I.      Choose the word (a, b, c or d) that best fits each of the blank spaces.

From a European perspective, the first explores were engaged in the settlement and discovery of the 'new world'. However, the history of the United States is but a recent episode (16) _____ comparison with the history of the North America continent and its (17) _____. Between 54 million and 2 million years ago, the continent evolved into the form we know today. At least 15,000 to 20,000 years ago, nomadic hunters began to migrate from Asia across the Bering Strait.

By the fifteenth century, when the European nations were 'discovering' America, the country (18) _____ by minimum of 2 million natives. Most of the tribes had developed some kind of agriculture or (19) _____ while remaining as hunters and retaining nomadic characteristics. They roamed the high western plains, hunted mountain valleys, and farmed along the river from coast to coast. There was considerable diversity and there (20) _____ several hundred different languages among the wide-ranging tribes. Several tribes, such as Iroquois, were very (21) _____ in achieving political unit and extending their influence.

The native (22) _____ were very well adapted to their environment and without the aid of natives, the first European settlers might not have survived. Many native vegetables, (23) _____ maize and potatoes became important staples. Moreover, native trackers, guided expeditions and taught hunters and explorers the ways of the land. For years, U.S. history began with Columbus, but today the cultures and contributions of the early inhabitants of the Americans (24) _____ studied and acknowledged. The story of the North America begins the true origin of the continent and (25) _____ people

16. a. in                               b. on                                 c. when                            d. Æ

17. a. civil                           b. people                          c. civilian                         d. inhabitant

18. a. was inhabited            b. inhabited                      c. has been inhabited       d. had inhabited

19. a. fish                            b. fishes                           c. fishing                          d. fisher

20. a. was                            b. were                             c. had been                       d. has been

21. a. success                      b. succeed                        c. successful                     d. successfully

22. a. people                       b. peoples                         c. nations                         d. settlers

23. a. so like                        b. example                       c. such as                         d. so as

24. a. had                            b. has                               c. is                                  d. are

25. a. it’s                             b. hers                              c. this                               d. its

Choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best completes each of the following sentences.

                                                             SWIMMING

The warm rain tumbled from the gutter in one of those midsummer downpours as I hastened across the lawn behind my house and took shelter in the pool. Breaststroking up and down, I nosed along with eyes just at water level. Each raindrop exploded in a momentary, bouncing fountain that turned into a bubble and burst. The best moments were when the storm intensified, drowning birdsong, and a haze rose off the water as though the pool itself were rising to meet the lowering sky.

It was at the height of this drenching in the summer of 1996 that the notion of a long swim through Britain began to form itself. I wanted to follow the rain on its meanderings about our land to rejoin the sea, to break out of the frustration of a lifetime doing lengths, of endlessly turning back on myself like a tiger pacing its cage.

Most of us live in a world where more and more places and things are signposted, labeled, and officially 'interpreted'. There is something about all this that is turning the reality of things into virtual reality. It is the reason why walking, cycling, and swimming will always be subversive activities. They allow us to regain a sense of what is old and wild, by getting off the beaten track and breaking free of the official version of things. A swimming journey would give me access to that part of our world which, like darkness, misty woods, or high mountains, still retains most mystery.

1, The incident in 1996 illustrates that, to the writer, rain is a symbol of  ____________

A.    repetitive cycles.

B.    enviable freedom.

C.    destroyed illusions.

D.   threatening power.

→ Explanation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2, Why does the writer regard swimming as a 'subversive activity'?

A.  It involves no equipment or technology.

B.  It replicates an ancient skill.

C.  It allows direct contact with nature.

D.  It requires no official permission.

→ Explanation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

→ Explaination: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2, Why does the writer regard swimming as a 'subversive activity'?

A.  It involves no equipment or technology.

B.  It replicates an ancient skill.

C.  It allows direct contact with nature.

D.  It requires no official permission.

→ Explaination: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Levi Strauss, a young immigrant from Germany, arrived in San Francisco in 1850. California was in the middle of the Gold Rush. Thousands of men were coming to California to dig for gold. And Strauss came to sell canvas to these gold miners. Canvas is a heavy fabric. So Strauss thought the miners could use the canvas for tents.

One day Strauss heard a miner complain that he couldn't find clothes strong enough for the work he was doing. Strauss got an idea. He quickly took some of his canvas and made it into pants. These pants were what the miners needed. In one day Strauss sold all the pants he had made.

Strauss wanted to improve his pants. He wanted to make them even better. He bought a fabric that was softer than canvas but just as strong. This fabric came from Nimes, a city in France, and was called serge de Nimes. The miners liked this fabric. They called it "denim" (from de Nimes) and bought even more pants from Strauss.

