Read the following passage about inventions and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected. For instance, Thomas Edison made more than 1,000 attempts before successfully inventing the incandescent light bulb. (I) History is replete with examples of inventors failing repeatedly before eventually succeeding. (II) However, not all inventions are the result of relentless effort. (III) Indeed, some inventions come about entirely by accident, often when inventors are attempting to create something else. (IV) These accidental discoveries have profoundly impacted the world, proving that innovation sometimes relies as much on luck as on determination.
In the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was trying to create a new substance for refrigeration. He mixed chemicals, placed them in a pressurized container, and cooled the mixture. The result was not a refrigeration material but Teflon, a substance now widely used to make nonstick cookware. Decades earlier, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, sought to create a tonic to relieve headaches. Though unsuccessful in his original goal, he inadvertently invented Coca-Cola, which became one of the most popular beverages in the world. Both Plunkett and Pemberton demonstrate how unintended outcomes can lead to groundbreaking products.
Accidental discoveries have also played a critical role in scientific advancements. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, when he noticed that mold in a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has saved millions of lives and revolutionized medicine. Similarly, in 1946, Percy Spencer was experimenting with microwaves when he realized that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Investigating further, he developed the microwave oven, a device that forever changed the way people prepare food.
These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of innovation. While persistence and hard work are often necessary, chance can also play an important role in shaping the modern world. Whether through deliberate effort or serendipity, accidental inventions have transformed industries, improved daily life, and opened new possibilities for the future.
The phrase "come about" in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by:
Bộ đề thi giúp học sinh lớp 12 làm quen với cấu trúc và nội dung đề thi tốt nghiệp THPT môn Tiếng Anh năm 2025. Đề thi được xây dựng theo định hướng của Bộ GD ĐT, bao gồm các phần Ngữ âm, Từ vựng - Ngữ pháp, Chức năng giao tiếp, Kỹ năng đọc hiểu, Kỹ năng viết và Phát âm - Trọng âm. Hệ thống câu hỏi đa dạng, bám sát chương trình học, giúp học sinh rèn luyện kỹ năng làm bài và nâng cao tư duy ngôn ngữ. Đáp án chi tiết đi kèm hỗ trợ học sinh tự ôn tập, đánh giá năng lực và chuẩn bị tốt nhất cho kỳ thi quan trọng.
Câu hỏi liên quan
Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.
THE UMBRELLA
Evidence of ancient umbrellas (21) _________ in Egypt, Greece and China and from this, we know that the umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. However, the first umbrella (22) _________ in the rain, but in the sun.
The Chinese were the first people to make umbrellas waterproof and it is this kind of umbrella that (23) _________ by millions of people around the world today.
The design for the umbrella hasn’t been changed much in thousands of years. So, will it be replaced by something more modern in the future? A Chinese inventor called Chuan Wang hopes it will. He has invented a new type of umbrella. With this one, air (24) _________ instead of nylon to keep the rain off your head. However, at the moment, the battery only lasts for a short time so your traditional umbrella (25) _________ just yet!
Read the following passage about inventions and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected. For instance, Thomas Edison made more than 1,000 attempts before successfully inventing the incandescent light bulb. (I) History is replete with examples of inventors failing repeatedly before eventually succeeding. (II) However, not all inventions are the result of relentless effort. (III) Indeed, some inventions come about entirely by accident, often when inventors are attempting to create something else. (IV) These accidental discoveries have profoundly impacted the world, proving that innovation sometimes relies as much on luck as on determination.
In the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was trying to create a new substance for refrigeration. He mixed chemicals, placed them in a pressurized container, and cooled the mixture. The result was not a refrigeration material but Teflon, a substance now widely used to make nonstick cookware. Decades earlier, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, sought to create a tonic to relieve headaches. Though unsuccessful in his original goal, he inadvertently invented Coca-Cola, which became one of the most popular beverages in the world. Both Plunkett and Pemberton demonstrate how unintended outcomes can lead to groundbreaking products.
