Đề luyện tập Tiếng Anh bồi dưỡng học sinh giỏi
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ĐỀ 1 LISTENING (50 points)
Listen to the conversation and match each statement with the correct speaker. In the space provided, write M = Male Speaker F = Female Speaker B = Both Speakers
N = Neither Male Speaker nor Female Speaker Statements:
1. ___ say(s) astronaunts prefer living in obscurity after retirement.
2. ___ mention(s) an article about former celebrities.
3. ___ talk(s) about a celebrity who found a new purpose.
4. ___ claim(s) people tend to define celebrities by one key achievement.
5. ___ believe(s) people can learn from the dancer’s experience.
Part 2. Listen and answer questions 6-10.
Which type of accommodation offers each of the following features?
Write the correct letter, A, B or C next to questions 15-20. Types of accommodation A Independent Living B Supported Living C Full-time Care
6 catered room service ...............
7 mobility aids ...............
8 emergency alarm buttons ...............
9 themed decor ...............
10 travel companionship ...............
Part 3: Listen to the actor Daniel Radcliffe talking about being a child actor. Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or
D) for each of the following questions.
11. What role do Daniel Radcliffe’s parents play in his career success?
A. They discouraged him from acting, believing it would harm his childhood experience.
B. They focused solely on financial gain, expecting him to support the family.
C. They provided support and perspective, allowing him to enjoy his work fully.
D. They pushed him into acting, prioritizing fame and financial success over happiness.
12. What challenge does Radcliffe mention that many child actors face?
A. Constant family support can hinder their personal growth and independence in life.
B. A lack of opportunities forces them to seek alternative careers outside of acting.
C. Struggling to find their identity under public pressure distorts their self-perception.
D. Excessive fame often leads to burnout, making it difficult for them to cope.
13. How does Radcliffe view his upbringing in London compared to LA?
A. He finds London to be a more stable environment for personal growth and development.
B. He thinks LA is more exciting and offers greater opportunities for young actors.
C. He prefers LA’s lifestyle, believing it to be vibrant and full of creativity.
D. He sees no significant difference between the two cities regarding personal development.
14. What does Radcliffe say about the communal effort in filmmaking?
A. It enhances the overall experience, fostering belonging and camaraderie among the cast.
B. It is often less important than individual success, overshadowing teamwork in the industry.
C. It complicates collaboration, making it challenging for individual actors to shine brightly.
D. It creates unhealthy competition among actors, leading to significant stress during production.
15. What does Radcliffe suggest happens when child actors lose their passion?
A. They become more dedicated to acting, using past experiences to fuel their passion.
B. They find it easy to transition into other professions, maintaining a positive outlook.
C. They may discover new interests outside acting, leading to different career paths entirely.
D. They struggle with unhealthy coping mechanisms, like substance abuse due to the pressure.
For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about a time crystal and complete the summary below using words taken
from the recording. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS in each blank.
In 2012, Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek contemplated the possibility of an object with a (16) __________ that
repeats through time rather than space. He theorized about a phase of matter which is locked in a (17) __________ of
change that could oscillate indefinitely without energy input.
Quantum computers leverage the quantum properties of (18) __________ to perform computation. Although the
Sycamore computer still proved too (19) __________ for applications like (20) __________, researchers proposed that its
quantum particles could create a time crystal.
The team employed 20 qubits made of (21) __________, with two energy levels corresponding to up or down spins.
Researchers applied (22) __________ to the qubits, inducing them to oscillate back and forth. Despite this oscillation, the
system neither absorbed nor dissipated any net energy, and its entropy remained unchanged. The team's achievement can
be described as evading the second law of (23) __________.
Time crystals may be utilized either for quantum data storage or as a (24) __________ that reflects a computer’s (25) __________.
LEXICO – GRAMMAR (35 points)
Part 2: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the correct form of a word given in CAPITAL. There are four words
that you do not need to use. RELATE SCHOLAR REPLACE INDUSTRY EVOKE CONNOTE AUTHOR WILL EXCHANGE
The word, ‘security’, has both positive and negative (1)_______________. Most of us would say that we crave
security for all its positive virtues, both physical and psychological – its (2)_______________ of the safety of home, of
undying love, or of freedom from need. More negatively, the word nowadays conjures up images of that huge industry which
has developed to protect individuals and property from invasion by outsiders, ostensibly malicious and intent on theft or
(3)_______________ damage.
Increasingly, because they are situated in urban areas of escalating crime, those buildings used to allow free access
to employees and other users (buildings such as offices, schools, colleges, or hospitals) now do not. Entry areas which in
another age were called ‘Reception’ are now manned by security staff. Receptionists, whose task it was to receive visitors
and to make them welcome before passing them on to the person they had come to see, have been (4)_______________
by those whose task it is to bar entry to the (5)_______________, the unwanted, or the plain unappealing.
Part 3. The passage below contains 5 grammatical mistakes. For questions 1-5, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided in the column on the right.
We are accustomed to using Internet in many of our daily activities than
ever before. This behavior is supposed to simply exert influence on our [1] _______________________________
habits and lifestyle, but that is a misguiding view. A recently published book [2] _______________________________
claims that the amount of time we spend on the Internet is changing the
exactly very structure of our brains. Its thesis is simple enough: not only that [3] _______________________________
the modern world's relentless informational overload is killing our capacity [4] _______________________________
for reflection, contemplation and patience, but that our online habits are
also altering the way our brains wired.
[5] _______________________________
In the book, the author looks back to such human inventions as the map
and the clock and the extent to which they influenced our essential models
of thought. He argues that the Internet's multiplication of stimuli and mass
of information have given rise to hurried and distracted thinking. Without
putting so fine a point on it, the author concludes that our ability to learn
anything at all worthwhile has become superficial. READING (65 points)
Part 1: Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. (15 points)
Concentration is good in exams, bad in orange juice. Concentration happens when you manage to focus on one
thing to the (1) __________ of all others, and concentrating on one thing (2) __________ you worrying about a lot of other
nameless things. Sometimes, of course, your mind concentrates when you don’t want it to. Maybe you can’t get something
out of your head, such as a problem you have to (3) __________ up to, or an embarrassing situation you’ve been in. That’s
why collecting things as a hobby is popular; it (4) __________ your mind off other things. Indeed, some people seem to
prefer looking after and cataloguing their collections to actually (5) __________ anything with them, because this is when
the absorbing, single- minded concentration happens.
The natural span for concentration is 45 minutes. That’s why half an hour for a television programme seems too
short whilst an hour seems too long. But many people's lives are (6) __________ of concentration. Modern culture is served
up in small, easily digestible chunks that require only a short (7) __________ span although young people can concentrate
on computer games for days at a (8) __________.
Sticking out the tongue can aid concentration. This is because you can’t (9) __________ yourself with talking at the
same time and other people won’t interrupt your thoughts because you look (10) __________ an idiot!
Part 2. For questions 01-10, read an extract from an article on the design of green building and choose the answer
A, B, C or D that fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corrresponding numbered boxes provided. (10 points)
There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of buildings on the natural
environment; Information which explains and promotes green and sustainable construction design, strives to convince
others of its efficacy and warns of the dangers of ignoring the issue. Seldom do these documents offer any advice to
practitioners, such as those designing mechanical and electrical systems for a building, on how to utilise this knowledge on a practical level.
While the terms green and sustainable are often considered synonymous, in that they both symbolise nature, green
does not encompass all that is meant by sustainability, which can be defined as minimizing the negative impacts of human
activities on the natural environment, in particular those which have long-term and irreversible effects. Some elements of
green design may be sustainable too, for example those which reduce energy usage and pollution, while others, such as
ensuring internal air quality, may be considered green despite having no influence on the ecological balance.
Although there are a good many advocates of ‘green’ construction in the architectural industry, able to cite ample
reasons why buildings should be designed in a sustainable way, not to mention a plethora of architectural firms with
experience in green design, this is not enough to make green construction come into being. The driving force behind whether
a building is constructed with minimal environmental impact lies with the owner of the building; that is, the person financing
the project. If the owner considers green design unimportant, or of secondary importance, then more than likely, it will not be factored into the design.
The commissioning process plays a key role in ensuring the owner gets the building he wants, in terms of design,
costs and risk. At the predesign stage, the owner’s objectives, criteria and the type of design envisaged are discussed and
documented. This gives a design team a solid foundation on which they can build their ideas, and also provides a specific
benchmark against which individual elements, such as costs, design and environmental impact can be judged.
Owners who skip the commissioning process, or fail to take ‘green’ issues into account when doing so, often come
a cropper once their building is up and running. Materials and equipment are installed as planned, and, at first glance,
appear to fulfil their purpose adequately. However, in time, the owner realises that operational and maintenance costs are
higher than necessary, and that the occupants are dissatisfied with the results. These factors in turn lead to higher ownership
costs as well as increased environmental impact.
In some cases, an owner may be aware of the latest trends in sustainable building design. He may have done
research into it himself, or he may have been informed of the merits of green design through early discussion with
professionals. However, firms should not take it as read that someone commissioning a building already has a preconceived
idea of how green he intends the structure to be. Indeed, this initial interaction between owner and firm is the ideal time for
a designer to outline and promote the ways that green design can meet the client’s objectives, thus turning a project originally
not destined for green design into a potential candidate.
