Read the Reading Strategy. Then complete these tasks.

1 Look at question 1 in exercise 4. Read the second paragraph of the text.

2 Circle the correct option and identify the sentence of the paragraph which gives the answer.

3 Which words are used in the sentence instead of the words in the correct option?

A perfect companion

A: Hello there.

B: How are you?

A: I am doing very well. How are you?

B: Fine.

A: Glad to hear it. What's for today?

B: Nothin'.

A: Fair enough. What do you want to study?

B: I dunno.

A: You don't know what you want to study?! Lazy humans!

B: Say what I need to study.

A: You have not yet told me what you want to study.

This conversation is between a visually-impaired student, Nick, and his digital tutor named Ann Sullutor.

Ann Sullutor is the brainchild of a 22nd century scientist modelled on and named after the dedicated tutor of Helen Keller. You can have conversations with Ann Sullutor via a wristwatch or any piece of jewellery. The idea of the digital tutor was to help disabled children study in mainstream schools.

Early in the morning, Ann Sullutor wakes up from a full charge of energy, ready for a 20-hour non-stop working day. Nick is quite independent in familiar situations, but if he comes across something unexpected, he can turn to Ann Sullutor for help by using his voice to control the watch on this wrist. Similarly, if he is in an unfamiliar place, he can get directions from Ann through a tiny set of earphones. In an emergency, for example, if there is an obstacle or unexpected vehicle, Nick receives a tiny vibration as a warning. Ann sends reports to the child's parents on a regular basis or on demand.

Registered in the school system and equipped with an immense database, Ann can easily keep track of Nick's schedule and curriculum. During class, Ann gives off a warning beep when Nick is distracted, quicky converts the new material into braille or dictates what the teacher has just written on board. Ann is there to bridge the gap between Nick and his classmates. In Nick's individual sessions, Ann suggests lessons depending on his preference and ability. She can adapt the lesson to aid Nick's learning process, but she doesn't jump in immediately to offer him a hand. Nick has to work on his own for a while before Ann makes a few suggestions. She may even ask Nick to read some extra materials to get a grasp of the topic. Nick often complains about Ann's persistence and strictness. In his fury, Nick sometimes does wish to turn Ann off for a while, which can only be done by his parents.

Ann Sullutor is much more than a beautifully-designed gadget for a visually-impaired child. She can make a perfect companion to any child that needs a tutor or a friend to talk with.

Read the conversation again and circle the correct answers.

1. What are Tom and Lai talking about?

A. Minority groups in Viet Nam.

B. Ha Giang.

C. Life of the Tay people.

2. A “stilthouse” _______________.

A. is a multi-storey home

B. is on high posts

C. always faces a field

3. Lai mentions ___________ of the Tay people.

A. folk dances

B. popular festivals

C. costumes

Tom: Hi, I’m Tom. You look new here.

Lai: I am. I'm Lai from Ha Giang.

Tom: Oh, I’ve heard about beautiful Ha Giang. Do you live in the mountains?

Lai: Yes, I do. I’m from the Tay ethnic group. We are the second largest ethnic group in Viet Nam, only after the Kinh.

Tom: Oh ... I once saw a bamboo house on high posts in a travelbrochure. Do you live in a home like that?

Lai: Yes, we call it a “stilt house”. Our house overlooks terraced fields.

Tom: Awesome. What is life in your village like?

Lai: It’s peaceful. There are 16 houses in my village. We live very close to nature.

Tom: I love it. Can you tell me something about your culture?

Lai: Certainly. We have our own culture. You can see it in our folk dances, musical instruments like the dan tinh, and our special five-colour sticky rice.

Tom: It sounds interesting. I hope to visit Ha Giang one day.

I/  Read the following passage and circle the option (A, B, C, D) to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks: (1.0pt)         

Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing mankind today. Air, water and soil (1) …………..  necessary to the environment of all living things. Badly polluted air can cause illness, and even death. Polluted water kills (2) …………..  and other marine life. Pollution of soil reduces the amount (3) ………….. land that is available for growing food. Environmental pollution also brings ugliness to man’s (4) ………….. beautiful world.

Question 1.A. is                B. are            C. am            D.  be

Question 2.A. trees           B. fish           C. land          D.  mushroom

Question 3.A. on              B. in             C. of             D.  at

Question 4.A. naturally     B. natural      C. nature        D.  unnaturally

Read the conversation again and circle the correct answer A, B, or C.

1. What are Trang and Mark doing?

A. Practising a video call.

B. Making a call with Tech Sawy.

C. Learning how to use a tablet.

2. What device does Trang need help with?

A. The tablet.                        B. The computer.                           C. The webcam.

3. Mark says that they should _____ in the future.

A. have more video conferences

B. do more practice calls

C. have a high-speed Internet connection

Trang: Mark, we're having a video conference with Tech Savvy next Thursday, but ...

Mark: Hold on. Is that the technology club at the Japanese school?

Trang: Exactly. But I'm a bit worried. I've never had a video conference call.

Mark: You're kidding! Who doesn’t know how to make a video call? Alright, let’s do a practice call now.

Trang: Hmm, what do I need to do first?

Mark: It’s a piece of cake, Trang. Now, you sit in front of the computer. I'll connect with you via one of my tablets and ...

Trang: Sorry, but how can I adjust this webcam? It’s focusing on my forehead.

Mark: Use this button to move it up or down, and this to zoom in or out. 

Trang: Thanks. And can you see me clearly on your tablet?

Mark: Yes, of course. We have a high-speed Internet connection here. 

Trang: I hope the conference goes smoothly.

Mark: I'm sure it will. We should hold more video conferences like this in the future. 

Trang: That's exactly how I feel. 

VI. Read the passage and choose the best option to answer to each of the following questions: (1.0p)

ANIMATION

The theory of the animated cartoon was introduced before the invention of the cinema by half a century. When working to create conversation pieces for Victorian shops, people discovered the principle of persistence of vision. If drawings of stages of an action were shown in fast succession, the human eye would perceive them as a continuous movement.

One of the first commercially successful devices, invented by the Belgian Joseph Plateau in 1832, was the phenakistoscope, a spinning cardboard disk that created the illusion of movement when viewed in a mirror. In 1834, William Horner invented the zoetrope, a rotating drum lined by a band of pictures. The Frenchman Emile Reynaud in 1876 adapted the principle into a form that could be projected before a theatrical audience. Reynaud became not only animation’s first entrepreneur but also the first artist to give personality and warmth to his animated characters.

1. What is the passage mainly about ?

A. Early history of animation B. the reason why animation is popular

C. The invention of Jeseph Plateau D. The first animation’s entrepreneur

2. When was the theory of animation developed ?

A. after the introduction of the cinema B. in 1832

C. about 50 years before the invention of the cinema D. in 1876

3. What happens to human eyes when pictures of the stages of an action were shown in fast succession ?

A. They will find the pictures move vivid B. They can not see the pictures

C. they will perceive the pictures as normal

D. They will see the pictures as a continuous movement

4. what is a phenakistoscope ?

A. a popular form of entertainment B. a spinning cardboard disk

C. a rotating drum lined by a band of pictures D. a collection of Victorian drawings

5. Who is NOT MENTIONED as an inventor of an animation- making device ?

A. Victoria B. William Horner C. Emile Reynaud D. Jeseph Plateau