Đề dự tuyển buổi 2 đội tuyển quốc gia năm 2021 môn Tếng Anh - Practice test for Nec 2021-2022

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PRACTICE TEST FOR NEC 2021-2022 SECTION I. LISTENING:
Part 1: For questions 1-7, listen to a talk and supply the blanks with the missing information. Write NO
MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the space provided.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization, is now calling for a (1)
____________– for at least the next two months – on COVID booster shots.
WHO is saying that people who are fully (2)____________against COVID should hold off on getting (3)
____________until more people around the world can get their first dose of a vaccine.
The United Kingdom, for example, has vaccinated nearly 65% of its population while just 7% of Filipinos are
immunized. The U.S. is vaccinating teenagers (4) _________of contracting COVID while front-line health-care
workers in Nigeria are still awaiting their shots.
WHO isn't ruling out all boosters in the near future. The global health agency says boosters may be necessary
for a small number of people with specific medical conditions. But studies haven't yet proven that (5)
____________would add significant protection right now to the general public, WHO notes. That's why Tedros
is calling for a ban on boosters for at least two months to reach his target of getting 10% of people in every
country vaccinated by September 30.
(6)____________has shown how quickly progress against this pandemic can shift and how cases rise sharply
even in countries with high vaccination rates.
"New variants are most likely to arise in (7) ____________," she says. "So the more of the world that's
unvaccinated, the more we are all at risk."
"It is in the best interest of the U.S. population to have as much global immunity as possible," she says,
"because that's how we prevent new variants from arising."
Part 2. For questions 1-5, listen to a report on possible signs of life discovered on Venus and answer the
questions. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. Where were the radio telescopes located?
2. How was the reaction of the first woman towards the discovery?
3. What have been launched to Venus several times?
4. How are the climatic conditions in the area between 50 and 60 km above the Venus’s surface described?
5. What is exemplified as a physical characteristic that helps microbes adapt to rigorous conditions?
Part 3. For questions 1-5, listen to an interview with someone who consulted a 'life coach' to improve her life
and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. Brigid says that she consulted a life coach because
A she had read a great deal about them.
B both her work and home life were getting worse.
C other efforts to improve her life had failed.
D the changes she wanted to make were only small ones.
2. What did Brigid's coach tell her about money?
A It would be very easy for Brigid to get a lot of it.
B Brigid's attitude towards it was uncharacteristic of her.
C Brigid placed too much emphasis on it in her life.
D Few people have the right attitude towards it.
3. What does Brigid say about her reaction to her coach's advice on money?
A She felt silly repeating the words her coach gave her.
B She tried to hide the fact that she found it ridiculous.
C She felt a lot better as a result of following it.
D She found it difficult to understand at first.
4. What does Brigid say happened during the other sessions?
A She was told that most people's problems had the same cause.
B Her powers of concentration improved.
C Some things she was told to do proved harder than others. 2
D She began to wonder why her problems had arisen in the first place.
5. What has Brigid concluded ?
A The benefits of coaching do not compensate for the effort required.
B She was too unselfish before she had coaching.
C She came to expect too much of her coach.
D It is best to limit the number of coaching sessions you have.
Part 4. For questions 1-8, listen to a talk and supply the blanks with the missing information. Write NO
MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the space provided.
For a long time, activist Maru Mora-Villalpando has organized hunger strikes to protest conditions at an (1)
______________ in Washington state. By 2017, she'd gotten the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A few weeks after those emails, ICE placed Mora-Villalpando, who was born in Mexico, in deportation
proceedings. For immigrant rights advocates, that email exchange is (2)______________of what they've been
saying for years: that ICE deliberately retaliates against activists.
The report draws on interviews, court filings and documents obtained through Freedom Of Information Act
requests. It documents a range of (3) ______________from around the country — Texas, Washington state,
Vermont, North Carolina and Illinois — where advocates say they've been (4) ______________, spied on, and
even deported for their activism.