However, denim had no color. Because of this the denim pants did not look very interesting, and they got dirty easily. To solve these problems, Strauss dyed the denim blue.

Strauss continued to improve his jeans. Today, the company he started is known around the world. And jeans are considered not just practical but very fashionable as well.

26. What could be the best title of the passage?  

      a. A Young Immigrant From Germany                  b. The History of Blue Jeans

      c. Serge de Nimes                                                   d. The Gold Rush

27. According to the writer, why did Levi Strauss come to California?

      a. He came to California to dig for gold.               b. He came to California to sell pants.

      c. He came to California to buy denim.                 d. He came to California to sell canvas.

28. Blue jeans _____.

      a. did not look very interesting                               b. are considered not practical

      c. got dirty easily                                                    d. are considered good for many uses

29. What is the meaning of the word “immigrant” in the first paragraph?

      a. person who is good in business                          b. person who buys and sells things

      c. person who moves to another country               d. person who works in a mine

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Levi Strauss was the first person to make blue jeans.

      b. Strauss made his first jeans from a fabric called serge de Nimes.

      c. The first jeans were very strong.

      d. Nimes is a city in France.

Choose the item (A, B, C, or D) that best completes each of the following sentences.

The warm rain tumbled from the gutter in one of those midsummer downpours as I hastened across the lawn behind my house and took shelter in the pool. Breaststroking up and down, I nosed along with eyes just at water level. Each raindrop exploded in a momentary, bouncing fountain that turned into a bubble and burst. The best moments were when the storm intensified, drowning birdsong, and a haze rose off the water as though the pool itself were rising to meet the lowering sky.

It was at the height of this drenching in the summer of 1996 that the notion of a long swim through Britain began to form itself. I wanted to follow the rain on its meanderings about our land to rejoin the sea, to break out of the frustration of a lifetime doing lengths, of endlessly turning back on myself like a tiger pacing its cage.

Most of us live in a world where more and more places and things are signposted, labeled, and officially 'interpreted'. There is something about all this that is turning the reality of things into virtual reality. It is the reason why walking, cycling, and swimming will always be subversive activities. They allow us to regain a sense of what is old and wild, by getting off the beaten track and breaking free of the official version of things. A swimming journey would give me access to that part of our world which, like darkness, misty woods, or high mountains, still retains most mystery.

1, The incident in 1996 illustrates that, to the writer, rain is a symbol of  ____________

A.    repetitive cycles.

B.    enviable freedom.

C.    destroyed illusions.

D.   threatening power.

→ Explanation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2, Why does the writer regard swimming as a 'subversive activity'?

A.  It involves no equipment or technology.

B.  It replicates an ancient skill.

C.  It allows direct contact with nature.

D.  It requires no official permission.

→ Explanation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

After the Revolutionary War people in America were able to get news of European fashions. Fashion plates (= pictures) and dolls showing the latest fashions were sent to the US, and American women began wearing large hoop skirts. Some people thought that heavy hoops and corsets were bad for the health, and encouraged women to wear looser clothes. Amelia Bloomer designed light frilled trousers, called bloomers, but many people laughed at them. Though bloomers were not popular, there was a fashion for smaller, lighter skirts. American men also followed fashion and began wearing long trousers (or pants) instead of breeches.

26. When did American women begin to wear large hoop skirts?

      a. After the Revolutionary War

      b. After fashions plates and dolls showing the latest fashion

      c. After buying fashion plates and dolls

      d. After some people encouraged women to wear looser clothes

27. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. The American Clothing After Revolution War

      b. The American Cloths After Revolution War

      c. The Influence of the European Fashions

      d. The History of Bloomers

28. In the context of the passage, the word “encouraged” means _____.

      a. suggested that someone did something

      b. helped someone do something

      c. gave someone hope

      d. helped so that someone continue doing something

29. The word “them” in sentence 5 refers to _____.

      a. hoops and corsets                                                b. bloomers                       

      c. some American people                                       d. American women

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Some people persuaded women not to wear heavy hoops and corsets.

      b. Amelia Bloomer was the one who designed frilled trousers.

      c. Americans liked wearing large hoop skirts.

      d. American men used to wear breeches.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

After the Revolutionary War people in America were able to get news of European fashions. Fashion plates (= pictures) and dolls showing the latest fashions were sent to the US, and American women began wearing large hoop skirts. Some people thought that heavy hoops and corsets were bad for the health, and encouraged women to wear looser clothes. Amelia Bloomer designed light frilled trousers, called bloomers, but many people laughed at them. Though bloomers were not popular, there was a fashion for smaller, lighter skirts. American men also followed fashion and began wearing long trousers (or pants) instead of breeches.

