Câu Hỏi Reading

Trong kỳ thi tuyển sinh đại học, chúng ta sẽ gặp một số LOẠI câu hỏi nhất định. Bài viết này sẽ tập trung về những loại câu hỏi đấy. Chúng ta sẽ tìm hiểu về từng loại câu hỏi, cách “đối phó”, và một số bài tập nhé.

Page Contents

Cụ thể trong bài này chúng ta sẽ đề cập đến dạng câu hỏi về:

General Idea – Câu Hỏi Về Đại Ý Toàn Bài
Pronoun Referent – Câu Hỏi Về Đại Từ
Vocabulary Questions – Câu Hỏi Về Từ Vựng
True – False Statement – Phán Đoán Đúng Sai
Inference – Câu Hỏi Suy Luận
Scanning Questions – Câu Hỏi Về Một Chi Tiết Nhất Định

PASSAGE 1:

Over the past 600 years, English has grown from a language of few speakers to become the dominant language of international communication. English as we know it today emerged around 1350, after having incorporated many elements of French that were introduced following the Norman 5 invasion of 1030. Until the 1600s, English was, for the most part, spoken only in England and had not extended even as far as Wales, Scotland, or Ireland. However, during the course of the next two centuries, English began to spread around the globe as a result of exploration, trade (including slave trade), colonization, and missionary work. 10 Thus, small enclaves of English speakers became established and grew in various parts of the world. As these communities proliferated, English gradually became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy.

15 Currently, about 80 percent of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English. Two-thirds of the world’s science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airports, and air traffic controllers. Today there are more than 700 million English users in the world, 20 and over half of these are nonnative speakers, constituting the largest number of nonnative users than any other language in the world.

What is best title for the passage?
1. English, the Prodution of the Norman Invasion
2. English- A Long Way to Becoming the World’s Language
3. The Vigorous Development of English – Today’s International Language
4. How English Borrowed Its Elements from French
Which of the following is TRUE about the English language?
1. English dominated all other languages 600 years ago.
2. English was hardly spoken anywhere but England at the very beginning of its existence.
3. English has been the language of international communication for over half a millennium.
4. English was widely spoken in the UK in the 1200s
The passage indicates that,
1. English was largely in use the world over until the nineteenth century.
2. English was spoken in Wales, Scotland, or Ireland in the 17^th
3. English was found spoken merely in the main part of the united Kingdom in the 1800s.
4. English became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy in the 1800s.
Which of the following was NOT TRUE as a factor that led to the extensive growth of English?
1. traveling and discovering new lands and things
2. buying and selling things
3. invading and taking control of other lands
4. borrowing words from French
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
1. All the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English.
2. All the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in French.
3. About one fifth of the information stored in the computer system world wide is not in English.
4. English is not used in banking transactions.

Passage 2:

In an effort to attract more passengers, airlines are now providing frequent travelers with services that rival those of first-rate restaurants and hotels. The routine privileges most companies offer first-class and business clientele include express check-in, free drinks and headsets, and more refined menus. In addition, a growing number of airlines have amenities such as fully reclining sleeper seats and furnish eyeshades and slipper socks. At some international airports companies have established membership lounges that allow business travelers the use of facsimile machines, personal computers, and private conference rooms. A few have even gone so far as to install video systems on the arm rests of seats and to serve meals upon request rather than on a fixed schedule. All of these services come at a price, however, that is reflected in ticket prices substantially above those for regular coach class.

What is the best title for the passage?
1. Frequent travelers Special Airline Services
2. First-class Accommodations The Airline Business
According to the passage, added airline privileges erve to
1. compensate for a reduction in routes
2. improve coach-class service.
3. booster employee morale
4. seek new clientele
The word “amenities” in the line 4 most closely means
1. comforts accommodation c. refreshments d. incentives
Which of the following services is NOT mentioned in the passage?
1. Requested foods and drinks Complimentary headsets
2. Visual sets Public restrooms

It can be inferred from the passage that special privileges
1. are the same at every airline
2. have greatly increased air fares
3. do not apply to coach class
4. are offered only on request.

Of all the deserts in North America, the Sonorant desert is the largest, covering an area of 120,000 square miles of strange and remarkable beauty. Part of the desert stretches over southwest Arizona, part over southeast California and the rest over Northwest Mexico. Somewhat surprisingly, 80% of Arizona’s population lives in the desert area, in towns such as Tucson and Phoenix, although this unique area only accounts for 20% of Arizona’s total territory.

Temperatures in summer rarely fall below 100 Fahrenheit, while the winters are never really cold. The desert area has a very low annual rainfall in comparison to other parts of Arizona, where there might be three of four times as much rain in a year. Water, therefore, has to be taken from the ground or from several rivers that cross the desert. The region was inhabited by Native American groups for hundreds of years before the Spaniards came in the 15^th century and colonized a large part of the desert area. Now you can see the remains of one early Native American civilization, the Hohokam tribe, who created permanent villages and a fairly advanced system of canals to carry water for their crops.

The desert area is remarkable for its cacti, the main form of vegetation that can exits in such inhospitable conditions. There is also an amazing variety of wildflowers which seem to come up overnight after the winter rains, only to disappear in the first heat of spring. Animals that live in the desert include lizards, the desert tortoises, rattlesnakes and small mammals such as mice squirrels, rabbits, coyotes and mountain lions.

So come and join us for a true wilderness experience in the Sonorant desert – an unforgettable adventure! There is nothing quite like the desert sky full of stars to remind you of that whole universe out there.

What does the passage mainly discuss?
1. a desert with severe weather conditions.
2. living conditions in a desert.
3. the appeal of a place despite its terrible climatic situation.
4. an invitation to a beautiful place.
In the fisrst paragraph, why does the author say surprisingly?
1. Because so many people live in the desert area of Arizona.
2. Because the desert takes up 80% of Arizona.
3. Beause Arizona only has two main towns.
4. Because Arizona’s population is so small.
In the fist paragraph, what is the meaning of territory?
1. a rivers land area c. Natural rivers d. Canals
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source of water on the desert nowadays
1. Natural rain Ground water c. natural rivers d. canals
In the history of the Sonorant desert,
1. Native Americans always moved around in the area.
2. only the Spaniards created fixed settlements in the area.
3. the Hohokam people were only present after the 15^th
4. a Native American group used a special system for watering the plants.
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word inhospitable in paragraph 3?
1. impossible unhappy c. harsh d. having no hospitals
It can be inferred from the passage that
1. lizards are the main species that live in the desert.
2. rattlesnakes have very strong living instincts.
3. mice cannot give birth to babies
4. coyotes feed their babies with grass or meat
What is the main impression that the author gives of the desert area?
1. There isn’t much to do apart from studying the animals.
2. It’s a fascinating place.
3. It’s only interesting because of the towns that are there.
4. It’s a good place to do scientific research.
What sort of people would probably like to visit the Sonorant desert?
1. Shy and reserved Active and adventurous
2. Careful and economical Generous and friendly
Where does this passage most likely come from?
1. a book about North American history
2. a travel guide book
3. a brochure advertising unusual holidays
4. an introduction to Native American civilizations

