Today, the Secret Service is the agency of the United States government that is charged with the protection of the president and family members of the president. Any time that the president appears in public, neatly dressed Secret Service agents are clearly in evidence alongside the president. Secret Service agents might also accompany a presidential spouse to a committee meeting, on a shopping trip, to a charity event, or out for a walk in the park. Agents accompany the president’s children to school on a daily basis, sitting unobtrusively but hardly unnoticed in the background throughout each hour of class, and tag along with the president’s children on dates and to any type of social event.

The Secret Service is so much in evidence around the president and members of the president’s family, one might question why the activities of these agents are considered secret. The name of the agency, however, is -not derived from its duty in protecting the president but from its original covert duty in protecting the economy of the young United States from counterfeiters. Before the Civil War, the official currency of the United States was in coins; however, after the war, the government began issuing paper money. This new paper currency was easy for counterfeiters to replicate, and soon counterfeit bills flooded the country. Secret Service agents, as part of the Department of the Treasury, posed as criminals interested in purchasing large sums of counterfeit bills in order to gather evidence against counterfeiters and put them out of their illegal business. For quite some time, the government preferred to keep the public in the dark about the extent of the counterfeiting at that time, afraid that the public would lose confidence in the country’s paper money if they knew that there was so much counterfeit money mixed in with the real thing.

It was not until 1901 that the role of the Secret Service was expanded from protecting the currency of the country to protecting its president. In that year, then President William McKinley was shot by an assassin in Buffalo, New York. Sadly, he died eight days later from the wounds inflicted during the assassination attempt. At that time, the Secret Service was assigned to protect the president, in addition to its other duties, and it has carried out that assignment, often not in a secretive fashion, to this day.

2.   Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A.Protection of the United States Presidency

B.  The Duties of the Secret Service

C. The President and Family Members of the President

D.The Role of the Secret Service in Protecting the Currency of the United States

3.   Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a responsibility of the Secret Service?

A.Shopping for the president

B.  Accompanying the president on public appearances

C.  Going for walks with the presidents spouse

D.Attending school with the president’s children

4.   According to paragraph 2, the Secret Service is called secret           .

A.because its duty in protecting the president is unknown to the public.

B. because of its original covert duty in protecting the economy of the young United States from counterfeiters.

C. because it keeps the public in the dark about its duty of protecting members of the president’s family.

D.because its assignment to protect the president is carried out in a secretive fashion.

5.   It can be inferred from the passage that before the Civil War          .

A.paper money was used extensively

B. counterfeiting of paper money was not a big problem for the U.S. government

C. coins were relatively easy to counterfeit

D.Secret Service agents spent most of their time protecting the president and his family

6.   The expression “posed as” in line 16 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

A. talked with        B. chased after       C. pretended to be             D. looked for

7.   The word “them” in line 19 refers to    …………..

A.counterfeiters

B. secret agents

C. counterfeit bills

D.criminals

8.   According to the passage, the government kept its citizens uninformed about the extent of early counterfeiting because the government………….

A.worried that counterfeiters would learn to make better counterfeit currency

B. believed that the amount of counterfeiting would increase

C. felt embarrassed about how easy it was to counterfeit the currency

D.feared that the citizens would stop using paper currency

9.   All of the following are similar in meaning to “covert” (line 12) EXCEPT………….

A.    hidden              B. secret                  C. overt                                 D. concealed

10.  The word “it” in line 27 refers to………….

A.the assassination attempt

B. the role

C. the country

D.Secret Service

11.  According to the last paragraph,…………...

A.By 1901, the Secret Service had stopped protecting the currency of the country

B.  the role of the Secret Service was widened as a result of the assassination of President William McKinley

C.  since the assassination of President William McKinley, protecting the president has become the sole duty of the Secret Service

D.protecting the president has always been a secret operation

There are a (33) ……….. number of decisions to be made every day, from the moment we wake up out of a deep sleep to the moment we fall asleep at the end of the day. Some people are very good at making decisions and others (34) ……….. it almost impossible.

