PASSAGE 1
WHY DO ANIMALS GO EXTINCT?
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Different kinds of animals have appeared and disappeared throughout Earth’s history. Some animals go extinct because the climate (1) _____ they live changes. The climate may become wetter or drier. It may become warmer or cooler. If the animals cannot change, or adapt, to the new climate, they die. Some animals go extinct because they cannot (2) _______ with other animals for food. Some animals go extinct because they are killed by enemies. New kinds of animals are always evolving. Evolving means that the animals are changing (3) _______ from generation to generation. Small differences between parents, children, and grandchildren slowly add up over many, many generations. Eventually, a different kind of animal evolves. Sometimes many of the animals on Earth go extinct at the (4) _______ time.
Scientists call this a mass extinction. Scientists think there (5) _______ at least five mass extinctions in Earth’s history. The last mass extinction happened about 65 million years ago.
This mass extinction killed off the dinosaurs.
1.A. where B. which C. when D. what
2.A. complete B. find C. compete D. exist 3.A. accidentally B. suddenly C. quickly D. slowly 4.A. same B. similar C. different D. various 5.A. has been B. have been C. will be D. are PASSAGE 2
Manuel Gonzalez comes from Spain. He usually lives in Madrid and works (1)________a journalist for a Spanish newspaper, but two years ago he decided to take a year (2)________work to live in different countries in Europe and write a book about Europeans.
He spent the first two months in Scandinavia (3) ________information and then moved to Germany for a month. At present he is staying in Paris, where he is renting a flat for five weeks. Four years ago he wrote a (4)________travel guide to Spain and now he is working
hard to have the same (5)________with his book about Europeans.
1.A. in B. for C. by D. as
2.A. off B. to C. away D. from
3.A. collected B. to collect C. collecting D. collection 4.A. best-sell B. best-sold C. best-selling D. best-to- sell 5.A. succeed B. success C. successful D. successfully PASSAGE 3
Are the years you spend at school the best years of your life? Personally, I found most lessons rather uninteresting. We had to sit at our desks in silence and (1) _________
attention. The teachers used to write on the blackboard and ask us difficult questions. We also had to (2) _________ lots of homework, and (3) _________ it in on time. We had to
wear a school (4) ______ and we had to obey lots of rules I left school as soon as I could 143
and started work. I read books at the public library, and later I decided to (4) _________
college. I really enjoyed studying because I was older and knew that I wanted some qualifications. When I was at school, I was just the wrong age!
1.A. pay B. make C. have D. follow
2.A. answer B. do C. take D. finish
3.A. write B. hand C. pass D. complete
4.A. go B. attend C. study D. follow
5.A. uniform B. robe C. dress D. cloth
PASSAGE 4
In Germany, it's important to be serious in a work situation. They don't mix work and play so you shouldn't make jokes (1) _______ you do in the UK and USA when you first meet people. They work in a very organized way and prefer to do one thing at a time. They don't like interruptions or (2)_______ changes of schedule. Punctuality is very important so you should arrive on time for appointments. At meeting, it's important to follow the agenda and not interrupt (3) _______ speaker. If you give a presentation, you should focus (4) _______
facts and technical information and the quality of your company's products.
You should also prepare well, as they may ask a lot of questions. Colleagues normally use the family names, and title - for example 'Doctor' or 'Professor', so you shouldn't use first names (5) _______ a person asks you to.
1.A. while B. as if C. such as D. as
2.A. sudden B. suddenly C. abruptly D. promptly 3.A. other B. others C. another D. the other
4.A. on B. to C. at D. in
5.A. if only B. as C. unless D. since
PASSAGE 5
The weekend picnic I (1) _______ most was just a few weeks ago. My class decided to pay a visit to the Botanical Garden. It was a (2 ) _______ Sunday. We met at the school gate on time and travelled to the Botanical Garden (3) ______ bus. It was a long way to
destination and we sang merrily all the way. The Botanical Garden was a very beautiful place.
We made a short tour round the garden and took some pictures of the whole class. Then we played a lot of games on a spacious piece of grassland. One of the boys brought along his guitar and we sang our favorite songs. We laughed, talked and danced, too. After a delicious meal with various kinds of food that we brought, we all (4) ______ a rest.
Some of us slept very soundly (5) _______ it was so peaceful and quiet there. In the afternoon, we went on playing some more games. Then we packed up the left- overs and returned home. We all felt happy.
