I.       Choose the item among a, b, c or d that best answers the question about the passage.

Chiang Mai, also sometimes written as “Chiengmai”, is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand, and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is about 800 kilometers north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, although it lacks the cosmopolitan gloss of Bangkok. It has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come to the city each year. Chiang Mai’s historic strength derived from its important strategic location near a southern branch of the ancient Silk Road, and long before the modern influx of foreign visitors the city served as an important center for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewellery particular silver, and woodcarving.

36. Where is Chiang Mai?

      a. in the east of Thailand                                       b. in the south of Thailand

      c. in the north of Thailand                                     d. in the centre of Thailand

37. Which of the following sentences is NOT true about Chiang Mai?

      a. It is the largest city in Thailand.

      b. It is the capital city of Chiang Mai Province.

      c. It is nearly one thousand kilometers from the capital of Thailand.

      d. It is surrounded by high mountains.

38. Chiang Mai is now _____.

      a. an ancient city                                                   b. famous for its vehicles

      c. a quickly developing city                                  d. near the Silk Road

39. Which jewellery is Chiang Mai most famous for?

      a. umbrellas                   b. silver                            c. woodcarving                d. silks

40. The word “significant” in line 1 means _____.

      a. ancient                      b. large                             c. important                     d. developed

Chiang Mai, also sometimes weitten as " Chiengmai", is the largest and most cultural significant city in Northern Thailand, and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is 800 kilometers north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country The city stands on the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, althought is lacks the cosmopolitan gloss of Bangkok. It has many attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come to the city each year. Chiang Mai's historic strength derived from its important strategic location near a southern branch of ancient Silk Road, and long before the modern influx of foreign visitors the city served as an important centre for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewelry particular silver, and woodcarving.

*Questions:

1. Where is Chiang Mai?

a. in the east of Thailand

b. in the south of Thailand

c. in the north of Thailand

d. in the centre of Thailand

2. Which the following sentences is NOT true about Chiang Mai?

a. It is the largest city in Thailand

b. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province

c. It is nearly one thousand kilometers from the capital of Thailand

d. It is surrounded by high mountains

3. Chiang Mai is now ___________________________?

a. an ancient city

b. famous for its vehicles

c. a quickly developing city

d. near the Silk Road

4. Which jewelry is Chiang Mai most famous for?

a. umbrellas

b. silver

c. woodcarving

d silks

5. The word "significant" in line 2 means ___________________.

a. ancient

b. large

c. important

d. developed

II.  Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

      With a (1)                          of about 2.6 million people, Vancouver is the largest City in Western Canada. Vancouver is in the Southwest of Canada, and it is only a few hours of driving away from the American (2)                        .

      Vancouver is popular because it (3)                     so many things. It is a huge, modern City. On the other hand, it is also one of North America’s most beautiful areas. The natural beauty (4)                                   Vancouver is famous all around the world.

      Vancouver is right next to the Rocky Mountains, so it is a wonderful place for skiing and snowboarding. Those aren’t the only winter sports you can do there. If you can (5)             a winter sport, then you probably do that sport in Vancouver. After all, the 2010 Winter Olympics were there. Vancouver is also great for hiking, jogging, and skateboarding. It even has beaches. The beaches aren’t the (6)                        in the world, but they arc clean and pretty.

      (7)              place that you have to visit in Vancouver is Stanley Park. This is a public park that is a stone’s throw from (8)             . However, the park is completely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The nature in Stanley Park is beautiful. It is close to downtown, but it feels like it is 100 kilometres away. The park also has playgrounds, gardens, beaches, tennis courts, and even an (9)                      .

      Vancouver is something for everybody. It is no (10)                   that people think it is one of the world’s best cities.

1.   A. number                   B. exist                        C. control                    D. population

2.   A. area                         B. border                     C. region                     D. place

3.   A. includes                  B. insists                      C. combines                D. consists

4.   A. around                    B. over                        C. on                           D. upon

5.   A. repeat                     B. tell                          C. name                       D. separate

6.   A. good                       B. best                         C. better                      D. well

7.   A. Another                  B. Others                     C. Other                      D. Anothers

8.   A. mountain                B. hill                          C. village                     D. downtown

9.   A. quarter                    B. effort                      C. aquarium                 D. notice

10. A. wonder                   B. cause                       C. true                         D. fact

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Which of the following sentences is NOT true?