Typically, when considering whether or not to adopt a green approach, an owner will ask about additional costs,
return for investment and to what extent green design should be the limiting factor governing decisions in the design process.
(1) Many of these costs are incurred by the increased cooperation between the various stakeholders, such as the owner,
the design professionals, contractors and end-users. (2) However, in green design, they must be involved from the outset,
since green design demands interaction between these disciplines. (3) This increased coordination clearly requires
additional expenditure. (4) A client may initially balk at these added fees, and may require further convincing of the benefits
if he is to proceed. It is up to the project team to gauge the extent to which a client wants to get involved in a green design
project and provide a commensurate service.
Of course, there may be financial advantage for the client in choosing a greener design. Case studies cite examples
of green/sustainable designs which have demonstrated lower costs for long-term operation, ownership and even
construction. Tax credits and rebates are usually available on a regional basis for projects with sustainable design or low emissions, among others.
1. The writer’s main purpose is to:
A. explain to professionals how they can influence clients to choose greener designs.
B. explain the importance of green building design in reducing long-term damage to the environment
C. explain to owners commissioning a building why ignoring green issues is costly and dangerous.
D. explain to professionals why it is important to follow the correct procedures when a building is commissioned.
2. The examples of green and sustainable designs given in paragraph 2 show that:
A. designs must be sustainable in order for them to be described as green.
B. for the purposes of this paper, the terms green and sustainable have the same meaning.
C. some sustainable designs are green, while others are not.
D. some designs are termed green, even though they are not sustainable.
3. According to paragraph 3, the reason for the lack of green buildings being designed is that:
A. few firms have any experience in design and constructing buildings to a green design.
B. construction companies are unaware of the benefits of green and sustainable designs.
C. firms do not get to decide whether a building is to be constructed sustainably.
D. firms tend to convince clients that other factors are more important than sustainability.
4. In paragraph 4, what does the word ‘benchmark’ mean? A. standard B. target C. process D. comparision
5. Which of the following is NOT true about the commissioning process?
A. It is conducted before the building is designed.
B. It is a stage that all clients go through when constructing a building.
C. It is a step in the design procedure in which the client’s goals are identified.
D. It provides the firm with a measure of how well they did their job.
6. In paragraph 5, what does the phrase ‘come a cropper’ mean? A. experience misfortune B. change one’s mind C. notice the benefits D. make a selection
7. In paragraph 6, the writer implies that:
A. most clients enter the commissioning process with a clear idea of whether or not they want a green building.
B. designers are usually less concerned about green design than the clients are.
C. the commissioning process offers a perfect opportunity to bring up the subject of green design.
D. firms should avoid working with clients who reject green designs in their buildings.
8. Where in paragraph 7 does this sentence belong?
In a typical project, landscape architects and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers do not become involved until a much later stage. A. (1) B. (2) C. (3) D. (4)
9. In paragraph 7, what does ‘balk at’ mean? A. display shock towards B. agree to pay C. question the reason for D. understand the need for
10. Green buildings are most likely to incur more expense than conventional buildings due to:
A. higher taxes incurred on sustainable buildings.
B. higher long-term operational costs.
C. the higher cost of green construction materials.
D. increased coordination between construction teams.
Part 3: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. (13 points)
FINDING OUT ABOUT THE WORLD FROM TELEVISION NEWS
In The Ideological Octopus (1991), Justin Lewis points to an important issue concerning the formal structure of television
news. As he notes, television news lacks the narrative element which, in other genres, serves to capture viewer interest and
thus motivate viewing. Lewis posits this as one of the key reasons why television news often fails to interest people and
why, when they do watch it, people often cannot understand it. Lewis argues that one fundamental problem with watching
television news is that its narrative structure means that the viewer is offered the punchline before the joke - because the
main point (the headline) comes right at the beginning, after which the program, by definition, deals with less and less
important things. Thus, in television news our interest is not awakened by an enigma which is then gradually solved, to
provide a gratifying solution - as so often happens in fictional narratives. In Lewis’s terms, in television news there is no
enigma, the solution of which will motivate the viewing process. As he baldly states, ‘If we decided to try to design a television
program with a structure that would completely fail to capture an audience’s interest, we might (finally) come up with the
format of the average television news show’ (Lewis 1991).
What Lewis also does is offer an interesting contrast, in this respect, between the high-status phenomenon of television
news and the low-status genre of soap opera. The latter, he observes, offers the most highly developed use of effective
narrative codes. To that extent soap opera, with its multiple narratives, could be seen, in formal terms, as the most effective
type of television for the cultivation of viewer interest, and certainly as a far more effective form than that of television news
for this purpose. Clearly, some of Lewis’s speculation here is problematic. There are counterexamples of his arguments
(e.g. instances of programs such as sports news which share the problematic formal features he points to but which are
nonetheless popular - at least among certain types of viewers). Moreover, he may perhaps overstress the importance of
structure as against content relevance in providing the basis for program appeal. Nonetheless, I would suggest that his
argument, in this respect, is of considerable interest.
Lewis argues not only that soap opera is more narratively interesting than television news, in formal terms, but, moreover,
that the world of television fiction in general is much closer to most people’s lives than that presented in the news. This, he
claims, is because the world of television fiction often feels to people like their own lives. They can, for example, readily
identify with the moral issues and personal dilemmas faced by the characters in a favorite soap opera. Conversely, the world
of television news is much more remote in all senses; it is a socially distant world populated by another race of special or
‘elite’ persons, the world of ‘them’ not ‘us’. This is also why ‘most people feel more able to evaluate TV fiction than TV
news ... because it seems closer to their own lives and to the world they live in ... [whereas] the world of television news...
might almost be beamed in from another planet’ (Lewis 1991). It is as if the distant world of ‘the news’ is so disconnected
from popular experience that it is beyond critical judgment for many viewers. Hence, however alienated they feel from it,
they nonetheless lack any alternative perspective on the events it portrays.
One consequence of this, Lewis argues, is that precisely, because of this distance, people who feel this kind of alienation
from the ‘world of news’ nonetheless use frameworks to understand news items which come from within the news
themselves. This, he argues, is because in the absence of any other source of information or perspective they are forced
back on using the media’s own framework. Many viewers are simply unable to place the media’s portrayal of events in any
other critical framework (where would they get it from?). To this extent, Lewis argues, Gerbner and his colleagues (see
Gerbner et al. 1986; Signorielli and Morgan 1990) may perhaps be right in thinking that the dominant perspectives and
‘associative logics’ offered by the media may often simply be soaked up by audiences by sheer dint of their repetition. This
is not to suggest that such viewers necessarily believe, or explicitly accept, these perspectives, but simply to note that they
have no other place to start from, however cynical they may be, at a general level, about ‘not believing what you see on
television’, and they may thus tend, in the end, to fall back on ‘what it said on TV’. In one sense, this could be said to be the
converse of Hall’s ‘negotiated code’ (1980), as taken over from Parkin (1973). Parkin had argued, that many working-class
people display a ‘split consciousness’, whereby they accept propositions from the ‘dominant ideology’ at an abstract level,
but then ‘negotiate’ or ‘discount’ the application of these ideological propositions to the particular circumstances of their own
situation. Here, by contrast, we confront a situation where people often express cynicism in general (so that ‘not believing
what you see in the media’ is no more than common sense), but then in any particular case they often find themselves
pushed back into reliance on the mainstream media’s account of anything beyond the realm of their direct personal
experience, simply for lack of any alternative perspective.
Complete the summary below using words from the box. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
The structure of television news
Justin Lewis says that television news does not have the 1. ______________ feature that other types of program have. As
a result, many viewers do not find it interesting and may find it 2. ______________. This is because the 3. ______________
information comes first and after that 4. ______________ matters are covered. In television news, there is no 5.
______________ progress towards a conclusion and nothing 6. ______________ to find out about. In fact, he believes
that television news is an example of how the 7. ______________ process in the field of television could result in something
that is 8. ______________ to what constitutes an interesting program. upsetting creative secondary controversial fast-moving contrary opinionated routine step-by-step informal crucial story-telling additional overwhelming mysterious repetitive informative related confusing diverse
Decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG). Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
9. Lewis concentrates more on the structure of programs than on what is actually in them.
10. Lewis regrets viewers’ preference for soap operas over television news.
11. Lewis suggests that viewers sometimes find that television news contradicts their knowledge of the world.
12. Parkin states that many working class people see themselves as exceptions to general beliefs.
13. The writer of the text believes that viewers should have a less passive attitude towards what they are told by the media.
Part 4: In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. Read the passage and choose from
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 boxes. (7 pts)
The Brain’s Ageing Process: Can We Intervene?
It has long been assumed that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of ageing—an irreversible downward slope toward
forgetfulness, slowed thinking, and eventually, the risk of neurodegenerative disease. Yet, a growing body of research
suggests that this trajectory is neither fixed nor universal. The human brain, like other organs, is subject to wear and tear
over time. But unlike many other organs, it exhibits remarkable plasticity: the ability to adapt, rewire, and even grow new
connections well into older adulthood. 1.
