ĐỀ LUYỆN 3 14/11/23

A. LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1. For questions 1-5, you will hear a woman talking about caffeine. Listen and decide whether the
following sentences are true (T) or false (F). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on
the answer sheet.
1. Plants and animals can live without too much interference from humans in national parks, nature reserves, or
wilderness areas.
2. Never visiting a national park is a good way of helping conserve wildlife.
3. Tourists cannot ask anything about threatened species when they are in a national park.
4. Farms are also ideal places for conserving species.
5. Removing garbage and replanting can discourage native bush from regenerating and animals from returning.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, you will hear a woman called Camilla Doyle introducing a science fair. Listen
and answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each
answer in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
6. What has Camilla seen a lot at previous science fairs?
7. Where did David Nelson try to construct a reactor?
8. According to Camilla, what can Joe Hickson's machine detect?
9. What did a group of students produce that recorded accurate measurements of weather events?
10. What is the special type of underwater vehicle primarily designed to investigate?
Part 3. For questions 11-15, you will hear part of a radio phone-in programme about consumer competitions
that appear in magazines or are run by shops, in which advice is given to people who regularly enter them.
Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear and write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
11. Diana has phoned because she ______.
A. feels that she is the victim of an injustice. B. is reluctant to consult a lawyer yet.
C. fears she misunderstood an agreement she made. D. wants to avoid falling out with her best friend.
12. Kathy tells Diana that ______.
A. her problem is a rather unusual one. B. she should have been more careful when dealing with her
friend.
C. it is unfortunate that her friend has the attitude that she has. D. she would regret taking legal action.
13. What does Kathy tell Ron about using different names when entering competitions?
A. People who do so are regularly caught out. B. It may affect the quality of a competitor's entries.
C. There are rarely occasions when it might be justified. D. It is unusual for competitors to decide to do so.
14. What has led Stan to phone in?
A. an inadequate response to a complaint he has made
B. a feeling of confusion as to the rules of a competition
C. a belief that he has been sent inaccurate information
D. a desire for more openness about the results of competitions
15. What does Kathy tell Stan about the competition he entered?
A. Some of the phrasing of the instructions is ambiguous.
B. The rules allow for results that may appear unfair.
C. A deliberate attempt has been made to mislead competitors.
D. It is the sort of competition that it is best not to enter.
Part 4. You will hear someone called Kate Charters describing her career. For questions 16-25, complete the
sentences with a word or short phrase.
16. Kate's first job involved selling _____________________ by phone.
17. Three years later, she started working for a company called ___________________.
18. When she joined Visnews, she first worked in the company's ___________________.
19. The videos made by Visnews were _________________ on topics of special interest.
20. The videos made by Visnews were sold in shops and by __________________ methods.
21. At Castle Communications, one 'side deal' involved holding a __________ at a theme park.
22. She returned to Visnews and is currently in charge of its ______________.
23. Kate's present job involves providing companies with the services of ________________ as well as with
certain facilities and technology.
24. Throughout her career, she has been given valuable assistance by someone who is employed by a
________________.

