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Recently fans of top soaps, dramas and reality shows in the USA have started to get angry about the number and frequency of the adverts in the middle of the programmes. Sometimes it seems that the adverts are more important than the programmes themselves. For example, American dramas aren’t as long as they
were in the past. Nowadays in the US, an “hour- long” drama lasts about 40 minutes, whereas in the 1980s the programmes lasted 48 minutes. The rest is adverts.
    The ABC channel had slightly more adverts than other channels. But recently they’ve changed, which is even worse than before! Before, all their dramas had four sections. But now its producers separate each programmes into six sections. Usually the first section is approximately ten minutes long. Then they have the first break. When people have watched a programme for ten minutes, it’s much less probable that they will stop watching or change channels. But then, in the next 45 minutes, there are four more commercial breaks. Each break is about three and a half minutes long.
    All of this makes it much more difficult for dramas’ writers to write good stories. Quiet scenes make no impact because there are more and more adverts which are longer and longer. “It’s OK for game shows or more exciting adventure series” says American TV producer David Kelly. “But for programmes that don’t depend on violence or melodramatic scenes, it’s more difficult to make a story with six sections. The only thing you can do is be more aggressive, either with the music or the visual impact, just to attract people’s attention after the adverts”.

Question 31: Which could be the best title of the passage?
A. Adverts turn TV viewers off.
B. Commercial breaks increase productivity.
C. TV commercials are no longer in favour.
D. Modern advertising is an advantage.
Question 32: The phrase “the programmes” in paragraph 1 refers to ________.
A. reality shows  B. the ABC channels  C. American dramas   D. the adverts
Question 33: The word “probable” in paragraph 2 mostly means ______.
A. causing worry                          B. unable to believe
C. very difficult to deal with          D. likely to happen
Question 34: According to the passage, previously all of the ABC channel’s dramas________.
A. lasted 40 minutes          B. consisted of 4 parts
C. had six segments          D. were divided into 5 separate parts
Question 35: Which of the following is TRUE about game shows as stated in the passage?
A. Quiet scenes in game shows are important factors in attracting people’s attention.
B. It is possible to make them as six-part programmes.
C. They rely neither on violence nor melodramatic scenes.
D. They attract TV viewers by adverts lasting for three minutes.

Viet Nam and other ASEAN members always desire that other countries, particularly the major powers, support the ASEAN Community’s ______, its principle of consensus and unity. (Former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung)

A. role model

B. central function

C. central role

D. middle role

III. Read the text and decide whether the sentences are true (T) or false (F)

USAID IN Vietnam

Assisting persons with disabilities has long been one of the top priorities for the U.S. Government in Vietnam. Since 1989, with the establishment of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF), USAID is working to increase the availability of and access to a wide variety of programs benefiting people with disabilities in conflict-affected countries.

In Vietnam, U. S. assistance has helped address medical needs and support the inclusion of Vietnamese with disabilities into all aspects of society. The U.S. Government has contributed more than $80 million in assistance to persons with disabilities, has improved the lives of more than 30,000 persons with disabilities, and has strengthened the Government of Vietnam’s capacity to provide high quality services to those in need. USAID has provided rehabilitation services for tens of thousands of persons with disabilities, education and vocational training including information technology, job placement, supporting parent associations to expand the advocacy for disability issues, and support for the development of legal codes to improve physical accessibility for persons with disabilities in public buildings.

USAID'S work supporting persons with disabilities is also viewed by many as contributing to successful US-Vietnam cooperation to overcome the painful past shared by the two countries. Program activities work in three areas: policy advocacy and coordination, direct assistance including occupational and physical therapy and providing assistive devices, and health systems strengthening, to provide quality disabilities-related care and treatment. Persons with disabilities have been more readily integrated into society by improving their access to health, education and social services. USAID programs support local governments in implementing the national disability law and the U.N. Convention on the rights of Persons with disabilities, and influencing public policies that affect the lives of persons with disabilities.

1. USAID was established in 1989 _____

2. USAID aims to make various programs benefiting all people in conflict-affected countries ___________

3. Addressing medical needs of Vietnamese people is the priority of U.S assistance in Vietnam ___________

4. American government has made an $80 million contribution to help disabled people in Vietnam __________

5. Thanks to USAID, more high quality services are provided to disabled people in Vietnam __________

6. USAID has helped to rehabilitate only a limited number of persons with disabilities in Vietnam __________

7. USAID work makes a great contribution to the success of US-Vietnam cooperation ___________

8. The main focus of USAID activities is providing direct assistance with occupation replacement and health treatment for the disabled. ___________

9. Having better access to health, education and social services, the disabled in Vietnam have become more integrated into society ___________