What has emerged from decades of neuroscience and epidemiology is a clearer picture of the modifiable risk factors that
affect brain ageing. Lifestyle choices, particularly those made consistently across the lifespan, have been shown to play a
pivotal role in either accelerating or decelerating cognitive decline. Among these, diet stands out—not only in terms of
nutritional adequacy but in its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. 2.
The role of physical activity is equally, if not more, significant. Movement affects far more than muscle tone or
cardiovascular function; it has a profound impact on the architecture of the brain itself. Aerobic exercise in particular
promotes the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule integral to learning and memory. 3.
Just as we nourish the brain through food and movement, we must also engage it intellectually. Intellectual stimulation—
whether through language learning, playing a musical instrument, or engaging in challenging problem-solving—can
strengthen neural networks and increase cognitive reserve. This reserve does not prevent ageing per se, but it provides a
buffer, allowing the brain to continue functioning well despite underlying deterioration. 4.
It is not only what we do during the day that matters. What happens while we sleep has a significant impact on brain
health. Deep, restorative sleep is the period during which the brain performs a sort of “housekeeping,” flushing out toxins
such as beta-amyloid, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic sleep deprivation,
on the other hand, can impair memory, emotional regulation, and attention—symptoms that can mimic early dementia. 5.
We must also not overlook the social dimension. The human brain evolved in groups, and isolation or loneliness has been
shown to have effects on cognition that are equivalent to, or even greater than, those of obesity or smoking. Social
interaction stimulates multiple cognitive domains, including language, empathy, and executive function, all of which are essential for healthy ageing. 6.
Less visible, but no less important, are the systemic health factors that indirectly affect brain integrity. Conditions such as
diabetes, hypertension, and obesity can damage blood vessels and reduce cerebral perfusion, increasing the risk of
vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Consequently, managing these conditions should be viewed not only as a
cardiovascular concern but as a cognitive one too. 7.
Taken together, these findings challenge the deterministic view of cognitive ageing. The brain, while vulnerable, is also
resilient—and that resilience can be cultivated. The tools are not revolutionary; they are, in fact, surprisingly mundane. But
when applied consistently and collectively, they offer a powerful strategy for not just living longer—but living with clarity and cognition intact. Missing Paragraphs
A. While no single food or nutrient can guarantee cognitive vitality, diets rich in plant-based foods, omega-3 fatty acids,
and antioxidants—such as the Mediterranean diet—have been consistently associated with a lower risk of dementia.
These diets may reduce chronic inflammation, support vascular health, and promote synaptic plasticity.
B. Neuroplasticity, once thought to occur only during childhood, is now known to persist across the lifespan, albeit at a
reduced rate. This has profound implications: it means that our environment and behaviour can directly influence how our
brains age. Importantly, this influence is cumulative—small daily habits add up over decades.
C. While intelligence was once viewed as a fixed trait, modern understanding of cognition sees it as dynamic and
environmentally responsive. This shift has led to an increased focus on the “cognitive reserve hypothesis,” which posits
that stimulating environments can delay the onset of age-related cognitive symptoms even when pathology is present.
D. In fact, sleep disturbances in older adults have been linked with structural changes in the brain, particularly in areas
involved in memory and attention. This underscores the idea that sleep should be seen not as a passive state, but as a
critical component of brain maintenance.
E. Socialising does more than elevate mood—it requires memory, processing speed, and emotional intelligence. The
cognitive demand of maintaining relationships may help delay the onset of cognitive decline and even reduce the risk of
developing dementia by up to 40%, according to some longitudinal studies.
F. These so-called “vascular risk factors” are increasingly being recognised as modifiable elements in the fight against
cognitive decline. Interventions that target blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels are now considered
central to any comprehensive brain health strategy.
G. Intermittent fasting and caloric restriction are also gaining attention in neuroscience. Animal studies suggest they may
enhance neurogenesis, reduce oxidative stress, and increase longevity—but their long-term cognitive benefits in humans
remain to be fully established.
H. Still, it is important to acknowledge that not all cognitive decline is preventable. Genetics, early-life experiences, and
uncontrollable health conditions can all influence brain ageing. Nonetheless, the presence of risk factors does not doom
one to cognitive failure—it merely elevates the importance of proactive lifestyle choices.
Part 5. The passage below consists of seven paragraphs (A-G). For questions 86-95, read the passage and do the
tasks that follow. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
SUCCESSION’S LUCY PREBBLE: ‘IT’S SHOCKING HOW MUCH WE VALUE FAME. WE LET CELEBRITIES DO ANYTHING’
The acclaimed writer of Succession, Enron and The Effect talks about satirising the rich, working with Billie Piper, and looking for danger
A. While on summer holidays with her family as a little girl, Lucy Prebble – one of Britain’s most successful playwrights
and screenwriters – was always allowed to pick one book from the airport bookshop. One year, she chose The
Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera – an 1984 novel about a young woman who falls in love with a man
with a rapacious sex drive. Another year, age 11, Prebble chose Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen –
about Britain’s second worst serial killer.
B. Greeting me with a big, warm smile in a grey meeting room at the National Theatre, Prebble, 42, doesn’t look like she
might have been the kind of child to fixate over the obscene. Yet she has always found “the possibility of transgression”
intriguing. “And parents don’t check what’s inside a book at the checkout,” she says. “They’re just happy you’re reading!”
C. Prebble is currently restaging her superb early play, The Effect, about a clinical trial gone wrong. Paapa Essiedu and
Taylor Russell star as two participants who fall in love while under observation, the problem being that they cannot trust
the intense emotions threatening to tear apart their previous lives. The Effect, like all Prebble’s works – from plays
Enron and A Very Expensive Poison to TV shows Succession and I Hate Suzie – is both provocative and entertaining.
D. Transgression, then, seems to be a recurring theme for Prebble, particularly when you consider her earliest scripts.
The first, The Sugar Syndrome, examined the relationship between a teenager and a paedophile. Prebble, who was
born in Surrey to her school teacher mother and IT manager father, wrote it while interning at the National Theatre
aged 22. It premiered at the Royal Court to such critical admiration it was revived in 2020.
E. The second, written in 2005 but never staged, followed a documentary crew filming a porn star attempting to break a
world record involving a certain number of sexual acts within a limited time.“It was an attempt to look at our own
voyeurism, and what is ‘acceptable’”, says Prebble. “If pornography is framed within an academic liberal framework,
it’s fine, but if it’s just pornography, then it’s not.”
F. Then there was Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007), the glossy series Prebble adapted from the anonymous blog about
the science student from Bristol who moonlit as a high-end escort, starring her now good friend and regular collaborator
Billie Piper. Prebble isn’t so warm about the show, which was a hit for ITV2 but critically sniffed at, and accused of
glamourising sex work. Prebble left the production halfway through. “I felt like it had to be fun and frothy, but nothing
challenging could ever happen,” she sighs. “After Secret Diary I kept getting the same offers: ‘Can you do a story about
a woman who is strong and sexual, but not too old?’ ” What was “old” back then, 35? “Oh no!” she corrects mischievously. “32, max.”
G. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Prebble’s most successful stories have been what she describes as “work that centres [on]
men and male culture”. Her big break came at 28 with her 2009 play Enron, which addressed America’s creeping
existentialism through the spectacular fall of the energy conglomerate, in the style of a classic Greek tragedy. It
transferred to the West End and Broadway, promptly turning Prebble into a “name” – part of an exciting crop of young
female playwrights re-energising British theatre, including Polly Stenham and Lucy Kirkwood.
H. “It’s interesting how much more praised Enron was than A Very Expensive Poison, even though I think both have the
same level of ambition and scale,” she says, referring to her 2019 Litvinenko drama that told the story of the Russian
spy’s attempted murder through his wife Marina’s eyes. “And yet, studies show, particularly at the National, that women buy the theatre tickets!” I.
If Enron made Prebble a name, Succession made her famous. She joined creator Jesse Armstrong’s writers’ room in
2017, originally seeing the job as a “step back” – she wasn’t in charge of her own material. But Succession, the most
talked-about drama in recent years, about four billionaire siblings each vying to take over their father’s American media
empire, went on to win 13 Emmys and turned its stars into household names. Prebble was very much in the hub of a
group of talented Brits, including actors Brian Cox and Matthew Macfadyen, and writers Tony Roche, Georgia Pritchett
and, of course, Armstrong.“It’s funny,” she says, reflecting on her time on the show, which she also executive-produced,
“by the end we were staying in these locations among the very, very rich, and yes, we’re observing, it’s satire, but at
the end of the day, we’re still on a yacht, we’re still on Lake Como …”
J. Just as observing the super rich can be nauseating, so can observing the freshly famous. “I’ve been around a lot of
people who have gone from really good working actors to suddenly very famous. And seeing how the world reacts to
those two very different states is really shocking. It’s shocking how much we value fame, how we will let famous people do anything.”
Which paragraph mentions the following?