Accidental discoveries have also played a critical role in scientific advancements. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, when he noticed that mold in a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has saved millions of lives and revolutionized medicine. Similarly, in 1946, Percy Spencer was experimenting with microwaves when he realized that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Investigating further, he developed the microwave oven, a device that forever changed the way people prepare food.
These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of innovation. While persistence and hard work are often necessary, chance can also play an important role in shaping the modern world. Whether through deliberate effort or serendipity, accidental inventions have transformed industries, improved daily life, and opened new possibilities for the future.
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
Read the following passage about inventions and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected. For instance, Thomas Edison made more than 1,000 attempts before successfully inventing the incandescent light bulb. (I) History is replete with examples of inventors failing repeatedly before eventually succeeding. (II) However, not all inventions are the result of relentless effort. (III) Indeed, some inventions come about entirely by accident, often when inventors are attempting to create something else. (IV) These accidental discoveries have profoundly impacted the world, proving that innovation sometimes relies as much on luck as on determination.
In the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was trying to create a new substance for refrigeration. He mixed chemicals, placed them in a pressurized container, and cooled the mixture. The result was not a refrigeration material but Teflon, a substance now widely used to make nonstick cookware. Decades earlier, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, sought to create a tonic to relieve headaches. Though unsuccessful in his original goal, he inadvertently invented Coca-Cola, which became one of the most popular beverages in the world. Both Plunkett and Pemberton demonstrate how unintended outcomes can lead to groundbreaking products.
Accidental discoveries have also played a critical role in scientific advancements. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, when he noticed that mold in a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has saved millions of lives and revolutionized medicine. Similarly, in 1946, Percy Spencer was experimenting with microwaves when he realized that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Investigating further, he developed the microwave oven, a device that forever changed the way people prepare food.
These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of innovation. While persistence and hard work are often necessary, chance can also play an important role in shaping the modern world. Whether through deliberate effort or serendipity, accidental inventions have transformed industries, improved daily life, and opened new possibilities for the future.
The word "they" in paragraph 1 refers to:
Read the following passage about inventions and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected. For instance, Thomas Edison made more than 1,000 attempts before successfully inventing the incandescent light bulb. (I) History is replete with examples of inventors failing repeatedly before eventually succeeding. (II) However, not all inventions are the result of relentless effort. (III) Indeed, some inventions come about entirely by accident, often when inventors are attempting to create something else. (IV) These accidental discoveries have profoundly impacted the world, proving that innovation sometimes relies as much on luck as on determination.
In the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was trying to create a new substance for refrigeration. He mixed chemicals, placed them in a pressurized container, and cooled the mixture. The result was not a refrigeration material but Teflon, a substance now widely used to make nonstick cookware. Decades earlier, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, sought to create a tonic to relieve headaches. Though unsuccessful in his original goal, he inadvertently invented Coca-Cola, which became one of the most popular beverages in the world. Both Plunkett and Pemberton demonstrate how unintended outcomes can lead to groundbreaking products.
Accidental discoveries have also played a critical role in scientific advancements. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, when he noticed that mold in a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has saved millions of lives and revolutionized medicine. Similarly, in 1946, Percy Spencer was experimenting with microwaves when he realized that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Investigating further, he developed the microwave oven, a device that forever changed the way people prepare food.
These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of innovation. While persistence and hard work are often necessary, chance can also play an important role in shaping the modern world. Whether through deliberate effort or serendipity, accidental inventions have transformed industries, improved daily life, and opened new possibilities for the future.
Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit?
“Instead, some inventions are the result of spontaneous, unintended incidents.”
Choose the answer to fill in the blank in each of the following questions.
Make sure to plug in the key, __________ the engine won't start.
Read the passage and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. Imagine this: Your little brother's favourite toy car has a broken wheel, and he's about to cry. You're not worried, though. You take some pictures of the broken part and use your 3D printer to make a new one.
