invoices Câu 7: How would the author probably characterize the people who are mentioned in the first line of the second paragraph A.. opened the bank for a short time Câu 21: The wor
Trang 1Đọc hiểu
Animals have an intuitive awareness of quantities They know without analysis the difference between a number of objects and a smaller number In his book “ The natural History of
Selboure ” (1786 ) , the naturalist Gilbert White tells how he surreptitiously removed one egg a
day from a plover‟s nest , and how the mother laid another egg each day to make up for the missing one He noted that other species of birds ignore the absence of a single egg but abandon their nests if more than one egg has been removed It has also been noted by naturalists that a certain type of wasp always provides five – never four, never six - caterpillars for each of their eggs so that their young have something to eat when the eggs hatch Research has also shown
that both mice and pigeons can be taught to distinguish between odd and even numbers of food
pieces
These and similar accounts have led some people to infer that creatures other than
humans can actually count They also point to dogs that have been taught to respond to
numerical questions with the correct number of barks, or to horses that seem to solve arithmetic problems by stomping their hooves the proper number of times
Animals respond to quantities only when they are connected to survival as a species – as
in the case of the eggs – or survival as individuals - as in the case of food There is no transfer to other situations or from concrete reality to the abstract notion of numbers Animals can “count” only when the objects are present and only when the numbers involved are small – not more than seven or eight In lab experiments, animals trained to “count” one kind of object were unable to count any other type The objects, not the numbers, are what interest them Animals admittedly remarkable achievements simply do not amount to evidence of counting, nor do they reveal more than innate instincts, refined by the genes of successive generations, or the results of clever, careful conditioning by trainers
Câu 1:What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Although animals may be aware of quantities, they cannot actually count
B. Of all animals, dogs and horses can count best
C. Careful training is required to teach animals to perform tricks involving numbers
D. Animals cannot “count” more than one kind of object
Câu 2: Why does the author refer to Gilbert White‟s book in line 2?
A. To indicate that more research is needed in this field
Trang 2B. To show how attitudes have changed since1786
C. To provide evidence that some birds are aware of quantities
D. To contradict the idea that animals can count
Câu 3: The word “surreptitiously” is closest in meaning to
A. quickly B. occasionally C. stubbornly D. secretly
Câu 4: The word “odd” refers to which of the following?
A. numbers such as 1, 3, 5 and so on B. lucky numbers
C. numbers such as 2, 4, 6 and so on D. unusual numbers
Câu 5: The author mentions that all of the following are aware of quantities in some ways EXCEPT
A. wasps B. Plovers C. caterpillars D. mice
Câu 6: The word “accounts” is closest in meaning to
A. reasons B. reports C. deceptions D. invoices
Câu 7: How would the author probably characterize the people who are mentioned in the first line of
the second paragraph
A. As foolish B. As demanding C. As clever D. As mistaken
Life originated in the early seas less than a billion years after the Earth was formed Yet another three billion years were to pass before the first plants and animals appeared on the continents Life’s transition from the sea to the land was perhaps as much of an evolutionary challenge as was the genesis
of life
What forms of life were able to make such a drastic change in lifestyle? The traditional view of
the first terrestrial organisms is based on mega fossils-relatively large specimens of essentially whole plants and animals Vascular plants, related to modern seed plants and ferns, left the first
comprehensive mega fossil record Because of this, it has been commonly assumed that the sequence of terrestrialization reflected the evolution of modern terrestrial ecosystems In this view, primitive
vascular plants first colonized the margins of continental waters, followed by animals that feed on the plants, and lastly by animals that preyed on the plant-eaters Moreover, the mega fossils suggest that terrestrial life appeared and diversified explosively near the boundary between the Silurian and the Devonian periods, a little more than 400 million years ago
Recently, however, paleontologists have been taking a closer look at the sediments below this Silurian-Devonian geological boundary It turns out that some fossils can be extracted from these
sediments by putting the rocks in an acid bath The technique has uncovered new evidence form
sediments that were deposited near the shores of the ancient oceans- plant microfossils and
microscopic pieces of small animals In many instances the specimens are less than one-tenth of a
millimeter in diameter Although they were entombed in the rocks for hundreds of millions of years,
many of them fossils consist of the organic remains of the organism
Trang 3These newly discovered fossils have not only revealed the existence of previously unknown organisms, but have also pushed back these dates for the invasion of land by multicellular organisms Our views about the nature of the early plant and animal communities are now being revised And with those revisions come new speculations about the first terrestrial life-forms
Câu 8: In what order did the organisms first appear on earth?
A. vascular plants, plant-eating animals, carnivores
B. carnivores, plant-eaters, megafossils
C. mega fossils, prey hunters, plant-eaters
D. seed plants, ferns, megafossils
Câu 9: What can be inferred from the passage about the fossils mentioned in the third paragraph?
A. They have not been helpful in understanding the evolution of terrestrial life
B. They were found in approximately the same numbers as vascular plant fossils
C. They are older than the mega fossils
D. They consist of modern life-forms
Câu 10: According to the theory that the author calls “the traditional view” what was the first form of
life to appear on land?
C. Plant-eating animals D. Vascular plants
Câu 11: What is the following paragraph likely to discuss?
A. the existence of previously unknown organisms
B. the revision of human views on the nature of early plant and animal communities
C. comparison and contrast between the first terrestrial life forms and newly discovered fossils
D. what the first terrestrial life forms might have been
Câu 12: The word “entombed” is closest in meaning to
A. crushed B. trapped C. produced D. excavated
Câu 13: Which of the following resulted from the discovery of microscopic fossils?
A. Which of the following resulted from the discovery of microscopic fossils?
B. Old techniques for analyzing fossils were found to have new uses
C. The origins of primitive sea life were explained
D. Assumptions about the locations of ancient seas were changed
Trang 4Câu 14: With which of the following conclusions would the author probably agree?
A. The evolution of terrestrial life was as complicated as the origin of life itself
B. The discovery of microfossils supports the traditional view of how terrestrial life evolved
C. New species have appeared at the same rate over the course of the last 400 million years
D. The technology used by paleontologists is too primitive to make accurate determinations about ages
of fossils
Câu 15: According to the passage, what happened about 400 million years ago?
