EXERCISES

I. Put a/ an, the or Æ in each space to complete the following sentences.

1. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. It was _____ mistake.

2. There were no chairs, so we had to sit on _____ floor.

3. Lucy has just gotten _____ job in _____ bank in Chicago.

4. There’s _____ bookstore on _____ corner near my house.

5. It’s very cold in here. Can you close _____ window, please?

6. If you go past _____ post office, can you get me some stamps?

7. It was _____ very hot day. It was _____ hottest day of _____ year.

8. What’s _____ name of _____ woman who sat beside you at the dinner?

9. How often do you go to _____ movies?

10. “Can you tell me where _____ Room 306 is, please?” “It’s on _____ third floor.”

11. He lay down _____ ground and looked up at _____ sky.

12. You’ll find _____ information you need at _____ top of _____ page 24.

13. _____ moon goes around _____ earth every 27 days.

14. He doesn’t usually have _____ lunch, but he always eats _____ good breakfast.

15. If you live in _____ foreign country, you should try and learn _____ language.

16. _____ next train to Brighton leaves from _____ Platform 5.

17. Last year we visited _____ Canada and _____ United States.

18. _____ highest mountain in _____ Africa is _____ Kilimanjaro.

19. _____ Mediterranean Sea is the sea between _____ Africa and _____ Europe.

20. _____ Mississippi is _____ longest river in _____ North America.

II. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

1. We went out for _____ meal last night.  _____ restaurant we went to was excellent.

A. a/ The B. the/ A C. a/ Æ D. the/ Æ

2. As I was walking along the street, I saw _____ $10 note on _____ pavement.

A. a/ a B. the/ the C. a/ the D. the/ a

3. _____ actress’s life is in many ways unlike that of other women.

A. An B. A C. As D. That the

4. Kate plays _____ violin in an orchestra.

A. the B. a C. an D. Æ

5. _____ computer has changed _____ way we live.

A. A/ the B. The/ the C. A/ a D. The/ a

6. Excuse me, where is _____ bus station, please?

A. a B. the C. Æ D. an

7. What did you have for _____ breakfast this morning?

A. a B. an C. the D. Æ

8. Peter used to work in _____ Middle East.

A. Æ B. the C. an D. a

9. My plane was delayed. I had to wait at _____ airport for three hours.

A. the B. a C. an D. Æ

10. I have _____ problem. Can you help me?

A. Æ B. a C. an D. the

11. Barack Obama is _____ President of _____ United States.

A. the/ the B. a/ Æ C. the/ Æ D. the/ an

12. He never listens to _____ radio. He prefers watching _____ television.

A. a/ a B. a/ the C. the/ Æ D. Æ/ the

13. _____ university will be built in _____ center of the town.

A. A/ the B. An/ the C. The/ a D. An/ a  

14. _____ River Nile is _____ longest river of all.

A. Æ/ Æ B. A/ the C. The/ the D. Æ/ a

15. _____ Women’s Day is on _____ eighth of March.

A. The/ Æ B. Æ/ the C. The/ an D. Æ/ an

16. By _____ time we had just left the office, _____ alarm went off.

A. Æ/ the B. a/ an C. a/ the D. the/ an

17. He grew up in _____ orphanage in _____ United Kingdom.

A. the/ Æ B. an/ an C. the/ an D. an/ the

18. Laura is friendly. She can make _____ friends easily.

A. a B. an C. the D. Æ 

19. That car can run at _____ speed of 180 miles _____ hour.

A. the/ an B. a/ the C. a/ a D. the/ a

20. _____ experience is _____ best teacher.

A. An/ the B. Æ/ the C. the/ the D. an/ an

I. Put a/ an, the or ∅ in each space to complete the following sentences.

1. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. It was _____ mistake.                                                   

2. There were no chairs, so we had to sit on _____ floor.

3. Lucy has just gotten _____ job in _____ bank in Chicago.

4. There’s _____ bookstore on _____ corner near my house.

5. It’s very cold in here. Can you close _____ window, please?

6. If you go past _____ post office, can you get me some stamps?

7. It was _____ very hot day. It was _____ hottest day of _____ year.

8. What’s _____ name of _____ woman who sat beside you at the dinner?

9. How often do you go to _____ movies?

10. “Can you tell me where _____ Room 306 is, please?” “It’s on _____ third floor.”

11. He lay down _____ ground and looked up at _____ sky.

12. You’ll find _____ information you need at _____ top of _____ page 24.

13. _____ moon goes around _____ earth every 27 days.

14. He doesn’t usually have _____ lunch, but he always eats _____ good breakfast.

15. If you live in _____ foreign country, you should try and learn _____ language.

16. _____ next train to Brighton leaves from _____ Platform 5.         