Passage 1

Millions of Americans are exercising today. At the same time, they are eating fewer of the foods tat they liked best in the past. They consume fewer beef hamburgers and sweets, and more fruits, grains, and vegetables.
There are good reasons for these changes. Medical evidence has shown that many Americans have become victims of modern life. They no longer do hard and physical work as they did before. Life in America is easier for many people and they are rich enough to buy various kinds of food that contain a lot of sugar and fat. Yet, the result is an increase in health problems.
One of the country’s top health experts, Doctor Everett Koop, recently gave a frightening report. Doctor Koop says 33% of Americans are too fat. They need to lose about 22% of their body weight to improve their health. Some Americans are extremely overweight. The condition is costly, about 7 billion dollars is spent each year to treat diseases related to being overweight. The condition can be deadly, too. Each year, 300,000 overweight American die before reaching old age.
It is not surprising that so many Americans are trying to improve the condition of the body. They are trying to become more physically fit. This is especially true to those who are over the age of 30. There are reports, however, that Americans in their twenties may be exercising less.
Physical fitness does not guarantee good health. Accidents and diseases can happen to anyone at any time. But according to medical experts, fitness provides a big step toward living a long and healthy life. Exercise strengthens the most important muscle in our body – the heart. Exercise increase the level at which we burn fat. It lowers the chance of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It prevents loss of bone strength.
To have a good diet and to do exercise are all that those who want to live long need to do as soon as possible.

According to the passage, many Americans today
1. are better aware of the benefits or physical exercise
2. eat as much high-fat food as they used to
3. never have a good diet
4. don’t like foods containing a lot of fat and sugar any longer.
Which of the following is probably a cause to increasing health problems?
1. going jogging
2. eating grains and vegetables
3. being wealthier and wealthier
4. doing more physical work
According to Everett Koop,
1. there are many young Americans that are overweight.
2. around one out of three Americans is overweight.
3. overweight Americans live until their old age.
4. accidents and illness never happen to those who are overweight.
Physical fitness
1. guarantees good health.
2. mainly leads to better life expectancy and good health condition.
3. makes the heart muscle weaker.
4. all are correct
Doing exercise is considered as a major way
1. to strengthen the heart muscle and increase the amount of calories the body can burn.
2. to reduce the possibility of cardiac problems among others.
3. keep the bone from getting weaker and weaker.
4. all are correct

Passage 2:

She clambered over the rocks, being careful not to slip into the rock pools, and found a flattish rock on which to sit and look out to sea. She would make this “her spot”, she thought, as she gazed dreamily out over the gray sea stretching away to the horizon.
The air smelled of seaweed, the seagulls screamed overhead as they circled slowly looking for tasty bites. Susan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling the cobwebs blowing away on the sea breeze, taking all her cares and frustrations with them. The past few weeks had really been too much, what with extra pressure at work, her father n and out of the hospital for tests and her relationship with Graham going rapidly down the drain.
She only decided to take a week off, however, when she heard that her summer leave would have to be put off until late September – it was now May and the thought of a whole summer without a break had been just too much. Fortunately, there weren’t any problems of last minute reservations or of trying desperately to think of a nice place to go to; for all her adult life (it was ten years now since she had said a fond farewell to her high school teachers –she must be getting old!), she had been coming back to this seaside village, to the same cottage owned by an aunt who had emigrated to America. She had given her the key to go and stay whenever she liked, as long as she promised to look after the garden and maintain the cottage in a reasonable condition. A small price to pay, Susan thought gratefully, for such a wonderful place to escape to.

From the passage, it seems that Susan
1. was distressed and unhappy.
2. found the sea made her feel better.
3. enjoyed climbing the rocks.
4. was irritated by the noise of the seagulls.
What age must Susan be?
1. in her late thirties
2. in her early twenties
3. in her late twenties
4. in her early thirties
According to the passage, Susan
1. was just starting her vacation
2. was at the end of her vacation
3. was on vacation for a fortnight
4. didn’t want to go back to work
She had came to the village because
1. it was by the sea
2. her aunt had invited her to stay with her
3. she had split up with her boyfriend
4. her vacation plans had been changed unexpectedly
From your understanding of the passage,
1. Susan didn’t mind paying rent for the cottage
2. her aunt often came back to the village
3. she was quite happy to look after the house and garden
4. she was having a late summer vacation

C D C A B A B A C A

Read the following passage adapted from A. Briggs’ article on culture, Microsoft® Student 2008, and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 6 to 15.

Culture is a word in common use with complex meanings, and is derived, like the term broadcasting, from the treatment and care of the soil and of what grows on it. It is directly related to cultivation and the adjectives cultural and cultured are part of the same verbal complex. A person of culture has identifiable attributes, among them a knowledge of and interest in the arts, literature, and music. Yet the word culture does not refer solely to such knowledge and interest nor, indeed, to education. At least from the 19th century onwards, under the influence of anthropologists and sociologists, the word culture has come to be used generally both in the singular and the plural (cultures) to refer to a whole way of life of people, including their customs, laws, conventions, and values.

Distinctions have consequently been drawn between primitive and advanced culture and cultures, between elite and popular culture, between popular and mass culture, and most recently between national and global cultures. Distinctions have been drawn too between culture and civilization; the latter is a word derived not, like culture or agriculture, from the soil, but from the city. The two words are sometimes treated as synonymous. Yet this is misleading. While civilization and barbarism are pitted against each other in what seems to be a perpetual behavioural pattern, the use of the word

culture has been strongly influenced by conceptions of evolution in the 19th century and of development in the 20th century. Cultures evolve or develop. They are not static. They have twists and turns. Styles change. So do fashions. There are cultural processes. What, for example, the word cultured means has changed substantially since the study of classical (that is, Greek and Roman) literature, philosophy, and history ceased in the 20th century to be central to school and university education. No single alternative focus emerged, although with computers has come electronic culture, affecting kinds of study, and most recently digital culture. As cultures express themselves in new forms not everything gets better or more civilized.

The multiplicity of meanings attached to the word made and will make it difficult to define. There is no single, unproblematic definition, although many attempts have been made to establish one. The only non-problematic definitions go back to agricultural meaning (for example, cereal culture or strawberry culture) and medical meaning (for example, bacterial culture or penicillin culture). Since in anthropology and sociology we also acknowledge culture clashes, culture shock, and counter- culture, the range of reference is extremely wide.

