Reading - Error Identification

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READING 01
Forget global terrorism - for most of the world's population, ticking time bombs like
earthquakes, supervolcanoes and hurricanes pose a far greater threat. Natural disaster
expert Bill McGuire reveals a few of the top catastrophes waiting to happen.
With NASA's eminent climate scientist, Jim Hansen, concerned that collapsing polar ice
sheets could result in sea levels rising 1-2m this century and several more in the next,
prospects for the Earth's coastal zones are bleak. A 1m rise would threaten one-third of
the world's agricultural land, while a 4m rise would maroon Miami 60km offshore.
Rising sea levels is not the only threat to coastal regions. The Cumbre Vieja volcano on
the Canary Island of La Palma is slowly creeping seawards. During a future eruption, this
gigantic landslide will plunge into the ocean, pushing up a bulge of water close to a
kilometre high, spawning a mega-tsunami capable of devastating all the coastal areas
surrounding the North Atlantic.
Coastal regions also face the menace of desertification. By 2030, over half a billion
people living around the shores of the Mediterranean will be viewing the encroaching
desert with increasing panic. An area bigger than the UK, and home to 16 million people,
is threatened - by the end of the century - with transformation from a green and pleasant
land to a baking wilderness of sand and rock.
However, these disasters seem pale in comparison to the mega-catastrophes waiting to
happen like supervolcanoes, for instance. Every 50 millennia or so, a colossal volcanic
blast expels sufficient ash and gas to cover a continent and block the Sun's rays for years
on end, heralding a bitter volcanic winter. At Yellowstone in Wyoming, US, two such
super-eruptions have shattered the crust in the last 2.1 million years and the volcano
there remains restless. An asteroid attack is another threat which would have devastating
consequences. A total of 713 asteroids with diameters of 1km or more, and the potential
to clobber the Earth at some future date, have been identified. A 2km asteroid would load
the atmosphere with dust and trigger a sustained global freeze. Harvests would fail and
billions would die. Fortunately, such collisions only happen every couple of million
years.
1. Which best serves as the title for the passage?

A. Disasters in Waiting
B. Threats to the Earth’s Coastal Zones
C. The Mega-catastrophes That Could End the World
D. Surprising Facts about Supervolcanoes
2. According to the passage, what poses an imminent threat to us?
A. the increase of global terrorism
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B. the rise in the world's population

C. the consequences of climate change and natural disasters
D. time bombs waiting to go off
3. The word “bleak” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________
A. auspicious B. promising C. commanding D. gloomy
4. Which aspect of the Cumbre Vieja eruption will have the worst effects?
A. the eruption itself B. the subsequent mega-tsunami
C. the plunge into the ocean D. the resulting landslide
5. The word “maroon” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to __________
A. push B. leave C. surge D. pull
6. The process of desertification threatening the shores of the Mediterranean will occur
__________.
A. gradually B. at the end of this century
C. to an area not quite as big as the UK D. all of a sudden
7. The word “menace” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________
A. acceleration B. spread C. threat D. process
8. How often does a supervolcano take place?
A. once every century B. once every 50 thousand years
C. once every couple of million years D. once every 50 million years
9. The word “there” in paragraph 4 refers to __________
A. the continent B. Yellowstone C. The US D. the crust
10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Terrorism is the most challenging issue facing the world.
B. Rising sea levels wreak greater havoc on coastal regions than volcanoes do.
C. The UK is one of the countries most heavily affected by desertification.
D. Both supervolcanoes and asteroid attacks lead to extremely cold weather conditions.
READING 02
A WALK IN THE MIDDAY SUN
Hot weather makes your heart pump harder, and if you're not very fit, you start to
understand why the majority of mountain rescue statistics are made up from summer
walkers suffering heart attacks. Heat exhaustion is quite easy to get when you're making a
great physical effort. It happens where your body can't produce enough sweat to keep you
cool.
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The answer is to keep up your water intake. It's a good idea to drink a pint of water for
every 10 degrees Fahrenheit every 24 hours. So, if the temperature is in the 70s, and you
are doing a five-hour walk, you’ll need a minimum of around one and a half pints of
water. It’s vital that you don’t wait until you develop a raging thirst before you stop for a
drink - keep taking regular swigs from your water bottle.
Many walkers flavour their water with fruit juice, which makes it a lot more palatable.
You could even use one of the isotonic drinks made for athletes, which replace the body’s
salts lost through sweating. Powders such as Dioralyte, which you may have in the house
as a treatment for diarrhoea, will do the job just as well as its main aim is also effective
rehydration.
Given that evaporation is your body’s cooling mechanism, you can help things along with
an external application of water. Soaking your hat with water is a great way to cool the
head, though if the sun is beating down, it will probably dry off almost immediately.
Better still then if you can plunge into a river or the sea fully-clothed. And if that’s not
possible, then at least take off your boots and socks and paddle in a cool stream.
1, What is the main topic of this passage?

A. primary causes of deaths in summer
B. how to make water tastier
C. reasons and ways to remain hydrated in hot weather
D. the mechanism of sweating
2, What does the author say in the first paragraph?
A. Most mountain rescue attempts are for walkers with heart attacks.
B. Heat exhaustion usually happens when a person relaxes.
C. Your heart rate decreases when it’s hot.
D. Sweat is needed for the body to remain warm.
3, What does the phrase “in the 70s” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. between 1970 and 1979
B. between 70 and 79 Celsius degrees
C. lower than 70 centigrades
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D. between 70 and 79 Fahrenheit degrees

4, What can be implied from the phrase “do the job just as well” in paragraph 3?
A. Dioralyte is an effective remedy for diarrhoea.
B. Rehydration can be as effectively achieved by using Dioralyte as by
consuming an isotonic drink.
C. Dioralyte’s effectiveness is far better than isotonic drinks.
D. Salts lost through sweating cannot be replenished.
5, According to the passage, which of the following is the best method for external
application of water?
A. Soaking hats with water.
B. Diving into a river while fully-clothed.
C. Removing boots and socks from one’s outfits.
D. Sculling in a stream.
6, The writer advises readers against which of the following?
A. Waiting until you are gasping for water then take a drink.
B. Drinking regularly when you are walking in hot weather.
C. Using fruit juice to better the taste of your water.
D. Staying in the house for most of the day when it’s hot.
7, Which of the following is the most likely to be a target audience of this passage?
A. People trekking in the mountains.
B. People suffering from heart attacks.
C. People walking in hot weather.
D. People yearning to stay in shape.
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READING 03
TECHNOLOGY AND VISIONS OF THE FUTURE
Has the present lived up to the expectations of the past? Throughout the ages people have
tried to predict what life in the twenty-first century would be like. Many science-fiction
writers did manage to predict the influence the computer would have on our world. Some
even imagined that it would take over our lives, develop a personality, and turn on its
creators. To some extent they were right, especially when it comes to children and cyber
addiction. One constant prediction was that, thanks to computers and machines, the time
devoted to labour would diminish. Even in 1971, in his book Future Shock, Alvin Toffler
envisaged a society awash with ‘free time’. The author noted that time at work had been
cut in half since the turn of the previous century and wrongly speculated that it would be
cut in half again by 2000.
However, our gadget-filled homes are a tribute to the various visions of the future: the
microwave oven, internet fridges with ice-cube dispensers, freezers, video monitors,
climate control, dishwashers, washing machines, personal computers, wireless
connections and cupboards full of instant food. These may no longer be considered
cutting-edge but they have matched, if not surpassed, visions of how we would live. The
domestic robot never quite happened, but if you can phone ahead to set the heating and
use a remote control to operate the garage door, they may as well be redundant.
1, What is probably the main aim of this passage?

A. To corroborate claims made by science-fiction writers.
B. To compare present-day technologies with those of the past.
C. To compare present-day technology and gadgets with expectations held by
people in the past.
D. To contrast computers nowadays and microprocessors in the past.
2, According to the passage, what proves that computers are dominating people’s lives in
some way?
A. reduced time needed for human labour
B. Internet addiction
C. the formation of personalities within computers
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D. robotic takeovers
3, Which of the following statements is false according to the text?
A. Predictions made by Alan Toffler have been disproved.
B. Attempts have been made to envisage a twenty-first society.
C. Household gadgets have yet to live up to past expectations.
D. Robots may be made redundant in the home.
4, The word “cutting-edge” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. superannuated
B. perennial
C. modernized
D. state-of-the-art
5, According to the passage, projections were made about all of the following EXCEPT:
A. the development of assembly lines
B. the impacts of computers on the society
C. attacks on humans by computers
D. life in the twenty-first century
READING 04
THE ELEVATOR
Next time you are in a lift, look for the name of the people who made it. Chances are it
will be the Otis Elevator Company. It was Elisha Otis who invented the gadget that made
the modern passenger lift possible. The concept of elevation was already well established.
Louis XV of France disliked stairs so much that he was regularly hoisted skywards in a
‘flying chair’ by several strong men hauling on ropes. In Otis’ time, warehouses
commonly used moving platforms to transport goods between floors. However, elevating
anything further than one floor or weighting more than 70 kilograms would have been
considered far too dangerous.
Otis worked for a bed manufacturer who was keen to expand his business but needed to
find a way to move his beds to an upper floor for storage. The inventive Otis soon had a
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solution to the safety problem: a tough steel spring system that meshed with ratchets on
either side of the lift shaft so that if the rope gave way the sudden loss of tension would
trigger the device, stopping the lift from falling.
At the 1854 World Trade fair in New York, Otis unveiled his invention and orders
began to pour in, including one from the United States Assay Office which at that time
was constructing one of the first buildings with an internal steel frame to support the
exterior walls. This was the same construction method that skyscrapers would use. If not
for lifts, the towering landmarks which feature so prominently in today’s architecture
would have been impossible and the character of our cities would be entirely different.
1, What is the main topic of the passage?
A. History of lifts.
B. Disapproval of stairs.
C. Elevators’ brands.
D. Expansion of businesses.
2, In Otis's time, which of the following methods was commonly used for delivery of
goods between floors?
A. ‘flying chair’
B. ‘spring system’
C. ‘moving platforms’
D. 'lift shaft'
3, What does the word “trigger” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. transact
B. attack
C. impede
D. activate
4, All of the following statements are true EXCEPT:
A. In the system devised by Otis, springs were made out of steel.
B. The technique involved in constructing the US Assay Office was similar to that
used in present-day skyscrapers.
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C. Otis’s invention addressed a concern involved in conveying beds upstairs.