17. Last year we visited _____ Canada and _____ United States.

18. _____ highest mountain in _____ Africa is _____ Kilimanjaro.

19. _____ Mediterranean Sea is the sea between _____ Africa and _____ Europe.

20. _____ Mississippi is _____ longest river in _____ North America.

Mark the letter A, B, Cor D to indicate the option that best completes each of the following exchanges.

19.       -"I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you."

            -“_____________”

            A. No, I don’t mind it                B. Oh, that’s all right

            C. Yes, you are so unkind         D. Oh! You don’t have to say sorry

20.       -"Nam has been awarded a scholarship to study in Australia."

            -"Oh, really? _______!"

            A. How lucky he is                   B. You must be kidding

            C. What lucky news                  D. Lucky as he is

I. Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best fits the blank space in each sentence. 1. I _________________ eat meat, but now I’m a vegetarian. A. used to B. use to C. didn’t use to D. never used to 2. It was cold and wet outside so we _________________ home. A. changed into B. looked at C. stayed for D. stayed at 3. He _________________ his son during the day. A. looks after B. looks like C. loop up D. look for 4. We had an arrangement that he would _____________ the house and I would _______dinner. A. tell / light B. light / tell C. cook / clean D. clean / cook 5. You're going skiing with three friends. That _________________ like fun. A. listens B. sounds C. smells D. tastes 6. The hospital has some of the _________________ equipment in the country. A. injured B. dangerous C. cruel D. modern 7. My mom _________________ me with new schoolbag and bicycle before I went to school. A. decided B. changed C. equipped D. brought 8. The Vietnamese women are wearing _________________ dress called Ao dai at Tet. A. commercial B. unfortunate C. cruel D. traditional 9. People _________________ the house with candles for the dinner party. A. broke B. lit C. grazed D. tied 10. He's been single for so long now, I don't think he'll _________________. A. marry B. married C. drop D. dropped 11. She has a _________________ so she can't do heavy work. A. beautiful clothes B. strong buffalo C. broken heart D. black stripe 12. When he started he was just a ____________boy from the slums, now he's a millionaire. [slums: khu ổ chuột] A. traditional B. golden C. rich D. poor 13. We planted the seeds two weeks ago and little green shoots started to _______shoots.: chồi non A. drop B. marry C. cook D. appear 14. We really ought to leave _______ because it must have a heavy rain. A. immediate B. immediately C. lucky D. luckily 15. She's terribly _______________ because her father passed away last week. A. happy B. magical C. upset D. excited 16. He _______________ with a young German girl studying in the same class. A. fell in love B. fall in love C. fell on the ice D. fall off my bike 17. What time does the mail usually ___________ ? A. escape B. escaped C. arrived D. arrive 18. She has _______________ to do all her work for her. A. masters B. servants C. bosses D. tigers 19. She left China at the age of 15 and has never _______________ . A. decided B. returned C. escaped D. burned 20. With careful training, a dog will obey its _______________ completely. [obey: vâng lời] A. fairy B. farmer C. master D. buffalo

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 36 to 42.

They call Jamaica the "Island in the sun" and that is my memory of it. Of sunshine, warmth and abundant fruit that was growing everywhere, and of love. There were two sisters ahead of me in the family, and though of course I didn't know it, there was an exciting talk of emigration, possibly to Canada but more usually to England, the land of opportunity. I guess that plans were already being made when I was born, for a year or so later my Dad left for London. Two years after that my mum went as well and my sisters and I were left in the care of my grandmother.

Emigrating to better yourself was a dream for most Jamaicans, a dream many were determined to fulfill. Families were close and grandmothers were an important part of the family. So, when the mass emigrations began, it seemed perfectly right and natural for them to take over the running of families left behind.

Grandmothers are often strict, but usually also spoil you. She ran the family like a military operation: each of us, no matter how young, had our tasks. Every morning, before we went to school, we all had to take a bucket appropriate to our size and run a relay from the communal tap to the barrels until they are full. My sisters had to sweep the yard before they went to school. My grandmother would give orders to the eldest and these were passed down- as I got older I found this particularly annoying! But I can tell you, no one avoided their duties.

My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . He talked to us about the new country, about snow, about the huge city, and we all wanted to know more, to see what it was like. I didn't know it at that time., but he had come to prepare us for the move to England. Six months later my grandmother told me that I was going to join my parents and that she, too, was emigrating.

London was strange and disappointing. There was no gold on the pavements, as the stories in Jaimaica had indicated. The roads were busy, the buildings were grey and dull, with many tall, high-rise blocks. It was totally unlike Jamaica, the houses all small and packed close together. In my grandmother's house I had a big bedroom, here I had to share.