A. Many terrestrial life-forms died out
B. New life-forms on land developed at a rapid rate
C. The mega fossils were destroyed by floods
D. Life began to develop in the ancient seas
Franklin D Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, was from a wealthy, well-known family
As a child, he attended private school, had private tutors, and traveled with his parents to Europe He attended Harvard University, and afterward studied law At age 39 Roosevelt suddenly developed polio,
a disease that left him without the full use of his legs for the rest of his life Even through the worst of his illness, however, he continued his life in politics In 1924 he appeared at the Democratic National Convention to nominate Al Smith for president, and eight years after that he himself was nominated for the same office Roosevelt was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression of the 1930s, at a time when more than 5,000 banks had failed and thousands of people were out of work Roosevelt took action First he declared a bank holiday that closed all the banks so no more could fail; then he reopened
the banks little by little with government support Roosevelt believed in using the full power of
government to help what he called the "forgotten people." And it was these workers, the wage earners,
who felt the strongest affection toward Roosevelt There were others, however, who felt that
Roosevelt's policies were destroying the American system of government, and they opposed him in the same intense way that others admired him
In 1940 the Democrats nominated Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term No president in
American history had ever served three terms, but Roosevelt felt an obligation not to quit while the
United States' entry into World War II was looming in the future He accepted the nomination and went
on to an easy victory
Câu 16: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. political aspects of Roosevelt's life B. problems during the Great Depression
C. Roosevelt's upbringing D. criticisms of Roosevelt's actions
Câu 17: Which one of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Roosevelt was elected during the Great Depression
Trang 5B. Roosevelt voted for Al Smith
C. Roosevelt had difficulty walking during his presidency
D. Roosevelt supported strong government powers
Câu 18: The phrase "took action" in lines 13 is used to illustrate the idea that Roosevelt
A. performed admirably B. exerted himself physically
C. responded immediately D. got assistance
Câu 19: It can be inferred from the passage that the people who liked Roosevelt best were
A. poor people B. bankers C. rich people D. average workers
Câu 20: As used in line 10, the phrase "little by little" means that Roosevelt
A. opened the smaller banks first B. opened the banks for minimal services
C. opened the banks a few at a time D. opened the bank for a short time
Câu 21: The word "unprecedented" in the passage could best be replaced by
A. nimportant B. unheard of C. unjustified D. unhampered
Câu 22: The author uses the word "looming" to indicate a feeling of
A. reservation B. threat C. regret D. determination
After two decades of growing student enrollments and economic prosperity, business schools in the
United States have started to face harder times Only Harvard's MBA School has shown a substantial increase in enrollment in recent years Both Princeton and Stanford have seen decreases in their
enrollments Since 1990, the number of people receiving Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degrees, has dropped about 3 percent to 75,000, and the trend of lower enrollment rates is expected to continue
There are two factors causing this decrease in students seeking an MBA degree The first one is that
many graduates of four-year colleges are finding that an MBA degree does not guarantee a plush job on Wall Street, or in other financial districts of major American cities Many of the entry-level management jobs are going to students graduating with Master of Arts degrees in English and the humanities as well
as those holding MBA degrees Students have asked the question, "Is an MBA degree really what I need
to be best prepared for getting a good job?" The second major factor has been the cutting of American payrolls and the lower number of entry-level jobs being offered Business needs are changing, and MBA
schools are struggling to meet the new demands
Câu 23: What is the main focus of this passage?
A. jobs on Wall Street
B. types of graduate degrees
Trang 6C. changes in enrollment for MBA schools
D. how schools are changing to reflect the economy
Câu 24: The word "prosperity" in line 1 could be best replaced by which of the following?
A. success B. surplus C. nurturing D. education
Câu 25: Which of the following business schools has NOT shown a decrease in enrollment?
A. Princeton B. Harvard C. Stanford D. Yale
Câu 26: Which of the following descriptions most likely applies to Wall Street?
A. a center for international affairs B. a major financial center
C. a shopping district D. a neighborhood in New York
Câu 27: According to the passage, what are two causes of declining business school enrollments?
A. lack of necessity for an MBA and an economic recession
B. low salary and foreign competition
C. fewer MBA schools and fewer entry-level jobs
D. declining population and economic prosperity
Câu 28: The word "struggling" is closest in meaning to
A. evolving B. plunging C. starting D. striving
Câu 29: As used in line 7, the word "seeking" could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. examining B. avoiding C. seizing D. pursuing
Câu 30: Which of the following might be the topic of the paragraph?
A. MBA schools' efforts to change
B. future economic predictions
C. a history of the recent economic changes
D. descriptions of non-MBA graduate programs
Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by road Some of these are made on public transport but most are by private car
In Britain many people rely on their cars for daily local activities, e.g getting to work, doing the shopping, and visiting friends People living in urban areas may use buses, trains or, in London, the Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find
Trang 7anywhere to park a car Some places in the country may have a bus only two or three times a week
so people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars
In the US large cities have good public transportation systems The El railroad in Chicago and the underground systems of New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC are heavily used Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars Families often have two cars and, outside major cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc Many college and even high-school students have their own cars
Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though railways link most towns and cities Most places are linked by motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their own convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam Long- distance coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may
be less comfortable Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may
be by air There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London A lot of freight is also distributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail
In the US much long-distance travel is by air America has two main long-distance bus companies, Greyhound and Trailways Amtrak, the national network, provides rail services for passengers Private railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of freight goes by road
The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion and pollution It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a few years, making both these problems worse The British government would like more people to use public transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to share rides with neighbours Most people say that public transport is simply not good enough Americans too have resisted government requests to share cars because it is less convenient and restricts their freedom Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities public transport is bad, so they see no reason to use their cars less
(Extracted from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Oxford University Press, 2000)
Câu 31: In Britain and the US most people travel by
Trang 8Câu 32: According to the passage, people in London may prefer the Underground to their own cars due to
A. cheap tickets B. air pollution C. long distances D. heavy traffic
Câu 33: It is mentioned in paragraph 3 that the public transportation systems in the US are good
in
A. some states B. all cities C. large states D. large cities
Câu 34: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Few college students in the US have their own cars
B. Families in the US often have more than one car
C. Most Americans prefer to drive their cars outside large cities
D. The underground systems are popular in some major US cities
Câu 35: The phrase “at their own convenience” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. at the latest time and nearest place B. at an appropriate time and place
C. at an early time and nearby place D. at the fastest time and nearest place
Câu 36: Which of the following is true about transport in Britain?
A. Long-distance travel in Britain is only by road
B. There are no regular flights between regional airports
C. Trains are usually cheaper than long-distance coach services
D. Heavier items and raw materials are often transported by train
Câu 37: According to the passage, people in Britain refuse public transport because
A. they like to share rides with neighbours B. they think it is not good enough
C. they see no reason to use their cars less D. petrol is relatively cheap in Britain
In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures for his business He was not a good artist,
so he invented a very simple camera He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his yard That was the first photograph
The next important date in the history of photography was 1837 That year, Daguerre, another Frenchman, took a picture of his studio He used a new kind of camera and a different process In his
Trang 9pictures, you could see everything clearly, even the smallest details This kind of photograph was called a daguerreotype
Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's process Travelers brought back daguerreotypes from all around the world People photographed famous buildings, cities, and mountains
In about 1840, the process was improved Then photographers could take pictures of people and moving things The process was not simple and photographers had to carry lots of film and processing equipment However, this did not stop photographers, especially in the United States After 1840, daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities
Matthew Brady was one well-known American photographer He took many portraits of famous people The portraits were unusual because they were lifelike and full of personality Brady was also the first person to take pictures of a war His 1862 Civil War pictures showed dead soldiers and ruined cities They made the war seem more real and more terrible
In the 1880s, new inventions began to change photography Photographers could buy film ready- made in rolls, instead of having to make the film themselves Also, they did not have to process the film immediately They could bring it back to their studios and develop it later They did not have to carry lots of equipment And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive
With a small camera, anyone could be a photographer People began to use cameras just for fun They took pictures of their families, friends, and favorite places They called these pictures
"snapshots"
Documentary photographs became popular in newspapers in the 1890s Soon magazines and books also used them These pictures showed true events and people They were much more real than drawings
Some people began to think of photography as a form of art They thought that photographycould
do more than show the real world It could also show ideas and feelings, like other art forms From “Reading Power” by Beatrice S Mikulecky and Linda Jeffries
Câu 38: The first photograph was taken with
A. a small handheld camera B. a very simple camera
C. a daguerreotype D. new types of film
Trang 10Câu 39: Daguerre took a picture of his studio with
A. a new kind of camera B. a very simple camera
C. special equipment D. an electronic camera
Câu 40: The word “this” in the passage refers to the
A. carrying of lots of film and processing equipment
B. stopping of photographers from taking photos
C. fact that daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities
D. taking of pictures of people and moving things
Câu 41: The word “ruined” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”
A. poorly-painted B. heavily-polluted C. terribly spoiled D. badly damaged
Câu 42: The word “lifelike” in the passage is closest in meaning to “ ”
A. moving B. realistic C. touching D. manlike
Câu 43: Matthew Brady was well-known for
A. inventing daguerreotypes B. the small handheld camera
C. taking pictures of French cities D. portraits and war photographs
Câu 44: As mentioned in the passage, photography can
A. print old pictures B. convey ideas and feelings
C. show the underworld D. replace drawings
Câu 45: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?
