Read the following passage and choose the best option for each numbered blank.

The Maldives are a group of very small islands in the Indian Ocean, near Sri Lanka. It has the smallest (1) __________ of any Asian countries. There are about 1200 islands and there are people living on 200 of them. About 400,000 people live in the Maldives and 75,000 of them are (2)__________ the capital island, Mal. Mal is different from the other islands in the Maldives because it doesn't have any beaches. In fact, there is a small wall (3) __________ goes around the whole islands.

It is very easy to get around the islands. When you (4) __________ on the airpot island, you can take a dhoni and go to Mal. This is a small boat used for (5) __________ around the islands. Dhoni taxis go from the airport island to the capital island every fifteen minutes and (6) __________ midnight every half an hour. You can use these boats to visit other islands, too.

The Maldives are a popular place for scuba diving (7) __________ there are many wonderful fish in the water to see. Also, the water is very clear so when you are (8) __________ you can see for more than 500 metres! There are many professionals diving schools with instructors. They speak many languages, so you can (9) __________ someone to help you. Of course, that’s not all you can do on this beautiful islands. You can go whale and dolphin (10) __________, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, hiking or explore the towns.

1. A. nation B. population C. area D. inhabitant

2. A. in B. at C. above D. on

3. A. who B. where C. that D. it

4. A. arrive B. travel C. depart D. leave

5. A. education B. transportation C. production D. translation

6. A. at B. before C. on D. after

7. A. although B. because C. however D. furthermore

8. A. underwater B. underlevel C. undersea D. Underneath

9. A. look B. see C. find D. hold

10. A. playing B. catching C. hearing D. watching

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 30 to 34.

        A tropical cyclone is a violent low pressure storm that usually occurs over warm oceans of over 80°F or 27°C. It winds counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as it is described for the term, cyclone itself. This powerful storm is fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses at high altitudes, the heat ultimately derived from the Sun.

        The center of a tropical cyclone, called the eye, is relatively calm and warm. This eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, is clear, mainly because of subsiding air within it. The ring of clouds around the eye is the eyewall, where clouds reach highest and precipitation is heaviest. The strong wind, gusting up to 360 kilometers per hour, occurs when a tropical cyclone’s eyewall passes over land.

        There are various names for a tropical cyclone depending on its location and strength. In Asia, a tropical cyclone is named according to its strength. The strongest is a typhoon; its winds move at more than 117 kilometers per hour. In India, it is called a cyclone. Over the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific, they call it a hurricane.

        On average, there are about 100 tropical cyclones worldwide each year. A tropical cyclone peaks in late summer when the difference between temperature in the air and sea surface is the greatest. However, it has its own seasonal patterns. May is the least active month, while September is the most active.

        The destruction associated with a tropical cyclone results not only from the force of the wind, but also from the storm surge and the waves it generates. It is born and sustained over large bodies of warm water, and loses its strength over inland regions that are comparatively safe from receiving strong winds. Although the tract of a tropical cyclone is very erratic, the Weather Service can still issue timely warnings to the public if a tropical cyclone is approaching densely populated areas. If people ever experience a cyclone, they would know how strong it could be.

The word “erratic” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to_____

A. complicated

B. unpredictable

C. disastrous

D. explosive

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 30 to 34.

        A tropical cyclone is a violent low pressure storm that usually occurs over warm oceans of over 80°F or 27°C. It winds counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as it is described for the term, cyclone itself. This powerful storm is fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses at high altitudes, the heat ultimately derived from the Sun.

        The center of a tropical cyclone, called the eye, is relatively calm and warm. This eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, is clear, mainly because of subsiding air within it. The ring of clouds around the eye is the eyewall, where clouds reach highest and precipitation is heaviest. The strong wind, gusting up to 360 kilometers per hour, occurs when a tropical cyclone’s eyewall passes over land.

        There are various names for a tropical cyclone depending on its location and strength. In Asia, a tropical cyclone is named according to its strength. The strongest is a typhoon; its winds move at more than 117 kilometers per hour. In India, it is called a cyclone. Over the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific, they call it a hurricane.