Then came the biggest shock: snow. While flakes came out of the sky and Dad smiled, pointed and said: "That's snow!" I rushed outside, looked up and opened my mouth to let the flakes drop in. The snow settled on my tongue and it was so cold that I cried. My toes lost all feeling. As my shoes and socks got wet and frozen, there came an excruciating pain and I cried with the intensity of it. I didn't know what was happening to me.

The writer says that when he was very young ________.

A. he was upset because his parents left 

B. he was very keen to go to England 

C. his parents had decided to leave 

D. his parents changed their plans

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 36 to 42.

They call Jamaica the "Island in the sun" and that is my memory of it. Of sunshine, warmth and abundant fruit that was growing everywhere, and of love. There were two sisters ahead of me in the family, and though of course I didn't know it, there was an exciting talk of emigration, possibly to Canada but more usually to England, the land of opportunity. I guess that plans were already being made when I was born, for a year or so later my Dad left for London. Two years after that my mum went as well and my sisters and I were left in the care of my grandmother.

Emigrating to better yourself was a dream for most Jamaicans, a dream many were determined to fulfill. Families were close and grandmothers were an important part of the family. So, when the mass emigrations began, it seemed perfectly right and natural for them to take over the running of families left behind.

Grandmothers are often strict, but usually also spoil you. She ran the family like a military operation: each of us, no matter how young, had our tasks. Every morning, before we went to school, we all had to take a bucket appropriate to our size and run a relay from the communal tap to the barrels until they are full. My sisters had to sweep the yard before they went to school. My grandmother would give orders to the eldest and these were passed down- as I got older I found this particularly annoying! But I can tell you, no one avoided their duties.

My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . He talked to us about the new country, about snow, about the huge city, and we all wanted to know more, to see what it was like. I didn't know it at that time., but he had come to prepare us for the move to England. Six months later my grandmother told me that I was going to join my parents and that she, too, was emigrating.

London was strange and disappointing. There was no gold on the pavements, as the stories in Jaimaica had indicated. The roads were busy, the buildings were grey and dull, with many tall, high-rise blocks. It was totally unlike Jamaica, the houses all small and packed close together. In my grandmother's house I had a big bedroom, here I had to share.

Then came the biggest shock: snow. While flakes came out of the sky and Dad smiled, pointed and said: "That's snow!" I rushed outside, looked up and opened my mouth to let the flakes drop in. The snow settled on my tongue and it was so cold that I cried. My toes lost all feeling. As my shoes and socks got wet and frozen, there came an excruciating pain and I cried with the intensity of it. I didn't know what was happening to me.

What does "this" in the third paragraph refer to

A. being told what to do by his sisters

B. having to sweep the yard before school 

C. having to do duties he found difficult

D. being given orders by his grandmother

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 36 to 42.

They call Jamaica the "Island in the sun" and that is my memory of it. Of sunshine, warmth and abundant fruit that was growing everywhere, and of love. There were two sisters ahead of me in the family, and though of course I didn't know it, there was an exciting talk of emigration, possibly to Canada but more usually to England, the land of opportunity. I guess that plans were already being made when I was born, for a year or so later my Dad left for London. Two years after that my mum went as well and my sisters and I were left in the care of my grandmother.

Emigrating to better yourself was a dream for most Jamaicans, a dream many were determined to fulfill. Families were close and grandmothers were an important part of the family. So, when the mass emigrations began, it seemed perfectly right and natural for them to take over the running of families left behind.

Grandmothers are often strict, but usually also spoil you. She ran the family like a military operation: each of us, no matter how young, had our tasks. Every morning, before we went to school, we all had to take a bucket appropriate to our size and run a relay from the communal tap to the barrels until they are full. My sisters had to sweep the yard before they went to school. My grandmother would give orders to the eldest and these were passed down- as I got older I found this particularly annoying! But I can tell you, no one avoided their duties.

My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . He talked to us about the new country, about snow, about the huge city, and we all wanted to know more, to see what it was like. I didn't know it at that time., but he had come to prepare us for the move to England. Six months later my grandmother told me that I was going to join my parents and that she, too, was emigrating.

London was strange and disappointing. There was no gold on the pavements, as the stories in Jaimaica had indicated. The roads were busy, the buildings were grey and dull, with many tall, high-rise blocks. It was totally unlike Jamaica, the houses all small and packed close together. In my grandmother's house I had a big bedroom, here I had to share.

Then came the biggest shock: snow. While flakes came out of the sky and Dad smiled, pointed and said: "That's snow!" I rushed outside, looked up and opened my mouth to let the flakes drop in. The snow settled on my tongue and it was so cold that I cried. My toes lost all feeling. As my shoes and socks got wet and frozen, there came an excruciating pain and I cried with the intensity of it. I didn't know what was happening to me.