D. The bed manufacturer Otis worked for needed to carry beds to a higher floor
for delivery.
5, According to the passage, which of the following resulted from the invention of lifts?
A. The transfer of support structures from inside to outside buildings.
B. The emergence of high-rise landmarks.
C. An insatiable demand for solid materials.
D. The abandonment of moving platforms.
6, What can be implied from this piece of information: “Otis unveiled his invention and
orders began to pour in”?
A. Otis’s invention met with disapproval and ended in failure.
B. Otis’s efforts went doomed.
C. Otis’s innovation commenced to be in demand.
D. Otis’s determination was deflated.
READING 05
If “sus” and “vent” mean nothing to you, then you’ve somehow missed out on the smash-
hit multiplayer game Among Us. But with numbers playing the online game heading
towards 100 million, maybe you’ll find out before Christmas how good you are at being
an “impostor”.
For the uninitiated, Among Us is the sleeper game hit of 2020. The premise is simple:
it’s Cluedo or Wink Murder on a spaceship with four to 10 players of crewmates and
impostors. The crewmates perform simple tasks for take-off, while impostors sabotage
operations and kill other players. Impostors are the only players who can travel through
vents – hence the significance of vent in Among Us. Gamers hold meetings to pick a
suspect – which is where the word sus comes in – to jettison. The aim is to catch the
impostors.
The game, launched in 2018 by US software company InnerSloth, had been downloaded
a respectable 1 million times by May 2019. But as lockdowns forced people around the
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world to stay at home and find new ways to link up with their friends, Among Us surged
in popularity. By the end of September 2020, 60 million people were playing every day.
This phenomenal success started in July on video-streaming platform Twitch when high-
profile gamers began streaming themselves playing Among Us. Many YouTubers and
TikTok influencers immediately followed suit. Its popularity even spread to politicians –
a fortnight before the US presidential election, Hasan Piker, a political commentator on
Twitch with 4.5 million followers, streamed a game of Among Us with leftwing
congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as part of an initiative to
encourage young people to vote.
1, What is probably the title of this passage?

A. Among Us: ways to gain victories
B. Video games blooms during lockdowns
C. Among Us: Rise to Stardom
D. Latest trends on Twitch
2, Which of the following statements about Among Us is false according to the passage?
A. By the moment of writing, the number of Among Us players had exceeded 100
millions.
B. The number of players in a game ranges from 4 to 10.
C. Meetings are held to discover the impostors.
D. Crewmates are unable to travel through vents.
3, How many downloads of Among Us had been recorded by May 2019?
A. 60 millions.
B. 100 millions.
C. 4.5 millions.
D. 1 million.
4, What does the phrase “the uninitiated” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Skilled players.
B. Seasoned players.
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C. Players with no experience.

D. Players who have been playing for a long time.
5, The success of Among Us originated from which of the following platforms?
A. YouTube.
B. Twitch.
C. Tiktok.
D. Facebook.
6, All of the following are mentioned as players of Among Us EXCEPT:
A. Well-known gamers.
B. Turf accountants.
C. Tiktok influencers.
D. Politicians.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/nov/29/among-us-video-game-
100-million-outer-space
READING 06
POKÉMON AT 25: HOW 151 FICTIONAL SPECIES TOOK OVER THE
WORLD
When the Game Boy titles "Pocket Monsters: Red" and "Pocket Monsters: Green" were
first released in Japan in 1996, few could have predicted what came next.
The concept was simple enough: Players would traverse a fictional world capturing,
training and battling the creatures that inhabited it -- a mission encapsulated in the
game's famous slogan, "Gotta Catch 'Em All." But within just a few years, Pokémon, a
portmanteau of the Japanese name "Poketto Monsuta," was a global phenomenon.
By 1999, the game had launched in multiple Western markets, later becoming one of the
most successful franchises of all time. It spawned an anime series, which was translated
into over 30 languages, and trading cards that swept the world's playgrounds during the
"Pokémania" of the late 1990s.
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It also imprinted the identities of 151 entirely fictional characters into the memories of
millions.
A quarter of a century on, many first-generation Pokémon are as recognizable to
millennials as they are to their children. This is partly thanks to a post-2016 revival
inspired by the mobile game "Pokémon Go" and movie "Detective Pikachu." But the
franchise's success is about more than clever marketing - it is the result of unique
characters that were universal enough to cross cultures and diverse enough to make
catching 'em all a challenge, not a chore.
1, What is probably the aim of this passage?

A. To clarify the concepts behind the game Pokémon.
B. To delineate the history of the game Pokémon.
C. To discourage readers from playing Pokémon.
D. To suggest other riveting games besides Pokémon.
2, Which of the following events happened before others?
A. Pokémon ranking among the most lucrative franchises of all time.
B. "Pocket Monsters: Green" being introduced for the first time in Japan.
C. Pokémon gaining success worldwide.
D. Pokémon appearing in manifold Western markets.
3, This piece of information "a mission encapsulated in the game's famous slogan"
suggests that _______.
A. The slogan summed the mission up.
B. The slogan contradicted the mission.
C. The slogan corroborated the mission.
D. The slogan oversimplified the mission
4, The word "fictional" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A. real-life
B. inventive
C. imaginary
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D. imaginative
5, All of the following are mentioned as reasons why children of millenials are familiar
with first-generation Pokémon EXCEPT:
A. the movie "Detective Pikachu*
B. unique characters
C. Pokémon Go
D. Pokémon's famous slogan
6, Which of the following does not describe a feature of Pokémon's characters mentioned
in the text?
A. one of a kind
B. various
C. generic
D. all-inclusive
7, What is the most likely content of the paragraph following this text?
A. Introduction to characters in Pokémon.
B. Instructions for first-time players.
C. The mobile game Pokémon Go.
D. Pokémania.
(Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnn.com/style/amp/pokemon-design-
25/index.html
READING 07
SOLAR PANELS AND THE GRID DISASTER
The complicated power infrastructure in the United States is straining more and more
often in the face of both climate-change-induced extreme weather and increasing overall
demand, problems that will only intensify as the planet warms further and more of
everyday life gets electrified in the nationwide effort to move away from fossil fuels.
Small-scale solar energy projects, coupled with batteries that can store the power
collected on your roof, can keep a household’s lights on even when the rest of the grid
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goes down, as it did for Montoya. But they are also starting to play a valuable role in
supporting that bigger grid, if networked together and used correctly into a sort of
“virtual power plant,” smoothing out the peaks and valleys of electricity demand in a way
that could keep some kinds of blackouts from happening in the first place.
In California, Vermont, and a few other states, the theory - which has been kicking
around as an intriguing concept in energy circles for years - is already being tested.
Texas, though, isn’t yet using the strategy.
“Would it have offset the whole impact of many compressors and natural gas power
plants freezing? No, of course not, but we wouldn’t have come anywhere close to the
extremes we did see” in Texas, says Christopher Clack, an energy modeler and the CEO
of the energy analytical group Vibrant Clean Energy.
1, Which of the following is the most likely to be mentioned in the paragraphs preceding
this text?
A. Lights kept on during power cuts in Montoya’s house.
B. Electrification in African countries.
C. The utilisation of nuclear power as a source of electricity.
D. The effects of noxious gases on human’s health
2, Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Electrification in the US will stop.
B. No efforts have been made to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
C. The problem of extreme weather will only worsen.
D. Changes in climate are not responsible for extreme weather.
3, The phrase "in the face of" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to:
A. in spite of
B. as a result of
C. in the light of
D. in quest of
4, As mentioned in the text, solar energy projects can do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. maintain continuity of light supplies even during power blackouts.
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B. preclude some types of power outages

C. assist grid networks bigger than small-scale ones
D. avert the onslaught of severe weather conditions
5, The theory mentioned in paragraph 2 is on trial in which of the following places?
A. Vermont and California
B. All areas in the US.
C. All cities in the US.
D. Texas.
6, What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The strain put on the infrastructure in the US.
B. Solar energy projects.
C. The severity of the US's climate.
D. Headway made in the electrification of rural areas in the US.
(Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/solar-panels-
and-batteries-on-your-home-could-help-prevent-the-next-grid-disaster
READING 08
Since she began posting rustic-chic videos of her life in rural Sichuan province in 2016,
Li Ziqi, 29, has become one of China’s biggest social media stars. She has 22 million
followers on the microblogging site Weibo, 34 million on Douyin (China’s version of
TikTok) and another 8.3 million on YouTube (Li has been active on YouTube for the last
two years, despite it being officially blocked in China).
Li’s videos – which she initially produced by herself and now makes with a small team –
emphasize beautiful countryside and ancient tradition. In videos soundtracked by
tranquil flute music, Li crafts her own furniture out of bamboo and dyes her clothing
with fruit skins. If she wants soy sauce, she grows the soybeans themselves; a video
about making an egg yolk dish starts with her hatching ducklings. The meals she creates
are often elaborate demonstrations of how many delicious things can be done with a
particular seasonal ingredient, like ginger or green plums.
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There is even a Li Ziqi online shop, where fans can purchase versions of the steel
“chopper” knife she uses to dice the vegetables she plucks from her plentiful garden, or
replicas of the old-fashioned shirts she wears while foraging for wild mushrooms and
magnolia blossoms in the misty mountainside.
1, What is the main aim of this passage?

A. To introduce Li Ziqi to readers.
B. To acquaint readers with Chinese customs and traditions.
C. To recommend some channels on YouTube for readers.
D. To describe the rural areas of China.
2, All of the following platforms are mentioned as places where Li Ziqui has followers
EXCEPT:
A. TikTok
B. Douyin
C. YouTube
D. Weibo
3, Which of the following statements is false according to the passage?
A. Li Ziqi made the videos on her own in the first place.
B. The first videos made by Li Ziqi appeared in 2016.
C. The meals Li Ziqi prepares often features seasonal ingredients.
D. YouTube is an allowed video-streaming platform in China.
4, The word “tranquil” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. sinister
B. sequestered
C. serene
D. silky
5, According to the author, Li Ziqi’s videos focus on which of the following?
A. modern practices in Chinese rural areas
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B. old-established traditions
C. antiquated traditions
D. the beauty of cities in China
6, What can be bought from Li Ziqi’s online shop based on the text?
A. a silver knife
B. vegetables plucked from Li Ziqi’s gardens
C. wild mushrooms
D. replicas of shirts worn by Li Ziqi
7, The passage is most probably taken from an article about:
A. changes in Chinese rural areas
B. the best video-streaming platforms for Internet users
C. social media stars in China
D. the best cooking recipes for ingredients from rural areas of China
(Source:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.theguardia
n.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/28/li-ziqi-china-influencer-rural-
life&ved=2ahUKEwj00-
uJto7vAhViNKYKHYMJA30QtwIwAHoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw3c9zZBcdYHsQ
JRkRJzxVrk
READING 09
As the UK and other governments consider whether to give Covid-vaccinated people
certificates that allow entry to bars, hotels, and swimming pools, one country, Israel, has
already deployed its “green pass”.
The state of 9 million, which has administered jabs to half its population, released an app
a week ago that shows whether people have been fully inoculated against the coronavirus
or if they have presumed immunity after contracting the disease.
Malls and museums have reopened for all, but green pass holders get exclusive access to
gyms, hotels, theatres, and concerts, albeit with some limits. Indoor dining in restaurants
and bars is due to be included in the green pass scheme next week.
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Life has not got “back to normal”, but it appears to be on its way. Street-side shops are
reopening; hotels are accepting bookings; even live music is reemerging from its long
slumber. And while masks remain mandatory, many older people who have already been
vaccinated have stopped wearing them outdoors.
1, Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Lifts of lockdowns in EU’s cities.
B. Green pass issued in EU’s cities.
C. Green pass in Israel.
D. Curfews imposed in Israel.
2, By the moment of writing, the number of people in Israel having got Covid vaccination
has been:
A. 9 millions
B. 4.5 millions
C. 1.8 millions
D. 2 millions
3, According to the passage, all people in Israel have access to which of the following?
A. Gyms and hotels.
B. Malls and museums.
C. Museums and concerts.
D. Theatres and concerts.
4, Which of the following information is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Israel’s population.
B. Lists of current places accessible to green pass holders.
C. Planned addition of places accessible with green pass.
D. Reasons for the reopening of museums.
5, What can be inferred from this piece of information: “live music is reemerging from
its long slumber”?
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A. Live music is going to appear in Israel for the first time.