A. UFO means Unidentified Flying Object.

B. UFO is often used to talk about alien spaceships.

C. Many UFO sightings are hoaxes.

D. Over half of all reported UFO sightings are identified.

Task 2: Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each question below. 
Sydney is Australia’s most exciting city. The history of Australia begins here. In 1788 Captain Arthur Philips arrived in Sydney with 11 ships and 1624 passengers from Britain (including 770 prisoners). Today there are about 3.6 million people in Sydney. It is the biggest city in Australia, the busiest port in the South Pacific and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In Sydney, the buildings are higher, the colors are brighter and the nightlife is more exciting. There are over 20 excellent beaches close to Sydney and its warm climate and cool winter have made it a favorite city for immigrants from overseas. There are two things that make Sydney famous: its beautiful harbor, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, which was built in 1932 and the Sydney Opera House, which was opened in 1973.
1. Where did Captain Arthur Philips arrive in 1788?
A. Britain                       B. Sydney Harbor                                       C. Sydney

2.    Which of the following statements is NOT true about Sydney ?
A. Sydney is not a favorite city for immigrants from overseas.
B. Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
C. Sydney is the most exciting city in Australia.

3.    Which of the following should be the title of the reading passage?
A. Sydney’s Opera House
B. The history of Sydney
C. An introduction of Sydney

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

Passage 1:

New Orleans, in Louisiana, is known as the most unique city in the United States with distinctive architecture, cross-cultural heritage and annual music festivals.

However, due to its location along the Mississippi River with lakes on the other side, and nearly half of the city below sea level, the city faces the danger of flooding. So, a levee system and drainage canals were built to protect the city.

Early in the morning of August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, the most destructive natural disaster in the history of New Orleans, struck the city. The storm brought strong winds and heavy rains for several days. As a result, water from the river and lakes rose, breaking the levees and poured directly into the city. Soon 80 percent of the city was under the water. People scrambled to rooftops for safety, desperate for food and drinking water. The winds were so strong that even beds in Hyatt Hotel were seen flying out of the hotel windows. The loss was tremendous. Most of the major roads and bridges were destroyed, and houses collapsed. Nearly 2,000 people were killed. After the storm, several natural grounds for the breeding and migrating of different species of animals and birds were permanently lost.

Question 1: New Orleans is famous for ___________.

A.  its modern architecture                     C. its Mississippi River

B. its cross-cultural heritage                    D. its location

Question 2: Which statement is NOT correct about New Orleans?

A. It lies between the Mississippi River and lakes.

B. One of its attractions is its annual music festivals

C. The city is surrounded by water.

D. Most of the city is below sea level.

Question 3: Which one is NOT mentioned as being damaged by Hurricane Katrina?

A. Distinctive architecture         B. The levee system      C. Major roads        D. Houses

Question 4: The word ‘tremendous' means ___________.

A.puzzling                       B. huge                 C. unique                   D. legendary

Question 5: The word ‘permanently' is similar to ___________.

A.  temporarily            B.  partially                  C.  forever         D.  rarely

Passage 2:

        How can scientists predict earthquakes? Earthquakes are not scattered anywhere but happen in certain areas. They happen in places where pieces of the earth’s surface meet. For example, earthquakes often occur on the west-coast of North and South America, around the Mediterranean Sea, and along the Pacific coast of Asia.

Another way to predict earthquakes is to look for changes in the earth’s surface, like a sudden drop of water level in the ground. Some people say animals can predict earthquakes. Before earthquakes people have seen chickens sitting in trees, fish jumping out of the water, snake leaving their holes and other animals acting strangely.

After an earthquake happens, people can die from lack of food, water and medical supplies. The amount of destruction caused by an earthquake depend on types of building, soil conditions and population. Of the 6000 earthquakes on the earth each year, only about fifteen cause great damage and many deaths.

Question 1:  Earthquakes happen in certain areas where _______________.

A. the population is large             B. pieces of the earth’s surface meet

C. the soil conditions are stable      D. many buildings are built

Question 2: Earthquakes often happen along ________________.

A. the east-coast of North America          B. the east-coast of South America

C. the Pacific coast of Asia             D. the coast of Australia

Question 3: Looking for ____________ can help predict earthquakes.

A. changes in the earth’s surface        B. water beneath the earth’s surface

C. drops of water                     D. water currents

Question 4: After an earthquake, as a result of _________ people may die.

A. lack of food                              B. lack of friendship

C. lack of information              D. lack of knowledge

Question 5: The passage mainly discusses ______________.

A. the damage caused by earthquakes B. how strong earthquakes are

C. strange animal behaviors                         D. how to predict earthquakes