A. Different Steps in Film Processing B. Story of Photography
C. Photography and Painting D. Story of Famous Photographers
The countryside of Britain is well known for its beauty and many contrasts: it bare mountains and moorland, its lakes, rivers and woods, and its long, often wild coastline Many of the most beautiful areas are national parks and are protected from development When Britain people think of the countryside they think of farmland, as well as open spaces They imagined cows or
sheep in greenfield enclosed by hedges or stone walls and field of wheat and barley Most
farmland is privately owned but is crossed by a network of public footpaths
Many people associate the countryside with peace and relaxation They spend their free time walking or cycling there, or go to the country for a picnic or a pub lunch In summer people
Trang 11go to fruit farms and pick strawberries and other fruit Only a few people who live in the country work on farms Many commute to work in towns Many others dream of living in the country,
where they believe they would have a better and healthier lifestyle
The countryside faces many threats Some are associated with modern farming practices,
and the use of chemical harmful to plants and wildlife Land is also needed for new houses The green belt, an area of land around many cities, is under increasing pressure Plans to build new roads are strongly opposed by organizations trying to protect the countryside Protesters set up camps to prevent, or at least delay the building work
America has many areas of wild and beautiful scenery, and there are many areas,
especially in the West in States like Montana and Wyoming, where few people living In the New England states, such as Vermont and New Hampshire, it is common to see small farm surrounded by hills and green areas In Ohio, Indianan, Illinoisan and other Midwestern states,
field of corns or wheat reach to the horizon and there are many miles between towns
Only about 20% of Americans live outside cities and towns Life may be difficult for people who live in the country Services like hospitals and schools may be further away and going shopping can mean driving long distances Some people even have to drive from their homes to the main road where their mail is left in a box In spite of the disadvantages, many people who live in the country say that they like the safe, clean, attractive environment But their children often move to a town or city as soon as they can
Câu 46: We can see from the passage that in the countryside of Britain
A. none of the areas face the sea
B. most beautiful areas are not well preserved
C. only a few farms are publicly owned
D. it is difficult to travel from one farm to another
Câu 47: Which is NOT mentioned as an activity of relaxation in the countryside of Britain?
A. Riding a bicycle B. Going swimming C. Picking fruit D. Going for a walk
Câu 48: What does the word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to ?
A. Those who dream of living in the country
B. Those who go to fruit farm in summer
C. Those who go to country for a picnic
Trang 12D. Those who commute to work in towns
Câu 49: Which of the following threatens the countryside in Britain?
A. The green belt around cities B. Protest against building work
C. Modern farming practices D. Plants and wildlife
Câu 50: The phrase “reach to the horizon” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. are limited B. are endless C. are varied D. are horizontal
Câu 51: According to the passage, some Americans choose to live in country because
A. Life there may be easier for them
B. Hospitals, schools, shops are conveniently located there
C. Their children enjoyed country life
D. They enjoy the safe, clean, attractive environment there
Câu 52: Which of the following in NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Towns in some Midwestern states in US are separated by long distances
B. The majority of American people live in cities and towns
C. Both British and American people are thinking of moving to the countryside
D. Many British people think of the country as a place of peace and relaxation
Experts in climatology and other scientists are becoming extremely concerned about the changes to our climate which are taking place Admittedly, climate changes have occurred on our planet before For example, there have been several ice ages or glacial periods
These climatic changes, however, were different from the modern ones in that they occurred gradually and, as far as we know, naturally The changes currently being monitored are said to be the result not of natural causes, but of human activity Furthermore, the rate of change
is becoming alarmingly rapid
The major problem is that the planet appears to be warming up According to some experts, this warming process, known as global warming, is occurring at a rate unprecedented in the last 10,000 years The implications for the planet are very serious Rising global temperatures could give rise to such ecological disasters as extremely high increases in the incidence of
flooding and of droughts These in turn could have a harmful effect on agriculture
It is thought that this unusual warming of the Earth has been caused by so-called
Trang 13greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, being emitted into the atmosphere by car engines and modern industrial processes, for example Such gases not only add to the pollution of the
atmosphere, but also create a greenhouse effect, by which the heat of the sun is trapped This leads to the warming up of the planet
Politicians are also concerned about climate change and there are now regular summits
on the subject, attended by representatives from around 180 of the world’s industrialized
countries Of these summits, the most important took place in Kyotoin Japanin 1997 There it was agreed that the most industrialized countries would try to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions and were given targets for this reduction of emissions
It was also suggested that more forests should be planted to create so-called sinks to absorb greenhouse gases At least part of the problem of rapid climate change has been caused
by too drastic deforestation
Sadly, the targets are not being met Even more sadly, global warnings about climate changes are often still being regarded as scaremongering
Câu 53: According to the passage, in what way did the climate changes in the ice ages differ from the
modern ones?
A. They occurred naturally over a long period of time
B. They were partly intended
C. They were wholly the result of human activity
D. They were fully monitored by humans
Câu 54: The word “alarmingly” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. disapprovingly B. disappointingly C. surprisingly D. worryingly
Câu 55: According to the passage, agriculture could
A. make the global warming more serious
B. be indirectly affected by the global temperature rises
C. give rise to many ecological disasters
D. be directly damaged by the rises in global temperature
Câu 56: Greenhouse gases cause the warming up of the Earth because they _
A. are emitted by car engines B. trap heat from the sun
C. do not add to atmosphere pollution D. are unusual gases
Trang 14Câu 57: It can be inferred from the passage that the countries which are mainly responsible for global
warming are
A. countries with the warmest climate B. developing countries
C. developed countries D. the most industrialized countries
Câu 58: Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?
A. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that may cause the so-called greenhouse effect
B. The so-called sinks created by forests can absorb greenhouse gases
C. The problem of rapid climate change has been caused mainly by deforestation
D. Politicians are among those who are concerned about climate change
Câu 59: The word “drastic” in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to
Câu 60: What is probably the writer’s attitude toward global warning?