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25. Over the years, it has been accommodating to Kate since she _____________ or wished to talk about
professional matters thanks to his keen interest and unwavering support.
B. LEXICO – GRAMMAR (30 points)
Part 1. For questions 26-45, choose the best option A, B, C or D to complete the following sentences and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
26. Only a few companies were found to be in __________ with the new law.
A. submission B. obedience C. compliance D. fulfillment
27. It was a ____________ heart that she said goodbye to all her colleagues.
A. solemn B. grim C. heavy D. dismal
28. A meeting was held so that staff could ____________their views freely.
A. divulge B. vent C. utter D. air
29. Not even losing all the time could _____________ his enthusiasm for tennis.
A. recede B. dampen C. erode D. belittle
30. The brother and sister were ________ over who would get to inherit the beach house.
A. at large B. at odds C. at a standstill D. at a loose end
31. ________ that Kim was getting married, we were sorry she’d be leaving home.
A. Delighted though we were B. As we were delighted
C. However delighted were we D. As we were so delighted
32. Peter’s so ________! I think he’d think things through a little more carefully.
A. impulsive B. repulsive C. compulsive D. expulsive
33. I’ve yet ________ a person as Theo.
A. to meet as infuriating B. to have met such infuriating
C. been meeting as infuriating D. been meeting such infuriating
34. Sniffer dogs are able to locate survivors beneath the rubble with ________.
A. precision B. correctness C. meticulousness D. exactitude
35. The locks to the doors of the building are controlled ________.
A. mainly B. centrally C. solidly D. completely
36. I didn’t want to make a decision ____________, so I said I’d like to think about it.
A. in one go B. there and then C. at a stroke D. on and off
37. She talked so fast, it is difficult getting a word in ____________!
A. edgeways B. halfway C. sideways D. any way
38. They haven’t selected the candidates for an interview yet because there’s a ________ of applications.
A. build-up B. back-up C. backlog D. backing
39. Having never worked on a major newspaper before, he was all at ________ when he first started.
A. loss B. water C. coast D. sea
40. A: “I’ve had a ________ pain in my side all day.” B: “It’s probably indigestion.”
A. whimpering B. nagging C. pestering D. muttering
41. It was predicted that business would be destroyed and the town’s economy would be in _______.
A. tatters B. scraps C. segment D. fragments
42. Not only is little Jonny’s grammar incoherent and his spelling atrocious but also his pronunciation
__________.
A. hazard B. sluggish C. haphazard D. slothful
43. The Prime Minister will decide whether to release the prisoner or not; that’s his _________.
A. prerogative B. derogatory C. abdication D. humanity
44. The difference between your estimate and mine is just too small to mention. It makes no sense to
_________ about it.
A. chew the fat B. split hairs C. talk shop D. brave the element
45. Toxic _____ disfigure black neighborhoods, degrade property values, and discourage investment.
A. gatecrashers B. eyesores C. keystones D. watersheds
Part 2. For questions 46-55, give the correct form of each given word to complete the following sentences
and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
46. Together they forged a(n) ________ intellectual climate that has profoundly shaped my career. (VIGOR)
47. Scholars have tried to make a case for ________, competitiveness, and selfishness as innate human trait.
(ACQUIRE)
48. One encouraging feature of period-instrument performances in recent decades has been a growing concern
with reliable and ________editions. (AUTHORITY)
49. It once seemed ________ to everyone that men should travel to the moon. (CONCEIVE)
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50. He gained ________ for being difficult to work with as an actor. (NOTORIOUS)
51. Bertha, exaggerating the seriousness of the affair, thought it ________ to undertake a post without
knowledge and without capacity. (CHARLATAN)
52. The practice of meditation and ________ is life-long, reflecting this daily process of repentance and change
at heart. (TEMPLE)
53. Broadly speaking, on-line shopping experiences can be categorized into two distinct dimensions: ________
and hedonic value. (USE)
54. Their refusal to ________ spending plans and to increase the burden on poll tax payers is expected. (TAIL)
55. The bank is ________ and will be unable to live up to its obligations. (SOLVE)
C. READING (60 points)
Part 1. For questions 56-65, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and write
your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on the answer sheet.
Urban Sparrows
During the last 25 years, Britain’s urban sparrow population has declined by as much as two-thirds, and the bird
has almost disappeared from many of (56) ______ former haunts. The decline has been blamed on everything
from cats to garden pesticides. Moreover, modern buildings have far (57) ___________ few nooks and crannies
(58) _________ the birds can nest. Factors like these may well be involved, but alone they (59) ________ to
explain the severity of the decline, or the fact that other urban birds have been less affected.
Denis Summers-Smith is the world’s leading expert on sparrows, so when he comes up with a theory to explain
their decline, it has to be (60) ________ listening to. He suggests that he culprit is a chemical added to unleaded
petrol. It would be deeply ironic if a policy that was intended to improve the nation’s health was to prove
responsible for the decline of (61) ________ of its favorite species.
According to Summers-Smith, social species such as the sparrow require a minimum population in a specific
area to breed successfully, If, (62) ___________ whatever reason, numbers drop (63) _____________ this
threshold, the stimulus to breed disappears. The most dramatic example is the passenger pigeon, (64)
__________ in the late nineteenth century went from (65) __________ the world’s most common bird to total
extinction within 50 years.
Part 2. For questions 66-75, read the passage below and choose the answer A, B, C or D that fits best
according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided on the answer
sheet.
MACHIAVELLI and the ORIGINS of POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political science, the rational analysis of systems of government, their organization, functions, and policies, first
originated in the Western world with Niccolo Machiavelli, a citizen of the Italian city state of Florence in the
late 15th century.
At the time the only school of political thought was that of the Church, which was highly idealistic and more
concerned with theological musings and preserving the tenets of the faith than in the practical operation of
government. Machiavelli rejected this approach arguing that stability and order were more important than moral
considerations. It was, therefore, justifiable for a ruler to use any means necessary to gain and maintain the
power necessary to establish order. According to Machiavelli, rulers should not be constrained by traditional
notions of morality and virtue. This gave rise to the famous quote “The ends justify the means.” It is doubtful
that Machiavelli ever actually uttered these words, but they sum up his views accurately.
In his greatest work, the Prince, Machiavelli outlines the methods which a ruler should employ to gain and
maintain power by identifying the qualities an effective ruler must possess. First a ruler must be willing to learn
from and imitate the great rulers of the past. When Machiavelli spoke of the great rulers of the past, he mostly
meant the great Roman emperors, whom he admired for their cunning and often ruthless application of power.
Second a ruler must be able to justify his rule to the public. Machiavelli claimed that no ruler could achieve
power and maintain stability unless the public saw that they were better off with him than without him. A ruler
also has to be a devoted student of the art of war. Machiavelli saw warfare as an essential element of statecraft,
and believed that the ruler who had no skill in war was doomed. Machiavelli also claimed that a ruler must be
willing to cast away thoughts of morality and do whatever necessary to hold on to power, including resorting to
murder, corruption, and torture. Finally, Machiavelli claimed that a ruler must never be hated. This seem hard to
square with his advice regarding murder and torture, but what Machiavelli meant was that even though a ruler
must sometimes engage in ruthless behavior, he must also maintain an outward façade of virtue.
Machiavelli’s views have always been controversial. The Church immediately repudiated him and placed The
Prince on its list of banned books. Despite this, knowledge of his works spread throughout Europe and sparked
a heated debate that spawned the study we now know as political science. Jean Bodin a French political theorist
and around 50 years after Machiavelli supported his views. Bodin’s idea heavily influenced by Machiavelli
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led to the theory of the divine right if kings and is subsequent use to justify the rule of absolute monarchs
in the 17th century, and were taken up by later political thinkers as well. In various forms, this theory has
been used to justify various forms of authoritarianism, from the dictatorship of Napoleon to the fascist
governments of Italy and Germany during World War II.
Giovanni Botero, however, strongly opposed Machiavelli’s ideas. He argued that the system of government
Machiavelli proposed simply did not work. In its place he suggested that a ruler should behave more as if he
had a contract with his subjects. According to Botero, the power of a ruler rested on the consent of the people
and he should therefore rule justly. Botero’s refutation of Machiavelli’s ideas greatly influenced later liberal
political theorists such as John Locke and Adam Smith. Their ideas in turn gave rise to the idea of the “power of
the people”, which has inspired any number revolutions, from the American Revolution to the communist
revolutions of the 20th century. Thus, Machiavelli’s ideas helped to spark a debate that has colored nearly every
political theory since his time, the debate over whether power truly rests with the ruler or the people.
66. According to paragraph 2, what did Machiavelli believe was the most important functions of government?
A. The protection of the Christian Faith B. The preservation of order and stability
C. The accumulation of greater power D. The casting aside of traditional morality
67. The word “constrained” in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.
A. limited B. judged C. educated D. chosen
68. According to paragraph 3, all of the following are aspects of Machiavelli’s ideal leader EXCEPT
_________.
A. the willingness to commit immoral acts to hold on to power B. knowledge of combat strategy and tactics
C. the ability to appear good even when committing cruel acts D. the ability to rule even in the face of popular
opposition
69. According to paragraph 3, Machiavelli admired the Roman emperors because ________.
A. they had conquered huge territories through war B. they held on to power for long
periods
C. they exemplified his idea of amoral rule D. they had been willing to imitate great leaders before them
70. The word “repudiated” in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.
A. denounced B. convicted C. acknowledged D. punished
71. Why does the author discuss Jean Bodin and Giovanni Botero in paragraph 4 and 5?
A. To illustrate that Machiavelli’s ideas were discussed despite the Church’s ban on his book.
B. To exemplify the divisions that Machiavelli’s ideas created in Italian society.
C. To introduce the effects that Machiavelli’s ideas had on later political thought.
D. To explain both the positive and negative effects of Machiavelli’s ideas.
72. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in
paragraph 4?
A. Bodin's ideas, borrowed from Machiavelli, were responsible for the claim that absolute monarchs were
divinities, an idea taken up by later political thinkers.
B. Bodin’s ideas, stemming from those of Machiavelli, led to the theories used to justify tyrannical kings, and
influenced later political thinkers.
C. Bodinj’s ideas were the same as those of Machiavelli concerning the divine right of kings, and he influenced
later political thinkers.
D. Machiavelli’s influence on Bodin and later political thinkers is seen in the Justification of the absolute
monarchs of the 17the century.
73. Based on the information in paragraphs 4 and 5, what can be inferred about Machiavellian political theory?
A. It is not widely ascribed to in Catholic nations B. It most often gains favor in autocratic
governments
C. It was last used in fascist politics D. Its study is banned in both democratic and communist
nations
74. According to paragraph 5, what did Botero base his refutation of Machiavelli’s ideas on?
A. The immorality of Machiavellian politics B. The supremacy of human laws over natural law
C. The impracticality of Machiavellian politics D. His preference for the theories of John Locke
75. The word “consent” in the passage is closest in meaning to _________.
A. consideration B. welfare C. agreement D. generosity
Part 3. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Why we need to protect polar bears

