I.         Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

According to the census of 1800, the United States of America contained 5,308,483 persons. In the same year the British Islands contained upwards of fifteen million; the French Republic, more than twenty-seven million. Nearly one-fifth of American people were black slaves; the true political population consisted of four and a half million free whites, or less than one million able-bodied males, on whose shoulders fell the burden of a continent. Even after two centuries of struggle the land still untamed; forests covered every portion, except here and there a strip of cultivated soil; the minerals lay undisturbed in their rocky beds, and more than two-thirds of the people clung to the seaboard within fifty miles of tidewater, where alone the wants of civilized life could be supplied.

26. In the United States of America in 1800 _____.

      a. one out of every twenty-five Americans was a black slave

      b. one out of every four Americans was a black slave

      c. two out of every three Americans were black slaves

      d. one out of every five Americans was a black slave

27. What is the true political population in America in 1800?

      a. About four-fifths of the population.                  b. About one-fifth of the population.

      c. 5,308,483.                                                         d. Less than one million

28. Which of the following is not true?

      a. About one-fifth of American people were black slaves in 1800.

      b. Two-thirds of the American people live on the seaboard.

      c. In 1800, the land was still untamed.

      d. In 1800, strips of cultivated land were everywhere.

29. In the context of the paragraph, the word “untamed” means _____.

      a. calm                          b. dangerous                    c. uncultivable                 d. bad

30. How long had the struggle to tame the American continent been going on in 1800?

      a. About two hundred years.                                 b. A little more than a century.

      c. About fifty years.                                              d. Since 1750.

Exercise 7: Read the following passage and choose the item (A, B, C, or D) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Lunar New Year, or Tet, is the biggest and most important festival in Vietnam. Tet often falls between late January and early February.

A great deal of excitement still builds up well before Tet. Streets are decorated with coloured lights and red banners. Shops are full of goods. People are busy buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses and cooking traditional foods.

Homes are often decorated with plants and flowers at this time. Peach blossom is traditional at Tet in the North while apricot blossom is traditional in the South. One of Tet’s most special foods is banh chung, which is made of sticky rice, green beans and fatty pork.

On the days of Tet, people visit other family members or friends and they exchange New Year’s wishes. Children receive their “lucky money” inside red envelopes. Many people go to pagodas to pray for a happy new year for themselves and their families. Both children and adults take part in games and various forms of entertainment. Tet is really a time of fun and festivals throughout the country.

79.When does Tet occur?

A. early January and late February     B. early January and early February

C. late January and early February     D. late January and late February

80.What do people NOT do to prepare for Tet?

A. buying gifts                  B. cooking traditional food

C. decorating their houses     D. visiting other families.

81.Where is apricot blossom the symbol of Tet?

A. in the North of Viet Nam.      B. in the Central of Viet Nam.

C. in the South of Viet Nam.           D. in all over Viet Nam.

82.What is made of sticky rice, green beans and fatty pork?

A. Banh Chung            B. red banner

C. peach blossom          D. lucky money

83.What do children receive during Tet?

A. wishes               B. lucky money

C. flowers                     D. games

84.On the days of Tet, what do Vietnamese people go to pagodas for?

A. to pray for a happy new year               B. to exchange New Year’s wishes

C. to take part in forms of entertainment      D. to give their children lucky money

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Maine’s woods are perfect for a hiking and camping vacation. You might try Baxter State Park in the north. This 200,000-acre park is named after Percival Baxter, a governor of Maine who bought the land little by little and then gave it to the state. The park has many trails and campsites; some you can reach only by boat. (By the way, if you need any supplies, you can find them in Freeport, Maine at L.L. Bean, the outdoor clothing and equipment store. L.L. Bean is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year!)

Maine has hundreds of lakes and rivers for boating. Maine is also popular among hunters, because of its many deer, bears, squirrels, and rabbits.

In September, people drive through Maine to see the leaves turn all shades of red, yellow, and orange.

When the snows arrive - and they usually arrive early - skiers rush off to Maine’s many mountains.

