PRACTICE TEST 11

I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Part 1: For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about social engineering attacks and decide whether these
statements are True (T), False (F), or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
1. Both traditional hacking and social engineering attacks rely on technical hacking techniques to
compromise data security.
2. Phishing refers to the use of fraudulent emails to gain information from unsuspecting users.
3. Physical breaches involve pretending to be somebody to occupy a space in the office.
4. In pretext calling, the scenario that the attacker creates needs to be persuasive to win trust from the
victim.
5. A paper shredder can be a useful tool to guard against social engineering attacks.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2: For questions 6-10, listen to a report on a medical advance and answer the questions. Write
ONE WORD ONLY taken from the recording for each answer in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
6. What organ was successfully transplanted into a human patient?
7. What is this type of surgery technically called?
8. What tool is used to facilitate the function of the patient’s heart?
9. What kind of test did the patient called Mo conduct when he was diagnosed with brain cancer?
10. What could these medical advances give patients whose lives are at stake?
Your answers:
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3: You will hear part of an interview with Miriam Baker, a psychologist, about how social
media has changed self-expression. For questions 11-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits
best according to what you hear.
11. According to Miriam, what is the main reason people feel the need to create perfect images of
their lives on social media?
A. They are hoping to attract more friends. B. They want their lives to seem more exciting.
C. They are in need of validation. D. They have very unhappy lives.
12. In Miriam's view, the average user of social media is
A. driven and only interested in self-gratification.
B. lonely and looking for meaningful connections.
C. curious and concerned with their surroundings.
D. volatile and confused about what they want.
13. When discussing her own experience with social media, Miriam reveals
A. her unexpected pleasure at the response. B. her desire to engage with it more.
C. her worry of becoming addicted. D. her anxiety of not being accepted.
14. Miriam compares media in the past with social media today to
A. highlight the reduction in consumption. B. focus on the differing subject matter.
C. explain the difference in the audience. D. illustrate the variety of content.
15. What advice does Miriam give about combating `Digital Narcissism'?
A. Be true to who you really are. B. Try to post more meaningful content.
C. Focus on others and not yourself. D. Do things that increase your self-esteem
Your answers:
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about the history of hamburgers and supply the blanks
with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording
for each answer in the spaces provided.
There is tremendous controversy over the origin of the hamburger with many people claiming to have
16.____________ for this type of food.
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The initial concept of burgers could possibly be associated with the introduction of steak tartare, a dish of
raw ground beef, usually served with 17.____________ and chopped onions.
The Hamburg steak, which is 18.____________, smoked, and usually served raw along with onions and
19.____________, then became popular on the menus of many restaurants in the U.S.
However, the original American burgers are claimed to have been invented by chance as Menches Brothers
used ground beef as a replacement for 20.____________ at a fair.
Another American claimant to the title of inventor of the hamburger is Charlie Nagreen, who
21.____________ meatballs and placed them between two slices of bread.
However, it is Lewis Lassen who officially earned his place as the creator of the hamburger. Lewis ran a
22.____________ selling steak sandwiches; he ground up some scraps of beef and served it as a sandwich
sold between pieces of toasted bread.
Buns became more popular as White Castle set up a burger chain, staring out as a 23.____________.
The first double-decker cheeseburger labelled 24.____________was created in California.
Giants such as Mc Donald’s and Wendy’s started to venture into the business. Nowadays, we are
witnessing other types of burgers as alternatives for those served with 25.____________.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. Due to a public outcry, they decided to _______________ an infamous government-run project on
mind control.
A. pull the plug on B. clip the wings of
C. nip the bud of D. steal a march on
27. Many people still believe that traveling to Mars is __________.
A. a clean slate B. a sore point C. a pipe dream D. a crying shame
28. It is claimed that the President’s son has ___________ drug dealers for a long time.
A. fraternized with B. hobnobbed with
C. chummed around with D. consorted with
29. Although Ian’s argument seemed plausible at first, his opponent in the debate dismissed it as mere
__________ and refuted it thoroughly.
A. solicitousness B. sophistry C. substantiation D. acumen
30. Jane is considered one of the most erudite members of the group, having ____________ researched all
new developments in his discipline.
