HURRICANE KATRINA

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 roof tops 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.

1. New Orleans is famous for ______.
A. its modern architecture          B. its cross-cultural heritage       

 C. its Mississippi River             D. its location
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.
3. Which one is NOT mentioned as being damaged by Hurricane Katrina?
A. Distinctive architecture         B. The levee system             C. Major roads                     D. Houses
4. The word ‘tremendous’ means ______.
A. puzzling                   B. huge               C. unique          D. legendary
5.  The word ‘permanently’ is similar to ______.
A. temporarily               B. partially           C. forever         D. rarely

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

III. Read the following passage to do the tasks below:

            Los Angeles, California is the most exciting city in the USA. It’s got Hollywood, Disneyland, fantastic beaches and the LA Dodgers baseball team. But it was not always exciting. In 1900, it was smaller and quieter, and Hollywood was a small village. The film studios came; the village of Hollywood changed a lot. Today, this city is becoming more popular and famous in the world. It’s got more than 2,000 stars on it. In Los Angeles, it’s always sunny and there are a lot of attractions: shopping centers, theaters, museums, parks….It is one of the best cities in the world.

A.    True (T) or False (F)

B. Answer the questions

1. Are there beaches in Los Angeles?

……………………………………………………………………………………

1.      What happened when the film studios came to Hollywood?

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

2.      What’s the weather like in Los Angeles?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

PART D: WRITING

I. Rearrange the sentences using the following words

1is/ Singapore/ cleanest/ the/ country/ the world./ in/

………………………………………………………………………………………...

2today./ is/ rainy/ It/

………………………………………………………………………………………..

3do/ Robots/ a lot of/ can/ things/

………………………………………………………………………………………..

4located? / Where/ your house/ will/ be/

…………………………………………………………………………………………

5strong/ healthy./ Sports/ our/ and/ bodies/ make/

………………………………………………………………………………………..

III. Read the following passage to do the tasks below. (2 points)

            Los Angeles, California is the most exciting city in the USA. It’s got Hollywood, Disneyland, fantastic beaches and the LA Dodgers baseball team. But it was not always exciting. In 1900, it was smaller and quieter, and Hollywood was a small village. The film studios came; the village of Hollywood changed a lot. Today, this city is becoming more popular and famous in the world. It’s got more than 2,000 stars on it. In Los Angeles, it’s always sunny and there are a lot of attractions: shopping centers, theaters, museums, parks….It is one of the best cities in the world.

A.True (T) or False (F)

B. Answer the questions

1.  Are there beaches in Los Angeles?

  ……………………………………………………………………….……………

2. What happened when the film studios came to Hollywood?

  ……………………………………………………………………………………..

3.What’s the weather like in Los Angeles?

  …………………………………………………………………………………….

VI. Choose the words with OPPOSITE meanings

31. Hurricane Katrina made the most tremendous loss in the history of new Orleans, the United States.

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

32. You should prepare food, water, medications, copies of personal documentary and some money.

         A. interpersonal                    B. public                    C. personality           D. publicity

33. There are posters in public places to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do.

         A. personal                            B. person                   C. common                D. in common

34. The polluted toxic chemical waste is dumped into the river.

         A. harmless                           B. harm                                  C. poison                   D. poisonous

35. Radioactive pollution is very dangerous to human beings.

         A. security                             B. safety                     C. insecure                D. safe

III. Read the following  passage and do the tasks below : 

Most of us think that great ideas were the result of genius thinking. However, many of the greatest discoveries and inventions in history began with very simple beginnings.
In the 18^th century, James Watt was boiling water at home. As the water began to boil, he suddenly noticed that the steam was pushing the lid of the kettle. From this, he created the steam engine.

In ancient Greece time, Archimedes stepped into a bath tub and felt that water was being pushed out when he stepped in. This is how he came up with the idea of how to find the purity of gold.

In the 17^th century, Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell and hit him on the head. This is when he realized the pulling force of the earth - the gravity.
There are many other examples of how great ideas began with simple beginnings. What one needs to become an inventor are careful observation and a lot of hard work.

A. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences:

 1..Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. James Watt, Archimedes and Isaac Newton.
B. Steam Engines, Gold and Gravity
C. Great Ideas with Simple Beginnings

2. Which of the following is NOT true of inventors?
A. They have simple thinkings.
B. They have very careful observations.
C. They work extremely hard.
B.  Answer the questions:

1. What did James Watt create?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Did  Isaac Newton realize the pulling force of the earth?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. How many inventors are mentioned in the passage?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

III. Read the following  passage and do the tasks below : 

            Alaska is perhaps the most amazing state in the USA. It has coastlines facing both the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This state has an incredible three million lakes. That’s four lakes per person living there.
            Many cities in Alaska cannot be reached by road, sea, or river. The only way to get in and out is by air, on foot, or by dogsled. That’s why Alaska has the busiest sea airport in the world, Lake Hood Seaplane Base. Nearly two hundred floatplanes take off and land on the water of this airport every day. It’s really a fun scene to watch.

            Alaska is called the Land of the Midnight Sun because in summer, the sun does not set for nearly three months. But in winter the sun stays almost unseen.
            All Alaskans take special pride in their beautiful and unique state.

 A. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences:

1. Which method below can always be used to reach a place in Alaska?

A. by air                                                      B. by road

C. by river                                                   D. by sea

2. In Alaska we can always see the sun __________.

A. in winter                                                  B. in summer

C. every month of the year                          D. at midday

B.  Answer the questions:

1. What is Alaska?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Where do floatplanes take off and land?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. How do the Alaskans feel about their state?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

III. Read the following  passage and do the tasks below : 

            Alaska is perhaps the most amazing state in the USA. It has coastlines facing both the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This state has an incredible three million lakes. That’s four lakes per person living there.
            Many cities in Alaska cannot be reached by road, sea, or river. The only way to get in and out is by air, on foot, or by dogsled. That’s why Alaska has the busiest sea airport in the world, Lake Hood Seaplane Base. Nearly two hundred floatplanes take off and land on the water of this airport every day. It’s really a fun scene to watch.

            Alaska is called the Land of the Midnight Sun because in summer, the sun does not set for nearly three months. But in winter the sun stays almost unseen.
            All Alaskans take special pride in their beautiful and unique state.

 A. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences:

1. Which method below can always be used to reach a place in Alaska?

A. by air                                                      B. by road

C. by river                                                   D. by sea

2. In Alaska we can always see the sun __________.

A. in winter                                                  B. in summer

C. every month of the year                          D. at midday

B.  Answer the questions:

1. What is Alaska?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Where do floatplanes take off and land?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. How do the Alaskans feel about their state?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

III. Read the following passage and do the tasks below:

                                            Hue Festival

 Hue Festival is a big cultural event of Hue City that is held every two years. The first Hue Festival took place in 2000. At the beginning of Hue Festival, visitors can enjoy a colorful opening ceremony with unique performances of several art groups from Vietnam and other countries. Besides, visitors can come and enjoy “ Ao dai” Grand Show, “Oriental night” Show, and sporting activities like boat race, human chess, etc. Particularly, the ancient scenery of Nguyen Dynasty is also reproduced. The Royal Refined Music of Hue was recognized as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. Hue festival is well-known as an international festival because the traditional and cultural values from Vietnam and other countries are widely presented to the world in this festival.

A. Choose the best answer A, B, C or D to complete the sentences:

1.The text is about_________.

A. Hue festival                     B.Hue city

C. A festival in Vietnam       D. Traditional and cultural values of Vietnam

2. When was the first Hue Festival celebrated?

A. two years ago.                  B. many years ago.

C. 2000.                                D. 2003.

B.  Answer the questions:

          1. Is Hue Festival taken place every year?

           à……………………………………………….

          2. Why is Hue Festival well-known as an international?

          à…………………………………………………

          3. When was the Royal Refined Music of Hue recognized as a Masterpiece of 

 the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO?

          à…………………………………………………………..