B. After a long period of inactivity, live music is going to be heard again soon in
Israel.
C. Live music, a burgeoning art, will be discontinued in Israel.
D. Live music is appearing to enter its slumber.
6, According to the passage, which of the following statements is false?
A. Wearing masks has been made an optional choice in Israel.
B. Many inoculated senior citizens have stopped wearing masks outdoors.
C. Israel has launched an application to indicate whether people have been fully
vaccinated or not.
D. A return to normalcy in life has not been achieved.
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/28/green-pass-how-are-
vaccine-passports-working-in-israel
READING 10
CUTTLEFISH AND THE ABILITY TO EXERT SELF-CONTROL
Humans, chimps, parrots and crows have evolved to exert self-control, a trait linked to
higher intelligence. Now, researchers say cuttlefish – chunky squid-like creatures with
eight arms – also have the ability to delay gratification for a better reward.
Researchers used an adapted version of the Stanford marshmallow test, in which children
were given the choice of scoffing an immediate reward (one marshmallow) or waiting to
earn a delayed, but better, reward (two marshmallows), on six cuttlefish in an aquarium
environment.
The invertebrates were presented with chambers that were marked with different visual
cues in the form of shapes. For instance, one cue meant the moment food was put in that
chamber, the door would open – while another meant that when food was placed in that
chamber, there would be a delay before the door opened. One of the cues was
counterintuitive – even though the food was placed in the chamber, and the door was
opened, there was an extra layer of plastic thwarting the cuttlefish from eating the reward.
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When the cuttlefish were exposed to the chambers initially, they immediately attacked
when they saw the food. Over time, they realised that each chamber had its own rules.
Eventually, the molluscs didn’t even bother approaching the “unobtainable” chamber
because they learned they could never secure access to the food.
With training completed, the cuttlefish were then tested in the presence of two chambers
– in the “immediate” chamber they were presented with their second-preference food,
while in the “delay” chamber they were given their first-preference food.
1, Why does the author mention humans, chimps, parrots and crows in the first
paragraph?
A. To cite some examples of creatures possessing the ability to self-control as a
lead-in to that of cuttlefish.
B. To show the supremacy of these creatures over other species of animals.
C. To indicate the rarity of creatures able to exert self-control.
D. To prove that higher intelligence is only associated with animals being able to
control themselves.
2, The word “which” in paragraph 2 refer to what?
A. The adapted version used by researchers studying cuttlefish
B. The rewards offered to children in the experiments
C. The Stanford marshmallow test
D. The aquarium environment accommodating six cuttlefish
3, Which of the following does not refer to the cuttlefish involved in the test conducted
by researchers?
A. The invertebrates (paragraph 2)
B. they (paragraph 5)
C. the molluscs (paragraph 4)
D. another (paragraph 3)
4, What can be implied from the experimentation described in the passage?
A. The cuttlefish displayed self-control right from the start.
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B. All cues in the experiments were misleading, causing confusion for the
cuttlefish.
C. The cuttlefish were not able to wait for a delayed but better reward.
D. It took some time for the cuttlefish to notice the rules of the chambers.
5, The paragraph following this passage is most probably about:
A. Reasons explaining the ability of the cuttlefish to display self-control.
B. Another experiment conducted on the cuttlefish to examine their ability to self-
control.
C. Comparisons between humans and the cuttlefish in terms of their ability to
self-control.
D. Conclusions from the experiment described in the passage.
6, The word “thwarting” in paragraph 3 can best be replaced by:
A. retarding
B. dwindling
C. sheltering
D. preventing
(Source:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/cuttlefish-have-
ability-to-exert-self-control-study-
finds#:~:text=Now%2C%20researchers%20say%20cuttlefish%20%E2%80%93%
20chunky,gratification%20for%20a%20better%20reward.
READING 11
It was widely reported last year that sales of guidebooks are falling fast, thanks to
developments in the Internet and mobile phones. It makes sense. Why bother taking a
heavy book with you when you can download all the information you need to your phone
as you walk around the cathedral?
Writing a new book about a place is a rewarding job, but one that’s becoming a rarity.
Publishers are more concerned with keeping existing books up to date than bringing out
new ones in an already crowded market. This is understandable, since every guidebook is
actually out of date as soon as it is published. It may have been researched a year before
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being printed and it could have sat on the bookshop shelf for a year or two, so its
information might be three years old by the time the reader uses it in practice. It is hardly
surprising, therefore, that some publishers are investing almost as much in updating and
redesigning their books as they did creating them. Updating guides is nowadays a good
way for new writers to get started.
But if the Internet via a mobile phone can deliver information just as well as printed
paper but much faster, at almost no cost, is there a future for the printed guidebook?
Other books you read at home, but a travel guide’s main purposes for urgent reference
when you’re desperate to find accommodation or somewhere to eat. Using a modern
cellphone, any traveller can now enjoy a ‘paperless holiday’. Want to know the opening
times of the museum? Look them up online. Need some information on the ancient
building you’re standing in? Download it.
1, Which of the following best serves as the title for this passage?
A. Guidebooks flourishing despite the IT revolution
B. Guidebooks in decline: What’s the future?
C. Enjoying a paperless holiday
D. Guidebooks on the brink of extinction
2, Which adjective best describes the author’s attitude to the decreasing sales of
guidebooks?
A. abject
B. infuriated
C. unsurprised
D. indifferent
3, What does the word “one” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. a new book
B. a place
C. a job
D. a rarity
4, What does the author say about publishers in the second paragraph?
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A. They usually spend a year to research information needed for their books
before writing and publishing them.
B. Many of them still prefer an already crowded market for their books.
C. Their actions may prove incomprehensible to laypeople.
D. Some of them allocate almost as many resources to the update and redesign of
their books as to the creation of them.
5, Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. The primary aim of a travel guide is for suggestions when travellers are in a
hurry.
B. Before embarking on a journey, most people bring with them a guidebook in
case they get into trouble.
C. The information found in a guidebook is always up-to-date and reliable.
D. Users cannot obtain information about the scheduled opening time of museums
on the Internet.
6, In this passage, the author:
A. strongly supports the belief that guidebooks stand no chance of competing with
the Internet in terms of instructing travellers about their places of arrival.
B. voices concern that if writers of guidebooks do not keep their brainchild up-to-
date, the currently rising sales of travel guides may suffer plunges.
C. disproves the idea that guidebooks are turning old-fashioned and should be
replaced by more modern alternatives.
D. expresses appreciation of guidebooks and concern about the future of these
books
(Source: Cambridge FCE book)
READING 12
They died where they stood. Violently, with almost no warning. Wealthy women in their
jewels. Armed soldiers. Babies. Almost 2,000 years ago, two towns in southern Italy had
the misfortune to be in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius - one of Europe’s active volcanoes
- at the wrong time. The 16,000 inhabitants of the Roman towns of Herculaneum and
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neighbouring Pompeii who were buried beneath thirty metres of dust on an August night
in AD 79 bore silent witness to the destructive force of volcanoes.
Objects of terror and fascination since the beginning of human time, volcanoes take their
name from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. Today there are some 1,350 active volcanoes
in the world. At any given moment, somewhere between one dozen and two dozen are
throwing out ash and molten rock from the earth’s core.
Approximately one billion people live in their dangerous shadows. Experts expect the
number to rise. The rapid growth of population, greater competition for land and an
increase in urban migration are driving more and more people to settle around volcanoes,
significantly increasing the potential loss of life and property in the event of eruptions.
Despite major advances in technology, the ability to predict when a volcano might erupt
remains imprecise. But meeting the challenge is vital because volcanoes are ‘people
magnets’. A recent study identified 457 volcanoes where there are one million or more
people living within 100 kilometers. Many of these volcanoes - several in Indonesia and
Japan, for instance - have surrounding populations greatly exceeding one million. For
example, today, 3.75 million people live within 30 kilometers of the summit of Mount
Vesuvius in the southern Italian city of Naples. ‘What do they do if it starts erupting? No
one can imagine evacuating a city the size of Naples,’ said Dan Miller, chief of the US
Geological Survey’s Volcano Disaster Assistance Program.
‘Persuading people to move permanently out of hazard zones is not usually an option.
Many of the land-use patterns are long established, and people just won’t do it,’ Miller
went on. ‘The only thing you can do is have systematic volcano monitoring to detect the
earliest departure from normal activity.’
1, Which of the following statements best summarizes the passage?

A. Volcanoes can cause catastrophic impacts but attract settlements and it is hard
to forewarn and evacuate people from hazardous areas.
B. Volcanoes can erupt suddenly, leading to tremendous losses of life and
property.
C. Eruptions of volcanoes can result in enormous damage, but fortunately, they do
not attract many people settling down in the surrounding regions.
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D. There are a number of challenges in the work of predicting and displacing

people from at-risk areas before a volcano eruption, but luckily, the effects
from eruptions have never been disastrous.
2, When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79:

A. It caused losses of property but did not claim any lives.
B. Only the poor were killed.
C. Thanks to forewarnings, all people escaped death.
D. The inhabitants in its surrounding areas were unprepared.
3, As mentioned in the text, which of the following evidenced the destructive power of
Mount Vesuvius when it erupted in AD 79:
A. The Roman towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii
B. The 16,000 inhabitants buried in the incident.
C. Thirty metres of dust.
D. The shadow of the volcano.
4, Which of the following statements about volcanoes is false according to the passage?
A. They have both frightened and amused humans.
B. Their name originated from the name of a god.
C. Predicting their eruptions has become less challenging, yielding more accurate
results.
D. At any specific point of time, the number of erupting volcanoes falls within the
range of 12 to 24.
5, By the use of the phrase “people magnets”, the author suggests that:
A. A magnetic field exists within the areas volcanoes are situated in.
B. A huge number of people settle in regions surrounding volcanoes.
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C. Volcanoes can pull people towards them and nobody can escape.
D. People find the areas near volcanoes unwelcoming and abandon the thought of
settling there.
6, What does the phrase “do it” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. refuse to follow evacuation rules.
B. practise long-established land-use patterns.
C. accept to migrate to a place outside hazard zones.
D. persuade people to settle at places far from volcanoes.
7, The word “detect” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by:
A. notice
B. scrutinise
C. sterilize
D. observe
(Source: First Masterclass Student’s Book – page 106)
READING 13
SPACE TELESCOPE
Since 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has been orbiting Earth and providing scientists
with unique views of the universe. In that time, it has beamed hundreds of thousands of
images back to Earth and has revolutionised astronomy by helping researchers to make
important discoveries about deep space and the universe. Thanks to Hubble, we now
know that the universe is about 13 to 14 billion years old.
The idea of an orbiting telescope was first put forward by astronomer Lyman Spitzer in
1946. Spitzer pointed out that the Earth’s atmosphere distorts light coming from stars,
making it difficult for even the most precise telescopes on the ground to receive clear
images. However, a telescope in orbit above the Earth’s atmosphere would not be faced
with the same problems. NASA agreed and, in the 1960s, with the help of rocket
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scientists, astrophysicists, and millions of dollars the project to build a space telescope
took off in earnest. Though the initial idea was Spitzer’s, the telescope was actually
named after Edwin P.Hubble, the astronomer who, in the 1920s, proved that our galaxy,
the Milky Way, was not the only one in the universe.
The telescope orbits the Earth every 96 minutes. It travels at a speed of 8 km per second,
569 km above the Earth’s surface. It’s fast enough to travel across the United States in
about 10 minutes. Although it is regularly serviced, some time after 2013, Hubble will
eventually degrade, stop working and crash back to Earth. Its successor, the James Webb
Space Telescope, has already been developed.
1, This passage best serves as:

A. A detailed description of the Hubble Space Telescope.
B. An introduction to the Hubble Space Telescope.
C. A thumbnail sketch of astronomy.
D. A blow-by-blow account of what happened to the Hubble Space Telescope.
2, According to the passage, the Hubble Space Telescope derived its name from an
astronomer who:
A. proposed the idea of a telescope in orbit
B. invested a lot of money into building the telescope
C. made the greatest contribution to the design of the telescope
D. bore out the existence of other galaxies besides the Milky Way.
3, What does the phrase “the same problems” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Obtaining clear images from the ground.
B. Difficulty in getting unblurred images due to the Earth’s atmosphere.
C. Inaccuracies caused by the atmosphere’s absorption of light.
D. Sending images into the universe without them getting distorted.
4, What can be implied from the passage?
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A. The Hubble Space Telescope has been of considerable importance to

astronomy.
B. NASA initially rejected plans proposed by Spitzer and dismissed them as
impractical.
C. How old the universe is remains shrouded in mystery.
D. The Hubble Space Telescope is to be used for another several centuries.
5, The phrase “regularly serviced” in the last paragraph suggests that:

A. Researchers often await the telescope to malfunction before assigning people
to mend it.
B. The telescope is outfitted with up-to-date equipment.
C. On a regular basis, the telescope is examined and, if necessary, repaired.
D. The telescope carries with it cutting-edge technologies to ensure that it
functions well.
(Extracted from Close-up B2 Student’s Book)
READING 14
In competitive Irish dancing, dancers will perform different steps in a line of a dozen or
more dancers. A judge will watch several dancers at once, but if the judge perceives a
single imperfection in the dancer’s appearance or in her performance, he will move on to
watch a better dancer. If a dancer cannot catch and hold the attention of the judge, she has
no chance of winning a medal or even a place.
The pressure this inspires can affect a dancer negatively because she is consequently
more worried about what people think of her instead of just doing her best. By
emphasizing costume and appearance generally, competitive Irish dance has become part
of the cut-throat show business industry. Irish dance instructors often give this advice:
“Whatever happens, don’t cry; it will ruin your make-up” Pressure to perform is a key
element in any sport, and is often a positive factor in an athlete’s overall experience. In
modern-day competitive Irish dance, however, the pressure of appearance can have a
negative impact on a dancer’s career.
133
Nonetheless, when asked what Irish dancing means to them, most dancers will answer
“close friends and hard work”. Though almost half of a dancer’s score is determined by
her appearance, the aspects of the sport that don’t receive points, such as sportsmanship,
friendships, tradition, community and artistry, still remain of the greatest importance.
These are the central ideas that are represented in Irish dance. In fact, the designs on a
solo dress have their origins in these ideas: those Celtic designs were created to represent
certain symbols, such as unity and friendship.
Because of the very visual nature of dance, external beauty, form, and expression
obviously have a large place in the sport. And, although the sheer complexity of costume
preparation may seem intimidating, in the drama of competitive Irish dance, it is
legitimate. Visually, the true attraction of dance competition is the athleticism and skill of
the dancers, both as individuals and as teams. In the end, the emphasis on appearance will
only negatively affect the sport if it becomes more important than the other aspects of
competitive Irish dance.
1, What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. How dancers are marked in competitive Irish dance.
B. The features, merits and demerits of competitive Irish dance.
C. The negative feelings triggered by competitive Irish dance.
D. The concepts behind competitive Irish dance.
2, What can be inferred about the competition judges in the first paragraph?
A. They are forgiving if a dancer accidentally makes a mistake.
B. They are in search of impeccable performances and appearance.
C. Each of them watch one dancer at any moment.
D. Their attention is unrelated to a dancer’s likelihood of winning a medal.
3, What does the author suggest in the second paragraph?

A. Unlike athletics, pressure in competitive Irish dance does not negatively affect
a participant’s career.
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B. The pressure during performance usually causes a dancer to shift the focus
from other people’s attention to herself.
C. With its emphasis on external appearance, competitive Irish dance has
entered the cut-throat show business industry.
D. Irish dance instructors often advise dancers to display their sadness by
crying.
4, The author mentions sportsmanship, friendships, tradition, community and artistry as

examples of:
A. aspects of competitive Irish dance which are not contributory to a dancer’s
point, thus receiving little attention from dancers.
B. features of competitive Irish dance that are important criteria for marking a
dancer’s performance.
C. characteristics of competitive Irish dancers to which little importance is
attached.
D. aspects of Irish competitive dance that are the most valued by dancers,
even though they do not contribute to a dancer’s total point.
5, What does the word “their” in the penultimate paragraph refer to?
A. The central ideas
B. The dancers
C. The designs on a solo dress
D. The symbols such as unity and friendship
6, The word “intimidating” in the last paragraph could best be replaced by:
A. daunting
B. awe-inspiring
C. enervating
D. frightening
135
7, The author is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?
A. Promoting competitive Irish dance is not worthwhile.
B. There are no downsides of competitive Irish dance.
C. The criteria used to mark dancers’ performance should change.
D. Competitive Irish dance can be a mixed blessing for dancers.
(Extracted from First Masterclass Workbook)
READING 15
In the immediate aftermath of the strongest cyclone to ever make landfall in the southern
hemisphere, reefs across the Namena reserve and Vatu-i-Ra conservation park off Fiji
were reduced to rubble.
Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji on 20 February 2016, causing devastation on land
and underwater. Winds of up to 280km/h claimed 44 lives, leaving more than 40,000
homes damaged or destroyed, and storm surges smashed reefs in their path. Winston
caused US$1.4bn in damage, the most destructive cyclone ever in the Pacific.
But four years on, to the delight of scientists, the coral reefs of the Fijian archipelago are
vibrantly resurgent and once again teeming with fish and colour.
A recent dive expedition led by the Wildlife Conservation Society found the coral had
recovered beyond scientists’ expectations.
“I was surprised at how quick the recovery has been, especially at the Namena reserve,”,
said the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji.
“The fast recovery likely reflects these reefs have good natural recruitment and they are
well managed. Coral reefs that were healthier before a destructive event like a cyclone
are expected to recover a lot faster.”
Besides the abundance of young coral colonies in both protected areas, the team found
fish had returned in significant numbers across all areas, even to parts of reefs where
corals had not yet been replenished.
1, What is the main topic of the passage?
136
A. The revival of Fiji’s coral reefs

B. Tropical Cyclone Winston
C. The beauty of Fiji’s coral reefs
D. The Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji
2, Which of the following statements about Tropical Cyclone Winston is false according
to the passage?
A. It was the most powerful cyclone to ever hit land in the southern hemisphere.
B. It caused enormous damage in terms of people’s lives, properties and also the
environment.
C. The reefs along its path were able to withstand its destructive force.
D. It made landfall in 2016.
3, What does the author suggest about the coral reefs in Fiji?
A. It took them several months to recover from the damage caused by Tropical
Cyclone Winston.
B. The speed of their revival turned out to be unsurprising news to the scientists.
C. They are now devoid of marine life and colour.
D. Their regeneration brought joy to scientists.
4, According to the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji, one possible
reason for the revival of the coral reefs in Jifi is:
A. their ability to capture attention of tourists
B. adequate management of the reefs
C. the favourable ecosystem in Fiji
D. the intervention of scientists
5, What does the phrase “protected areas” in the last paragraph refer to?
137
A. The Pacific and the Namena reserve

B. The southern hemisphere and Vatu-i-Ra conservation park
C. The Namena reserve and Vatu-i-Ra conservation park
D. The Pacific and Fiji
6, The word “replenished” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to:

A. fully replaced
B. half emptied
C. fulfilled
D. partially substituted for
(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/05/reef-revival-fijis-corals-
bouncing-back-after-ruinous-cyclone
READING 16
According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shen Nong, a skilled ruler, and scientist,
accidentally discovered tea. While boiling water in the garden, a leaf from an
overhanging wild tea tree drifted into his pot. The Emperor enjoyed drinking the infused
water so much that he was compelled to research the plant further.
It was not until the Tang dynasty (618-907), often referred to as the classic age of tea, did
consumption become widespread and it was at this time that tea was recognized as
China’s national drink.
It was not until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that tea was prepared by steeping the
whole leaves in water like it is today. Instead of compressing tea leaves into bricks, or
grinding them in a stone mill, the tea leaves were dried, rolled, and then heated in
ironworks to stop the oxidation process. The brewing process simply involved steeping
the tea leaves in hot water, without the need for a whisk.
Traders, missionaries, and explorers traveling back and forth between Europe and the
Orient became exposed to the budding tea traditions in China and Japan. Around the 9th
century, references in Arab trade documents refer to the process of boiling bitter tea
138
leaves. Later, Marco Polo (1254-1324) alludes to his discovery of tea in his travel
writings about the East.
Ready-to-drink chilled iced tea arrived in Europe in the 1970s. Although less
conventional than a cup of hot tea, it helped rejuvenate the image of tea as a whole. It has
had tremendous success since the 1990s and is now sold in bottles, cans, and packs, in a
variety of flavors, in sparkling and sugar-free versions. This drink has been successful
partly because people are concerned about health and tea is seen as having therapeutic
qualities.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The discovery of tea B. The popularity of tea
C. The distributor of tea D. The history of tea
2. The word “them” in paragraph 3 refers to
A. bricks B. tea leaves C. tea D. ironworks.
3. The word “budding” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. Growing B. Increasing C. Leading D. Changing
4. Which of the following is true about tea leaves under the Ming Dynasty?
A. Tea leaves were dipped into hot water when used
B. Tea leaves were compressed into bricks
C. Tea leaves were used without processing
D. Tea leaves were crushed into powder
5. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A. Tea was discovered unexpectedly and became immediately popular in China
B. Marco Polo was a missionary from Europe
C. Chilled iced tea always contains sugar
D. Tea was widely consumed under the Tang Dynasty
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READING 17
Organic food is very popular and expensive these days. Parents of young children, and
even some pet owners, will pay high prices for organic food if they think it's healthier.
But many others think organic food is just a waste of money.
There is one main difference between organic and non-organic food. Organic farms do
not use agricultural chemicals such as pesticides that stop insects from damaging crops.
In many countries foods that claim to be organic must have special labels that guarantee
they're grown organically.
Some people think organic also means "locally grown", and originally this was true. But
over time organic farming has become a big business, with many organic foods now
being grown by large agricultural companies that sell their products far from where
they're grown. Processed food made with organic ingredients has also become more
popular. As demand overtook supply, big food companies that had been selling non-
organic products for many years also began selling organic products.
Is organic food safer and more nutritious? Recent studies have shown that eating
organically-grown produce reduces your chances of developing heart disease. Many
doctors think it's more important to stop dangerous bacteria from contaminating foods,
which can contaminate both organic and non-organic fruit and vegetables, and doctors
recommend washing produce carefully before eating it.
Most people agree that naturally grown food tastes better. Is tastier food worth the extra
money? Whether organic food is healthier or not is still not clear, so more research is
needed. However, consumers of organic food often say "better safe than sorry" when it
comes to what we eat.
1. According to the passage, non-organic food is different from organic one because
________.
A. It is attacked by a lot of insects
B. It contains substances used for killing pests
C. It is less healthy and tastier
D. It has special labels
140
2. All of the following are true about the organic industry EXCEPT ________.
A. It is developed on a large scale
B. Organic food is shipped to places far from its origins of the production
C. Organic food can be present in processed food
D. Due to demand increase, big food companies shifted from selling non-organic
products to selling organic ones
3. It can be inferred from paragraph 4 that ________.
A. Organic food is safer than non-organic one
B. There is no need to wash organic food before eating
C. Dangerous bacteria can be found only in non-organic food
D. Knowing whether organic food is better is may not be the most important thing
4. The author mentions the phrase "better safe than sorry" to advise us that ________.
A. We should be quicker at finding out whether organic food is healthier
B. We should not eat organic food as there is not enough evidence defending its safety
C. We should eat both non-organic and organic food as they are equally tasty
D. We should be careful with any food we consume
5. What is the author’s attitude in this article?
A. Critical B. Unbiased
C. Approving D. Sarcastic
(Source: https://www.englishclub.com/reading/health/organic.htm)
141
READING 18
Leadership captures the essentials of being able to inspire others. Effective leadership is
based upon ideas—both original and borrowed—that are effectively communicated to
others in a way that engages them enough to act as the leader wants them to act.
A leader inspires others to act while simultaneously directing the way that they act. They
must be personable enough for others to follow their orders, and they must have the
critical thinking skills to know the best way to use the resources at an organization's
disposal.
In business, leadership is linked to performance, and any leadership definition has to take
that into account. Therefore, while leadership isn't intrinsically linked to profit, those who
are viewed as effective leaders in corporate contexts are the ones who increase their
company's bottom line.
The terms leadership and management tend to be used interchangeably, but they're not
the same. A difference between leaders and managers is that leaders emphasize
innovation above all else. A leader may be more concerned with setting and achieving
lofty goals whereas a manager seeks to inspire their team to meet goals while following
company rules —even at the expense of existing corporate structures.
However, chaos and high-pressure work environments the leader creates can lead to
interpersonal issues. When such issues arise, a manager is more likely to see it as their
duty to smooth over problems between employees. Leaders can sometimes be so
singularly focused on achieving lofty goals that they let interpersonal issues and
employee welfare fall by the wayside.
1. What is leadership mostly about?
A. Making profit for an organisation
B. Meeting lofty goal of an organisation
C. Becoming the most excellent individual
D. Convincing others to act in a specific way
2. According to the passage, why must leaders have critical thinking?
A. Because they need to solve a lot of thorny problems
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B. Because they must use it to make innovation
C. Because they are usually unrealistic
D. Because they have to use the company’s assets wisely
3. Which of the following is true about leadership?
A. Leadership can be seen as management
B. Leadership means inspiring other to follow the rules
C. Leadership is inborn and cannot be learned
D. Leadership is about breaking the mould
4. The word “lofty” in paragraph 4 refers to ________.
A. Ambitious B. Towering C. Tall D. Magnificent
5. What is the result of leaders’ over devotion to innovation?
A. The happiness of their employees is significantly improved
B. Conflicts arise and unhealthy working environments are created
C. Great social contributions are made
D. The manager’s role is no longer important
(Source: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/leadership-definition-2948275)
READING 19
All languages, even those of so-called 'primitive' tribes have clever grammatical
components. So the question which has baffled many linguists is - who created grammar?
Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time,
slaves from a number of ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer's rule.
Since they had no opportunity to learn each other's languages, they developed a make-
shift language called a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of
the landowner. They have little in the way of grammar, and in many cases it is difficult
143
for a listener to deduce when an event happened, and who did what to whom. Complex
grammar systems which emerge from pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented
by children.
Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf. Although
children were taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they
began to invent their own sign system, using the gestures that they used at home.
Children who joined the school later, developed a quite different sign language. Although
it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children's language was more
fluid and compact.
Some linguists believe that many of the world's most established languages were creoles
at first. The English past tense –ed ending may have evolved from the verb 'do'. 'It ended'
may once have been 'It end-did'. Therefore it would appear that even the most widespread
languages were partly created by children. Children appear to have innate grammatical
machinery in their brains, which springs to life when they are first trying to make sense
of the world around them. Their minds can serve to create logical, complex structures,
even when there is no grammar present for them to copy.
A. The Atlantic slaves B. The birth of pidgins
C. Sign languages for the deaf D. The creators of grammar
2. The word “they” in paragraph two refers to ______.
A. Languages B. Ethnicities C. Slaves D. Colonizers
3. According to the passage, what do pidgins mean?
A. Sets of separate words
B. Grammatical rules created by Atlantic slaves
C. The landowner's language
D. Colonizer’s language used for speaking to their slaves
4. What can be the best explanation for the fact that children are inventors of grammar?
A. Because they are more intelligent that adults
B. Because they are going through the first phase of exploring of the world
144
C. Because they have simple minds to make grammar compact

D. Children are not the inventors of grammar
5. All of the following are true EXCEPT ________.
A. Creoles are complex grammar system related to pidgins
B. In the classroom for the deaf, the younger children invented a new sign system
C. Even when there is no grammar available, children can make a logical sentence
D. Children may have created the widely used languages
(Source: https://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_reading1.htm)
READING 20
According to futurist Ray Kurzweil human civilisation will be unavoidably transformed
in the year 2045 by an event that he calls The Singularity. He suggests that exponential
technological development will lead to the inevitable rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.).
Such advanced technology may make humanity insignificant.
Kurzweil says that technologies are double-edged swords and envisions the possibility
that an artificial intelligence might decide to put an end to humanity simply because it
surpasses human intelligence. Kurzweil does have faith in mankind, however. He
suggests that people are wise to accept that technological progress is unavoidable and that
such acceptance will make the process of transition easier.
Kurzweil has personal reasons to hope for the coming of The Singularity, because he
wants his life to be extended by it. Kurzweil envisions that future medical advances could
invent tiny computerised machines, or nanobots, which operate inside the body to
enhance the immune system. In addition, he believes that future technology might be able
to resurrect his deceased father.
Looking at the state of current technological advances in many fields such as medicine,
navigation and communication, Kurzweil's visions may not be unbelievable.The critical
issue, however, is whether genuine artificial intelligence can ever be truly realised.
Kurzweil suggests that critics of his theories, who believe that the human brain is too
complex to duplicate, are underestimating what the exponential growth in technology
can eventually accomplish.
1. According to the passage, what does The Singularity mean?
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A. An event giving rise to future human transformation
B. An event giving rise to future artificial intelligence
C. An event giving rise to future alien civilisation
D. An event giving rise to future human intelligence
2. The author mentions “double-edged swords” in paragraph two to ______.
A. indicate that technologies are extremely dangerous for humanity
B. indicate that technologies are totally harmless for humanity
C. indicate that technologies will kill all people on earth
D. indicate that technologies are both advantageous and disadvantageous
3. The attitude of Kurzweil towards The Singularity is ________.
A. Optimistic
B. Intolerant
C. Pessimistic
D. Overbearing
4. What is Kurzweil’s vision about the future medical field?
A. Nanobots can be inserted into human body
B. People can live 100 years older
C. All diseases will be cured
D. People will take virtual medicines
5. The word “underestimating” in the final paragraph refers to ______.
A. Evaluating B. Misjudging
C. Misaligning D. Overreacting
(Source: Sách bài tập Tiếng Anh thí điểm lớp 12 tập 2 trang 15)
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READING 21
The economy, translating roughly from the Greek 'household management', is a broad
term which covers all the operations and aspects of society which deal with production
and consumption of money and money making in individual countries, and in the world
at large.
Economies have existed since the beginning of human history. The earliest form of
economy is a barter system, where people trade goods without using money. However,
this system is inefficient, and was primarily used in ancient times before the invention of
money. Using money is much more efficient, as it doesn't rely on both people in the
'transaction' to need each other's' goods like barter does.
There are different economies which operate differently.
The market economy is one in which people buy and sell things in accordance with
supply and demand, a theory which states that the more of something there is, the less it
costs, and vice versa. In this economy, freedom of the 'market', or all the 'economic
actors', to do business is most important. People who believe in a free market believe that
natural supply and demand will result in the best prices and deals for everyone, and in the
most growth.
The command economy is one in which the government controls all aspects of work by
its citizens, including the creation of goods, how and to whom they are sold, and the
prices of the goods. Basically, the government owns all jobs, and distributes them to
citizens. The citizens produce goods, which are then also redistributed by the
government.
This is the type of economy which is idealized by Communist countries, but has proven
historically to be much less efficient than the market economy, mostly due to human
error and high levels of corruption in the command economy.
The middle ground is a market economy which is steered by a government, and is the
most common form in the world. In this middle ground, economists work with politicians
to figure out how to best 'stimulate' an economy to grow. The government can grant a
'subsidy' to a certain group of people in one industry, which is basically a gift of money,
which can allow those people to keep their products cheap for consumers.
Through all these means, governments can affect the market economy. The ideal is to
keep local goods cheap (but not too cheap), to keep as many people employed as
possible.
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A. The market economy
B. Criticisms of different economies
C. An understanding of economies
D. A brief history of economies
2. Why is the barter system inefficient?
A. Because in this system, goods of each trader has to meet the other’s need
B. Because in this system, goods are traded by means of money
C. Because in this system, traders don’t pay attention to each other’s need
D. Because in this system, traders don’t have faith in each other
3. What is the mechanism behind a market economy?
A. The regulations of prices
B. The law of supply and demand
C. The intervention of the government
D. The collaboration between politicians and economists
4. Which of the following is not a feature of a command economy?
A. Citizens make products
B. Jobs are given to citizens by the government
C. Prices are not decided by the government
D. It has two main reasons for its failure
5. The word “idealized” highlighted in the passage mostly means ________.
A. extolled B. maintained C. created D. popularized
6. The word "which" highlighted refers to
A. subsidy B. one industry C. people D. the government
7. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Command economy is no longer adopted across the world
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B. Goods may be stolen in a command economy