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1. A. have enjoyed B. had enjoyed C. enjoyed D. enjoy 2. A. glory B. glorify C. gloriously D. glorious
3. A. in B. on C. with D. by
4. A. spend B. take C. took D. spent
5. A. although B. because of C. in spite of D. because PASSAGE 6
The relationship between student and teacher is (1) ______ formal in the USA than in many other countries, especially at the college level. American college students do not stand up when their teacher enters the room. Students are generally encouraged to ask questions in class, to go to the teacher’s office for help after class, and to phone if they are absent and need a(n) (2) ______. Most teachers allow students to enter class late or leave early, if
necessary. Despite the lack of formality, students are still expected to be polite to their teacher and fellow classmates. When students want to ask questions, they usually (3) _____a hand and wait to be called on. When the teacher or a student is speaking to the class, it’s rude to begin whispering (4) _____ another classmate. When a test is being given, talking to a
classmate is not only rude but also risky. Most American teachers consider that students who are talking to each other (5) ____ a test are cheating.
1.A. much B. most C. a little D. less
2.A. assignment B. homework C. information D. housework
3.A. raise B. hold C. hang D. rise
4.A. with B. for C. to D. at
5.A. at B. during C. by D. for
LEVEL A2 PASSAGE 1
On December 10, 2006, I was going through some hard time. The landlady did not want to release the house any more so I had to move and only had one month to (1) _______a place.
Because Christmas was coming and it was difficult for me to find a suitable accommodation.
I had only some money left. I could not buy a Christmas tree and some presents for my three boys (2) _____ I had to use the money to find a place to live. To me, it broke my heart as I could not prepare the Christmas for my three boys. I have been their only parent since my husband (3) ______away two years ago. I was so sad and everything was getting on my nerves. Although I managed to solve the problem myself I could not help (4) _____ my sons about the things. When I suddenly woke up at midnight, I found my eldest son was sitting (5) ____ me. He kissed me and said, "Don't worry, Mum. We love you very much and always stand by you (6) ______ happens." At the moment I started weeping, grabbed him and kissed
him. His words and love made me (7) _____all about what I was stressing about.
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In fact ever since that moment, I have realized that I can overcome any problems thanks to my sons' love. The most important thing of my life is that my boys are safe and healthy, and they bring me joy all the time. The memory reminds me that nothing really matters, when I have the love of my children.
1.A. notice B. watch C. find D. see
2.A. because B. although C. as though D. if
3.A. passes B. passed C. has passed D. was passing
4.A. tell B.to tell C. told D. telling
5.A.by B. next C. over D. up
6.A. whenever B. whatever C. whoever D. however 7.A. forget B. to forget C. forgot D. forgetting PASSAGE 2
MY BEST FRIEND
I have several good friends but I (1) ________ that my best friend is Ellen. We (2)________
friends with each other since we were very young because she (3)________ next door to me.
We have always been in the same class at school, although she has always been much cleverer than me. I don't mind (4) ________, because she often helps me with my
homework! Anyway, I've always been better at sport than she is. I always (5) ________ her at tennis and she doesn't like that. In fact, she hates losing at anything and gets very annoyed if she does. That's the only thing that I don't like about her. Otherwise, she has (6) ________
humour and she's always making me laugh. We get on very well together, although occasionally we've had arguments - usually about silly little things. Ellen and her family moved to another district last year but I still see her a lot. We're planning to go on a trip around Europe next summer, I'm really (7) ________ to it because I think we'll have a lot of fun and see exciting places. Of course, it's going to be hard -to afford such a wonderful and exciting trip and so we're both going to get jobs and try to save up enough money for it.
1.A. expect B. consider C. suppose D. hope
2.A. were B. have been C. had been D. are
3.A. used to live B. were used to living C. used to living D. got used to living
4.A. though B. although C. however D. but
5.A. win B. beat C. fail D. hit
6.A. great sense of B. a great ability of C. good gift of D. a great sense of 7.A. looking forward B. planning C. going D. excited
PASSAGE 3
VINCENT VAN GOGH
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Vincent Van Gogh is a famous painter from the 19th century. Van Gogh’s paintings are sold at very high prices (1) ________ many collectors want his paintings. But unfortunately,
when he was (2) ______, he did not have a happy life.