Question 6: According to the passage, the word culture .

comes from a source that has not been identified
develops from Greek and Roman literature and history
is related to the preparation and use of land for farming
derives from the same root as civilization does

Question 7: It is stated in paragraph 1 that a cultured person .

does a job relevant to education B. takes care of the soil and what grows on it
has a job related to cultivation D. has knowledge of arts, literature, and music

Question 8: The author remarks that culture and civilization are the two words that .

share the same word formation pattern
are both related to agriculture and cultivation
do not develop from the same meaning
have nearly the same meaning

Question 9: It can be inferred from the passage that since the 20th century .

classical literature, philosophy, and history have not been taught as compulsory subjects
all schools and universities have taught classical literature, philosophy, and history
classical literature, philosophy, and history have been considered as core subjects
schools and universities have not taught classical literature, philosophy, and history

Question 10: The word “attributes” in paragraph 1 most likely means .

fields B. qualities C. skills D. aspects

Question 11: The word “static” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by “ ”.

unchanged B. dense C. regular D. balanced

Question 12: Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage?

Distinctions have been drawn between culture and civilization.
Anthropology and sociology have tried to limit the references to culture.
The word culture can be used to refer to a whole way of life of
The use of the word culture has been changed since the 19th

Question 13: It is difficult to give the definitions of the word culture EXCEPT for its .

agricultural and medical meanings B. historical and figurative meanings
philosophical and historical meanings D. sociological and anthropological meanings

Question 14: Which of the following is NOT true about the word culture?

It evolves from agriculture. B. Its use has been considerably changed.
It is a word that cannot be defined. D. It differs from the word civilization.

Question 15: The passage mainly discusses .

the multiplicity of meanings of the word culture
the figurative meanings of the word culture
the distinction between culture and civilization
the derivatives of the word culture

2 C D A A C C D B C C

Read the following passage adapted from Cultural Guide – OALD, 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.

The issue of equality for women in British society first attracted national attention in the early 20th century, when the suffragettes won for women the right to vote. In the 1960s feminism became the subject of intense debate when the women’s liberation movement encouraged women to reject their traditional supporting role and to demand equal status and equal rights with men in areas such as employment and pay.

Since then, the gender gap between the sexes has been reduced. The Equal Pay Act of 1970, for instance, made it illegal for women to be paid less than men for doing the same work, and in 1975 the Sex Discrimination Act aimed to prevent either sex having an unfair advantage when applying for jobs. In the same year the Equal Opportunities Commission was set up to help people claim their rights to equal treatment and to publish research and statistics to show where improvements in opportunities for women need to be made. Women now have much better employment opportunities, though they still tend to get less well-paid jobs than men, and very few are appointed to top jobs in industry.

In the US the movement that is often called the “first wave of feminism” began in the mid 1800s. Susan B. Anthony worked for the right to vote, Margaret Sanger wanted to provide women with the means of contraception so that they could decide whether or not to have children, and Elizabeth Blackwell, who had to fight for the chance to become a doctor, wanted women to have greater opportunities to study. Many feminists were interested in other social issues.

The second wave of feminism began in the 1960s. Women like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem became associated with the fight to get equal rights and opportunities for women under the law. An important issue was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was intended to change the Constitution. Although the ERA was not passed, there was progress in other areas. It became illegal for employers, schools, clubs, etc. to discriminate against women. But women still find it hard to advance beyond a certain point in their careers, the so-called glass ceiling that prevents them from having high-level jobs. Many women also face the problem of the second shift, i.e. the household chores.

In the 1980s, feminism became less popular in the US and there was less interest in solving the remaining problems, such as the fact that most women still earn much less than men. Although there is still discrimination, the principle that it should not exist is widely accepted.

Question 26: It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that in the 19th century, .

most women did not wish to have equal status and equal rights
suffragettes fought for the equal employment and equal pay
British women did not have the right to vote in political elections
British women did not complete their traditional supporting role

Question 27: The phrase “gender gap” in paragraph 2 refers to .

the social distance between the two sexes
the social relationship between the two sexes
the visible space between men and women
the difference in status between men and women

Question 28: Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, and Elizabeth Blackwell are mentioned as

pioneers in the fight for American women’s rights
American women with exceptional abilities
American women who had greater opportunities
American women who were more successful than men

Question 29: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) .

was not officially approved B. was brought into force in the 1960s
changed the US Constitution D. supported employers, schools and clubs

Question 30: In the late 20th century, some information about feminism in Britain was issued by

the Equal Pay Act of 1970 B. the Sex Discrimination Act
the Equal Opportunities Commission D. the Equal Rights Amendment

Question 31: Which of the following is true according to the passage?

The US movement of feminism became the most popular in the late 20th
The women’s liberation movement in the world first began in
The movement of feminism began in the US earlier than in
The British government passed laws to support women in the early 20th

Question 32: The phrase “glass ceiling” in paragraph 4 mostly means .

an overlooked problem B. a ceiling made of glass
a transparent frame D. an imaginary barrier

Question 33: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

British women now have much better employment
There is now no sex discrimination in Britain and in the
Many American women still face the problem of household
An American woman once had to fight for the chance to become a

Question 34: It can be inferred from the passage that .

the belief that sex discrimination should not exist is not popular in the US
the British government did not approve of the women’s liberation movement
women in Britain and the US still fight for their equal status and equal rights
women do not have better employment opportunities despite their great efforts

Question 35: Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

Opportunities for Women Nowadays B. Women and the Right to Vote
Feminism in Britain and the US D. The Suffragettes in British Society

3 B A A A D C C D B C
Learning means acquiring knowledge or developing the ability to perform new behaviors. It is common to think of learning as something that takes place in school, but much of human learning occurs outside the classroom, and people continue to learn throughout their lives.

Even before they enter school, young children learn to walk, to talk, and to use their hands to manipulate toys, food, and other objects. They use all of their senses to learn about the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells in their environments. They learn how to interact with their parents, siblings, friends, and other people important to their world. When they enter school, children learn basic academic subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics. They also continue to learn a great deal outside the classroom. They learn which behaviors are likely to be rewarded and which are likely to be punished. They learn social skills for interacting with other children. After they finish school, people must learn to adapt to the many major changes that affect their lives, such as getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job.

Because learning continues throughout our lives and affects almost everything we do, the study of learning is important in many different fields. Teachers need to understand the best ways to educate children. Psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other human-service workers need to understand how certain experiences change people’s behaviors. Employers, politicians, and advertisers make use of the principles of learning to influence the behavior of workers, voters, and consumers.

