Nguyễn Đức Hưng** - Marie Curie High School, HP. (: 0912.883.190) Tµi liÖu luyÖn thi §¹i häc M«n TiÕng Anh – Test 9 PASSAGE 1: Every year about two million people visit Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four U.S. Presidents were carved in granite by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his son, the late Lincoln Borglum. The creation of the Mount Rushmore monument took 14 years – from 1927 to 1941 – and nearly a million dollars. These were times when money was difficult to come by and many people were jobless. To move the more than 400,000 tons of rock, Borglum hired laid-off workers from the closed-down mines in the Black Hills area. He taught these men to dynamite, drill, carve, and finish the granite as they were hanging in mid-air in his specially devised chairs, which had many safety features. Borglum was proud of the fact that no workers were killed or severely injured during the years of blasting and carving. During the carving, many changes in the original design had to be made to keep the carved heads free of large fissures that were uncovered. However, not all the cracks could be avoided, so Borglum concocted a mixture of granite dust, white lead, and linseed oil to fill them. Every winter, water from melting snows gets into the fissures and expands as it freezes, making the fissures bigger. Consequently, every autumn maintenance work is done to refill the cracks. The repairers swing out in space over a 500-foot drop and fix the monument with the same mixture that Borglum used to preserve this national monument for future generations. 1) In line 9, the word “fissures” refers to A. designs B. cracks C. heads D. carvings 2) According to the passage, Borglum’s son A. is dead B. was a president C. did maintenance work D. spent a million dollars 3) The men who Borglum hired were A. trained sculptors B. laid-off stone masons C. Black hills volunteers D. unemployed miners 4) It can be inferred from the passage that A. the heads are not as originally planned B. the workers made mistakes when blasting C. the cracks caused serious injures D. the designs had large fissures in them 5) Borglum’s mixture for filling cracks was A. very expensive B. bought at the Black hills mines C. invented by the sculptor himself D. uncovered during carving PASSAGE 2: 70% of all living species including all dinosaurs were wiped off the surface of the earth 65 millions years ago. There have been various theories that their extinction was caused by a great catastrophe of one sort or another. But now, instead of mere speculation, it has almost become an established fact that a meteor did the job. The impact on earth of a large meteorite would have raised a dust veil blocking off enough sunlight to stop photosynthesis, the process by which plants make the food necessary for their survival. This would have killed them, destroying the food on which animals depended, and would have triggered a brief Ice Age, reducing still further the number of survivors. 1) The writer states as a fact that about 65 million years ago, most species of plants and animals A. migrated from the land into water. B. moved to the surface of the earth. C. were destroyed completely. D. had not yet been created. 2) The passage states that it is most likely that the extinction of many species was caused by A. an object from outer space. B. a nuclear explosion on earth. C. a large increase in global temperature. D. intense radiation from outer space. 3) According to the article, which one of the following effects of the collision would have been most harmful to plants? A. The great heat. B. Dangerous radiation. C. A severe earthquake. D. Dark clouds covering the sun. 4) As a result of the impact upon plant-life, the passenger implies that animals would probably have A. temporarily stopped having young. B. eventually starved to death. C. greatly changed their diets. D. rapidly moved to other places. 5) In addition to stopping photosynthesis, the dust veil caused A. blindness in surviving animals. B. widespread outbreaks of illness. C. very low temperatures world-wide. D. a slight increase in plant species. PASSAGE 3: People who travel frequently on business or for pleasure often suffer some form of health problem, yet over half of these problems can easily be prevented. The most common ailment, a headache, can be avoided by taking along an ample supply of aspirin or other pain reliever. Another common affliction is motion sickness caused by the constant movement of a vehicle. Ginger capsules, sold in most health-food stores, have been found effective as a remedy. Other familiar problems include sunburn, which can be prevented by using an effective sunscreen, and insect bites, which can be controlled with use of a repellent spray or ointment. For everyday cuts and scratches, a first-aid kit containing bandages and antiseptic cream is recommended. 1) What is the best title for this passage? A. Frequent Travellers. B. Avoiding Travel Ailments. C. Common Health Problems. D. Travelling for Business or Pleasure. 