SECTION D. Reading (2.0 pt)

Part 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 25 to 28. (1.0 pt).

            One of the (25)______traditional special food for New Year (Tet) of Vietnamese is Banh Chung or sticky rice cake. Banh Chung is (26)______of sticky rice, pork meat and green bean, every ingredient is wrapped inside a special leaf (27)______is called Dong. Making Banh Chung requires care and precision in every step. The rice and green bean has to be soaked in water for a day to make it stickier. The pork is usually soaked (28)______several hours. Squaring off the cakes with bamboo strings requires skillful hands to make it a perfect square.

Question 25. A. many               B. more                    C. most                       D. much

Question 26. A. make               B. made                    C. making                   D. to make

Question 27. A. which              B. what                     C. when                       D. who

Question 28. A. on                    B. to                         C. with                        D. for

Làm + Giải thích 

II. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions that follow.

    Write your answer (A, B, C, or D) in the space given on the right. (5 pts)

Choosing the right career is very important. Most of us spend a great part of our lives at our jobs. For that reason, we should try to find out what our talents are and how we can use them. We can do this through aptitude tests, interviews with specialists and study of books in our field of interest. There are many careers open to catch of us. Perhaps we like science, then we might prepare ourselves to be chemists, physicists or biologists. Maybe our interests take us into the business world and  such work as accounting, personnel management or public relations. Many people find their place in government service, teaching, newspaper work, medicine, engineering. These and many other fields offer fascinating careers to persons with talent and training.

1.       It is important to find the right career because _____                                                                                          

A. It’s very easy to lose the job.                B. Most of us  spend a great part of our lives at our jobs.

C. We need money.                                  D. It’s difficult to find a job.

2.       We can find the right career by _____                                                  

A. asking for some useful advice.             B. finding out what our talents are and how we can use them.

C. travelling wherever we can.                 D. learning some foreign languages.

3.       We can find out what our talents are and how we use through _____

A. interviews with specialists.                   B. all are correct.

C. aptitude tests.                                      D. study of books in our field of interest.

4.       Careers found in the scientific world are _____                                                  

A. Biologists, chemists, physicists.           B. Physicists, biologists, accountants.

C. Businessmen, teachers, doctors.         D. Chemists, mathematicians, c.

5.       The theme of the passage is _____                                                  

A. Jobs in the society nowadays.              B. good jobs.

C. unemployment.                                    D. How  to find a right job nowadays.

Part 6: Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the following questions. Write your answer A, B, C or D in the answer box below. (1.75p):

My school library is in a very large building. There are enough chairs and desk for hundreds of students. There are three librarians in the library. They are always ready to help students to find books. There are a lot of large bookshelves. On the shelves are books of various subjects and newspaper and magazines. There are also reference books and dictionaries for different languages. The library opens at ten past seven in the monring and closes at four in the afternoon. It opens from Monday through Friday.

29. what is the writer mainly talking about in the passage above ?

A. His/ her school library                    B. His/ her school

C. His/ her books                                D. His/ her favourite subjects.

30. How are the librarians in the library ?

A. hard- working              B. lazy            C. helpful          D. beautiful

31. How many days a week does the library open?

A. 4 days                B. 5 days                  C. 6 days                      D. 7 days

32. According to the passage, which of the following statement is NOT TRUE ?

A. There are a lot of books in the library.              B. The school library is very large

C. Hundreds of students go to the library to read books     D. There are no books for different laguages.

33. What does the pronoun “They” in the fourth sentence of the passage mean?

A. Magazines        B. Reference books          C. Librarians               D. Newspapers

III. READING COMPREHENSION

A. Read the passage carefully and choose the option A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions:

            If you invite an American friend to join you to have dinner in a restaurant, phone the restaurant first to find out if you need a reservation to avoid a long wait for a table. To make a reservation, just give your name, the number of people in your group, and the time you plan to arrive. When you invite someone to dinner, you should be prepared to pay the bill and reach for it when it arrives. However, if your companion insists on paying his or her share, do not get into argument about it. Some people prefer to pay their own way so that they do not feel indebted, and those feelings should be respected. In most American restaurants, the waiter or waitress’s tip is not added to the bill. If the service was adequate, it is customary to leave a tip equal to about 15% of the bill. In expensive restaurants, leave a bit more.

Question 31: When you invite an American friend to have dinner in a restaurant ___________.

A. a reservation is not necessary                    

B. you should make a reservation

C. there are always many tables available for you

D. you always have to wait for a long time

Question 32: To make a reservation, you ______________.