Learning is closely related to memory, which is the storage of information in the brain. Psychologists who study memory are interested in how the brain stores knowledge, where this storage takes place, and how the brain later retrieves knowledge when we need it. In contrast, psychologists who study learning are more interested in behavior and how behavior changes as a result of a person’s experiences.

There are many forms of learning, ranging from simple to complex. Simple forms of learning involve a single stimulus. A stimulus is anything perceptible to the senses, such as a sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste. In a form of learning known as classical conditioning, people learn to associate two stimuli that occur in sequence, such as lightning followed by thunder. In operant conditioning, people learn by forming an association between a behavior and its consequences (reward or punishment). People and animals can also learn by observation – that is, by watching others perform behaviors. More complex forms of learning include learning languages, concepts, and motor skills.

(Extracted from Microsoft® Student 2009 – DVD Version)

Question 38: According to the passage, which of the following is learning in broad view comprised of?

Acquisition of social and behavioural skills
Knowledge acquisition and ability development
Knowledge acquisition outside the classroom
Acquisition of academic knowledge

Question 39: According to the passage, what are children NOT usually taught outside the classroom?

literacy and calculation B. right from wrong
interpersonal communication D. life skills

Question 40: Getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job are mentioned in paragraph 2 as examples of .

the changes to which people have to orient themselves
the situations in which people cannot teach themselves
the ways people’s lives are influenced by education
the areas of learning which affect people’s lives

Question 41: Which of the following can be inferred about the learning process from the passage?

It takes place more frequently in real life than in academic
It becomes less challenging and complicated when people grow
It is more interesting and effective in school than that in
It plays a crucial part in improving the learner’s motivation in

Question 42: According to the passage, the study of learning is important in many fields due to .

the exploration of the best teaching methods
the need for certain experiences in various areas
the influence of various behaviours in the learning process
the great influence of the on-going learning process

Question 43: It can be inferred from the passage that social workers, employers, and politicians concern themselves with the study of learning because they need to .

make the objects of their interest more aware of the importance of learning
understand how a stimulus relates to the senses of the objects of their interest
thoroughly understand the behaviours of the objects of their interest
change the behaviours of the objects of their interest towards learning

Question 44: The word “retrieves ” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to .

generates B. creates C. recovers D. gains

Question 45: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

Psychologists studying memory are concerned with how the stored knowledge is
Psychologists studying memory are concerned with the brain’s storage of
Psychologists studying learning are interested in human
Psychologists are all interested in memory as much as

Question 46: According to the passage, the stimulus in simple forms of learning .

is created by the senses B. bears relation to perception
makes associations between behaviours D. is associated with natural phenomena

Question 47: The passage mainly discusses .

practical examples of learning inside the classroom
application of learning principles to formal education
general principles of learning
simple forms of learning

4 B A D C C D D A B D

Commuting is the practice of travelling a long distance to a town or city to work each day, and then travelling home again in the evening. The word commuting comes from commutation ticket, a US rail ticket for repeated journeys, called a season ticket in Britain. Regular travellers are called commuters.

The US has many commuters. A few, mostly on the East Coast, commute by train or subway, but most depend on the car. Some leave home very early to avoid the traffic jams, and sleep in their cars until their office opens. Many people accept a long trip to work so that they can live in quiet bedroom communities away from the city, but another reason is ‘white flight’. In the 1960s most cities began to desegregate their schools, so that there were no longer separate schools for white and black children. Many white families did not want to send their children to desegregated schools, so they moved to the suburbs, which have their own schools, and where, for various reasons, few black people live.

Millions of people in Britain commute by car or train. Some spend two or three hours a day travelling, so that they and their families can live in suburbia or in the countryside. Cities are surrounded by commuter belts. Part of the commuter belt around London is called the stockbroker belt because it contains houses where rich business people live. Some places are becoming dormitory towns, because people sleep there but take little part in local activities.

Most commuters travel to and from work at the same time, causing the morning and evening rush hours, when buses and trains are crowded and there are traffic jams on the roads. Commuters on trains rarely talk to each other and spend their journey reading, sleeping or using their mobile phones, though this is not popular with other passengers. Increasing numbers of people now work at home some days of the week, linked to their offices by computer, a practice called telecommuting.

Cities in both Britain and the US are trying to reduce the number of cars coming into town each day. Some companies encourage car pooling (called car sharing in Britain), an arrangement for people who live and work near each other to travel together. Some US cities have a public service that helps such people to contact each other, and traffic lanes are reserved for car-pool vehicles. But cars and petrol/gas are cheap in the US, and many people prefer to drive alone because it gives them more freedom. In Britain many cities have park-and-ride schemes, car parks on the edge of the city from which buses take drivers into the centre.

(Extracted from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Oxford University Press, 2000)

Question 68: Which of the following definitions of commuting would the author of this passage most probably agree with?

Using a commutation ticket for special journeys in all seasons of the
Regularly travelling a long distance between one’s place of work and one’s
Travelling for hours from a town or city to work in the countryside every
Travelling to work and then home again in a day within a rural

Question 69: The word “repeated” in paragraph 1 most probably means .

happening again and again B. saying something again
doing something once again D. buying a season ticket again

Question 70: The passage mentions that many Americans are willing to travel a long distance to work in order to be able to live in .

comfortable bedrooms B. noisy communities
city centres D. quiet neighbourhoods

Question 71: Which of the following is true according to the passage?

Commuting helps people in the US and Britain save a lot of
The US has considerably more commuters than
Both the US and Britain have a great number of
Britain has considerably more commuters than the

Question 72: Which of the following is NOT true about the London commuter belt?

It surrounds London. B. It is home to some wealthy business people.
It is in central London. D. It is like “bedroom communities” in the US.

Question 73: It can be inferred from the passage that dormitory towns in Britain are places where people .

contribute to the local community B. take part in local activities
are employed locally D. stay for the night

Question 74: As mentioned in the passage, commuters usually .

go home from work at different hours B. talk to each other during train journeys
go to work at different hours D. cause traffic congestion on the roads

Question 75: The phrase “linked to” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to .

connected to B. satisfied with C. related to D. shared with

Question 76: All of the following are measures to reduce the number of cars coming into town each day in the US and/or Britain EXCEPT .

traffic lanes for car pooling B. free car parks in the city centre
car pooling/sharing D. park-and-ride schemes

Question 77: The word “it” in the last paragraph refers to .

travelling together B. petrol/gas C. car pool D. driving alone

5- D B B B A C C D D B

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 31 to 40.

It’s often said that we learn things at the wrong time. University students frequently do the minimum of work because they’re crazy about a good social life instead. Children often scream before their piano practice because it’s so boring. They have to be given gold stars and medals to be persuaded to swim, or have to be bribed to take exams. But the story is different when you’re older.

