Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

In the 1960s it took pop and rock groups one or two days to record their songs. Nowadays, it can take months and months. Many rock groups begin by recording only one instrument, for example, the voice. Then they record other instruments- electric piano, synthesizer, guitars, drums, and so on.

Next, they might use a computer to add special effects. Finally, they ‘mix’ all the instruments until they get the sound that they want. This means that a CD or cassette will always sound very different from a live concert.

Music engineers have developed a new computer program that will change the future of music. A computer can analyze a singer’s voice. Then if you give the computer the lyrics and music of a song, the computer can ‘sing’ it in that voice. This means that a singer only needs to record one song and the computer can then sing other songs in the singer’s voice. Singers can sing new songs many years after they have died.

Most of us listen to music for pleasure, but for record companies, music is a product, the same as soap powder. When a record company finds a new group (or “band”), they first try to develop the band’s ‘profile’. They will try to create an ‘image’ for the band that they think will attract young people. Instead of allowing the band’s full artistic freedom, they will often tell the band what they should wear, what they should say, and how they should sing and play.

In recent years, many rock groups have started their own record companies because they say that the big companies are too commercial.

Which of the following is NOT true about the new computer program?

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

Doing regular exercises or playing sports can be dangerous, _____(23) ____ if you are over 40. This is why it is a very good idea to see your doctor_____ (24)____ starting if you think you are not very fit. Some people try to do exercise or play sports too vigorously too soon, and ______(25)_____they cause themselves injuries which can take a long time to heal.

However, it is not only older people who should take care. Doctors report many injuries such as backaches, sprained ankles, and pulled muscles, which can all be ____(26)____if a little care is taken. If you do injure yourself, rest for a while to allow your body to recover naturally. Above all, don’t push yourself because you think it is doing you good. ____(10)____, you could do yourself permanent damage.

25____________

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Have you ever noticed advertisements which say “Learn a foreign language in 6 weeks or your money back. From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent. Just send…” and so on?  Of course, it never happens quite like that. One’s mother language is easier to learn, but it also requires a lot of practice to be fluent. And think how much practice that gets! Before the Second World War, people usually learned a foreign language in order to read the literature of the country.

Now speaking a foreign language is what most people want. Every year millions of people start learning one. How do they do it? Some people try it at home, with books and records of tapes; some use radio or television programs; some use computers and networks; others go to evening classes. If they use the language only 2 or 3 times a week, it will take a long time, like learning a foreign language at school. A few people try to learn the language fast by studying for 6 or more hours a day. It is clearly easier to learn the language in the country where it is spoken. However, most people cannot afford this, and for many, it is not necessary. They need the language in order to do their work better. For example, scientists and doctors chiefly need to be able to read books and reports in a foreign language. Whether the language is learned quickly or slowly, it is hard work. Machines and good books will help, but they cannot do the students’ work for him.

Which of the following sentences is NOT true?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to choose the word that best fits each of the numbered blanks:
WILL OUR PLANET SURVIVE?
There are over 7 billion people in the world today. The richest 1.5 billion (36)_________ 75% of all the world’s resources. To give the other 5.5 billion people who live in (37)_________ a better life, we will need the resources of (38)_________ four or five planets. (39)_________ we have only one, and 1.5 billion of us have already (40)_________ a large part of it.
Forests are essential to life. They give us clean air and plants for medicines, (41)_________ contain over half the world’s animals, birds, and plants. Humans destroy an area of forest the (42)_________ of Greece every year. If we don’t (43)_________ this destruction, it will be too late. There are some signs of (44)_________, but we will have to work very (45)_________ if we want to save the planet. 
(39)...................

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

WORLD BBQ

To some people, there is nothing more appetizing than the smell of meat sizzling over an open fire. Throughout the world, people love to eat barbecue because it lets them together with friends and family to enjoy a meat that brings them back to their caveman roots. Cooking over coals or an open flame makes people feel more sociable.

Most countries have barbecue traditions, and they usually take place on national holidays. In the United States, it is a tradition to have a barbecue of hamburgers and hot dogs on July 4, which is Independence Day. In Taiwan, people get together to eat barbecue during the Moon Festival, and the smell of burning coals is in the air all day.

In South America, and Argentina in particular, barbecue is a way of life. All sorts of meats and sausages are put on a large grill together over hot coals. Barbecue is even considered the national dish in Argentina, and it is given the name of Asado in Portuguese. This means not only the dish but also the social event that surrounds an Argentina barbecue.

When a person speaks about Turkish and Middle Eastern barbecue, the kebab immediately comes to mind. The tradition of taking different meats, and sometimes vegetables as well, and spearing them with a sharp stick called a skewer has crossed cultural lines today. Practically, anywhere in the English-speaking world, the thought of shish-kebab will make barbecue lovers’ mouths water.

