Bài tập ĐỌC HIỂU ĐIỀN TỪ EXERCISE 1: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to Ever since it was first possible to make a real robot, people have been hoping for the invention of a machine that would all the necessary jobs around the house If boring and repetitive factory work could be (1) _ by robots, why not boring and repetitive household chores too? For a long time the only people who really gave the problem their attention were amateur inventors And they came up against a major difficulty That is housework is (2) _ very complex It has never been one job, it has always been many A factory robot carries (3) _ one task endlessly until it is reprogrammed to something else It doesn't run the whole factory A housework robot, on the other hand, has to several different types of cleaning and carrying jobs and also has to cope with all the different shapes and positions of rooms, furniture, ornaments, cats and dogs (4) _, there have been some developments recently Sensors are available to help the robot locate objects and avoid obstacles We have the technology to produce the hardware All that is missing is the software - the programs (5) _ will operate the machine Question 1: A: managed B: made C: succeeded D: given Question 2: A: actually B: likely C: seriously D: hardly Question 3: A: away B: out C: over D: off Question 4: A: Moreover B: However C: Although D: Besides Question 5: A: who B: what C: that D: where EXERCISE 2: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to When we moved to our new house near the sea, I was eight years old Even before that I had spent every summer messing about on boats My dad had taught me to sail before I learnt to ride a bike so I knew how I wanted to spend my time at the new house- I was going to get my own boat and sail it everyday The house was only a few metres from the water’s edge, and in rough weather the waves would come crashing into the front garden I used to sit with my nose pressed to the glass, fascinated by the power of the ocean I grew up watching the skies to see if it was going to rain; would I be going sailing that afternoon or not? Of course I sometimes wished I could live in the town like my friends I used to get irritated with my parents, who had taken early retirement because they seemed incapable of getting anywhere on time Dad drove me the eight miles to school everyday, but I was often late because he had been walking on the cliffs earlier in the morning and had lost track of time When I was taking my university entrance exams, I used to stay over at a friend’s in town, just in case All in all, I was lucky to grow up by the sea and I still love to sail Question 1: At the age of eight, the writer’s house was A in the town B by the sea C on boat D under the mountain Question 2: The word “rough” is closest in meaning to _ A careful B forceful C easy D mild Question 3: The writer’s father retired early because A he walked on the cliffs every morning B he lost rack of time C he had to drive his kid to school everyday D he was unable to get anywhere on time Question 4: The following are true EXCEPT _ A the waves came crashing into the writer’s front garden in bad weather B the writer moved to a new house when he was C the writer didn’t know how to sail D the distance from the writer’s house to school was miles Question 5: Growing up by the sea, the writer felt A unlucky B irritated C excited D lucky Question 6: The writer learnt to sail _ A before learning to ride a bike B when his family moved to a new house C before going to school D When he/ she was eight Question 7: When taking the university entrance exams _, A the writer’s family moved to a new house by the sea B the writer had to live in a friend’s house C the weather was terrible D the writer’s father drove him/ her to university EXERCISE 3: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to Not very long ago, when people needed to find a job, there were several possible steps They might begin with a look through the classified ads in the newspaper They could go to the personne office at various companies and fill out an application, or they could go to an employment agency They could even find out about a job opening through word-of-mouth - from another person who had heard about it These days, job hunting is more complicated The first step is to determine what kind of job you want (which sounds easier than it is) and make sure that you have the right education for it Rapid changes in technology and science are creating many professions that never existed until recently It is important to learn about them because one might be the perfect profession for you The fastestgrowing areas for new jobs are in computer technology and health services Jobs in these fields usually require specific skills, but you need to find out exactly which skills and which degrees are necessary For example, it may be surprising to learn that in the sciences, an M.S is more marketable than a Ph.D! In other words, there are more jobs available for people with a Master of Science degree than for people with a doctorate (However, people who want to research still need a Ph.D.) How people learn about “hot” new professions? How they discover their “dream job”? Many people these days go to a career counselor In some countries, job hopping has become so common that career counseling is now “big business” People sometimes send large amounts of money for this advice In Canada, and the United Nations, high school and college students often have access to free vocational counseling service on campus There is even a career organization, the Five O’Clock Club, which helps members to set goals Members focus on this question: what sort of person you want to be years from now? The members then plan their careers around that goal All career counselors – private or public – agree on one basic point: it is important for people to find a career that they love Everyone should be able to think, “I’m having such a good time I can’t believe they’re paying me to this.” (Adapted from “Interactions Reading”, Pamela Hartmann & Elaine Kirn, Mc Graw Hill) Question 1: The phrase “through word-of-mouth” in the first paragraph probably means _ A via phone B visually C in person D orally Question 2: According to the second paragraph, why is it important for us to learn about various professions? A since more jobs are available for people with a Master of Science degree B