1. Adaptation of a play from a blog
2. Observing fame and societal reactions to newfound celebrity status
3. The intrigue with "the possibility of transgression" and parental trust
4. Prebble's involvement in an acclaimed drama
5. The restaging of a play exploring intense emotions
6. Prebble's successful works
7. Prebble's theme of transgression
8. Childhood book choices and fascination with transgressive topics
9. Unstaged script involving a porn star's challenge
10. Comparison of praise between two plays ĐỀ 2
I. LISTENING (5.0 points)
Part 3. Listen to a discussion in which two educationalists, David Shaw and Anoushka Patel, talk about
education standards in the UK. For questions 11-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which best fits
according to what you hear.
11. What criticism does Anoushka make of primary school education?
A. It has remained the same for too long.
B. The teachers are inadequately prepared.
C. It is not sufficiently varied.
D. Pupils no longer find it enjoyable.
12. According to the statistics David quotes, the secondary school exam results pupils achieve ______.
A. have caused the national average to fall dramatically
B. cannot be directly compared to those of foreign pupils
C. do not reflect the true level of education in the UK
D. can be accurately predicted when they leave primary school
13. Anoushka says that pupils who perform poorly do so because ______.
A. they lack the ability to concentrate in class
B. education is not a top priority for them
C. teachers are unable to provide them with enough attention
D. it is impossible for their parents to buy books
14. David claims that universities are guilty of ______.
A. ignoring the advice given by the Department of Education
B. making it easier for students to get good degrees
C. accepting too many applications from school leavers
D. exaggerating the quality of teaching they offer
15. Anoushka makes the point that universities in the UK ______.
A. have adapted to meet the needs of society
B. should not have to answer questions about their policies
C. have maintained a traditional approach to education
D. are still considered to be the best in the world
Part 4. For questions 16-25, you are going to listen to a piece of news on South China Sea. Write NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each blank.
A man-made island, Fiery Cross didn’t exist two years ago, yet there’s now 10,000 foot air strip, an (16) ______,
a missile defense system, and about 200 troops there. Six others have also been built. Since 2014, huge Chinese ships
collected around remote reefs in the Spratly Islands, rapidly pumping (17) ______ up onto the reef. They were building
islands. This body of water is not only rich in natural resources, but 30% of the (18) ______ also flows through here to
the booming population centers and economic markets of Southeast Asia as well. Now 5 countries have laid their claims
on this water, most basing their claim on the UN Law of Seas, which says a country’s territorial waters extend 200 miles
off their shore, an area called the (19)______ or EEZ. Countries have exclusive rights to all the resources and trade in
their EEZ. It’s their (20) ______. Any area that isn’t in an EEZ is regarded as international waters meaning every country
shares it. Every country in the South China Sea region uses this 200-miles EEZ threshold to determine its claims, except
China which argued they have a historical claim to the South China Sea dating back to (21) ______ in the 15th century.
Following World War II, China claimed the South China Sea by drawing this imprecise line on the map that (22)______
of the South China Sea, which it named the nine-dash-line. The Spratly Islands is a (23) ______ cluster of islands
currently claimed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. It’s hard to (24) ______ on an uninhabited piles of
sand, so countries have built buildings and even stuck several people there. China believes all the Spratly Island belongs
to them. (25)_____ on these new artificial islands show China’s great ambition to rule the region.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (2.0 points)
Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of the bracketed word in the numbered boxes provided.
36. A previous knowledge of computing may be of some advantage initially but is not a _______ for entry to the course. (REQUIRE)
37. The Oscar prize represents a _______ of his long acting career, which has started from when he was just 17 years old. (STONE)
38. The report examines the causes of rising unemployment, and more _______, offers some solutions. (PERTAIN)
39. There is a strong smell of _______ in the hospital. (INFECT)
40. When the child makes a grammatical mistake, it is normally clear that the error arises from a partial understanding
or _______ of the rules of the target grammar. (APPLY)
Part 3. The passage below contains five grammatical mistakes. For questions 41-45, find out the mistakes in
the passage and WRITE THE MISTAKES ADND YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered boxes provided. The
first one has been done as an example.
Though an adopted child may have a very loving family, there will still be some feeling of curiosity about the
natural parents who gave them up for adoption. This in no way means that the adoptive parents should withhold the
knowledge of the adoption from the child, so this could cause resentment in the child discovered the truth. Timing is the
main difficulty, it should be something that happens sooner rather than later. Parents who adopted a child as a baby and
let them know as soon as they were able to understand invariable say they felt that the child accepted the truth fairly
matter-of-factly. Problems often arise later, when a child goes to school. All children want to fit in with the crowd, and of 1
course almost children live with their natural parents. These days, however, this is not always the case with the growth
of the single-parents family and unmarried parents, families are more unorthodox than ever. Whether good or bad, this
allows an adopted child to feel less like a fish out of water.
III. READING (5.0 points)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, read the passage and fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE
suitable word. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
When people are asked to identify the materials that are indispensable to modern life, the one that springs to
mind (46)_______ often is plastic. Make this question about a naturally occurring material and the responses are more
(47)_______, ranging from wood to iron to coal. Yet the raw material that we rely on most for such (48)_______ as
medical equipment, clothing and vehicles tyres is of course rubber. It has an impressive range of properties, such as
being waterproof, durable and flexible, and these properties are (49)_______ and cannot be made using synthetic
materials. This is especially true when it comes to making tires for vehicles and airplanes. Unfortunately, the state of
global rubber production is currently (50)_______ threat due to disease, climate change and economics. (51)_______
the extraction of many other raw materials such as stone or timber is done via large corporations on an industrial
(52)_______, this is not the case with rubber. In fact, quite the (53)_______ is true as approximately 85% of global
rubber production is (54)_______ out by farmers with small plots of land in the forests of southeast Asia. It just so
happens that there are millions of people working the land in this way and therefore they are able to fulfil the supply of
rubber required to help our lives (55)_______ smoothly.
Part 2. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. SENDING MONEY HOME A
Every year millions of migrants travel vast distances using borrowed money for their airfares and taking little or
no cash with them. They seek a decent job to support themselves with money left over that they can send home to
their families in developing countries. These remittances exceeded $400 billion last year. It is true that the actual rate
per person is only about $200 per month but it all adds up to about triple the amount officially spent on development aid. B
In some of the poorer, unstable or conflict-torn countries, these sums of money are a lifeline – the only salvation
for those left behind. The decision to send money home is often inspired by altruism – an unselfish desire to help others.
Then again, the cash might simply be an exchange for earlier services rendered by the recipients or it could be intended
for investment by the recipients. Often it will be repayment of a loan used to finance the migrant’s travel and resettlement. C
At the first sign of trouble, political or financial upheaval, these personal sources of support do not suddenly dry
up like official investment monies. Actually, they increase in order to ease the hardship and suffering of the migrants’
families and, unlike development aid, which is channelled through government or other official agencies, remittances
go straight to those in need. Thus, they serve an insurance role, responding in a countercyclical way to political and economic crises. D
This flow of migrant money has a huge economic and social impact on the receiving countries. It provides cash
for food, housing and necessities. It funds education and healthcare and contributes towards the upkeep of the elderly.
Extra money is sent for special events such as weddings, funerals or urgent medical procedures and other
emergencies. Occasionally it becomes the capital for starting up a small enterprise. E
Unfortunately, recipients hardly ever receive the full value of the money sent back home because of exorbitant
transfer fees. Many money transfer companies and banks operate on a fixed fee, which is unduly harsh for those
sending small sums at a time. Others charge a percentage, which varies from around 8% to 20% or more dependent
on the recipient country. There are some countries where there is a low fixed charge per transaction; however, these
cheaper fees are not applied internationally because of widespread concern over money laundering. Whether this is
a genuine fear or just an excuse is hard to say. If the recipients live in a small village somewhere, usually the only option
is to obtain their money through the local post office. Regrettably, many governments allow post offices to have an
exclusive affiliation with one particular money transfer operator so there is no alternative but to pay the extortionate charge. F
The sums of money being discussed here might seem negligible on an individual basis but they are substantial
in totality. If the transfer cost could be reduced to no more than one per cent, that would release another $30 billion
dollars annually – approximately the total aid budget of the USA, the largest donor worldwide – directly into the hands
of the world’s poorest. If this is not practicable, governments could at least acknowledge that small remittances do not
come from organised crime networks, and ease regulations accordingly. They should put an end to restrictive alliances
between post offices and money transfer operators or at least open up the system to competition. Alternately, a non-
government humanitarian organisation, which would have the expertise to navigate the elaborate red tape, could set
up a non-profit remittance platform for migrants to send money home for little or no cost. G
Whilst contemplating the best system for transmission of migrant earnings to the home country, one should
consider the fact that migrants often manage to save reasonable amounts of money in their adopted country. More
often than not, that money is in the form of bank deposits earning a tiny percentage of interest, none at all or even a negative rate of interest. H
If a developing country or a large charitable society could sell bonds with a guaranteed return of three or four
per cent on the premise that the invested money would be used to build infrastructure in that country, there would be 2
a twofold benefit. Migrants would make a financial gain and see their savings put to work in the development of their
country of origin. The ideal point of sale for these bonds would be the channel used for money transfers so that, when
migrants show up to make their monthly remittance, they could buy bonds as well. Advancing the idea one step further,
why not make this transmission hub the conduit for affluent migrants to donate to worthy causes in their homeland so
they may share their prosperity with their compatriots on a larger scale?