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Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their disappearance could
have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle,
where temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimeters of fat
underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would
be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.
A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery. They compared the genetic structure
of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears. This allowed them to
determine the genes that have allowed polar bears to survive in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Liu
and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density
lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol. In humans, mutations of this gene are associated with
increased risk of heart disease. Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart
disease in humans.
The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition, one that particularly affects
our older generation: osteoporosis. This is a disease where bones show reduced density, usually caused by
insufficient exercise, reduced calcium intake or food starvation. Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled,
meaning that bone is added or removed, depending on nutrient availability and the stress that the bone is under.
Female polar bears, however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. Once autumn comes around,
these females will dig maternity dens in the snow and will remain there throughout the winter, both before and
after the birth of their cubs. This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to
keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves. Despite this, their bones
remain strong and dense.
Physiologists Alanda Lennox and Allen Goodship found an explanation for this paradox in 2008. They
discovered that pregnant bears were able to increase the density of their bones before they started to build their
dens. In addition, six months later, when they finally emerged from the den with their cubs, there was no
evidence of significant loss of bone density. Hibernating brown bears do not have this capacity and must
therefore resort to major bone reformation in the following spring. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in
polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.
The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our conservation efforts,
but these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. We tend to want to protect animals we think
are intelligent and possess emotions, such as elephants and primates. Bears, on the other hand, seem to be
perceived as stupid and in many cases violent. And yet anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those
assumptions, suggesting for example that polar bears have good problem-solving abilities. A male bear called
GoGo in Tennoji Zoo, Osaka, has even been observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The
bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach. Problem-
solving ability has also been witnessed in wild polar bears, although not as obviously as with GoGo. A
calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get to a
photographer standing on a platform four metres high.
In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focused manipulation.
For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be
a game. The study demonstrates that bears are capable of agile and thought-out behaviours. These examples
suggest bears have greater creativity and problem-solving abilities than previously thought.
As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and
snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill. Moreover, polar bears can form
unusual relationships with other species, including playing with the dogs used to pull sleds in the Arctic.
Remarkably, one hand-raised polar bear called Agee has formed a close relationship with her owner Mark
Dumas to the point where they even swim together. This is even more astonishing since polar bears are known
to actively hunt humans in the wild.
If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential breakthroughs
in human medicine, but more importantly, the disappearance of an intelligent, majestic animal.

Questions 76-82

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 76-82 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

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76. Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin.
77. The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.
78. Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.
79. Polar bears are able to control their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means.
80. Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.
81. It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out of their dens in
spring.
82. The polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people one day.

Questions 83-88. Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each
answer. Write your answers in boxes 83-88 on your answer sheet.
Reasons why polar bears should be protected
People think of bears as unintelligent and 83._________
However, this may not be correct. For example:
- In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a 84._________. This allowed him to knock down
some 85._________ .
- A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a 86._________ was located.
- Polar bears have displayed behaviour such as conscious manipulation of objects and activity similar to
a 87._________.
Bears may also display emotions. For example:
- They may make movements suggesting 88._________ if disappointed when hunting.
- They may form relationships with other species.

Part 4: In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. Read the passage and choose from
paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided on the answer sheet.
THE FOOTBALL CLUB CHAIRMAN
Bryan Richardson greeted me warmly, and ushered me into his modest office, somewhat larger than the others
along the corridor, but without pretensions of any kind. He returned to his desk, which had two phones and a
mobile on it, and a lot of apparently unsorted papers, offered me a chair, and said it was nice to see me again. I
rather doubt he remembered me at all, but it had the effect of making me feel a little less anxious.
89.
‘I want to talk to you about an idea I have,’ I said. ‘I have supported this club since the 2010, and I’m starting to
get frustrated by watching so much and knowing so little.’ He gazed at me with a degree of interest mixed with
incomprehension. ‘What I mean,’ I added, ‘is that every football fan is dying to know what it is really like,
what’s actually going on, yet all we get to see is what happens on the field.’
90.
And I didn’t wish to be fobbed off. ‘They all make it worse, not better. They all purvey gossip and rumours, and
most of what they say turns out to be either uninteresting or incorrect. Your average supporter ends up in the
dark most of the time.’
91.
‘Now that,’ I said, ‘is just the sort of thing I want to know about. I’d like to write a book about the club this
coming season, to know about the deals, the comings and goings, all the factors involved. To get to know how a
Premiership football club actually works.’ As I said this, I feared that it was a futile request, but I’d drawn a
little hope from the fact that he had just been so open, as if he had already decided to consider the project. ‘I
want to know about buying and selling players, how the finances work, to go down to the training ground,
travel with the team, talk to the players and the manager.’
92.
So I continued with it. ‘Let me tell you a little about myself.’ He leaned back to make himself comfortable,
sensing that this might take a while. ‘By training I’m an academic. I came here from America in the 1960s, got
a doctorate in English at Oxford, then taught in the English Department at Warwick University for fifteen years.
Now I run my own business, dealing in rare books and manuscripts in London, and do some freelance writing.
But I’m not a journalist.’
93.
I was starting to babble now, and as I spoke I was aware of how foolish all this must be sounding to him. At one
point he put his hands quietly on his lap, under the desk, and I had the distinct, if paranoid, impression that he