as technological advances have created new professions C because jobs in computer technology and health services are popular D so as not to miss the profession that is perfect for us Question 3: Why does the author mention the steps of job hunting in the past in the first paragraph? A To define the process of job hunting B To indicate that the process of job hunting stays the same over time C To emphasize that job hunting is becoming more complex at present D To explain the importance of a job opening Question 4: According to the last paragraph, career counseling is now a “big business” due to A the increasing popularity of job hunting B the large amount of money of job advice C the appearance of “hot” new professions D the discovery of “dream jobs” Question 5: The word “marketable” as used in the second paragraph could be best replaced by A wanted B well-paid C beneficial D profitable Question 6: The word “them” in the second paragraph refers to A degrees B skills C areas D professions Question 7: According to the second paragraph, all of the following steps are mentioned in job hunting today EXCEPT _ A getting information about necessary skills or degrees B doing a Ph.D degree C deciding on a profession D learning about different professions Question 8: It can be inferred from the passage that what determines one’s success in job hunting is _ A his or her degrees or skills B his or her choices of employment agencies C discovery of his or her own dream job D his or her career counselors EXERCISE 4: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to The Town of Aylesbury Aylesbury is a bustling market town whose modern shopping facilities include the recently opened Friars Square shopping centre The market has been an (1) part of Aylesbury life since they early 13th century Nowadays, regular markets are held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays The town has a (2) and varied history, many clues to which can be seen in the conversation are to the north of the market square In this area (3) the 15Ih century King's Head Public House which over the years has played host to many famous names These have included King Henry Will, who regularly visited the Inn whilst courting Anne Boleyn and Oliver Cromwell, on his visit to Aylesbury in 1651 Now a National Trust property, the King's Head is at present undergoing extensive refurbishments to (4) the building to its former glory and is expected to re-open in the autumn Other (5) buildings in the conversation area include the Saxon Church of St Mary and the Buckingharnshire County Museum Question A expensive B essential C expected D impossible Question A poor B nearby C Perfect D rich Question A lives B happens C stands D shows Question A restore B refresh C Recall D remind Question A reliable B annual C Excitable D notable EXERCISE 5: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to Birds that feet in flocks commonly retire together into roosts The reasons for roosting communally are not always obvious, but there are some likely benefits In winter especially, it is important for birds to keep warm at night and conserve precious food reserves One way to this is to find a sheltered, roost Solitary roosters shelter indense vegetation or enter a cavity - horned larks dig holes in the ground and ptarmigan burrow into snow banks - but the effect of sheltering is magnified by several birds huddling together in the roosts, as wrens, swifts, brown creepers, bluebirds, and anis Body contact reduces the surface area exposed to the cold air, so the birds keep each other warm Two kinglets huddling together were found to reduce their heat losses by a quarter, and three together saved a third of their heat The second possible benefit of communal roosts is that they act as "information centers” During the day, parties of birds will have spread out to feed over a very large area When they return in the evening some will have fed well, but others may have found little to eat Some investigators have observed that when the birds set out again next morning, those birds that did not feed well on the previous day appear to follow those that did The behavior of common and lesser kestrels may illustrate different feeding behaviors of similar birds with different roosting habits The common kestrel hunts vertebrate animals in a small, familiar hunting ground, whereas the very similar lesser kestrel feeds on insects over a large area The common kestrel roosts and hunts alone, but the lesser kestrel roosts and hunts in flocks, possibly so one bird can learn from others where to find insect swarms Finally, there is safety in numbers at communal roosts since there will always be a few birds awake at any given moment to give the alarm But this increased protection is partially counteracted by the fact that mass roosts attract predators and are especially vulnerable if they are on the ground Even those in trees can be attacked by birds of prey The birds on the edge are at greatest risk since predators find it easier to catch small birds perching at the margins of the roost Question What does the passage mainly discuss? A How birds find and store food B How birds maintain body heat in the winter C Why birds need to establish territory D Why some species of birds nest together Question The word "conserve" is closest in meaning to A retain B watch C Locate D share Question Ptarmigan keep warm in the winter by A building nests in trees B huddling together on the ground with other birds C digging tunnels into the snow D burrowing into dense patches of vegetatiotnir Question The word "magnified" in line is closest in meaning to A combined B caused C modified D intensified Question The author mentions kinglets in line as an example of birds that A nest together for warmth B usually feed and nest in pairs C protect themselves by nesting in holes D nest with other species of birds Question Which of the following statements about lesser and common kestrels is true? A The common kestrel nests in larger flocks than does the lesser kestrel B The lesser kestrel and the common kestrel have similar diets C The lesser kestrel feeds sociably but the common kestrel does not D The common kestrel nests in trees; the lesser kestrel nests on the ground Question Which of the following is a disadvantage of communal roosts that is mentioned in the passage? A Diseases easily spread among the birds B Food supplies are quickly depleted C