10. Thanks to USAID programs, the Vietnam's national disability law and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities have been enforced ___________

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The transition of digital photography from the privilege of rich people to an ordinary home appliance has caused some problems. That is the reason a modern man has a set of questions concerning digital cameras. The basic problem in choosing a digital camera is the (guarantee) that the device you are purchasing will “grow old” in a couple of months due to constant improvements and developments of technology. The only factor that may delay this process of “growing old” is purchasing a device with the price twice or three times higher than the average market price for a digital camera at the moment. If a person chooses a digital camera, there are several criteria of a great priority he needs to keep in mind: the price and the image resolution of the camera, the capacity of the memory card, the presence of an LCD display, the interface of the device and (its) weight and size.
    The price of digital camera (depends on) its quality factors. The resolution of a digital camera or the “size of a digital image, is measured in pixels which are photosensitive elements. It is common knowledge that the bigger the amount of pixels in the camera properties is, the better it is. Therefore, if a high- detailed photo is required, the usage of the zoom on a digital camera with low resolution will not give the desired result. In this case, a person choosing a digital camera needs to exactly know what it will be used for and to choose it according to its future destination. It is necessary to mention that the resolution of 640x 480 is the lowest resolution any customer should be orientated to. It is the minimal resolution with which the purchase of a digital camera still remains reasonable.
    The lens of the camera or the zoom properties allows saving a lot on the price of the device but hits the quality of the pictures. The memory card is a very important issue, too. It is much better to choose a good camera with a small memory capacity than an average digital camera with a larger memory capacity. The presence of an LCD display is no longer a wish. It is a requirement for any digital camera. It allows people to check the future image, to anticipate it and to delete bad images and therefore to save space.

Question 36: What is the best title for this passage?
A. How to Choose a Digital Camera
B. The Transition of Digital Photography
C. Problems in Purchasing a Camera
D. Elements of a Digital Camera
Question 37: In the first paragraph, the word “guarantee” is closest in meaning to_______.
A. employee   B. guidance    C. chance    D. assurance
Question 38: What does the word “its” in paragraph 1 refers to_____.
A. the memory card   B. the camera   C. the display    D. the price
Question 39: In the second paragraph, the phrase “depends on” is closest in meaning to______.
A. is decided by    B. is created by    C. consists of    D. makes up
Question 40: According to paragraph 2, when we are talking about the resolution of a digital camera, all of the following are what we should be aware of EXCEPT_______.
A. the future destination of the camera
B. the lowest resolution any customer should be orientated to
C. the size and weight of the camera
D. The purpose the camera will be used for
Question 41: What can we infer from the passage?
A. The larger the capacity of the memory card is, the better the camera is.
B. It is not so necessary to pay attention to the presence of an LCD display.
C. The lens of the camera is useless.
D. The quality of the camera is much more important than the capacity of the memory card.
Question 42: According to the passage, which kind of cameras may a customer NOT TRUE?
A. A camera with a much higher price than the average market price.
B. A camera with minimal resolution but still sounds reasonable to purchase.
C. An average camera with a large memory capacity.
D. An excellent camera with a small memory capacity.

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Study of the origins and distribution of human populations used to be based on archaeological and fossil evidence. A number of techniques developed since the 1950s, however, have placed the study of these subjects on a sounder and more objective footing. The best information on early population movements is
now being obtained from the “archaeology of the living body”, the clues to be found in genetic material.
   Recent work on the problem of when people first entered the Americas is an example of the value of these new techniques. North-east Asia and Siberia have long been accepted as the launching ground for the first human colonisers of the New World. But was there one major wave of migration across the Bering
Strait into the Americas, or several? And when did this event, or events, take place? In recent years, new clues have come from research into genetics, including the distribution of genetic markers in modern Native Americans.
     An important project, led by the biological anthropologist Robert Williams, focused on the variants (called GM allotypes) of one particular protein – immunoglobin G – found in the fluid portion of human blood. All proteins “drift”, or produce variants, over the generations, and members of an interbreeding
human population will share a set of such variants. Thus, by comparing the GM allotypes of two different populations (e.g. two Indian tribes), one can establish their genetic “distance”, which itself can be calibrated to give an indication of the length of time since these populations last interbred.
   Williams and his colleagues sampled the blood of over 5,000 American Indians in western North America during a twenty-year period. They found that their GM allotypes could be divided into two groups, one of which also corresponded to the genetic typing of Central and South American Indians. Other tests showed that the Eskimo and Aleut formed a third group. From this evidence it was deduced that there had been three major waves of migration across the Bering Strait. The first, Paleo Indian, was more than 15,000 years ago was ancestral to all Central and South American Indians. The second wave, about 14,000-12,000 years ago, brought Na-Dene hunters, ancestors of the Navajo and Apache who migrated south from Canada about 600 to 7000 years ago. The third wave, perhaps 10,000 or 9,000 years ago, saw the migration from
North-east Asia of groups ancestral to the modern Eskimo and Aleut.