"Some of the stories of activist retaliation have previously been told (5)______________, allowing someone to
make the case that this is really about a couple of rogue officers from a particular field office. ICE denies
retaliating against anyone. The agency says it is simply enforcing (6) ______________ against people who are
living in the country illegally.
"That is unacceptable," Mayorkas said. "Retaliation in response to ( 7) ______________ of free speech — and
quite frankly, the civic obligation to protest government positions with which one disagrees — that's just unacceptable.".
Immigrant advocates were glad to hear Mayorkas condemn retaliation. But they want the administration to go a
step further. They're calling on Mayorkas to take a formal stand against retaliation in (8)
____________________________he's expected to issue in the next few months.
Mora-Villalpando is still fighting (9) ______________. Since the agency placed her in removal proceedings,
activists in Washington succeeded in pushing the state to prohibit for-profit detention centers. II. LEXICO – GRAMMAR:
Part 1. Choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions and write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. (10 pts)
1. I don't know why she puts up with the way he ____________ her. A. walks in on B. walks away with C. walks off with D. walks all over
2. I have to ____________ the state driving laws because I have to take my driving test tomorrow. A. bleat on about
B. bone up on C. cast around for D. home in on
3. Don't ____________ your problems. It's better to talk them out. A. bottle up B. close in C. eat into D. fob off
4. We are not in a ____________ hurry, so let’s have another coffee. A. dashing B. racing C. rushing D. tearing
5. We should all ____________ when advertisers attempt to use unfair practices. A. make a stand B. make a comeback C. make amends D. make a deal
6. People turned out in ____________ to watch the parade on the Independence Day. A. volume B. mass C. force D. bulk
7. Not being able to find my phone number is a pretty____________ excuse for not contacting me. A. fragile B. frail C. faint D. feeble
8. The problem ____________ because neither side was prepared to compromise. A. amassed B. escalated C. proliferated D. enhanced
9. I couldn't stop myself from ____________ with boredom during the lecture. A. sighing B. gasping C. panting D. blowing 3
10. Money was short and people survived by ____________ and saving. A. scrimping B. scavenging C. scouring D. scrounging
11. She didn’t show even a ____________ of emotion when the court found her guilty. A. gleam B. wink C. flicker D. flash
12. He let it ____________ that the Prime Minister was a close friend of his. A. announce B. talk C. drop D. infer
13. We don’t have a secretary ____________, but we do have a student who comes in to do a bit of filing. A. as such
B. the least bit C. whatsoever D. little more
14. It’s the ____________ of stupidity to go walking in the mountains in this weather. A. height B. depth C. source D. matter
15. I really don’t want to get involved in your problems. Why are you ____________ me into it? A. pulling B. dragging C. wrenching D. towing
Part 2.Use the correct FORM of the word in capitals to fit each gap. Write your answer in the numbered box
1. When we arrived, the party was in full swing and the room was _____ABUZZ_______. (BUZZ)
2. They found it _______UPROARIOUSLY_____ amusing that this hot-shot chef couldn't even use a tomato slicer. (ROAR)
3. Say after me," he would _____INTONE_______, and the class dutifully repeated whatever he said. (TONE)
4. Because opera is a collaborative genre, the mechanisms of its production and its resulting meaning(s) are
often heteroglossic or at best ______UNGAINLY______. (GAIN)
5. Emotionality is also central in language choice for positive affect, such as ______ENDEARMENT______ or
praise for one's partner or children. (DEAR) SECTION 3: READING:
Part 1:Read the passage below and fill each of the following numbered spaces with ONE suitable word.
Is cooking becoming a lost art? On the 1.___face____ of it, the question may seem slightly ridiculous.
2.____After___ all, food and cookery programmes have, in recent years, become one of most popular
broadcasts on television. Celebrity chef cookbooks regularly top best-seller lists, and the 3.___gender____
division of cookery seems to be disappearing - nowadays, it’s not at all, unusual to find men in the kitchen
cooking 4.____up___ a storm. Yet, is it all as it really seems? Apparently not. According to food industry
analysts, while seeking out good food has become the 5.___norm____, preparing and cooking it certainly hasn't.