For questions 56-62, choose the correct heading for paragraph A-H from the list of headings below. Write the
correct number, i-xi in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. List of Headings i
Stability of remittances in difficult times ii
Effect of cutback in transaction fees iii
Targeted investments and contributions iv
Remittances for business investment v How to lower transmission fees vi Motivations behind remittances vii
Losses incurred during transmission viii
Remittances worth more than official aid ix
How recipients utilise remittances x
Frequency and size of remittances xi
Poor returns on migrant savings
Example: Paragraph Gxi 56. Paragraph A ___________ 57. Paragraph B ___________ 58. Paragraph C ___________ 59. Paragraph D ___________ 60. Paragraph E ___________ 61. Paragraph F ___________ 62. Paragraph H ___________
For questions 63-68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS taken from
the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Countries are unwilling to enforce lower transaction fees as they are worried about (63)________, and villagers
lose out when post offices have a special relationship with one particular money transfer agency. Each remittance
might be small but the total cost of remittance fees is huge. Governments should (64)________ on small amounts and
end the current post office system or make it more competitive. Another idea would be for a large non-profit association,
capable of handling complicated (65)________ to take charge of migrant remittances.
Migrants who send money home are able to save money, too, but it receives little or no interest from
(66)________. If a country or organisation sold bonds that earned a reasonable rate of interest for the investor, that
money could fund the development of homeland (67)________. The bonds could be sold at the remittance centre,
which could also take donations from (68)________ to fund charitable projects in their home country.
Part 3. For questions 69-75, read the passage and choose from paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap.
There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
The man who proved that everyone is good at maths
Maths is simple. But to discover this requires travelling to the ends of the earth where an illiterate, chain-smoking
fortune teller lives in a room with a double bed and a beehive. As the sun rises over the hut belonging to Raoke, a 70-
year-old witch doctor, a highly pitched din heralds bee rush hour. The insects he keeps shuttle madly in and out through the window.
69. In his book, Les Mathématiques Naturelles, the director of studies at EHESS (School for Advanced Studies in
Social Sciences) argues that mathematics is not only simple, it is "rooted in human, sensorial intuition". And he believes
that Madagascar's population, which remains relatively untouched by outside influences, can help him to prove this.
70. To make his point, Mr Chemillier chose to charge up his laptop computer, leave Paris and do the rounds of
fortune tellers on the Indian Ocean island because its uninfluenced natural biodiversity also extends to its human
population. Divinatory geomancy – reading random patterns, or sikidy to use the local word – is what Raoke does, when
not smoking cigarettes rolled with paper from a school exercise book.
71. Raoke pours a random number of seeds on to his mat, then picks them up singly or in twos and lays them in a
grid from right to left. Each horizontal gridline has a name – son, livestock, woman or enemy – and each vertical one
has a name, too: chief, zebu (cattle), brother and earth. Whether one or two seeds lie at the intersection of two gridlines
determines the subject's fortune and informs Raoke as to the cure required, and its price. From the selection of wood
pieces on his table, Raoke can mix concoctions to cure ailments, banish evil spirits and restore friendships. 72. 3
Given the thousands of plant species in Madagascar that are still undiscovered by mainstream medicine, it is
entirely possible that Raoke holds the key to several miracle cures. But Mr Chemillier is not interested in the
pharmacopaeic aspect of the fortune teller's work.
73. The way in which he poses questions over the seeds requires the same faculties for mental speculation as
might be displayed by a winner of the Fields Medal, which is the top award any mathematician can aspire to, said Mr Chemillier.
73. RaokesaysGodshowshimhowtopositiontheseeds.Hedoesnotunderstandwhy"MonsieurMarc",andnow
this other visiting white person, keeps asking him why he lays the seeds in a certain way. Yet it is clear from a stack of
grimy copybooks he keeps under his bed that if indeed God is a mathematician dictating to Raoke, then the Almighty
keeps him busy. When not consulting clients, the diminutive fortune teller spends hours with his seeds, laying them in
different formations and copying the dots down in pencil. Those grids have value and Raoke sells them to other fortune tellers.
74. Raoke cannot read but he recognises the word "danger", written in red at the start of the government health
warning. He drops the packet to the floor in shock and disgust. Missing paragraphs: A.
Indeed, I can see it is the lack of memory and computer aids that helps keep Raoke’s mind sharp. In the
developed world people are over-reliant on calculators, dictionaries and documents. And also the developed world is
wrong to ignore the basic human connection with numbers that goes back to using the fingers on your hands and
relating them to the environment around you. B.
This bizarre setting, near nowhere in the harsh cactus savannah of southern Madagascar, is where a leading
French academic, Marc Chemillier, has achieved an extraordinary pairing of modern science and illiterate intuition. C.
A basic session with the seeds costs 10,000 ariary (£3), then a price is discussed for the cure. It seems there is
nothing Raoke cannot achieve for the top price of one or two zebus – Malagasy beef cattle that cost about £300 each
– though some remedies are available for the price of a sheep. "A white man came from Réunion with a stomach ailment
that the hospitals in France could not cure. I gave him a powder to drink in a liquid. He vomited and then he was cured," said Raoke. D.
"Raoke is an expert in a reflexive view of maths of which we have lost sight in the West," says Mr Chemillier.
"Even armed with my computer program, I do not fully comprehend Raoke's capacities for mental arithmetic. He can
produce 65,536 grids with his seeds – I have them all in my computer now – but we still need to do more work to
understand his mental capacity for obtaining the combinations of single seeds and pairs." E.
Mr Chemillier argues that children should be encouraged to do maths before they learn to read and write. "There
is a strong link between counting and the number of fingers on our hands. Maths becomes complicated only when you
abandon basic measures in nature, like the foot or the inch, or even the acre, which is the area that two bulls can plough in a day." F.
Seeing that pages of the copybooks are being sacrificed to his roll-ups, I offer Raoke a packet of cigarette
papers which he accepts with delight, having never seen them before. He buys his tobacco leaf in long plaits from the
market. So I offer him a green plastic pouch of Golden Virginia. G.
With a low table covered in pieces of wood – each of which has a particular medicinal virtue – Raoke sits on
his straw mat and chants as he runs his fingers through a bag of shiny, dark brown tree seeds. "There were about 600
seeds in the bag to begin with but I have lost a few," he says. "They come from the fane tree and were selected for me
many years ago. The fane from the valley of Tsivoanino produces some seeds that lie and others that tell the truth so it
is very important to test each seed. I paid a specialist to do that," said the father of six. H.
Over the years, Mr Chemillier has earned respect from Raoke and other Malagasy fortune tellers. "Initially they
thought France had sent me to steal their work in an attempt to become the world's most powerful fortune teller. But
once I was able to share grids with them that had been through my computer program, we established a relationship of trust," says Mr Chemillier.
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an extract from an article and choose the answer A, B, C or D that fits best
according to the text.
CHARLES DARWIN’S THEORY OF EVOLUTION
Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution is known as one of the most important and controversial scientific theories
ever published. Darwin was an English scientist in the 19th century best known for his book “On the Origin of Species.” In
his book, Darwin postulated dif erent species shared characteristics of common ancestors, that they branched of from
common ancestors as they evolved, and that new traits and characteristics were a result of natural selection. The theory
is based on the assumptions that life developed from non-life and progressed and evolved in an indirect manner.
Therefore, the Theory of Evolution, while controversial, has shaped and influenced the modern scientific world's thinking
on the development of life itself. Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in England. Although initial y entering into medicine,
Darwin chose to pursue his interest in natural science and embarked on a five-year journey aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, a
British sloop belonging to the Royal Navy. Because of his experience aboard the Beagle, he laid the foundation for his
Theory of Evolution while also establishing himself within the scientific community. Specifical y, Darwin's keen observation
of the fossils and wildlife he saw during his time on the Beagle served as the basis for the cornerstone of his theory: natural selection. 4
Natural selection contributes to the basis of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. One of the core tenets of Darwin's
theory is that more offspring are always produced for a species than can possibly survive. Yet, no two offspring are
perfectly alike. As a result, through random mutation and genetic drift, offspring develop new traits and characteristics.
Over time beneficial traits and characteristics that promote survival will be kept in the gene pool while those that harm
survival will be selected against. Therefore, this natural selection ensures that a species gradually improves itself over
an extended duration of time. On the other hand, as a species continues to “improve” itself, it branches out to create
entirely new species that are no longer capable of reproducing together.
Through natural selection, organisms could branch off from each other and evolve to the point where they no
longer belong to the same species. Consequently, simple organisms evolve into more complex and different organisms
as species break away from one another. Natural selection parallels selective breeding employed by humans on
domesticated animals for centuries. Namely, horse breeders will ensure that horses with particular characteristics, such
as speed and endurance, are allowed to produce offspring while horses that do not share those above-average traits
will not. Therefore, over several generations, the new offspring will already be pre-disposed towards being excellent racing horses.
