PASSAGE 31

With exams approaching, you should be thinking about how to get better at time management and organize your days so you can strike the right balance between home, work and university life. You should also try and eat some brain food – and no, we don’t mean crisps and energy drinks!

By taking the time to arrange your priorities, you can give yourself the best chance of staying on track  and organized during the exam period, which in turn can help reduce stress levels, something that can be the difference between success and failure at university.

Take a look at our top seven time management tips, so that you can do your best at university and also find moments to relax and even earn some money on the side.

First and foremost, allow time for planning to avoid repetition. Taking the time to research, plan and think about your work is crucial for good time management. Allow yourself the time to process new information and plan how you are going to use it, as this can help you to avoid having to re-read and repeat any research. One way of effectively planning before researching is to make a list of everything you want to find out, so that you can make notes below each subheading as you go.

Secondly, avoid procrastination and distraction One way to avoid procrastination is to think about the different places you have been when studying – where were you the most focused? Where were you most distracted? Is there anything you can do to make studying actually somewhat enjoyable? Remember, what works for one person might not necessarily work for you. For some, studying with friends can limit their productivity. But for others, studying in groups can help to increase motivation and avoid procrastination.

Next, exercise to clear your head in between study sessions. Believe it or not, exercise works in the same way sleep does. It can focus your state of mind, helping you to clear your head and boost your brain power in between study sessions. If you’re new to exercise, aim to fit in a 10-minute run here and there, steadily increasing the amount you do as you go on.

Finally, ask yourself the question, “Has your organization been effective?”. Constantly reviewing and reassessing your schedule can help you to recognize whether you need to make any changes in order to help you complete any university tasks and also have time to relax and spend time with friends and family.

Câu 1. According to the passage, what is NOT regarded as brain food?

A. Fruit

B. Meat

C. Vegetables

D. Crisps

Câu 2. Who is most likely the target reader of this passage?

A. An English teacher

B. A primary-school pupil

C. A university student

D. A college manager

Câu 3. What is NOT mentioned as a benefit of following these tips?

A. Getting high scores

B. Learning effectively

C. Saving money  

D. Having leisure time

Câu 4. According to the passage, part of time management process is .

A. planning

B. reading

C. writing   

D. speaking

Câu 5. One important aspect of planning for studying is   .

A. a study place

B. pair-work

C. group-work

D. study equipment

Câu 6. It should be remembered that everyone is    .

A. active

B. similar

C. different 

D. friendly

Câu 7. What benefit of exercise is NOT mentioned ?

A. Refreshing the mind

B. Getting sound asleep

C. Focusing on study

D. Thinking clearly

Câu 8. It’s important to keep    your timetable.

A. repeating

B. repairing

C. replacing

D. reviewing

PASSAGE 32

Reading the news these days is often a depressing and anxiety inducing task. Mass shooting, pipe bombs, assassinations, and – over it all – climate change haunt the discussion. The sources of these modern human malignancies are generally the same: male leaders who want to maintain economic, political, and religious power no matter the cost.

Cognitive scientists know that the female brain is different from the male. Women are less likely to commit mass murder, less inclined to start a war, more likely to be in touch with and express their emotions, and more interested in nuance, rather than decisiveness.

History shows that Egyptians knew than women ruled differently from men. And so they used them to protect the patriarchy, to act as stopgaps, placeholders, until the next man could fill the top spot on the social pyramid. But no matter how much power they held, even though many of them were called nothing less than King, these formidable women of ancient Egypt were not able to transcend the patriarchal agenda and change the system itself. When their reigns ended, the masculine Egyptian power structure remained intact.

These queens call out from the past, challenging us to place women into political power, not as representatives of a patriarchal dynasty, but as women who serve their own, different agendas of social connection and emotional cohesion, instead of aping the aggression of the fathers, brothers, and sons.

Câu 1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. an uncertain world

B. Egyptian queens

C. female leading 

D. gender differences

Câu 2. The following sentence would best be placed at the end of which paragraph? It begs the question: Might women rule differently from men?

A. Paragraph 1

B. paragraph 2

C. Paragraph 3     

D. Paragraph 4

Câu 3. The word “inclined” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to     .

A. reluctant

B. slow

C. opposed 

D. willing

Câu 4. The word “them” in paragraph 3 refers to   .

A. women

B. men

C. Egyptians

D. emotions

Câu 5. Which of the following is NOT true about the Egyptian female leaders?

A. They held the positions which were equal to male leaders

B. They had real power when they were

C. They could change the Egyptian

D. They were sometimes more favorable than male ones

PASSAGE 33

There is a scam aimed at a child’s desire to be a published writer – usually as a poet, in a book of poems. How does the s cam work?

Keen teachers are unwittingly caught up in the promotion but are completely unaware of the dodgy side of the scheme.

There are plenty of honest opportunities for children’s writing that don’t cost their parents a small fortune and provide a poor-quality product. Most books in scams are badly set out. They tend to be huge volumes, squashing in as many writers’ efforts as possible to make as much money as possible. They’re an embarrassment for the young poets.