Question 21: Which of the following best serves as the title of the passage?
A. When the migration in America happened.
B. The relationship between population movements and genetics.
C. Distribution of human population in America.
D. The evidences of genetics in America.
Question 22: Where did scientists find out the information on early population movements?
A. From human distribution
B. From archeological documents of living creatures.
C. From fossil evidence
D. From genetic material of the living body
Question 23: According to Robert Williams, Gm allotypes of immunoglobin G in human blood show one person belongs to an interbreeding human population_______?
A. Because of a similar set of variants.
B. Because the protein, immunoglobin G, produces variants.
C. When a population establishes genetic distance.
D. When the populations interbred.
Question 24: The word “indication” paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to_________?
A. discussion     B. statement      C. suggestion      D. idea
Question 25: When did Robert William start to do research on blood samples of American Indians?
A. 9,000 years ago  B. 600 years ago  C. 5,000 years ago  D. 20 years ago
Question 26: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4?
A. Williams had another research in Arizona.
B. Williams found out major waves of immigration.
C. Williams showed the milestones of each wave.
D. Williams studied the ancestors of Eskimo and Aleut.
Question 27: The word “their” paragraph 4 refers to________?
A. William and his colleagues       B. American Indians
C. Blood samples                          D. Two populations

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Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique folk art. It's said that ‘Not watching a performance of water puppetry means not visiting Vietnam yet.' That's why water puppetry is a must-see show for tourists in Vietnam. Watching this show can help you escape from your busy life and refresh your minds with unforgettable moments.

During the shows, you can only see the puppets and a small folk orchestra of about 7 people; the puppeteers stand behind a curtained backdrop in a pool. All puppets are made of fig wood which goes along well with water. Then they are carved and painted. The themes of the shows are very familiar to Vietnamese people. They focus on the daily life of farmers and common aspects of Vietnamese spiritual life.

Vietnamese water puppetry has been introduced to many countries all over the world and received much love from audiences. Foreigners don't understand Vietnamese, but they enjoy the shows because the puppets clearly demonstrate Vietnamese life and culture through their actions. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on Dinh Tien Hoang Street near Hoan Kiem Lake is the most popular theatre for water puppetry.

Question. ________ is one of the themes of the puppet shows.

A. The daily life of farmers

B. Common aspects of Vietnamese spiritual life

C. Both A and B are correct.

D. None are correct.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the question.

The world needs to do more to prepare for the impact of a rapidly ageing population, the UN has warned - particularly in developing countries. Within 10 years the number of people aged over 60 will pass one billion, a report by the UN Population Fund said. The demographic shift will present huge challenges to countries’ welfare, pension and healthcare systems. The UN agency also said more had to be done to tackle "abuse, neglect and violence against older persons".

The number of older people worldwide is growing faster than any other age group. The report, Ageing in the let Century: A Celebration and a Challenge, estimates that one in nine people around the world are older than 60. The elderly population is expected to swell by 200 million in the next decade to surpass one billion, and reach two billion by 2050. This rising proportion of older people is a consequence of success - improved nutrition, sanitation, healthcare, education and economic well-being are contributing factors, the report says.

But the UN and a charity that also contributed to the report, Help Age International, say the ageing population is being widely mismanaged. "In many developing countries with large populations of young people, the challenge is that governments have not put policies and practices in place to support their current older populations or made enough preparations for 2050," the agencies said in a joint statement.

The number of the elderly rises because of the following reasons, EXCEPT ________.

A. sanitation        

B. medical care     

C. economic well-being

D. finance

  An increasing number of people are now going on (1) ________ to Egypt. Last year, for example, about one and a half million tourists visited this country. The population of Egypt is about fifty million and the (2) ________ is Cairo, a busy city of just under nine million people. Although the weather is hot and dry and most of the country is desert, the average temperature from October to March is not too high. The most (3) _______ sights are the pyramids at Giza. However, it is also pleasant to visit Alexandria, Port Said and several other places and do as much (4) ________ as possible in the time available. A trip to Luxor is an unforgettable experience. It is not difficult to go there because there are frequent (5) ________ there from Cairo.

1. A. holiday         B. visit  C. excursion          D. trip

2. A. head         B. principal  C. capital      D. state

3. A. requested    B. know  C. excited        D. famous

4. A. joining       B. sightseeing  C. looking      D. thinking

5. A. flights        B. places           C. times        D. flies