Take, for example, a simple meal out with my friend Barbara. She can never make her  mind up about what to (35) ……….. for and will look at a menu for ages and ages before (36)……….. loudly, almost incapacitated with indecision. It results in her voice becoming extremely (37) ………..the more frustrated she gets, and ugly red blotches erupting on her face. However, I do admire the fact that she still tries to remain positive in such situations and she invariably (38) ……….. a desire to be more decisive like myself. I am (39) ……….. to the acute embarrassment I know she suffers at these times and suffer along with her. When it come  to food, it’s easy for me, as I’ll know instantly what I fancy, and when it comes to desserts, I rarely have any (40) ……….. left for them, so it’s easy for me to say I’ll have nothing.  However, I fall down abysmally with fashion decisions and, for some reason, Barbara has no problem there. She finds it easy to decide what to wear and has an innate (41) ……….. of style of which I’m extremely envious. I can imagine her still looking (42) ……….. and stylish at 70, while at 22 I already look like an elderly woman who doesn’t care about how she looks.

1.    A. charming                     B. bustling                 C. bewildering                      D. strange

2.    A. find___                         B. notice                     C. consider                            D. regard

3.    A. choose             B. opt                          C. select                                 D. pick

4.    A. shuddering                 B. coughing               C. barking                              D. sighing

5.    A. creaky_             B. squeaky                 C. catchy                                D. noisy

6.    A. expresses                     B. announces             C. states                                 D. exposes

7.    A. sensible                       B. attentive                C. thoughtful                                    D. sensitive

8.    A. room__                         B. place                      C. scope                                 D. area

9.    A. meaning                      B. notion                    C. sense                                 D. impression

10.A. childlike                      B. youthful                C. childish                             D. juvenile

ANCIENT ANGKOR

In the regions of Southeast Asia dwell the remains of an era that far exceeded its time in developments and industrialization. This ancient city, which was mysteriously deserted in the 15th century, is known as Angkor. Located in Cambodia, Angkor was established in 802 CE as the seat of the Khmer Empire. Khmer was the largest continuous empire in 5 Southeast Asia. Its main city of Angkor grew and developed until it was abandoned in the year 1431. Many historians theorize as to why it was abandoned, but the mystery remains.

Angkor was a city of power, industry, architecture, and cultural unity, which is why speculation surrounds its decline. The ancient Khmer city stretched over an area of nearly 120 square miles, comparable to present-day Los Angeles. Each successive ruler to the 10 throne brought significant additions that diversified the territory. One ruler is known for constructing a baray, a massive water reservoir. Another built the imposing Angkor Wat, a temple of great proportions that survived the city’s demise and exists today as a Buddhist temple. Along with over seventy other temples in the region, Angkor was home to an expansive waterworks of marked ingenuity when nothing of its kind existed in the world. The civilization was structured around the Mekong River. Intricate and sophisticated irrigation systems were fashioned to transport water to people and fields in all parts of the city, including those removed from the central water source. For this, the city became known as the “Hydraulic City.” The people of Angkor were led by an extensive court system, made up of religious and secular nobles as well as artisans, fishermen, rice farmers, soldiers, and elephant keepers. The civilization was guarded by an army transported by elephants and ruled by shrewd and powerful kings. Yet after 600 years of existence, an abandoned shell was all that remained.

The land, buildings, and architecture were reclaimed by the surrounding forest regions until the 19” century, when French archaeologists discovered the remains and began restoring sites in the great city of Angkor. Since then, theories have evolved over time relating to the death of Angkor’s civilization. The first theory states that the city fell because of war. The last two centuries of Angkor’s existence showed a decline in the Khmer Empire’s population and power. Ongoing wars with neighboring Thailand had devastated the nation. In 1431, attackers from Thai nations invaded and looted Angkor, leaving it desolate and vacant. Continuous war with Thailand culminating in a final attack on the city could have weakened the empire and led to the city’s demise.

Another theory states that a change in religion led to the country’s downfall. The Khmer Empire had predominately been a Hindu nation, and the people were unified in their religion. Jayavarman VII, acclaimed as the greatest of Angkor’s kings, took title throne in 1181 CE. He instituted a change in religion from Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism. This action subsequently could have destroyed the unity of the people and the overall foundation of the empire.

Natural disaster is another feasible possibility for the scattering of people from the Angkor region. Historians say earthquakes, floods, and drastic climate changes would have been capable of stripping Angkor of its people. These natural catastrophes would have likely resulted in destroyed buildings, ruined crops, and a decreased water supply that would have forced citizens to leave. One researcher hypothesized that the city suffered from a lack of water due to the transition from the medieval warm period to the little ice age. Others dismiss this idea.

      However, a recently developed theory built on the work of French archaeologist Bemard- Philippe Groslier may have shed the most light on Angkor’s demise. The theory suggests that the Angkorian civilization was “defined, sustained, and ultimately overwhelmed by over-exploitation and the environmental impacts of a complex water-management network.” Its vast waterworks proved too great for the city to manage. Also, supplying such a massive empire with water had adverse effects on the environment. Ecological problems included deforestation, topsoil degradation, and erosion due in part to clearing vegetation for cropland. Thus, the city inadvertently brought about its own environmental collapse.