Some birds in the group will attack the others D Groups are more attractive to predators than individual birds are Question The word "they" in the third paragraph refers to A a few birds B mass roosts' C predators D trees EXERCISE 6: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to In the American colonies there was little money England did not supply the colonies with coins and it did not allow the colonies to make their own coins, except for the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which received permission for a short period in 1652 to make several kinds of silver coins England wanted to keep money out of America as a means of controlling trade: America was forced to trade only with England if it did not have the money to buy products from other countries The result during this pre-revolutionary period was that the colonists used various goods in place of money: beaver pelts, Indian wampum, and tobacco leaves were all commonly used substitutes for money The colonists also made use of any foreign coins they could obtain Dutch, Spanish, French, and English coins were all in use in the American colonies During the Revolutionary War, funds were needed to finance the world, so each of the individual states and the Continental Congress issued paper money So much of this paper money was printed that by the end of the war, almost no one would accept it As a result, trade in goods and the use of foreign coins still flourished during this period By the time the Revolutionary War had been won by the American colonists, the monetary system was in a state of total disarray To remedy this situation, the new Constitution of the United States, approved in 1789, allowed Congress to issue money The individual states could no longer have their own money supply A few years later, the Coinage Act of 1792 made the dollar the official currency of the United States and put the country on a bimetallic standard In this bimetallic system, both gold and silver were legal money, and the rate of exchange of silver to gold was fixed by the government at sixteen to one Question The passage mainly discusses A the effect of the Revolution on American money B American money from past to present C the American money system of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries D the English monetary policies in colonial America Question The passage indicates that during the colonial period, money was A used extensively for trade B scarce C supplied by England D coined by colonists Question The word "it" in paragraph refers to which of the following? A The Continental Congress B Trade in goods C The War D Paper money Question The word "remedy" in paragraph is closest in meaning to A resolve B medicate C renew D understand Question How was the monetary system arranged in the Constitution? A The US officially went on a bimetallic monetary system B The dollar was made official currency of the US C Only the US Congress could issue money D Various state governments, including Massachusetts, could issue money Question According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about the bimetallic monetary system? A Either gold or silver could be used as official money B It was established in 1792 C Gold could be exchanged for silver at the rate of sixteen to one D The monetary system was based on two matters Question The word "fixed" in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to _ A discovered B repaired C valued D Set EXERCISE 7: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to Television has changed the lifestyle of people in every industrialized country in the world In the United States, where sociologists have studied the effects, some interesting observations have been made TV, although not essential, has become a(n) (1) part of most people’s lives It has become a babysitter, an initiator of conversations, a major transmitter of culture, and a keeper of traditions Yet when what can be seen on TV in one day is critically analyzed, it becomes evident that TV is not a teacher but a sustainer The poor quality of programs does not elevate people into greater (2) , but rather maintains and encourages the status quo The (3) reason for the lack of quality in American TV is related to both the history of TV development and the economics of TV TV in American began with the radio Radio companies and their sponsors first experimented with TV Therefore, the close relationship, which the advertisers had with radio programs, but many actually produced the programs Thus, (4) from the capitalistic, profitoriented sector of American society, TV is primarily concerned with reflecting and attracting society (5) than innovating and experimenting with new ideas Advertisers want to attract the largest viewing audience possible; TV in America today remains, to a large extent, with the same organization and standards as it had thirty years ago The hope for some evolution and true achievement toward improving society will require a change in the entire system Question 1: A integral Question 2: A preconception B mixed C fractional D superior B knowledge C Understanding D feeling Question 3: A adequate B unknown C inexplicable D primary Question 4: A going B leaving C coming D getting Question 5: A more B rather C less D Better EXERCISE 8: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to In the very distant geological past, all animals were aquatic The very first vertebrates or animals with backbones, of which we have any fossil record, lived in water These vertebrates, the fish, were adapted to underwater living Their streamlined bodies were covered with scales to reduce surface friction: they had muscular tails so that they could swim swiftly in such a dense medium as water; and they were endowed with gills for breathing underwater Descendants of fish-type ancestors crossed the seashore barrier and accommodated themselves to life on land As amphibians, they possessed limbs instead of fins and lungs instead of gills But they never became completely free of the bonds that tied them to the water; even today many amphibians return to the water to lay their eggs Millions of years after the first clumsy amphibians crawled over the land, newer types of land dwellers appeared, these animals give rise to the present-day reptiles and mammals They were completely converted for land dwelling, with bodies and biological activities far different from those of fish