The home-cooked meal is fast becoming a lost art. Today, many people view the daily preparation of meals as
an impossible aspiration. Ready meals and other heavily processed products have become the order of the
6.___day____. Both young and old cite lack of time as the primary reason for opting for pre-packaged
convenience foods. The trend for ready meals began in the 1990's. Today Americans spend on
7.___average____ 50 cents out of every food dollar on ready-prepared, ready-to-eat foods. A recent survey on
the eating habits of Americans revealed that, in 1984, Americans made 72% of their dinners from scratch but by
2008 that figure had dropped to just 57%. Americans don't eat out as often as they used to, but eating more at
home has not 8._______ preparing more meals from scratch. The trend is mirrored in the UK. Like Americans,
Britons are finding someone else to do the cooking - their supermarket. Aisle after aisle of British supermarket
shelves are now 9.___made____ to ready meals. It's high time we took back the kitchen. It’s time to
10.___break____ free from the shackles of ready-made, industrial food. It’s time to cook.
Part 2: Read the following passage and do the following tasks The Birth of Suburbia
A. There is no single pivotal moment that could be separated out from any other as the conception of the
suburban lifestyle; from the early 1800s, various types of suburban development have sprung up and evolved in
their own localised ways, from the streetcar suburbs of New York to the dormitory towns outside of London. It
is William Levitt, however, who is generally regarded as the father of modem suburbia. During World War II,
Levitt served in the United States Navy where he developed expertise in the mass construction of military
housing, a process that he streamlined using uniform and interchangeable parts. In 1947, the budding developer
used this utilitarian knowledge to begin work with his father and architect brother constructing a planned
community on Long Island, New York. With an emphasis on speed, efficiency, and cost-effective production,
the Levitts were soon able to produce over 30 units a day. 4
B. William Levitt correctly predicted the demand for affordable, private, quiet, and comfortable homes from
returning GIS after World War II and with the baby boom starting to kick in. All the original lots sold out in a
matter of days, and by 1951, nearly 18,000 homes in the area had been constructed by the Levitt fit Sons
Company. Levit town quickly became the prototype of mass-produced housing, spurring the construction of
similar projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and even Puerto Rico, followed by a new industry, and soon a
new way of life and a new ideal for the American family.
C. One of the major criticisms of suburbia is that it can lead to isolation and social dislocation. With properties
spread out over great swathes of land, sealed off from one another by bushes, fences and trees, the emphasis of
suburban life is placed squarely on privacy rather than community. In the densely populated urban settlements
that predated suburbs (and that are still the predominant way of life for some people), activities such as
childcare and household chores as well as sources of emotional and moral support were widely socialised. This
insured that any one family would be able to draw on a pool of social resources from their neighbours, building
cohabitants and family on nearby streets. Suburbia breaks these networks down into individual and nuclear
family units resulting in an increase in anti-social behaviour even amongst the wealthy. Teens from wealthy
suburban families, for example, are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and use drugs than their poorer urban
peers, and are also more likely to experience depression and anxiety.
D. Another major problem with the suburban lifestyle is its damaging ecological impact. The comparison of
leafy, quiet, and low-density suburbs with life in the concrete towers of sooty, congested urban conurbations is
actually quite misleading; as it turns out if you want to be kind to the natural environment, the key is to stay
away from it. Suburbia fails the environmental friendliness test on a number of counts. Firstly, due to their low
population density, suburbs consume natural land at a much higher rate than high-density row housing or
apartment buildings. Secondly, they encourage the use of personal motor vehicles, often at a rate of one per
family member, at the expense of public transport. It is also much less efficient to provide electricity and water
to individual suburban houses instead of individual units in an apartment building. In his comparison of urban
and suburban pollution, Edward L. Glaeser concluded that we need to “build more sky towers – especially in
California”. Virtually everywhere, he found cities to be cleaner than suburbs. And the difference in carbon
dioxide emissions between high-density cities and their suburbs (for example, in New York) was the highest.