Depending on the kind of vacation you want, you can visit Maine at just about any time of year. The one time not to visit is May, when the fierce black flies make their yearly visit!

26. Which of the following Maine vacations can you take in Maine?

      a. a seaside vacation                                             b. a camping and hiking vacation

      c. a skiing vacation                                               d. any kind of vacation you want

27. In the context of the first paragraph, the word ‘try’ means _____.

      a. to attempt to do something

      b. use or do something to find out if you like it

      c. to go to a particular place hoping to find someone or something

      d. to judge a case in a court of law

28. From reading the passage, it seems that _____.

      a. the fierce black flies appear in Maine every day of the year

      b. people drive to Maine just to see the autumn leaves

      c. some people come to Maine to hunt

      d. you can reach Baxter State Park only by boat

29. According to the passage, when can we visit Maine?

      a. We can visit Maine every day of the year.

      b. We can visit Maine in the fall.

      c. We can visit Maine in the winter - when the snows arrive.

      d. We can visit Maine whenever we like except in May.

30. Which of the following statements is false?

      a. Maine has many lakes and rivers.

      b. Baxter is the name of a governor of Maine.

      c. Maine has a lot of mountains.

      d. You can get free supplies in Freeport, Maine at L.L. Bean.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

The business of tennis clothes has grown astoundingly in the past few years. Over $250 million is spent annually on the trappings of tennis. Apparently everyone wants to look like a pro, even though 20% of the clientele has never even played the game.

Manufacturers pay the stars lucrative fees for wearing their brands of clothes and wielding their racquets on center court. Chris Evert-Lloyd, for example, is rumored to have signed a five-year contract for $5 million with Ellesse, a producer of fancy, expensive tennis wear. John McEnroe gets a reported $600,000 for playing with a Dunlop racquet, $330,000 for sporting Tacchini clothes, and $100,000 for tying his Nike tennis shoes. Obviously, in a bad year, these stars make more as fashion models than as athletes.

Not only tennis players get free clothing, but also all the people involved in the game - the referees, linespeople, ball boys and girls - are living advertisements for tennis wear producers. Where, traditionally, conservative white clothing was required for the entire tennis coterie, changing times have seen a new vogue in tennis outfits. Flamboyant colors, designers’ nameplates, geometric figures, and bold lines distinguish the new tennis togs from their predecessors.

- clientele (n): khách hàng                                           - lucrative (adj): (tiền thù lao,...) hậu hĩnh

26. What can be understood from this reading?

      a. Tennis clothing appeals to everyone.

b. Tennis stars can get huge sums for wearing a manufacturer’s brands of clothes and wielding his or her racquets.

c. The price of tennis racquets has remained stable.

d. Bright colors tempt people to buy tennis wear.

27. What is the writer trying to do?

      a. Explain why the cost of tennis clothes has risen.

      b. Defend tennis wear manufacturers from complaints about their high prices.

      c. Describe the means of advertising expensive tennis clothes.

      d. Describe the new tennis clothing.

28. What is the best title for the passage?

      a. The Tennis Stars                                                 b. Big Business in Tennis Wear

      c. The High Cost of Playing Tennis                       d. Tennis Stars’ Flamboyant Clothes

29. It is stated that John McEnroe _____.

      a. wears flamboyant clothing on the court

      b. may be earning over $1 million for using tennis products

      c. make more as fashion models than as athletes

      d. has had a bad year in tennis competitions

30. Which of the following is true?

      a. Tennis clothing is only bought by the well-to-do.

      b. Those who wear expensive tennis clothes play tennis.

      c. Tennis clothing appeals to fashion models.

      d. The coloration of tennis wear has changed.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Levi Strauss, a young immigrant from Germany, arrived in San Francisco in 1850. California was in the middle of the Gold Rush. Thousands of men were coming to California to dig for gold. And Strauss came to sell canvas to these gold miners. Canvas is a heavy fabric. So Strauss thought the miners could use the canvas for tents.

