II. Read the text carefully, then do the tasks.
Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of Khmer people in Mekong Delta. Ok Om Bok Festival
takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at
worshipping the Moon.
At the night of the Full Moon day, Khmer people set up a table of offerings; new sticky rice,
yam, coconuts, bananas, sweeties, etc and bow their head to show their thanks to the Moon. After
that, there is a colorful and sparkling lanterns ceremony on Ba Om Lake. Khmer people not only
drop these lanterns on the lake but also fly them to the sky. Dozens of great lantern lighten the
night sky in bustling music and the joy of Khmer people. Khmer people believe that these lanterns
will bring bad luck and risk far away.
The most attractive and exciting activity of Ok Om Bok Festival is Ngo race (a special kind of
boat of Khmer people in shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in Ok Om
Bok Festival. Ngo is a long boat with 25 - 30 meters in length and 1 - 1.4 meter in width. There are
about 40 to 60 boatmen in every “Ngo” with a leader at the top to guide the whole team. Before the
race, people gather along the riverbanks making an exciting atmosphere. During the race, the
boisterous sound of drum, trumpet, cheers and applause urge boatmen row as fast as possible to the
end.
Overall, Ok Om Bok is an important festival in Khmer people’s life. Ok Om Bok Festival has
sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making a cultural characteristic of this ethnic
community.
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Ok Om Bok Festival is celebrated in October in the Western Calendar.
2. At the night of the festival, Khmer people drop lanterns on the lake and fly lanterns to the sky.
3. Ngo is a snake-shaped boat of Khmer people.
4. Ngo boat race takes place right after Ok Om Bok Festival.
5. The boatmen are encouraged by the people gathering along the riverbanks.
6. Ok Om Bok Festival promote traditional cultural identity of Khmer community.
B. Answer the questions.
1. When does Ok Om Bok Festival take place?
_______________________________________________________________
2. What is Ok Om Bok Festival celebrated for?
_______________________________________________________________
3. Where do Khmer people float their lanterns?
_______________________________________________________________
4. How long is a Ngo boat?
_______________________________________________________________

5. How many boatmen are there in every Ngo boat?_______________________________________________________________
6. Why is Ok Om Bok an important festival in Khmer people’s life?
_______________________________________________________________

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

Complete the summary by choosing one sentence (A, B, C, or D) that is among the most important ideas in the passage in the blank

A. Because a blue moon is uncommon, “once in a blue moon” means “rarely” or “never”.

B. The calendar devised by the Romans works well.

C. The lunar calendar was invested by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar.

D. The Roman calendar is still in use today.

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

Why doesn’t our calendar match the lunar cycle exactly?

A. It has more days than it sound

B. The lunar cycle is wrong

C.  Our calendar was not designed by humans

D. Our calendar was designed by humans

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

According to the passage, to what does the term “blue moon” refer?

A. A moon with the color blue

B. Cold nights causing the moon to appear blue

C. The second full moon in one month

D. Events that could never happen

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

Why did people use the expression “blue moon” to mean something that would never happen?

A.  Because the moon will never turn blue

B. Because we use the Roman calendar

C. Because it is rare for two full moons to be in the month

D. Because the lunar cycle does not match our calendar

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

Which is the best place for the following sentence?

“In fact, this phrase has taken on other meanings over the years as well.”

A. [1] 

B. [2] 

C. [3] 

D. [4]

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

According to the passage, which of the following is not true?

A. The meaning of the “blue moon” changed over the years.

B. The phrase “once in a blue moon” could refer to two people eating dinner together

C. The lunar calendar was invested by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar

D. The Roman calendar is still in use today.

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 26 to 35.

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon” is a term that is used to describe the phenomenon of a second full moon occurring in one month. How could two full moons possibly occur in a single month? It is not nature’s fault; the natural phrases of the moon do not perfectly match up with the Roman calendar.

Although still used today, this calendar was devised by Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar over 2000 years ago. While the calendar works well, the method that they used does not match the lunar cycle exactly. Thus, occasionally the moon will go through its “full” phrase twice before the month changes.

[1] A “blue moon” is an uncommon event. [2] And it rare occurrence of a eventually led to the usage of the phrase “once in a blue moon”. [3] This phrase was commonly used to indicate an event that could never happen. Over time, the meaning of the phrase changed from something that seldom happens. [4] Today, this phrase is used to indicate extremely rare events, the absurd, or things that never happen.

The word “absurd” in the passage is closet in meaning to

A.  Normal

B. Ridiculous

C.  Interesting

D. Frequent