A. unstintingly B. assiduously C. lackadaisically D. languorously
31. It is not as if there is any shortage of policies for them to choose from—indeed, there is a(n)
______________ of riches.
A. embarrassment B. convolution C. conglomerate D. hotchpotch
32. Ordering a second portion of that delicious chicken pie would be a tad______________ I suppose,
wouldn’t it?
A. aromatic B. gluttonous C. self-effacing D. vigilant
33. Let alone being left out in the cold for an hour after a second 30-year-old lift failed and security guards
said they could not allow them to use the stairs, the staff started to _______ in their work.
A. exasperate, such an unwarranted interference it was
B. fume, such was an unwarranted interference
C. smolder, so unwarranted an interference it was
D. seethe, so unwarranted an interference was which
34. _____ the circling the globe faster than Jules Verne’s fictional Phileas Fogg.
A. A pioneer journalist, Nellie Bly’s exploits included
B. Also included in the exploits of Nellie Bly, a pioneer journalist, was
C. The exploits of Nellie Bly, a pioneer journalist, were included
D. The pioneer journalist’s exploits of Nellie Bly included
35. This lack of technical wizardry does not seem to make a __________ of difference in their lives.
A. sign B. ray C. dash D. whit
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
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Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered boxes
provided.
36. We were amazed by her wonderful skill in the __________ of crying infants. (PEACE)
37. The woman's laugh is _________ and not very hearty, and she is the only one of her company, who is
laughing. (MIRTH)
38. He examined the delicate artefact with______________care. I doubt he could have been any more
careful were he holding his own child in his arms. (REVERE)
39. Allowing workers to dress as they please instantly increases ________. (COLLEGE)
40. For consistency, all products were tested and laboratory analysis was completed ________.
(TEMPORAL)
Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
The anime genre has revolutionized art with a myriad of styles and Your Answers:
techniques in the world of motion picture animation. Anime uses classical
animation production means of storyboarding, character design, and voice 41.
acting. It is a form of limited animation in which instead of drawing each 42.
frame, the animator reuses common parts between frames. As a result, this 43.
technique makes viewers believe that there is more movement than actually 44.
that is happening. Moreover, this makes anime production cost-effective 45.
and time-saving as more frames are drawn during the process.

Anime forms a more stylized result that liberates the animators of stringent
adherence to depict the real-time world. Anime art styles range from direct
and straightforward to bizarre and flamboyant. Not to mention, even series
having basic artwork are visually striking for many viewers.

The storyline in anime series can vary from tales of samurai to humorous
adventures and pirate attacks. Most of these shows and movies differ from
their American equivalences because of their plots, which do not change till
the last series. Many anime storylines depict morals and an amount of
complexity. Besides, the lengthy storyline of the series keeps the audience
glued over the long run. Therefore, it intrigues viewers who like to watch a
plot interpret over upcoming episodes.
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
We are all living in the past: the 46. _____ of 'now' is an illusion. The discovery, reported by a team of
scientists, has the bizarre consequence that your brain is collecting information about the future of an event
before it puts together what it thinks it saw at the 47. _____ of the event. Our brains seem to work in a
similar way to the slightly delayed 48._____ of live TV shows to provide an opportunity for fast editing
changes. The delay 49._____ which our brains process visual information has now been measured by
scientists, providing new insights into 50._____ we use vision to make sense of the world.
Human 51._____ of the outside world seems to be delayed by a minimum of 80 thousandths of a second.
This is comparative to live television, which can be broadcast after a delay of about three seconds to
52._____ for editing. 'What you think you're seeing at any given moment is 53. _____ influenced by events
in the near future’, the scientists say in their report. They used a technique called 'the flash-lag
phenomenon', which 54. _____ as a visual illusion to the brain. They discovered that human brains seem to
develop conscious awareness in an 'after-the-fact fashion', 55. _____ information from both before and
after an event before committing to a decision about what happened.
Your answers
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
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 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Multitasking: myth or reality?
