APTIS GENERAL : Reading Practice Test (35 minutes) Part 1: Choose the word (A,B,C) that fits in the gap The answer to question is an example Hey Jennifer, I (0) _ a work meeting tonight (1.1) _ it finishes early, I won’t get home until 8:00pm Can we reschedule (1.2) _ dinner plans? I am sorry (1.3) _ cancel last minute Are you free (1.4) _ Friday instead? Let (1.5) know! A have B go C take 1.1 A Unless B If C When 1.2 A the B your C our 1.3 A I B for C to 1.4 A in B on C at 1.5 A me B I C you Part 2: The sentences below are from a history textbook Order the sentences (B-F) to make a story The first sentence (A) is an example Ancient Civilizations A When people think of ancient civilizations, they think of the Egyptians B However, they are not the oldest group of people to live on Earth C In fact, they began farming 5000 years before other people D It is true that these people were quite famous for their pyramids and pharaohs E For example, the Mesopotamian civilization existed before the Egyptians F That is probably because they settled between rivers A 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 The sentences below are from a writing lesson Order the sentences (B-F) to make a story The first sentence (B) is an example How to write a good body paragraph A These could be statistics or a quotation to support your idea B First, you need a topic sentence C This introduces the main idea of the paragraph D Finally, make sure you link your paragraph to the main idea of your essay E In order to this effectively, you should also give examples F Next, you should explain your ideas in more detail B 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Part 3: Read the four opinions posted on a teacher’s forum Then, answer the questions Person A: I think it is important to get with the times Nowadays, students are totally addicted to their smart phones Instead of fighting them on it, I asked them how I could engage them better Students answered a few questions about how they wanted to use social media more productively So, I started a class hashtag Students can contribute to discussions using it and add links to justify their points I monitor it and I see them engaging with it to ask questions about homework as well I also encourage students to use it to tell me what they like and dislike about the lessons Person B: I’ll admit, I doubted technology’s effectiveness in the class I thought that because I learned without it, it was an unnecessary feature In fact, I used to make students switch off their phones before entering the room However, I changed my mind when a fellow teacher showed me a website that she used in class It allows students to log in with their smartphones in order to play a game as a class My students love it and it works so well for review lessons and to break up mundane tasks Person C: I am a younger teacher, so there is a lot of expectations of me from the senior staff members and management While they prefer more traditional methods, I have found the greatest success when I use technology in my lesson whether that be showing a video clip, using a slideshow, etc I don’t think I would be able to teach a lesson without it! After my lesson observation, the principal asked me to lead a staff meeting on how to engage students using multimedia in class It was an honour to be asked I know it will be a lot of work, but I would love to help my colleagues out in order to make the students’ learning experience better Person D: When I began teaching teens, I found I was unable to capture their attention They were constantly texting, or scrolling through social media during lessons and it was hard to establish rules with them Even when I forbid them from using their mobile phones in class, I would catch them sneakily using them under their desks I understand that it is important for teens to keep in touch Thus, if we are able to get through all the material, I permit them to have a 5-minute break on their devices I have found this to be quite effective Which person … 4.1 incorporates social media in their lessons? 4.2 was hesitant to use smartphones in class? 4.3 learned more about technology from a colleague? 4.4 uses technology as a reward? 4.5 relies on technology in the classroom? 4.6 wants to help teachers adapt? 4.7 accepts regular feedback? Part 4: Read the text Match the headings (A-H) to the paragraphs (1925) The answer to question is an example There is one heading that you will not use (0) While everyone experiences stress at different rates or intensity levels, we are no stranger to it Generally speaking, stress is any physical or emotional reaction to something that frustrates, angers or makes us nervous Nowadays, people are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted due to long periods of stress as a result of increasing demands in personal and work life As you read this, you are probably nodding your head in agreement This well-known phenomenon of prolonged periods of stress is also known as burnout (5.1) Although burnout exists in every job, the education sector has notoriously high levels of it plaguing its workers Several studies show that teachers often experience high levels of stress in their day-to-day duties and these are carried over into their personal life It is important to consider that delivering lessons is only one aspect of the job description Teachers spend hours and hours of their downtime planning lessons, grading assignments and thinking about how to best help their students As a result, they often neglect their own needs (5.2) By not placing a priority on their own wellbeing, there are countless consequences For starters, educators enduring burnout can be faced with a ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction The former presents a scenario where the human body physically responds to stress, by increasing adrenaline and energy to tackle what is causing the irritation The same response occurs in the latter, yet the body decides to flee instead of deal with the stress headon Regardless of the choice that a teacher makes in response to their stressors, they become more vulnerable to common sicknesses, like colds and the flu, as well as more serious ones such as depression or anxiety (5.3) Thankfully, there are numerous coping mechanisms to aid in the battle against burnout A proactive approach including managing time and setting goals may be key in alleviating stressful situations altogether In a busy schedule, it is essential to set aside time for oneself What’s more is the activities that you participate in during this reserved break Regular exercise has been proven to wonders for burnout and you not even have to go to the gym to reap the rewards A brisk thirty-minute walk, particularly in nature, has aided many people’s symptoms of stress Furthermore, yoga and its meditative components are also useful in stress relief (5.4) Of course, these methods of coping with stress are all easier said than done Many would argue that it is nearly impossible to disconnect from today’s technological devices and the seemingly never-ending influx of work-related emails and text messages With that being said, the saying, ‘There’s an app for that’, also extends to solving the problem of burnout These days, you can find several free apps on your mobile devices or tablets to guide you through mediation You can watch endless videos on the Internet that play soothing music and give you step-by-step instructions on how to disconnect Ironic, isn’t it? (5.5) Nevertheless, the pros of decreasing burnout are endless Lowering your stress levels will help your body achieve an internal balance By reducing the amount of energy that goes into stressful situations, you will feel more energized Moreover, regular exercise helps the human body release endorphins which boost one’s mood A side effect of this includes becoming physically and mentally stronger (5.6) Additionally, there are several things a teacher could during the work day to prevent burnout On break, doing little exercises at your desk can provide some relief to a stressful day Similarly, distracting yourself with a creative activity, such as an adult colouring book, can help to refocus tension or negative energy Or, why not extend these activities to your students? Pacing your lessons with less-rigorous and more fun activities can increase a student’s learning by giving them a break from a hectic timetable After all, some students also experience burnout (5.7) Having learned about how to identify and combat burnout, what is left to do? It is important to not beat yourself up if you become stressed Though uncomfortable, stress is a natural and unavoidable part of human life, unlike burnout Changing your mindset and practicing gratitude will help you feel more positive in the face of adversity, and allow you to make better decisions on how to cope A A New Problem B Going Forward C A 20th Century Approach D A Familiar Feeling E Burnout in Education F Tips for the Classroom Environment G Personal Benefits H How to Relieve Stress I Negative Impacts D MINH TUỆ APTIS SV ... Classroom Environment G Personal Benefits H How to Relieve Stress I Negative Impacts D MINH TUỆ APTIS SV ... While everyone experiences stress at different rates or intensity levels, we are no stranger to it Generally speaking, stress is any physical or emotional reaction to something that frustrates, angers... senior staff members and management While they prefer more traditional methods, I have found the greatest success when I use technology in my lesson whether that be showing a video clip, using a slideshow,