Urban residents of New York can claim on average to produce nearly 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide less than their suburban peers.
E. Another negative aspect of suburban life is its stifling conformity and monotony of social experience. It was
not just the nuts and bolts and the concrete foundations of suburban houses that got replicated street upon
street, block upon block, and suburb upon suburb; it was everything from the shops and cultural life to people’s
hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Suburbia gave birth to the “strip mall”, a retail establishment that is typically
composed of a collection of national or global chain stores, all stocked with a centrally dictated, homogenous
array of products. The isolation and lack of interaction in suburbs have also encouraged the popularity of
television, a passively receptive medium for the viewer that, in the early days at least, offered an extremely
limited scope of cultural exposure compared with the wealth of experiences available in the inner city.
Meanwhile, much of the inner-city “public sphere” has been lost with the suburban flight. The public sphere is
the area of social life in which people come together to freely discuss and identify social problems. In the city,
this has traditionally occurred around newsstands, in coffee houses, salons, theatres, meeting halls, and so on.
Suburbia has not found a way to replace this special type of social experience, however. Social meeting points
in the suburbs tend to be based exclusively around specific interests such as sports or cultural clubs, with no
broad forms of daily social interaction.
F. These points do not suggest the idea of suburbia itself is flawed, but that it has not been executed in a way
that takes into account the full spectrum of human needs and desires. This likely reflects the hasty, thrown-
together nature of early suburban development. With the baby boom rippling across Western countries and
demand for family-friendly housing skyrocketing, developers and city planners were unable to develop 5
sophisticated models. Now, however, we should take time to consider what has gone wrong and how we can
reconfigure the suburb. How can we imbue suburban life with the lost sphere of public discussion and debate?
How can people maintain their after privacy without sacrificing a sense of community? How can we use new
technologies to make suburbs environmentally friendly? These are questions for which the developers of
tomorrow will have to find answers, lest the dream of suburbia become the nightmare of Disturbia. Questions 11-24
Reading Passage 3 has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 11-31 on your answer sheet.
11. A reason to construct taller buildings
12. Where people might discuss issues of societal concern in urban locations
13. The founder of what is broadly understood as contemporary ‘suburbs’
14. Examples of problems suffered by the youth that suburban lifestyle can make worse
15. A model for suburban development in the latter half of the 20th century Questions 16-22
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
YES, if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO, if the statement contradicts with the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN, if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
16. A good principle for ecological preservation is to avoid human interference.
17. In some countries, the suburbs are more environmentally friendly than in the USA.
18. Suburban development fosters the use of both public and private forms of transport
19. People cannot relate to each other in the suburbs because their lives are too different.
20.There is not much variety amongst the goods at a strip mall.
21.Television has not tended to offer the same diversity as urban cultural outlets.
22.There are no ways for people to get together and interact in the suburbs. Questions 23 and 24 Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO of the following does the author conclude?
A. The very concept of a healthy suburban lifestyle is problematic.
B. The speed of suburban growth has contributed to its imperfections.
C. By thinking about human and ecological needs, suburbs can become better places to live.
D. Developers will have to think about ways of living that do not require suburbs.
E. Suburbs have their downsides, but they are the best way for parents to raise children.
Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 25-31, read the passage
and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra paragraph which
you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.
YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
Dr Patricia Fitzgerald witnesses the results of an amazing new scheme that brought prisoners and animals new hope.