     Wherever you go in the world, you are almost certain to come across a local method of preparing barbecue. If you visit different places, be bold and try whatever the local specialties are.

What are the sharp sticks that are used to cook meat called?

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

CULTURE SHOCK

Many people dream of living in a foreign country. It can be an amazing experience for those (23)______are willing to settle down in a new place. (24)_________, there’s one potential problem you should be aware of Culture shock. Culture shock is the feeling we get from living in a place that is so different from where we grew up that we are not sure (25)______ to deal with it. Societies are (26)_________ in many different ways, and we can often be taken aback by some of the things we find in foreign countries. Customs and traditions can be very different and that can sometimes make it difficult to get on with local people who might not approve of things you do and might object to things you say. You might be banned from doing things in another country that is perfectly legal on your own. For example, in Singapore people can be forced to (27)_______ a large fine just for dropping rubbish. Eventually, though, most people who live abroad fall in love with their adopted country and learn to accept its difference.

26___________

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

Once there were lots of pandas in the mountains of western China. Today, they are ___(23)___ extinct. The reason is that they cannot find enough food. Pandas eat ___(24)___ leaves. They do not like other food. The bamboo grows very slowly. It can take 10 years for bamboo to grow from a seed to a big plant. Some types of bamboo have seeds only once every 60 years. Pandas ___(25)___ wait many years for their food to grow. While the bamboo is growing, pandas do not have enough leaves to eat.

China and Wildlife Fund (WWF) are trying to save the panda. In 1979, they began to set up special parks ___(26)___ pandas live. Scientists come here to study the panda’s eating and mating habits. By learning more about the panda’s habits, scientists can save it from ___(27)___.

23 ___________

The soundtrack they create must suit the project ________ (11) convey the appropriate mood and tone.

Technology, such as tablets, isn't only useful for ________ (8) knowledge; it helps with communication as well.

Read the passage and choose the best option A, B, C or D to answer the question.
Along with jogging and swimming, cycling is one of the best all-round forms of exercise. It can help
to increase your strength and energy, giving you more efficient muscles and a stronger heart. But
increasing your strength is not the only advantage of cycling. Because you’re not carrying the weight
of your body on your feet, it’s a good form of exercise for people with painful feet or backs.
However, with all forms of exercise it’s important to start slowly and build up gently. Doing too
much too quickly can damage muscles that aren’t used to working. If you have any doubts about
taking up cycling for health reasons, talk to your doctor and ask for his/her advice.
Ideally you should be cycling at least two or three times a week. For the exercise to be doing
you good, you should get a little out of breath. Don’t worry that if you begin to lose your breath, it
could be dangerous and there must be something wrong with your heart. This is simply not true;
shortness of breath shows that the exercise is having the right effect. However, if you find you are in
pain then you should stop and take a rest.
2. All forms of exercise must be started__________.

Fill in each blank with one suitable word.
Energy is one of the problems that many people are interested in. It is not an unfamiliar word. It is heard, said, discussed day after day. It is close to everyone’s (26)________ “life. You turn on the lamp and it is (27) ________ that gives you light You turn on a TV and it is energy that gives you pictures and sound. You ride a motorcycle and it is energy that gives you movement. You (28)________ your meals and it is energy that gives you heat to boil rice.
The problem is that the demand for energy is rising and that the price of energy is getting (29)________ and higher. The supply of energy on earth is limited. It cannot provide us all forever. The shortage of energy in the future is inevitable. Therefore, (30)________ energy is a must if we want to continue to live in a safe and sound world.
(30)............................

Choose the best answers to the following questions

Sonita Alizadeh was born and grew up in Afghanistan until she was eight when the family fled to Iran because of war. Sonita remembers her childhood of hunger, aerial bombardment and Taliban fighters. In Iran, she couldn't get a formal education because of not having proper identification. She had to clean bathrooms and learnt the basics of how to read and write herself.

Sonita watched music videos on TV to kill her free time and learnt the styles of Iranian rapper Yas and US rapper Eminem. She started to write songs about her life as a refugee, child worker and especially a female. Other songs are about her girl friends with broken spirits after arguing and begging their parents not to sell them. Her songs have empowered her friends to protest against forced marriages which account for 60-80 per cent of Afghan marriages.

Things were all right until they weren't. Sonita's mother asked her to come back to Afghanistan as she needed 7,000 dowry to prepare for Sonita's brother's wedding. Her mother thought she could sell Sonita for a man with 9,000 dowry. Devastated by her mother's wish, Sonita fought by making a music video "Daughters for Sale" with the help of an Iranian filmmaker. Thanks to the video, the Strongheart Group contacted her and gave her a scholarship in the US where she now can go to school and remain single.

