Download Practice test 1

“Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today‟s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter," by Steven Johnson, makes a persuasive argument that today‟s complex TV dramas and ot[r]

PRACTICE TEST 1 PHẦN TRẮC NGHIỆM: (8 điểm)

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

Question We have just been told some news.

A astonishing B surprised C astonished D surprise

Question When he realized the police had spotted him, the man _ the exit as quickly as possible.

A made out B made for C made up D made off

Question Not until late 1960s on the moon.

A when Americans walked B when did Americans walked C Americans walked D did Americans walk Question She couldn't decide to dive jump into water.

A neither/ or B not only/ but also C both/ or D whether/ or

Question _of the financial crisis, all they could was hold on and hope that things would improve. A At the height B At the bottom C On the top D In the end

Question Something began to go _ with the experiment when the two scientists were forced to retire.

A wrong B stale C faulty D ill

Question I agree with most of what you said, but I can't your idea of letting children leave school at the age of 14 A go along with B put up with C keep up with D come up with

Question "Would you like to order now?" -" ."

A Yes, a table for five B It's excellent C Yes, I like beef saladD Yes, not now Question he was kidnapped by the Iraqi guerrillas yesterday has been confirmed.

A That B What C If D Unless

Question 10 Congress has decreed that the gasoline tax .

A should abolished B is abolished C be abolished D should be abolished Question 11 My wallet at the station while I for the train.

A will be stolen/ am waiting B had to steal/ would be waiting

C must have been stolen/ was waiting D should have stolen/ had been waiting

Question 12 He tends to forget things very quickly and behaves more and more like the typical professor. A cool-minded B clear-minded C well-minded D absent-minded

Question 13 Under the UK opportunity laws, an employee _against on the grounds of race, religion or gender A cannot be discriminated B hasn't been discriminating

C didn't use to discriminate D should not discriminate Question 14 The new manager laid down very strict rules as soon as he had the position.

A taken over B come over C taken up D taken off

Question 15 your help, I wouldn't have got the scholarship.

A Had not it been for B Unless I had C If I had had D But for Question 16 The more she practices, she becomes.

A the more confident B the most confident C the greater confidence D the more confidently Question 17 Modern skyscrapers have a steel skeleton of beams and columns _ a three-dimensional grid

A and forming B that forms C forms D from which forming

Question 18 Sometimes life must be very unpleasant for near the airport. A those living B someone to live C they who live D people live Question 19 Jump in the car There's enough for you.

A space B place C chair D room

Question 20 The climate of China is similar in many ways to .

A that of the United states B which of the United States

C the United States D this of the United States

Question 21 "Wow! What a nice coat you are wearing!" -" ." A Thanks My mother bought it for me. B I like you to say that

C Certainly Do you like it, too? D Yes, of course It's expensive.

Question 22 What milk shake you want - strawberry, chocolate or orange?

A type B taste C kind D flavor

Question 23 She has just bought .

A a French old interesting painting B an interesting old French painting C a French interesting old painting D an old interesting painting French Question 24 Her outgoing character contrasts _with that of her sister's.

A fully B sharply C thoroughly D coolly

A OK, let me just check the diary. B Not at the moment He can't be disturbed. C OK, you will need to check my diary. D Have a seat and I'll be with you in an hour.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Question 26 A husband B raise C distinct D reserve Question 27 A ivory B crisis C determine D digest

Mark the letter A,B,C, or D on your answer sheet to show the underline part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

28 A large amount (A)of popular expressions (B) in our language have (C) interesting backgrounds (D)

Question 29 The incidence of which (A ) is now referred to (B) as cryovolcanism, or ice volcanoes, is (C) quite high on the surface of Triton, one of the (D) moons of Neptune

30 Having served (A) lunch, the committee members (B) discussed (C) the problem among themselves (D)

Question 31 Bacteria are one of the most abundant (A) life forms (B) on earth, growing on and inside anothe r (C) living things, in every type of environment (D)

Question 32 In general, novels are thought of extended works of prose fiction depicting the inner and outer lives of their characters A characters B depicting C lives D of extended

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning Question 33 During the earthquake, a lot of buildings collapsed, which killed thousands of people. A fell down unexpectedly B went off accidentally C erupted violently D exploded suddenly

Question 34 From an airplane, the grasslands of the western prairie appear almost as uniform as a placid sea.