Darwin’s theory is that “selective breeding” occurs in nature as “natural selection” is the engine behind evolution.
Thus, the theory provides an excellent basis for understanding how organisms change over time. Nevertheless, it is just
a theory and elusively difficult to prove. One of the major holes in Darwin’s theory revolves around “irreducibly complex
systems”. An irreducibly complex system is known as a system where many different parts must all operate together.
As a result, in the absence of one, the system as a whole collapses. Consequently, as modern technology improves,
science can identify these “irreducibly complex systems” even at microscopic levels. These complex systems, if so inter-
reliant, would be resistant to Darwin’s supposition of how evolution occurs. As Darwin himself admitted, “to suppose
that the eye with all its inimitable contrivance for adjusting the focus for different distances, for admitting different
amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural
selection, seems, I free confess, absurd in the highest degree.”
In conclusion, “On the Origin of Species” is known as one of the most consequential books ever published.
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution remains, to this day, a lightning rod for controversy. The theory can be observed
repeatedly, but never proven, and there are a plethora of instances that cast doubt on the processes of natural selection
and evolution. Darwin's conclusions were a result of keen observation and training as a naturalist. Despite the
controversy that swirls around his theory, Darwin remains one of the most influential scientists and naturalists ever born
due to his Theory of Evolution.
76. The word “postulated” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______. A. disagreed B. proved C. opposed D. hypothesized
77. Which sentence is most similar to the following sentence from paragraph 1?
The theory is based on the assumptions that life developed from non-life and progressed and evolved in an indirect manner.
A. The Theory of Evolution is founded on evidence that non-organic compounds are the basis of life, developed in an unguided way.
B. Based on certain assumptions, we can prove that evolution occurs in all living and non-living entities.
C. According to Darwin, if we assume that life at its origin was created from nonorganic compounds and developed
in an unguided manner, his theory holds true.
D. Due to the controversy, it is hard to make assumptions about the Theory of Evolution.
78. According to paragraph 2, what are the causes for species developing new traits and characteristics? A. Mutation and genetic drift B. Survival and selection C. Medicine and longevity D. Tenets and theory
79. According to paragraph 3, what is natural selection most comparable to as a process? A. Branching trees B. Selective breeding C. Irreducibly complex systems D. The human eye
80. What is the purpose of paragraph 3 in the passage?
A. To show the simple-to-complex nature of natural selection in context
B. To create doubt as to the validity of the theory
C. To contrast with the ideas presented in paragraph 2
D. To segue into the main point presented in paragraph 4
81. The word “contrivance” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______. A. organization B. retention C. absurdity D. system
82. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 4 as a viewpoint to state that natural selection is difficult to prove EXCEPT ______.
A. The belief that the complexity of the human eye could have been formed by natural selection seems highly unlikely.
B. Selective breeding is the major hole in the theory of natural selection.
C. Modern technology has been used to prove that irreducibly complex systems exists.
D. The presence of irreducibly complex system contradicts how evolution occurs.
83. Examine the four █ in the selection below and indicate at which block the following sentence could be inserted into the passage.
The five-year voyage proved to be a major turning point in his life.
█ [A] Darwin was born February 12, 1809 in England. █ [B] Although initially entering into medicine, Darwin chose
to pursue his interest in natural science and embarked on a five-year journey aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, a British 5
sloop belonging to the Royal Navy █ [C] Because of his experience aboard the Beagle, he laid the foundation for
his Theory of Evolution while also establishing himself within the scientific community. █ [D] A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
84. In paragraph 4, what was the author’s purpose of including a quote that the belief that the complexity of the human
eye could have been formed by natural selection seems highly unlikely?
A. To provide evidence that irreducibly complex systems exists
B. To prove that the natural selection contradicts the basis of Darwin's Theory of Evolution
C. To support that the natural selection contributes to the basis of Darwin's Theory of Evolution
D. To support the claim that natural selection is just a theory and difficult to prove
85. These sentences express the most important ideas in the passage EXCEPT ______.
A. Natural selection explains how species change gradually over time
B. The Theory of Evolution describes how species “branch out” from a common ancestor
C. Creationists strongly object to the premise of the Theory of Evolution
D. Both Darwin and “On the Origin of Species” are among the most influential things to happen to naturalist science
Part 5. The passage below consists of seven paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For questions 86-95, read the
passage and do the task that follows.THE FUTURE OF INTERIOR DESIGN
Five designers talk about the changes they see on the horizon. A. Antonio Maroles
I’m optimistic about the future, actually, because no industry gets the luxury of staying the same forever; otherwise
innovation never happens. For me, much of what is changing is exciting, especially how technology will open up the
sector to more people. Interior design used to only be accessible by a select few, whereas now it’s much more egalitarian
and affordable, and this will bring opportunities for designers everywhere. Apps that allow customers to visualise designs
and ‘walk through’ 3D rooms are going to revolutionise how we do things, and customers will also be able to recruit
designers from anywhere in the world. All this would have been unthinkable a decade ago when all these image apps
didn’t exist, but they’ve really opened up the possibilities to interact with clients and increase that level of personalised
service. And this gives designers far more scope to develop their own personal style, too. Years ago, everyone tended
to follow the same trends promoted in magazines and by fabric or wallpaper companies, but that approach is dead now
that anyone can create their own distinctive style, whichever walk of life they come from, and I’m fully behind it. B. Jeannette Harrison
So many interior designers are panicking that technology is going to put them out of a job in the next few years, but I
find all this gloomy talk quite depressing and quite unlikely in the foreseeable future. The latest market analysis is not
telling us that people want their homes to go high-tech anytime soon. In fact. quite the opposite seems to be true if you
look carefully at the research. There are real concerns around privacy connected to smart technology in our homes, so
in my view the fear of technology is leading the profession up a blind alley. What people are looking for, however, is
individuality, both at the high end of the market and the new middle-class customers who can afford to design their
homes more to their own tastes due to a wider range of prices. I am slightly concerned about the impact on less
technologically minded designers because, although it’s not going to take over our jobs, clients will start to expect a
basic level of proficiency with design apps. C. Bobbi Zarkowksi
As far as I’m concerned, there’s no point in trying to predict the outcomes of this period of change with any certainty.
There are all sorts of people saying that the end is in sight for interior designers because consumers can do everything
themselves online, but this is an oversimplification of the situation. There are considerable similarities to what went on
in the travel sector, so we would do well to analyse the impact of the internet to analyse the impact of the internet for
them before wringing our hands in despair. Of course, the internet democratised travel for the masses, but parts of that
meant that the type of customer changed significantly. Likewise, interior design has always been seen as a luxury for
the wealthy, but not anymore. Whatever the effects over the coming decade there will be winners and losers, and those
who survive will harness the internet to their advantage instead of railing against it. D. Martina Davis
I’m really hoping that the future heralds a return to creativity after this horrible period, which I affectionately call the beige
stage. I understand that it’s important for more people to have access to interior design because increased access
reflects a society that has improved living conditions for its citizens. But these people should also be given choice and
creativity too, and, unfortunately, what I see around me nowadays is somewhat of a paradox; people have a desire to
express their individuality at home in the same way they do through fashion, but this self-expression is often identical.
The retail landscape is entirely uninspiring, and I hope the next few years will see a return to innovation and creativity in
both customers and designers. I am worried that this will be at odds with sustainability, though, which I wholeheartedly
believe must be at the heart of what interior design represents going forward. Cheap furniture from unsustainable wood
sources is not the solution, so we’ve got to try to merge creativity, sustainability and affordability, which is going to be quite a challenge. E. Francesca Cheng
My approach towards design has always drawn on traditional imagery that encapsulates the idea of nature and then
applying this inside the home, and this to me is where the future lies because consumers are much more concerned
with sustainability now. Based on this I can see interior design having a period of reevaluation that will likely result in 6
rejecting certain materials or production practices and focusing on innovative ways to be sustainable and stylish
together. I predict a lot more design that tries to enhance wellbeing, such as using plants for internal walls or LED lights
that use a fraction of the electricity used by other light bulbs. I also think that there’ll have to be a lot more collaboration
between interior designers and engineers in order to turn these ideas into actual objects or materials that function well
at the same time as looking attractive.
For questions 86-95, select the expert (A-E). Which person:
86. suggests that interior designers could upskill themselves to meet customer expectations?
87. is not convinced that it is worth speculating on the future of interior design?
88. supports the movement of interior design towards a wider customer base?
89. thinks that there is a connection between interior design and social mobility?
90. is disappointed that interior design has become bland for everyone involved?
91. believes technology will completely transform the industry?
92. suggests that interior design will become more environmentally friendly?
93. believes that the future of interior design will be comparable to changes in another industry?
94. predicts that designers will work alongside other professionals to create the interiors of the future?