What is TRUE about Sonita's songs?

Read the following passage carefully, and then select the best option A, B, C or D to complete it:

"FIRST STEP BEAMED TO A WAITING WORLD
About six and a half hours after Eagle landed, its hatch (1) _______ and the Apollo 11 commander backed slowly out to its little porch. On the (2) _______ he paused, pulled a lanyard, and thus deployed the MESA, or modularized equipment stowage assembly, just to the left of the ladder. As the MESA lowered into (3) _______ with its load of equipment for lunar prospecting, a seven-pound Westinghouse TV camera mounted atop the load began shooting black-and-white (4) _______. Fuzzy and scored with lines, the pictures nonetheless held earthlings spellbound.
No one who sat that July night welded to his TV screen will ever forget the (5) _______ of that ghostly foot groping slowly past the ladder to Eagle's footpad, and then stepping tentatively (6) _______ the virgin soil. Man had made his first footprint on the moon. Neil Armstrong (7) _______ into his microphone. And in less than two seconds the message that will live in the annals of exploration flew with the (8) _______ of radio to the huge telescope dish at Honeysuckle Creek, near Canberra, Australia, thence to the Comsat (9) _______ over the Pacific, then to the switching center at the Goddard Space Flight Center outside Washington, D.C., and finally to Houston and the (10) _______ of the world: “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”"

10. and finally to Houston and the (10) _______ of the world: “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Education system of Vietnam in the past

Because of 1,000 years under the control of China, there were no records that indicated a formal education system in Vietnam. In 939, Emperor Ngo Quyen expelled the Chinese invaders and declared Vietnamese independence. But the first two dynasties, Ngo and Dinh, did not last so long and were busy with the national defense, so the education was just in pagodas. Ly Cong Uan, the founder king of the Ly dynasty had been educated in a pagoda.

To the Ly dynasty, the fundamental educational system was officially improved. King Ly Thanh Tong established the Temple of Literature at the ancient Capital of Thang Long to encourage people to appreciate the education. In 1075, the first exam was done by the order of King Ly Nhan Tong to select scholars for office, and the later year, 1076, the Imperial Academy, the first university in Vietnam’s history, was set up for the education of sons of royalty and other high – ranking officials.

There were also many private classes taught by prominent scholars such as Chu Van An, Le Quy Don,

Nguyen Binh Khiem, Phung Khac Khoan, Vo Truong Toan… The students would only study literature and ancient history of China, of Viet Nam for the entirety of their schooling. Later on, the Public Administration curriculum was finally added to the program. When the Ho Royal family ruled the country, students were taught simple mathematics.

From 1918 to 1945, Vietnam’s education program has adopted the western educational system with three levels: elementary, high school, and college. At all levels, from 1945 the Vietnamese National language is officially used. Students have the opportunity to learn literature, history, philosophy, law, science, math, medicine, and as well as other languages.

We can infer from the passage that ______.

Read the following passage, then choose the correct answer to questions 26 - 30. 
Today, computer companies sell many different programs for computers. First, there are programs for doing math problems. (26)_________, there are programs for scientific studies. Third, some programs are like fancy typewriters. They are often used by writers and business people. Other (27)_________are made for courses in schools and universities. And finally, there are programs for fun. They include word games and puzzles for children and adults.
There are many wonderful new computer programs, but there are other reasons to like (28)_________. Some people like the way computers hum and sing when they (29)_________. It is a happy sound, like the sounds of toys and childhood. Computers also have lights and pretty pictures. And computers even seem to have personalities. That may sound strange, but computers seem to have feelings. Sometimes they seem happy, sometimes they seem angry. It is easy (30)_________ they are like people.
(28).......................

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to choose the word that best fits each of the numbered blanks:
WILL OUR PLANET SURVIVE?
There are over 7 billion people in the world today. The richest 1.5 billion (36)_________ 75% of all the world’s resources. To give the other 5.5 billion people who live in (37)_________ a better life, we will need the resources of (38)_________ four or five planets. (39)_________ we have only one, and 1.5 billion of us have already (40)_________ a large part of it.
Forests are essential to life. They give us clean air and plants for medicines, (41)_________ contain over half the world’s animals, birds, and plants. Humans destroy an area of forest the (42)_________ of Greece every year. If we don’t (43)_________ this destruction, it will be too late. There are some signs of (44)_________, but we will have to work very (45)_________ if we want to save the planet. 
(40).......................