A noisy B calm C seedy D fake

Question 35 Many plant and animal species will be in danger if we don't take any actions to protect them.

A in advance B at stake C on purpose D at ease

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

Very few people in the modern world obtain their food supply by hunting and gathering in the natural environment surrounding their homes This method of harvesting from nature's provision is the oldest known subsistence strategy and has been practised for at least the last two million years It was, indeed, the only way to obtain food until rudimentary farming and the domestication of wild animals were introduced about 10,000 years ago

Because hunter-gatherers have fared poorly in comparison with their agricultural cousins, their numbers have dwindled, and they have been forced to live in marginal environments, such as deserts and arctic wastelands In higher latitudes, the shorter growing seasons have restricted the availability of plant life Such conditions have caused a greater dependence on hunting, and on fishing along the coasts and waterways The abundance of vegetation in the lower latitudes of the tropics, on the other hand, has provided a greater opportunity for gathering a variety of plants In short, the environmental differences have restricted the diet and have limited possibilities for the development of subsistence societies

Contemporary hunter-gatherers may help us understand our prehistoric ancestors We know from the observation of modern hunter-gatherers in both Africa and Alaska that a society based on hunting and gathering must be very mobile While the entire community camps in a central location, a smaller party harvests the food within a reasonable distance from the camp When the food in the area has become exhausted, the community moves on to exploit another site We also notice seasonal migration patterns evolving for most hunter-gatherers, along with a strict division of labor between the sexes These patterns of behavior may be similar to those practised by mankind during the Paleolithic Period

Question 36 A typical feature of both modern and prehistoric hunter-gatherers is that . A they don't have a healthy and balanced diet B they live in the forests for all their life C they don't have a strong sense of community D they often change their living places Question 37 The word "marginal" in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to

A suburban B disadvantaged C forgotten D abandoned

Question 38 According to the passage, studies of contemporary subsistence societies can provide a _. A deeper insight into the dry-land farming B further understanding of modern subsistence societies

C broader vision of prehistoric natural environments D further understanding of prehistoric times Question 39 According to the passage, subsistence societies depend mainly on .

A agricultural products B nature's provision C farming methods D hunter-gatherers' tools

Question 40 According to the author, most contemporary and prehistoric hunter-gatherers share _ A only the way of duty division B some restricted daily rules

C some methods of production D some patterns of behavior Question 41 Which of the following would serve as the best title of the passage?

C Hunter-gatherers and Subsistence Societies D A Brief History of Subsistence Farming Question 42 In the lower latitudes of the tropics, hunter- gatherers .

A have better food gathering from nature B live along the coasts and waterways for fishing C harvest shorter seasonal crops D can free themselves from hunting

Question 43 According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned? A The environmental differences produce no effect on subsistence societies. B Hunting or fishing develops where there are no or short growing seasons. C The number of hunter-gatherers decreases where farming is convenient.

D Harvesting from the natural environment had existed long before farming was taken up. Question 44 The word "conditions" in the second paragraph refers to .

A the situations in which hunter-gatherers hardly find anything to eat B the places where plenty of animals and fish can be found

C the environments where it is not favorable for vegetation to grow D the situations in which hunter-gatherers can grow some crops

Question 45 The word "domestication" in the first paragraph mostly means A making wild animals used to living with and working for humans

B adapting animals to suit a new working environment

C hatching and raising new species of wild animals in the home D teaching animals to a particular job or activity in the home

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of the primary stress in each of the following questions.