Van Gogh was from a poor family in Holland and lived (3) ________ his life at home. He lived a rather sad and (4) ________life. He drew things that he could see (5) ________around the quiet town of his parents’ home or outside his window. This is why he
painted things (6) ________the sky, his room and even himself.
Van Gogh once cut off his own ear after drawing a picture of himself. He cut it off to (7) ________the person that said the ear in Van Gogh’s painting was not correct. It was very unfortunate of him to do such a thing. Van Gogh was also called a crazy man.
He really did become crazy, and was sent to a mental hospital. Sadly, he killed himself when he was just 37.
1.A. because B. in spite C. because of D. although
2.A. live B. alive C. living D. lively
3.A. almost of B. mostly C. most of D. the most of 4.A. lone B. alone C. loneliness D. lonely
5.A. both B. either C. neither D. all
6.A. likely B. alike C. like D. unlike
7.A. show B. reveal C. illustrate D. prove PASSAGE 4
Rice is (1)______by Vietnamese people every day. It often (2)______in tropical countries such as Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia. The Chinese have also been growing rice for (3)______years. The seeds are planted in special beds to grow into young rice plants.
Then they are taken to fields covered (4)______muddy water called paddies. The fields of rice look very (5)_____. After 3 or 5 months, the rice is ready to be picked. People often drain away water before collecting rice. Eating rice is a special action in the world. They don’t use spoons or forks to enjoy bowls of rice. (6)______, they use two short sticks known as chopsticks to put rice into their mouths. China and Vietnam are the two countries in (7)_____people use chopsticks very well.
1. A. used B. taken C. eaten D. boiled
2. A. grows B. keeps C. plants D. stays
3. A. thousands B. thousand C. thousand of D. thousands of
4. A. in B. by C. with D. of
5. A. beauty B. beautiful C. beautifully D. the beauty 6. A. However B. Moreover C. Besides D. Instead
7. A. who B. whom C. which D. that
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PASSAGE 5
Christmas is (1)__________biggest festival of the year (2)__________ Britain.
Before Christmas, people send Christmas (3)__________ to their friends and family showing traditional Christmas symbols such as Santa Claus, angels, holly and snowmen. Shops are (4)__________ for Christmas from September and in the weeks before Christmas people do their Christmas (5)__________, buying Christmas presents for friends and family. A few days before Christmas, families decorate a Christmas tree, a fir tree (6)__________in lights
and colorful decorations, in their home. Many people go to midnight mass in church on Christmas Eve. Young children believe that Santa Claus will bring them presents during the night and they usually wake up to find a stocking, a long sock filled with small presents, by (7)__________bed.
1.A. a B. the C. an D. X
2.A. at B. in C. on D. from
3.A. books B. magazines C. cards D. letters 4.A. decorated B. decorates C. decorating D. decoration 5.A. shopping B. washing C. cleaning D. gardening 6.A. celebrated B. sealed C. covered D. shared
7.A. his B. her C. our D. their
PASSAGE 6
TATTOOING: AN ANCIENT TRADITION
Tattooing is an old art. In ancient Greece, people who had tattoos were regarded as members of the (1) __________ classes. On the other hand, tattooing was (2) __________ in Europe by the early Christians, who thought that it was a sinful thing to (3) __________. It was not until the late 18th century, when Captain Cook saw South Sea Islander decorating their bodies with tattoos that attitudes began to change. Sailors came back from these islands with pictures of Christ on their backs and from then on, tattooing (4)__________ in popularity. A
survey by the French army in 1881 (5) __________ that among the 387 men (6) __________there were 1,333 designs.
Nowadays, not everybody finds tattoos acceptable. Some people thing that getting one is silly because tattoos are more or less permanent. There is also some (7) __________ about catching a blood disease from unsterilized needles. Even for those who do want a tattoo, the process of getting one is not painless, but the final result, in their eyes, is worth the pain.
1.A. upper B. greater C. high D. extreme
2.A. blamed B. exported C. banned D. finished
3.A. be B. create C. do D. make
4.A. gained B. won C. earned D. made
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5.A. declared B. showed C. explained D. said 6.A. questioned B. inquired C. demanded D. spoken 7.A. danger B. concern C. trouble D. threat
CHUYÊN ĐỀ 6. VIẾT LẠI CÂU