With the use of aerial photography and high-resolution, ground-sensing radar, researchers were able to support Groslier’s theory with images that complete existing topographical maps. The radar detected surface structures as well as subtle variances in surface vegetation and soil moisture. This proved that environmental erosion had occurred. The combined images and ground-based investigations further revealed that Angkor was a victim of its own industrial ingenuity, a city ahead of its time and vulnerable to its own power.

43.  The author mentions the Khmer Empire in paragraph 1 in order to …………..

A.     establish the size and importance of the civilization

B.     explain the downfall of the main city in the empire

C.  compare the nation’s size to a present-day location   

D.  demonstrate why people were not loyal to the city

44.  The word “speculation” in line 8 is closest in meaning to…………..

A.    evidence              B. mystery        C. question         D. growth

45.  According to paragraph 2, which of the following is true about the waterworks built within Angkor?

A.     They transported drinking water to Angkor Wat.

B.     They were a ,money-making venture for the city.

C.     They were built to extend the water supply.

D.     They irrigated fields along the sides of the river.

46.  All of the following are true about the city of Angkor EXCEPT …………..

A. It was built around a water source.       B. It had an advanced road system,

C. It surpassed other cities of its time.       D. It is home to a Buddhist shrine.

47.  The word “its” in line 14 refers to       …………. .

A. Angkor’s              B. baray’s          C. waterworks’  D. home’s

48.  The word “sophisticated” in line 15 is closest in meaning to …………..

A. advanced             B. fantastic        C. educated        D. thorough

49.  Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect choices may change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A.     Archaeologists built a replica of what Angkor looked like.

B.     Archaeologists uncovered the overgrown city and rebuilt its sites.

C. Finding the city, workers cleared the forest and studied the architecture.

D. The city’s architecture was inspired by the forest regions nearby.

50.  What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about the people who inhabited Angkor?

A.    They worshipped ruler Jayavarman VII.

B.     Hinduism was central to their way of life,

C.     Religion led to more violence among them.

D. They were unified regardless of national religion.

51.  The word “inadvertently” in line 52 is closest in meaning to ………….

A. purposely              B. freely          c. sadly             D. accidentally

52. According to paragraph 7 (lines 53-59), which of the following did researchers prove about Groslier’s theory with the use of aerial photography and advanced radar?

A.  The surface soil showed evidence of dừt washing away.

B.  The waterworks were filled with topsoil.

C. Vegetation was thriving where soil was deeper.

D. Soil damage was stable throughout the changes.

1.     The photographs are quite different from the actual holiday location.                      These picture have....................................................................

2.     Although John was over seventy, he continued to cycle to work every day.

Despite.......................................................................

3.      Please don’t invite Mary to stay for the weekend.

I’d rather.......................................................................

4.      It’s a pity I haven’t got a new dress to wear to the party.

I wish........................................................................

5.      How long have you been reading “Hamlet”?

When........................................................................

                                                          MAHATMA GANDHI

Mohandas Gandhi (known as Mahatma - or “Great Soul’ - Gandhi) was one of the greatest figures of the 20th century. Gandhi was the man who (33) ……….. India on the path to independence from British rule. He (34) ……….. freedom for his country through actions which were always based on the ideas of non-violence and peace.

Gandhi was born in India on 2 October 1869. He (35) ……….. his childhood in India and at he went to study law in England. At the age of 23, Gandhi got a one-year contract to do legal (36) ……….. in South Africa. In South Africa, Gandhi was shocked to see how badly Indian people were treated. Gandhi believed that the best (37) ………..to achieve political and social change was peaceful protest. He always remained true to the ideas of non-violence, even in the most extreme situations.

Gandhi eventually returned to India after 21 years in South Africa. When he got back home, Gandhi saw how bad life was for people in India so he began to fight for improved  rights there too. He was especially (38) ……….. with improving the life of India’s lower classes. Gandhi soon became the leader in the movement to free India from the rule of the British, and he (39) ……….. . In 1947. the British granted India its independence. Tragically, six months after India gained independence, Gandhi was assassinated. He was 78 years old.

Today, Gandhi is loved and admired by millions of people (40) ……….. the world. The people of India (41) ……….. him as the father of their nation and his birthday is a(n) (42) ……….. holiday.