C. Market economy is the most efficient
D. The middle ground is mostly a command market
(Source:
https://www.softschools.com/language_arts/reading_comprehension/social_studies/160/t
he_economy/)
READING 22
The mixing of broken-down scrap tires into asphalt to produce a blend suitable for the
construction of road surfaces is becoming widespread. It seems like an environmentalist’
dream: instead of getting junked in shrinking landfills, the tires are mixed with asphalt to
create a paving material that holds up twice as long as conventional asphalt.
The resulting material, asphalt-rubber, has several advantages over customary road-
building materials. It can be applied in a reduced thickness, and this means that less
material has to be mined and transported to the road site. Furthermore, roads constructed
with this material require less maintenance than more conventional roads. Another
benefit is the abatement of traffic noise, a serious issue in urban areas. Perhaps most
important, the reduction and possible eventual elimination of waste tires with all their
environmental problems may one day become a reality.
Although reviews by researchers and government officials have been generally positive,
questions remain. Some transportation officials fear that the material has not been
adequately tested. There is no conclusive evidence that asphalt rubber can be recycled
after it deteriorates, as conventional asphalt can. And there is concern whether the
process of heating and laying the material gives off more toxic fumes than conventional
methods.
Another issue is cost, which is twice that of standard asphalt. Even though tests indicate
that roads repaved with the mixture could last twice as long, allowing it to be applied
sparingly and reducing the overall cost, not everyone believes that the material’s greater
expense is justified. In addition, only a handful of companies have the licenses to make
patented key ingredients in the product, generating criticism from some who say the price
would be lower if there was more competition.
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Despite such concerns, asphalt rubber is considered less permeable than conventional
asphalt and therefore not as susceptible to cracks and potholes caused by rain and
freezing temperatures. In addition, roads paved with it are slightly darker and smoother
and it is believed that the rubber in the pavement provides for a quieter ride and better
traction which promises a better solution to existing environmental and transportation
problems.
1. What is the main topic of this passage?
A. Solutions to getting rid of junked tires
B. How to make asphalt from broken-down scrap
C. A combined approach to solving environmental and transportation problems
D. Concerns about costs and safety of asphalt rubber
2. According to the passage, asphalt rubber can be ______.
A. applied in a thinner layers
B. recycled after it deteriorates
C. less expensive than conventional asphalt
D. produced by any interested company
3. The word “toxic” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. wholesome
B. useful
C. poisonous
D. strange
4. It can be inferred from the passage that _________.
A. Conventional asphalt can be recycled after it deteriorates
B. Asphalt rubber’s cost is not higher than that of standard asphalt
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C. The new material’s greater expense is justified by technology companies
D. The new material has been tested carefully
5. Which of the following is not a benefit of asphalt rubber production?
A. Less maintenance is required
B. The amount of material transported to the road site is reduced
C. All environmental problems may be solved
D. Noise pollution on the roads in urban areas is decreased
6. The word “standard” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. common B. unusual C. different D. important
7. The writer’s tone in the passage is ________.
A. negative B. objective C. severe D. cynical
(Source: https://moon.vn/hoi-dap/according-to-the-passage-asphalt-rubber-can-be--
806612)
READING 23
Acid rain describes any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and
sulfuric acids. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that
settle to Earth.
Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid
rain, but most acid rain is a product of human activities. The biggest sources are coal-
burning power plants, factories, and automobiles.
When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are
released into the atmosphere. Those air pollutants react with water, oxygen, and other
substances to form airborne sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds may spread these acidic
compounds through the atmosphere and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches
Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the
soil.
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Nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major pollutant that
can be harmful to people. Both nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide cause environmental
and health concerns because they can spread easily via air pollution and acid rain.
Acid rain has many ecological effects, especially on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other
aquatic environments. Acid rain makes such waters more acidic, which results in more
aluminum absorption from soil, which is carried into lakes and streams. That combination
makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals.
The effects of acid rain leave trees and plants less healthy, more vulnerable to cold
temperatures, insects, and disease. The pollutants may also inhibit trees' ability to
reproduce. Acid deposits damage physical structures such as limestone buildings and
cars. And when it takes the form of inhalable fog, acid precipitation can cause health
problems including eye irritation and asthma.
The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it.
This means burning fewer fossil fuels and setting air-quality standards. In the U.S., the
Clean Air Act of 1990 targeted acid rain helped cut sulfur dioxide emissions 88 percent
and nitrogen dioxide emissions 50 percent between 1990 and 2017. These trends have
helped red spruce forests in New England and some fish populations, for example,
recover from acid rain damage.
1. All of the following are mentioned in the passage EXCEPT _________.
A. How acidic compounds are dispersed in the atmosphere
B. Where acidic compounds can appear
C. What acidic compounds do after reaching Earth
D. Why acidic compounds can react with water and oxygen
2. What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about fossil fuels?
A. It causes most pollution on Earth
B. It releases sulfuric and nitric acid when burned
C. It contributes little to the formation of acid rain
D. It contains both sulphur and nitrogen
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3. According to the passage, why does acid rain make waters toxic to aquatic animals?
A. Because it increases the levels of acidity and aluminum in waters
B. Because it makes soil absorb more aluminum
C. Because it reduces the amount of oxygen in waters
D. Because it destroys the foods of aquatic animals
4. The word “vulnerable” in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. susceptible B. exposed C. likely D. welcome
5. The word “inhalable” in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. actionable B. breathable
C. portable D. reliable
6. Which of the following is not affected by acid rain?
A. humans health B. tree’s reproduction
C. the world’s economy D. architecture
7. The author mentions the Clean Air Act of 1990 in the U.S to ______.
A. Provide an example of action to curb acid rain
B. Prove that the suggested solution is effective
C. Indicate the U.S is better than other countries
D. Show that fighting acid rain is easy
(Source:https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/acid-
rain?cmpid=int_org=ngp::int_mc=website::int_src=ngp::int_cmp=amp::int_add=amp_
readtherest)
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READING 24
For decades, "cookies" have been tracking you around the web. They're the snippets of
code that uniquely identify your browser and allow those shoe ads to follow you from site
to site after you visit an online storefront. Soon, their time may be up.
The future of tracking-based web advertising, Google argued, will be more abstract,
relying less on an individual's browser history and more on what groups of internet users
may be viewing at any given time.
Facebook makes its money by serving ads. It doesn't directly sell user information to
advertisers; instead, it offers advertisers the opportunity to target ads to certain categories
of Facebook users based on that data. Slicing and dicing people's identities by their
relationship status, the pages they've liked and even the content they click lets Facebook
sell access to highly specific groups.
The approach being championed by Google would theoretically give users more power
than Facebook's model. Rather than centralizing all user data under one roof, internet
users' web history would remain stored in their own browsers or on their own devices.
Depending on which version of this idea is implemented, users could have settings that
let them control what information their browser shares with the world. Ads for shoes and
camping gear might still follow you around the internet this way, but advertisers would
now be blasting those ads to you and thousands of others as a group, not as an individual.
That concept, which Google is currently testing, is designed to take the place of third-
party tracking cookies, which can track you from site to site and develop a highly detailed
picture of your browsing history for advertising purposes. Google says its vision of the
future helps improve user privacy while still offering advertisers the same ability to target
audiences.
Cyphers argued that, depending on how small each cohort is and the ability for clever
companies to cross-reference that data with other available information — such as your
email address — it may well be possible for third parties to figure out who you are,
anyway.
Even though it's moving away from the third-party cookie, that doesn't mean Google has
become consumers' knight in shining armor. Google-backed tracking proposal is being
scrutinized for the way it could further entrench the company.
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1. What is the main topic of this article?
A. A new area of advertising
B. A replacement for third-party tracking cookies
C. A better way to browse the Internet
D. A reduction in cookies of Facebook
2. The word “abstract” in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. untouchable B. conceptual
C. significant D. unforeseeable
3. According to the passage, Facebook analyses people’s identities based on all of the
following EXCEPT _______.
A. what marital status they have
B. which pages they liked
C. which information they see
D. what phones they use
4. The word “championed” in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. winned B. advocated
C. opposed D. expressed
5. What is the difference between Facebook’s tracking method and Google’s new
approach?
A. Facebook can make money through its method while Google can’t
B. Facebook gives its customers the control over their web browsers
C. Facebook targets at each individual while Google targets at groups of people
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D. Facebook targets ads at highly general groups while Google targets ads at highly
specific ones.
6. Which of the following might be the topic of the next paragraph?
A. How Google becomes consumers' knight in privacy protection
B. How Google moves away from the third-party cookies
C. How Google’s tracking proposal will be scrutinised
D. How Google entrenches its power through its new tracking method
7. What is the author’s tone in this passage?
A. emotional B. negative
C. technical D. neutral
(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/09/tech/cookies-google-tracking/index.html)
READING 25
Ignorance, of course, plays some role in the traditional acceptance of superstition. Not
having sufficient knowledge, faith or trust in scientific methods, a Vietnamese often
relies on his prejudices, emotions and the word of his forefathers to guide his daily life.
Superstition, sometimes, plays more than a passing role in Vietnamese society. By the
time a boy is old enough to marry, for example, he may not be able to wed the girl he
loves because she was born in the wrong year. On the 12-year lunar calendar commonly
used throughout Asia, many of the years are considered incompatible. Such years are
thought to bring misfortune if they are improperly matched with other years. Thus a
young man born in “the Year of the Tiger,” cannot marry his beloved from “the Year of
the Horse” unless he wants to risk a break in family ties with his parents and elder
relatives. To the conservative relatives, the Tiger and Horse are incompatible and sure to
bring bad luck to such a marriage.
Some animals themselves are also regarded as a sign of either good or bad luck. For
example, the hoot of an owl is regarded as a bad omen announcing death or illness.
According to ancient tradition the bird must be chased away and those who heard his cry
should be extremely cautious about their personal safety.
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A large number of fortune-tellers, astrologers and palm-readers owe their living to

