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

You wouldn’t believe what happened yesterday. As I look out my hotel window this morning, I’m not sure I believe it myself.

First, I went to see the parade of the Krewe of Zulu. It was great! The people in the parade were in African clothes. They threw beads to the crowd and handed out painted coconuts. I almost got a coconut, but a woman pushed me aside and grabbed it. I did get some beads though!

To get away from the crowds, I ducked into Pat O’Brien’s, a bar next to Preservation hall where I heard some great jazz a few nights ago. Guess what? Everybody was in Pat O’Brien’s, too! I had a hurricane, a drink the bar is famous for. It’s a combination of rum and passion fruit juice. I soon found out that although it tastes like juice, it works like rum!

To clear my head, I went to the Café du Monde and had café au lait and some warm beignets. The café overlooks the Mississippi River, and its beignets are delicious!

Then, as in Cinderella, at midnight it was all over and the crowds went home. Today it seems like Mardi Gras was just a strange but beautiful dream.

- Mardi Gras: Một lễ hội được tổ chức hàng năm ở một số thành phố

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

      a. The Day After Mardi Gras                                b. A Strange but Beautiful Dream

      c. The Parade of the Krewe of Zulu                     d. New Orleans During Mardi Gras

27. The word ‘its’ in line 11 refers to _____.

      a. the Café du Monde                                           b. café au lait

      c. the Mississippi River                                        d. my head

28. In the context of the passage, what does the word “works” mean?

      a. to make somebody work                                   b. to operate

      c. to succeed                                                         d. to have a particular effect

29. From reading the passage, it seems that the writer is _____.

      a. a native of New Orleans                                    b. a tourist

      c. a hotelier                                                            d. a musician

30. Which of the following is true?

      a. The writer did get a painted coconut.

      b. Everybody didn’t like Mardi Gras so they ducked into Pat O’Brien’s.

      c. There was a hurricane in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

      d. The drink that Pat O’Brien’s is famous for is a combination of rum and passion fruit juice.

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

 A hobby can be almost what a person likes to do in his/ her spare time. Hobbyists raise pets, watch birds, or hunt animals. They also climb the mountains, fish, ski, skate, and swim. They also paint pictures, attend concerts and play musical instruments. They collect everything from books to butterflies and from shells to stamps.

People have hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendship, knowledge, and relaxation. Sometimes they can bring financial profit. Hobbies also bring interesting activities for people who have retired. People, rich or poor, old or young, sick or well, can follow a satisfying hobby, regardless of their age, position, or income.

Hobbies can help a person’s mental and physical health. Doctors have found that hobbies are available in helping patients suffering from physical or mental illness. Hobbies give these patients activities to do, and provide interests that prevent them from thinking about themselves.

1. According to the passage, a hobby is what a person likes to do when…………………

2. The underlined word they in the passage refers to……………………

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an advantage of having hobbies?

4. The word “income” is closest in meaning to………………………..

5. According to doctors, hobbies are helpful to……………………….

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

Since 1877, the Fresh Air Fund has helped poor children from New York City spend summers in the country. Each year, over ten thousand children, ages 6 to 18, participate in the program. Some stay at a camp; others live with a host family. The fund pays for all expenses.

The camps are for 8-to 15-year-olds. At camp, children can learn about the stars, see deer and cows and other animals, and go hiking, fishing, and of course, swimming. The children learn responsibility by helping out with chores like making beds and waiting on tables.

host (n) : chủ                     expense (n) : chi phí

responsibility (n): trách nhiệm

1. The aim of the Fresh Air Fund is to help_____ .

a. poor children b. children from New York City

c. all children   d. poor children from New York City

2 How many children take part in the program every year?

a. all children ages 6 to 18   b. ten thousand

c. over ten thousand d. no information

3. What does the word ‘others’ in line 4 refer to?

a. summer b. camps   c. programs d. children

4. What do the children do at the camp?

a. Learn about the stars. b. See deer, cows, and other animals.

