BÀI TẬP TUẦN 6 - HSG 12 (PHẦN 1)

PHẦN 1: NGHE
Listening 1: Listen to an interview two college lecturers, Sarah Banks and Tom Weston, who are
talking about working in clothes shop when they were students.
Question 1: Regarding her choice of job in an expensive clothes store, Sarah _________.
A. wanted to develop her retail skills
B. accepted it because a lack of alternatives
C. felt it would suit her interest in high-end fashion
D. hoped to meet in?luential clients
Question 2: Sarah says one aspect of the job she enjoyed was _________.
A. selecting the perfect clothes for demanding clients
B. creating an atmosphere in which clients felt comfortable
C. seeing how certain clothes could transform clients’ appearance
D. observing how clients would often make inappropriate choices
Question 3: What was Sarah’s approach to the staff dress code?
A. She admits she turned her choice of clothes into a kind of protest.
B. She took the opportunity to break the rules whenever possible.
C. She was proud to wear the shop’s clothes outside her workplace.
D. She found it relatively easy to conform to what was required.
Question 4: How did Tom feel about what he overheard while working in a boutique?
A. sad that his suspicions about his boss were con?irmed
B. disappointed that colleagues had concealed things from him
C. frustrated that his ideas were so readily rejected
D. infuriated with himself for having been so naive
Question 5: In Tom’s opinion, the students he teaches who have had work experience are _________.
A. less likely to require help in order to cope with academic life
B. inclined to take a healthy ?inancial situation for granted
C. prepared to make sacri?ices for the sake of their studies
D. more critical about the quality of the courses they’re following
Question 6: What do Sarah and Tom agree that they learnt from their work experience as students?
A. People tend to behave in the same way where they shop.
B. Retail skills can be applied in a range of other contexts.
C. Shop work presents a unique chance to develop people skills.
D. Any kind of job can bring an improvement in self-esteem.
Listening 2: Listen to an interview in which a science writer called Andy Hicks and a psychologist
called Dr Karen Ferrigan are talking about how technology affects our brains.
Question 1: What point does Andy make about multitasking?
A. Few people have the ability to master it effectively.
B. People fail to understand its implications for their lifestyle.
C. The different interpretations of what it means are valid.
D. The idea itself is a popular misconception
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Question 2: When asked about the effect of unread emails on intelligence Andy says _________.
A. it is purely temporary in nature
B. it suggests people are easily able to change focus
C. it has been over-simpli?ied by researchers
D. it is less dramatic than previously supposed
Question 3: Andy mentions workplace studies in order to illustrate _________.
A. the advantages of letting people multitask B. how common self-deception is
C. a personal experience he has had D. the need for more directed research
Question 4: Karen feels that problems with remembering passwords are due to _________.
A. the way the brain organizes data
B. issues with different types of memory
C. inconsistent rules that users have to follow
D. the information overload now imposed on people
Question 5: What does Karen see as a key issue with the human brain?
A. the methods used to do research into its workings
B. how it struggles to keep up with technological change
C. the way it physically adapts to environmental changes
D. how bad it is at making effective decisions
Question 6: When asked about the bene?its of the information age, Karen and Andy disagree about
_________.
A. the accuracy of the information we can access
B. the risks of neglecting traditional sources of information
C. the effects on people’s abilities to retain information
D. the priorities for helping people exploit the mass of information available