August 9, 2014, was one of the most memorable days of my life. On that day I entered a maximum-security
prison in Lancaster, California, to witness an extraordinary event connecting the lives of some of its inmates
with a pack of rescued shelter dogs. Just a few months ago, five lucky dogs – Shelby, Oreo, Rendell, Chuey
and Eddie – beat the odds and were pulled from a shelter in Los Angeles and entered this prison for a chance at a better life. 25
The group has saved the lives of over 2,000 dogs since their inception in 2003, placing them in loving ‘forever’
homes. Education and outreach has always been part of their mission statement, so when officials from the
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation approached Karma with this unique opportunity, it seemed like a perfect match. 6 26
For instance, Jack explained that, ‘It’s a pleasure to simply observe dogs and to be observed by them. Caring for
them is an opportunity and a privilege to openly display caring and compassion, and at times let my inner child
out when playing with the dogs; being mindful of the overall goal of training for adoption. I know that the best
of me that I give will be the ensured success of the dog. It feels good to nurture and care! I have no inhibitions
about availing myself to any aspect of caring for the dogs ... If I’ve learned nothing else in my life, it’s
tolerance, patience, and caring for myself and others.’ 27
After these were reviewed, fourteen inmates were then selected to train five shelter dogs who stayed at the
prison this summer for a 12-week programme. From the very beginning, the programme struck a chord with everyone involved. 28
During the programme, professional dog trainer Mark Tipton would drive out to the prison several times a week
to instruct the inmates on how to train their assigned dogs for ‘Canine Good Citizen’ certification, a designation
that increases the chance that a dog will be successfully adopted. The culmination of all this hard work was the
graduation of the first class of Paws for Life, which I had the pleasure to attend on August 9th. 29
Four of the dogs in the programme had already been adopted into loving homes. And the inmates had gained
experience and skills that renewed their own lives as much as their training renewed the dogs’ lives during those
12 weeks. Although the programme was limited to 14 inmates, it was clear there has been a ripple effect
through the prison. ‘The calming effect of the staff, the interaction between the staff and inmates is amazing.
Before it was yes sir, no sir – now it’s more cordial ... it’s two human beings having a conversation. The hearts
are totally open,’ explained the warden of the prison, John Soto. 30
Every inmate that I spoke with expressed how deeply this programme had touched their hearts, and shared
sincere gratitude for the support of Warden Soto and Captain Wood, often referring to them as ‘awesome’ and
‘amazing’. Although there were certainly bittersweet moments as the inmates prepared to say goodbye to the
dogs they had loved and cared for, they were overjoyed that they could positively contribute to society and even
meet the people whose lives were now going to be enriched by their new canine companion. 31
Witnessing this event had an enormous impact on me, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. A couple of
weeks have passed and my mind still lingers on the occasion. I am thrilled programmes like this exist to allow
people – and dogs – to have a second chance at life.
A In another essay Christopher tells us that, ‘I know some people in society may think that we as prisoners
don’t have anything good left in ourselves or have redeeming qualities, or should be allowed any goodness in
our lives; however contrary to that thinking I know in my heart this to be the opposite.’
B This remarkable situation came about as a result of Paws for Life, a programme, started by the charity Karma
Rescue, that matches rescued dogs with inmates who train them to boost their odds of adoption. What’s even
more unusual about it is that it’s the first programme in California to take place at a high-security prison with
inmates serving life sentences.
C Captain Crystal Wood also noticed a huge change in the inmates in a relatively short time after the dogs
entered the prison. ‘A lot of times in this setting it’s so depressing and you don’t show emotion...and when you 7
have a creature that gives you unconditional love and licks you and doesn’t care – you see men who’ve been in
prison for 20 and 30 years break down and cry just for the compassion and the humanity. It’s just generally
made the yard a calmer place.’
D What made this ceremony so powerful was the pervasive sense that it changed all the participants so
profoundly. Everybody involved – the volunteers, the prison warden and staff, the inmates, the dogs, and
everyone in their vicinity – was transformed by it.
E Through the scheme inmates eligible for Paws for Life applied for the limited slots by participating in
interviews and writing essays, often laden with extraordinary reflections on their lives. Some of the excerpts are
remarkable, as is the frankness of the writers.
F Indeed, at the end of the ceremony, the inmates spent quite a bit of time with the families, giving them
pointers. Observing the inmates bond with the families and beam with pride over the dogs was an incredibly moving experience.