One day Strauss heard a miner complain that he couldn't find clothes strong enough for the work he was doing. Strauss got an idea. He quickly took some of his canvas and made it into pants. These pants were what the miners needed. In one day Strauss sold all the pants he had made.

Strauss wanted to improve his pants. He wanted to make them even better. He bought a fabric that was softer than canvas but just as strong. This fabric came from Nimes, a city in France, and was called serge de Nimes. The miners liked this fabric. They called it "denim" (from de Nimes) and bought even more pants from Strauss.

However, denim had no color. Because of this the denim pants did not look very interesting, and they got dirty easily. To solve these problems, Strauss dyed the denim blue.

Strauss continued to improve his jeans. Today, the company he started is known around the world. And jeans are considered not just practical but very fashionable as well.

26. What could be the best title of the passage?  

      a. A Young Immigrant From Germany                  b. The History of Blue Jeans

      c. Serge de Nimes                                                   d. The Gold Rush

27. According to the writer, why did Levi Strauss come to California?

      a. He came to California to dig for gold.               b. He came to California to sell pants.

      c. He came to California to buy denim.                 d. He came to California to sell canvas.

28. Blue jeans _____.

      a. did not look very interesting                               b. are considered not practical

      c. got dirty easily                                                    d. are considered good for many uses

29. What is the meaning of the word “immigrant” in the first paragraph?

      a. person who is good in business                          b. person who buys and sells things

      c. person who moves to another country               d. person who works in a mine

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Levi Strauss was the first person to make blue jeans.

      b. Strauss made his first jeans from a fabric called serge de Nimes.

      c. The first jeans were very strong.

      d. Nimes is a city in France.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

After the Revolutionary War people in America were able to get news of European fashions. Fashion plates (= pictures) and dolls showing the latest fashions were sent to the US, and American women began wearing large hoop skirts. Some people thought that heavy hoops and corsets were bad for the health, and encouraged women to wear looser clothes. Amelia Bloomer designed light frilled trousers, called bloomers, but many people laughed at them. Though bloomers were not popular, there was a fashion for smaller, lighter skirts. American men also followed fashion and began wearing long trousers (or pants) instead of breeches.

26. When did American women begin to wear large hoop skirts?

      a. After the Revolutionary War

      b. After fashions plates and dolls showing the latest fashion

      c. After buying fashion plates and dolls

      d. After some people encouraged women to wear looser clothes

27. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. The American Clothing After Revolution War

      b. The American Cloths After Revolution War

      c. The Influence of the European Fashions

      d. The History of Bloomers

28. In the context of the passage, the word “encouraged” means _____.

      a. suggested that someone did something

      b. helped someone do something

      c. gave someone hope

      d. helped so that someone continue doing something

29. The word “them” in sentence 5 refers to _____.

      a. hoops and corsets                                                b. bloomers                       

      c. some American people                                       d. American women

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Some people persuaded women not to wear heavy hoops and corsets.

      b. Amelia Bloomer was the one who designed frilled trousers.

      c. Americans liked wearing large hoop skirts.

      d. American men used to wear breeches.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

After the Revolutionary War people in America were able to get news of European fashions. Fashion plates (= pictures) and dolls showing the latest fashions were sent to the US, and American women began wearing large hoop skirts. Some people thought that heavy hoops and corsets were bad for the health, and encouraged women to wear looser clothes. Amelia Bloomer designed light frilled trousers, called bloomers, but many people laughed at them. Though bloomers were not popular, there was a fashion for smaller, lighter skirts. American men also followed fashion and began wearing long trousers (or pants) instead of breeches.