With these special adaptations, mammals have been able to colonize the woods and meadows, the deserts and high mountains, often far removed from the sea Question 1: Of the animals with backbones, the first to appear were A fish B amphibians C birds D mammals Question 2: Fish are suited to underwater life because of their A Gills B All of the answers C Streamlines shapes D Scales Question 3: The passage suggests that the first amphibians used their limbs to A jump B run C swim D crawl Question 4: The word “descendants” is closest in meaning to A Grandchildren B Ancestors C Descenders D Off spring Question 5: An example of an amphibian’s incomplete adaptation to land life is A need to keep its skin wet B return to water to lay eggs C inability to breathe air D Scales-covered skin Question 6: Animals found desert living possible only A when they were fully adapted to land B after they could walk on two feet C when they became amphibious D if they migrated to sea periodically Firstly, it has a country park Four thousand years ago, this was an important fort There are no historic remains here now, but there are wonderful views over the countryside On sunny weekends you can often see kids out with their parents, kicking balls or flying kites There aren’t many job opportunities in Horton, and the roads to nearby cities aren’t really fast, but there are excellent rail links You can be in London in an hour and a half, and other cities are less than an hour away That means that parents can earn a good salary and still get home in time to spend the evenings with their families Houses in Horton aren’t pretty, but they are functional and cheap The streets are quiet and safe, and there are plenty of parks and playgrounds It has a library, three primary schools and a secondary school, St Mark’s It’s not as academically brilliant as other schools in the area, but it is friendly and offers a wide range of subjects and activities to children of all abilities and backgrounds The town also has a swimming and a sports centre, and the community halls hold regular clubs and events for people of all ages Question 1: What is the writer’s main purpose? A To explain what tourists can in Horton B To explain why Horton is a good place to live C To explain why Horton is not as pleasant as other towns D To describe the history of Horton Question 2: The word “neighbouring” in the passage can be best replaced by A crowded B hostile C nearby D unchanged Question 3: What part of Horton does the writer find disappointing? A the shops B the country park C transport links Question 4: What type of people is Horton most suitable for? A wealthy professionals C elderly people B low income families D sport and history students Question 5: What advantages does Horton bring to workers? A There are plenty of jobs available in the town B You can drive to nearby cities in a short time C You can get to several cities quickly by train D Working conditions are better here than in other towns D the schools Question 6: The word “they” in the passage refers to A families B Shops C cities D houses Question 7: Which of the following is the best description of Horton? A A quiet, country town which has a number of good leisure facilities B A friendly, historic town which is a great place to live, work and take a holiday C A busy, industrial town which has good links to neighbouring cities D A dirty, unpopular town which has little to offer visitors or residents EXERCISE 12: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to During the 19th century, it was common to hear people in Europe and America say that the resources of the sea were unlimited For example, a noted biologist writing in mid-19th century commented that none of the great sea fisheries is to be exhausted Today though, there is evident that the resources of the sea are as seriously endangered as those of the land and the air, and that the endangered species include Herring and Crap as well as the African Eagle Furthermore, the threats to fish are more alarming in some ways than the threats to animals and birds This is because fishes are a much needed food resources and people throughout the world depend on fish as an important part of their dish, and the decline in the fish supply could have extensive effects on hunger and population Fisher men in the North Atlantic alone annually harvest 20 billion pounds of fish to satisfy food demands, but it is important to recognize that these practices can not continue without depleting fish shortage within the next few years Sea resources are rapidly declining in many parts of the world, and the problem can not be ignored We can predict that food supplies in the sea can not last forever Question 1: According to the passage what did people in Europe and America in the 19th century think about the resources of sea? A They were declined B They were depleted C They were endangered D They were unlimited Question 2: What is the range of the decline in fish supply? A Europe and Asia B the whole world C Asia and America Question 3: What purpose does the author mention the endangered species for? A environment protection C the protection of Indian Tigers B the protection of African Elephant D None of the above Question 4: What does the author believe about sea resources? D America A Sea resources can last forever B None of the great sea fisheries is to be exhausted C Fish supply has no effects on people D Sea resources are important to people Question 5: The word “This” in the passage refers to A the threat to fish B the threat to animals and birds C the American Eagle D the Indian tiger Question 6: The word “depleting” in the passage can be replaced by A exhausting B refreshing C abusing D recycling Question 7: Why is fish thought to be in more danger than any other species? A Because fish is being limited B Because fish is likely to be most exploited for main source of food C Because fish is declined in great number D Because fish can not adapt to the new environment Question 8: Which of the following title best describes the purpose of the lecture? A Unlimited sea resources C Threat to animals and birds B Threat to wild Crap D Protection of fish EXERCISE 13: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to The Indonesian capital, with a population of over 10 million, has been named the most packed city on the planet Its greater metropolitan area, (1) _ as Jabodetabek, is the second largest in