In one of the many letters he wrote to his son in the 1740s, the British statesman Lord Chesterfield offered
the following advice: ‘There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing
at once, but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.’ To Chesterfield,
singular focus was not merely a practical way to structure one’s time; it conveyed something about a
person, regardless of their educational background. ‘This steady and undissipated attention to one object, is
a sure mark of a genius; as hurry, bustle, and agitation, are the never-failing symptoms of a weak and
frivolous mind.’
In modern times, hurry, bustle, and agitation are a regular way of life for many people - unfortunately so
much so that we have embraced a word that describes our efforts to respond to the many pressing demands
on our time: multitasking. Used for decades to describe the parallel processing abilities of computers,
multitasking is now shorthand for the human attempt to simultaneously do as many things as possible, as
quickly as possible, preferably marshaling the power of as many technologies as possible.
Massachusetts-based psychiatrist Dr Edward Hallowell, who specializes in the treatment of attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD) and has written a book with the self-explanatory title CrazyBusy, has
been offering therapies to combat extreme multitasking for years. In his book he calls multitasking a
‘mythical activity in which people believe they can perform two or more tasks simultaneously’. In a 2005
article, he coined the term ‘Attention Deficit Trait’ (ADT), a syndrome which he claims is rampant in the
business world. ADT is ‘purely a response to the hyperactive environment in which we live’, writes
Hallowell, and its hallmark symptoms mimic those of ADD. ‘Never in history has the human brain been
asked to track so many data points,’ Hallowell argues, and this challenge ‘can be controlled only by
creatively engineering one’s environment and one’s emotional and physical health.’ Limiting multitasking
is essential.
To better understand the multitasking phenomenon, neurologists and psychologists have studied the
workings of the brain. In 1999, Jordan Grafman used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans
to determine that when people engage in ‘task-switching’ — that is, multitasking behavior — the flow of
blood increases to a region of the frontal cortex called Brodmann Area 10. (The flow of blood to particular
regions of the brain is taken as an indication of activity in those regions.) ‘This is presumably the last part
of the brain to evolve, the most mysterious and exciting part,’ Grafman said.
This fact is also what makes multitasking a poor long-term strategy for learning. Other studies, such as
those performed by psychologist René Marois, have used fMRI to demonstrate the brain’s response to
handling multiple tasks. Marois found evidence of a ‘response selection bottleneck’ that occurs when the
brain is forced to respond to several stimuli at once. As a result, task-switching leads to time lost as the
brain determines which task to perform. Psychologist David Meyer believes that rather than a bottleneck in
the brain, a process of ‘adaptive executive control’ takes place, which ‘schedules task processes
appropriately to obey instructions about their relative priorities and serial order’, as he described to the
New Scientist. Unlike many other researchers who study multitasking, Meyer is optimistic that, with
training, the brain can learn to task-switch more effectively, and there is some evidence that certain simple
tasks are amenable to such practice.
Psychology professor Russell Poldrack found that ‘multitasking adversely affects how people learn. Even
if you learn while multitasking, that learning is less flexible and more specialized, so you cannot retrieve
the information as easily.’ His research demonstrates that people use different areas of the brain for
learning and storing new information when they are distracted: brain scans of people who are distracted or
multitasking show activity in the striatum, a region of the brain involved in learning new skills; brain scans
of people who are not distracted show activity in the hippocampus, a region involved in storing and
recalling information. Discussing his research, Poldrack warned, ‘We have to be aware that there is a cost
to the way that our society is changing, that humans are not built to work this way. We’re really built to
focus. And when we sort of force ourselves to multitask, we’re driving ourselves to perhaps be less
efficient in the long run even though it sometimes feels like we’re being more efficient.’
For questions 1-7, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given
(NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
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56. Lord Chesterfield linked the ability to fully focus on a single task with strong will and single-
mindedness.
57. The use of “multitasking” as a technological term preceded that as a psychological one.
58. Dr Hallowell’s eminence in treating ADD prompted him to devise remedies for ADT.
59. According to Grafman, when multitasking occurs, heightened activity is registered in a particular
segment of the frontal cortex.