A. Optimistic B. Pessimistic C. Neutral D. Positive
A team of Russian scientists has challenged the theory that the woolly mammoths became extinct
10,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age The scientists have reported that the beasts may have survived until 2000 B.C on an island off the coast of Siberia, where researchers uncovered 29 fossilized woolly mammoth teeth ranging in age from 4,000 to 7,000 years The question to be asked now is, how did these prehistoric pachyderms survive in their island environment? One possibility is that they adapted to their confined surroundings by decreasing their bulk This theory
is based on their smaller tooth size, which has led scientists to believe that they were only 6 feet
tall at the shoulder compared with 10 feet of their full-sized counterpart But would this be enough
to enable them to survive thousands of years beyond that of other mammoths? Researchers are still working to uncover the reasons for this isolated group's belated disappearance
Câu 61: With which topic is this passage mainly concerned?
A. Some scientists have challenged a theory
B. Some small teeth have been discovered
C. Some mammoths lived longer than others
D. Some pachyderms survived on an island
Câu 62: According to the passage, some researchers suggest that mammoths became extinct
Trang 15A. about 2,000 years ago B. about 4,000 years ago
C. about 7,000 years ago D. about 10,000 years ago
Câu 63: The word "woolly" as used in line 1 refers to the animal's
Câu 64: The author uses the word "counterpart" in line 7 to refer to
A. mammoths with more feet B. mammoths in an earlier time
C. mammoths with smaller teeth D. larger mammoths on the island
Câu 65: According to the scientists, the woolly mammoths may have managed to survive because they
A. shed their hair B. grew smaller teeth C. became herbivores D. decreased in size
Câu 66: According to the passage, the reason for the disappearance of the mammoths on the island is
A. that the temperature changed B. is not yet known
C. that they were isolated D. that larger mammoths killed them
Câu 67: Which of the following terms from the passage is NOT used to refer to the mammoths?
As heart disease continues to be the number-one killer in the United States, researchers have
become increasingly interested in identifying the potential risk factors that trigger heart attacks
High-fat diets and "life in the fast lane" have long been known to contribute to the high incidence
of heart failure But according to new studies, the list of risk factors may be significantly longer and quite surprising
Heart failure, for example, appears to have seasonal and temporal patterns A higher percentage of heart attacks occur in cold weather, and more people experience heart failure on Monday than on
any other day of the week In addition, people are more susceptible to heart attacks in the first few hours after waking Cardiologists first observed this morning phenomenon in the mid-1980, and
have since discovered a number of possible causes An early-morning rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and concentration of heart stimulating hormones, plus a reduction of blood flow to the heart, may all contribute to the higher incidence of heart attacks between the hours of 8:00 A.M and 10:00 A.M
In other studies, both birthdays and bachelorhood have been implicated as risk factors Statistics reveal that heart attack rates increase significantly for both females and males in the few days
Trang 16immediately preceding and following their birthdays And unmarried men are more at risk for heart attacks than their married counterparts Though stress is thought to be linked in some way to all of the aforementioned risk factors, intense research continues in the hope of further comprehending why and how heart failure is triggered
Câu 68: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. risk factors in heart attacks
B. seasonal and temporal patterns of heart attacks
C. cardiology in the 1980s
D. diet and stress as factors in heart attacks
Câu 69: The word "potential" could best be re-placed by which of the following?
A. harmful B. primary C. unknown D. possible
Câu 70: The phrase "susceptible to" in line 6 could best be replaced by
A. aware of B. affected by C. accustomed D. prone to
Câu 71: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a possible cause of many heart attacks?
A. decreased blood flow to the heart B. increased blood pressure
C. lower heart rate D. increase in hormones
Câu 72: Which of the following is NOT cited as a possible risk factor?
A. having a birthday B. getting married C. eating fatty foods D. being under stress
Câu 73: The word "phenomenon" in line 7 refers to which of the following?
A. habit B. illness C. occurrence D. activity
Câu 74: word "trigger" as used in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to which of the following?
Câu 75: Which of the following does the passage infer?
A. We now fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks
B. We recently began to study how risk factors trigger heart attacks
C. We have not identified many risk factors associated with heart attacks
D. We do not fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks
Trang 17A small but growing group of scholars, evolutionary psychologists, are being to sketch the
contours of the human mind as designed by natural selection Some of them even anticipate the
coming of a field called "mismatch theory", which would study maladies resulting from contrasts
between the modern environment and the "ancestral environment" The one we were designed for
There is no shortage of such maladies to study Rates of depression have been doubling in some industrial countries roughly every 10 years Suicide is the third most common cause of death among young adults, after car wrecks and homicides
Evolutionary psychology is a long way from explaining all this with precision, but it is already shedding enough light to challenge some conventional wisdom It suggests for example, that the nostalgia for the nuclear family of the 1950s is in some way misguided-that the model family of husband at work and wife at home is hardly a "natural" and the healthful living arrangement,
especially for the wives Moreover, the bygone lifestyles that do look fairly by commercialism
Perhaps the biggest surprise from evolutionary psychology is it depiction of the "animal" in us Freud, and various thinkers since, saw "civilization" as an oppressive force that thwarts basic animal instincts and urges and transmutes them into psychopathology However, evolutionary psychology suggests that a large threat to mental health may be the way civilization thwarts
civility There is a gentler, kinder side of human
nature, and it seems increasingly to be a victim of repression in modern society
Question 76: Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A How evolutionary psychology manages modern society
B The problems of illness caused by modern society
C The importance of ancestral environment
D Evolutionary psychologists' views on the nuclear family
Question 77: The word "contours" is closest in meaning to
A actions B limits C structures D outlines
Question 78: According to the passage, the death of many young people in industrial countries is
mainly caused by
A murder B traffic accidents C suicide D depression
Question 79: The word "one" refers to the
C modern environment D ancestral environment
Trang 18Question 80: The word "by gone" could be replaced by
A overlooked B forgotten C past D original
Question 81: In the passage, evolutionary psychologists suggest that in modern society
A victims are always punished B people's better natures are denied
C repressed people are kind and gentle D people suffer from repression
Question 82: Where in the passage does the author suggest a conflict between the way of living?
A line 1−4 B line 10−14 C line 16−18 D line 18−20
Long before they can actually speak, babies pay special attention to the speech they hear around them Within the first month of their lives, babies' responses to the sound of the human voice will
be different from their responses to other sorts of auditory stimuli They will stop crying when
they hear a person talking, but not if they hear a bell or the sound of a rattle At first, the sounds
that an infant notices might be only those words that receive the heaviest emphasis and that often occur at the ends of utterances By the time they are six or seven weeks old, babies can detect the difference between syllables pronounced with rising and falling inflections Very soon, these differences in adult stress and intonation can influence babies' emotional states and behavior Long before they develop actual language comprehension, babies can sense when an adult is playful or angry, attempting to initiate or terminate new behavior, and so on, merely on the basis of cues such
as the rate, volume, and melody of adult speech Adults make it as easy as they can for babies to pick up a language by exaggerating such cues One researcher observed babies and their mothers
in six diverse cultures and found that, in all six languages, the mothers used simplified syntax,
short utterances and nonsense sounds, and transformed certain sounds into baby talk Other
investigators have noted that when mothers talk to babies who are only a few months old, they exaggerate the pitch, loudness, and intensity of their words They also exaggerate their facial expressions, hold vowels longer, and emphasize certain words
More significant for language development than their response to general intonation is observation that tiny babies can make relatively fine distinctions between speech sounds In other words, babies enter the world with the ability to make precisely those perceptual discriminations that are necessary if they are to acquire aural language
Babies obviously derive pleasure from sound input, too: even as young as nine months they will listen to songs or stories, although the words themselves are beyond their understanding For
Trang 19babies, language is a sensory-motor delight rather than the route to prosaic meaning that it often is for adults
Question 83: Which of the following can be inferred about the findings described in paragraph 2?