A. just give your name, the time you arrive and how many persons there are in your group

B. have to give your address, the time you arrive and how many persons there are in your group

C. just give your name, the time you arrive and your address

D. just give your name, the time you arrive and your telephone number

Question 33: When you invite someone to dinner, you ______________.

A. let him to pay himself                                   B. should prepare to pay the bill

C. give the bill to him                            D. share the bill with him

Question 34: If your companion insists in paying his share, _______________.

A. do not agree                                      

B. it will be impolite

C. you should let him pay as he expects       

D. you should get into argument with him

Question 35: In most American restaurants, _______________.

A. the tip is added to the bill               

B. the tip is about 15% of the bill

C. you should not give the tip to waiters or waitresses

      D. waiters and waitresses never get the tip

B. Read the passage carefully and choose the option A, B, C or D to indicate the correct word for each of the following blanks:

Throughout the world there are different …..(36)…….. for people to greet each other. In much of the world, a handshake is the common form of welcoming and greeting someone. In many countries around the Mediterranean Sea a light kiss on the cheek is the appropriate way to welcome friends and family. It can be a very …….(37)………surprise if you expect to shake hands and get a kiss or a hug instead.

            At times, it is difficult to tell what sort of greeting …….(38)…… is followed. People may bow, wave another’s arm or even slap the other person on the back. In some places people just smile, look at the other’s face and say nothing.

            Most people in the world are …….(39)…… of, visitors and don’t mind what travelers do that seems wrong as long as the visitors are sincere. A big part of the …….(40)………of world travel is experiencing different customs.

Question 36:  A. means                  B. ways                      C. methods                D. techniques

Question 37:  A. huge                     B. large                       C. big                          D. great

Question 38:  A. habit                     B. routine                   C. tradition                D. custom

Question 39:  A. kind                      B. generous               C. tolerant                  D. independent

Question 40:  A. pleasure              B. interest                   C. comfort                 D. delightfulness

PART C: READING (2 marks)

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 (#).

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the [21]   ________    musicians in the world. He created some of the most beautiful music ever heard, which made him become people's favorite composer of all time. Mozart was [22]   ________     in 1756 in Austria. Mozart's father, Leopold, was a musician. He played the violin and he worked as a music teacher. His son Mozart [23]   ________   plays the piano when he was 3. At the age of 4 he started to write music. He simply took a violin and started to play before anyone showed him how to play the instrument. Mozart's sister, Maria Anna, was good at music, too. Mozart and his sister invented their own secret language. They told stories about a magic kingdom where they were a king and a queen. Leopold took his two children to Vienna. There they played for the Emperor of Austria at his palace. Everyone [24] ______ their talent and the Emperor called Mozart a “little magician”.

Part IV. Read the passage below, then choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions (7 points)

   Basketball

     Although he created the game of basketball at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr James A. Naismith was a Canadian. Working as a physical education instructor at the International YMCA, now Springfield college, Dr Naismith noticed a lack of interest in exercise among students during the wintertime. The New England winters were fierce, and the students balked at participating in outdoor activities. Naismith determined that a fast-moving game that could be played indoors would fill a void after the baseball and football seasons had ended.

     First he attempted to adapt outdoor games such as soccer and rugby to indoor play, but he soon found them unsuitable for confined areas. Finally, he determined that he would have to invent a game.

     In December of 1891, Dr Naismith hung two old peach baskets at either end of the gymnasium at the school, and using a soccer ball and all nine players on each side, organised the first basketball game. The early rules allowed three points for each basket and made running with the ball a violation. Every time a goal was made, someone had to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball.

      Nevertheless, the game became popular. In less than a year, basketball was being played in both the United States and Canada. Five years later, a championship tournament was staged in New York City, which was won by the Brooklyn Central YMCA.

      The teams had already been reduced to seven players, and five became standard in the 1897 season. When basketball was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, it quickly spread throughout the world. In 1906, a metal hoop was used for the first time to replace the basket, but the name basketball has remained.

1. What does this passage mainly discuss?

    A. The Olympic Games in St. Louis in 1904                      B. The development of basketball

    C. The YMCA athletic program                                         D. Dr. James Naismith

2. When was the first demonstration game of basketball held during the Olympics?

    A. 1891                           B. 1892                            C. 1897                            D. 1904

3. The word “fierce” is closest in meaning to ____.

    A. long                            B. boring                          C. extreme                       D. dark

4. The word “them” refers to ____.

    A. indoors                       B. seasons                        C. games                          D. areas

5. What does the author mean by the statement “When basketball was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, it quickly spread throughout the world”?