Over the years, I’ve done my share of adult learning. At 30, I went to a college and did courses in History and English. It was an amazing experience. For starters, I was paying, so there was no reason to be late – I was the one frowning and drumming my fingers if the tutor was late, not the other way round. Indeed, if I could persuade him to linger for an extra five minutes, it was a bonus, not a nuisance. I wasn’t frightened to ask questions, and homework was a pleasure not a pain. When I

passed an exam, I had passed it for me and me alone, not for my parents or my teachers. The satisfaction I got was entirely personal.

Some people fear going back to school because they worry that their brains have got rusty. But the joy is that, although some parts have rusted up, your brain has learnt all kinds of other things since you were young. It has learnt to think independently and flexibly and is much better at relating one thing to another. What you lose in the rust department, you gain in the maturity department.

In some ways, age is a positive plus. For instance, when you’re older, you get less frustrated. Experience has told you that, if you’re calm and simply do something carefully again and again, eventually you’ll get the hang of it. The confidence you have in other areas – from being able to drive a car, perhaps – means that if you can’t, say, build a chair instantly, you don’t, like a child, want to destroy your first pathetic attempts. Maturity tells you that you will, with application, eventually get there.

I hated piano lessons at school, but I was good at music. And coming back to it, with a teacher who could explain why certain exercises were useful and with musical concepts that, at the age of ten, I could never grasp, was magical. Initially, I did feel a bit strange, thumping out a piece that I’d played for my school exams, with just as little comprehension of what the composer intended as I’d had all those years before. But soon, complex emotions that I never knew poured out from my fingers, and suddenly I could understand why practice makes perfect.

Question 31: It is implied in paragraph 1 that .

young learners are usually lazy in their class
parents should encourage young learners to study more
teachers should give young learners less homework
young learners often lack a good motivation for learning

Question 32: The writer’s main point in paragraph 2 is to show that as people grow up, .

they cannot learn as well as younger learners
they have a more positive attitude towards learning
they get more impatient with their teachers
they tend to learn less as they are discouraged

Question 33: The phrase “For starters” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by “ ”.

At the starting point B. First and foremost
At the beginning D. For beginners

Question 34: While doing some adult learning courses at a college, the writer was surprised .

to have more time to learn B. to feel learning more enjoyable
to be able to learn more quickly D. to get on better with the tutor

Question 35: In paragraph 3, the word “rusty” means .

not as good as it used to be through lack of practice
impatient because of having nothing to do
staying alive and becoming more active
covered with rust and not as good as it used to be

Question 36: The phrase “get there” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “ ”.

arrive at an intended place with difficulty B. receive a school or college degree
achieve your aim with hard work D. have the things you have long desired

Question 37: All of the following are true about adult learning EXCEPT .

experience in doing other things can help one’s learning
young people usually feel less patient than adults
adult learners have fewer advantages than young learners
adults think more independently and flexibly than young people

Question 38: It can be inferred from paragraph 4 that maturity is a positive plus in the learning process because adult learners .

are able to organize themselves better than younger learners
are less worried about learning than younger learners
pay more attention to detail than younger learners
have become more patient than younger learners

Question 39: It is implied in the last paragraph that when you learn later in life, you .

are not able to concentrate as well as when you were younger
should expect to take longer to learn than when you were younger
find that you can recall a lot of things you learnt when younger
can sometimes understand more than when you were younger

Question 40: What is the writer’s main purpose in the passage?

To describe adult learning methods. B. To encourage adult learning.
To show how fast adult learning is. D. To explain reasons for learning.

6- B A D A D B C C D A

In the West, cartoons are used chiefly to make people laugh. The important feature of all these cartoons is the joke and the element of surprise which is contained. Even though it is very funny, a good cartoon is always based on close observation of a particular feature of life and usually has a serious purpose.

Cartoons in the West have been associated with political and social matters for many years. In wartime, for example, they proved to be an excellent way of spreading propaganda. Nowadays cartoons are often used to make short, sharp comments on politics and governments as well as on a variety of social matters. In this way, the modern cartoon has become a very powerful force in influencing people in Europe and the United States.

Unlike most American and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past have also attempted to educate people, especially those who could not read and write. Such cartoons about the lives and sayings of great men in China have proved extremely useful in bringing education to illiterate and semi-literate people throughout China. Confucius, Mencius and Laozi have all appeared in very interesting stories presented in the form of cartoons. The cartoons themselves have thus served to illustrate the teachings of the Chinese sages in a very attractive way.

In this sense, many Chinese cartoons are different from Western cartoons in so far as they do not depend chiefly on telling jokes. Often, there is nothing to laugh at when you see Chinese cartoons. This is not their primary aim. In addition to commenting on serious political and social matters, Chinese cartoons have aimed at spreading the traditional Chinese thoughts and culture as widely as possible among the people.

Today, however, Chinese cartoons have an added part to play in spreading knowledge. They offer a very attractive and useful way of reaching people throughout the world, regardless of the particular country in which they live. Thus, through cartoons, the thoughts and teachings of the old Chinese philosophers and sages can now reach people who live in such countries as Britain, France, America, Japan, Malaysia or Australia and who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture.

Until recently, the transfer of knowledge and culture has been overwhelmingly from the West to the East and not vice versa. By means of cartoons, however, publishing companies in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are now having success in correcting this imbalance between the East and the West.

Cartoons can overcome language barriers in all foreign countries. The vast increase in the popularity of these cartoons serves to illustrate the truth of Confucius’s famous saying “One picture is worth a thousand words.”

Question 71: Which of the following clearly characterizes Western cartoons?

Originality, freshness, and astonishment. B. Humour, unexpectedness, and criticism.
Enjoyment, liveliness, and carefulness. D. Seriousness, propaganda, and attractiveness.

Question 72: Chinese cartoons have been useful as an important means of .

educating ordinary people B. political propaganda in wartime
amusing people all the time D. spreading Western ideas

Question 73: The major differences between Chinese cartoons and Western cartoons come from their .

nationalities B. styles C. values D. purposes

Question 74: The pronoun “this” in paragraph 4 mostly refers to .

a funny element B. a piece of art
a propaganda campaign D. an educational purpose

Question 75: The passage is intended to present .

an outline of Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons
a description of cartoons of all kinds the world over
an opinion about how cartoons entertain people
a contrast between Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons

Question 76: Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

Cartoons as a Way of Educating People
Chinese Cartoons and Western Cartoons
A Very Powerful Force in Influencing People
An Excellent Way of Spreading Propaganda

Question 77: In general, Chinese cartoons are now aiming at .

bringing education to illiterate and semi-literate people in the world
illustrating the truth of Chinese great men’s famous sayings
spreading the Chinese ideas and cultural values throughout the world
disseminating traditional practices in China and throughout the world

Question 78: The word “imbalance” in paragraph 6 refers to .

the discrimination between the West culture and the East culture
the influence of the East cartoons over the West cartoons
the dominant cultural influence of the West over the East
the mismatch between the East cartoons and the West cartoons

Question 79: Which of the following is most likely the traditional subject of Chinese cartoons?