A Babies ignore facial expressions in comprehending aural language
B Mothers from different cultures speak to their babies in similar ways
C Babies who are exposed to more than one language can speak earlier than babies exposed to
a single language
D The mothers observed by the researchers were consciously teaching their babies to speak Question 84: According to the author, why do babies listen to songs and stories, even though they
cannot understand them?
A They can remember them easily
B They focus on the meaning of their parents' word
C They enjoy the sound
D They understand the rhythm
Question 85: The passage mentions all of the followings as the ways adults modify their speech when talking to babies EXCEPT
A speaking with shorter sentences B giving all words equal emphasis
C using meaningless sounds D speaking more loudly than normal
Question 86: The word "diverse" is closest in meaning to
A different B surrounding C stimulating D divided
Question 87: The word "They" refers to
Question 88: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A The differences between a baby's and an adult's ability to comprehend language
B How babies perceive and respond to the human voice in their earliest stages of language
development
C The response of babies to sounds other than the human voice
D How babies differentiate between the sound of the human voice and other sounds
Question 89: The word "emphasize" is closest in meaning to
Trang 20Question 90: What point does the author make to illustrate that babies are born with the ability to
acquire language?
A Babies exaggerate their own sounds and expressions
B Babies begin to understand words in songs
C Babies notice even minor differences between speech sounds
D Babies are more sensitive to sounds than are adults
It is estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become extinct What
causes extinction? When a species is no longer adapted to a changed environment, it may
perish The exact causes of a species’ death vary from situation to situation Rapid ecological change may render an environment hostile to a species For example, temperatures may
change and a species may not be able to adapt Food Resources may be affected by
environmental changes, which will then cause problems for a species requiring these resources Other species may become better adapted to an environment, resulting in competition and,
ultimately, in the death of a species.
The fossil record reveals that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth Recent analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became extinct at the same time – a mass extinction One of the best-known examples of mass extinction occurred 65
million years ago with the demise of dinosaurs and many other forms of life Perhaps the
largest mass extinction was the one that occurred 225 million years ago When approximately
95 percent of all species died, mass extinctions can be caused by a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the close interrelationship of many species If, for
example, something were to happen to destroy much of the plankton in the oceans, then the
oxygen content of Earth would drop, affection even organisms not living in the oceans Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction
One interesting, and controversial, finding is that extinctions during the past 250 million
years have tended to be more intense every 26 million years This periodic extinction might be due to intersection of the Earth’s orbit with a cloud of comets, but this theory is purely
speculative Some researchers have also speculated that extinction may often be random That
Trang 21is, certain species may be eliminated and others may survive for no particular reason A species’ survival may have nothing to do with its ability or inability to adapt If so, some of evolutionary history may reflect a sequence of essentially random events
Question 91: The word “it” in line 2 refers to
A environment B species C extinction D 99 percent
Question 92: The word “ultimately” in line 6 is closest in meaning to
A exceptionally B dramatically C eventually D unfortunately
Question 93: What does the author say in paragraph 1 regarding most species in Earth’s
history?
A They have remained basically unchanged from their original forms
B They are no longer in existence
C They have been able to adapt to ecological changes
D They have caused rapid change in the environment
Question 94: The word “demise” is closest in meaning to
Question 95: Why is “plankton” mentioned in line 14?
A To illustrate a comparison between organisms that live on the land and those that live in the ocean
B To point out that certain species could never become extinct
C To demonstrate the interdependence of different species
D To emphasize the importance of food resources in preventing mass extinction
Question 96: Which of the following can be inferred from the theory of periodic extinction
mentioned in paragraph 3?
A Many scientists could be expected to disagree with it
B Evidence to support the theory has recently been found
C The theory is no longer seriously considered
D Most scientists believe the theory to be accurate
Question 97: In paragraph 3, the author makes which of the following statements about a
species’ survival?
Trang 22A It reflects the interrelationship of many species
B It may depend on chance events
C It does not vary greatly from species to species
D It is associated with astronomical conditions
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
Trang 23There 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 [Ph¸ t hµnh bëi dethithpt.com]
(Extracted from Microsoft® Student 2009 – DVD Version)
Question 98: According to the passage, which of the following is learning in broad view
comprised of?
A Knowledge acquisition outside the classroom
B Knowledge acquisition and ability development
C Acquisition of academic knowledge
D Acquisition of social and behavioral skills
Question 99: According to the passage, what are children NOT usually taught outside the
classroom?
A literacy and calculation
B life skills
C interpersonal communication
D right from wrong
Question 100: Getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job are mentioned in
paragraph 2 as examples of
A the changes to which people have to orient themselves
B the areas of learning which affect people’s lives
C the situations in which people cannot teach themselves
D the ways people’s lives are influenced by education
Question 101: Which of the following can be inferred about the learning process from the
passage? [Ph¸ t hµnh bëi dethithpt.com]
Trang 24A It becomes less challenging and complicated when people grow older
B It takes place more frequently in real life than in academic institutions
C It is more interesting and effective in school than that in life
D It plays a crucial part in improving the learner’s motivation in school
Question 102: According to the passage, the study of learning is important in many fields due
to
A the great influence of the on-going learning process
B the need for certain experiences in various areas
C the influence of various behaviors in the learning process
D the exploration of the best teaching methods
Question 103: It can be inferred from the passage that social workers, employers, and
politicians concern themselves with the study of learning because they need to
A change the behaviors of the objects of their interest towards learning
B make the objects of their interest more aware of the importance of learning
C thoroughly understand the behaviors of the objects of their interest
D understand how a stimulus relates to the senses of the objects of their interest
Question 104: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A Psychologists are all interested in memory as much as behaviors
B Psychologists studying memory are concerned with how the stored knowledge is used
C Psychologists studying learning are interested in human behaviors
D Psychologists studying memory are concerned with the brain’s storage of knowledge
Question 105: The passage mainly discusses
A practical examples of learning inside the classroom
B application of learning principles to formal education
C general principles of learning
D simple forms of learning
Scientists do not yet thoroughly understand just how the body of an individual becomes sensitive to a substance that is harmless or even wholesome for the average person Milk, wheat, and egg, for example, rank among the most healthful and widely used foods Yet these
Trang 25foods can cause persons sensitive to them to suffer greatly At first, the body of the individual is not harmed by coming into contact with the substance After a varying interval of time, usually longer than a few weeks, the body becomes sensitive to it, and an allergy has begun to develop Sometimes it’s hard to figure out if you have a food allergy, since it can show up so many
different ways Your symptoms could be caused by many other problems You may have rashes,
hives, joint pains mimicking arthritis, headaches, irritability, or depression The most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, seafood, wheat, nuts, seeds, chocolate, oranges, and tomatoes Many of these allergies will not develop if these foods are not fed to an infant until her or his intestines mature at around seven months Breast milk also tends to be protective Migraines can be set off by foods containing tyramine, phenathylamine, monosodium glutamate, or sodium nitrate Common foods which contain these are chocolate, aged cheeses, sour cream, red wine, pickled herring, chicken livers, avocados, ripe bananas, cured meats, many Oriental and prepared foods (read the labels!) Some people have been successful in treating their migraines with supplements of B-vitamins, particularly B6 and niacin Children who are
