Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

At which point in the passage would the following sentence best fit? “In fact, in the harshest environments, meditation may be needed the most”

A. (A)

B. (B)

C. (C)         

D. (D)

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

Why is it important to notice the reaction of the ground to your feet in line 20?

A. it helps you know if you’re walking too fast

B. it helps you become aware if someone is following you

C. it helps you notice how beautifully you walk

D. it helps you focus on the movement you are making

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.

How might volunteering contribute to lower blood pressure? Performing volunteer work could increase physical activity among people who aren’t otherwise very active, says lead study author Rodlescia Sneed, a doctoral candidate in social and health psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. It may also reduce stress. “Many people find volunteer work to be helpful with respect to stress reduction, and we know        that stress is very strongly linked to health outcomes,” she says. As with any activity thought to improve health, researchers are trying to identify the specific characteristics of volunteering that provide the greatest benefit. For example, how much time would you need to put into volunteer work to lower your blood pressure or live longer? In the Carnegie Mellon study, 200 hours of volunteering per year correlated to lower blood pressure. Other studies have found a health benefit from as little as 100 hours of volunteering a year. Which types of volunteer activities improve health the most? No one really knows. Sneed speculates that mentally stimulating activities, like tutoring or reading, might be helpful for maintaining memory and thinking skills, while “activities that promote physical activity would be helpful with respect to cardiovascular health, but no studies have really explored this.” One key for deriving health benefits from volunteering is to do it for the right reasons. A 2012 study in the journal Health Psychology found that participants who volunteered with some regularity lived longer, but only if their intentions were truly altruistic. In other words, they had to be volunteering to help others not to make        them selves feel better.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once surmised that the essence of life is “To serve others and do good.” If recent research is any indication, serving others might also be the essence of good health.

According to paragraph 4, what is the lesson from one of the greatest intellectual figures in history?

A.Opportunities to serve others result in a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in life.

B.Without the freedom of forgiveness, you’ll end up serving for the wrong reasons.

C.We should take advantage of the generous help of others without giving in return.

D.Only a small minority of people use their lives to serve others.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

According to the author, what is the best seated position for meditation?

A. sitting cross-legged on the ground

B. sitting on the floor with the knees bent upwards

C. sitting on a chair with the feet place

D. sitting on your lower legs, with the heels below your waist

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

Which one of the following situations does the passage say will help you meditate?

A. taking a walk along the beac

B. learning to sit in difficult positions

C. reading a detailed book about meditation

D. noticing sounds that are enjoyable

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

According to the final paragraph, why is meditation useful?

A. it allows you to connect with your environmen

B. it makes you an expert on nature

C. it makes you to relax all the time

D. it allows you to realize what more there is in life

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

According to the passage, why is meditation important

A. it gives you more leisure time

B. it helps you notice birds and children

C. it helps you value every single moment

D. it fills moments of silence with something to do

Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Meditation

Meditation has been in use for thousands of years: people have always searched for inner quiet and physical relaxation, which may be for spiritual, self-realization or health reasons. It is nothing unusual and you do not have to be a great athlete to be able to achieve and enjoy the benefits of meditation at both physical and mental levels.

What, then, is meditation? As one expert put it recently, it is just sitting and relaxing. (A) Many people find that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends and organized leisure pursuits that they have no time to “stand and state”. Many are so busy planning and working towards the future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their hurry to “get on” they miss out on the simple pleasures of life; the change of the seasons, the singing of a bird or the innocent wonder of a child. But beauty and joy are there to be seen and experienced, even in the most industrial of landscapes. (B) Meditation can be a good way of just taking time out and allowing yourself to relate to and appreciate the moment. It may be by walking along the seashore, or sitting by a stream, or just by noticing silence in a still room and enjoying it. (C)

Rather than forcing yourself to take up a difficult physical position, just relax; sit in a chair or take a walk in a favorite landscape at a steady pace. It is not a good idea to slump or lie down, as this tend to leads to sleep. It is the relaxed focus that is necessary. If you sit down, do so with your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap or on the arms of the chair, and your head comfortably balanced. If you are walking, do so slowly and carefully, aware of the movement of each foot, and the contact with the ground below. (D) Notice the reaction of the ground to your feet. This is an extremely simple but effective exercise in becoming truly aware of the present.

Meditation, above all, is about staying with the moment, being in touch with one’s surroundings and one’s inner world, much of which is more easily achieved when you are in a meditative state. 

What is needed for someone to learn meditation?

A. to be mentally and physically flexible

B. to have experience with unusual states of mind

C. to have strength and athletic ability

D. to desire to manage one’s physical and emotional being

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 30 to 34.

       Good press photographer must have an ‘eye’ for news, just as journalists must have a nose for a good

story. They must be able to interpret a story and decide rapidly how they can take advantage (30)                              _______

the best opportunities to take picture. The most difficult part of a press photographer’s job is that he or she has to be able to (31)_______a complicated situation with just one photograph. They rarely have second chances and must be able to take the required shot very quickly. Indeed, speed is essential- if the photographs are not ready for the printing deadline, they are very unlikely to be of any use.

       Most press photographers begin work with a local newspaper. There, the demand is mostly for material of regional interest. Photographers may be expected to photograph a lot of unexciting events but to (32)___________the enthusiasm to put ‘something special’ into every picture.

        There is (33) _______competition among those (34)_______want to move from local to national newspapers. Here, the work is much more centered on news. The photographer must work under greater pressure and take more responsibility. Only highly reliable, talented and resourceful photographers make this difficult move. The work is tough and can be dangerous. On an overseas assignment, photographers may have to cope with unfamiliar food and accommodation, physical and mental stress, and extreme difficulty in transporting the pictures from an isolated area to get to the newspaper on time. They also have to beat the competition from other publications.

Điền vào số 33

A. firm

B. forceful

C. strict

D. strong

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 30 to 34.

       Good press photographer must have an ‘eye’ for news, just as journalists must have a nose for a good

story. They must be able to interpret a story and decide rapidly how they can take advantage (30)                              _______

the best opportunities to take picture. The most difficult part of a press photographer’s job is that he or she has to be able to (31)_______a complicated situation with just one photograph. They rarely have second chances and must be able to take the required shot very quickly. Indeed, speed is essential- if the photographs are not ready for the printing deadline, they are very unlikely to be of any use.

       Most press photographers begin work with a local newspaper. There, the demand is mostly for material of regional interest. Photographers may be expected to photograph a lot of unexciting events but to (32)___________the enthusiasm to put ‘something special’ into every picture.

        There is (33) _______competition among those (34)_______want to move from local to national newspapers. Here, the work is much more centered on news. The photographer must work under greater pressure and take more responsibility. Only highly reliable, talented and resourceful photographers make this difficult move. The work is tough and can be dangerous. On an overseas assignment, photographers may have to cope with unfamiliar food and accommodation, physical and mental stress, and extreme difficulty in transporting the pictures from an isolated area to get to the newspaper on time. They also have to beat the competition from other publications.

Điền vào số 32

A. hold on

B. keep up

C. carry on

D. stay up