PHẦN 2: NGỮ ÂM
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently
from that of the rest in each of the following questions.
Question 1: A. unequivocal B. unanimous C. unhallowed D. unvarnished
Question 2: A. prediction B. dividend C. indictment D. addiction
Question 3: A. collapsed B. transfused C. conversed D. decreased
Question 4: A. pharmacist B. alcohol C. alphabet D. locality
Question 5: A. chalice B. chanteuse C. chaperone D. charlotte
Question 6: A. porcelain B. morello C. logogram D. sobriety
Question 7: A. navigate B. necessitate C. debate D. inadequate
Question 8: A. associate B. sociable C. ancient D. ancestor
Question 9: A. chimpanzee B. interviewee C. refugee D. committee
Question 10: A. interval B. mineral C. microphone D. minimize
Question 11: A. plywood B. syrup C. hyphen D. bypass
Question 12: A. endure B. pasture C. measure D. capture
Question 13: A. heather B. season C. upheaval D. measles
Question 14: A. gradually B. procedure C. dependent D. education
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Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of
primary stress in each of the following questions.
Question 1: A. paradigm B. tenacious C. vehement D. misanthrope
Question 2: A. resonance B. quizzical C. vindictive D. admiral
Question 3: A. nonchalant B. callousness C. signature D. stagnation
Question 4: A. harbinger B. coherence C. bellicose D. whimsical
Question 5: A. resplendent B. ominous C. facetious D. obtrusive
Question 6: A. nonpareil B. redundant C. delinquent D. judicious
Question 7: A. venerable B. elaborate C. qualitative D. gregarious
Question 8: A. metamorphosis B. marijuana C. serendipity D. constituency
Question 9: A. degeneracy B. ceremonious C. cafeteria D. bicentennial
Question 10: A. aboriginal B. idyllically C. justi?iable D. magisterial
Question 11: A. rudimentary B. semicircular C. theologian D. tuberculosis
Question 12: A. remark B. dismiss C. convince D. travel
Question 13: A. kindergarten B. affectionate C. occasional D. respectable
Question 14: A. emergency B. photography C. accuracy D. geography

PHẦN 3: NGỮ PHÁP
Choose the letter A, B, C or to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 1: The elephant _________ can eventually be released back into the wild.
A. rescued by the volunteers B. which were recused by the volunteers
C. to be recusing by the volunteers D. that the volunteers had recused it
Question 2: _________ his genuine insecurity.
A. Behind his intellectual arrogance lies B. Lying behind his his intellectual arrogance
C. Behind lying his intellectual arrogance is D. Lain behind his intellectual arrogance is
Question 3: _________ syntenic compounds.
A. Industries once relied heavily upon raw materials are being replaced by
B. Once relying heavily upon raw materials, industries are being replaced
C. Once heavily relied upon by industries, raw materials are being replaced by
D. Heavily relied upon by industries once, raw materials are replacing
Question 4: The diplomat insisted that the controversial topic _________ as it could disrupt the delicate
negotiations.
A. not to be mentioned B. not mentioning C. not be mentioned D. not mention
Question 5: The settings of Eudora Welty’s stories may be rather limited, but _________ about human
nature is quite broad.
A. exposes B. exposes that C. she exposes D. what she exposes
Question 6: While taking _________ leisurely walk in the park, I suddenly spotted _________ rare species of
bird perched gracefully on _________ top of the wooden fence.
A. Ø / the / the B. a / a / the C. a / Ø / Ø D. the / a / the
Question 7: Most comets have two kinds of tails, one made up of dust, _________ made up of electrically
charged particles called plasma.
A. one another B. the other C. others D. each other

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Question 8: I would rather _________ the project earlier, but unforeseen delays pushed the timeline.
A. to ?inish B. to have ?inished C. have ?inished D. ?inish
Question 9: When natural gas burns, its _________ into atoms of carbon and hydrogen.
A. hydrocarbon molecules, breaking up B. broke up by hydrocarbon molecules
C. hydrocarbon molecules break up D. broken up hydrocarbon molecules
Question 10: _________ is rooted in experiments in iron and steel conducted in the nineteenth century.
A. While the history of twentieth-century architecture
B. The history of twentieth-century architecture
C. That the history of twentieth-century architecture
D. Both twentieth-century architecture and its history
Question 11: By 1820, there were over sixty steamboats on the Mississippi River, _________ were quite
luxurious.
A. many of them B. which many C. many of which D. many that
Question 12: Manufacturing is Canada’s most important economic activity, _________ 17 percent of the
workforce.
A. engages B. and to engage C. that it engage D. engaging
Question 13: They were excluded from voting _________ being too young.
A. irrespective of B. by virtue of C. let alone D. in lieu of
Question 14: _________ than the applause erupted in the room.
A. Scarcely she had ?inished her presentation B. Hardly had she ?inished her presentation
C. Only after she had ?inished her presentation D. No sooner had she ?inished her presentation
Question 15: I appreciate a good cup of coffee in the morning, _________.
A. as do many of my colleagues B. so many of my colleagues do
C. neither do many of my colleagues D. many of my colleagues don’t either
Question 16: _________ soft skills learnt at school contribute to a person’s success in his future job.
A. Knowledge, accompanied by B. Not only knowledge but
C. Either knowledge nor D. Knowledge, along with
Question 17: Outbreaks of diseases in trees commonly occur _________ stress because of drought or other
environmental factors.
A. as forests that become B. in forests become
C. that become forests D. when forests become
Question 18: Unfortunately, he _________ so much time preparing as the meeting was cancelled at the
last minute.
A. needn’t have spent B. didn’t need to spend C. should have spent D. couldn’t have spent
Question 19: Having witnessed signi?icant battles, _________.
A. stories of heroism and sacri?ice are rich in these lands
B. it was these lands being rich with stories of heroism and sacri?ice
C. these lands are rich with stories of heroism and sacri?ice
D. stories of heroism and sacri?ice in these lands are rich
Question 20: It was _________ that everyone stopped to admire the colours in the sky.
A. so a stunning sunset B. so stunning a sunset
C. such stunning sunset D. such stunning a sunset