G Karma Rescue’s founder Rande Levine was amazed at the impact, ‘Men who had not seen an animal in
decades were openly emotional at the sight of the beautiful creatures before them. Just petting our dogs brought
many to happy tears. It was a moment I will never, ever forget.’
H Families stated how grateful they would be to receive a dog via Paws for Life. Everyone agreed that adopting
an animal that has gone through such excellent training really made their decision to take a dog into their home easier.
Part 4. For questions 32-41, read an extract from an article on an invention and choose the answer A, B, C
or D that fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
In orbit high above Earth, a multi-billion-dollar formation of communications satellites stands ready to instantly
connect pilots, seamen and navigators of all kinds to every available aid when they find themselves in an
emergency. But what if the communication computers on board these ships and aircraft started acting up or
even broke down? The world could go silent, and leave travellers groping around for directions. Not to worry.
There is a backup plan, using technology that was invented in 1835. It's Morse code, the language of dots and
dashes that has survived the assault of higher technology for a century and a half.
Named after its inventor, Samuel F B Morse, the code is a series of combinations of short and long tones (dots
and dashes) representing letters of the alphabet that can be transmitted manually by a key operator. A
telegrapher combines the dots and dashes to form letters and words. It is a seemingly tedious procedure, but
skilled operators can transmit and receive faster than most secretaries can type. The fastest Morse transmission
ever recorded is an amazing 84 words per minute, sent by an operator named T L McElroy in 1951.
Morse telegraphy may seem like a quaint anachronism, with its brass sounder and key operated by the world's
most basic tool, the human finger. However, it is sometimes vital to worldwide communications. When the
Mexico City earthquake occurred in 1985 and all the power went off, calls for help were transmitted in Morse
by an amateur radio operator. "We see the Morse code as a dying art, but we refuse to let it die completely,"
says Major General Leo M Childs, the US Army's Chief Signal Officer. "Newer is not always better. Even
though it is old and slow, Morse is still the most reliable in difficult conditions. "
Every merchant vessel bearing the US flag must carry a radio officer who can both transmit and receive Morse
code. Under US law, the officer must spend eight hours at sea every day monitoring the radio for Morse distress
signals. Should you ever find yourself adrift at sea in a lifeboat launch from a sink passenger cruise ship, it will
be equipped with a single communications device: a Morse transmitter that automatically signals a distress call,
but is also equipped with a keyboard in case you happen to know Morse code. Perhaps the best-known bit of
Morse code is the call for help - SOS. In the code, these letters form a distinctive pattern (dot dot dot, dash dash
dash, dot dot dot) easily recognised in an emergency.
The enduring use of Morse telegraphy is the legacy of a burst of industrialisation in 19th-Century America,
when the railway and telegraph developed side by side. Most of those railway telegraph lines were used well
into the mid-20th century, well after radio, television and computers became commonplace. Until 1985, the
Milwaukee Road had a Morse telegraph line between Milwaukee and La Crosse that was routinely used to relay 8
orders to train crews. This Milwaukee operation was shut down quietly in the late Eighties. In many other
countries, however, Morse railway is still used.
The military services continue to be the most serious users of Morse telegraphy. While billion-dollar satellites
and sophisticated ground networks are good in theory, such communication systems can break down on the
battlefield. As a matter of prudence, the Army keeps a functional Morse capability. Morse code signals require
much less power to transmit broadcasting than voice messages. In addition, even an unclear Morse signal can be
interpreted, whereas a distorted voice transmission is virtually useless. The Army annually trains about 2,800
men and women in Morse code for a variety of signal jobs in infantry, artillery, intelligence and even Special
Forces. A Morse transmission will get through when all else fails, and especially in military conflicts, "he who
communicates first, no matter how primitively, will come out on top," says Major General Childs.