2. 3D printers are amazing machines that can create objects from digital designs. Surprisingly, people first thought of this idea way back in 1984, and by 1993, they started a company to make it happen! Since 2004, 3D printers have become small and affordable, so almost anyone can have one at home. In 2018, they sold more than half a million of them around the world.
3. How do they work? Well, instead of using ink like regular printers, 3D printers use materials like plastic or metal. They put these materials layer by layer to build a 3D shape.
4. People are using 3D printers to make all sorts of things, like jewelry and decorations. Even sports companies are using them to make shoes that fit perfectly. And doctors use 3D printers to make things like replacement bones. It makes surgeries easier and helps people get better faster.
5. 3D printers are developing all the time, and are becoming the piece of technology every home should have. And you might be able to print one soon, who knows yourself.
(27) The word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to _________.
Read the text and answer the questions. Answer full sentence.
INVENTIONS THE WORLD FORGOT
The Telharmonium
The Telharmonium was the world's first electronic musical instrument. It was designed by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. Music from the instrument was broadcast to people's homes using a telephone. Before the invention of the radio, people loved these first home concerts. After Cahill's death in 1934, his brother kept one of the three models, but in 1962 it was destroyed. No recordings of the music were kept, so the Telharmonium and its unique sound have disappeared forever.
The Writing Ball
Invented in 1865 by Rasmus Malling-Hansen from Denmark, the Writing Ball was a machine for typing onto paper. Its use of electricity made the movement faster. However, you could not see the paper as you were typing. Nevertheless, the Writing Ball was very successful. Since each model was made by hand, it was soon
replaced by other cheaper machines produced in factories. A new keyboard with a different key arrangement appeared. The once-popular Writing Ball was forgotten.
The Antikythera Mechanism
In 1901, parts of an ancient machine were discovered on a ship near the Greek island of Antikythera. It had been made about 1,900 years earlier, in 2 BCE. For many years after its discovery, nobody understood exactly what the machine was for. In the 1970s, scientists found that this ancient computer had been designed to predict the movements of the sun, the moon and the planets. It did this using more than thirty hand-made metal wheels of different sizes. The remains of the Antikythera mechanism are now kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, together with a number of reconstructions to demonstrate how it may have worked.
What happened to the device in 1962?
Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions from 34 to 40.
1. Since the birth of the car in 1886, transport in big cities has changed a lot. It is no wonder many experts think that there will be extraordinary changes in the next few decades.
2. As technology develops, highways, skylines, subways will be all transformed. Smarter roadways and highways in cities outfitted with IoT sensors will process all kinds of data in real time and inform users of the best transport options. Weather, crashes, traffic conditions will be communicated to users and smart stops will be found everywhere providing renewable energy, green hydrogen or even greener energy, ensuring efficiency and safety on every highway. Tunnels will also be a smart choice because of the reduction of traffic congestion. Underground roads will be built in 3D with a lift system which will take vehicles deep underground and will allow traffic to attain the greatest speed without intersections.
3. There will also be innovations in the sky. Air taxis are not a new idea, but in the future they will be completely environment-friendly. Aviation gasoline will be no longer used. Green energy will be in place and cost-effective air taxis will enable people to travel from one busy urban city to another in record time.
4. New technologies such as AI and the rollout of 5G will pave the way for fully autonomous innovation. Cars will not be the only thing to go autonomous. Freight trucks, cargo vehicles, air taxis will all benefit from this technology and that is why the term 'driver' will become extinct.
5. Transport will go green. Electric or hydrogen power will be mainstream. There will still be issues to solve such as safety, speed and cost, and of course governments will need to make new traffic laws.
Which of the following is NOT stated in paragraph 2?
Read the following passage. For each of the questions, Decide the statement is TRUE or FALSE.
INVENTOR’S CIRCLE
With the progression of technology and the development of existing inventions, it is becoming more difficult for inventors to make money. It feels like people are running out of new ideas. However, there is hope! While becoming a successful inventor is increasingly more difficult, the community of inventors is growing, helping each other to reach their goals.