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Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the
following questions.
Question 1: The conference encouraged attendees to engage in open discussions while remaining
respectable of diverse viewpoints.
A. attendees B. open C. respectable D. diverse
Question 2: The ?irst ?iction writer in the United States to achieve international fame was Washington
Irving, who wrote many stories, included “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
A. the B. to achieve C. who wrote D. included
Question 3: Adolescence is a transitional stage in human development from the beginning of puberty
to the attainment of the emotion, social, and physical maturity of adulthood.
A. transitional stage B. the beginning C. emotion D. adulthood
Question 4: Female sea turtles, before laying her eggs, swim as much as 2,000 kilometres to return to
the beaches where they themselves were hatched.
A. her B. as much C. to return D. where
Question 5: It is believed by many professionals that AI will reduce the cost of making games and
speeding up the process.
A. is believed B. professionals C. reduce D. speeding up
Question 6: One of the goals of education is to help students differ between fact and opinion.
A. goals B. is to help C. differ D. fact and opinion
Question 7: In movies like Batman and Robin or Superman, the heroes always appear smarter, braver,
and powerful than even the most malicious villains.
A. like B. smarter C. powerful than D. the most malicious
Question 8: Through strategic partnerships and ef?icient operations, the startup quickly attained an
envious position in the tech landscape.
A. strategic B. ef?icient C. attained D. envious
Question 9: Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc, founded to provide the means to study diseases that
damage and destroy eyesight, and it is now the world’s leading organization in support of eye research.
A. founded B. that C. destroy D. it is now
Question 10: The visiting professor was personal and engaging, making the lecture both informative
and enjoyable.
A. personal B. engaging C. informative D. enjoyable

PHẦN 4: TỪ VỰNG
Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions.
Question 1: Her persuasive arguments were enough to sway even the most sceptical members of the
committee.
A. oscillate B. persuade C. validate D. advocate
Question 2: The patient’s surgery was successful, and he’s currently on the mend, expected to make a
full recovery.
A. improving B. deteriorating C. repairing D. attaining
Question 3: He focused on addressing the major challenges ?irst, leaving the inconsequential tasks for
later.
A. unimportant B. unavoidable C. unexpected D. unrecognizable
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Question 4: The old tradition was in danger of perishing as younger generations showed less interest
in preserving it.
A. remaining B. developing C. disappearing D. completing
Question 5: Industrial runoff and pollution have the potential to spawn massive blooms of algae in
nearby water bodies.
A. appear B. prevent C. produce D. limit
Question 6: The company’s sales have rebounded after a strategic marketing campaign and improved
product offerings.
A. remained unchanged B. risen again C. fallen again D. gone up and down
Question 7: The overall aim of the book is to help bridge the gap between theory and practice,
particularly in language teaching.
A. increase the understanding B. reduce the differences
C. minimise the limitations D. construct a bridge
Question 8: While the idea of free universal healthcare sounds great, many view it as a pie in the sky
proposal due to its potential costs.
A. something unrealistic B. something worthy C. something practical D. something expensive
Question 9: Snow and ice have left many roads treacherous, and drivers are warned to use caution.
A. cynical B. dangerous C. sneaky D. abnormal
Question 10: The government introduced new regulations to circumvent tax evasion and increase
revenue collection.
A. avoid B. promote C. exploit D. reduce
Question 11: The sudden appearance of a childhood friend after years of no contact had the power to
throw her off balance, triggering memories she thought were forgotten.
A. bewilder her B. uplift her C. satisfy her D. encourage her
Question 12: Instead of offering constructive criticism, he resorted to making disparaging remarks
about the team’s efforts.
A. enigmatic B. general C. witty D. insulting
Question 13: The team’s strategy for the championship game was to keep it under their hat until the
last minute
A. disclose it B. conceal it C. express it D. adjust it
Question 14: Despite their divergent opinions on art, they respected each other’s preferences and
enjoyed visiting galleries together.
A. interesting B. critical C. different D. complex
Question 15: After the ?inancial scam, she became wary of trusting strangers with her personal
information.
A. cautious B. dependent C. contingent D. pervasive
Question 16: He was cautious about online scams, but he still got taken in by a phishing email that
appeared genuine.
A. persuaded B. deceived C. fascinated D. surprised
Question 17: Learning to play the piano was challenging at ?irst, but with practice, he eventually got
the hang of it.
A. gave up it after many attempts B. knew how to play it
C. practiced playing it every day D. fail to learn the ways to use it
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Question 18: Jill wore a long face yesterday after she learned that she had failed her exam.
A. looked satis?ied B. looked unhappy C. looked exhausted D. looked energetic
Question 19: Trying to ?ix a broken computer without any technical knowledge is no picnic.
A. unsuccessful B. dif?icult C. hesitant D. unbelievable
Question 20: In the aftermath of the natural calamity, local communities came together to provide
support and assistance to those in need.
A. fortune B. consequence C. catastrophe D. implication