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was ringing some sort of hidden alarm, and that three orange shirted stewards would shortly come in and escort
me from the ground (By Order of the Chairman).
94.
‘But a book is certainly a good idea,’ he said. ‘Let me think it over and I’II get back to you.’ He stood up and
we shook hands. ‘I’II be in touch,’ he said. And a few weeks later, in mid-August, he was. ‘There’s a great story
here,’ he said. ‘Go ahead and do it next season. I’II introduce you to the people up here at the club. Go
everywhere, talk to everybody, you’ll find it fascinating.’ I was surprised, and delighted, but tried not to gush.
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘It’s very open-minded of you.’
95.
‘Yes, sure,’ he said. ‘But I mean something more than that, something more complicated.’ ‘What’s that?’ I
asked. He smiled. ‘You’ll see.’
Paragraphs
A. The disappointment must have registered on my face, because he quickly added: ‘I came to all this relatively
late in my career, and it’s a fascinating business. I find it more so all the time, and I don’t have any doubt that
people would be interested to read an account of it.’
B. ‘We’ve got nothing to hide,’ he said, ‘but you’ll be surprised by what you learn. It’s an amazingly emotional
business.’ ‘It must be,’ I said, ‘the supporters can see that. So many of the games are like an emotional
rollercoaster. Sometimes the whole season is.’
C. He nodded gently. ‘Good,’ he said firmly. ‘That’s part of the point,’ I went on. ‘I want to write about the club
from the point of view of the supporters, a sort of fan’s eye view. Getting behind the scenes is every fan’s dream
– whether it’s here or somewhere else. I’ve never written anything like this, although I have written a couple of
books. And I am trained, as an academic, in habits of analysis, in trying to figure out how things work. And I’m
a supporter of the club, so I don’t think there is anything to fear.’
D. As I was speaking, the mobile phone rang, and he answered it with an apologetic shrug. A brief and cryptic
one-sided conversation ensued, with obscure references to hotels and phone numbers. When he hung up, he
explained: ‘We’re trying to sign a full-back. Good player. But there are three agents involved, and two
continental sides want to sign him, so we’ve got him hidden in a hotel. If we can keep them away from him for
another couple of days, he’ll sign.’
E. He considered this for a moment. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘there is the Clubcall line, the match-day programmes, and
the articles in the local and national papers. There’s lots of information about.’ He sounded like a politician
trying to claim for his party the moral authority of open government, while at the same time giving nothing
away
F. Not at all. ‘It’s funny you should ask,’ he said, ‘because you’re the second person this week who has come in
with a request to write a book about the club. And I’ve just been approached by the BBC with a proposal to do a
six-part documentary about the club. ‘Are you going to let them do it?’ I asked. ‘I don’t think,’ he said wryly,
‘that a six-part series on what a nice club Coventry City is would make good television.’
G. ‘So, what can I do for you?’ He made it sound as if he were interested. Poised and well dressed, though
without foppishness, he had that indefinable polish that one often observes in people of wealth or celebrity. By
polish I do not mean good manners, though that frequent accompanies it, but something more tangible: a kind
of glow, as if the rich and famous applied some mysterious ointment (available only to themselves) every
morning, and then buffed their faces to a healthy sheen.
H. There, I’d done it. The worst that he could do was to tell me to get lost. Part of me, to tell the truth, would
have been just a little relieved. But he didn’t do anything. He sat quite still, listening, letting me make my pitch.
(From CPE Practice Tests – Mark Harrison)
Part 5: For questions 96-105, you are going to read an article about the human mind. Answer the questions
by choosing from the sections of the article (A - F). The sections may be chosen more than once. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided on the answer sheet.
Picture this … with your mind’s eye
Trying to understand and cope with life, we impose our own frameworks on it and represent information in
different symbolic forms in our mind, writes Jonathan Hancock.
A. Think of the mental maps you use to find your way around the places you love and work. Which way up you
picture towns and cities you know well? Which details are highlighted, which ones blurred? Just as the map of
London used by passengers in the Underground is different from the one used by drivers above ground, so your
mental framework differs from that of other people. We also use frameworks to organise more abstract
information. Many people say that the can visualise the position of key passages in books or documents.
Mention a point made by the author, and they can recall and respond to it by picturing it in relation to other key

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points within the larger framework they see in their mind’s eye. On a chaotic-looking desk, it is often possible
to see a mental picture of where the key pieces of paper are and find a particular document in seconds.
B. We all have our own natural strategies for structuring information, for altering and re- arranging it in our
mind’s eye. You can take control of your thinking by increasing your control of the mental frameworks you
create. Since Ancient Roman times, a specific framing technique has been used to improve memory and boost
clarity of thought. The concept is simple: you design an empty of framework, based on the shape of a building
you know well, and get used to moving around its rooms and hallways in your mind. Whenever you have
information to remember, you place it in this “virtual storehouse”. Whatever it is you are learning - words,
numbers, names, jobs, ideas - you invent pictorial clues to represent each one. The mind prefers images, you
highlight the important points in a batch of information and assign each of them all illustration.
C. Memory and place are closely linked. Have you ever walked upstairs, forgotten what you went for, but
remembered when you returned to where you were standing when you first had the thought? When you are
trying to learn new information, it makes sense to use the mind’s natural tendencies, In your mind, you return to
the imaginary rooms in your “virtual storehouse”, and rediscover the images you left there. Cicero, perhaps the
greatest orator in history, is reputed to have used this technique to recall complex legal arguments, addressing
the Roman Senate from memory for days on end. You can use it to remember all the employees in your new
workplace, the jobs you have to do in a day, month or year, subject headings for a complex piece of work, or
the facts you need to have at your fingertips under pressurized circumstances.
D. The system of combining images and ideas works so well because it involves “global thinking”, bringing
together the two “sides” of your brain. The left side governs logic, words, numbers, patterns and structured
thought - the frameworks you build - and the right side works on random thoughts, pictures, daydreams - the
memorable imagery you fill them with. The fearless, imaginative creativity of the child combines with the
patterning, prioritising, structured thinking of the adult. The memory is activated with colours and feelings, as
you create weird, funny, exciting, surreal scenes; and the information is kept under control by the organised
frameworks you design. Imagination is the key. You enter a new dimension, dealing with information in a form
that suits the way the mind works. In the accessible form, huge amounts of data can be carried around with you.
You never again have to search around for an address book, diary or telephone number on a scrap of paper.
Your memory becomes a key part of your success, rather than the thing you curse as the cause of your failure.
E. Bringing information into the field of your imagination helps you to explore it in greater depth and from
different angles. Storing it in the frameworks of your mind allows you to pick out the key details but also to see
the big picture. you can use your trained memory to organise your life: to see the day - to - day facts and
figures, names, times and dates, but also to keep in touch with your long - term goals. By understanding the
way your mind works, you can make yourself memorable to others. give your thoughts a shape and structure
that can be grasped and others will remember what you have to say. You can take your imaginative grasp of the
world to a new level and, by making the most of mental frames, you can out the information you need at your
disposal more readily.
(Adapted from Certificate in Advanced English 1)
Which section mentions the following?
96. things that you will not need if you adopt a certain mental technique
97. using an image of a familiar place to help you remember things
98. being able to think about both particular points and general points
99. things that you may not have a clear mental picture of
100. something which appears to be disorganized
101. annoyance at your inability to remember things
102. bearing in mind what you want to achieve in the future
103. an example of an industry in which people use pictures effectively
104. an everyday example of failure to keep information in the mind
105. the impact a certain mental technique can have on people listening to what you say

D. WRITING (60 points)

Part 3: Essay writing
Write an essay of no more than 350 words to express your opinion on the following issue (30 pts)
Some employers believe that job applicants’ social skills are more important than their academic
qualifications.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
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 --- HẾT---
(Cán bộ coi thi không giải thích gì thêm)

