Read the following passage and choose the best answer to each question. Write your answers in the space provided. 

Of all the weather events that occur around the world, lighting is the single most powerful and most frequent. Lightning strikes somewhere around the Earth 100 times each second. A typical lightning strike carries enough electricity to power a small town. In less than a second, a lightning strike heats the surrounding air to temperatures several times hotter than the surface of the sun. Obviously, lightning strikes are powerful. But how do they work?

A lightning strike is the last of the complex chain of events that happen inside a cloud. This chain of events starts when warm air rises in the clouds and cold airdrops. As the cold air and warm air pass each other, they carry millions of tiny drops of water and ice. When these passing water drops hit each other, they create electricity. Just like the batteries in your MP3 player, this electricity has a positive and a negative side. In the cloud, the negative side is at the bottom, and the positive side is at the top of the cloud. This makes the cloud electrically unbalanced. When the imbalance becomes too great, a streak of lightning forms, reconnecting the positive and negative parts of the cloud.

Lightning has two basic forms: cloud to cloud lightning and cloud to ground lightning. Cloud to cloud lightning occurs inside a cloud and never touches the ground. Sometimes called heat lightning, cloud to cloud lightning is most common in the late afternoon and evening, when temperatures begin to fall and there is more movement between hot and cold air inside a cloud. Cloud to ground lightning is far more dangerous. Cloud to ground lightning usually occurs during a thunderstorm. Many people think that cloud-to-ground lightning will hit the latest available object, but this is not always true. Cloud to ground lightning is very unpredictable and can even hit objects very low to the ground.

According to the passage, what is the last event that occurs before a lightning strike?

Read the text and then choose the best answer A, B, C, or D.

    Visit the Edinburgh Festival

Every year, thousands of people come to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, to be part of the Edinburgh Festival. For three weeks every August and September the city is filled with actors and artists from all over the world. They come to Edinburgh for the biggest arts festival in Britain. During this time, the streets of the city are alive with music and dance from early in the morning untill late at night. You can even see artists painting pictures on the streets.

Tens of thousands of tourists come to the festival to see new films and plays and to hear music played by famous musicians. This year, you can see over five hundred performances with actors from more than forty countries.

The tickets for these performances are quite cheap, and it is usually easier to see your favourite star in Edinburgh than it is in London. So come to Edinburgh next summer!

 How long does the Edinburgh Festival last?

Read the following passage and choose the best answer to each question. Write your answers in the space provided. 

Of all the weather events that occur around the world, lighting is the single most powerful and most frequent. Lightning strikes somewhere around the Earth 100 times each second. A typical lightning strike carries enough electricity to power a small town. In less than a second, a lightning strike heats the surrounding air to temperatures several times hotter than the surface of the sun. Obviously, lightning strikes are powerful. But how do they work?

A lightning strike is the last of the complex chain of events that happen inside a cloud. This chain of events starts when warm air rises in the clouds and cold airdrops. As the cold air and warm air pass each other, they carry millions of tiny drops of water and ice. When these passing water drops hit each other, they create electricity. Just like the batteries in your MP3 player, this electricity has a positive and a negative side. In the cloud, the negative side is at the bottom, and the positive side is at the top of the cloud. This makes the cloud electrically unbalanced. When the imbalance becomes too great, a streak of lightning forms, reconnecting the positive and negative parts of the cloud.

Lightning has two basic forms: cloud to cloud lightning and cloud to ground lightning. Cloud to cloud lightning occurs inside a cloud and never touches the ground. Sometimes called heat lightning, cloud to cloud lightning is most common in the late afternoon and evening, when temperatures begin to fall and there is more movement between hot and cold air inside a cloud. Cloud to ground lightning is far more dangerous. Cloud to ground lightning usually occurs during a thunderstorm. Many people think that cloud-to-ground lightning will hit the latest available object, but this is not always true. Cloud to ground lightning is very unpredictable and can even hit objects very low to the ground.

The word “strikes” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Read the text and then choose the best answer A, B, C, or D.

    Visit the Edinburgh Festival

Every year, thousands of people come to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, to be part of the Edinburgh Festival. For three weeks every August and September the city is filled with actors and artists from all over the world. They come to Edinburgh for the biggest arts festival in Britain. During this time, the streets of the city are alive with music and dance from early in the morning untill late at night. You can even see artists painting pictures on the streets.

Tens of thousands of tourists come to the festival to see new films and plays and to hear music played by famous musicians. This year, you can see over five hundred performances with actors from more than forty countries.

The tickets for these performances are quite cheap, and it is usually easier to see your favourite star in Edinburgh than it is in London. So come to Edinburgh nex t summer!

How long does the Edinburgh Festival last?

Choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) to fill in each gap in the passage

     Television is one of man's most important --------------(17) of communication. It brings pictures and sounds from around the world into millions of homes. A person with a television set can sit in his house and watch the President make a --------------(18) or visit a foreign country. He can see a war being fought and watch statesmen try to bring about peace. Through television, home viewers can see and learn about people, places, and things in faraway lands. TV even ---------------(20) its viewers out of this world. It brings them coverage of America's astronauts as the astronauts explore outer space.

     In addition _______(21) these things, television brings its viewers a steady stream of programs that are ----------(22) to entertain. In fact, TV _______(23) many more entertainment programs than any other kinds. The programs include action-packed dramas, light comedies, sporting ----------(24), and motion pictures

Câu 17__________

Read the passage below then pick out ONE best option (A, B, C or D . to complete each of the following sentences

Britain is now a highly industrialized country and there are only 238,000 farms in the UK. More and more farmers leave the land because they can not earn enough money to survive. Only large farms are economic and because of this most British farm are big. They usually grow cereals in the east of England and raise sheep and cowsin the north of England and Scotland. The small family farms often have to earn more money by offering bed and breakfast accommodation to tourists.

Farming methods in Britain have also changed. Fields used to be quite small, divided by hedges which were sometimes a thousand years old and full of wild flowers and birds. Many hedges were pulled up to allow farmers to use mordern machinery. Now most fields in England are large by European standards.

Fields on British farms were __________ .

Read the passage below then pick out ONE best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each of the following sentences. (1.5 points)

    Sydney was founded as a British colony in 1788. Sydney was the first everlasting European settlement in Australia and today it is the country's largest city area, with about 4 million residents. Sydney is the seat of state government as the capital of New South Wales, Australia's most populous and economically important state. The city is an active cultural center with a varied economy based on service industries, tourism, manufacturing, and international commerce. Its port is one of the leading centers of intercontinental trade in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney is located on Australia’s southeastern coast at Port Jackson, a large, sheltered, deep-water inlet of the Tasman Sea.

   Sydney is well-known for its Opera House. The Sydney Opera House is the centerpiece of the city’s places for live performances of ballet, opera, and classical music. The Australian Opera, Australian Ballet, and Sydney Dance companies regularly stage performances there. Moreover, the place often hosts internationally touring performances. Sydney also has many places for musical theater, drama, and popular music. The Sydney Theatre Company is one of many successful theatre companies in the city. Sydney is also home to the internationally praised Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

   The cultural life of Sydney is exciting and varied, reflecting the multicultural nature of the city. Many festivals, parades, and outdoor concerts cheer up the city streets in the summer months. Annual events include the Sydney Festival in January and February, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in March, the Royal Easter Show in April, and the multicultural festival Carnivale in September and October. Sydney has also become world-renowned for its street parties and fireworks on New Year's Eve and Australia Day celebrated on Sydney's Founding date, January 26.

In the last paragraph, the word “annual” means……

Paul started French at school two years ago and he spoke French all the time with Marie and her family. ______ it was very difficult for him but soon it became easier. 

Read this passage carefully and then choose the best answers to the questions below by circling the corresponding letter A, B, C, or D. 

A recent investigation by scientists at the US Geological Survey shows that strange animal behavior might help predict the future earthquake.
Investigators found such occurrences in a ten-kilometer radius of the center of a fairly recent quake. Some birds screeched and flew about wildly. Dogs yelped and ran uncontrollably.
Scientists believe that animals can perceive these environmental changes as early as several days before the disaster.
In 1976 after observing animal behavior, the Chinese were able to predict a terrible quake. Although hundreds of thousands of people were killed, the government was able to evacuate millions of people and thus keep the death toll at a lower rate.

What prediction may be made by observing animal behavior?

Choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) to fill in each gap in the passage

     Television is one of man's most important --------------(17) of communication. It brings pictures and sounds from around the world into millions of homes. A person with a television set can sit in his house and watch the President make a --------------(18) or visit a foreign country. He can see a war being fought and watch statesmen try to bring about peace. Through television, home viewers can see and learn about people, places, and things in faraway lands. TV even ---------------(20) its viewers out of this world. It brings them coverage of America's astronauts as the astronauts explore outer space.

     In addition _______(21) these things, television brings its viewers a steady stream of programs that are ----------(22) to entertain. In fact, TV _______(23) many more entertainment programs than any other kinds. The programs include action-packed dramas, light comedies, sporting ----------(24), and motion pictures

Câu 18:_________

Read the passage below and decide which option (A, B, C, or D) best fits each space. 

