I. Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others (0.5 pts)
| 1. A. connect | B. comfort | C. computer | D. contest |
| 2. A. pleased | B. erased | C. increased | D. amused |
II. Choose the word whose main stress pattern is not the same as that of the other (0.5 pts)
| 3. A. education | B. development | C. economic | D. preparation |
| 4. A. different | B. regular | C. achieving | D. property |
III. Choose the word/ phrase (A, B, C or D) that best fits the space in each sentence (2.5 pts)
5. It’s not _______________ to call anyone at night.
| A. convenient | B. equal | C. difficult | D. economic |
6. – A: Congratulations! You did great. – B: “_______________”
| A. It’s nice of you to say so. | B. It’s my pleasure. | C. You’re welcome. | D. That’s okay. |
7. I’ll look for another job _______________ my salary is increased.
| A. if | B. unless | C. despite | D. because |
8. Most robots are empowered by artificial _______________ or AI, and machine learning technology.
| A. intelligence | B. internet | C. information | D. interest |
9. Thousands of lives were saved because the scientists _______________ them about the tsunami.
| A. have warned | B. had warned | C. warned | D. would warn |
10. Remote controls are used to _______________ with television.
| A. invent | B. develop | C. interact | D. respond |
11. Wearing uniforms help poor students feel equal _______________ others.
| A. about | B. at | C. on | D. to |
12. Deforestation, garbage dump, and air pollution are main _______________ problems in Vietnam.
| A. educational | B. economic | C. environmental | D. social |
13. Hoai cannot remember the name of the restaurant _______________ she ate her favorite roasted duck.
| A. which | B. whose | C. whom | D. where |
14. I wish I could visit your village again someday, Ba. – “_______________.”
| A. Too true | B. What a day! | C. You are always welcome | D. Yes let’s |
IV. CAUTION SIGNS WARNINGS: Look at the signs. Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) for each sign (0.5 pts)
| 15. This sign means: | |
 |
A. You can buy cattle meat here.
B. There are wild animals ahead. C. Cattle are not allowed. D. There are cattle ahead. |
| 16. This sign means: | |
 |
A. Watch out! There are workers.
B. Be careful! Road works ahead. C. Look out for working children. D. There’s an accident ahead. |
V. Choose the word or phrase that best fits the blank space in the paragraph (1.5 pts)
CHANGING MINDS, LIVES AND KILLS
Studies have shown that television and its meteoric rise (17)__________ the 1950s has had more effect than any other technological development in this century on changing the way many of us live. Used (18)__________, television can be a wonderful medium to inform, expand and broaden one’s life. It can enlarge our understanding of the world. It can open up important knowledge about news, events, of different people, of history, the arts and sciences.
Tragically, the typical channels mainly ignore such development. (19)__________ programs are light and amusing. Many people have become hooked on certain forms of commercial entertainment. They no longer realize, or care, that they may be neglecting to develop important personal abilities. Let’s so easy to let ready-made entertainment take over, to just sit back and let someone entertain us.
One study in the US found that more than half of ail elementary school children watched TV during their evening meal. An even larger percentage watched (20)__________ doing homework. Many adults spend more hours passively before TV than in any other activities except sleep.
Educators are also concerned with the steady decline in children’s physical skills. Logic and putting ideas together are processes (21)__________ by regular reading and by having time to think about events. TV, by contrast, usually presents its messages in little, rapid clumps with little information as to how and why the events took shape.
Heavy television viewing kills the initiative to take an active part in outdoor games, which is essential (22)__________ a child’s development. And, at its worst, television entertainment is filled with false deals, morals, ethics, relationships, role-models and, or course violence.
(adapted from “The Plain Truth”, July 1990)
| 17. A. in | B. during | C. since | D. throughout |
| 18. A. fast | B. wrongly | C. moderate | D. rightly |
| 19. A. Theirs | B. Its | C. That | D. Which |
| 20. A. but | B. while | C. until | D. as well as |
| 21. A. supported | B. has supported | C. are supported | D. have been supported |
| 22. A. in | B. to | C. with | D. for |
VI. Reading comprehension: True – False + Answer the questions (1.5 pts)
During December, sometimes even earlier, the Christmas lights come on in the streets, and the big shops put on special “Christmas windows”‘, to bring in the shoppers. As Christmas gets closer, the shops become more and more crowded. Nowadays many shops start their “New Year Sales” before Christmas; some people therefore wait till the last days, in order to pay less for their presents.
When the shops finally close for the holiday, most people are happy that the shopping is over. For a day at least, everything is shut except pubs and restaurants, which do a lot of business on Christmas day (though not in 2020, on account of Covid 19).
In the past, most people used to go to church on Christmas morning; today some people go to church for a special Christmas service, but most stay at home to open presents and prepare the Christmas lunch. In the afternoon, it’s time for more presents, or to watch a good film, or go out for a walk in the country, or in the park.
Then, after Christmas, the shopping season starts again, as people spend their Christmas money and look for bargains in the New Year sales. Most people have a week’s holiday between Christmas and the New Year.
Some, of course, have to keep working; but for most, the last week of the year is a time to relax, enjoy more parties, and do a bit more shopping.
January sometimes seems very flat and empty!
(Extracted from: https://linguapress.com/intermediate/christmas22.htm)
True or False?
23. The Christmas lights come on in the streets during Christmas time.
| A. True | B. False |
24. In 2020, on account of Covid 19, all people stay at home to open presents and prepare the Christmas lunch.
| A. True | B. False |
25. The shopping season starts for the New Year sales after Christmas.
| A. True | B. False |
26. A week’s holiday between Christmas and the New Year is a time to relax.
| A. True | B. False |
Questions
27. Which of the following is the definition of “bargains”?
| A. new arrivals |
| B. new collections |
| C. special fashion seasons |
| D. special offers |
28. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?
| A. As Christmas gets closer, the shops become much busier. |
| B. Christmas shopping ends before Christmas Day. |
| C. People keep spending their Christmas money on New Year Sales. |
| D. Shopping seems over in January. |
VII. Supply the correct form of the words in bracket to complete each sentence (1.5 pts)
| 29. Nam is one of the most effective __________________ in the charity programs. (act) |
| 30. The bank performed very __________________ in the concert last night. (impress) |
| 31. I don’t want to think of that __________________ accident. (disaster) |
| 32. The two sides of the city are __________________ by the river. (separation) |
| 33. We find advertising on television sometimes very __________________. (effect) |
| 34. Electricity, gas and water are __________________ in Western countries. (need) |
VIII. Sentence transformation (l.0 pt)
| 35. The table was too old to keep.
→ It was ____________________________________ |
| 36. “Have lunch with me?”, she said to me.
→ She invited ____________________________________ |
| 37. They were unable to finish their game of tennis because of a heavy shower.
→ A heavy shower ____________________________________ |
| 38. They wanted to climb the mountain even though it was dangerous.
→ They wanted ____________________________________ |
IX. Rearrangement (0.5 pts)
| 39. a child / My father/ go fishing / used to / was / he / when /. //
→ My father ____________________________________ |
| 40. storms / known as / Tropical / typhoons / in Asia / which are / occur / frequently /. //
→ Tropical ____________________________________ |
—HẾT—