Jokes and other kinds of humour in political and social
The stories and features of the lives of great men the world
The illiterate and semi-literate people throughout
The philosophies and sayings of ancient Chinese

Question 80: According to the passage, which of the following is true?

Cartoons can serve various
Cartoons will replace other forms of
Western cartoons always have a serious
Language barriers restricted

7 – b b d d d b d a c c

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 40 to 49.

Very few people, groups, or governments oppose globalization in its entirety. Instead, critics of globalization believe aspects of the way globalization operates should be changed. The debate over globalization is about what the best rules are for governing the global economy so that its advantages can grow while its problems can be solved.

On one side of this debate are those who stress the benefits of removing barriers to international trade and investment, allowing capital to be allocated more efficiently and giving consumers greater freedom of choice. With free-market globalization, investment funds can move unimpeded from the rich countries to the developing countries. Consumers can benefit from cheaper products because reduced taxes make goods produced at low cost from faraway places cheaper to buy. Producers of goods gain by selling to a wider market. More competition keeps sellers on their toes and allows ideas and new technology to spread and benefit others.

On the other side of the debate are critics who see neo-liberal policies as producing greater poverty, inequality, social conflict, cultural destruction, and environmental damage. They say that the most developed nations – the United States, Germany, and Japan – succeeded not because of free trade but because of protectionism and subsidies. They argue that the more recently successful economies of South Korea, Taiwan, and China all had strong state-led development strategies that did not follow neo-liberalism. These critics think that government encouragement of “infant industries” – that is, industries that are just beginning to develop – enables a country to become internationally competitive.

Furthermore, those who criticize the Washington Consensus suggest that the inflow and outflow of money from speculative investors must be limited to prevent bubbles. These bubbles are characterized by the rapid inflow of foreign funds that bid up domestic stock markets and property values. When the economy cannot sustain such expectations, the bubbles burst as investors panic and pull their money out of the country.

Protests by what is called the anti-globalization movement are seldom directed against globalization itself but rather against abuses that harm the rights of workers and the environment. The question raised by nongovernmental organizations and protesters at WTO and IMF gatherings is whether globalization will result in a rise of living standards or a race to the bottom as competition takes the form of lowering living standards and undermining environmental regulations.

One of the key problems of the 21st century will be determining to what extent markets should be

regulated to promote fair competition, honest dealing, and fair distribution of public goods on a global scale.

From “Globalization” by Tabb, William K., Microsoft® Student 2009 [DVD]

Question 40: It is stated in the passage that _.

critics of globalization say that the successful economies are all in Asia
supporters of globalization stress the benefits of removing trade barriers
the United States, Germany, and Japan succeeded in helping infant industries
the protests of globalization are directed against globalization itself

Question 41: Supporters of free-market globalization point out that .

there will be less competition among producers
consumers can benefit from cheaper products
taxes that are paid on goods will be increased
investment will be allocated only to rich countries

Question 42: The word “allocated” in the passage mostly means “ ”.

offered B. solved C. removed D. distributed

Question 43: The phrase “keeps sellers on their toes” in the passage mostly means “ ”.

allows sellers to stand on their own feet B. prevents sellers from selling new products
forces sellers to go bare-footed D. makes sellers responsive to any changes

Question 44: According to critics of globalization, several developed countries have become rich because of ______.

their prevention of bubbles B. their neo-liberal policies
their help to developing countries D. their protectionism and subsidies

Question 45: The word “undermining” in the passage mostly means “ ”.

making more effective B. making less effective C. obeying D. observing

Question 46: Infant industries mentioned in the passage are .

successful economies B. young companies
development strategies D. young industries

Question 47: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

The anti-globalization movement was set up to end globalization.
Hardly anyone disapproves of globalization in its entirety.
Some Asian countries had strong state-led economic
Critics believe the way globalization operates should be changed.

Question 48: The debate over globalization is about how .

to terminate globalization in its entirety
to spread ideas and strategies for globalization
to govern the global economy for the benefit of the community
to use neo-liberal policies for the benefit of the rich countries

Question 49: The author seems to be globalization that helps promote economy and raise living standards globally.

indifferent to B. pessimistic about C. supportive of D. opposed to

8- d b a a c b c b b d

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 62 to 71.

New surveys suggest that the technological tools we use to make our lives easier are killing our leisure time. We are working longer hours, taking fewer and shorter vacations (and when we do go away, we take our cell phones, PDAs, and laptops along). And, we are more stressed than ever as increased use of e-mail, voice mail, cell phones, and the Internet is destroying any idea of privacy and leisure.

Since the Industrial Revolution, people have assumed that new labor-saving devices would free them from the burdens of the workplace and give them more time to grow intellectually, creatively, and socially – exploring the arts, keeping up with current events, spending more time with friends and family, and even just ‘goofing off’.

But here we are at the start of the 21st century, enjoying one of the greatest technological boom times in human history, and nothing could be further from the truth. The very tools that were supposed to liberate us have bound us to our work and study in ways that were inconceivable just a few years ago. It would seem that technology almost never does what we expect.

In ‘the old days’, the lines between work and leisure time were markedly clearer. People left their offices at a predictable time, were often completely disconnected from and out of touch with their jobs as they traveled to and from work, and were off-duty once they were home. That is no longer true. In today’s highly competitive job market, employers demand increased productivity, expecting workers to put in longer hours and to keep in touch almost constantly via fax, cell phones, e-mail, or other communications devices. As a result, employees feel the need to check in on what is going on at the office, even on days off. They feel pressured to work after hours just to catch up on everything they have to do. Workers work harder and longer, change their work tasks more frequently, and have more and more reasons to worry about job security.

Bosses, colleagues, family members, lovers, and friends expect instant responses to voice mail and e-mail messages. Even college students have become bound to their desks by an environment in which faculty, friends, and other members of the college community increasingly do their work online. Studies of time spent on instant messaging services would probably show staggering use.

This is not what technology was supposed to be doing for us. New technologies, from genetic research to the Internet, offer all sorts of benefits and opportunities. But, when new tools make life more difficult and stressful rather than easier and more meaningful – and we are, as a society, barely conscious of it – then something has gone seriously awry, both with our expectations for technology and our understanding of how it should benefit us.