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined
word(s) in each of the following questions.
Question 1: As a perfectionist, she runs a very tight ship in her business, ensuring that every detail is
meticulously handled.
A. manages an in?lexible system B. has a far-sighted vision
C. runs faster than other D. organizes things inef?iciently
Question 2: Downloading a program like this from a malicious website can result in your computer
receiving a virus.
A. pernicious B. malevolent C. benign D. punctilious
Question 3: All these news stories have given the industry a tarnished image.
A. poor B. positive C. dramatic D. evocative
Question 4: People have an unnatural ?ixation on the personal lives of celebrities, but I don’t see why
they should be expected to wash their dirty linen in public.
A. make a public apology B. behave in an unprofessional manner
C. expose their personal identity D. conceal their private affairs
Question 5: Her ability to maintain an impeccable balance between her professional and personal life
was truly admirable.
A. matchless B. imperfect C. valuable D. favourable
Question 6: The lush rainforest was teeming with exotic birds, insects, and plant species.
A. full of B. susceptible to C. lacking in D. home to
Question 7: In spite of his immense wealth, he had a reputation for being tight-Zisted and unwilling to
share his resources.
A. miserly B. extravagant C. ?lamboyant D. fastidious
Question 8: I tried to persuade him to stop taking sleeping pills but he wouldn’t budge an inch.
A. accepted to change his mind B. promised to take medicine
C. was unwilling to pay for a price D. refused to change his opinion
Question 9: The professor bored the pants off everyone in the hall; some students even fell asleep.
A. bored B. exited C. annoyed D. provoked
Question 10: Although he had made a mistake, he refused to lose sleep over it and instead focused on
?inding a solution.
A. worry about it B. change his attitudes toward it
C. pay attention to it D. feel relaxed about it
Question 11: Many universities penalize students for submitting papers with plagiarism by giving
them a reduced grade.
A. punish B. prohibit C. allow D. reward
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Question 12: The band has been riding on the crest of a wave since their new single came out.
A. enjoying great success B. suffering a dismal failure
C. having a high standing D. having much work to ?inish
Question 13: The old mansion was rumoured to be haunted, and its eccentric owner only added to the
mystery.
A. unorthodox B. normal C. peculiar D. inquisitive
Question 14: The interviewer asked the candidate to cut to the chase and provide speci?ic examples
of their relevant experience.
A. be straightforward B. be circumlocutory C. be predictable D. be sensible
Question 15: The artist’s work was well-received by those who appreciated abstract and obscure
forms of expression.
A. naive B. shadowy C. clear D. common
Question 16: The manager appreciated the conscientious employee who consistently went above and
beyond their job responsibilities.
A. principled B. prudent C. scrupulous D. negligent
Question 17: After the successful project completion, clients were more than happy to sing his praises.
A. applaud him B. criticize him C. disappoint him D. reward him
Question 18: She felt a strong loathing towards the dishonest politician who had broken promises and
misled the public.
A. af?inity B. disgust C. responsibility D. abstinence
Question 19: Despite its current state, the dormant volcano still poses a potential threat if it awakens.
A. safe B. potential C. healthy D. active
Question 20: The restrictions on water usage have been lifted now that the river levels are normal.
A. avoided B. imposed C. ignored D. removed