ĐỀ LUYỆN 4 16/11/23

SECTION A. LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1. You hear two people speaking about their friendship. Each given question has four options A, B,
C and D. Choose the best option for each question.
1. One speaker felt her watershed moment was when_____
A. she watched a film under a blanket. B. she turned fifty.
C. she had an argument with a good friend. D. she got married.
2. One speaker made a tongue-in-cheek comment about
A. The Tate. B. the food they both like. C. taking up knitting. D. singing in a choir.
3. One speaker expressed the view that a quilt of fear
A. was ideal for daydreaming. B. was great for keeping you warm in front of the television.
C. protected you from imaginary concerns. D. made your wishes come true.
4. The speakers failed to agree about
A. the number of times they fell out. B. where the quilt should be displayed.
C. the number of pieces the quilt should have. D. the best age to form lasting friendships.
5. What conclusion did they put forward?
A. Friendships made in your teenage years reflect your aspirations. B. Good friendships are hard to find.
C. The longer the friendship, the better it becomes. D. It's best not to mix friends.
Part 2. Listen to the recording and decide which of the following statements are True (F) and which ones
are False (F)?
1. The queen's personal income is primarily derived from her lucrative investment portfolio.
2. The Sovereign Grant is provided by the government to cover official duties and expenditures of the royal
family.
3. The Crown Estate and the Royal Collection Trust are both separate entities that hold valuable assets
associated with the royal family.
4. The monarchy's brand contributes over 1 billion to the national economy annually.
5. The Duchy of Cornwall serves as the primary source of income for the Duke of Lancaster.
Part 3. Listen to the recording and fill in the gaps with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or A
NUMBER
The Shinkansen Bullet Train in Japan faced a noise problem when it exited tunnels due to the (1)
_______________ it created. To address this issue, an engineering team used (2) ___________________ to
design a quieter and faster train.
The redesigned train took inspiration from birds such as owls, whose feathers influenced the design of the (3)
________________.
The pantograph's supporting shaft was redesigned based on the smooth body of the Adelie penguin to reduce
wind resistance and achieve a (4) _____________________.
The Kingfisher's beak served as a model for the train's nose design, which helped minimize noise by reducing
pressure waves and splashes, achieving the (5) ________________.
The redesigned train, with its biomimetic components, achieved remarkable results, including being 10% faster
and using (6) ___________________.
However, people who shape the world often lack experience in biology. Consequently, they are (7)
___________________ when it comes to understanding the workings of the world.
Biomimicry has influenced various fields, including healthcare, where researchers have looked at shark skin to
develop bacteria-resistant surfaces for hospitals, mimicking the shark's (8) ________________________.
Mimicking natural processes, such as how ants communicate to efficiently find resources, has been applied in
the development of software, including the movement of autonomous cars in a (9) _____________________.
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The idea of the (10) _______________________ promotes using materials in a way that eliminates waste by
continuously upcycling them, similar to how materials are reused and transformed in natural ecosystems.
Your answers:
Part 4. Listen to a recording about Frederick, the duke of York and answer the following questions.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS and/or A NUMBER for each answer.
1. In what type of composition was Frederick, the duke, made famous?
_______________________________________________
2. Who did his battles end in total disaster against?
_______________________________________________
3. What is the derogatory term employed to depict a collective of individuals perceived as contemptible and
devoid of value?
_______________________________________________
4. When did the Duke of York find himself subjected to ridicule through satirical songs?
_______________________________________________
5. During his involvement in a scandalous affair, what specific position did the Duke hold?
_______________________________________________
SECTION B. GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY (30 points)
Part 1: Choose the answer A, B, C, or D that best completes each of the following sentences. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (20 points)
1. They regularly hold elections without a _____ of corruption or violence.
A. scent B. breath C. sniff D. whiff
2. The lyrics came to him in _____ during this and other catnaps.
A. few and far B. length and breadth C. bits and pieces D. leaps and bounds
3. Should the longevity link also apply to human beings, it could well lead to the development of drugs that
mimic the effects of calorie _____ while allowing people to maintain their normal diet.
A. constraint B. restriction C. prevention D. restraint
4. Right after I got married, I got a big promotion at work, so I'm really _____ at the moment!
A. on the fence B. on the crest of the wave C. on cloud nine D. B&C are correct
5. Joe's been walking with a _____ ever since he found out he was getting a promotion.
A. feather in his cap B. spring in his step C. nail on his head D. chip on his shoulder
6. They would much sooner ____ than _____ by car.
A. walk/going B. walking/going C. walking/go D. walk/go
7. Both reporters cut their journalistic _____ on the same provincial newspaper.
A. tooth B. teeth C. foot D. feet
8. (NP) It’s _____ as bad as he said
A. more like B. much C. nothing like D. a great deal
9. The old bridge fell into _____ several years ago.
A. disuse B. misuse C. unuse D. abuse
10. (NP) Lest anyone _____ my story, I have brought documents to attest to its truth.
A. must doubt B. should doubt C. doubts D. doubted
11. Let me make a _____ concession at the start.
A. square B. triangle C. round D. cross
12. (NP) There has been _____ increasing number of cases of _____ disease.
A. an/the B. an/Ø (zero article) C. the/a D. the/the
13. He announced he could see the _____ of recovery in the job market.
A. green shoots B. blue chip C. white goods D. golden hello
14. Colin's girlfriend dumped him weeks ago, but the poor guy's heart is still in his _____ .
A. shoes B. heels C. boots D. hoods
15. I chose to pursue a career in medical research so that I might someday _____ in the world with a
groundbreaking discovery.
A. make my grade B. make a move C. make my day D. make my mark
16. There is concern that overfishing could snuff _____ some species.
A. up B. out C. in D. about
17. This is a good exercise for toning ____ the thighs.
A. up B. out C. in D. at
18. (NP) __________ that it now carries nearly two million passenger each day.
A. So popular the system has become B. So popular has the system become
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C. Such popular was the system D. Such was popular the system
19. (NP) I’ll see you on Saturday. What ____________ in the afternoon?
A. will you do B. will you be doing C. do you do D. are you doing
20. The company has changed __________ several times but is still on the verge of bankruptcy.
A. places B. tune C. subject D. hands
Part 2: Give the correct form of each bracketed words. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes. (10 points)
1. He had a(n) _____ smile on his face when he saw me. (ENIGMA)
2. In Greek myth, love is _____ by the goddess Aphrodite. (PERSON)
3. I have only a _____ knowledge of Spanish history. (PATCH)
4. After several setbacks it's hard not to grow _____. (HEART)
5. The book is an _____ summary of issues in pensions, relying on quotes from and references to others.
(ORIGIN)
6. Pinga is _____ and begins to cry, to the extent of remaining against a wall. (CONSOLE)
7. The report contained conflicting evidence and plenty of _____. (CONSISTENT)
8. _____ by her own fears, she never left the house. (PRISON)
9. The inclusion of _____ explanations and justifications was by no means standard practice. (SOLICIT)
10. Given the observed difference between men and women as regards to psychological distress, all _____
were conducted separately for men and women. (ANALYSE)
SECTION C. READING (60 points)
Part 1: Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each
space. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (15 points) “Extreme sports” is a broad
term to describe any action or adventure sports that include a high dosage of risk, height, speed, natural
challenges, and physical struggle. Most extreme sports are considered as an alternative (1) _____ mainstream
sports with their adrenaline-rushing thrills. Extreme sports are popularized in (2) _____ 1990s with lots of TV
coverage and they keep on increasing their popularity every year. Bungee Jumping is a simple yet thrilling
recreational activity that involves head-first jumping from a tall structure (3) _____ an elastic cord. Bungee
jump as we (4) _____ it was first practiced in 1979 but its different forms used to be a tribal coming-of-age
ritual in many cultures. Now, bungee jumping is one of the most popular and available extreme sports in the
world. Paragliding is an aerial extreme sport involving gliding through the air with a parachute that is attached
into your body. Participants descend from (5) _____ altitudes such as a mountain, cliff or an aircraft. Abseiling
is a recreational activity that involves sliding down through a rope in controlled conditions from a mountain,
cliff or a man made structure. In spring the weather is more welcoming and warmer for abseiling and since the
(6) _____ is mostly taking place in nature; spring is the most convenient season for it. Kitesurfing is riding and
gliding across the water (7) _____ holding onto a large hand-controlled kite that is powered by the wind.
Mountain biking is an off-road bicycle racing sport that is set on rough terrain like a mountain, desert, or rocks
with specially (8) _____ mountain bikes. Most mountain bikers like to ride on a dry terrain (9) _____ snow or
rain. Skateboarding is an action-filled recreational activity and a professional sport that involves performing
tricks on a skateboard. Skateboarding has also created its (10) _____ subculture from its slang to music.
(Adapted from https://www.flypgs.com/en/extreme-sports )
Part 2. Read the following passage and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to the