95. says that there is little evidence that technology will replace interior designers? 7 ĐỀ 5
SECTION A: LISTENING (50 points)
Part 3. You will hear an interview with a scientist called Alicia Graham and an amateur science enthusiast
called Jeremy Ingles, who are talking about public participation in scientific research. For questions 11-15,
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. (10 points)
11. Alicia and Jeremy agree that rivalries between scientists ______.
A. may impede progress in some areas.
B. create a valuable Impetus for researchers.
C. are the direct cause of certain dishonest practices.
D. should be respected by those advocating co-operation.
12. Alicia and Jeremy disagree about the extent to which supporters of open science ______.
A. have to provide alternative sources of funding for researchers.
B. can ensure that the contribution of Individuals is recognized.
C. might benefit from the way blogs and forums operate.
D. should consider the needs of commercial sponsors.
13. Jeremy's interest in open science arose from ______.
A. participation in an online discussion.
B. listening to Alicia talk on the subject.
C. conducting experiments in his own home.
D. research done whilst studying at university.
14. How does Alicia feel about the contribution of amateur scientists?
A. She thinks they can reveal weaknesses in existing theories.
B. She believes they cast new light on the research process.
C. She would like them to be less isolated from each other.
D. She actively encourages them to ask for advice online.
15. Jeremy mentions the Polymath project in order to ______.
A. show how amateur scientists approach the process of research.
B. explain how open science generates enthusiasm and co-operation.
C. illustrate Alicia's point about how effective online collaboration can be.
D. give an example of a professional seeking the help of non-professionals.
Part 4. Listen to the audio and complete the summary using NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS AND/OR
NUMBER for each gap. Write your answers in the space provided. (20 points) WITCH HUNT
During the Salem Witch Trials, those accused of witchcraft faced a harrowing choice: confess falsely and implicate
others to avoid execution, or maintain their innocence and risk being hanged. The trials were fueled by paranoia, (16)
______, and a justice system that prioritized (17) ______.
People in Salem faced frequent battles with Native Americans and French settlers, fears of (18) ______ and tense
relations. Things further degraded due to the coldest winter of 1692 when children displayed strange behaviour. The
Puritans believed that was the sign of Devil using witches to destroy nature, summon (19) ______ and cause agony.
Authorities arrested two women, Sarah Good and Tituba. Good’s daughter (20) ______ against her own mother,
leading to her being convicted and hanged. Tituba initially denied, but later gave in. Tituba was (21) ______ for months
before being released. (22) ______ was accepted in court, where many jurors were relatives of the accusers, which
undermined their impartiality. Accusation spread until the wife of a governor was suspected, after which he (23) ______.
While the causes of these bizarre behaviours remains unclear, what is certain is that adults considered children's
(24) ______ as solid proof. Therefore, the Salem Witch Trials serve as a warning about the dangers of fear-driven decisions, (25) ______.
SECTION B: LEXICO- GRAMMAR (30 points)
Part 2. For questions 46-55, fill each gap with the correct form of the word in brackets. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (10 points)
46. Parents should pay close attention to their children’s health because many respiratory symptoms can be the
_______ of asthma – a medical condition that makes breathing difficult. (RUN)
47. “What if” questions involving (FACT) _______ are familiar in historical speculations.
48. From that moment, it was doomed to become a huge, sprawling, one-story _______, hopelessly dependent one the automobile. (URBAN) Page 1 of 8
49. I can’t see why the board of leaders keep (COMMIT) _______ over the debate about whether or not to dismiss the current coach.
50. The woman’s laugh is _______ and not very hearty, and she is only one of her company who is laughing. (MIRTH)
Part 3. For questions 51-55, find 05 mistakes in the following passage and get them right. Write your answers
in the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (5 points) 1
The phrase “quality of life” embraces a number of different aspects, including physical health, emotional 2
well-being, material wealth, community life, political stability, job satisfaction, and even geography and 3
climate. Only the most fortunate of individuals will have an access to “perfect” conditions in all categories, 4
and the various quality-of-life index calculations are averaging-out statistics. Yet it could be argued that a 5
person’s state of health determines their ability to work and benefit from community life, so is of prime 6 importance. 7
On the other hand, certain aspects are outside the individual’s control – political freedom, for example, or 8 the local climate. 9
Every year, much media attention is given to “quality of life”, usually follows the publication of reports 10
indicating the best cities to live in, the most temperate world climates, the country with the safest economy, 11
and so on. Such analyses are interesting, but how much use can the individual make for them? In spite of 12
advances in mobility, it is unrealistic for most of us to emigrate to this year’s top country, nor we should have 13
to take such a radical step. Everything starts at home - even those who struggle to make ends meet can 14
enjoy a good quality of life providing they are healthy and supported by friends and family. 15
SECTION C: READING (60 points)
Part 1. For questions 56 – 65, read the passage and fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable
word. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (15 points)
THE CHANGING FACE OF WORKING LIFE
The accepted concept of a career (56) _______ followed a similar pattern for decades. After (57) _______ their
education, people would enter the adult world of work, settling down on to a job which they would likely remain from that
point (58) _______. Not only would this occupation provide an income for their entire working life, it would also allow
them a healthy (59) _______ when they retired and moved into old age. Over the past twenty years, however, the
relationship between a wage earner and their chosen profession has changed enormously. Today, the idea of a ‘job-
for-life’ has all (60) _______disappeared, to be replaced by an unforgiving world of (61) _______ employment. Some
observers even argue that current society to pit old (62) _______ young in a constant battle to find work of some
description, all against a (62) _______ of increasing debt and economic difficulties.
At the same time, the government regularly releases figures that suggest the economy is prospering, evidencing
this claim with the fact that the unemployment rate continues to fall annually. There are indeed more jobs available.
However, a huge number of these are casual, temporary or short-term positions, all of (64) _______ are low-paid and
create little in the way of tax income for the government. This has a number of debilitating long-term effects, not (65)
_______ because this assurance of a growing economy is based more in myth than fact.
Part 2. For questions 66-75, read an extract from an article 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. (10 points)
From the article "Against the Undertow: Language-Minority Education Policy and Politics in the 'Age of
Accountability'" by Terrence G Wiley and Wayne E. Wright
Language diversity has always been part of the national demographic landscape of the United States. At the
time of the first census in 1790, about 25% of the population spoke languages other than English (Lepore, 2002). Thus,
there was a diverse pool of native speakers of other languages at the time of the founding of the republic. Today,
nationwide, school districts have reported more than 400 languages spoken by language-minority students classified
as limited English proficient (LEP) students (Kindler, 2002). Between 1991 and 2002, total K-12 student enrollment rose
only 12%, whereas LEP student enrollment increased 95% during this same time period (National Clearinghouse for
English Language Acquisition, 2002b). This rapid increase and changing demographics has intensified the long debate
over the best way to educate language-minority students.
Historically, many groups attempted to maintain their native languages even as they learned English, and for
a time, some were able to do so with relatively little resistance until a wave of xenophobia swept the country during
World War 1 (Kloss, 1977/1998). Other groups, Africans, and Native Americans encountered repressive politics much Page 2 of 8
earlier. During the 1960s, a more tolerant policy climate emerged. However, for the past two decades there has been
a steady undertow of resistance to bilingualism and bilingual education. This article provides historical background and
analyzes contemporary trends in language-minority education within the context of the recent national push for
accountability, which typically takes the form of high-stakes testing.
The origins of persistent themes regarding the popular antagonisms toward bilingual education and the
prescribed panaceas of "English immersion" and high-stakes testing in English need to be scrutinized. As background
to the contemporary context, we briefly discuss the history of language politics in the United States and the ideological
underpinnings of the dominant monolingual English ideology. We analyze the recent attacks on bilingual education for
what this attack represents for educational policy within a multilingual society such as the United States. We emphasize
multilingual because most discussions of language policy are framed as if monolingualism were part of our heritage
from which we are now drifting. Framing the language policy issues in this way masks both the historical and
contemporary reality and positions non-English language diversity as an abnormality that must be cured. Contrary to
the steady flow of disinformation, we begin with the premise that even as English has historically been the dominant
language in the United States since the colonial era, language diversity has always been a fact of life. Thus, efforts to
deny that reality represent a "malady of mind" (Blaut, 1993) that has resulted in either restrictionist or repressive
language policies for minorities.
As more states ponder imposing restrictions on languages of instruction other than English-as California,
Arizona, and Massachusetts have recently done-it is useful to highlight several questions related to the history of
language politics and language planning in the United States. Educational language planning is frequently portrayed as
an attempt to solve the language problems of the minority. Nevertheless, the historical record indicates that schools
have generally failed to meet the needs of language-minority students (Deschenes, Cuban, & Tyack, 2001) and that the
endeavor to plan language behavior by forcing a rapid shift to English has often been a source of language problems
that has resulted in the denial of language rights and hindered linguistic access to educational, social, economic, and
political benefits even as the promoters of English immersion claim the opposite.