    A. Basketball was not considered an Olympic sport at the St. Louis games.

    B. Basketball became popular worldwide after its introduction at the Olympic Games in St. Louis.

    C. Basketball players from many countries competed in the Olympic Games in St. Louis.

    D. Basketball was one of the most popular sports at the Olympic Games in St. Louis.

6. Why did Naismith decide to invent basketball?

    A. He did not like soccer or rugby.                        

    B. He was tired of baseball and football.

    C. He wanted his students to exercise during the winter                                .

    D. He couldn’t convince his students to play indoors.

7. The author mentions all of the following as typical of the early game of basketball except

    A. Three points were scored for every basket.       

    B. Running with the ball was not a foul.

    C. Nine players were on a team.                            

    D. The ball had to be retrieved from the basket after each score.

I. READING 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

The country and the city have advantages and disadvantages. People in the country live in more beautiful surroundings. They enjoy (19) …………….. and quietness, and can do their work at their own pace because no one is in a (20) …………………... They live in larger, more comfortable houses, and their neighbors are more friendly, and ready to help them (21) ……………….. they need it. Their life, however, can be boring and they may be isolated, which is serious problem (22) ……………… they are ill or want to take children to school. The city has all the services that the country lacks, but it also has a lot of disadvantages. Cities are often polluted. They not only have polluted air but also have noisy streets. Everyone is always in hurry and this means that people have no time to get to know each other and make friends.

Question 19. A. quietly B. peaceful C. peace D. quiet

Question 20. A. hurried B. hurrying C. hurriedly D. hurry

Question 21. A. what B. when C. which D. that

Question 22. A. unless B. although C. because D. if

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

The country is more beautiful than a town and more pleasant to live in. Many people think so, and go to the country for the summer holidays though they cannot live there all the year round. Some have a cottage built in a village so that they can go there whenever they can find the time. English villages are not all alike, but in some ways they are not very different from one another. Almost every village has a church, the round or square tower of which can be seen from many miles around. Surrounding the church is the church yard, where people are buried. The village green is a wide stretch of grass, and houses or cottages are built round it. Country life is now fairly comfortable and many villages have running water brought through pipes into each house. Most villages are so close to some small towns that people can go there to buy what they can’t find in the village shops.

Question 23. When do city people often go to the country?

A. At the weekends.

B. All the year round.

C. At Christmas.

D. . The summer holidays.

Question 24. What is the advantage of city people when they have a cottage built in the

village?

A. They can have their houses rented.

B. They can go to the country at weekends.

C. They can go to the country when they are busy.

D. They can go to the country whenever they can find the time.

Question 25. What is NOT mentioned in the life of English villages?

A. The village green

B. Running water

C. The church

D. The Internet

Question 26. What can villagers do when their villages are close to small towns?

A. They can go there to buy cheaper things.

B. They can go there to buy whatever they want.

C. They can go there to buy luxury goods.

D. They can go there to buy what is not found in the village shops.

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   22  to  26

A.   Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answer.

The ruined temples of Angkor are perhaps one of the mast impressive Seven Wonders of the World. Located in modern day Cambodia near Lake TonIe Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Asia, Angkor was the seat of power for the Khmer Empire from the ninth to the fifteenth century. The ruins of Angkor are documented as same .of the mast impressive ones in the world, rivaling the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Why this mighty civilization died out is a question that archeologists are now only beginning to ponder. The answer, it turns out, may be linked with the availability of fresh water.

One possible explanation far the downfall of the Khmer Empire has to do with the inhabitants' irrigation system. The temple and palaces of Angkor were constructed around a series of artificial reservoirs and canals which were annually flooded to capacity by the Mekong River. Once filled, they were used to irrigate the surrounding rice patties and farmland during the course of the year. Farmers were completely dependent upon the water for their crucial rice crop. Without consistent irrigation, the farmers would have been unable to maintain functional crop production.

Scientists speculate that toward the end of the Khmer Empire the hydraulic systems of the reservoirs and canals broke down. The construction of hundreds of sandstone temples and palaces required an enormous amount of physical labor. In addition, as the capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor contained upwards of one hundred thousand people who resided in and around Angkor. In order to feed so many people, the local farmers were driven to grow food quicker and more efficiently. After centuries of continual use, the irrigation system was pushed beyond its capacity. Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and the loss of water led to decrease in the food supply. With less food available, the people of Angkor slowly began to migrate to other parts of Cambodia thus leaving the marvelous city of Angkor to be swallowed by the jungle. Therefore, it is speculated that the Khmer Empire may have fallen victim to its own decrepit infrastructure.

22. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Modern day agricultural procedures in Cambodia.