text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (10 points)
MARCO POLO
“Here begins the introduction of this book, which is called “The Description of the World”. Lords, Emperors,
and Kings, Dukes, and Marquesses, Counts, Knights, and Burgessess, and all people who wish to know the
different generations of men and the diversities of the different regions of the world, then take this book and
have it read and here you will fine all the greatest marvels and the great diversities…”
So begins Marco Polo’s book, “The Description of the World,” as presented in Arthur Christopher Moule’s
masterful English translation of a version of Marco Polo’s book known to scholars and the “F” text. The
storied Venetian trader escaped bandits, pirates, rampaging rivers and sandstorms on his epic eastbound
journey. Sailing the treacherous coasts of Southeast Asia and India, Marco Polo returned to Venicce in 1295,
after 24 years, rich in gems, and wild tales of unimagined lands. Shortly after his return to Venice, Marco Polo
was captured at sea, possibly by pirates. One tradition suggests he was imprisoned in Genoa’s Palazzo and that
he devoted his prison time to composing his book. On his deathbed in 1324, the legendary adventurer reflected
that he had many more stories to tell.
“The Description of the World,” the original product of Marco Polo’s collaboration with a romance writer
named Rustichello has been lost, and so scholars are left to sift through the some 150 versions known to exist,
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no two exactly alike. Scholars divide the 150 versions into two groups, labeled “A”, and “B”. The “F” text,
which falls into the “A” group, is housed in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. Considered one of the best and
very close to the original, it is written in a Franco-Italian language described by one scholars as “uncouth
French much mingled with Italian.” Some of these “A” texts are notorious for variations that show the biases,
mistakes and editorial judgments of their copiers. For example, when some translators were presented with the
news that three Magi were buried at Saveh in Persia rather than in Cologne, they inserted that the people of
Saveh tell many lies. As these books were translated from language to language, the opportunities for error
multiplied; one text from the early 16 th century is a Tuscan translation of a Latin translation of an earlier
Tuscan translation of the original Franco-Italian language. Although we have no confirmation of the Marco-
Rustichello collaboration other than the book itself, Marco seems to have approved of at least some of its
versions, for in 1307 he presented a French translation of it to an envoy of Charles of Valois.
The second group of manuscripts, known as the “B” group, provides some provocative material not found in
the “A” texts. From this “B” group, for example, we learn that the people around Yarkand in western China
suffer from goiter – a problem for them even today. Until the 1930s the only examples of “B” texts were a few
odd bits of manuscript and a printed text by Giambattista Ramusio that appeared in 1559, two years after his
death. Ramusio tells his readers that his Italian version was produced with the help of different copies.” [A]
The foundation of his work appears to be a Latin text dating from before 1320, with influences from other
identifiable versions. [B] What is distinctive about Ramusio’s work is that about twenty percent of it was, until
1932, considered unique. [C] That twenty percent is thought to have destroyed in a 1558 fire. [D]
A second version containing much of Ramusio’s original material surfaced in Toledo, Spain in 1932. Most of
this Latin manuscript agrees with the “F” manuscript, but it also contains some 200 passages not found in “F”.
About 120 of those, however, are found in Ramusio’s book. Because the remaining 80 offer valuable historical
and geographical material and even help to clarify some obscure passages of “F”, this manuscript is thought to
be a copy of something that was very close to an original.
In sorting this out, scholars have come to conclude that Marco Polo probably wrote two versions of his book.
The second version, presented by the “B” texts, may have been a revision and expansion done for a select
group of readers who had already made their way through the first book. It is unlikely that we will ever know
exactly what form the first book took, but the versions we have still make for a very good read.
(Adapted from CPE express book 2)
1. According to the introduction to the book, readers can expect to
A. learn about Marco Polo’s life. B. learn about differences among generations.
C. travel to far regions of the world. D. read descriptions of places.
2. According to the second paragraphs, stories about Marco Polo’s life
A. are well-supported B. are all imaginary C. take place at sea D. are sometimes unreliable
3. What is the “F” text?
A. The authentic text written by Marco Polo and Rustichello.
B. The script with the greatest affinity to the original source.
C. Not one of the 150 versions of Marco’s original book.
D. A good version of the “B” texts written in Franco-Italian.
4. What is one of the main problems with the “A” texts?
A. All translators manipulated the truth. B. Editing is now difficult and unreliable.
C. The early versions were remote from the original text. D. Later translations distorted the original.
5. The “B” group of manuscripts
A. contained previously undocumented information. B. were compilations of manuscripts printed by Ramusio.
C. dealt with health and culture in China. D. were published two years after Ramusio’s death.
6. What was found in Spain in 1932?
A. A Latin version containing valuable information about Ramusio
B. A text which was very close to the “F” manuscript.
C. A manuscript of 200 passages that do not appear in the “F” text.
D. The original book written by Marco Polo.
7. In relation to the book, “The Description of the World”, the author suggests that
A. despite its uncertain origins, it is a fascinating piece of literature.
B. scholars should discover who the true author was.
C. Marco Polo wrote many versions of the same book.
D. Marco Polo intended his original book for an elite readership.
8. Which of the following statements is TRUE
A. Marco Polo was captured at sea by pirates for two years.
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B. There are about 150 versions of the book “The Description of the World”.
C. “B” texts have more biases, mistakes and editorial judgments than “B” texts.
D. Texts by Ramusio were destroyed in a fire.
9. The word “envoy” in paragraph 4 refers to
A. a person B. a dynasty C. a department D. a country
10. Which of the following square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph the
following sentence can be inserted? In any event, the source has never been found.
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
Part 3. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes. (13points)
List of headings
i. How the study of body language has changed 1. Paragraph A: _____
ii. A possible business application of body language 2. Paragraph B: _____
iii. Using body language as a tool to deceive others 3. Paragraph C: _____
iv. Communicating a wide range of messages 4. Paragraph D: _____
v. A branch of an older academic field 5. Paragraph E: _____
vi. The need for skill when interpreting body 6. Paragraph F: _____
language 7. Paragraph G: _____
vii. Recognising a positive attitude without realising 8. Paragraph H: _____
it
viii. How power is linked with certain family roles
ix. A form of body language that can be
misinterpreted
x. Imitating the chief person in a group
xi. Ignoring signals from other people
KINESICS
A. Psychology is a well-established subject, but one area of it, “kinesics”- the study of body language – was
not identified until 1952, and research only began in earnest in the 1960s. Kinesics is based on the behavioral
patterns of non-verbal communication. Clinical studies have revealed the extent to which body language can
actually contradict verbal communications. A classic example is the young woman who told her psychiatrist
that she loved her boyfriend very much while shaking her head from side to side in subconscious denial.
B. Body language also sheds light on the dynamics of interfamily relationships. A family sitting together can
give a revealing picture of itself simply by the way its members move their arms and legs. If the mother, for
example, crosses her legs first and the rest of the family then follows suit,
she has set the lead for the family action, though she, as well as the rest of the family may not be aware she is
doing it. In fact, her words may deny her leadership as she asks her husband or children for advice. But the
unspoken, follow-the-leader clue in the actions of the family members gives the family set-up away to
someone knowledgeable in kinesics.
C. Another kinesic signal is the unconscious widening of a person’s pupils when their eyes see something
pleasant. Experiments have shown that we become aware of how that person feels, although we are conscious
neither of seeing the signal nor of giving it meaning.
D. This kinesic principle has been used on a commercial level to detect the effect of a television advertisement.
While the ad is being shown to a selected audience, their eyes are photographed. Later, the film is carefully
studied to detect just when there is any widening of the eye; in other words, when there is any unconscious,
positive response to the advertisement.
E. Body language can include any volutionary or involutionary movement of a part or all the body, used by a
person to communicate an emotional message to the outside world. To understand this unspoken body
language, kinesics experts often have to take into consideration cultural and environmental differences. The
average person, unschooled in cultural nuances of body language, is often mistaken when decoding what he or
she sees.
F. In addition to sending and receiving messages, body language can also serve to break through defences, if it
is used skillfully. Often the swiftest and most obvious type of body language is touch. The touch of a hand, or
an arm around someone’s shoulder, can spell a more vivid and direct message of friendliness than dozens of
words. But such a touch must come at the right moment and in the right context, or the other person may take it
as an intrusion into his or her personal space. For every situation there must be two elements to body language:
the delivery of the message and the reception of the message.

