nghệ mới này trong những cơ quan dự báo thời tiết, Nowcasting
đang trở thành hiện thực.