Choose the letter A, B, C or to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 1: He looks very aggressive and threatening, and so his soft, gentle voice is rather _________.
A. disembodied B. discordant C. dismissive D. disconcerting
Question 2: People were amazed that the burglary took place in _________ daylight.
A. wide B. broad C. large D. open
Question 3: They rob someone on the street, and they get _________ - thirty days in jail.
A. a pain in the neck B. a shot in the arm C. a leap in the dark D. a slap on the wrist
Question 4: With a _________ heart, she bid farewell to her childhood home, knowing she might never
return.
A. solemn B. grim C. dismal D. heavy
Question 5: The athlete was _________ in defeat and praised his opponent’s skill, for which he received a
lot of praise.
A. abrasive B. valiant C. chivalrous D. magnanimous
Question 6: The clothing company’s revival began to come apart at the _________ despite better sales of
women’s wear.
A. joints B. seams C. pleats D. bonds
Question 7: I’d love to do a parachute jump, but I can’t _________ enough courage.
A. set about B. cut up C. pluck up D. back down
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Question 8: George is a notch _________ Brad at running this project, but that still isn’t saying much.
A. over B. above C. beyond D. up
Question 9: I hadn’t worked in an of?ice for several years, so it took me a while to get back into the
_________ of it.
A. grind B. nature C. swing D. essence
Question 10: No one knows exactly how much he earns a month, but $2.500 can’t be _________ of the
mark.
A. far B. wide C. broad D. distant
Question 11: Could I have a sip of your water just to _________ my thirst?
A. mitigate B. quench C. diminish D. exacerbate
Question 12: David has totally _________ himself into his work; I’ve never known anyone to be so
immersed in what they do like him.
A. thrown B. pursued C. devoted D. engrossed
Question 13: I think it would be better for your grandfather to get the same clinic he was in the previous
time; he physiotherapist is compassionate and besides, he _________ there.
A. takes the lead B. passes the buck C. does wonders D. know the ropes
Question 14: The Egyptian archaeologists discovered an enormous quantity of _________ in the tombs of
the Pharaohs, including dainty gold and silver cups.
A. bequests B. legacies C. heirlooms D. artefacts
Question 15: The road is packed with vehicles! That’s _________ at rush hour.
A. a going concern B. a hue and cry C. par for the course D. part and parcel
Question 16: He had just ?inished a _________ of compulsory military service.
A. bout B. stint C. patch D. spurt
Question 17: In this day and age, it is almost impossible to keep _________ of the latest developments in
computing.
A. a?loat B. afresh C. abreast D. a?ield
Question 18: Soaring prices mean that many prospective buyers will reach the end of their _________ as
they can no longer afford to buy their wanted properties
A. wit B. rope C. line D. road
Question 19: At _________ last the government is starting to listen to our problems.
A. dim B. long C. distant D. far
Question 20: He drives so quickly that I am afraid that one day he will _________ someone crossing the
street.
A. crash down B. knock down C. turn over D. run across
Question 21: My doctor advised total _________ from strong or alcoholic drinks until my health had
shown a tremendous improvement.
A. dissension B. absorption C. abstinence D. distension
Question 22: The recently discovered documents _________ credence to Professor Vaughan’s
interpretation of events.
A. lend B. give C. land D. make
Question 23: In the early years of the twentieth century, several rebellions _________ in the northern
parts of the country.
A. rose up B. turned out C. broke out D. came off
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Question 24: Can I _________ your brains for a moment? I can’t do this crossword by myself.
A. pick B. use C. mind D. have
Question 25: I’m sure that never happened. It’s just a _________ of your imagination.
A. ?igment B. segment C. picture D. ?igure
Question 26: The needs of gifted children in schools have long been _________ neglected.
A. dolefully B. woefully C. idly D. pathetically
Question 27: What would you do if you _________ it lucky in the national lottery?
A. shot B. struck C. hit D. punched
Question 28: They _________ and hawed for weeks before deciding to buy the house.
A. blared B. dined C. thudded D. hummed
Question 29: He was arrested for trying to pass _________ notes at the bank.
A. counterfeit B. fake C. camou?laged D. fraudulent
Question 30: Candace would _________ her little sister into an argument by teasing her and calling her
names.
A. advocate B. prompt C. provoke D. trigger