the world.From 21 to 25 November, the Guardian Cities team will be in Jakarta for a live week of (2) _ reporting and special events all about the issues shaping the city As a key part of this week, we’d love to hear from local residents about local life and how it’s changing – for better (3) _ worse – as well as aspirations for Jakarta’s future.From huge street protests earlier this month against Jakarta’s Christian governor Ahok’s alleged blasphemy in his comments about the Qur’an, to the president’s spokesperson saying there is “no room” for LGBT people in Indonesia and plans to ban gay networking apps like Grindr, have you witnessed social division in the city, or experienced discrimination yourself?Is the city’s rapid development – including the proliferation of shopping malls and a huge land reclamation project to help (4) _ a growing population – a positive or negative thing in your view?If you live or work in Jakarta, we’d love to hear from you From traffic and urban development to community and culture, what are the best and worst things about life in the city? What would make Jakarta better, and what changes are most (5) _ needed? Question 1: A admitted B known C revealed D published Question 2: A in-depth B deep C depth D in-deep B to C then D or Question 3: A and Question 4: A house B protect C store D contain Question 5: A urgent B urgency C urgently D in urgent EXERCISE 14: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to Certain birds are, more often than not, considered bad luck, or even a sign of impending death For example, all over the world, both crows and ravens have some connection to war, and death In early times, crows and ravens were thought to accompany the gods of war, or be signs of the gods’ approaching arrival This idea later changed Crows in particular were thought to be harbingers of ill fortune or, in some cases, guides to the afterlife Woe be it to the person who saw a single crow or raven flying overhead, for this was most certainly a portent of death in the near future Interestingly, though potentially bad luck for people individually, the raven is considered to be good luck for the crown of England So much so, in fact, that a “raven master” is, even today, an actual government position in London He takes care of the ravens there and also clips their wings, ensuring that these birds can never fly far from the seat of the British government This way, the kingdom will never fall to ill fortune Another bird that is thought to play a part in forecasting the fortunes of people is the swallow Depending on how and when it is seen, the swallow can be a harbinger of either good or ill fortune Perhaps inspired by the swallow’s red-brown breast, Christian people initially related the swallow to the death of Jesus Christ Thus, people who saw a swallow fly through their house considered it a portent of death Later, however, farmers began to consider swallows signs of good fortune Any barn that has swallows living in it is sure to be blessed in the following year Farmers also have to beware of killing a swallow; that would be certain to end any good luck they might have had Though many people think these superstitions are old wives’ tales, there is actually some evidence to support them For example, crows and ravens, being scavengers, appear at the aftermath of battles Thus, large numbers of crows and ravens could be good indications of war in an area As well, swallows feed on insects that can cause infections in cattle Thus, a farmer who has many swallows in his barn may actually have healthier animals on his farm Therefore, the next time you feel inclined to laugh at an old wives’ tale, maybe you had better find out if there is any truth to it first! Question 1: What is the main idea of this reading? A Birds bring bad luck B Don’t look a crow in the eye C There are many superstitions surrounding birds D Birds are important to English people Question 2: Which birds are considered harbingers of bad luck? A Crows B Swallows C Ravens D All of the above Question 3: The word "portent" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to _ A sign B coming C symbol D destruction Question 4: Which is NOT true, according to the reading? A Some superstitions are based on reality B Seeing a swallow is a sign of war and death in the future C Ravens bring good luck for the country of England D Crows eat dead animals Question 5: The word "old wives’ tales" in paragraph is closest in meaning to _ A stories told by housewives in the past B old beliefs which have been proved to be scientifically true C folk beliefs passed down from generation to generation without any reason of science D folk tales about wives that were passed on to people in a spoken form Question 6: How might a farmer attempt to prevent bad luck? A Catch a raven B Keep his windows open C Follow a crow D Avoid harming a swallow Question 7: Swallows help keep cattle in barns healthier by _ A eating infected skin B consuming insects C singing D making cows happier EXERCISE 15: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to A newborn baby can see, hear and feel By the age of five, a child can talk, ride a bike and invent imaginary friends How does this development happen? We don’t understand the way language, thinking and planning develop very well Now scientists are using new technology to ‘see’ into children’s brains And they are discovering new information about the way a baby’s brain develops A study in 2010 showed that the experiences a child has in their first few years affect the development of the brain It showed that children who received more attention often had higher IQs The brain of a newborn baby has nearly a hundred billion neurons This is the same number as an adult’s brain As they grow, a baby receives information through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch This information creates connections between different parts of the brain At the age of three, there are a hundred trillion connections One experiment looked at images of babies’ brains while they were listening to different sounds The sounds were in different sequences For example, one sequence was mu-ba-ba This is the pattern ‘A-BB’ Another sequence was mu-ba-ge This is the pattern ‘A-B-C’ The images showed that the part of the brain responsible for speech was more active during ‘A-B-B’ patterns This shows that babies can tell the difference between different patterns This experiment is interesting because sequences of words are important to grammar and meaning Compare two sentences with the same words in a different order: ‘John killed the bear’ is very different from ‘The bear killed John.’ So babies are starting to learn grammatical rules from the beginning of life Researchers also know that babies need to hear a lot of language in order to understand grammar rules But there is a big difference between listening to television, audio books or the internet, and interacting with people One study compared two groups of nine-month-old American babies One group watched videos of Mandarin Chinese sounds In the other group, people spoke the same sounds to the babies The test results showed that the second group could recognise different sounds, however the first group learned nothing.The scientist, Patricia Kuhl, said this result was very surprising It suggests that social experience is essential to successful brain development in babies Question 1: The purpose of the article is to A explain new studies into the development of babies’ brains B describe how a new-born baby’s brain works C compare the brains of adults and children D prove that nowadays babies are more intelligent than in the past Question 2: According to the first paragraph A most aspects of child development are understood quite well B some five-year-olds have imaginary friends C children use technology more these days D technology has been used in children’s brain surgery Question 3: Which statement is supported by the second paragraph? A Adult brains have more neurons than new-born babies’ brains B Babies and three-year-olds have the same number of neurons C Early experiences have an effect on brain development D The connections between parts of the brain stay the same as a child grows up Question 4: According to the second paragraph, which of the following can affect IQ? A being with adults a lot B connecting with other babies C paying attention to a baby D having access to information as early as possible Question 5: It can be inferred from the passage that A A pattern like ‘A-B-C’ is easier to understand B Babies’ brains cannot recognise different sound patterns C It’s not known which area of a baby’s brain processes speech D Children can actually learn grammatical rules in their very early age Question 6: According to the article, which statement is true? A Experiments focusing on language have given researchers new information B Children who hear different languages develop differently C The development of language is the easiest thing to study in babies D Babies are able to understand grammar rules of a language only in specific period Question 7: What did the study described in the last paragraph do? A compare the effects of different languages B divide babies into two groups with different treatment C investigate if babies can learn Chinese D teach babies foreign languages through listening to videos Question 8: What is the main conclusion from the study described in the last paragraph? A Babies can understand television at the age of nine months B Social interaction has a big influence on the brain C Watching videos is a good way to develop a child’s brain D Mandarin Chinese is not too hard to be learned for American babies EXERCISE 16: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to Many people today would like the traditional two-parent family back, that is to say, they want a man and a woman to (1) for life; they also think the man should support the family and the woman should stay home with the children However, few families now (2) into this category In fact, if more women decide to have children on their own, the single-parent household may become more typical than the traditional family in many countries Also, unmarried couples may decide to have more children – or they might take in foster children or (3) And because people are staying single and living longer (often as widows), there may be more oneperson households (4) the other hand, some people believe similar events happen again and again in history: if this is true, people may go back to the traditional (5) _ or nuclear family of the past Others think the only certainty in history is change: in other words, the structure of the future family could begin to change faster and faster and in more and more ways Question 1: A marry B wed C engage D gather Question 2: A belong B crowd C group D fall Question 3: A bring up B feel C adapt D adopt Question 4: A In B At C On D For Question 5: A extended B extensive C enlarged D big EXERCISE 17: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to The Nobel prizes, awarded annually for distinguished work in chemistry, physic, physiology or medicine, literature, and international peace, were made available by a fund bequeathed for that purpose by Swedish philanthropist, Alfred Bernard Nobel The prizes, awarded since 1901, are administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm In 1969, a prize for economics endowed by the Central Bank of Sweden was added Candidates for the prizes must be nominated in writing by a qualified authority in the field of competition Candidates are judged by Swedish and Norwegian academies and institutes on the basis of their contribution to mankind The awards are usually presented in Stockholm ion December 10, with the King of Sweden officiating, an appropriate tribute to Alfred Nobel on the anniversary of his death Each prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of about one million dollars Question 1.Why are the awards presented on December 10? A Because that date was established Nobel’s will B Because Alfred Nobel died on that day C Because it is a tribute to the King of Sweden D Because Central Bank of Sweden administers the trust Question 2.Why were the prizes named for Alfred Nobel? A He left money in his will to establish a fund for the prizes B He is now living in Sweden C He serves as chairman of committee to choose the recipients of the prizes D He won the first Nobel prize for his work in philanthropy Question 3.What does this passage mainly discussed? A Alfred Bernard Nobel B Great contributions to mankind C Swedish philanthropy D The Nobel prizes Question How often are the Nobel prizes awarded? A Once a year B Twice a year C Five times a year D Once every two year Question 5.A Nobel prize would NOT be given to _ A a doctor who discovered a vaccine C an author