From “Summit 1” by Joan Saslow & Allen Ascher

Question 62: According to the first three paragraphs, technological tools that were designed to make our lives easier .

have brought us complete happiness B. have not interfered with our privacy
have fully met our expectations D. have turned out to do us more harm than good

Question 63: Which of the following is NOT true about technological tools, according to new surveys?

They are being increasingly used. B. They bring more leisure to our life.
They are used even during vacations. D. They make our life more stressful.

Question 64: Which of the following is true, according to the passage?

People have more opportunities to get access to technological
Students used to have to study more about technological advances.
People now enjoy greater freedom thanks to the technological boom.
Employees were supposed to make technology do what they

Question 65: The word “inconceivable” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”.

unimaginable B. foreseeable C. unforgettable D. predictable

Question 66: With the phrase “at a predictable time”, the author implies that .

people wanted to be completely disconnected from their work
people had to predict the time they were allowed to leave offices
people used to have more time and privacy after work
people were unable to foresee their working hours

Question 67: It can be inferred from the fourth paragraph that .

employees have more freedom to decide what time they start and finish work
employers are more demanding and have efficient means to monitor employees
it is compulsory that employees go to the office, even on days off
life is more relaxing with cell phones and other technological devices

Question 68: The word “They” in the fourth paragraph refers to .

employers B. workers C. employees D. tasks

Question 69: Which of the following could be the main idea of the fifth paragraph?

The coming of new technological advances has spoiled family and social relationships.
New technological advances have added more stress to daily
New technological applications are wise entertainment choices of our modern
New technological advances have reduced work performance.

Question 70: This passage has probably been taken from .

a fashion magazine B. a science review C. a political journal D. an advertisement

Question 71: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?

Research on the Roles of Computers B. Changes at the Workplace
Benefits of Technology D. Expectations and Plain Reality

9- B B A B D D A C C A

Đọc kỹ đoạn văn sau và chọn phương án đúng (A hoặc B, C, D) cho mỗi câu từ 1 đến 10.

Traditionally in America, helping the poor was a matter for private charities or local governments. Arriving immigrants depended mainly on predecessors from their homeland to help them start a new life. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several European nations instituted public-welfare programs. But such a movement was slow to take hold in the United States because the rapid pace of industrialization and the ready availability of farmland seemed to confirm the belief that anyone who was willing to work could find a job.

Most of the programs started during the Depression era were temporary relief measures, but one of the programs – Social Security – has become an American institution. Paid for by deductions from the paychecks of working people, Social Security ensures that retired persons receive a modest monthly income and also provides unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and other assistance to those who need it. Social Security payments to retired persons can start at age 62, but many wait until age 65, when the payments are slightly higher. Recently, there has been concern that the Social Security fund may not have enough money to fulfill its obligations in the 21st century, when the population of elderly Americans is expected to increase dramatically. Policy makers have proposed various ways to make up the anticipated deficit, but a long-term solution is still being debated.

In the years since Roosevelt, other American presidents have established assistance programs. These include Medicaid and Medicare; food stamps, certificates that people can use to purchase food; and public housing which is built at federal expense and made available to persons on low incomes.

Needy Americans can also turn to sources other than the government for help. A broad spectrum of private charities and voluntary organizations is available. Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, especially among retired persons. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of Americans over age 18 do volunteer work, and nearly 75 percent of U.S. households contribute money to charity.

Câu 1: New immigrants to the U.S. could seek help from _.

volunteer organizations B. the people who came earlier
the US government agencies D. only charity organizations

Câu 2: It took welfare programs a long time to gain a foothold in the U.S. due to the fast growth of_ .

urbanization B. industrialization C. population D. modernization

Câu 3: The word “instituted” in the first paragraph mostly means .

“introduced” B. “executed” C. “enforced” D. “studied”

Câu 4: The Social Security program has become possible thanks to .

enforcement laws B. deductions from wages
people’s willingness to work D. donations from companies

Câu 5: Most of the public assistance programs after the severe economic crisis.

did not work in institutions B. were introduced into institutions
functioned fruitfully in institutions D. did not become institutionalized

Câu 6: That Social Security payments will be a burden comes from the concern that _.

younger people do not want to work B. elderly people ask for more money
the program discourages working people D. the number of elderly people is growing

Câu 7: Persons on low incomes can access public housing through _.

federal expenditure B. donations C. state spending D. low rents

Câu 8: Americans on low incomes can seek help from .

federal government B. government agencies
non-government agencies D. state governments

Câu 9: Public assistance has become more and more popular due to the .

innovations in the tax system B. young people’s voluntarism only
people’s growing commitment to charity D. volunteer organizations

Câu 10: The passage mainly discusses .

public assistance in America B. immigration into America
ways of fund-raising in America D. funding agencies in America

10- C C A D C D A A A D

Đọc kỹ đoạn văn sau và chọn phương án đúng (A hoặc B, C, D) cho mỗi câu từ 11 đến 20.

Millions of people are using cellphones today. In many places, it is actually considered unusual not to use one. In many countries, cellphones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are more than a means of communication – having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.

The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has made some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health.

On the other hand, medical studies have shown changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones. Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at young age because of serious memory loss. He couldn’t remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer’s doctor didn’t agree.

What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about.

As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it’s best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it’s wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

Câu 11: According to the passage, cellphones are especially popular with young people because .

they cannot be replaced by regular phones B. they are indispensable in everyday communications
they make them look more stylish D. they keep the users alert all the time

Câu 12: The changes possibly caused by the cellphones are mainly concerned with .

the arteries of the brain B. the resident memory
the smallest units of the brain D. the mobility of the mind and the body

Câu 13: The word “means” in the passage most closely means .

“method” B. “transmission” C. “meanings” D. “expression”

Câu 14: The word “potentially” in the passage most closely means .

“privately” B. “obviously” C. “certainly” D. “possibly”

Câu 15: “Negative publicity” in the passage most likely means .

the negative public use of cellphones B. poor ideas about the effects of cellphones
widespread opinion about bad effects of cellphones D. information on the lethal effects of cellphones

Câu 16: Doctors have tentatively concluded that cellphones may .

damage their users’ emotions B. change their users’ temperament
change their users’ social behaviours D. cause some mental malfunction

Câu 17: The man mentioned in the passage, who used his cellphone too often, .

had a problem with memory B. abandoned his family
could no longer think lucidly D. suffered serious loss of mental ability

Câu 18: According to the passage, what makes mobile phones potentially harmful is .

their invisible rays B. their radiant light
their power of attraction D. their raiding power

Câu 19: According to the writer, people should _.

only use mobile phones in urgent cases B. keep off mobile phones regularly
never use mobile phones in all cases D. only use mobile phones in medical emergencies

Câu 20: The most suitable title for the passage could be _.