PHẦN 5: ĐỌC ĐỤC LỖ & ĐỌC HIỂU
Passage 1: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct word or phrase that best Nits each of the numbered blanks.
A number of people today when asked whether they consider themselves to (1) _________ any racial
prejudices would con?idently respond in the negative. It is often assumed that because we live in multi-
racial societies, we automatically have an awareness of the importance of respecting others and that
racial discrimination is morally wrong. However, a growing (2) _________ of evidence exists today to
suggest that many people may be more prejudiced than they admit.
It has been suggested that even those individuals who are most (3) _________ to racial equality may
have such biases deep within their minds, without realising it. To an extent, such biases may be part of
human nature and affect all of us, no matter what our racial background is. They are, in the main,
automatic and (4) _________ hard to avoid. Nevertheless, the individual who has some awareness of his
or her failings in this area can at least attempt to change their behaviour to make sure that they do not
act in (5) _________ with these biases.
Question 1: A. harbour B. consist C. emerge D. concede
Question 2: A. shred B. body C. slice D. bit
Question 3: A. committed B. anticipated C. accustomed D. indicated
Question 4: A. however B. although C. therefore D. but
Question 5: A. regulation B. willingness C. accordance D. familiarity

Passage 2: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct word or phrase that best Nits each of the numbered blanks.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco achieved worldwide fame almost immediately after its
completion in 1937, not just because it was a technical masterpiece but also (1) _________ its elegant
design. The eye-catching orange-red colour of the bridge also (2) _________ its popularity.
Construction of the road bridge started in 1933. At the time, many people doubted whether it was
technically possible to span the 1,600-metre-wide strait. But despite this, the project (3) _________. There
is also a sidewalk for pedestrians on the bridge but it’s quite a (4) _________ to walk across it. For a start,
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it is three kilometres long and 67 metres above sea level. In extreme weather conditions, the bridge
can sway almost eight metres, which can make the crossing rather unpleasant.

The Golden Gate Bridge is at its most enchanting in the morning when it is often shrouded by mist.
At night, it’s also spectacular because the lighting makes it seem as if the towers are disappearing into
the darkness. The bridge has long (5) _________ its record of being the longest bridge but it is still one of
the world’s most famous landmarks.
Question 1: A. in the event B. on behalf C. as a result D. with the aid
Question 2: A. boosted B. intensi?ied C. developed D. ampli?ied
Question 3: A. went ahead B. moved off C. started out D. sprang up
Question 4: A. hazard B. challenge C. trial D. dif?iculty
Question 5: A. thrown B. lost C. missed D. resigned