who wrote a novel B a composer who wrote a symphony D a diplomat who negotiated a peace settlement EXERCISE 18: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to 10 The goal of Internet-based encyclopedia Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is to give everyone on the planet access to information Like other encyclopedias, Wikipedia contains lots of information: more than 2.5 million articles in 200 different languages covering just about every subject Unlike other encyclopedias, however, Wikepedia is not written by experts, but by ordinary people These writers are not paid and their names are not published They contribute to Wikipedia simply because they want to share their knowledge Encyclopedias began in ancient times as collections of writings about all aspects of human knowledge The word itself comes from ancient Greek, and means “a complete general education” Real popularity for encyclopedias came in the nineteenth century in Europe and the United States, with the publication of encyclopedias written for ordinary readers With the invention of the CDROM, the same amount of information could be put on a few computer discs Then with the Internet, it became possible to create an online encyclopedia that could be constantly updated, like Microsoft’s Encarta However, even Internet-based encyclopedias like Encarta were written by paid experts At first, Wikipedia, the brainchild of Jimmy Wales, a businessman in Chicago, was not so different from these In 2001, he had the idea for an Internet-based encyclopedia that would provide information quickly and easily to everyone Furthermore, that information would be available free, unlike other Internet encyclopedias at that time But Wales, like everyone else, believed that people with special knowledge were needed to write the articles, and so he began by hiring experts He soon changed his approach, however, as it took them a long time to finish their work He decided to open up the encyclopedia in a radical new way, so that everyone would have access not only to the information, but also to the process of putting this information online To this, he used what is known as “Wiki” software (from the Hawaiian word for “fast”), which allows users to create or alter content on web page The system is very simple: When you open the web site, you can simply search for information or you can log on to become a writer or editor of articles If you find an article that interests you – about your hometown, for example – you can correct it or expand it This process goes on until no one is interested in making any more changes Question 1: Wikipedia is written by _ A paid written B Millionaires C normal people D world experts Question 2: The phrase “these writers” in the first paragraph refers to A ordinary readers B ordinary people C encyclopedia experts D every subject Question 3: The phrase “the word” in the second paragraph refers to _ A knowledge B encyclopedia C writing D collection Question 4: Microsoft’s Encarta is cited in the passage as an example of _ A CD-ROM dictionary C online encyclopedia B printed encyclopedia D updateable online encyclopedia Question 5: The word “brainchild” in the second paragraph of the passage can be best replaced by A born B child C product D father Question 6: The word “approach” in the third paragraph of the passage means _ A idea B time C method D writing Question 7: The user of Wikipedia can all of the following EXCEPT _ A have access to information B determinate the website C modify information D edit information Question 8: We can say that Jimmy Wales _ A became very famous after the formation of Wikipedia B is the father of Wikipedia C made a great profit from Wikipedia D decides who can use Wikipedia Question 9: Wiki software enables _ A exchanging articles B a purchase of information C limited access D editing Question 10: Wikipedia is a(n) _ A book B journal C article D Dictionary EXERCISE 19: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from to Tim Samaras is a storm chaser His job is to find tornadoes and follow them When he gets close to a tornado, he puts a special tool (1) a turtle probe on the ground This tool measures things like a twister’s temperature Humidity, and wind speed With this information, Samaras can learn what causes tornadoes to develop If meteorilogists understand this, they can warn people (2) _ twisters sooner and save lives How does Samaras hunt tornadoes? It’s not easy First, he has to find one Tornadoes are too small to see using weather satellites So Samaras can’t rely on these tools to find a twister (3) , he waits for tornadoes to develop Once Samaras sees a tornado, the chase begins But a tornado is hard to follow Some tornadoes change (4) _ several times – for example, moving east and then west and then east again When Samaras finally gets near a tornado, he puts the turtle probe on the ground Being this close to a twister is (5) He must get away quickly (Source: Reading Explorer) Question A called B known C made D meant Question A with B about C at D for Question A Rather B Still C Instead D Yet Question A progression B movement C dimension D direction Question A terrify B terrifying C terrified D terrifies EXERCISE 20: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to Animals have an intuitive awareness of quantities They know without analysis the difference between a number of objects and a smaller number In his book “The natural History of Selboure” (1786 ), the naturalist Gilbert White tells how he surreptitiously removed one egg a day from a plover’s nest, and how the mother laid another egg each day to make up for the missing one He noted that other species of birds ignore the absence of a single egg but abandon their nests if more than one egg has been removed It has also been noted by naturalists that a certain type of wasp always provides five – never four, never six - caterpillars for each of their eggs so that their young have something to eat when the eggs hatch Research has also shown that both mice and pigeons can be taught to distinguish between odd and even numbers of food pieces These and similar accounts have led some people to infer that creatures other than humans can actually count They also point to dogs that have been taught to respond to numerical questions with the correct number of barks, or to horses that seem to solve arithmetic problems by stomping their hooves the proper number of