What makes the inventors’ community so strong? Well, the main reason that people choose to become an inventor is to help others or to make the world a better place to live. With such a goal, why wouldn’t they want to help each other? Inventors often work together, create their own businesses and give opportunities to those in need.
Social media such as Facebook and YouTube have also helped the inventors’ community. They have made it easier for inventors from across the globe to speak with each other and learn from each other through videos. Now that the internet is growing rapidly, there is endless information for inventors aspiring to get what they need.
Still, becoming an inventor is not getting easier with all this extra information. There is more competition, there are more people wanting to make the world better, to make people’s lives easier. This is because they now have all the information they need to make their dreams come true. On the plus side, with all the information and support, it has become easier for anyone to try. So, what’s stopping you? Start inventing!
Inventors want to make the world better.
Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence.
How long have you had that smartwatch?
=> When _____________________________ ?
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions.
Alexander Fleming, a Scottish physician-scientist discovered penicillin in 1945.
Read the following passage about inventions and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected. For instance, Thomas Edison made more than 1,000 attempts before successfully inventing the incandescent light bulb. (I) History is replete with examples of inventors failing repeatedly before eventually succeeding. (II) However, not all inventions are the result of relentless effort. (III) Indeed, some inventions come about entirely by accident, often when inventors are attempting to create something else. (IV) These accidental discoveries have profoundly impacted the world, proving that innovation sometimes relies as much on luck as on determination.
In the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was trying to create a new substance for refrigeration. He mixed chemicals, placed them in a pressurized container, and cooled the mixture. The result was not a refrigeration material but Teflon, a substance now widely used to make nonstick cookware. Decades earlier, John Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, sought to create a tonic to relieve headaches. Though unsuccessful in his original goal, he inadvertently invented Coca-Cola, which became one of the most popular beverages in the world. Both Plunkett and Pemberton demonstrate how unintended outcomes can lead to groundbreaking products.
Accidental discoveries have also played a critical role in scientific advancements. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic, when he noticed that mold in a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria. This groundbreaking discovery has saved millions of lives and revolutionized medicine. Similarly, in 1946, Percy Spencer was experimenting with microwaves when he realized that a candy bar in his pocket had melted. Investigating further, he developed the microwave oven, a device that forever changed the way people prepare food.
These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of innovation. While persistence and hard work are often necessary, chance can also play an important role in shaping the modern world. Whether through deliberate effort or serendipity, accidental inventions have transformed industries, improved daily life, and opened new possibilities for the future.
Which of the following is NOT an invention made by accident, according to the passage?
Read the following passage about Marcel Bich and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.
Marcel Bich, a French manufacturer of traditional ink pens, was the man turning the ballpoint pen into an item that today almost anyone can afford. Bich was shocked at the poor quality of the ballpoint pens that were available, and also at their high cost. However, he recognised that the ballpoint was a firmly established invention, and he decided to design a cheap pen that worked well and would be commercially successful.
Bich went to the Biro brothers and asked them if he could use the design of their original invention in one of his own pens. In return, he offered to pay them every time he sold a pen. Then, for two years, Bich studied the detailed construction of every ballpoint pen that was being sold, often working with a microscope.
By 1950, he was ready to introduce his new wonder: a plastic pen with a clear barrel that wrote smoothly, did not leak and only cost a few cents. He called it the 'Bic Cristal'. The ballpoint pen had finally become a practical writing instrument. The public liked it immediately, and today it is as common as the pencil. In Britain, they are still called Biros, and many Bic models also say 'Biro' on the side of the pen, to remind people of their original inventors.
Bich became extremely wealthy thanks to his invention, which had worldwide appeal. Over the next 60 years his company, Société Bic, opened factories all over the world and expanded its range of inexpensive products. Today, Bic is as famous for its lighters and razors as it is for its pens, and you can even buy a Bic mobile phone.
The word expanded in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ________.
Complete the sentences with correct form of words in the brackets.