Question 46 A fertile B extinct C enact D survive

Question 47 A approximately B environmental C considerable D conservatively Question 48 A objectively B humanism C philosophy D forgettable

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word (s) OPPOSITE in meaning Question 49 Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity.

A conserve B reveal C presume D cover

Question 50 Fruit and vegetables grew in abundance on the island The islanders even exported the surplus. A excess B large quantity C small quantity D sufficiency

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to choose the word or phrase that best fits each of

the blanks. Why read books?

Is it worth reading books, (51) _ nowadays there are so many other forms of entertainment? Some people say that even (52) _ books are expensive, and not everyone can borrow books from a library They might add that television is more exciting and that viewers can relax as they watch their favourite (53) _ All that may be true, but books are still very popular They encourage the reader to use his or her (54) _ for a start You can read a chapter of a book, or just a few pages and then stop Of course, it may be so (55) _ that you can't stop! There are many different kinds of books, so you can choose a crime (56) or an autobiography, or a book which gives you interesting (57) If you find it hard to choose, you can read (58) , or ask friends for ideas Personally, I can't (59) without books, but I can (60) up television easily enough You can't watch a television at a bus stop!

Question 51 A since B why C or D in

Question 52 A paperback B so C the D when

Question 53 A episodes B ones C cereals D programmes

Question 54 A index B imagination C author D amusement Question 55 A gripping B imagined C current D interest

Question 56 A poetry B history C novel D booklet

Question 57 A advise B information C idea D fact

Question 58 A reviews B prefaces C gossip D announcements

Question 59 A make B take C have D do

Question 60 A turn B pick C give D look

Television

specific relationships with other characters Nine different story lines (or “threads") arc depicted, each involving events and information revealed in previous episodes [ I ]

[2] For years many people have assumed that popular culture is in a state of decline rapidly degenerating into “junk culture" with no worthwhile purpose But an interesting new book challenges that assumption “Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today‟s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter," by Steven Johnson, makes a persuasive argument that today‟s complex TV dramas and other pop culture Products gives healthy mental exercise He calls the use or complex, interwoven plot lines involving multiple characters “multi−threading”, and it is a new and growing phenomenon in TV To keep up with shows like “24", he points out, you must “pay attention, make inferences, track shifting social relationships", and these cognitive challenges are changịng our mental development for the better [3]

[4] The most obvious change in the last five years of narrative entertainment is the rise of reality TV, Surely, you might be thinking, watching “Survivor" or “The Bachelor” cannot possibly raise anyone's IQ “Survivor” is now in its tenth season, and “The Bachelor” is in its seventh But as Johnson tells us lately “even the junk has improved” The new reality shows are like games: they arc series of competitive tests, each more challenging than the last, and with rules that must be learned as you play On “Survivor" for instance, the participants and the audience know the general objective of the game but each episode brings new challenges that require quick thinking Success in these games calls for the intellectual labor of finding the weak spots in the rules and in your opponents This labor is done not just by the stars of the shows but the viewers at home as well This is what makes these shows such fun to watch − the human mind enjoys being challenged As Johnson writes, “There‟s real pleasure in solving puzzles, detectingpatterns or understanding a complex narrative system." Question 61: What is the topic of the passage?

A The decline of TV today B Benefits of TV today C TV and culture D Why “24” became a hit Question 62: Which is the best place for the following sentence?

“It is not only hour−long dramas that make us smarter." A [l] B [2] C [3] D [4]

Question 63: The word “each” in paragraph I refers to A story lines B characters C episodes D.personalities

Question 64: The author begins the passage by discussing “24” in order to

A prove that TV has become much more violent C explain why many TV shows nowadays are controversial B show how TV has become more complex D argue against ỈIS graphic violence and portrayal of terrorists Question 65: It can be inferred that the author of the passage

A agrees with Steven Johnson‟s views C has no opinion about Steven Johnson‟s views

B.strongly disagrees with Steven Johnson's views D.agrees with some of Johnson‟s views but disagrees with others Question 66: According to the passage, Johnson‟s book argues all following except that