In 1853, Levi Strauss (21)_ to San Francisco from New York. His brothers ran a business there selling pillows, blankets, and clothes and Levis went to help them. He worked (22) and, over the next twenty years, he expanded the business.

One day in 1872, Levi got a letter from Jacob Davis who made men's clothes. In the letter Jacob (23) Levis about a difficult customer. He kept on tearing the pockets of his trousers. Jacob had found an answer – he had added some metal to the corners of the pockets. Levi recognized a business opportunity, (24) _ the two men started working together. They decided to make some trousers out of denim, a material which was suitable for working clothes. The first pair of denim blue jeans (25) _ produced in 1873. Today people all around the world wear Levi jeans every day.

25__________

Khoanh tròn A, B, C hoặc D ứng với phương án đúng để hoàn chỉnh văn bản sau: 

The Mediterranean has been described as ______(0)___ world’s largest swimming pool. However, it can also be described now as the world’s dirtiest sewer, full of rubbish, oil, chemicals, and wastes _____(1) all kinds.
Unfortunately, most countries bordering the Mediterranean ________(2) ____ greatly in their attitudes to this problem. While some countries want to start cleaning up the Mediterranean, others have begun building new ports to develop their oil wells and natural gas fields. Industries _______(3) ______ in all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. It will take a century for all the water in the Mediterranean to drain into the Atlantic Ocean, and be replaced completely by clean water. Three great rivers, the Nile, Po, and Rhone, all flow into the Mediterranean, carrying lots of ______(4)_______ into the sea and making it very dangerous for everyone who swims in the Mediterranean and who eats fish ______(5)_____ there.

5_____________

Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions from 46 to 50.

On January 17, 1995, a powerful earthquake hit the city of Kobe, Japan. Many buildings burned or collapsed. Part of an expressway fell over. Train lines were damaged, so trains could not run, and supplies of electricity, gas, and water were cut off. Soon after the earthquake was over, people in Kobe began working together to save their city. Neighbors pulled each other out of collapsed buildings. Ordinary people put out fires even before the fire trucks arrived. Volunteers in Kobe organized themselves into teams. They worked out a system to send help to where it was needed. Some people brought food, water, clothes, and electric generators to different parts of the city. Other teams searched for belongings in damaged stores and homes. Some volunteers took care of the children who had lost their parents. Teams of volunteers from outside Japan helped, too. A rescue team with search dogs came from Switzerland. A group of doctors called Doctors Without Borders came from all over the world. A group called the International Rescue Corps also sent its members to help.

Today, Kobe has been rebuilt. But people there still remember the outpouring of support they received from all over the world back in 1995.

On the whole , the passage is about ______________.

Read the passage below then pick out ONE best option (A, B, C or D . to complete each of the following sentences

Britain is now a highly industrialized country and there are only 238,000 farms in the UK. More and more farmers leave the land because they can not earn enough money to survive. Only large farms are economic and because of this most British farm are big. They usually grow cereals in the east of England and raise sheep and cowsin the north of England and Scotland. The small family farms often have to earn more money by offering bed and breakfast accommodation to tourists.

Farming methods in Britain have also changed. Fields used to be quite small, divided by hedges which were sometimes a thousand years old and full of wild flowers and birds. Many hedges were pulled up to allow farmers to use mordern machinery. Now most fields in England are large by European standards.

Most British farms are big because_________ .

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

            A lot of people have hobbies, but who spends 8 hours a day (01)___________ a hobby? Meet Shi-tung Chuang. He plays online (02)___________ games eight hours a day! Shi-tung is a college student at DeLin (03)___________. He does well in school, so his parents do not (04) ___________ that he spends so much time on the computer. Does he have time (05)___________ friends? “Sure, I do.”, he says. “All my friends have the same (06)___________, so we play (07)___________ online. Sometimes we even see each other in (08)___________ life.”

“Many online players spend too much time on their games.”, says Stephen Kline of Simon Fraser University in Canada, and this can (09)___________ to family fights. Some players are (10) ___________. “I’m not addicted,” says Shi-tung, “although it’s a bit hard to stop. It’s crazy and so much fun to play. I want to succeed! I want to win!".

Câu 10._________

Britain is now a highly industrialized country and there are only 238,000 farms in the UK. More and more farmers leave the land because they can not earn enough money to survive. Only large farms are economic and because of this most British farm are big. They usually grow cereals in the east of England and raise sheep and cowsin the north of England and Scotland. The small family farms often have to earn more money by offering bed and breakfast accommodation to tourists.

Farming methods in Britain have also changed. Fields used to be quite small, divided by hedges which were sometimes a thousand years old and full of wild flowers and birds. Many hedges were pulled up to allow farmers to use mordern machinery. Now most fields in England are large by European standards.

Fields on British farms were __________ .