In that case, retired railway telegraph operators will Probably take over the world. Each evening, the amateur
radio waves come alive with the Morse transmissions of the retired operators known among themselves as 'old
heads'. "I get on the air and use the code every night to chat to other old heads," says Craig Becker, the retired
Milwaukee telegraph operator who received the railway's final telegraph message in 1985. "There are a lot of
telegraphers around. Every night you hear them pecking. "Experienced Operators say the Morse code is not so
much a clatter of sounds as a language, because operators do not hear dots and dashes. "You can sit back and
hear a conversation," says Becker.
When Morse inaugurated the telegraph service in 1844, he wired from Baltimore to Washington the now-famed
message: "What hath God wrought!" Ever since, the death of Morse code has been regularly predicted.
However, although the surface has receded from public view, experts say that they cannot
envision an end to its use any time soon. "I can carry a very small Morse key in my pocket and transmit around
the world," says Burke Stinson, a public relations man for American Telephone & Telegraph Co. "I do not
think you will ever see Morse code die. It is going to be difficult to find another method that is as flexible and reliable. "
32. The reason the writer mentions the possibility of satellite–based communication systems failing is to
A. underline the importance of a reliable alternative.
B. suggest that satellite communications are unreliable.
C. emphasise the drawbacks of satellite communications.
D. compare Morse to communication satellites.
33. The process of communicating using Morse code
A. involves more than transmitting tones.
B. is tedious even for experienced users.
C. is not as laborious as people think.
D. is simple enough for anyone who can type.
34. In the third paragraph, the writer implies that the use of Morse code is
A. old-fashioned, but attracts many enthusiasts.
B. only useful to the armed forces and some hobbyists.
C. being revived by amateur radio operators.
D. often the only way to communicate during a crisis.
35. In the fifth paragraph, the writer
A. implies that Morse telegraphy developed faster than the railway.
B. implies that Morse has survived for so long because of the railway.
C. suggests that the railway developed because of Morse telegraphy.
D. explains why Morse telegraphy eventually became redundant. 36. The American military
A. needs simple communication methods
B. has recently neglected its Morse capability.
C. allows its forces some Morse equipment.
D. offers training for recognising distorted Morse.
37. The first message to be transmitted in Morse code
A. symbolised the code’s flexibility.
B. was used for commercial purposes.
C. took a long time to reach its destination.
D. was sent by Samuel Morse himself. 9
38. What does the writer mean by saying that Morse code “has survived the assault of higher technology for
a century and a half” in the first paragraph?
A. Even though in the last 150 years newer and more sophisticated ways of doing things have been invented, Morse is still used.
B. As modern communication systems have progressed rapidly, it is surprising that Morse telegraphy could survive for 150 years.
C. Thanks to the backup plan, Morse telegraphy has survived for 150 years in the face of technology.
D. Morse code could not have survived for 150 years without the support of modern technology.
39. What does the word “It” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. a series of combinations B. sending a message in Morse code
C. representing letters of the alphabet D. the transmission sent by McElroy
40. The phrase “quaint anachronism” in paragraph 3 refers to _______.
A. unimportant thing B. monotonous cycle C. old-fashioned tool D. irrelevant invention
41. Which is the best title for the passage?
A. Morse Code – a Revolutionary Invention B. Dots and Dashes Still Alive
C. The Comeback of a Forgotten Name
D. The Applications of Morse Telegraphy
Part 5. The passage below consists of five sections marked A-E. For questions 42-, read the passage and
do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. Napoleon Bonaparte
What characteristics marked out one of history’s greatest military geniuses?
A Napoleon Bonaparte stirs the emotions. Some find him heroic and regard his opponents as reactionary
and unimaginative. Others think him mad with ambition and responsible for many of the sins of his era.
Between these extremes there are those who find some aspects of the man admirable and others regrettable.
Of course, Bonaparte was anything but pure, anything but modest, anything but democratic, and anything
but a peacemaker. But in the end, who else that sat on a throne in Europe could claim to be? Should he be
assailed for sins that were so sadly common? What is it about Napoleon Bonaparte that makes him the
object of such unique criticism? Is it because he holds a special place in our imaginations, a place that we
hope would be an example of our better selves? Was his genius, good fortune, and opportunity enough to
condemn him - not so much for what he did, but what he failed to do? In the end is our greatest
disappointment in Bonaparte simply that he was merely human?