A popular culture is not in decline C people enjoy the effort of understanding complex shows B many TV shows involve cognitive challenges D hour−long dramas bring the greatest benefits

Question 67: "Multi−threading" in TV is a new type of A form B content C series D character

Question 68: The author mentions "junk culture” in paragraph in order to A emphasize how worthless most TV shows are

B contrast a common view of TV with the one he presents in the passage C explain why TV viewing is in decline in the United States

D argue against the view that popular culture can be worthwhile Question 69: The word “they" in paragraph refers to

A junk B shows C games D “Joe Millionaire” and "The Bachelor” Question 70: The word "detecting" in paragraph is closest in meaning to A making B admiring C remembering D Finding

PHẦN TỰ LUẬN: (2 điểm)

1 The child will die if nobody sends for a doctor. Unless……… He would prefer you to pay him immediately. He’d rather………

3 The water was so cold that the children couldn’t swim in it. The water was not Somebody repaired her car yesterday. She You must see the manager tomorrow morning. You’ve II TOPIC: Write about the changes that information technology brings to your life.

It is undeniable that information technology helps bring my family members closer together as we always keep in touch with help of telephones, internet, and other conveniences Beside, information technology helps us stay in touch with the world around Every day, we are well-informed by reading news, watching videos, browsing websites We can also learn much about the entire world from our own tables or even beds Information technology provides us more choices of how, where, when and what to things Beneficially, we have more chances to earn because there are always numerous jobs available in the IT field that helps us make money and shop Moreover, information technology helps us to broaden our knowledge as we can learn or take various online and offline courses Socially, we seem to have more and more friends both at home and overseas, we can also share opinions, date with the help of information technology.

On the other hand, modern technology can also make us more isolated when we are absorbed in technological devices We sometimes feel annoyed by bad and poisonous information, images, or websites We are also afraid of losing confidential documents and files Seriously, spywares are now so popular that they make us very much worried and we have to spend more to protect our technological products.

Good or bad, I really think I am lucky enough to live in this information age I cannot imagine my life without the help of information technology The most important thing I need to is to take full advantages of the information technology to better my life and try hard to reduce the bad effects that may bring to my life.

- THE END -Television

An American TV network has had an international hit with the drama "24” a thriller known for its suspense and often graphic violence Over the past year, controversy has surrounded the series because of its portrayal of Muslim terrorists and its frequent scenes of torture But the content of “24” is not the only thing that would have been unthinkable on prime−time television 20 years ago Its form also represents a major change in modem TV: during each episode‟s 44 minutes − a real−time hour, minus 16 minutes for commercials – the show connects the lives of 21 different characters, each with their own personalities and specific relationships with other characters Nine different story lines (or “threads") arc depicted, each involving events and information revealed in previous episodes [ I ]

[2] For years many people have assumed that popular culture is in a state of decline rapidly degenerating into “junk culture" with no worthwhile purpose But an interesting new book challenges that assumption “Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today‟s Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter," by Steven Johnson, makes a persuasive argument that today‟s complex TV dramas and other pop culture Products gives healthy mental exercise He calls the use or complex, interwoven plot lines involving multiple characters “multi−threading”, and it is a new and growing phenomenon in TV To keep up with shows like “24", he points out, you must “pay attention, make inferences, track shifting social relationships", and these cognitive challenges are changịng our mental development for the better [3]

[4] The most obvious change in the last five years of narrative entertainment is the rise of reality TV, Surely, you might be thinking, watching “Survivor" or “The Bachelor” cannot possibly raise anyone's IQ “Survivor” is now in its tenth season, and “The Bachelor” is in its seventh But as Johnson tells us lately “even the junk has improved” The new reality shows are like games: they arc series of competitive tests, each more challenging than the last, and with rules that must be learned as you play On “Survivor" for instance, the participants and the audience know the general objective of the game but each episode brings new challenges that require quick thinking Success in these games calls for the intellectual labor of finding the weak spots in the rules and in your opponents This labor is done not just by the stars of the shows but the viewers at home as well This is what makes these shows such fun to watch − the human mind enjoys being challenged As Johnson writes, “There‟s real pleasure in solving puzzles, detectingpatterns or understanding a complex narrative system." Question 55: What is the topic of the passage?