hyperactive may benefit from eliminating food additives, especially colorings, and foods high in
salicylates from their diets [Ph¸ t hµnh bëi dethithpt.com]
Question 106: The topic of this passage is A reactions to foods B food and
nutrition C infants and allergies D a good diet
Question 107: According to the passage, the difficulty in diagnosing allergies to foods is due to
A the vast number of different foods we eat B lack of a proper treatment plan C the similarity of symptoms of the allergy to other problems D the use of prepared formula to feed babies
Question 108: The word “symptoms” is closest in meaning to A indications B
diet C diagnosis D prescriptions
Question 109: The phrase “set off” is closest in meaning to A relieved B
identified C avoided D triggered
Question 110: What can be inferred about babies from this passage? A They can eat almost
anything B They should have a carefully restricted diet as infants C They gain little benefit
Trang 26from being breast fed D They may become hyperactive if fed solid food too early Question 41: The word “hyperactive” is closest in meaning to
A overly active B unusually low activity C excited D inquisitive
Question 112: The author states that the reason that infants need to avoid certain foods
related to allergies has to do with the infant’s
A lack of teeth B poor metabolism
C underdeveloped intestinal tract D inability to swallow solid foods
The rapid transcontinental settlement and these new urban industrial circumstances of the last half of the 19th century were accompanied by the development of national literature of great abundance and variety New themes, new forms, new subjects, new regions, new
authors, new audiences all emerged in the literature of this half century
As a result, at the onset of World War I, the spirit and substance of American literature had
evolved remarkably, just as its center of production had shifted from Boston to New York in the late 1880s and the sources of its energy to Chicago and the Midwest No longer was it
produced, at least in its popular forms, in the main by solemn, typically moralistic men from New England and the Old South; no longer were polite, well-dressed, grammatically correct, middle-class young people the only central characters in its narratives; no longer were these
narratives to be set in exotic places and remote times; no longer, indeed, were fiction, poetry,
drama, and formal history the chief acceptable forms of literary expression; no longer, finally, was literature read primarily by young, middle class women
In sum, American literature in these years fulfilled in considerable measure the condition
Walt Whitman called for in 1867 in describing Leaves of Grass: it treats, he said of his own major work, each state and region as “and expands from them, and includes the world
connecting an American citizen with the citizens of all nations"
Question 113: The main idea of this passage is
A that the new American literature was less provincial than the old
B that World War I caused a dramatic change in America
C that centers of culture shifted from East to West
Trang 27D that most people were wary of the new literature
Question 114: It can be inferred from the passage that the previous passage probably
discussed
A the importance of tradition to writers
B new developments in industrialization and population shifts
C the fashions and values of 19th century America
D the limitations of American literature to this time
Question 115: The word “evolved” in paragraph two is closest in meaning to
A became famous B turned back C diminished D changed
Question 116: The word “it” in the second paragraph refers to
C American literature D the manufacturing
Question 117: The word “exotic” in paragraph two is closest in meaning to
A urban B unusual C well-known D old-fashioned
Question 118: The author uses the word “indeed” in the second paragraph for what purpose?
A To emphasize the contrast he is making
B For variety in a lengthy paragraph
C To wind down his argument
D To show a favorable attitude to these forms of literature
Question 119: The phrase “these years” in the third paragraph refers to
A 1850-1900 B the 1900s C the early 1800s D the present
Question 120: It can be inferred from the passage that Walt Whitman
A disliked urban life B was disapproving of the new literature
C wrote Leaves of Grass D was an international diplomat
Chester Arthur, the twenty-first President of the United States, was an unlikely holder of the highest office in land Born in Vermont in 1830, he was the son of an Irish immigrant father and
a New Hampshire mother After becoming a lawyer in New York, he joined the Republican Party and eventually came to hold a number of state offices there, including a position as head of the
Trang 28New York Customs House Though personally honest, Arthur' s administration was marred by corrupt practices, and he was removed from office in 1878 When James Garfield was elected
as the Republican Party's presidential candidate in 1880's, Arthur, who belonged to a faction that had supported the denomination of President Grant, was offered the Vice-presidency as a conciliatory gesture Arthur accepted, and then, in 1881, was elevated to the Presidency
following Garfield's assassination In view of his far from unblemished record and his lack of strong political support, even within his own party, Arthur's move to the White House was viewed with great concern by many Americans, but, to the astonishment of most, his
administration proved to be a competent and honest one However, he never was elected President in his own right, being defeated for the nomination at his party's convention in 1884, and dying in November two years later of Bright's disease during the presidency of a Democrat, Grover Cleveland
Question 121: How does the writer describe the fact that Arthur became President ?
A as disliked B as eventual C as improbable D as conciliatory
Question 122: Chester Arthur was
A of mixed Irish-American stock B born in Irish parents
C born in New Hampshire D born in New York
Question 123: Which of the following best describes Arthur's tenure as the head of the New York Customs House ?
A a thoroughly corrupt administration
B one suffering from much corruption that Arthur, though not involved, failed to remedy
C one which, in spite of the efforts of honest officials, was made corrupt by its leader
D one in which corruption was not eradicated from Arthur's office until 1878
Question 124: Why was Arthur invited to become Garfield's running-mate ?
A because his support for President Grant was half-hearted
B because of his previous record in office
C because Garfield wanted to hold the Republican Party together
D because there was a danger of Garfield's being assassinated
Question 125: During his years as President, Arthur was
Trang 29A a cause of great concern to the American people
B a pleasant surprise to most people [Ph¸ t hµnh bëi dethithpt.com]
C far from unblemished in his conduct
D the focus of strong political support
Question 126: Who was the twentieth President of the United States ?
A Grover Cleveland B Ulysses S Grant C Chester Arthur D James Garlield
Question 127: In his bid for re-election Authur was defeated by
A a fellow Republican B Bright
C Grover Cleveland D an unnamed Democrat
Footracing is a popular activity in the United States It is seen not only as a competitive sport but also as a way to exercise, to enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people, and to donate money to a good cause Though serious runners may spend months training to compete, other runners and walkers might not train at all Those not competing to win might run in an effort to beat their own time or simply to enjoy the fun and exercise People of all ages, from those of less than one year (who may be pushed in strollers) to those in their eighties, enter into this sport The races are held on city streets, on college campuses, through parks, and in suburban areas, and they are commonly 5 to 10 kilometers in length
The largest footrace in the world is the 12-kilometer Bay to Breakers race that is held in San Francisco every spring This race begins on the east side of the city near San Francisco Bay and ends on the west side at the Pacific Ocean There may be 80,000 or more people running in this race through the streets and hills of San Francisco In the front are the serious runners who compete to win and who might finish in as little as 34 minutes Behind them are the thousands who take several hours to finish In the back of the race are those who dress in costumes and come just for fun One year there was a group of men who dressed like Elvis Presley, and another group consisted of firefighters who were tied together in a long line and who were carrying a firehose There was even a bridal party, in which the bride was dressed in a long white gown and the groom wore a tuxedo The bride and groom threw flowers to bystanders, and they were actually married at some point along the route
Trang 30Question 128: The main purpose of this passage is to
A encourage people to exercise
B describe a popular activity
C make fun of runners in costume
D give reasons for the popularity of footraces
Question 129: As used in line 1, the word "activity" is most similar to which of the following?