33. A. led                         B. managed              C. ran                        D. directed

34. A. won                       B. gained                  C. earned                  D. found

35. A. took                       B. held                      C. spent                    D. finished

36. A. vocation                B. employment       C. job                        D. work

37. A. way                        B. manner                 C. direction              D. aspect

38. A. interested             B. worried                C. concerned            D. eager

39. A. gained                   B. achieved              C. managed             D. succeeded

40. A. throughout           B. through                C. during                  D. cross

41. A. observe                 B. look                      C. regard                  D. think

42.       A. international        B. national     C. local           D. internal

The apple, a juicy fruit that grows from pink or white flowers, is cultivated widely in orchards across North America. At least two varieties of apples are cultivated together in one orchard due to the fact that the flowers of one type of apple tree must be pollinated by a different variety of apple. The point in the springtime when the apple blossoms appear is  the most critical time for apples: there hạve to be enough bees to pollinate each flower and warm enough weather to facilitate their work. Apple growers watch the temperatures anxiously at this time of year because frozen flowers or fruit spells disaster for the crop. Workers may have to get up at any hour of the night to blow away the cold air with fans, heat title orchard air with fire pots, or wet the trees down to keep the frost away.

The first step in getting apples from orchard to market is to pick them. The picking must be done carefully to ensure that the spur, which produces the fruit, is not damaged. Apples used to be collected in bushel baskets and taken to market, but today bins of apples are trucked to packing houses, where they go through many sortings before they get to title grocery store display. Packers use water to float the apples through sorting machines. As a first step, the smallest apples, called “chops,” are eliminated to make juice. Apples with many flaws, or imperfections, are called “processors”: they are used for pie slices or are made into, sauce because of their less-than-perfect appearance. The “fancy” grade apples are stored in a controlled atmosphere; adjusting the oxygen content from 20 percent to 2 percent and keeping the temperature between 31 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit keeps the apples alive but prevents overripening. The humidity is kept around 95 percent so that the apples remain crisp and fresh. Before shipping, the apples are washed, rinsed, dried, and coated with a thin film of hot wax for beautification.

Once title apples have cleared the marketplace, they are put to various uses. Apples are 87 percent water, making them great for juicing. The fresh juice that is made from apples is called cider, and this cider can be fermented into applejack. Apples are not only used to make beverages; they can also be used to make products such as apple butter, vinegar, applesauce, and one of America’s favorite desserts, apple pie.

43.  Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A.    Apple Growers

B.     From the Apple Orchard to Your Table

C.     How to Make Applejack

D.    The Invention of the Bushel Basket

44.  According to the passage, why are two varieties of apples cultivated together?

A.    The orchards look better with two different colors of flowers.

B.     Two varieties of apples are necessary for cross-pollination.

C.     Orchards with two varieties of apples are less likely to freeze.

D.    Bees are more likely to live in orchards with two varieties of apples.

45.  The word “spells” in line 8 is closest in meaning to which of the following?

A. lists                       B. letters            C. brings             D. means

46.  It is mentioned in the passage that if an apple is not picked carefully………..

   A. the spur can become damaged                                B. the tree will die

   C. the leaves will become discolored                          D. fire pots will be needed

47.  It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that an apple with “flaws” is not ………...

A. tasty                      B. usable           C. faultless         D. edible

48.  Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a process that apples go through?

A. Picking                 B. Sorting          C. Chopping      D. Shipping

49.  The word “coated” in line 22 could best be replaced by………..

A. covered                B. warmed        C. sent                 D. packed

50.  The word “atmosphere” in line 18 could best be replaced by………...

A. environment        B. air                  C. storage           D. container

51.  The temperature is kept between 31 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit …………..

A.     to prevent the apple from overripening

B.     for the humidity to remain around 95%

C.   to maintain the crispness and freshness of the apples

D.  for oxygen content to remain unchanged

52.  The paragraph following the passage most probably discusses   .

    A.  how apples taste                                     B. the growing season of apples

      C.  how to make an apple pie                    D. the price of apples

                                         GRANT TOUR OF AN AMERICAN HOME

Off all the aspirations which make up the American dream, perhaps the most prominent is to own one's own home. Americans are very proud of their homes and spend a great deal of lime maintaining their houses and keeping the property in good condition. A man’s home is often called his castle, and the hours spent keeping his fortress safe and secure become one of his greatest pleasures.

If a-home is in an especially fashionable neighborhood, the owners may consult an interior director to give the home a certain coordinated appearance. If there is a large back yard, great care may be spent in having it properly landscaped with exotic trees, shrubs and plants.