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G. However, some people are “touchers”, compulsive touchers, who seem completely impervious to all
messages they may get from friends and acquaintances. They are people who will touch others even though
they are bombarded with body-language requests not to. There are also people who avoid touching others
altogether.
H. We act out our state of being with non-verbal body language. We lift one eyebrow for disbelief, shrug our
shoulders for indifference, tap our fingers for impatience. The gestures are numerous, and while some are
deliberate and others are almost deliberate, there are some, such as rubbing under our noses for puzzlement or
clasping our arms to protect ourselves, that are mostly unconscious. Kinesics is a study of the mixture of all
body movements, from the very deliberate to the completely unconscious, from those that apply only in one
culture to those that cut across all cultural barriers.
Questions 9-13. Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in the reading passage?
Write
YES if the statement reflects the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
9. Little work was done in the field of kinesics for the first few years after the subject had been identified.
10. Family leaders consistently show their dominance through speech and body language.
11. The use of kinesics in connection with television advertising has increased sales of products.
12. Touching may be regarded as an unwelcome gesture.
Question 13. Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D
The writer’s intention is
A. to present recent findings in kinesics to specialists. B. to introduce kinesics to general readers.
C. to examine weaknesses in kinesics. D. to identify the scientific basis of kinesics.
(Adapted from Cambridge Objective IELTS advanced)
Part 4. You are going to read an extract from an article. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the
extract. Choose from the paragraphs A - H the one which fits each gap (1- 7). There is one extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (7
points)
OpenAI last week opened up access to ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that interacts with users in an eerily
convincing and conversational way. Its ability to provide lengthy, thoughtful and thorough responses to
questions and prompts – even if inaccurate – has stunned users, including academics and some in the tech
industry.
1.
“There’s a certain feeling that happens when a new technology adjusts your thinking about computing. Google
did it. Firefox did it. AWS did it. iPhone did it. OpenAI is doing it with ChatGPT,” Levie said on Twitter. But
as with other AI-powered tools, it also poses possible concerns, including for how it could disrupt creative
industries, perpetuate biases and spread misinformation.
2.
After signing up for ChatGPT, users can ask the AI system to field a range of questions, such as “Who was the
president of the United States in 1955,” or summarize difficult concepts into something a second grader could
understand. It’ll even tackle open-ended questions, such as “What’s the meaning of life?” or “What should I
wear if it’s 40 degrees out today?”
3.
But some users are getting very creative. One person asked the chatbot to rewrite the 90s hit song, “Baby Got
Back,” in the Style of “The Canterbury Tales;” another wrote a letter to remove a bad account from a credit
report (rather than using a credit repair lawyer). Other colorful examples including asking for fairy-tale
inspired home décor tips and giving it an AP English exam question (it responded with a 5 paragraph essay
about Wuthering Heights.)
4.
While ChatGPT successfully fielded a variety of questions submitted by CNN, some responses were noticeably
off. In fact, Stack Overflow – a Q&A platform for coders and programmers – temporarily banned users from
sharing information from ChatGPT, noting that it’s “substantially harmful to the site and to users who are
asking or looking for correct answers.”
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 5.
“While we’ve made efforts to make the model refuse inappropriate requests, it will sometimes respond to
harmful instructions or exhibit biased behavior,” Open AI said on its website. “We’re using the Moderation
API to warn or block certain types of unsafe content, but we expect it to have some false negatives and
positives for now. We’re eager to collect user feedback to aid our ongoing work to improve this system.”
6.
“It is very easy for the model to give plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers,” he said. “It
guessed when it was supposed to clarify and sometimes responded to harmful instructions or exhibited biased
behavior. It also lacks regional and country-specific understanding.”
7.
While the DALL-E tool is free, it does put a limit on the number of prompts a user can do before having to
pay. When Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, recently asked Altman on Twitter about the average cost per
ChatGPT chat, Altman said: “We will have to monetize it somehow at some point; the compute costs are eye-
watering.”
(Adapted from https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/05/tech/chatgpt-trnd/index.html)
A. “It depends on what activities you plan to do. If you plan to be outside, you should wear a light jacket or
sweater, long pants, and closed-toe shoes,” ChatGPT responded. “If you plan to be inside, you can wear a t-
shirt and jeans or other comfortable clothing.”
B. The tool quickly went viral. On Monday, Open AI’s co-founder Sam Altman, a prominent Silicon Valley
investor, said on Twitter that ChatGPT crossed one million users. It also captured the attention of some
prominent tech leaders, such as Box CEO Aaron Levie.
C. Still, Lian Jye Su, a research director at market research firm ABI Research, warns the chatbot is operating
“without a contextual understanding of the language.”
D. In a blog post last week, OpenAI said the “format makes it possible for the tool to answer follow-up
questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.” As of Monday
morning, the page to try ChatGPT was down, citing “exceptionally high demand.” “Please hang tight as we
work on scaling our systems,” the message said. (It now appears to be back online).
E. At the same time, however, it does provide a glimpse into how companies may be able to capitalize on
developing more robust virtual assistance, as well as patient and customer care solutions.
F. Beyond the issue of spreading incorrect information, the tool could also threaten some written professions,
be used to explain problematic concepts, and as with all AI tools, perpetuate biases based on the pool of data
on which it’s trained. Typing a prompt involving a CEO, for example, could prompt a response assuming that
the individual is white and male, for example.
G. Like ChatGPT, the new Google Search and Bard are built on a large language model. They are trained on
vast troves of data online in order to generate compelling responses to user prompts, but these tools are also
known to get responses wrong or “hallucinate” answers.
H. ChatGPT is a large language model trained on a massive trove of information online to create its responses.
It comes from the same company behind DALL-E, which generates a seemingly limitless range of images in
response to prompts from users. It’s also the next iteration of text generator GPT-3.
Part 5. For questions 1-10, select the travel writer (A-E) using the separate answer sheet. Each travel
writer may be selected more than once. (15 points)
GENETIC ENGINEERING- THE WAY OF THE FUTURE?
To examine the issue, we’ve asked the opinions of six experts
A. Dr Robert Rodriguez – bioethics lecturer
Is it so surprising that there is widespread public suspicion and mistrust? Incidentally, the public’s negative
view of GM cannot be attributed to ignorance because mistrust tends to increase with education on the topic.
This is despite an ever-growing body of research that can find no evidence of harm. Of course, this doesn’t
mean there isn’t any, even if we assume the best intentions of the people involved; it’s a subject that is not
completely understood. Anyway why should the public assume that best intentions are behind the research?
Look at the past. Look what happened with BSE, better known as mad cow disease. Agricultural practices did
not protect the public, it endangered them. Look back further to the pesticide DDT. We do not have a track
record that encourages public confidence.
B. Dr Lisa Khan – geographer