B. A possible explanation for the, decline of a civilization.

C. The essential role water plays in farming.

D. Religious temples of the ancient Khmer Empire.

23. The passage preceding the passage most likely discusses ______.

A. architecture of ancient Asian civilization

B. religious practices of the people of Angkor

C. the form of government practiced by the Khmer Empire

D. the other six wonders of the world

24. According to the passage, Lake Tonle Sap in Cambodia ______.

A. is an enormous fresh body of water in Asia

B. was unable to supply enough fish for the people of Angkor

C. became polluted due to a population explosion

D. is one of the Seven Wonders of the World

25. Why does the author mention the hydraulic systems of the reservoirs?

A. They supplied irrigation from the Indian Ocean.

B. They became non-functional due to overuse.

C. They were destroyed by nearby warrior tribes.

D. They helped transport the sandstones for constructing temples.

26. It can be inferred from the passage that the inhabitants of the Khmer Empire ______.

A. were intentionally starved by the farmers

B. lost their food source due to excess rainfall

C. supplemented their diets with 'meat hunted in the nearby jungles

D. depended upon rice as their main source of food

27. All the following are mentioned as events that can affect food supply EXCEPT.

A. erosion of soil                                       B. contamination of soil

C. reduction of nutrients                            D. loss of water supply

Part V. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each of the following questions. Write your answers on the answer sheet.

  The weather is not beautiful all the time. Perhaps you can remember a day when bad weather made you afraid. One kind bad weather scares many people is called thunderstorm. This is what happens when there is a thunderstorm. First you see a sudden flash of bright light, and the loud sound is called thunder. Lighting is colorful, but it can cause serious problems. Lighting is electricity that is moving very rapidly. It may be moving between a cloud and the ground, between two clouds, between two parts of the same cloud. The lighting heats the air around it. This hot air expands, or get bigger, and it causes the air to move in waves. The air waves pass you in a series, one after another. For this reason, you may hear many rumbles and not just one sound.

29. The weather…….         

       A. is always beautiful                             B. gets more beautiful    

       C. is very nice everyday                         D. is not always fine

30. A thunderstorm is one kind of bad weather that……..

       A. doesn’t scare anybody                        B. makes may people scared

       C. nobody is scared of                             D. had no sound at all

31. Which statement is NOT TRUE?

       A. The lighting always comes after the thunder.

       B. A thunderstorm is one kind of bad weather.

       C. People are afraid of thunderstorms.

       D. Lighting is electricity that is moving very rapidly

32. You may hear many rumbles because………

       A. lighting moves very slowly                  B. the air waves pass you in a series, one after another

       C. the weather is bad                                 D. lighting is colorful

33. On the whole, the passage is about…….

       A. The nice weather                                  B. The lighting

       C. The thunderstorm                                  D. The loud sound

Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each of the following questions. Write your answers on the answer sheet.

LITTER ON MOUNT EVEREST

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. It is also the highest trash pile in the world. About 400 people try to reach the top every year. Having many climbers means a lot of trash. It is very dangerous to climb Mt. Everest. The air is very thin and cold. Most people carry bottles of oxygen; they could die without it. When the oxygen bottles are empty, people throw them on the ground. When strong winds rip their tents, people leave them behind. They don’t have the energy to take the trash away. They only have enough energy to go down the mountain safely. Trash is a terrible problem. Since people first began to climb Mt. Everest, they have left 50,000 kilos of trash on the mountain. Several groups have climbed the mountain just to pick up the trash. When people plan to climb the mountain, they have to plan to take away their trash.

29. What is the passage written about?

A. Wind on the mountain                                        B. A problem with path

C. A problem with trash                                          D. Climbing safely

30.  How much trash has been left on the mountain?

A. Four hundred kilos                                                         B. Four thousand kilos

C. Five thousand kilos                                             D. Fifty thousand kilos

31. Which of the following sentences is NOT fasle?

A. Climbers on Mount Everest carry bottles of oxygen because they are thirsty.

B. Climbers on Mount Everest carry bottles of oxygen because the air is very thin.

C. Climbers on Mount Everest carry bottles of oxygen because climbing makes them tired. 

D. Climbers on Mount Everest carry bottles of oxygen because the weather is not cold.

32.  In line 4, the sentence: “people throw them on the ground”, what does the word them refer to?

A. Tents                     B. Oxygen bottles                  C. Strong winds       D. Other climbers

33. Why do climbers leave their trash on the mountain?

A. Special groups will pick it up.                           B. The wind will blow it away.

C. They don’t have the energy to take it away.    D. Other climbers will use it later.