I. Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others (0.5 pts)
| 1. A. garbage | B. standard | C. solar | D. lunar |
| 2. A. ethnic | B. whether | C. those | D. clothing |
II. Choose the word whose main stress pattern is not the same as that of the other (0.5 pts)
| 3. A. exist | B. avoid | C. support | D. notice |
| 4. A. medical | B. restaurant | C. remember | D. government |
III. Choose the word/ phrase (A, B, C or D) that best fits the space in each sentence (2.5 pts)
5. When she _______________ the top of the stairs, her heart was pounding.
| A. went | B. reached | C. got | D. arrived |
6. _______________ Easter, many children and adults enjoy painting eggs.
| A. On | B. In | C. To | D. At |
7. Designers have taken _______________ from Vietnam’s ethnic minorities to modernize the Ao Dai.
| A. tradition | B. convenience | C. inspiration | D. fashion |
8. Bill Gates, _______________ is known as the king of computer programs, is famous for his charitable work.
| A. who | B. that | C. whom | D. A and B are correct |
9. He is very experienced _______________ looking after animals.
| A. for | B. with | C. on | D. in |
10. I wish I _______________ you but I can’t.
| A. can join | B. could join | C. will join | D. join |
11. If _______________ continues, our planet will be destroyed.
| A. deforestation | B. conservation | C. preservation | D. disappointment |
12. Tom is only 17 and _______________ not eligible to vote.
| A. because | B. but | C. therefore | D. although |
13. Everyone will agree to our suggestion, _______________?
| A. will they | B. will he | C. won’t they | D. won’t he |
14. “How many languages can you speak?” – “_______________.”
| A. I have no difficulty in learning a foreign language | B. I agree with you | C. Only English and Spanish | D. I’m not sure about that |
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 climb the mountain.
B. You are allowed to climb the mountain. C. You mustn’t climb the mountain. D. Climbing the mountain is exciting. |
| 16. This sign means: | |
 |
A. People shouldn’t cut down trees.
B. We should save forests. C. We should prevent deforestation. D. All are correct. |
V. Choose the word or phrase that best fits the blank space in the paragraph (l.5 pts)
Cheap oil and cheap gasoline helped to make modern America. They shaped America’s cities, and they were an essential part of the American lifestyle. They were also essential in the great empty states of the West, (17)__________ people often have to travel long distances.
Today, Americans consume about 25% of the world’s energy far more than people in other countries; but the situation is (18)__________ changing. Americans are already buying smaller cars, and American cars consume much (19)__________ gas than they used to. But in the coming years, they will use less and less oil. They will have to.
There is still a lot of oil (20)__________ the ground, but oil and gas must become more expensive in the future. Over 50% of America’s traditional oil reserves (21)__________-mostly since 1950. Nobody knows when America’s oil will start running out, but the first problems could come in less than 20 years. And as soon as oil starts running out (22)__________ price will go up very quickly!
In conclusion, the “two-dollar gallon” was good for America. It has encouraged Americans to buy smaller cars, and to use less energy. That way, America’s oil will last longer perhaps until the age of clean green energy arrives.
(From Internet)
| 17. A. which | B. that | C. where | D. when |
| 18. A. fast | B. quickly | C. slow | D. slowly |
| 19. A. less | B. fewer | C. more | D. least |
| 20. A. in | B. on | C. under | D. over |
| 21. A. were used | B. has already used | C. already used | D. have already been used |
| 22. A. that | B. its | C. their | D. the |
VI. Reading Comprehension: True – False + Answer the Questions (1.5 pts)
People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many factors to take into consideration.
Firstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant when learning a second language. A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than a native speaker of Chinese because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language. The greater the differences between the second language and our first, the harder it will be for most people to learn. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet.
No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that there is one language that is the most difficult language in the world.
(Extracted from https://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/5.html)
True or False?
23. The question of how hard a language is to learn is relevant to both first and second language acquisition.
| A. True | B. False |
24. Portuguese is definitely easier than Chinese.
| A. True | B. False |
25. Many language learners say that Chinese is the hardest language to learn because of the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese.
| A. True | B. False |
26. The writer thinks that learning new writing systems is easy.
| A. True | B. False |
Questions
27. Which of the following is the definition of “take into consideration”?
| A. solve the problem | B. discuss | C. think carefully about | C. take action |
28. Which of the following is the best heading for the passage?
| A. Chinese is the most difficult language to learn in the world. |
| B. Which is the hardest language? |
| C. Both first and second languages are hard to learn. |
| D. Roman alphabet and Chinese characters. |
VII. Supply the correct form of the words in brackets to complete each sentence. (1.5 pts)
| 29. We enjoyed the __________________ atmosphere in Hue. (peace) |
| 30. __________________ of high quality always please customers. (produce) |
| 31. The next stage in the development of television is __________________ TV. (active) |
| 32. We can minimize __________________ by recycling bottles and cans. (pollute) |
| 33. By the year 2025 many buildings will be __________________ by solar energy. (hot) |
| 34. She is old enough to live __________________. (depend) |
VIII. Rearrange the sentences (1.0 pt)
| 35. They say soccer is the best game to play.
→ Soccer ____________________________________ |
| 36. We can’t survive when there is no air.
→ Without ____________________________________ |
| 37. She always turns on the lights when going to bed.
→ I suggest ____________________________________ |
| 38. Edison was a great scientist. He invented the electric light bulb.
→ Edison, ____________________________________ |
IX. Rearrangement (0.5 pts)
| 39. their uniform / take pride in / can / which bears / Students / their school’s name /. //
→ Students ____________________________________ |
| 40. economically / and energy / spend / your money / should / as / You / as possible /. //
→ You ____________________________________ |
—HẾT—