PART C: READING COMPREHENSION (30 pts)

Question I: Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word or phrase for each space. (10 pts)

The money that some professional sportsmen earn shouldn’t impress anyone when you take into (51)__ __the fact that only a few of them manage to attain immortality and everlasting fame. And once they reach their (52) __and display their talent at their best, they are fully conscious that their brilliant careers won’t last forever. They live under a constant pressure of being (53) and subsequently replaced by someone who is younger, faster and more accomplished. For that reason, objectives like retirement benefits and pensions are (54)_______great concern to all professional athletes.

Some of the retired competitors go as far as to organize strikes and rallies to voice their protest against any policy unresponsive to their demand (55)_____the younger professionals seek more upgrading solutions to the problem as more and more of them attach a proper significance to (56)___a solid education, even at university level. Such an approach should help them find interesting and well-paid jobs (57)____their sports career is over.

A completely new strategy has been devised by the schools priding themselves (58)_____supporting their own teams. Their authorities insist that the sports clubs members achieve high academic standards or else they are debarred from partaking in certain sports events, which may lead to further disruption in their professional careers.

By these practical and most effective (59)___, combining education with sports activity, the (60)___of the professional athlete as being brainless and unintelligent may eventually be changing to the sportsmen’s benefit.

51. A. reflection B. attention C. examination D. consideration

52. A. prime B. shape C. best D. capacity

53. A. outcast B. outshone C. outstayed D. outgrown

54. A. with B. in C. at D. of

55. A. whereby B. whereas C. whereupon D. wherein

56. A. mastering B. learning C. receiving D. attending

57. A. right away B. promptly C. barely D. once

58. A. with B. on C. for D. in

59. A. grounds B. results C. factors D. means

60. A. vision B. outlook C. image D. judgment

Question II: Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word or phrase for each space. (10 pts)

Huong lives in a house near the sea. It is ...(36)…... old house, about 100 years old and...(37).... very small. There are two bedrooms upstairs ….(38)……. no bathroom. The bathroom is downstairs ... .(39)... the kitchen and there is a living room where there is a lovely old fire place. There is a garden….(40)... the house. The garden….(41).... down to the beach and in spring and summer ....(42)… flowers everywhere. She likes  alone…..(43)… her dog, Rack, but they have a lot of visitors. Her city friends often stay with….(44)… She loves her house for....... (45)…… reasons: the garden, the flowers in summer, the fire in winter, but the best thing is the view from her  bedroom window.

Question II: Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word or phrase for each space. (10 pts)

Huong lives in a house near the sea. It is ...(36)…... old house, about 100 years old and...(37).... very small. There are two bedrooms upstairs ….(38)……. no bathroom. The bathroom is downstairs ... .(39)... the kitchen and there is a living room where there is a lovely old fire place. There is a garden….(40)... the house. The garden….(41).... down to the beach and in spring and summer ....(42)… flowers everywhere. She likes  alone…..(43)… her dog, Rack, but they have a lot of visitors. Her city friends often stay with….(44)… She loves her house for....... (45)…… reasons: the garden, the flowers in summer, the fire in winter, but the best thing is the view from her  bedroom window.

Question II: Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word or phrase for each space. (10 pts)

Huong lives in a house near the sea. It is ...(36)…... old house, about 100 years old and...(37).... very small. There are two bedrooms upstairs ….(38)……. no bathroom. The bathroom is downstairs ... .(39)... the kitchen and there is a living room where there is a lovely old fire place. There is a garden….(40)... the house. The garden….(41).... down to the beach and in spring and summer ....(42)… flowers everywhere. She likes  alone…..(43)… her dog, Rack, but they have a lot of visitors. Her city friends often stay with….(44)… She loves her house for....... (45)…… reasons: the garden, the flowers in summer, the fire in winter, but the best thing is the view from her  bedroom window.

Question II: Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word or phrase for each space. (10 pts)

Huong lives in a house near the sea. It is ...(36)…... old house, about 100 years old and...(37).... very small. There are two bedrooms upstairs ….(38)……. no bathroom. The bathroom is downstairs ... .(39)... the kitchen and there is a living room where there is a lovely old fire place. There is a garden….(40)... the house. The garden….(41).... down to the beach and in spring and summer ....(42)… flowers everywhere. She likes  alone…..(43)… her dog, Rack, but they have a lot of visitors. Her city friends often stay with….(44)… She loves her house for....... (45)…… reasons: the garden, the flowers in summer, the fire in winter, but the best thing is the view from her  bedroom window.

Read the passage. Then choose one suitable word to fill in the gaps. (20 points)

           (1)_________the United States, many adults and children (2)_________overweight. Some people eat (3)_________food at meals. They also eat snacks between meals. Sometimes people eat healthy snacks like fruit or vegetables (4)_________many Americans eat  a lot of junk food such as cookies, candy and potato chips. Eating junk food can (5)_________people gain weight. People also gain weight (6)_________they don’t get enough (7)_________. People need to walk, run, ride bicycles, or walk out in health clubs and gyms .When people exercise, they (8)_________good and have more energy. A good diet and exercise will help you (9)_________a long and (10)_________life.

1. A. on                    B. In                            C. At                        D. from

2. A. is                B. was                        C. were                    D. are

3. A. too many              B. too much                C. few                      D. plenty

4. A. but              B. because                  C. although              D. so that

5. A. get              B. lead                        C. urge                  D. make

6. A. so                    B. however                C. but                      D. because

7. A. exercises        B. work                      C. money                D. energy

8. A. become            B. taste                        C. have                    D. feel

9. A. live                B. lives                      C. living                  D. to living

10. A. health            B. safe                        C. fair                      D. healthy

Ex3: Read the following passage carefully and then choose the best option to fit each numbered blank:
Gilberto Gil is a brazilian singer and guitarist, and one of his country's most (21)_____songwriters. As a young (22) _____ in the 1950s, he was influenced by the style of Joao Gilberto, but he didn't release his first album, Louvacao, (23)_____1967. He travelled in the 1970s, recorded a album in english, (24)_____in 1980, introduced reggae to Brazil when he released his version of Bob Marley's song, 'No woman, no cry.' He has played (25)_____ may musicians, while continuing his career as a solo artist. In all he has produced over 40 albums. His music appeals to people because of its rhythms and melodies but people also admire him for his work in politics and for social causes.
Question 21:   A.talent      B.talenting    C.talented        D.talents
Question 22:   A.music     B. musical     C. musically     D. musician
Question 23:   A. before    B. until          C. after             D. in
Question 24:   A.but          B.so              C.and               D.or
Question 25:   A.for           B. with          C. by                 D. to

I.       Read the following text and then choose from the list A-G given below the best phrase to fill each of the spaces. Each correct phrase may only be used once. Two of the suggested answers do not fit at all

Arts and crafts describes a wide variety of activities involving making things with one's own hands. Arts and crafts is usually a hobby. Some crafts (art skills) have been practised for centuries, while(21)              .

Both children and adults enjoy arts and crafts. Children in schools may learn skills(22)

                 , or making things with all sorts of material. Many community centers and schools have evening or day classes and workshops(23)      

Although "crafts" today are usually hobbies enjoyed by amateurs, the word was used many centuries ago(24)    . Young people were learned from a master-craftsman, they often took many years(25)           

A.       to learn their skills to perfection

B.        where one can learn arts and craft skills

C.   for example communication or team work

D.       others are more recent inventions

E.        others have been considered nonsense

F.        such as woodworking, wood carving, sewing

G.       by professional people who had a guild system