26. When did American women begin to wear large hoop skirts?

      a. After the Revolutionary War

      b. After fashions plates and dolls showing the latest fashion

      c. After buying fashion plates and dolls

      d. After some people encouraged women to wear looser clothes

27. What can be the best title of the passage?

      a. The American Clothing After Revolution War

      b. The American Cloths After Revolution War

      c. The Influence of the European Fashions

      d. The History of Bloomers

28. In the context of the passage, the word “encouraged” means _____.

      a. suggested that someone did something

      b. helped someone do something

      c. gave someone hope

      d. helped so that someone continue doing something

29. The word “them” in sentence 5 refers to _____.

      a. hoops and corsets                                                b. bloomers                       

      c. some American people                                       d. American women

30. Which of the following is not true?

      a. Some people persuaded women not to wear heavy hoops and corsets.

      b. Amelia Bloomer was the one who designed frilled trousers.

      c. Americans liked wearing large hoop skirts.

      d. American men used to wear breeches.

I.       Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

The business of tennis clothes has grown astoundingly in the past few years. Over $250 million is spent annually on the trappings of tennis. Apparently everyone wants to look like a pro, even though 20% of the clientele has never even played the game.

Manufacturers pay the stars lucrative fees for wearing their brands of clothes and wielding their racquets on center court. Chris Evert-Lloyd, for example, is rumored to have signed a five-year contract for $5 million with Ellesse, a producer of fancy, expensive tennis wear. John McEnroe gets a reported $600,000 for playing with a Dunlop racquet, $330,000 for sporting Tacchini clothes, and $100,000 for tying his Nike tennis shoes. Obviously, in a bad year, these stars make more as fashion models than as athletes.

Not only tennis players get free clothing, but also all the people involved in the game - the referees, linespeople, ball boys and girls - are living advertisements for tennis wear producers. Where, traditionally, conservative white clothing was required for the entire tennis coterie, changing times have seen a new vogue in tennis outfits. Flamboyant colors, designers’ nameplates, geometric figures, and bold lines distinguish the new tennis togs from their predecessors.

- clientele (n): khách hàng                                           - lucrative (adj): (tiền thù lao,...) hậu hĩnh

26. What can be understood from this reading?

      a. Tennis clothing appeals to everyone.

b. Tennis stars can get huge sums for wearing a manufacturer’s brands of clothes and wielding his or her racquets.

c. The price of tennis racquets has remained stable.

d. Bright colors tempt people to buy tennis wear.

27. What is the writer trying to do?

      a. Explain why the cost of tennis clothes has risen.

      b. Defend tennis wear manufacturers from complaints about their high prices.

      c. Describe the means of advertising expensive tennis clothes.

      d. Describe the new tennis clothing.

28. What is the best title for the passage?

      a. The Tennis Stars                                                 b. Big Business in Tennis Wear

      c. The High Cost of Playing Tennis                       d. Tennis Stars’ Flamboyant Clothes

29. It is stated that John McEnroe _____.

      a. wears flamboyant clothing on the court

      b. may be earning over $1 million for using tennis products

      c. make more as fashion models than as athletes

      d. has had a bad year in tennis competitions

30. Which of the following is true?

      a. Tennis clothing is only bought by the well-to-do.

      b. Those who wear expensive tennis clothes play tennis.

      c. Tennis clothing appeals to fashion models.

      d. The coloration of tennis wear has changed.

V. Read the following passage and choose the item (a, b, c, or d) that best answers each of the questions about it.

Although 80% of Australians live near cities, the cities are not as large as those in some other countries. Most people live in houses in suburbs - not in apartments. The suburbs usually have their own churches, schools, and shopping centers. They also have recreational facilities. In large cities, like Sydney, the suburbs are often far from the center of town. Because many people commute to work, traffic is slow and there are many traffic jams.

Câu 41. Most of the Australians …………………

A. live in the cities                                   B. live downtown

C. live in the suburbs                               D. live on the farm

Câu 42. What does the word ‘their’ in line 3 refer to?

A. cities                          B. countries                   C. houses                       D. suburbs

Câu 43. Sydney is …………………..

A. large cities       B. a large city       C. a suburb                    D. the center of a town

Câu 44. Why are there many traffic jams?

A. Because the suburbs are often far from the center of town.

B. Because many people commute to work.

C. Because people live in houses - not in apartments.

D. Australians like to live downtown.

Câu 45. The cities in Australia …………………

A. are very beautiful

B. are not as large as cities in some other countries

C. are the biggest cities in the world

D. are noisy

Choose A, B, C, or D that best completes each sentence.

Question: He _______ at the National Institute of Ophthalmology for nearly four years.

A. treats

B. have been treated

C. was treated

D. has been treated