60. A plethora of researchers agree that the brain can be exercised to accommodate multitasking.
61. That less sophisticated tasks can be performed simultaneously is purely hypothetical.
62. Multitasking supposedly engenders an illusion of productivity.
For questions 63-68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Recently, “multitasking”, initially encompassing computers’ 63._______, has become a buzzword to
signify humankind’s struggles against time-related pressure. Relevant terminology has since been drawn
up, with ADT acting as a so-called answer to the 64._______ that surrounds modern-day citizens. Through
further work by 65._______, task-switching proved to be an obstruction to efficacious learning, noticeably
owing to the discovery of a 66._______ upon the brain’s efforts to handle various stimuli. However,
alternative theories corroborating multitasking’s benefits still proliferate – a stand-out one supporting a
mechanism known as 67._______, which systematically rearranges tasks. Still, brain scans demonstrate
that two cerebral areas - the 68._______ and _______ - are responsible for learning with and without
distraction respectively, ultimately highlighting that humans are not wired for multitasking.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.

63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.

Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMITS
The first of the environmental summit meetings was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and was called the
Earth Summit. This focused on certain treaties, such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change, as
well as bringing about agreements on the need to stop species loss and desertification.
69.
Other spin-offs were the Millennium Summit in New York, the World Trade Organisation talks in Doha,
Qatar, in 2002 and, in the same year, the conference on financing in Monterrey, Mexico, but whether these
result in real improvements remains to be seen.
70.
Regarding environmental matters, the summit agreed to restore fish stocks, in part by promising to actually
guard ocean areas already designated as protected. More countries also agreed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
in an attempt to reduce global warming. The final text of the Summit omitted target dates and percentages
for the use of renewable energy sources, mainly because the world's oil-producing countries were
concerned about the costs of renewables.
71.
Also recognised was the need for developed countries to end farming subsidies so that poorer nations
which depend on agriculture can compete in the export market.
72.
An upshot of this was that seven of the world's largest energy companies announced that they would share
technical plans on how to get more solar-powered generation plants to rural areas in poor countries.
73.
While this was a significant step forward, particularly since the presence of big business had scarcely been
felt at the Earth Summit, it was just a drop in the bucket, given that some 700 companies attended the

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World Summit. Their involvement at such meetings is undoubtedly good for their public relations image
but, thus far, any help given by corporations has only been beneficial to a limited few.
74.
The report states that, with existing policies alone, we can expect little improvement in the near future. A
question which arises as a result of such conferences and reports is: how useful are they?
75.
Might the new millennium have ushered in a more compassionate era? With any luck something will be
done to alleviate the plight of the poor and of the planet.
Missing paragraphs:
A. Energy is something that many people in the West take for granted: there is light at the flick of a switch
and all homes have television sets. But according to a report published by the International Energy
Agency (IEA) in 2002 prior to the summit, some 1.6 billion people in the developing world have no
access to 'modern' energy supplies. These people burn cow dung and wood, often in poorly ventilated
houses, leading to serious respiratory problems and even premature death.
B. Delegates seemed to agree that what was needed was action, not words, and questioned the necessity
for any further summit meetings. Given the plight of the poor, the argument ran, it was obscene for
delegates and their attendants to wallow in luxurious surroundings with shanty towns like Soweto only
a short distance away.
C. In addition, an aluminium company pledged to help villagers in the Asian sub-continent to remove
arsenic from their water supplies, one of the world's largest oil companies announced plans to put solar
panels in thousands of rural homes in poor countries, and mining companies operating in Africa
promised to supply free anti-AIDs drugs and health care for infected workers and their families.
D. The second meeting of this kind, called the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held a decade
later in Johannesburg, was faced with the somewhat thorny problem of how to implement the decisions
taken in Rio. It would be inaccurate to say that the Earth Summit achieved very little, as out of it came
the laudable 1997 Kyoto Protocol which required industrialised nations to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels.
E. However, 30 nations promised to go beyond the requirements set out in the summit declaration and
agreed that renewable energy production should rise globally, and pledged to conduct regular reviews
of progress towards their targets. Also recognised was the need for developed countries to end farming
subsidies so that poorer nations which depend on agriculture can compete in the export market.