Vietnamese superstition and often made a fortune from their clients. Even the poor save
money for occasional visits to well-known soothsayers. Superstition has been known to
determine the conduct of the war in this ravaged country. A friendly or enemy
commander may refuse to attack or may alter his strategy if the stars are not in his favor.
One story has it that an American commander always consulted a Vietnamese astrologer
before planning the deployment of his troops. When questioned by his incredulous
superiors, he explained that, according to his theory, he could depend on the enemy to
base his attacks on the positions of the stars. So, he consulted a stargazer himself for
intelligence on the enemy’s movements.
1. What is NOT mentioned as a cause of a person’s belief in superstition?
A. His prejudices B. His scientific knowledge
C. His emotions D. His forefather’s words
2. What does a girl consider when deciding whether to get married to a boy?
A. His birthday B. His birth-month
C. His birth-season D. His birth-year
3. Which of the following best replaces the word “incompatible” in paragraph 2?
A. incomparable
B. fitting
C. mismatched
D. different
4. According to the passage, what will bring misfortune to a marriage is the combination
between a girl born in the Year of Horse and a boy born in the Year of ________.
A. Buffalo B. Tiger C. Mouse D. Dragon
5. The sound of which animal below is considered bad luck?
A. Owl B. Dove C. Duck D. Cock
6. The phrase “make a fortune” is most likely to be replaced by ______.
157
A. earn a lot of money B. receive a lot of luck
C. get a lot of luck wishes D. avoid unlucky things
7. In the passage, why did a commander consult an astrologer?
A. Because he himself believed in superstition
B. Because he was unaffected by superstition
C. To learn about the plans of the opposing troops
D. To assure his troops of the beliefs in superstition
158
CHAPTER 6:
ERROR
IDENTIFICATION
159
1, (A) Sightings of this (B) species of bird have been (C) few and far behind, even in (D)
nature reserves.
2, As he engaged (A) in (B) bingy drinking on a daily (C) basis, he gradually (D)
developed symptoms of cancer.
3, Once (A) considered meaningless and (B) rather distracting, gesticulation is now being
taken more (C) seriously as a (D) mean of communion, and has been the subject of a
great deal of research in recent years.
4, The money I (A) derived from working (B) was paid (C) direct into my (D) banking
account.
5, "You (A) didn't need to buy that.", (B) sighed my wife on (C) hearing that I had
purchased (D) another vase.
6, When (A) searching for the (B) buried treasure, we noticed a strange (C) inhumane
sound (D) coming from a distant place, warning about an animal lurking somewhere.
7, They (A) had no option (B) but to cut (C) shortly their holiday when a member
suddenly fell (D) ill.
8, "Who wants to (A) go through hardships (B) by themselves without friends?", she
asked me, her hands closely (C) tied to (D) my.
9, In (A) the latest edition (B) of the encyclopedia, you can notice (C) a number of up-to-
date (D) entrances.
10, You have to abide (A) by several (B) strict codes of (C) practices while (D) working
in this enterprise.
11, (A) In search of green canopies, I accidentally found a vast space covered (B) with
trees which was the (C) remain of (D) a wood.
12, (A) In event of a nuclear war, (B) the human (C) race is (D) to blame for the
extinction of other species.
13, (A) Unlike him, I did not major (B) in (C) contracted farming at university, (D) which
partly accounts for my lack of knowledge about this subject.
14, I made it (A) clear to them that I (B) would like my house (C) to be painted white (D)
through.
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15. He was a (A) true (B) originality whose behaviour was (C) diametrically different
from (D) others.
16, To the (A) best of my knowledge, when I studied with him, my Japanese was not on
(B) a level with (C) his: he spoke Japanese (D) indefinitely better than me.
17, Among (A) other significant contributions the army (B) made to the improvement of
the conditions of life (C) were the investigation of the relationships (D) among health,
climate, and architecture.
18, (A) In the wake of his heroic (B) deeds, Nguyen Ngoc Manh was (C) awarded
“Certificate of Honour” (D) in recognizance of his bravery.
19, The Covid-19 pandemic (A) notwithstanding, (B) the economy of Vietnam witnessed
(C) growth in 2020 at a (D) respective 2.91 percent.
20, I was (A) awoken to the (B) realisation that our marriage was (C) over by my friend’s
(D) advice.
21, After (A) putting in (B) a hard day’s work, he arrived home (C) tired, sat on the sofa,
and slipped (D) unawarely into sleep.
22, The editor (A) dropped in, notifying me that our novel (B) would be come out the
following month, (C) a piece of news which made me (D) overjoyed.
23. (A) Having taken a (B) leisurely stroll in the park, we decided to have a (C)
sumptuous meal at an opulent eatery and had to pay a bill just (D) shy from 15,000,000
VND.
24. As revealed by some journalists, people (A) hailed as real-life heroes and their private
(B) lives are the (C) stocks-in-trade of (D) the tabloids.
25. On the spur of (A) the moment, I decided to visit the bookstore on my way (B) home
to buy some (C) stationary and (D) lighted upon a former classmate of mine.
26. (A) In the field of astronomy, (B) cosmic distance is measured (C) on (D) light-years.
27. In the (A) last 10 years, (B) Vietnamese government has increased its GDP (C)
growth rate (D) to about 2.91%.
28. Jane Addams, social worker, author, and (A) spokeswoman for the women’s suffrage
(B) movements, (C) she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her (D) humanitarian
achievements.
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29. Nguyen Trai’s poems and (A) literary works, which are to (B) some extent
philosophic and
humanitarian, established (C) them as a leading (D) figure in the history of literature.
30. All tournament chess games are (A) played (B) with a chess clock – (C) that is two
clocks (D) attached together.
31. Elon Musk’s Space X company is continuing its exploration of the Solar System, (A)
at which rate all (B) the planets will have been contacted (C) within the (D) near 50
years.
32. Some writing systems (A) were published and achieved a (B) measure of popularity
for a while, but almost all, until the present day, (C) fell eventually (D) in disuse.
33. (A) Dance notation (B) got off to a much later start and has undergone a long (C)
success of (D) false attempts.
34. (A) Those so many successful (B) beginnings were (C) made in the field of film-
making (D) is not surprising.
35. There is also an important difference (A) between realism and reality, (B) although
this (C) distinct is often forgotten.
36. The young (A) have the power to change the world, rid it forever (B) with war and
injustice and suffering, (C) provided they know (D) how, know what to do.
37. Many scientists and experts (A) believe the idea of (B) terraforming (C) Mars is
extreme (D) and not ridiculous.
38. Tourism is always considered (A) a key element in the (B) economics of (C) Arctic
zones and many (D) desert areas
39. Just as causes and (A) quantities of stress are (B) subject to personal factors, so is the
way in (C) which a person deals with (D) them.
40. Stress is (A) said to be the culprit (B) in a high (C) percent of heart problems and
stomach (D) disorders
41. (A) Squadrons of planes can save fuel by flying in a V (B) formation, and many
scientists (C) suspect that migrating birds do the (D) similar.
42. Speech is really (A) such integral a form of human activity (B) that it cannot be
regarded (C) as an entity in (D) itself.
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43. This is the vital point (A) about their discovery: there is (B) at last a (C) theoretical
possibility that smaller planets (D) could be orbiting inside the orbit of this planet.
44. The global (A) recording industry has launched its largest wave of legal (B) activity
against people (C) suspected of sharing (D) music files on the internet.
45. (A) Everyday we get (B) cold calls on the phone from total strangers (C) trying to sell
us something. That’s (D) annoying!
46. There’s a coffee shop (A) called Highlands near here (B) where the customers spend
hours (C) discussing (D) about the food.
47. The (A) standard length of the marathon is 42.5 kilometers but this one is 240
kilometers (B) long and (C) spends seven days (D) to complete.
48. According to recent (A) estimation, about (B) three million people worldwide have
died (C) because of (D) the COVID-19 pandemic.
49. The best (A) deterrent against shoplifting is the (B) present of staff properly (C)
trained (D) in how to identify potential shoplifters.
50. H-C Travel Motorcycle Tours (A) to India, Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet (B) offer
something for everyone: (C) from the beauty of Sikkim to the (D) splender of Rajasthan.
51. Uranus is the (A) alone planet in (B) the solar system (C) which is tipped on (D) its
side.
52. A new battery (A) for domestic appliances (B) in the house is (C) as thin and flexible
as (D) paper.
53. Communication satellites (A) can be either (B) launched by rockets (C) and carried
into (D) space by space shuttles.
54. We are reluctant (A) to order more (B) equipment from that firm because the last (C)
shipment was received so (D) lately.
55. Converse All Star is offering substantial (A) savings on athletic footwear this month,
but not (B) all types are available (C) in all (D) shoes sizes.
56. Joseph Priestley is (A) immortal in the (B) history of (C) chemistry as the (D)
discovery of oxygen in 1774.
57. Tyrannosaurus rex (A) grew to (B) a (C) height similar to a (D) giraffe.
58. When in a (A) relaxed state, the muscles in (B) an asleep bird’s feet (C) contract,
holding the bird on (D) its perch.
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59. The most frequently (A) sung song in the world, ‘ Happy bday to you’, was actually
(B) written with (C) other set of words by the Hill (D) sisters in 1893.
60. The kiwi, a (A) nocturnal bird in the country (B) of New Zealand, is (C) alive only
after (D) nightfall.
61. (A) The reader may (B) be gaining an impression that this text is (C) being written to
criticise, not to (D) complement.
62. After the workshop, (A) the majority agreed that they gained a new appreciation (B)
of life and the (C) relationships they had (D) formally taken for granted.
63. Most schools (A) are based on the fundamental (B) principal that each child (C)
should develop (D) its full potential.
64. Many people have to (A) rely on the government to cover the (B) bear (C) necessities
such as rent and (D) emergency medical treatment during the pandemic.
65. Last week, I visited (A) the beach in Kitty Hawk (B) where the Wright brothers (C)
made their (D) historical first airplane flight.
66. A (A) classical novel is a novel that represents a (B) genre or a writing style, (C) or it
can be a novel that makes a (D) contribution to literature.
67. (A) Beside music appreciation and singing, girls also (B) scored higher responding
(C) means than boys (D) for playing the recorder and other instruments.
68. The test is initiated by the driver (A) placing the sensor head in (B) his mouth then
taking a few deep (C) breathes and (D) blowing into the device.
69. Whether you (A) crave sweet, savory, decadent or (B) healthy, we have hundreds of
top-rated (C) desert recipes (D) to satisfy your taste buds.
70. (A) The curricula of American public schools (B) is determined by individual states,
(C) not by the (D) federal government.
71. Neither the mathematics department nor the biology department at State University
(A) requires that the students (B) must write a thesis in order (C) to graduate with a (D)
master’s degree.
72. (A) The wild area (B) to the north of the lake (C) comprises of (D) conifer forests and
small lakes.
73. (A) The rose has (B) long been (C) a symbol of love, romance, and (D) it is very
beautiful.
164
74. Up the World War II (A) almost all important (B) research in physics had been (C)
made in universities, with only university funds (D) for support.
75. The schoolboy’s excuse wasn’t (A) creditable at all - Nobody (B) in the classroom
believed in the (C) far-fetched story he (D) told.
76. (A) When I got my case back from my friend, it (B) had been damaged (C) over
repair - (D) How annoying!
77. This last lesson (A) on survival skills came (B) into (C) handy when a group of
soldiers nearly found us along (D) a riverbank.
78. (A) Having finished his term paper (B) before the deadline, (C) it was delivered to
the (D) professor before the class.
79. Such characters (A) as fairies or witches in Walt Disney (B) animated cartoons,
which (C) are loved by most children, are purely (D) imaginative.
80. I (A) have lived near the harbour for (B) so long that I’ve grown (C) familiar to the
noise (D) of the ships and boats.
81. (A) The new librarian (B) has been found to be not only inefficient (C) but also lazy
(D) has been sacked.
82. Neither of the (A) girls (B) have turned in the term papers (C) to the instructor (D)
yet.
83. The deadbolt is (A) the best lock for entry doors (B) because it is (C) not
only inexpensive but (D) installation is easy.
84. Life insurance, (A) before available (B) only to young, healthy persons, can now (C)
be obtained for old people and (D) even for pets.
85. The head proctor tells the students when they should (A) begin the exam, how long
(B) they have to complete it, and what (C) the procedures are for (D) turning in.
86. Comets, which are (A) heavenly bodies with star-like (B) nuclei and tails, appear (C)
luminously when visiting our (D) skies as many as five or more times each year.
87. Ice (A) covers roughly ten percent of the (B) earth’s land surface, which is (C) about
the same (D) number as farms.
88. Experts believe that (A) governments will be hesitant (B) to allow large (C) payments
to be made anonymously (D) by bitcoin.
165
89. (A) Whichever the weather, and (B) however far from the farmhouse they are
working, our neighbours come home (C) at midday (D) to their dinner.
90. A major collection like (A) those of London’s National Gallery (B) is housed in
numerous rooms, each with dozens of (C) works, (D) any one of which is very expensive.
91. Today’s viewer is deterred (A) against trying to (B) extend that spontaneous,
immediate, self-reliant kind of reading (C) which would originally (D) have met the
work.
92. (A) Just think! Next month you will be in your (B) teenage and it seems like (C) only
yesterday you (D) were a baby.
93. President Clinton’s proposal will help (A) ensure (B) which parents in (C) every state
have access (D) to the information .
94. They need (A) to determine the quality of their schools and (B) identity areas (C) in
which improvement (D) is needed.
95. Psychologists are therefore (A) raising the (B) possibility that genius (C) is the (D)
production of teaching.
96. The argument that (A) personable presenters help (B) draw viewers into shows is now
(C) outweighed by the fashion for making them the (D) focus on the programmes.
97. A sequence of smaller maps (A) shows the world’s population density, (B) each
country’s birth and (C) death rates and gross national product in terms of (D) per capital
income.
98. In our Vietnamese (A) tradition, women are more (B) certainly (C) to bow the head
than (D) to shake hands.
99. (A) In the beginning of the twentieth century, (B) a new science emerged, (C) in
which many theories of the past (D) were disproved by the scientific method.
100. Even (A) invalids, (B) confined to beds or wheelchairs, (C) become tired as the
evening (D) wears out.
101. For the (A) past eight years, many musicians (B) have gathered together (C) in
Switzerland’s (D) most glitzy ski resort to play, to teach and socialise.
102. Verbier is home (A) for three weeks (B) to more than 100 young musicians, (C)
starried-eyed about getting a (D) crashing course at the highest possible level.
166
103. Today’s African savannah grasshopper manages (A) to remain largely undetected by
(B) its predators, (C) by changing color (D) at the spot.
104. (A) Talk show producers say they provide useful information and (B) have helped to
create (C) a more sensitive and (D) educational public.
105. In the harsh economic (A) climax that exists at present, (B) very few people are
lucky enough (C) to find a job in the first (D) place.
106. The Internet makes (A) it easier for educators to check (B) for plagiarism as a
simple Internet (C) search for a quote will be enough to (D) impose copying.
107. In many TV (A) commercials, men are often seen as useless, (B) childlike oafs who
are unable (C) to perform the simplest household (D) tasks.
108. Alexander Calder, who was (A) originally interested in (B) mechanical engineering,
(C) later became a (D) sculpture.
109. (A) The first national park (B) in world, Yellowstone National Park, (C) was
established (D) in 1872.
110. Globes and maps (A) have always been important throughout history, (B) but never
(C) as more so (D) than today.
111. (A) Studying the (B) science of logic is one (C) way to cultivate one’s (D) reason
skills.
112. Because vitamins (A) are contained (B) in a wide variety of (C) foods, people
seldom (D) lack of most of them.
113. In addition to traditional (A) treatments such as strawberry (B) shortcakes,
strawberry tarts and strawberries dipped (C) into chocolate, (D) there is strawberry pizza!
114. (A) Included in this list of ‘tools’ are: education, social skills, cultural awareness and
the acquisition of (B) languages, the most important of these (C) being the (D) later.
115. This (A) one-language phenomenon could be (B) contributed to a combination of
factors, (C) in which the monolingual environment (D) played a strong role.
116. Many individuals are sick (A) to death of (B) sexy jokes from their peers which (C)
poke fun (D) at women.
117. Perhaps those who argue the (A) contrast are guilty of a (B) stick-in-the-sand
mentality (C) which is often not (D) confined to their own language.
167
118. E-book technology is (A) evolving rapidly, and (B) with some of the latest (C)
handholds you will even get (D) internet access.
119. The production process (A) from first plan by author (B) until delivery to the printer
has been (C) doing (D) electrically for a while now.
120. (A) Surviving in the music industry requires an (B) intricate knowledge of (C) how a
record company (D) is functioned.
121. The (A) principle cause of the (B0 whirlwind is intense insulation, which produces
an (C) overheated air mass just (D) above the ground.
122. What makes (A) those educated people leave their countries should (B) be
considered and a (C) distinct between push and pull factors must be (D) made.
123. With more entrepreneurs (A) taking their (B) investments abroad, developing
countries are (C) missing an opportunity of (D) wealthy creation.
124. (A) Most of the measures (B) made so far have not had any (C) success in
alleviating the (D) effects of brain drain.
125. A more global (A) sight must take into consideration the (B) provision of adequate
working and living (C) conditions in the (D) sending countries.
126. (A) This was one of the (B) limits of the technique: life (C) could not exist on such
(D) large planets.
127. A growing (A) recognition that zoos ought to be in the (B) vanguard of the fight (C)
for the devastation of our natural world (D) has begun a zoological revolution.
128. (A) Health experts warn that this (B) winter’s breakthrough could be as severe as the
1989 epidemic, which (C) killed 25,000 people in Britain (D) only.
129. An (A) environmental story of mankind would (B) have to be a history of the (C)
spiral demand for natural resources and their inevitable (D) depletion.
130. Entrepreneurs are now looking (A) into the limits of land, sea, (B) and sky; the new
target is (C) the stars and, more especially, (4) asteroids.
131. (A) Seasonal thawing at the (B) basis of the glacier helps (C) facilitate the (D)
slippage of the ice along the ground surface.
132. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is (A) both few (B) in
numbers, or threatened by (C) changing environmental or (D) predation parameters.
168
133. The expert (A) saw bureaucracy as both the most (B) efficient possible system, and
a threat (C) to the basic liberties he (D) felt dear.
134. Real relaxation is (A) a state of alert (B) yet at the same time passive awareness, (C)
in which our bodies are (D) in rest while our minds are awake.
135. The need to (A) farther improve the quantity of mattresses (B) shows the importance
of (C) the bed as a piece of furniture in (D) a home.
136. A student who (A) studies how to (B) use a dictionary effectively will be able to
work (C) independently for much of (D) the time.
137. Biologists tend (A) to assume that the (B) compelling qualities of human activities
are (C) derivatives of basic (D) drives.
138. If any (A) given activity can (B) be seen to facilitate adaptation (C) with the
environment, it makes sense in (D) biological terms.
139. When a blue whale is (A) completely grown, its heart is the same (B) height as a tall
man and (C) weighs as much as a horse (D) does.
140. It’s certainly too soon to say (A) if the (B) sight of several tigers (C) in wildlife is an
indication of a (D) populous recovery.
141. (A) Once you have calmed (B) down, things won’t look half as (C) badly as you
first (D) thought.
142. (A) Again and again it (B) may be a good idea (C) to give your opponent an
opportunity (D) to make a mistake.
143. The first (A) casualty of the (B) reorganization will be the bus service, (C) which
will be stopped (D) all together.
144. A good food wine (A) would be a nice (B) compliment to (C) grilled dishes or (D)
ones with cream sauces.
145. A panel of (A) uninterested judges who (B) had never met the contestants (C) before
judged the (D) singing contest.
146. Chester (A) visited the beach in Kitty Hawk (B) where the Wright brothers (C) made
their (D) historical first airplane flight.
147. Solar eclipse can have an (A) effect on plants and animals that are (B) used to the
regular (C) circle of (D) day and night.
169
148. It is (A) designed to help each (B) applicant to make an (C) informative decision
before applying for a particular (D) programme of study.
149. Now most of (A) the paint had been (B) peeled away by (C) successful seasons (D)
of sun and rain.
150. People who watched a (A) sports event on TV, with all (B) their movement and
action, (C) valued the still image as a (D) reminder of the game.
170