A The decline of TV today B Benefits of TV today C TV and culture D Why “24” became a hit Question 56: Which is the best place for the following sentence?

“It is not only hour−long dramas that make us smarter." A [l] B [2] C [3] D [4]

Question 57: The word “each” in paragraph I refers to

A story lines B characters C episodes D.personalities

Question 58: The author begins the passage by discussing “24” in order to

A prove that TV has become much more violent C explain why many TV shows nowadays are controversial B show how TV has become more complex D argue against ỈIS graphic violence and portrayal of terrorists Question 59: It can be inferred that the author of the passage

A agrees with Steven Johnson‟s views C has no opinion about Steven Johnson‟s views

Question 60: According to the passage, Johnson‟s book argues all following except that

A popular culture is not in decline C people enjoy the effort of understanding complex shows B many TV shows involve cognitive challenges D hour−long dramas bring the greatest benefits

Question 61: "Multi−threading" in TV is a new type of A form B content C series D character

Question 62: The author mentions "junk culture” in paragraph in order to A emphasize how worthless most TV shows are

B contrast a common view of TV with the one he presents in the passage C explain why TV viewing is in decline in the United States

D argue against the view that popular culture can be worthwhile Question 63: The word “they" in paragraph refers to

A junk B shows C games D “Joe Millionaire” and "The Bachelor”

Question 64: The word "detecting" in paragraph is closest in meaning to A making B admiring C remembering D Finding

Question 55 Đáp án B

Đáp án B Những lợi ích TV ngày hơm Có thể thấy, đoạn văn liệt kê số chương trình lợi ích Ví dụ:

− today‟s complex TV dramas and other pop culture Products gives healthy mental exercise − ….This is what makes these shows such fun to watch − the human mind enjoys being challenged Question 56 Đáp án D

Đáp án D Ý thể hiện: you might be thinking, watching “Survivor" or “The Bachelor” cannot possibly raise anyone's IQ “Survivor” is now in its tenth season, and “The Bachelor” is in its seventh But as Johnson tells us lately “even the junk has improved”…

Question 57 Đáp án A

Đáp án A Nine different story lines (or “threads") arc depicted, eachinvolving events and information revealed in previous episodes

Question 58 Đáp án B

Đáp án B Đoạn văn nói “24” để nói phức tạp TV, thể chi tiết: Its form also represents a major change in modem TV: during each episode‟s 44 minutes − a real−time hour, minus 16 minutes for commercials – the show connects the lives of 21 different characters, [….] each involving events and information revealed in previous episodes

Question 59 Đáp án D

Đáp án D Tác giả đồng tình với số quan điểm Johnson, tất đươc thể đoạn

Question 60 Đáp án D Đáp án D

A đề cập: popular culture is in a state of decline rapidly

B đề cập: these cognitive challenges are changing our mental development for the better

C đề cập: the participants and the audience know the general objective of the game but each episode brings new challenges that require quick thinking… This is what makes these shows such fun to watch − the human mind enjoys being challenged

Question 61 Đáp án A

Đáp án A Ý bài: … interwoven plot lines involving multiple characters “multi−threading” Question 62 Đáp án B

Đáp án B Ý thể tương phản qua từ “but”: For years many people have assumed that popular culture is in a state of decline rapidly degenerating into “junk culture " with no worthwhile purpose But an interesting new book challenges that assumption…

Question 63 Đáp án C

Đáp án C Ý bài: The new reality shows are like games: they are series of competitive tests, each more challenging than the last, and with rules that must be learned as you play

Question 64 Đáp án D

Đáp án D detecting: tìm ra, khám phá = finding