A pursuit B motion C pilgrimage D expectation
Question 130: The word " camaraderie " as used in line 2 could be best replaced by which of the following?
A games B companionship C jokes D views
Question 131: The phrase "to a good cause" in line 2 could be best replaced by which of the following?
C for a good purpose D to protect a wise investment
Question 132: Which of the following is NOT implied by the author?
A Footraces appeal to a variety of people
B Walkers can compete for prizes
C Entering a race is a way to give support to an organization
D Running is a good way to strengthen the heart
Question 133: As used in line 5, the word "strollers" refers to
A cribs B wheelchairs C wagons D carriages
Question 134: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in this passage?
A Some runners looked like Elvis Presley
B Some runners were ready to put out a fire
C Some runners were participating in a wedding
D Some runners were serious about winning
Question 135: Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage?
A chronological order B specific to general
C cause and result D statement and example
Trang 31When we moved to our new house near the sea, I was eight years old Even before that I had spent every summer messing about on boats My dad had taught me to sail before I learnt to ride a bike so I knew how I wanted to spend my time at the new house- I was going to get my own boat and sail it everyday The house was only a few meters from the water's edge, and in rough weather the waves would come crashing into the front garden I used to sit with my nose pressed to the glass, fascinated by the power of the ocean I grew up watching the skies to see
if it was going to rain; would I be going sailing that afternoon or not?
Of course I sometimes wished I could live in the town like my friends I used to get irritated with my parents, who had taken early retirement because they seemed incapable of getting anywhere on time Dad drove me the eight miles to school everyday, but I was often late
because he had been walking on the cliffs earlier in the morning and had lost track of time When I was taking my university entrance exams, I used to stay over at a friend’s in town, just
in case All in all, I was lucky to grow up by the sea and I still love to sail
Question 136 At the age of eight, the writer's house was _
A in the town B by the sea C on boat D under the mountain
Question 137 The word “rough” is closest in meaning to
Question 138 The writer's father retired early because _
A he walked on the cliffs every morning
B he lost track of time
C he had to drive his kid to school everyday
D he was unable to get anywhere on time
Question 139 The following are true EXCEPT _
A the waves came crashing into the writer's front garden in bad weather
B the write moved to a new house when he was 8
C the writer didn't know how to sail
D the distance from the writer's house to school was 8 miles
Question 140 Growing up by the sea, the writer felt _
Trang 32Question 141 The writer learnt to sail _
A before learning to ride a bike
B when his family moved to a new house
C before going to school
D when he/ she was eight
Question 142 When taking the university entrance exams, _
A the writer's family moved to a new house by the sea
B the writer had to live in a friend's house
C the weather was terrible
D the writer's father drove him/ her to university
Although noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is a widely recognized form of pollution, it is very difficult to measure because the discomfort experienced by different
individuals is highly subjective and, therefore, variable Exposure to lower levels of noise may
be slightly irritating, whereas exposure to higher levels may actually cause hearing loss
Particularly in congested urban areas, the noise produced as a by-product of our advancing
technology causes physical and psychological harm, and detracts from the quality of life for those who are exposed to it
Unlike the eyes, which can be covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and is, therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection
Noise causes effects that the hearer cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism,
including human beings In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels
constrict, the skin pales, and muscles tense In fact, there is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and some of these
responses persist even longer than the noise, occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased.[Ph¸ t hµnh bëi dethithpt.com]
Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding
in the same way that we would respond to danger Recently, researchers have concluded that
Trang 33noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach We have long known that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and
ulcers may be victims of noise as well Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive, they cry
easily, and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after birth In addition, the psychic effect of noise is very important Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase affecting the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well as the way that we interact with each other
Question 143 Which of the following is the author’s main point?
A Hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem
B Loud noises signal danger
C Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health
D The ear is not like the eye
Question 144 According to the passage, what is noise?
A A byproduct of technology
B Physical and psychological harm
C Congestion
D Unwanted sound
Question 145 Why is noise difficult to measure?
A All people do not respond to it in the same way
B It causes hearing loss
C It is unwanted
D People become accustomed to it
Question 146 The word congested in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by
Question 147 The word it in the first paragraph refers to
A The quality of life B our advancing technology
Trang 34Question 148 According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way that they respond to
Question 149 Look at the verb accelerate in paragraph 3 Which of the following is the closest
meaning to it?
Question 150 It can be inferred from this passage that the eye
A responds to fears
B enjoys greater protection than the ear
C increases function
D is damaged by noise
FIRST TIME IN THE AIR
When John Mills was going to fly in an aero plane for the first time, he was frightened He did not like the idea of being thousands of feet up in the air “ ‘I also didn’t like the fact that I wouldn’t be in control,” says John “I’m a terrible passenger in the car When somebody else is driving, I tell them what to so It drives everybody crazy.” However John couldn’t avoid flying any longer It was the only way he could visit his grandchildren in Canada “I had made up my mind that I was going to do it, I couldn’t let my son, his wife and their three children travel all the way here to visit me It would be so expensive for them and I know Tom’s business isn’t doing so well at the moment – it would also be tiring for the children – it’s a nine-hour flight!”
he says To get ready for the flight John did lots of reading about aero planes When he booked his seat, he was told that he would be flying on a Boeing 747, which is better known as a jumbo jet “I needed to know as much as possible before getting in that plane I suppose it was a way
of making myself feel better The Boeing 747 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world at the moment The first one flew on February 9th 1969 in the USA It can carry up to 524 passengers and 3.400 pieces of luggage The fuel for aero planes is kept in the wings and the 747’s wings are so big that they can carry enough fuel for an average car to be able to travel 16,000
kilometers a year for 70 years Isn’t that unbelievable? Even though I had discovered all this
Trang 35very interesting information about the jumbo, when I saw it for the first time, just before I was going to travel to Canada, I still couldn’t believe that something so enormous was going to get
up in the air and fly I was even more impressed when I saw how big it was inside with
hundreds of people!” The biggest surprise of all for John was the flight itself “The take-off itself was much smoother than I expected although I was still quite scared until we were in the air In the end, I managed to relax, enjoy the food and watch one of the movies and the view from the window was spectacular I even managed to sleep for a while! Of course,” continues John, “the best reward of all was when I arrived in Canada and saw my son and his family, particularly my beautiful grandchildren Suddenly, I felt so silly about all the years when I couldn’t even think of getting on a plane I had let my fear of living stop me from seeing the people I love most in the world I can visit my son and family as often as I like now!”
Question 151 Why did John Mills fly in an aero plane?
A He wanted to go on holiday B He wanted to try it
C He wanted to see his family D He had to travel on business
Question 152 Why did John read about aero plane?