According to the writer, many people from Jamaica at that time ________.

A. wanted to be free from responsibility 

B. wanted to improve their standard of living 

C. had ambitions that were unrealistic 

D. dislike the country they came from

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 36 to 42.

They call Jamaica the "Island in the sun" and that is my memory of it. Of sunshine, warmth and abundant fruit that was growing everywhere, and of love. There were two sisters ahead of me in the family, and though of course I didn't know it, there was an exciting talk of emigration, possibly to Canada but more usually to England, the land of opportunity. I guess that plans were already being made when I was born, for a year or so later my Dad left for London. Two years after that my mum went as well and my sisters and I were left in the care of my grandmother.

Emigrating to better yourself was a dream for most Jamaicans, a dream many were determined to fulfill. Families were close and grandmothers were an important part of the family. So, when the mass emigrations began, it seemed perfectly right and natural for them to take over the running of families left behind.

Grandmothers are often strict, but usually also spoil you. She ran the family like a military operation: each of us, no matter how young, had our tasks. Every morning, before we went to school, we all had to take a bucket appropriate to our size and run a relay from the communal tap to the barrels until they are full. My sisters had to sweep the yard before they went to school. My grandmother would give orders to the eldest and these were passed down- as I got older I found this particularly annoying! But I can tell you, no one avoided their duties.

My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . He talked to us about the new country, about snow, about the huge city, and we all wanted to know more, to see what it was like. I didn't know it at that time., but he had come to prepare us for the move to England. Six months later my grandmother told me that I was going to join my parents and that she, too, was emigrating.

London was strange and disappointing. There was no gold on the pavements, as the stories in Jaimaica had indicated. The roads were busy, the buildings were grey and dull, with many tall, high-rise blocks. It was totally unlike Jamaica, the houses all small and packed close together. In my grandmother's house I had a big bedroom, here I had to share.

Then came the biggest shock: snow. While flakes came out of the sky and Dad smiled, pointed and said: "That's snow!" I rushed outside, looked up and opened my mouth to let the flakes drop in. The snow settled on my tongue and it was so cold that I cried. My toes lost all feeling. As my shoes and socks got wet and frozen, there came an excruciating pain and I cried with the intensity of it. I didn't know what was happening to me.

The word "excruciating" in the last paragraph means ________.

A. painful

B. rather painful

C. extremely painful

D. painless

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 36 to 42.

They call Jamaica the "Island in the sun" and that is my memory of it. Of sunshine, warmth and abundant fruit that was growing everywhere, and of love. There were two sisters ahead of me in the family, and though of course I didn't know it, there was an exciting talk of emigration, possibly to Canada but more usually to England, the land of opportunity. I guess that plans were already being made when I was born, for a year or so later my Dad left for London. Two years after that my mum went as well and my sisters and I were left in the care of my grandmother.

Emigrating to better yourself was a dream for most Jamaicans, a dream many were determined to fulfill. Families were close and grandmothers were an important part of the family. So, when the mass emigrations began, it seemed perfectly right and natural for them to take over the running of families left behind.

Grandmothers are often strict, but usually also spoil you. She ran the family like a military operation: each of us, no matter how young, had our tasks. Every morning, before we went to school, we all had to take a bucket appropriate to our size and run a relay from the communal tap to the barrels until they are full. My sisters had to sweep the yard before they went to school. My grandmother would give orders to the eldest and these were passed down- as I got older I found this particularly annoying! But I can tell you, no one avoided their duties.

My Dad came over from England to see how we were getting on . He talked to us about the new country, about snow, about the huge city, and we all wanted to know more, to see what it was like. I didn't know it at that time., but he had come to prepare us for the move to England. Six months later my grandmother told me that I was going to join my parents and that she, too, was emigrating.

London was strange and disappointing. There was no gold on the pavements, as the stories in Jaimaica had indicated. The roads were busy, the buildings were grey and dull, with many tall, high-rise blocks. It was totally unlike Jamaica, the houses all small and packed close together. In my grandmother's house I had a big bedroom, here I had to share.

Then came the biggest shock: snow. While flakes came out of the sky and Dad smiled, pointed and said: "That's snow!" I rushed outside, looked up and opened my mouth to let the flakes drop in. The snow settled on my tongue and it was so cold that I cried. My toes lost all feeling. As my shoes and socks got wet and frozen, there came an excruciating pain and I cried with the intensity of it. I didn't know what was happening to me.

When the writer first went to London, he was disappointed because ________.

A. it was smaller than he expected

B. he had been given a false impression of it 

C. he had to spend a lot of time on his own

D. his new surroundings frightened him