“Mobile Phones: A Must of Our Time” B. “The Reasons Why Mobile Phones Are Popular”
“The Way Mobile Phones Work” D. “Technological Innovations and Their Price”

11- B D B A A D D C D B

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 11 to 20.

Probably the most famous film commenting on the twentieth-century technology is Modern Times, made in 1936. Charlie Chaplin was motivated to make the film by a reporter who, while interviewing him, happened to describe the working conditions in industrial Detroit. Chaplin was told that healthy young farm boys were lured to the city to work on automotive assembly lines. Within four or five years, these young men’s health was destroyed by the stress of work in the factories.

The film opens with a shot of a mass of sheep making their way down a crowded ramp.

Abruptly, the film shifts to a scene of factory workers jostling one another on their way to a factory. However, the rather bitter note of criticism in the implied comparison is not sustained. It is replaced by a gentle note of satire. Chaplin prefers to entertain rather than lecture.

Scenes of factory interiors account for only about one-third of Modern Times, but they contain some of the most pointed social commentary as well as the most comic situations. No one who has seen the film can ever forget Chaplin vainly trying to keep pace with the fast-moving conveyor belt, almost losing his mind in the process. Another popular scene involves an automatic feeding machine brought to the assembly line so that workers need not interrupt their labor to eat. The feeding machine malfunctions, hurling food at Chaplin, who is strapped in his position on the assembly line and cannot escape. This serves to illustrate people’s utter helplessness in the face of machines that are meant to serve their basic needs.

Clearly, Modern Times has its faults, but it remains the best film treating technology within a social context. It does not offer a radical social message, but it does accurately reflect the sentiment of many who feel they are victims of an over-mechanised world.

Question 11: According to the passage, Chaplin got the idea for Modern Times from .

fieldwork B. a conversation C. a newspaper D. a movie

Question 12: The young farm boys went to the city because they were .

promised better accommodation B. driven out of their sheep farm
forced to leave their sheep farm D. attracted by the prospect of a better life Question 13: The phrase “jostling one another” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to “ ”.
jogging side by side B. pushing one another
hurrying up together D. running against each other

Question 14: According to the passage, the opening scene of the film is intended .

to produce a tacit association B. to give the setting for the entire plot later
to introduce the main characters of the film D. to reveal the situation of the factory workers

Question 15: The word “vainly” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to “ ”.

hopelessly B. recklessly C. carelessly D. effortlessly

Question 16: The word “This” in the fourth paragraph refers to .

the situation of young workers in a factory
the malfunction of the twentieth-century technology
the scene of an assembly line in operation
the scene of the malfunction of the feeding machine

Question 17: According to the author, about two-thirds of Modern Times .

is rather discouraging B. entertains the audience most
is more critical than the rest D. was shot outside a factory

Question 18: The author refers to all of the following notions to describe Modern Times EXCEPT “ ”.

entertainment B. criticism C. revolution D. satire

Question 19: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

The working conditions in the car factories of the 1930s were very
The author does not consider Modern Times as a perfect
Modern Times depicts the over-mechanised world from a social
In Modern Times, the factory workers’ basic needs are well

Question 20: The passage was written to .

explain Chaplin’s style of acting B. review one of Chaplin’s popular films
discuss the disadvantages of technology D. criticize the factory system of the 1930s

12 – B D B B B D C C C A

Very few people in the modern world obtain their food supply by hunting and gathering in the natural environment surrounding their homes. This method of harvesting from nature’s provision is the oldest known subsistence strategy and has been practised for at least the last two million years. It was, indeed, the only way to obtain food until rudimentary farming and the domestication of wild animals were introduced about 10,000 years ago.

Because hunter-gatherers have fared poorly in comparison with their agricultural cousins, their numbers have dwindled, and they have been forced to live in marginal environments, such as deserts and arctic wastelands. In higher latitudes, the shorter growing seasons have restricted the availability of plant life. Such conditions have caused a greater dependence on hunting, and on fishing along the coasts and waterways. The abundance of vegetation in the lower latitudes of the tropics, on the other hand, has provided a greater opportunity for gathering a variety of plants. In short, the environmental differences have restricted the diet and have limited possibilities for the development of subsistence societies.

Contemporary hunter-gatherers may help us understand our prehistoric ancestors. We know from the observation of modern hunter-gatherers in both Africa and Alaska that a society based on hunting and gathering must be very mobile. While the entire community camps in a central location, a smaller party harvests the food within a reasonable distance from the camp. When the food in the area has become exhausted, the community moves on to exploit another site. We also notice seasonal migration patterns evolving for most hunter-gatherers, along with a strict division of labor between the sexes. These patterns of behavior may be similar to those practised by mankind during the Paleolithic Period.

Question 31: The word “domestication” in the first paragraph mostly means .

adapting animals to suit a new working environment
making wild animals used to living with and working for humans
hatching and raising new species of wild animals in the home
teaching animals to do a particular job or activity in the home

Question 32: According to the passage, subsistence societies depend mainly on .

agricultural products B. farming methods
hunter-gatherers’ tools D. nature’s provision

Question 33: The word “marginal” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to “ ”.

suburban B. disadvantaged C. abandoned D. forgotten

Question 34: In the lower latitudes of the tropics, hunter-gatherers .

can free themselves from hunting B. have better food gathering from nature
harvest shorter seasonal crops D. live along the coasts and waterways for fishing

Question 35: According to the passage, studies of contemporary subsistence societies can provide a

further understanding of modern subsistence societies
further understanding of prehistoric times
broader vision of prehistoric natural environments
deeper insight into the dry-land farming

Question 36: The word “conditions” in the second paragraph refers to .

the situations in which hunter-gatherers hardly find anything to eat
the situations in which hunter-gatherers can grow some crops
the places where plenty of animals and fish can be found
the environments where it is not favorable for vegetation to grow

Question 37: A typical feature of both modern and prehistoric hunter-gatherers is that .

they don’t have a strong sense of community
they live in the forests for all their life
they often change their living places
they don’t have a healthy and balanced diet

Question 38: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned?

The number of hunter-gatherers decreases where farming is
Hunting or fishing develops where there are no or short growing
The environmental differences produce no effect on subsistence
Harvesting from the natural environment had existed long before farming was taken

Question 39: According to the author, most contemporary and prehistoric hunter-gatherers share

some restricted daily rules B. some methods of production
some patterns of behavior D. only the way of duty division

Question 40: Which of the following would serve as the best title of the passage?

Hunter-gatherers and Subsistence Societies B. Hunter-gatherers: Always on the Move
A Brief History of Subsistence Farming D. Evolution of Humans’ Farming Methods

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