A He wanted to know how they work B It was his body
C It guaranteed safety D He had found a book on them
Question 153 What happened when he saw the jumbo jet for the first time?
A He felt much safer B He liked the shape of it
C He was surprised at how big it was D He thought the wings were very small
Question 154 How did John feel when the aero plane was taking off?
Question 155 What surprised John most about the flight?
A that he liked the food B that he was able to sleep
C that there was a movie being shown D that the view was good
Question 156 How did John feel about his fears in the end?
A He thought he had wasted time being afraid
B He realized it was okay to be afraid
C He hoped his grandchildren weren’t afraid of flying
Trang 36D He realized that being afraid kept his safe
Although noise, commonly defined as unwanted sound, is a widely recognized form of pollution, it is very difficult to measure because the discomfort experienced by different
individuals is highly subjective and, therefore, variable Exposure to lower levels of noise may
be slightly irritating, whereas exposure to higher levels may actually cause hearing loss
Particularly in congested urban areas, the noise produced as a by-product of our advancing
technology causes physical and psychological harm, and detracts from the quality of life for
those who are exposed to it
Unlike the eyes, which can be covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and
is, therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection Noise causes effects that the hearer cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed Loud noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human
beings In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the skin
pales, and muscles tense In fact, there is a general increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear, and some of these responses persist even longer than the noise, occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased
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Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same way that we would respond to danger Recently, researchers have concluded that noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance It may be a serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach We have long known that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us with heart disease and
ulcers may be victims of noise as well Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive, they cry
easily, and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after birth In addition, the psychic effect of noise is very important Nervousness, irritability, tension, and anxiety increase affecting the quality of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well as the way that we interact with each other
Trang 37Question 157 Which of the following is the author’s main point?
A Hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem
B Loud noises signal danger
C Noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health
D The ear is not like the eye
Question 158 According to the passage, what is noise?
A A byproduct of technology B Physical and psychological harm
Question 159 Why is noise difficult to measure?
A All people do not respond to it in the same way
B It causes hearing loss
C It is unwanted
D People become accustomed to it
Question 160 The word congested in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by
A hazardous B crowded C polluted D rushed
Question 161 The word it in the first paragraph refers to
A The quality of life B our advancing technology
Question 162 According to the passage, people respond to loud noises in the same way that they respond to
A annoyance B danger C damage D disease
Question 163 Look at the verb accelerate in paragraph 3 Which of the following is the closest
meaning to it?
Question 164 The phrase as well in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A after all B instead C also D regardless
Question 165 It can be inferred from this passage that the eye
A responds to fears B enjoys greater protection than the ear
C increases function D is damaged by noise
Trang 38THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MUSIC Think for a moment about the last music album you bought Most likely, you’ll think of the singer or band that made you want to buy the album You might even know the name of the guitar player or the drummer Those talented performers, however, are only some of the
people in the music industry work behind the scenes, but the roles they play in the musical progress are very important
Songwriters: Songs begin with the songwriter Some songwriters work alone, but many work in
teams that combine the talents of a lyricist, who writes the words to songs, and an
instrumentalist, often a piano player or guitarist, who writes the music Many of today’s pop stars work with songwriters For example, some of Lady Gaga’s biggest hits were written by Nadir Khayat, also known “RedOne” Some songwriting teams have become very famous, such
as Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman, who were responsible for many big 1980s pop hits
Arrangers: After a song has been written, music arrangers make it more appealing by deciding
which instruments will be used, what tempo, or speed, the song will have, and whether the song should have a lower or higher pitch A good arrangement can bring a song to life and make
it a classic
Studio Musicians: Not every singer or instrumentalist can be a star, and many work in the
background as studio musicians These artists are not a part of any one musical group Instead, they are hired for recording sessions that eventually become the albums you buy, as well as soundtracks for television shows, movies, and radio ads
Recording Engineers: Recording engineers also play a major role in creating the final sound that
you hear First, these engineers set up the recording studio, the room where the performers play, placing musicians and microphones in exactly the right places to get the best sound Next, they use electronic equipment, such multi-track recorders, to capture the music Finally, long after the musicians have gone home, recording engineers use a mixing board to balance the melodies and rhythms of each musician, and sometimes to incorporate special sound effects or additional tracks Many people make a living with music You may not recognize all of their names, but all of them work together to create the songs you love to listen to
Trang 39Question 166 Which piece of equipment is used at the end of the recording process?
A a multi-track recorder B a guitar or piano
Question 167 Which sentence is NOT true about studio musicians?
A They work in the recording studio
B They earn money for each session that they do
C They are not as famous as the artists they play for
D They usually support or play for the same artist
Question 168 Which of the following do music arrangers probably NOT do?
A decide the price of the CD B decide how fast or slow a song will be
C decide which instrument to use D decide which pitch to use
Question 169 The word “classic” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _
A a traditional song B a famous song C a lively song D a modern song
Question 170 Which statement would the author probably agree with?
A Studio musicians would be more successful as members of one musical group
B It is important to buy albums made by performing artists who are not yet famous
C Having a famous person sing a song will usually make it successful
D People are often unaware of the amount of work that goes into creating music
Question 171 Why does the author mention Lady Gaga?
A to give an example of a star who works with a songwriter
B to explain why she does not write her own songs
C to compare her with other talented songwriters
D to persuade readers to buy her music
Question 172 The article is mainly about
A people who play a background role in creating music
B pop stars who write the biggest hits
C songwriting teams who combine their talents
D instrumentalists who work as hired musicians
The Rise of Robots
Trang 40As kids, our grandparents frequently scared us by talking about how difficult life was when they were growing up They mentioned walking miles to school in the snow, or doing hours of
manual labour for little pay Life has changed greatly since then, and it seems to get easier year
by year In fact, with the help of robots we soon might have to do much at all But is this a good thing?
By 2030, it’s estimated that robotics will be a $10 billion business worldwide Companies are already starting to integrate them into the workforce The electronics manufacturer Foxconn is drawing up plans to launch a factory within the next 10 years that’s completely staffed by robot workers Meanwhile, an American company Briggo has invented a robot that serves gourmet-quality coffee to customers With the push of a button it will crush coffee beans, measure exact quantities of water, and even wave a steam wand to ensure customers get the perfect cream
on top Unlike human baristas, it can serve multiple drinks at once and work all day and night without a break
Robots are also invading our homes The Rooma is a mini-robot that vacuums rooms
automatically according to a schedule The Robomow is a device that will cut the grass for you while you sit in the shade Then there’s the Nanda clocky, an alarm clock that makes sure that even the deepest sleepers get up on time The clock is attached to a pair of wheels, and it will randomly move around the room Once you finally catch it, you’re probably too awake to hit the snooze button
Although these early home robots are somewhat basic, they will likely become more capable as times goes on Although robots certainly help us to eliminate tedious tasks, many people are concerned about a future filled with robots Some fear that humanity will start to decline if machines do everything for us Others have even warned about the robot rebellion, in which robots become so smart that they may decide to turn on their masters These ideas may seem a bit far-fetched, but there are certainly lots of questions that need to be answered before
everyone opens up to the idea of a robotic future
Question 173 How is Briggo’s invention superior to human workers?
A It is more knowledgeable about coffee-making
B It is better at conversation