It’s very difficult to decide which _______ has changed human life the most. (INVENT)
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
In bygone days, computers were huge and not __________. They couldn’t be carried around.
Read the following passage. For each of the questions, Decide the statement is TRUE or FALSE.
INVENTOR’S CIRCLE
With the progression of technology and the development of existing inventions, it is becoming more difficult for inventors to make money. It feels like people are running out of new ideas. However, there is hope! While becoming a successful inventor is increasingly more difficult, the community of inventors is growing, helping each other to reach their goals.
What makes the inventors’ community so strong? Well, the main reason that people choose to become an inventor is to help others or to make the world a better place to live. With such a goal, why wouldn’t they want to help each other? Inventors often work together, create their own businesses and give opportunities to those in need.
Social media such as Facebook and YouTube have also helped the inventors’ community. They have made it easier for inventors from across the globe to speak with each other and learn from each other through videos. Now that the internet is growing rapidly, there is endless information for inventors aspiring to get what they need.
Still, becoming an inventor is not getting easier with all this extra information. There is more competition, there are more people wanting to make the world better, to make people’s lives easier. This is because they now have all the information they need to make their dreams come true. On the plus side, with all the information and support, it has become easier for anyone to try. So, what’s stopping you? Start inventing!
Only smart and educated people can become inventors.
Listen to an interview about a competition for young inventors. Are the sentences TRUE or FALSE? Question 33 to 36.
Inventions can be original ideas or ways to make an old product better.
Read the texts. Match the writers (Katie, Ben, Gareth, and Davina) with the questions below.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
How do you become a successful entrepreneur while you’re still at school? Four young people explain how they did it.
Katie Bradley, 14 - The chef
I’ve always eaten cakes, but when I learned to make them I realised how unhealthy many of them were. So I wanted to find a way to make healthy cakes, without much sugar. Instead of lots of sugar, I used more fruit and healthy kinds of low-sugar chocolate. The results were amazing – they were delicious, and also good for you. My mum encouraged me to start selling them at our local market, and I came up with the name ‘Katie’s cakes’. I was surprised at how popular they were! Now I’ve been contacted by a big supermarket. They’re keen to sell my products, so I’m really excited!
Ben Stewart, 15 - The blogger
I love writing, so one day my teacher suggested I started a blog. But there are lots of blogs on the internet, and I wanted my blog to be different. Then I had a great idea. I'm really interested in shopping, and I also know more about money than most teenagers: you know, how to earn it and how to save it. So I started a shopping and money blog for teenagers. I give people advice about shopping − and if they have money problems, I tell them the best thing to do. I started the website a year ago, and it's grown and grown. Thousands of people visit my blog now, and I make money from adverts on the blog. I’ve had lots of great messages from people too. One person said that I had changed their life. That’s awesome!
Gareth Jones, 13 - The website designer
I’ve had a computer since I was six years old, so I’ve grown up with I.T. I use websites all the time to help me with my homework. But in the past I often couldn’t find the answers to simple questions very quickly. I realised that many teenagers were probably having the same problem. So I came up with an idea for a new website. It's designed to help people with their homework, and it's already become very popular. It's for young people and written by young people too. It doesn’t cost anything to use the website, but I have advertisements on there so I’m making a lot of money. It’s brilliant!
Davina Richards, 16 - The online seller
When I was twelve years old, I wanted to go on a school trip. But my mum said that she wouldn’t pay for it − I could only go on the trip if I paid for it myself. So, I needed to sell something and make money. My mum
showed me how to use eBay, and I looked through my old CDs, books and gadgets and decided which ones to sell. I made £100 in the first few days, and after that I couldn’t stop. Now I’ve got an online shop. I buy things to sell in my shop, and my friends and I make things to sell online too.
Which person gives free advice to people?
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
In my opinion, the computer is the greatest machine __________ has ever been invented.
Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning. Use the given word(s) if any.
Robert Goddard invented the liquid-fueled rocket in 1962.
The liquid-fueled rocket ____________________________________