2) According to the passage, travellers are most commonly bothered by Nguyễn Đức Hưng** - Marie Curie High School, HP. (: 0912.883.190) A. sunburn B. motion sickness C. insect bites D. headaches 3) In line 3, the word “affliction” can best be replaced by A. result B. experience C. ailment D. supply 4) According to the passage, what can be used to remedy motion sickness? A. A moving vehicle B. Pain-killers C. Ginger capsules D. A first-aid kit 5) Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a solution to a health problem? A. Sunscreen B. Cold cream C. Repellent spray D. Aspirin PASSAGE 4: The Smokey Bear fire prevention programme has resulted in a savings of $20 billion on all federal, state and private forested land. In 1941, 208,000 forest fires burned 30 million acres, while in 1981, fewer than 165,000 fires burned about three million acres. While forest usage has increased, the proportion of human-caused fires has remained stable; people still cause nine out of ten forest fires. But the biggest cause of fires is arson, accounting for 34 per cent of forest fires in 1981. 1) According to the passage, use of forested land has A. stabilised B. been privatised C. decreased D. risen 2) According to the passage, in 1941 forest fires burned A. less acres than in 1981. B. ten times as many acres as in 1981. C. 3 million acres. D. 20 million acres more than 1981. 3) According to the passage, the number of human-caused fires A. has remained the same proportionately. B. has increased. C. is the same as the arson cases. D. accounts for 34 per cent of forest fires. 4) It may be inferred from the passage that A. the majority of fires are caused by humans. B. arson is increasing every year. C. more acres are destroyed by fire each year. D. fewer people are using the forests. PASSAGE 5: Of all the natural wonders of the world, few are a spectacular as Niagara Falls. Located on the Niagara River along the border between the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls actually consists of two falls, the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. The former is on the US side of the border, in the state of New York, while the latter is on the Canadian side. About 85% of the water in Niagara River flows over the Horseshoe Falls, which is the more impressive of the two falls. About 10 million people visit the falls each year, most during the summer tourist season. Sightseers can ride steamers up close to the boiling water of the falls, or view them from the parks on both sides of the river. Niagara Falls has long been a popular honeymoon destination for newlyweds. 1) Which of the following is entirely on the US side of the border with Canada? A. Niagara Falls. B. American Falls C. Niagara River D. Horseshoe Falls. 2) According to the passage, where can people watch the falls? A. From trains B. From airplanes C. From parks or boats. D. From cars or buses. 3) It can be inferred from the passage that Horseshoe Falls A. is the larger of the two falls. B. is the less impressive fall. C. has 15% of the Niagara River flowing over its edge. D. is in the state of New York. 4) In line 7, the word “them” refers to A. steamers B. sightseers C. parks D. waterfalls 5) According to the passage, Niagara Falls A. is a favourite spot of newlyweds. B. can be viewed from only side of the Niagara River. C. generates very hot water. D. is only impressive during the summer tourist season. PASSAGE 6: Before ballpoint pens or fountain pens, pens were made from goose feathers. These goose feathers, called quills, were sharpened and dipped into inkwells, where they absorbed enough ink to write a few words. It was necessary to keep an inkwell very close by, as frequent dipping was necessary. These quill pens were one of the earliest products “designed” specially for left- and right-handed people. Feathers from left wings of the goose worked best for right-handers because of the way that the feathers arched. Feathers from the right wing were preferred by left-handers. 1) Which of the following is the best title for this passage? A. Early Ballpoint and Fountain Pens. B. Quill Pens for Lefties and Righties. C. Where Quill Pens Came From. D. Various Uses for Goose Feathers. 3) The passage indicates that a quill pen could hold enough ink to write A. one or two pages B. for about one hour C. a couple of words D. numerous sentences 4) Which of the following is NOT true about quill pens, according to the passage? A. Left-handers people generally preferred quills from the right wing. B. Left-handers were unable to use quill pens. C. Right-handers people generally preferred quills from the left wings. D. Right-handers could use quill pens. 5) It can be inferred from the passage that quill pens A. are still used regularly today B. are preferred over ballpoint pens Nguyễn Đức Hưng** - Marie Curie High School, HP. (: 0912.883.190) C. are the best pens for left-handers D. are no longer used much . Nguyễn Đức Hưng** - Marie Curie High School, HP. (: 091 2.883. 190 ) Tµi liÖu luyÖn thi §¹i häc M«n TiÕng Anh – Test 9 PASSAGE 1: Every year about two million people visit Mount Rushmore,. the late Lincoln Borglum. The creation of the Mount Rushmore monument took 14 years – from 192 7 to 194 1 – and nearly a million dollars. These were times when money was difficult to come by. 194 1 forest fires burned A. less acres than in 198 1. B. ten times as many acres as in 198 1. C. 3 million acres. D. 20 million acres more than 198 1. 3) According to the passage, the number of