F. The Conference, which was held from 18 to 22 March in Monterrey, Mexico, was the culmination of a
process that began over two years ago with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 54/196 of
December 1999. It was mandated to promote international cooperation in six key areas to address the
challenges of development financing and poverty alleviation.
G. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the World Summit was that non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) and the world of big business explored how they could work, either together with governments
or alone, to improve the lot of the poor.
H. At the recent World Summit in Johannesburg, all delegates acknowledged the need to take concrete
measures in order to attempt to improve the living conditions of those in the developing world who are
living in poverty. The delegates at the summit agreed to try to cut by half the number of people with
inadequate water and sanitation by 2015. This is expected to help roughly a billion people and would
go a long way towards reducing the number of infant deaths caused by diarrhoea, cholera and other
water-borne diseases.
Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

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. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
The Lure of Horror
If, like me, you've ever spent an evening hidden behind your cushion anticipating the climax to some
petrifying scene in a film, you're among millions of others who can't help but watch horror films without
the faintest idea of why they're putting themselves through such an ordeal. Of course, there are some
people who watch such films to come across as fearless, even if underneath their bold exterior they are
filled with terror, but there are also huge numbers of viewers who truly relish a good scare.
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The reasons for differing reactions to horror may be down to how people's brains function. Watching these
kinds of movies releases chemicals such as adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine, which make most people
feel charged with energy, mirroring the 'fight or flight' energy rush we experience in times of peril, and,
coupled with the safe environment in which we usually watch these types of movies, we end up with a
physical fear response that we know is no actual threat to our safety. Due to these chemicals, we can also
get a feeling of pride once we've endured the entire film, as if we've confronted the horror ourselves!
Horror films also appeal to our sense of 'what if', and exploring these kinds of scenarios aids us in forward-
planning for disasters. As ridiculous as it sounds, when we watch films presenting characters in dire straits
(when, for example, someone is trapped in a cave or running from a baddie), we naturally set about
contemplating how we would react if we were in the shoes of those in danger on screen. This reaction is a
subconscious way in which we prepare for the worst and reflect on how we would handle such menaces,
and by opening ourselves up to a variety of traumatising events on film, it can make coping with
unpleasant, albeit less dramatic, real-life situations easier. After all, it's never going to get as bad as a
zombie apocalypse, hopefully!
Watching these kinds of films also offers us a sense of mental superiority to others as we believe that we
could avert most of the disasters that befall the characters. Let's face it, many characters in horror films
make disastrous choices: How often have you been watching a movie and screamed for the heroine not to
go back into the house or into the basement? These formulaic movies enable us to conclude that we
could never find ourselves in such a disastrous situation, because we would be far more wary than
the short-sighted sap we see on the screen, and, as a result, we gain confidence in our own abilities.
Further to making us feel clever, these films also provide a form of bonding opportunity for many people.
Only the most dedicated horror fans watch these films alone in the dead of night; most of us watch them
while clutching hold of others around us, and this is simply because the experience of being afraid and
shocked connects us to our fellow viewers.
[A] You probably have a friendship group that includes a combination of people who either love or loathe
horror, and we shouldn't judge the reactions of others in terms of this genre. [B] After all, we know that
horror is more about how the chemicals in our brains are reacting rather than our own sense of bravery. [C]
Some people also have a better ability to suspend belief than others, which might heighten their chemical
reactions. [D] However, perhaps if you're determined to enjoy a horror film with someone who
traditionally isn't a horror lover, there is an answer. Horror seems terrifying until you look at it from a
broader perspective. How many times have you seen the baddie pounce from behind a curtain in the dead
of night? It might seem terrifying at first, but that baddie would have had to be standing behind that curtain
for who knows how many hours waiting for the victim to casually pass. They probably got caught in the
curtain themselves, and almost definitely had cramp by the time their victim turned up. Sometimes, asking
the most pragmatic questions makes a horror film turn into a joke.