        On average, there are about 100 tropical cyclones worldwide each year. A tropical cyclone peaks in late summer when the difference between temperature in the air and sea surface is the greatest. However, it has its own seasonal patterns. May is the least active month, while September is the most active.

        The destruction associated with a tropical cyclone results not only from the force of the wind, but also from the storm surge and the waves it generates. It is born and sustained over large bodies of warm water, and loses its strength over inland regions that are comparatively safe from receiving strong winds. Although the tract of a tropical cyclone is very erratic, the Weather Service can still issue timely warnings to the public if a tropical cyclone is approaching densely populated areas. If people ever experience a cyclone, they would know how strong it could be.

According to paragraph 2, which of the following is true about the eyewall?

A. The eyewall is formed in cold weather. 

B. When the eyewall passes overhead, the wind weakens. 

C. The temperature is highest around the eye. 

D. The eyewall is a cloud band that surrounds the eye.

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 30 to 34.

        A tropical cyclone is a violent low pressure storm that usually occurs over warm oceans of over 80°F or 27°C. It winds counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as it is described for the term, cyclone itself. This powerful storm is fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses at high altitudes, the heat ultimately derived from the Sun.

        The center of a tropical cyclone, called the eye, is relatively calm and warm. This eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, is clear, mainly because of subsiding air within it. The ring of clouds around the eye is the eyewall, where clouds reach highest and precipitation is heaviest. The strong wind, gusting up to 360 kilometers per hour, occurs when a tropical cyclone’s eyewall passes over land.

        There are various names for a tropical cyclone depending on its location and strength. In Asia, a tropical cyclone is named according to its strength. The strongest is a typhoon; its winds move at more than 117 kilometers per hour. In India, it is called a cyclone. Over the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific, they call it a hurricane.

        On average, there are about 100 tropical cyclones worldwide each year. A tropical cyclone peaks in late summer when the difference between temperature in the air and sea surface is the greatest. However, it has its own seasonal patterns. May is the least active month, while September is the most active.

        The destruction associated with a tropical cyclone results not only from the force of the wind, but also from the storm surge and the waves it generates. It is born and sustained over large bodies of warm water, and loses its strength over inland regions that are comparatively safe from receiving strong winds. Although the tract of a tropical cyclone is very erratic, the Weather Service can still issue timely warnings to the public if a tropical cyclone is approaching densely populated areas. If people ever experience a cyclone, they would know how strong it could be.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The tropical cyclone is the most powerful force on the earth. 

B. The tropical cyclone can cause flooding and damage to structures. 

C. A tropical cyclone forms over the oceans and has great power. 

D. The tropical cyclone is called by different names around the world.

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 30 to 34.

        A tropical cyclone is a violent low pressure storm that usually occurs over warm oceans of over 80°F or 27°C. It winds counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as it is described for the term, cyclone itself. This powerful storm is fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses at high altitudes, the heat ultimately derived from the Sun.

        The center of a tropical cyclone, called the eye, is relatively calm and warm. This eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, is clear, mainly because of subsiding air within it. The ring of clouds around the eye is the eyewall, where clouds reach highest and precipitation is heaviest. The strong wind, gusting up to 360 kilometers per hour, occurs when a tropical cyclone’s eyewall passes over land.

        There are various names for a tropical cyclone depending on its location and strength. In Asia, a tropical cyclone is named according to its strength. The strongest is a typhoon; its winds move at more than 117 kilometers per hour. In India, it is called a cyclone. Over the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific, they call it a hurricane.

        On average, there are about 100 tropical cyclones worldwide each year. A tropical cyclone peaks in late summer when the difference between temperature in the air and sea surface is the greatest. However, it has its own seasonal patterns. May is the least active month, while September is the most active.

        The destruction associated with a tropical cyclone results not only from the force of the wind, but also from the storm surge and the waves it generates. It is born and sustained over large bodies of warm water, and loses its strength over inland regions that are comparatively safe from receiving strong winds. Although the tract of a tropical cyclone is very erratic, the Weather Service can still issue timely warnings to the public if a tropical cyclone is approaching densely populated areas. If people ever experience a cyclone, they would know how strong it could be.

The word “it” in paragraph 5 refers to _____.

A. a tropical cyclone

B. the wind

C. torrential rain

D. the storm surge

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 30 to 34.