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There is no doubt that people are starving today in many parts of the world. And with global population growth
projections – we seem set to add a billion people every twelve to fifteen years – there is absolutely no debate
that we will be unable to feed the population in the future unless things change fundamentally. Genetically
modifying crops is certainly one way to achieve this change. But it is not the only way, and it may not be the
most effective. Take, for comparison, the “green revolution” of the 1950s, which greatly increased productivity
by using new strains of crops, new mechanical tools and petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers; it has created
its own set of problems. People may starve because of lack of food, but the food is there; other things – social
or economic issues – stand in the way of it getting where it needs to be.
C. Dr Sylvia Johnson – doctor
I would like to point out that GM organisms have made very important contributions to medicine. I’m not
talking about GM foods; that is a separate issue. But if we consider insulin being produced in tobacco plants,
there is a tremendous benefit. A difficult to obtain substance is made available safely at a lower cost. The
plants are cultivated in a greenhouse, under controlled circumstances, the product they synthesise is purified in
a stringent process, and the modified plants are destroyed; there is very little risk involved. The potential for
creating a wide range of difficult- to- produce and life-saving proteins and pharmaceuticals, even vaccines, at
costs low enough for third world utilization should not be ignored.
D. Dr Gary Wilson – population geneticist
These days there is little question about gene flow. If you plant GM crops, the genes will end up in non-GM
crops, in wild weed populations, in soil bacteria; they cannot be contained. They will move; they have moved.
There are studies that prove it. In the early research, they were citing probabilities of pollination events or gene
transfer events that were miniscule; these studies were used to support the cause of GM. But if you have
enough chances, if you cultivate enough acres, the improbable will happen. And it has. And it will continue to.
For a population geneticist there is no surprise here. At the risk of being incendiary, I will say the conclusions
drawn from this early research could be considered an example of willful misinterpretation, of statistical
probability. Well, it has become a profitable industry.
E. Dr. Daphne Alexander – ecologist
I would like to mention the monarch butterfly. This insect carries out a unique migration from the Northern US
and Canada all the way to Mexico, and is reliant on a range of environmental and temporal patterns throughout
this whole geographic area. It came out a while ago that one strain of GM corn that was engineered to contain a
toxin, originally from bacteria, to kill any insect that attempted to eat its leaves, also expressed this toxin in its
pollen. It was not supposed to do this, other strains did not. And this pollen was falling on the leaves of the
milkweed plants, on which the monarch larvae are dependent for a food source, killing or stunting the larvae.
This is an example of the kind of unintended consequence that is impossible to foresee.
F. Dr. Andrew Wright – lawyer
In the EU, by law, food products that contain GM ingredients must be labeled. But it is not quite as simple as
that. In fact, it is not simple at all; it is unbelievably convoluted. Tomato sauce made from GM tomatoes is
simple; but it must be labeled. But what about meat, milk, cheese, or eggs produced from animals fed GM corn
or soya in their feed? The feed must be labeled, but not the final product. And what about enzymes, like those
used to make cheese for example, that have been produced by GM microorganisms? Furthermore, there can
legally be up to 9 percent contamination with GM products, with no labeling required, as long as the producer
can prove it was accidental and unavoidable! I would urge everyone to read widely; there is no other way to
keep informed and a lot has already transpired, while most of us were unaware.
Which person gives each of the following opinions about genetic engineering?
1. _________ GM genes are already present in wild populations.
2. _________ Some people may have misled others when they did not interpret data correctly.
3. _________ Current research might not be correct.
4. _________ People haven’t been paying attention to developments.
5. _________ Even unlikely events happen.
6. _________ It is impossible to account for all the possible effects in advance.
7. _________ People have no reason to believe what the authorities say.
8. _________ Unintentional presence of GM items in food is not regulated.
9. _________ There is more than one way to solve a problem.
10. _________ In some cases the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
SECTION D. WRITING (60 points)
Part 3. Write an essay (30points)

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It is said that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and
development than any experiences we may have in our life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
that idea?
Present your argumentation to highlight your opinion on this matter. Give reasons and specific examples to
support your opinion(s).
Write an essay (about 350 words) to express your opinion.
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-------THE END-------

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