76. In the first paragraph, what is the writer's reaction to horror films?
A. They try to avoid watching any of them.
B. They have a love-hate relationship with them.
C. They enjoy the feeling of fear experienced.
D. They find them a terrifying ordeal.
77. What explains the sensation of invigoration often felt when watching horror films?
A. The suspense and narrative intricacies.
B. The buzz akin to genuine danger.
C. The recognizability of horror film tropes.
D. The companionship of fellow viewers.
78. In paragraph two, the writer cites that horror films can give us a sense of:
A. insecurity.
B. anticipation.
C. misadventure.
D. accomplishment.
79. What does the writer find 'ridiculous' in paragraph three?
A. How we imagine ourselves as the characters.
B. How we react to certain plots in horror films.
C. How some characters react to situations.
D. How we compare horror films to real-life scenarios.
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80. What is the writer's perspective on most horror film victims?
A. They can't see the danger.
B. They have limited abilities.
C. They are predictably dim.
D. They are stereotypical.
81. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence
in the passage 3? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out
essential information.
A. These formulaic movies reassure us that we would always outsmart the characters on screen, boosting
our self-assurance.
B. These formulaic movies provide us with a sense of confidence in our own abilities by depicting
characters whose actions we believe we would handle more prudently.
C. These formulaic movies depict characters as short-sighted fools, leading us to feel superior and
confident in our own judgment
D. These formulaic movies convince us that we could never face dire situations like the characters on
screen, reinforcing our belief in our own astuteness.
82. The word "straits" in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. accidents
B. chases
C. narrows
D. predicaments
83. What advice does the writer give at the end?
A. Think of why the villain is doing it.
B. Realise how improbable the story is.
C. Laugh at the ridiculous storylines.
D. Watch horror films from a more practical angle.
84. Look at the four squares [.] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the
passage. People who enjoy horror and the feeling of being scared are often well aware that what they
are witnessing is fake and just an improbable diversion, but those who tend to get wrapped up in the
story can find such films unbearable.
Where could the sentence best be added?
A. [C] B. [A] C. [D] D. [B]
85. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as benefits of watching horror films EXCEPT
enhancing______.
A. contingency planning
B. interpersonal bonds
C. anxiety threshold
D. self-assurance
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 5. The passage below consists of four paragraphs marked A, B, C and D. For questions 86-95,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
When things don’t go right in business
Some personal experiences
A Michaela James: Food industry
I emerged from business school raring to go. My area of expertise was supplying the catering industry with
ingredients for use in fast-food outlets. I'd thought of a new idea for how to organise the distribution
network and thought I could make a go of it. I immediately set up a company, despite my canny parents
urging restraint and patience. I sunk all my savings into the company, took out loans, ran up an overdraft
but was still underfunded. So I explained my idea to an expert, a venture capitalist, and asked him if he
could help me attract backers. Little did I know that he'd go straight to one of the big players in the
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industry and sell my idea to them behind my back. In my naivety, and desire to set the ball rolling, I'd
omitted to get him to sign a confidentiality agreement - an omission which I paid dearly for in subsequent
months, and years. My idea was certainly a money-spinner but sadly not for me. I lost out there but
chalked it up to experience. Before long, I'd been taken on by a rival company and found my niche.
Luckily, my injured pride soon recovered!
B Sam Liddle: Lifestyle management business
Our particular problem was not lack of expansion but rather over-expansion, in the sense that it all
happened too fast without our having done the necessary groundwork. In our business, we commit to
respond to our clients' requests - whether it's for concert tickets, a hotel booking, a golfing holiday- within
a very short timescale. However, when the number of requests suddenly burgeoned into over 10,000 a
month, we recruited staff in the heat of the moment, simply to clear the backlog. I guess we thought that
level of business would be sustained, but it turned out to be no more than a blip. After that, we faced the
prospect of radical cost-cutting. reduction in staffing levels and motivational talks for our reduced
workforce. It paid off in the end but I was certainly out of my comfort zone for a while. I thought I'd
messed up totally - and that's putting it mildly!