times Animals respond to quantities only when they are connected to survival as a species – as in the case of the eggs – or survival as individuals - as in the case of food There is no transfer to other situations or from concrete reality to the abstract notion of numbers Animals can “count” only when the objects are present and only when the numbers involved are small – not more than seven or eight In lab experiments, animals trained to “count” one kind of object were unable to count any other type The objects, not the numbers, are what interest them Animals admittedly remarkable achievements simply not amount to evidence of counting, nor they reveal more than innate instincts, refined by the genes of successive generations, or the results of clever, careful conditioning by trainers Question What is the main idea of this passage? A Although animals may be aware of quantities, they cannot actually count B Of all animals, dogs and horses can count best C Careful training is required to teach animals to perform tricks involving numbers D Animals cannot “count” more than one kind of object Question Why does the author refer to Gilbert White’s book in line 2? A To indicate that more research is needed in this field B To show how attitudes have changed since1786 C To provide evidence that some birds are aware of quantities D To contradict the idea that animals can count Question The word “surreptitiously” is closest in meaning to A quickly B occasionally C stubbornly D secretly Question The word “odd” refers to which of the following? A numbers such as 1, 3, and so on B lucky numbers C numbers such as 2, 4, and so on D unusual numbers Question The author mentions that all of the following are aware of quantities in some ways EXCEPT A wasps B Plovers C caterpillars D mice Question The word “accounts” is closest in meaning to A reasons B reports C deceptions D invoices Question How would the author probably characterize the people who are mentioned in the first line of the second paragraph? A As foolish B As demanding C As clever D As mistaken EXERCISE 21: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from to Clara Barton became known as “The Angel of the Battlefield” during the American Civial War Born in Oxford, Massachusetts in 1821, Clara Barton’s interest in helping soldiers on the battlefield began when she was told army stories from her father Another event that influenced her decision to help soldiers was an accident her brother had His injuries were cared for by Barton for years At the time, she was only 11 years old Barton began teaching school at the age of 15 She taught for 18 years before she moved to Washington, D.C in 1854 The civil war broke out years later Immediately, Barton started was service by helping the soldiers with their needs At the battle of Bull Run, Clara Barton received permission from the government to take care of the sick and hurt Barton did this with great empathy and kindness She acknowledged each soldier as a person Her endurance and courage on the battlefield were admired by many When the war ended in 1865, she used years of her life to assist the government in searching for soldiers who were missing during the war The search for missing soldiers and years of hard work made her feeble physically In 1869, her doctors recommended a trip to Europe for a rest While she was on vacation, she became involved with the International Red Cross, an organization set up by the Geneva Convention in 1864 Clara Barton realized that the red Cross would be a big help to the United States After she returned to the United States, she worked very hard to create an American Red Cross She talked to government leaders and let American people know about the Red Cross In 1881, the National Society of the Red Cross was finally established with its headquarters in Washington, D.C Clara Barton managed its activities for 23 years Barton never let her age stop her from helping people At the age of 79, she helped flood victims in Galveston, Texas Barton finally resigned from the Red Cross in 1904 She was 92 years old and had truly earned her titled “The Angel of the Battlefield” Question According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true of the young Clara Barton? A She helped her father when he was a soldier B She suffered from an accident when she was 11 C She helped her brother who hurt in an accident D She made a decision to live with her brother for years Question The phrase broke out in paragraph is closest in meaning to A extended B broke down C closed D began Question The word “this” in paragraph refers to A recognized each soldier as a person B cooked for soldiers C took care of the sick and hurt D received permission Question The word “acknowledged” in paragraph could best be replaced by A nursed B recognized C pleaded Question What can be inferred about the government? D believed A It did not always agree with Clara Barton B It did not have the money to help Clara Barton C It showed Clara Barton great empathy and kindness D It had respect for Clara Barton Question What does the author mention about the American Red Cross? A It was disapproved again and again by the Geneva Convention B Barton tried to have it set up in America C The American people were not interested in the Red Cross D It was first established in the United States Question What is the main idea of the passage? A Clara Barton helped wounded soldiers and she was the founder of the Red Cross B Clara Barton was a kind and strong woman who helped people in need C Clara Barton became a nurse during the American Civil War D Clara Barton worked for disaster victims until she was old Question What can be the best title of the reading passage? A The angel of the Battlefield B The American Red Cross C The American Civil War D The International Red Cross ... shopping centre The market has been an (1) part of Aylesbury life since they early 13 th century Nowadays, regular markets are held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays The town has a (2) and varied... for years At the time, she was only 11 years old Barton began teaching school at the age of 15 She taught for 18 years before she moved to Washington, D.C in 18 54 The civil war broke out years... population of over 10 million, has been named the most packed city on the planet Its greater metropolitan area, (1) _ as Jabodetabek, is the second largest in the world.From 21 to 25 November,