Read the text and then choose the best answer A, B, C, or D.

    Visit the Edinburgh Festival

Every year, thousands of people come to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, to be part of the Edinburgh Festival. For three weeks every August and September the city is filled with actors and artists from all over the world. They come to Edinburgh for the biggest arts festival in Britain. During this time, the streets of the city are alive with music and dance from early in the morning untill late at night. You can even see artists painting pictures on the streets.

Tens of thousands of tourists come to the festival to see new films and plays and to hear music played by famous musicians. This year, you can see over five hundred performances with actors from more than forty countries.

The tickets for these performances are quite cheap, and it is usually easier to see your favourite star in Edinburgh than it is in London. So come to Edinburgh next summer!

How many people come to attend the Edinburgh Festival every year?

Đọc văn bản và trả lời các câu hỏi sau. 
Independence Day in the United States is observed every year on the Fourth of July. Today, for most communities throughout the nation, the traditional celebration includes parades down the main streets, picnics with hot dogs and lemonade, and, of course, a fireworks display at night. In some towns across the country, however, special events are planned in honor of the annual occasion. In Bristol, Rhode Island, fire engine teams from communities throughout New England compete in a contest to squirt water from their fire hoses. Flagstaff, Arizona hosts a huge three-day powwow, including a rodeo, for twenty Native American tribes. The annual Eskimo games with traditional kayak races are held in Kotzebue, Alaska. Two auto races are always scheduled for the Fourth, including- a four-hundred-mile stock car event at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, and an annual auto race up the fourteen-thousand-foot precipice at Pike's Peak in Colorado.

Several small towns celebrate in other unique ways. Hannibal, Missouri, the hometown of Mark Twain, invites the children to participate in a fence-painting contest, reenacting a scene from Twain's novel Tom Sawyer. Lititz, Pennsylvania congregates in the Lititz Springs Park to light thousands of candles and arrange them in various shapes and images.

In Ontario, California, the townspeople combine the traditional with the unusual by setting up tables along Euclid Avenue for what they describe as "the biggest picnic table in the world". In this way, everyone in town has a front-row seat for the two-mile parade.

Children take part in a fence- painting contest in _______________.

Khoanh tròn A, B, C hoặc D ứng với phương án đúng để hoàn chỉnh văn bản sau: 

The Mediterranean has been described as ______(0)___ world’s largest swimming pool. However, it can also be described now as the world’s dirtiest sewer, full of rubbish, oil, chemicals, and wastes _____(1) all kinds.
Unfortunately, most countries bordering the Mediterranean ________(2) ____ greatly in their attitudes to this problem. While some countries want to start cleaning up the Mediterranean, others have begun building new ports to develop their oil wells and natural gas fields. Industries _______(3) ______ in all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. It will take a century for all the water in the Mediterranean to drain into the Atlantic Ocean, and be replaced completely by clean water. Three great rivers, the Nile, Po, and Rhone, all flow into the Mediterranean, carrying lots of ______(4)_______ into the sea and making it very dangerous for everyone who swims in the Mediterranean and who eats fish ______(5)_____ there.

4. __________

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D that best fits each space in the following passage from 23 to 32:

Malaysia (23)__________one of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It consists (24)________ the Malay Peninsula and Sarawak and Sabah on the island Borneo. It is (25) ________into two regions, known as West Malaysia and East Malaysia. It has a tropical (26)________.

The (27)________of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is (28)________world’s biggest producer of palm oil, and it exports rubber, tin, and gas. In addition to Islam, the country’s official (29)__________, there are Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Malaysian people speak Bahasa Malaysia as (30)_________mother tongue. It is the language of (31)______in all secondary schools. English, Chinese, and Tamil are also widely spoken in (32)_____country.

Question 26:________

Read the text carefully and then choose the best answers to the questions below by circling the corresponding letter A, B, C, or D. 
 
In the early years of television, educational specialists believed that it would be very useful in teaching and learning. Many schools have bought television sets intending to use them effectively to improve the quality of education, but actually, they are rarely used properly in classrooms. Meanwhile, children spend the majority of their out-of-school hours watching TV and their typical school days proceed as if television did not exist.

There are some explanations for the failure of television to get the interest of the teachers. Firstly, the schools that purchased television sets have not set aside money for equipment repairs and maintenance, so these television sets are sooner and later out of work. Secondly, these schools have not found an effective way to train teachers to integrate television into their ongoing instructional programs. Lastly, most teachers do not regard the quality of television and its usefulness in the classroom.

Teachers at the schools work hard for at least twelve years to train their students to become good readers. However, according to recent statistics, teenagers seldom spend their free time reading books and newspapers but watching television instead.

The text is about________