c. Go hiking, fishing and swimming. d. all are correct

5. Which of the following could replace the word ‘chores’ in line 8?

a. homework b. hard work c. housework   d. all are correct

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 item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

  My husband and I had a problem about our holiday last year. I wanted to have a lazy seaside holiday because I was tired and needed to relax. I loved lying in the sun, drinking iced beer and reading a good book. But Robert liked  busy cultural holidays. He liked visiting art galleries. He hated sunbathing because he always went red, not brown. The travel agent tried to help us and suggested Greece. I said I love to sail to a quiet island, but of course Robert said he’d like to stay in Athens. It was easy to decide what to do,  we flew to Athens together, Robert stayed there and I traveled to the island of Kos!

27. Why did the author want to have a lazy seaside holiday?

A. She liked a busy holiday        

B. She was tired and needed to relax          

C. She always went red, not brown                               

28. The author liked  _____ .                                           

A.  sunbathing                             B. visiting museum’s                                  C. art galleries

29. What does the word ‘island’ in line 5 mean?

A. a piece of land with water all around it          

B. a high piece of land that is not as high as a mountain                  

C. a big area of salty water

30. Which of the following is not true?

A. Robert liked lazy seaside holidays

B. Robert wanted to stay in Athens    

C. Robert’s wife loved to sail to a quiet island             

31. Kos is _____ .

A. a city in Greece                      B. an island                        C. a place which has many island

32. What is the passage written about?

A. a problem about the holiday  B. a trip to Greece              C. a busy cultural holiday 

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

  My husband and I had a problem about our holiday last year. I wanted to have a lazy seaside holiday because I was tired and needed to relax. I loved lying in the sun, drinking iced beer and reading a good book. But Robert liked  busy cultural holidays. He liked visiting art galleries. He hated sunbathing because he always went red, not brown. The travel agent tried to help us and suggested Greece. I said I love to sail to a quiet island, but of course Robert said he’d like to stay in Athens. It was easy to decide what to do,  we flew to Athens together, Robert stayed there and I traveled to the island of Kos!

27. Why did the author want to have a lazy seaside holiday?

A. She liked a busy holiday        

B. She was tired and needed to relax          

C. She always went red, not brown                               

28. The author liked  _____ .                                           

A.  sunbathing                             B. visiting museum’s                                  C. art galleries

29. What does the word ‘island’ in line 5 mean?

A. a piece of land with water all around it          

B. a high piece of land that is not as high as a mountain                  

C. a big area of salty water

30. Which of the following is not true?

A. Robert liked lazy seaside holidays

B. Robert wanted to stay in Athens    

C. Robert’s wife loved to sail to a quiet island             

31. Kos is _____ .

A. a city in Greece                      B. an island                        C. a place which has many island

32. What is the passage written about?

A. a problem about the holiday  B. a trip to Greece              C. a busy cultural holiday 

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

My neighborhood is very convenient - it‟s near the shopping center and the bus station. It is also safe. But those are the only good things about living downtown. It is very noisy - the streets are always full of people! The traffic is terrible, and parking is a big problem! I can never park on my own street. I‟d like to live in the suburbs.

1.   What does the word „convenient‟ in line 1 mean?

A.   close to something                                     B. beautiful

C. far from other places                                  D. noisy

2.   What does the word „it‟ in line 2 refer to?

A.   the author‟s neighborhood                         B. shopping center

C. bus station                                                  D. downtown

3.   It‟s easy to             .

A.   find a place to park      B. live in the suburbs

C. move to another place D. go to the bus station

4.   The author             .

A.   likes to live in the suburbs

B.   thinks that his/ her neighborhood is too quiet

C.   thinks that living in the suburbs is very convenient

D.   feels that his/her neighborhood is not safe

5.   Which of the following is true?

A.   The author‟s neighborhood is inconvenient.

B.   The author doesn‟t want to move to anywhere.

C.   It‟s too difficult for the author to find a place to park his/her car.

D.   Living downtown is better than living in the suburbs.

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.

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.