Read the following passage and choose the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each
of the following questions.
Most people - two out of three, according to surveys - have experienced deja vu (French for ‘already
seen’). It is that weird sensation of having ‘been here before’ or having ‘lived this moment already’. You
may be visiting some entirely unfamiliar town, for instance, and ‘realize’ that you have already been in
that precise spot, even though you know it is impossible. The feeling goes way beyond any vague sense
of having seen or done something similar before - it feels identical to a past experience. Yet trying to pin
down the memory is like trying to catch a dream - just as you think you are homing in on it, it turns to
vapor. The eeriness of this has led to all sorts of spooky theories. A popular one is that it is the memory
of a dream in which the person has lived through the current moment in advance. In recent years,
however, neuroscientists have discovered enough about perception and memory to piece together a
more plausible explanation.
Every conscious experience we have is ‘constructed’ by our brain out of lots of different components,
rather as a car might be made in a factory. We tend to think of an event as a bundle of sensations: sight,
sound, etc., but there is actually much more to it. If you literally bump into someone in the street, for
example, you will be aware of the sight of them, the touch of them as you bump, the sound each of you
makes, and so on. But you will also be aware of the meaning, tone and intention of the sound, the pain
from the bump, a sense of irritation or embarrassment; a thought, perhaps, that you, or the other person,
is clumsy, and so on. There is much more to experience than simple sensations.
One very important ‘component’ that often gets added is a sense of familiarity. This is generated in
the deep part of the brain that creates emotions. The sense of ‘Ah yes! I recognize this!’ usually only gets
attached to experiences which ‘match’ stored memories. Sometimes, though, the part of the brain which
generates the feeling of familiarity attaches it to an experience that is actually quite novel. This is what
seems to happen in deja vu. The brain then tries to dig out matching memories, but of course they aren’t
there - hence the maddening feeling of chasing shadows.
For most people, deja vu is a rare and Zleeting phenomenon, intriguing rather than disturbing. And
it doesn’t seem to be unhealthy - indeed, deja vu is most commonly reported by people who are young,
intelligent and well-educated. Given that it is actually a minor brain malfunction, this may seem strange.
The explanation may be that young brains are more ‘recognition sensitive’, so they are more easily
triggered into familiarity mode. Similar sensitivity may also be a factor in intelligence - bright people
‘see things’ more readily than others, and intelligent people tend to go on to higher education. So deja
vu may be a side effect of having a brain that is quick to recognize things.

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 For an unfortunate few, though, deja vu is a constant companion, and a serious blight on their lives.
Dr Chris Moulin is a psychologist who is studying this strange disorder. He ?irst came across it when he
was working in a memory clinic: ‘We had a peculiar referral from a man who said there was no point
visiting the clinic because he’d already been there, although this would have been impossible. Deja vu
had developed to such an extent that he had stopped watching TV because it seemed to be a repeat. He
even believed he could hear the same bird singing the same song in the same tree every time he went
out.
Apart from the sheer tedium of chronic deja vu, the condition can also get people into social
dif?iculties. ‘Some patients feel that everyone they meet is familiar, and this makes them dangerously
trusting of strangers,’ says Moulin. ‘If they don’t constantly remind themselves that the sensation is false,
they are at risk of being exploited.’ So next time you ?ind yourself ‘re-living’ an experience, don’t struggle
to recall the previous time. Just sit back and relax. And make sure that you don’t sign on the dotted line
until the moment has passed.
Question 1: What point does the writer make about deja vu in the ?irst paragraph?
A. Scientists tend to disbelieve people who claim to have had the experience.
B. The experience is more common than scientists are prepared to admit.
C. Many previous attempts to explain it were based on unscienti?ic beliefs.
D. Some evidence of a non-scienti?ic cause cannot be disproved.
Question 2: Why does the writer mention manufacturing a car?
A. to indicate that our experiences are more complex than we realize
B. to suggest that many of the experiences people have are similar
C. to show that different experiences tend to consist of the same components
D. to emphasize the role of other people in the experiences we have
Question 3: According to the third paragraph, deja vu seems to be caused by ________.
A. emotions that are normally linked with different experiences becoming confused
B. an experience arousing an emotion which is linked with similar previous experiences
C. the brain failing to distinguish between different emotional responses
D. a feeling of recognition mistakenly being linked with a new experience
Question 4: The word they in paragraph 3 refers to ________.
A. memories B. shadows C. feelings D. experiences
Question 5: The word Zleeting in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. momentary B. momentous C. ginormous D. mammoth
Question 6: According to the fourth paragraph, deja vu is probably caused by ________.
A. a person’s lack of patience
B. the level of education that a person achieves
C. a useful attribute of some people’s brains
D. the environment in which some people are brought up
Question 7: The word blight in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. af?liction B. affection C. condition D. petition
Question 8: The word tedium in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. monophony B. monotony C. panorama D. monorail

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Question 9: Chris Moulin gives the example of a man ________.
A. whose experience of deja vu could not be treated.
B. who thought that actual and potential experiences duplicated previous ones.
C. who blamed television for making his condition worse.
D. who found the familiarity of his experiences somewhat comforting.
Question 10: What advice does the writer give to people who frequently experience deja vu?
A. to avoid situations where there is a risk of experiencing deja vu
B. not to trust others until they have evidence that they will not be exploited
C. to check with people they meet whether or not they have met previously
D. not to commit themselves to something on the basis of its apparent familiarity

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