These competitions to ‘discover hidden talent’ sound great in the glossy flyers. Schools too are offered a prize if a winner is from their school. Schools become unpaid ‘agents’ in promotion of the competitions. Parents are happy to pay a small entry fee.

Each child hopes to get an ‘honourable mention’ with the possibility of being selected to be included in a book. The price of the book is not given. Naturally, if a child’s work were published, parents would want a copy of the book. In one such scheme the pre-order price was $67 with an extra $26 if the child’s photo was included. That’s nearly $100! Strangely, awards are given to those who pre-order a book!

The books are not attractive. A copy at a market sold for $2. There were three to five kids’ poems squashed on a page, with over 3000 poems jammed into that one book. Clip Art was used to illustrate the poor publication. Look at the maths. 3000 kids multiplied by $100 equals $300,000. Now add the entry fees of, say. $2 – add another $6000! Enough to cover publicity! One ‘place winner’ was upset when the parents realized this was a con to buy a book, but not buying the book made the parents feel guilty. Genuine competitions that publish books give a free copy to any ‘winner’.

Câu 1. According to the passage, a scam is   .

A. a scheme for making money dishonestly

B. a technique to provide teachers with learning incentives

C. an opportunity for publishers to reach a larger market

D. a means of letting children see their name in print

Câu 2. Parents are likely to buy a copy of a book that includes their child’s work because

         .

A. they want the anthology to be a financial success

B. the anthology is value for money

C. they are proud of their child’s ‘success’

D. it confirms their belief in their child

Câu 3. Books of verse written by children are popular promotions because    .

A. most parents enjoy children’s poetry

B. teachers encourage poetry writing in schools

C. children write better poetry than prose

D. children’s schools and parents get benefits from them

Câu 4. The mathematics included in the article is intended to     .

A. demonstrate the standards the promoters are committed to

B. explain why the pre-ordering option is important

C. expose the sneaky nature of the scam

D. convince parents to trust the organizers

Câu 5. The writer of the article finds the scheme    .

A. is of great worth

B. causes family unhappiness

C. is difficult to participate in

D. is badly organized

PASSAGE 34

Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending university a student will probably attend two terms each year. It is possible to spread to period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.

For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is useful for the student to show to coming employers. Most of the students feel the pressure of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. The students are interested in elections to positions in student organization. The effective work of keeping orders is usually performed by students who advise the university authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the large numbers of students, the operation of the system includes a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions is much respected and it will be of importance to him later in his career.

Câu 1. Normally a student would at least attend     classes each week.

A. 36

B. 20

C. 12

D. 15

Câu 2. According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed        .

A. to live in a different university

B. to take a particular course in a different university

C. to live at home and drive to classes

D. to get two degree from two different universities

Câu 3. American university students are usually under pressure of work because     .

A. their academic performance will affect their future careers

B. they are heavily involved in student affairs

C. they have to observe university discipline

D. they want to run for positions of authority

Câu 4. Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably because          .

A. they hate the constant pressure strain of their study

B. they will then be able to stay longer in the university

C. such positions help them get better jobs

D. such positions are usually well paid

Câu 5. The student organizations seem to be effective in .

A. dealing with the academic affairs of the university

B. ensuring that the students observe university regulations

C. evaluating students’ performance by bringing them before a court

D. keeping up the students’ enthusiasm for social activities

PASSAGE 35

During my last couple of year as a student here at Union High, I have noticed that there is nothing to do during our occasional free periods. Hanging around in the hallways or in the library with friends isn’t productive or relaxing. The student body council noticed this as well and brought it to the attention of Mr. Swanson and the rest of the faculty. A meeting to dicuss the issue occurred last Friday, February 10th, in the all-school meeting room.

The faculty not only agreed that there wasn’t much to do during these free periods, but also seemed determined to find a solution. The student body council and the faculty talked about different ideas for a long time. The faculty had noticed that some students don’t like using their free periods for studying. Instead, they spend their time disrupting the students who want to study by being noisy in the library. By the end of the meeting, the faculty had decided to put a pool table and a ping pong table in our student lobby at the start of next semester.

I know some people will be concerned about getting their work done with these potential distractions, but I believe this will help us all in enjoying our time at school. I agree that it’s impotant to complete our work but it is just as important to enjoy ourselves and to relax with our friends. School is already such a stressful place. It makes many students worried and anxious. We want our school to be a friendly place so that students want to come every day. Students should remember that this change will make the library a lot quieter. Because of this, the students who want to study will be able to do so in peace.

To all the students at Union High, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the new additions to our lobby. Hopefully, they will make our free periods a lot more relaxing. If you happen to have one of the same free periods as I do, then please challenge me to a game of pool!

Câu 1. What is the text mostly about?