The dominance of English was established under the British during the colonial period, not by official decree
but through language status achievement, that is, through "the legitimization of a government's decisions regarding
acceptable language for those who are to carry out the political, economic, and social affairs of the political process"
(Heath, 1976, p.51). English achieved dominance as a result of the political and socioeconomic trade between England
and colonial administrators, colonists, and traders. Other languages coexisted with English in the colonies with notable
exceptions. Enslaved Africans were prohibited from using their native tongues for fear that it would facilitate resistance
or rebellion. From the 1740s forward, southern colonies simultaneously institutionalized "compulsory ignorance" laws
that prohibited those enslaved from acquiring English literacy for similar reasons. These restrictive slave codes were
carried forward as the former southern colonies became states of the newly United States and remained in force until
the end of the Civil War in 1865 (Weinberg, 1977/1995). Thus, the very first formal language policies were restrictive
with the explicit purpose of promoting social control.
66. What is the primary purpose of including the statistic from the 1790 census in the introductory paragraph?
A. to explain how colonizing the US eradicated language diversity
B. to show concrete evidence that language diversity in the US is not a new phenomenon
C. to note that before that time, there was no measure of language diversity in the US
D. to demonstrate that census data can be inaccurate
67. The article compares two sets of statistics from the years 1991-2002, increases in K-12 enrollment and increases in
LEP students, to highlight _______.
A. that the two numbers, while often cited in research, are insignificant
B. that while many people with school-age children immigrated to the US during this time, an equal amount left the country as well
C. that language diversity had no impact on US student enrollment during this time
D. that while the total amount of students enrolled in US schools may have grown slowly, the amount of those students
who were LEP increased dramatically
68. According to the second paragraph, many groups maintained their native languages without resistance into the 20th century EXCEPT_______.
A. Native Americans and African Americans
B. Irish Americans and African Americans
C. Mexican Americans and Native Americas
D. Native Americans and Dutch Americans
69. Why is the word "undertow" emphasized in the second paragraph? Page 3 of 8
A. to explain how certain groups continued to carry their native languages with them despite the opposition from those against language diversity
B. to show the secretive and sneaky nature of those opposed to language diversity
C. to call attention to the ebb and flow of language resistance during the 20th century, experiencing periods of both rest and extremism
D. to explain that, while many groups tried to maintain their native languages, many gave in to social and political pressure to use only English
70. What is the best way to describe the function of the third paragraph in this excerpt?
A. The paragraph provides its primary thesis as well an outline of the article's main points
B. The paragraph is an unnecessary and irrelevant inclusion
C. The paragraph serves to reveal the conclusions of the article before detailing the data
D. The paragraph firmly establishes the article's stance against language diversity
71. What is the best summary of why the phrase "multilingual" is emphasized in the third paragraph?
A. Language repression stems from the US's unwillingness to recognize the languages of its foreign allies.
B. Because language is constantly changing and often goes through multiple phases over time.
C. The authors firmly believe that speaking more than one language gives students a substantial benefit in higher education.
D. Language policy discussions often assumes that the US has a monolinguistic history, which is untrue and poses
language diversity as threatening.
72. Phrases such as "prescribed panaceas" and "malady of the mind" are used in the third paragraph to _______.
A. defend the point that the US must standardize its language education or there will be severe results
B. point out that language is as much a physical process as an intellectual one
C. illustrate how certain opponents of language diversity equate multilingual education with a kind of national disease
D. demonstrate how the stress of learning multiple languages can make students ill
73. According to the fourth paragraph, all of the following are potential negatives of rapid English immersion EXCEPT _______.
A. It can lead to a denial of language rights for particular groups.
B. Students become more familiar with conversational expressions and dialect.
C. It can prevent access to certain benefits that are always available to fluent speakers.
D. It can promote feelings of alienation among groups that are already in a minority status.
74. The best alternate definition of "language status achievement" is _______.
A. When enough scholarly work has been produced in a language, it is officially recognized.
B. Those who are in power socially and economically determine the status of a language.
C. Languages fall into a hierarchy depending upon the numbers of populations that speak them.
D. The position of a language in which no others may coexist with it.
75. From the context of the final paragraph, what does "compulsory ignorance" mean?
A. Populations at the time were required only to obtain a certain low level of education.
B. Slave populations were compelled to only speak in their native languages and not learn English.
C. That slaves were forcibly prevented from developing their native language skills out of fear that they would gain power.
D. Slave owners would not punish slaves who did not wish to learn and speak only English. Top of Form
Part 3. For questions 76 - 88, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. (13 points) VALIUM
In the 1960s, Valium was launched around the world as the new miracle pill. It was prescribed for dozens of ailments,
including stress, panic attacks, back pain, insomnia and calming patients before and after surgery. Four decades later,
many are questioning why the drug is still so popular, given that doctors and drug addition workers believe Valum, and
the drug like it, create more health problem than they solve.
Valium – a Latin word meaning “strong and well” – was developed in the early 1960s in the United States (US) by Dr
Leo Sternbach, a Polish chemist working for pharmaceutical giant Hoffman-LaRoche. Approved for use in 1963, Valium
was the most prescribed drug in the US between 1969 and 1982. At the peak of Valim use in the 1970s, Hoffman
LaRoche’s parent company, the Roche Group, was selling about two billion Valium pills a year, earning the company Page 4 of 8
$US 600 million a year. Valium quickly became a household name, the drug of choice for millions of people, from the
rich and famous to the stressed executive and the frustrated housewife.
These days Valium is still a popular choice. From 2002-2003, 50% of prescriptions for diazepams (the generic name for
Valium) in Australia were for Valium. Almost two million scripoints were issued for diazepam in 2002, costing consumers
and governments more than $13 million.
Diazepams belong to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include tranquillizer to ease anxiety and
hypnotics to treat insomnia. Valium and other benzodiazepines were marketed as fast acting, non-addictive and as
having no side effects. Initially, benzodiazepines were considered to be quite safe, especially compared to other drugs
on the market. For example, barbiturates were also very toxic and a small overdose would be fatal.
One of the great advantages of benzodiazepines over their predecessors was that even if the patient took many tablets,
they would get very sick and go off to sleep, but they wouldn’t die. It seemed too good to be true. And of course it was.
Some doctors began to observe alarming facts about benzodiazepines which weren’t well known during the 1960s and
the 1970s, and which are still true today. They were very addictive, even in small doses; they could be safely prescribed
for only a very short period; and the body adapted to the drug within a week, which usually led the user to take higher
dosages or an increased number of tablets.
In addition to this, what wasn’t well known until the early 1980s is that a much larger group of people had become
dependent on these benzodiazepines, including Valium, by taking the normal dose. Although they were only taking 2
mg three times a day, doctors observed that within a week, they were becoming dependent. Moreover, they were
becoming very ill if that dose was reduced or withdrawn.
Because the withdrawal from benzodiazepines is brutal, doctors continue to prescribe the medication for fear of the
patient’s health during withdrawal. Doctors believe that there is no point in refusing to prescribe the drug until the patient
is prepared to stop. Valium has a long half-life, which means that it takes 30-plus hours for the body to get rid of half of
the daily dose. As a result, withdrawals from Valium are just as difficult as withdrawals from other drugs, including
alcohol. Patients who are withdrawing can have fits for five or six days after they have stopped taking Valium, which is
one of the big risks. It usually takes the body five to seven days to detoxify from alcohol and less than a month for heroin
compared to withdrawal from Valium which can take up to six months.
Many doctors believe that Valium gives people false hope and argue that while many patients feel better when they
initially begin taking the drug, the feelings are short-lived. In the case of benzodiazepines, they should only be taken as
part of an overall examination of the patient’s lifestyle.
Guidelines have been developed to support the appropriate use by doctors and patients of Valium and other
benzodiazepines. Doctors need to talk about what is causing the stress and suggest possible alternative treatment
options. The flip side of the coin is that consumers need to take ownership of the medicines that they are taking. They
should talk to their doctor about the impact the medication has on their health. This also helps doctors to help manage
their patient’s health. The emergence of concerns over the use of Valium, originally hailed as the wonder drug of its day,
is a warning for us all to be cautious about the newer drugs. What it all boils down to is that doctors and patients need
to monitor the use of all medicines – this includes prescription medicine as well as over-the-counter medications.
For question 76 - 80, look at the following statements and indicate: YES
if the statement agrees with information in the passage NO
if the statement contradicts information in the passage NOT GIVEN
if the statement is not given in the passage
Write your answers in the boxes on your answer sheet.
76. Valium is of greater risk to users than their original illness.
77. Valium sales caused business in the Roche Group to peak in the 1970s.
78. Valium became popular because it seemed to suit a wide range of people.
79. Valium is part of the group of drugs called diazepams.
80. A Valium overdose is not fatal.
For question 81 - 88, complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the
passage. Write your answers in the boxes on your answer sheet.
Initially, doctors believed that Valium was (81) ______ for a number of reasons: it worked quickly, patients could take
it but give it up easily and it didn’t create any unpleasant (82) ______.
However, about thirty years ago, some disturbing facts became apparent. Doctors found that Valium was (83) ______
in the short term and users needed to (84) ______ in order to get the same effect. They also found that even users who
took (85) ______ became addicted very quickly. In addition to this, one of the most worrying concerns about Valium use Page 5 of 8