        A tropical cyclone is a violent low pressure storm that usually occurs over warm oceans of over 80°F or 27°C. It winds counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as it is described for the term, cyclone itself. This powerful storm is fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses at high altitudes, the heat ultimately derived from the Sun.

        The center of a tropical cyclone, called the eye, is relatively calm and warm. This eye, which is roughly 20 to 30 miles wide, is clear, mainly because of subsiding air within it. The ring of clouds around the eye is the eyewall, where clouds reach highest and precipitation is heaviest. The strong wind, gusting up to 360 kilometers per hour, occurs when a tropical cyclone’s eyewall passes over land.

        There are various names for a tropical cyclone depending on its location and strength. In Asia, a tropical cyclone is named according to its strength. The strongest is a typhoon; its winds move at more than 117 kilometers per hour. In India, it is called a cyclone. Over the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific, they call it a hurricane.

        On average, there are about 100 tropical cyclones worldwide each year. A tropical cyclone peaks in late summer when the difference between temperature in the air and sea surface is the greatest. However, it has its own seasonal patterns. May is the least active month, while September is the most active.

        The destruction associated with a tropical cyclone results not only from the force of the wind, but also from the storm surge and the waves it generates. It is born and sustained over large bodies of warm water, and loses its strength over inland regions that are comparatively safe from receiving strong winds. Although the tract of a tropical cyclone is very erratic, the Weather Service can still issue timely warnings to the public if a tropical cyclone is approaching densely populated areas. If people ever experience a cyclone, they would know how strong it could be.

What can be inferred about typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes?

A. Typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes form together above the oceans. 

B. A typhoon is stronger than both the cyclone and the hurricane. 

C. Typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes are all most powerful over a humid ocean. 

D. Although tropical cyclones have different names, they are basically the same.

III. Read the text and then answer the questions.

SCOTLAND - THE LAND OF LEGENDS

Scotland is in the north of Great Britain. It is famous for its rich culture as well as its amazing natural beauty. Visitors to this land can spend endless days exploring its historic centuries-old castles. But be aware – legend says that some of them are haunted by ghosts. Fun-lovers can experience its world-famous festival, the Highland Games where they can enjoy unique Scottish activities such as the piping, drumming, and dancing. They can also see traditional sports, or drink whisky with the local people. Driving through vast green pastures, or boating on scenic lakes – or lochs – are other attractions that Scotland offers.

The great people of this legendary land have also given many of the world’s important inventions like the telephone, the television, penicillin and the raincoat. Edinburgh, the capital, was the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade in 1824. Edinburgh University welcomed the first female medical student in Great Britain in 1869.

1. Is Scotland famous for its rich culture?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………2. What might you see while you are exploring a castle?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………3. What are some activities you can see at the Scottish Highland Games?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Which first city in the world  has its own fire brigade ?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Do you want to visit Scotland? Why or why not?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Bai 1: Complete each sentences with an appropriate preposition.
1/ This handcrafted cushion reminds me _______the wonderful time I spent in Bangkok Chinatown.
2/ Another method, used especially for figures, was to pour the clay _________ a mould.
3/Amritsar is famous _____ its carpet-weaving industry.
4/After playing some team-building game, we gathered and had afternoon tea ______ the lawn.
5/Maldives is among the countries relying heavily______ tourism.
6/ We took some clay and made it______ a vase shape.
7/ Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral is considered as a place______ interest in HCM city.

Fill in the spaces with a suitable word based on the one provided in brackets

1. __________ meals are very important due to the energy they provide us daily (nutrition)

2. If Steve eats those __________ chicken wings, he may have a stomachache (undercook)

3. Since we can cook many dishes with celery, it is very__________ (versatility)

4. The Maldives is a __________ nation made up of hundreds of islands (tropic)

5. Recently, the world has been knocked out by the __________ of Son Doing cave (magnificent)

6. In spitet of the jungle's natural beauty, it is __________ due to dangerous animals (accessible)

7. Sofia wishes she went to an English __________ school where she had lots of international friends (immerse)

8. The __________ of English form helps new learners remember words easily (simple)

9. English can borrow words from other languages because of its __________ (open)