26. When did American women begin to wear large hoop skirts?

      a. After the Revolutionary War

      b. After fashions plates and dolls showing the latest fashion

      c. After buying fashion plates and dolls

      d. After some people encouraged women to wear looser clothes

27. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. The American Clothing After Revolution War

      b. The American Cloths After Revolution War

      c. The Influence of the European Fashions

      d. The History of Bloomers

28. In the context of the passage, the word “encouraged” means _____.

      a. suggested that someone did something

      b. helped someone do something

      c. gave someone hope

      d. helped so that someone continue doing something

29. The word “them” in sentence 5 refers to _____.

      a. hoops and corsets                                                b. bloomers                       

      c. some American people                                       d. American women

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Some people persuaded women not to wear heavy hoops and corsets.

      b. Amelia Bloomer was the one who designed frilled trousers.

      c. Americans liked wearing large hoop skirts.

      d. American men used to wear breeches.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries. Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up.

It has been the law for about 300 years that all theaters are closed on Sundays. No letters are delivered; only a few Sunday papers are published.

To this day an English family prefers a house with a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. English people like gardens. Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted green in imitation of grass and a box of flowers.

Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday, and in Scotland it is not kept, except by clerks in banks, all shops and factories are working.

26. What is the best title for the passage?

      a. Traditions and Customs in Great Britain          b. The Importance of Traditions and Customs

      c. Traditional Life vs. Modern Life                      d. Englishmen’s Hobbies

27. How important are traditions in Britain?

      a. It is slightly important.                                      b. It is more important than in other countries.

      c. It is rather important.                                        d. It is somewhat important.

28. In Great Britain, _____.

a.    only a few papers are published                      

b.   a garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted garden in imitation of grass and a box of flowers

c.    all shops and factories are working at Christmas

d.   traditions are preserved

29. The word it in the last paragraph refers to _____.

      a. Christmas                  b. a national holiday        c. old traditions               d. England

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. In Great Britain all theatres are closed on Sundays.

      b. In Great Britain a postman doesn’t work on Sundays.

      c. English families like a house with garden better than a modern flat.

      d. In Scotland Christmas is a great national holiday.

Read the following passage and choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best answers each of the questions below.

At the top of the list of the costliest natural disasters in the history of the United States is Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was the third strongest hurricane ever to hit the U. S. It affected 90,000 square miles in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.

The hurricane formed over the Bahamas and turned into a Category 1 hurricane by the time it hit the southeastern tip of Florida. It got stronger as it traveled across the Gulf of Mexico. It made its second landfall off the coast of southeast Louisiana on Monday, August 29, 2005. It had become a category 4 hurricane by then. The storm surge that followed caused destruction from central Florida to Texas. New Orleans, Louisiana, experienced even more damage because its levees were breeched, letting water flood a large portion of the city.

The National Weather Service warned people of the tropical monster that was heading towards the southern coast. Residents were told to expect power outages. They were told they might lose their rooftops and to expect water shortages. The National Hurricane Director was very concerned. He personally called the governors of Louisiana and Mississippi. He even called President Bush at his ranch in Texas. He spoke directly with New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. Nagin issued an evacuation order for his city. Most people left. About eighty percent of the population evacuated. The estimate was that around 100,000 people remained in

the metro area. Some were stranded tourists; others did not own a car and had no way out. Those who were not able to leave were instructed to go to the New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome.

41.     What is the passage mainly about?

A. The history of the United States hurricanes.

B. A hurricane in the history of the United States.

C. Hurricanes in the world, especially in the United States.

D. What the United States does to prevent hurricanes.

42.     According to the passage, what is NOT true about Hurricane Katrina?

A. It is the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.

B. It is the third strongest hurricane ever to hit the US.

C. It affected 90,000 square miles in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.

D. It formed over the Bahamas.

43. What can be true from the passage about Hurricane Katrina when it hit the southeastern tip of Florida?

A. It was very weak.                                            B. It was very strong.

C. It was not as weak as it started.                      D. It was not as strong as it started.

44.What is NOT true about the National Hurricane Director?

A. He called the governors of Mississippi.

B. He called President Bush at his ranch in Texas.

C. He spoke directly with the New Orleans mayor.

D. He was very unconcerned.

45. According to the passage, how many people were evacuated?

A. About 80,000 people.                                     B. About 80% of the population.

C. Around 100,000 people.                                 D. Around 20% of the population.