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1. Which best serves as the title for the passage?

B. the rise in the world's population

1, What is the main topic of this passage?

D. between 70 and 79 Fahrenheit degrees

1, What is probably the main aim of this passage?

C. Otis’s invention addressed a concern involved in conveying beds upstairs.

1, What is probably the title of this passage?

C. Players with no experience.

1, What is probably the aim of this passage?

B. preclude some types of power outages

1, What is the main aim of this passage?

1, Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Live music is going to appear in Israel for the first time.

1, Which of the following statements best summarizes the passage?

D. There are a number of challenges in the work of predicting and displacing

2, When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79:

1, This passage best serves as:

4, What can be implied from the passage?

A. The Hubble Space Telescope has been of considerable importance to

5, The phrase “regularly serviced” in the last paragraph suggests that:

1, What does the passage mainly discuss?

3, What does the author suggest in the second paragraph?

4, The author mentions sportsmanship, friendships, tradition, community and artistry as

1, What is the main topic of the passage?

A. The revival of Fiji’s coral reefs

A. The Pacific and the Namena reserve

6, The word “replenished” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to:

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. The discovery of tea B. The popularity of tea

C. The distributor of tea D. The history of tea

2. The word “them” in paragraph 3 refers to

A. bricks B. tea leaves C. tea D. ironworks.

3. The word “budding” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to

A. Growing B. Increasing C. Leading D. Changing

A. Tea leaves were dipped into hot water when used

B. Tea leaves were compressed into bricks

C. Tea leaves were used without processing

D. Tea leaves were crushed into powder

5. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

A. Tea was discovered unexpectedly and became immediately popular in China

B. Marco Polo was a missionary from Europe

C. Chilled iced tea always contains sugar

D. Tea was widely consumed under the Tang Dynasty

A. It is attacked by a lot of insects

B. It contains substances used for killing pests

C. It is less healthy and tastier

D. It has special labels

A. It is developed on a large scale

C. Organic food can be present in processed food

3. It can be inferred from paragraph 4 that ________.

A. Organic food is safer than non-organic one

B. There is no need to wash organic food before eating

C. Dangerous bacteria can be found only in non-organic food

A. We should be quicker at finding out whether organic food is healthier

D. We should be careful with any food we consume

5. What is the author’s attitude in this article?

1. What is leadership mostly about?

A. Making profit for an organisation