It is almost a certainty that should you be the first visitor to an American home, you will be taken on a grand tour of the premises. The owner will take great pride in showing to you the place he calls home. Every closet, every cabinet and closed door will be opened so that you can actually see the extent and value of his home.

You will even be taken into the father’s den and the mother’s sewing room. There are special rooms for the respective man and woman of the house to insure their privacy. They may be off-limits to the rest of the family, but, for the visitor, they are open to scrutiny and inspection.

It is, of course, considered polite on the tour to comment favorably on each room picking out its most salient, important feature, such as the special view from the window, the vaulted ceiling in the foyer or the exotic choice of wallpaper in the bathroom.

The finished basement is a special cause for pride for the family with its exercise room, video games, carpenter shop and launderette. In most homes, it is here that the family entertains itself in the evening while the rest of the house becomes more of a showcase. On your tour you may be reminded of the hours the owners had spent "fixing up the house” so it would be "nice for the kids to bring over their friends”. You may even sense a feeling of competition in knowing that they have not only “kept up with the Joneses” but have far surpassed them.

The tour will terminate after an hour or so somewhere on the back lawn next to the two-car air-conditioned garage where you may be treated to a snack and light refreshment.

Showing off one's home is more than an exercise in vanity. It is a tribute to one’s accomplishments. It is a way of saying that a man has been a good provider for his family and that he has realized one of his dreams.

Notes:

- prominent (adj.) = dc thấy, nổi bật.

- coordinated (adị.) - phối hợp.

- premises (plural n.) = ngôi nhà, cơ ngơi.

- den (ti.) = phòng nhỏ riêng đe làm việc.

- off-limits (adj./adv.) = bị cấm không được lui tới.

-                  scrutiny (n) = sự xem xét kĩ lưỡng.

-                  salient (adị.) = nồi bật, đáng chú ý, quan trọng nhất.

- vaulted (adj.) - xây thành hình vòm; foyer (n.) = sảnh trước nhà.

- showcase (n.) — sự thể hiện/ giới thiệu tài năng.

-  vanity (n) = lòng tự cao, tự đại.

51.  What is the father's room of a house called?

A. The master's bedroom.               B. Daddy's room,

C. His den.                                         D. The tiger’s den.

52.  What is considered the biggest reachable dream for most Americans?

A.  To be president of the United States of America.

B.  To be a movie or rock star.

C.  To own one's own house.

D.  To be rich and famous for fifteen minutes.

53.  What is considered polite behavior if you are taken on a grand tour of someone’s home?

A. To be careful not to break anything.

B.  To listen carefully to everything that is said.

C.  To praise everything you see.

       D.To comment favorably on each room.

54.  What is the ultimate purpose in showing off one’s home to friends?

A. To show off one's wealth.

B.  It’s a tribute to one's accomplishments.

C.  To impress one's neighbors.

D. To show that you are richer than your friends.

55.  What is often called a "castle’' for many Americans?

A.  Mac Donald's                               B. Disneyland

C. The White House                        D. One's own house

56.  If it is your first visit to an American home, what will the owner probably do?

A.Give you a grand tour of his home.

B.Ask you if you like the house.

C.Treat you to coffee and refreshments.

D.  Ask you for a gift.

57.  What is the purpose of a finished basement?

A.    It is used as a family recreation.

B.     It is a place to watch TV.

C.     It is a sound-proofed room for the kids.

D.    It is used as a storage room.

58.  W hat is meant by "kept up with the Joneses"?

A.    It means to cam as much as you can.

B.     It means to be a good neighbor.

C.     It means to retain competitive with one’s neighbor.

D.    It means to make one's home look better than one’s neighbor’s.

59.  Where may you be treated a snack and a light refreshment after the tour?

A. In the two-car air-conditioned garage.     B. In the living room.

C. Somewhere on the back lawn.                   D. In the recreation room.

60.  If a man lives in a good neighborhood, who may be consulted to fix up the appearance of the home?

A. An architect.                                                  B. A house designer.

C. One's mother-in-law.                              D. An interior decorator

1.    I was amazed by the things he said_ế

I thought what……………………………………………………..                              

2.    You’re allowed to eat at that restaurant without wearing, a tie.

You don’t…………………………………………………………..

3.    It would be a pity to sell this house.

Let's…………………………………………………………………                  

4.    “Why don’t you go away for a few days?” John suggested to me.

John suggested…………………………………………………….                                          

5.    What do you do when you see a meat seller in the street?

How do you ……………………………………………………….