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH IN TODAY’S WORLD

English was originally the language of England, and it has become the primary or secondary language of many former British colonies such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and India. Nowadays, it is the most international language essential to communication in our current time.

First of all, it is the most common foreign language. This means that two people who come from different countries ( for example, a Mexican and a Swede) usually use English as a common language to communicate. English is also essential to the field of education. In many countries, children are taught and encouraged to learn English as a second language. At the university level, students in many countries study almost all their subjects in English to make the material more accessible to international students. On the Internet, the majority of websites are written and created in English. Even sites in other languages often give you the option to translate the site. It is the primary language of the press: more newspapers and books are written in English than in any other language, and no matter where in the world you are, you will find some of these books and newspapers available.

Although many people think that it is very difficult and confusing, English is the easiest language in the world to learn because there are so many resources available. As soon as you decide you want to learn, there are thousands of resources on the Internet and in bookstores. With good understanding and communication in English, you can travel around the globe. Because it is the international language for foreigners, it is easy to get assistance and help in every part of the world. You can test it by online travel. Any travel booking site you can find will have English as a booking option.

English is believed by many to be the easiest language of the world to learn because________.

Fill each of the numbered blanks in the following passage. Use only one word in each space

In the United States, the gender earnings ratio suggests that there has been an increase in women's earnings (1) ___________ to men. Men’s plateau in earnings began after the 1970s, allowing for the increase in women's wages to close the ratio between incomes. Despite the smaller ratio between men and women's wages, disparity still exists. Census data suggests that women's earnings are 71 percent of men's (2) ______________ in 1999.

As women (3)____________the workforce in larger numbers since the 1960s, occupations have become segregated based on the level of femininity or masculinity associated with each occupation. Census data suggests that some occupations have become more gender integrated (mail carriers, bartenders, bus drivers, and real estate agents). In other areas, however, the reverse is true: occupations such as teachers, nurses, secretaries, and librarians have become female-dominated while (4)__________ including architects, electrical engineers, and airplane pilots remain predominately male in composition. Women seem to occupy jobs in the (5) ________ sector at higher rates then men. Women's overrepresentation in these jobs as opposed to jobs that require managerial work acts as a reinforcement of women and men into traditional (6) ______ role that might influence persisting gender inequality.

(2) ________

Fill in each blank with one suitable word:
Marie Curie was born in Warsaw on November 7th , 1867. She received general education in (27)__________ school and some scientific training from her father. In spite of her difficult living conditions, she (28)__________ extremely hard. She met Pierre Curie in the school of Physics (29)__________ 1984 and a year later they got married. She was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining the atomic weight of radium. But her real joy was “ easing (30)__________ suffering”. The founding of the radium Institute in 1914 made her humanitarian wish come true. 

(30)...............

Fill in each blank with one suitable word:
Marie Curie was born in Warsaw on November 7th , 1867. She received general education in (27)__________ school and some scientific training from her father. In spite of her difficult living conditions, she (28)__________ extremely hard. She met Pierre Curie in the school of Physics (29)__________ 1984 and a year later they got married. She was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining the atomic weight of radium. But her real joy was “ easing (30)__________ suffering”. The founding of the radium Institute in 1914 made her humanitarian wish come true. 

(28)...........

Choose the best answer: 
Mother nature can be a bit scary at times. These days there seem to be more and more occurrences of natural disasters happening around the world.

An (1).............is the large movement of snow down the side of a mountain. They occur when the snow becomes too loose and as it slides down it mixes with air and water to cause a powerful and dangerous disaster. A drought happens when there has been no rain in a place for a long time.

A drought may result in a (2) ...................; this is when there is not enough food to feed the people and they start to starve.

An earthquake occurs when the (3) ..................of the earth start to move and the ground begins to move and shake. The size of earthquakes is measured on the Richter scale.

A flood occurs when a large amount of water covers the land. Too much rain usually causes floods. As sea levels continue to rise, the risk of (4)............... increases.

A hurricane originally means ‘big wind’. Hurricanes are caused by low air pressure and thunderstorms and (5) ..................in strong winds and heavy rain. When they

happen in the Atlantic Ocean we call them Hurricanes; however, they are called Typhoons when they happen in the Pacific Ocean.

A landslide happens on a slope like a mountain or a hill. The rocks and earth become loose and fall down the slope. When soil on the slope is wet, a (6).............. may occur.

A tornado, which is casually known as a (7)............ , is a very large column of wind that spins around very quickly. The power of a Tornado can cause the winds to destroy houses and pick up and throw heavy items.

(8)................ eruptions are caused by the plates of the earth moving and the pressure makes magma push up through the cracks in the earth.