A. Another choice for free periods at Union High

B. A chance to study in peace at Union High library

C. How students at Union High spend their free periods

D. A meeting at Union High about its new facilities

Câu 2. What is the meeting on February 10th about?

A. Students hanging around freely during free

B. Ineffective time at Union High

C. Finding a solution to spending free periods

D. Maintaining disciplines ay Union High

Câu 3. In paragraph 2, the word they refers to        .

A. faculty members

B. some students

C. students’ parents       

D. council members

Câu 4. In paragraph 2, the word disrupting is closest in meaning to   

A. fighting

B. insulting

C. corrupting

D. interrupting

Câu 5. According to the author, new facilities       

A. make the school a stressful place

B. make students worried

C. bring anxiety to students’ parents

D. make students relaxed during free periods

Câu 6. In paragraph 4, the word they refers to       

A. free periods

B. our friends

C. new additions  

D. all the students

PASSAGE 36

Twenty-five students from Walling School are currently living in France. They are there for three months as part of a living-abroad project. The 16- and 17-year-old students are living with French families and attending a French school. Most of the students have taken French language classes for 3 or 4 years and are finally getting on opportunity to use their French.

Not only ared students learning a new language, but they are learning about a new culture, too. Students have been particularly surprised about the French attitude towards food. “They won’t leave anything on their plate” says Vanessa Athol. “They aren’t wasteful at all”. Vanessa has vowed to be more careful with waste when returning to the United States.

The group’s chaperone, Mrs. Smith, has been pleased with the students’ acquisition of language. “Even the most timid are trying their best to speak. The students are learning a lot. I’m very impressed,” she said. Mrs. Smith added that she thinks living with a French family makes a difference because students are forced to speak French. “We are all very grateful to the French familes who are hosting us.”

The French families are happy to have the students, as they are getting to learn about American culture. Both groups will be celebrating the exchange at a large potluck dinner at the end of the stay. There will be a slide show of memories anf the students will speak about their experiences. Currently, the American students are periodically posting pictures and student essays on the Walling School website. “Living in France in an experience I’ll never forget,” writes student Tina Davis. “I know I’ll want to eat these croissants and this Camembert for the rest of my life!”

Câu 1. Which title would be the most suitable for this article?

A. French families love America

B. Student Tina Davis lives in France

C. Walling School website posts students essays

D. Walling school students stay abroad in France

Câu 2. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Students from Walling School are now staying in the USA.

B. These students are immigrants from the USA.

C. Walling School students are now staying with French

D. Walling school students are applying for jobs in

Câu 3. What can be implied about the culture in France?

A. It scares the students.

B. It requires fluency in French.

C. It can be learned from a book.

D. It’s different from the culture in America.

Câu 4. In paragraph 2, the word vowed is closest in meaning to .

A. promised

B. saved

C. received

D. changed

Câu 5. In paragraph 3, the word acquisition is closest in meaning to  

A. speaking

B. gaining

C. purchase

D. responsibility

Câu 6. Based on the passage, what does Mrs. Smith probably think about the French language?

A. It is more beautiful tha

B. It is verey important for international

C. It’s best to learn it from a French family in

D. It is something each and every student needs to

Câu 7. According to the passage, how will the students conclude their stay?

A. They will take a French exam

B. They will have a party together

C. They will visit Paris together

D. They will stay in hostel together

PASSAGE 37

The skills needed to succeed in college are very different from those required in high school.

In addition to study skills that may be new to students, there will also be everyday living skills that students may not have had to use before.

Students should:

know how to handle everyday living skills such as doing laundry, paying bills, balancing a checkbook, cooking, getting the oil changed in the car,

be familiar and compliant with medical needs concerning medication and health problems. If ongoing medical and/or psychological treatment is needed, arrangements should be made in advance to continue that care while the student is away at

understand that the environmental, academic, and social structure provided by parents and teachers will not be in place in college. With this lack of structure comes an increased need for responsibility in decision-making and goal-setting.

know how to interact appropriately with instructors, college staff, roommates, and peers. Appropriate social interaction and communication are essential at the college level of

be comfortable asking for help when needed. The transition from high school to college can be overwhelming socially and academically. Students should know when they need help and should be able to reach out and ask for that

(Source:Adapted/rom http://riseupms.com)

Câu 1. According to the writer, if students want to have medical treatment, they should    .

A. Be away

B. Be familiar with medical needs

C. Make arrangements

D. Meet their parents

Câu 2. The word “ongoing” is closest in meaning to        .

A. Continuing

B. short-term

C. brief      

D. little

Câu 3. College students should be aware that         .

A. Everything in college will be different

B. Parents and teachers are not in college

C. Structures must be provided by parents

D. Structures must be provided by teachers

Câu 4. Which of the following is NOT true about college life?

A. It is essential to have good communication

B. Students must be responsible for their own

C. Students should know some living

D. Students should not ask for

Câu 5. The word “overwhelming” is closest in meaning to       .

A. Simple

B. confusing

C. manageable

D. easy