B Napoleon was a military genius in the strategic and tactical handling of armies and although he
provided no large scale reforms of armies (or, indeed, their equipment and techniques), he excelled at the
refinement of an art that already existed. One of the most important factors of Napoleon's personality and
its effect on his abilities as a military commander was his genius to inspire others. He believed in the
maxim that ‘spirit and drive is to the physical as three is to one’. It was through his system of awards (an
appealing to soldiers’ ‘soul in order to electrify the man’) that Napoleon was so successful in obtaining
unquestionable obedience, loyalty and devotion from his rank and file.
C The name Napoleon Bonaparte is surrounded by so vast an array of myth and legend that it is quite
difficult to separate fact from fiction. It is said that Napoleon displayed outstanding leadership qualities
while still at school. But this is undoubtedly the product of the school of Napoleonic mythology that was
systematically promoted for political reasons in 19th century France, since it hardly squares with the
general picture of the taciturn child with an inferiority complex that has come down to us. Napoleon was, in
truth, a reserved child, resentful of his peers. On the other hand, he excelled at maths – a qualification that
determined his specialisation as an artillery officer. This was a stroke of luck (one of many that Napoleon
benefited from) inasmuch as the artillery was the most prestigious branch of the army under the old regime.
But the biggest stroke of fortune Napoleon had was to be born when he was 10
– in the age of the French Revolution. The Revolution turned the whole world upside down and presented
an ambitious young man (Napoleon was always ambitious – a consequence of his resentment at his inferior
status) with new and vast opportunities.
D No man previously ever concentrated authority to such a point, nor showed mental abilities at all
comparable to Napoleon’s: an extraordinary power of work; prodigious memory for detail and fine
judgment in their selection; a luminous decision-making capacity and a simple and rapid conception - all
placed at the disposal of a sovereign will. And no head of state gave expression more imperiously than this
Corsican to the popular passions of the French of that day: abhorrence for the emigrant nobility, fear of the
ancient régime, dislike of foreigners, hatred of England, an appetite for conquest evoked by revolutionary
propaganda, and the love of glory.
E Psychological studies of ‘great men and women’ frequently serve as a fig leaf to disguise the absence of
an understanding of broad socio-historical processes. The study of history is replaced by trivial personal
observations. Instead of science, we have gossip. A careful study of the character and background of
Napoleon Bonaparte can furnish us with many useful insights into his behaviour. But we are left with a
small amount of useful information that can help us to attain a deeper understanding of Bonaparte. Men and
women make their own history, but they do not make it freely, in the sense that the scope and results of
their actions are strictly limited by the given socio-economic context that is prepared independently of their will.
In which section are the followings mentioned? Your answers:
the idea that an individual’s actions cannot be separated from their historical context 42.
the view that the writing of history is sometimes agenda-driven 43.
the characteristics that made Napoleon an exceptional leader 44.
the fact that Napoleon was eminently aware of the impact of morale on modern warfare 45.
the fact that Napoleon is as divisive a character as he is famous 46.
the uncertainty as to whether detractors of Napoleon simply lament the fact he had the 47.
vices and virtues of the common man
the view that Napoleon was no great revolutionary of warfare itself 48.
the notion that we are all a product of the time we live in 49.
the fact that Napoleon’s views reflected those of his countrymen 50.
the event that made Napoleon’s ascent possible 51.
Document Outline

• Part 2. For questions 1-5, listen to a report on possible signs of life discovered on Venus and answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
• 1. Where were the radio telescopes located?
• 2. How was the reaction of the first woman towards the discovery?
• 3. What have been launched to Venus several times?
• 4. How are the climatic conditions in the area between 50 and 60 km above the Venus’s surface described?
• 5. What is exemplified as a physical characteristic that helps microbes adapt to rigorous conditions?