C Liz Andrews: Online translation company
Our business successfully provides translation services for business or individuals. Some years ago, a
multi- millionaire with more money than sense, persuaded us to take on a major project for him. He wanted
us to translate his 'philosophy of life' into fifty-seven languages so that he could then create a dedicated
website for this purpose. He also requested that we help him with the content. Since his financial input was
going to be considerable and he seemed trustworthy, we felt we could hardly refuse, although our gut
feeling told us otherwise. Although we recruited additional staff specifically for the project, it still
detracted from our core values and the focus on improving our services for the general public. Eventually,
we simply couldn't produce the material fast enough and the situation became untenable, so we agreed to
call it a day. As a company, the upside is that we got and retained two excellent managers, but the fact
remains that the whole situation dragged on for an inexcusable length of time before we faced up to it.
D Josh Black: Email security business
A year after our business was established, I insisted on sending a small team over to the USA to start up an
office there, assuming that a small-scale operation would be a good way of assessing the market potential
for our product. Due to lack of funds and inadequate on-site backup however, the operation floundered.
We were getting nowhere fast. Marketing a product in the USA is a different kettle of fish from the UK:
the expectations are greater and the market is so huge in comparison. Really, a fully-functioning base was
needed out there, so I suggested we set it up in New York as a fairly self-contained enterprise. That was the
only way I could see it would work. So we duly went over there and headhunted some key people from a
competitor - so far so good. That was the point at which, however, it came to light that our charges to users
were quite a bit above the going market rate - and our hands were tied; we'd committed to the new setup. In
the end, it all worked out for us and the USA became our biggest market with five million users by the
time we sold the company.
Which businessperson mentions
86. initial success being the source of later problems?
87. not paying attention to wise advice?
88. underestimating the effect of cultural differences?
89. being unable to raise sufficient levels of investment?
90. not responding to an instinctive feeling about a proposal?
91. failing to realise that integrity could not be assumed?
92. overreacting to an unrepresentative trend in sales?
93. not tackling fundamental problems soon enough?
94. approaching the staff of rival companies as a form of recruitment?
95. suffering a feeling of personal inadequacy at one stage?
Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

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IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words.
Might you be hypervigilant? A sombre question
Hypervigilance means – usefully – more than just worried or anxious; it denotes a condition of basic terror
at the constituents of existence, an ongoing relentless probing at every apparent positive in search of signs
of peril, pain, cruelty and malevolence. Any moment of the week, the hypervigilant person will be
concerned with something – an email they sent, a meeting they have been called to, a news item, a frosty
colleague – but this rotating litany of panics disguises the chronic nature of their condition. As soon as one
worry is solved, it is not just that another will arise, another must do so in order to fit in with a
fundamentally precarious sense of the nature of reality.
What lies behind hypervigilance is almost always the past. If it’s hysterical, as the caustic expression has it,
it’s historical. The catastrophe the hypervigilant fear will happen has already happened – and yet has been
forgotten or not adequately reflected upon, casting a shadow across the entirety of a life. Every new day
must be another crucible of fear so long as we lack any accurate sense of what once frightened us out of
our conscious selves.
The reason why the state is so hard to diagnose is that the mind furiously insists that every problem it is
dealing with in the here and now must be the sole and legitimate cause of our distress. If only we weren’t
facing this problem at work or at home, with friends or online, we would be fine, our minds tell us. What
we thereby miss is the bizarre-sounding truth that we aren’t principally worrying due to any local cause but
on account of an all-encompassing archaic necessity.
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Part 2. The chart below shows the amount of money given to developing countries from five
organisations from 2008 to 2011. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150 words.

Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.

Educational institutions have a responsibility to dissuade students from pursuing fields of study in
which they are unlikely to succeed. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you
agree or disagree with the claim.
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V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
In any educational institute, the system of rewards and punishments is deemed effective in
encouraging good behavior among students. Discuss the statement and give your opinion.

12
KEY AND EXPLANATION
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1
1. false
Traditional hacking aims to compromise the security settings of IT systems and applications. Social
engineering attackers attempt to exploit the users of these technologies by claiming to be employees,
vendors or support personnel to try to trick the workers people are trusting and willing to help others and
the attackers use that to their advantage by deceiving users into revealing information that compromises
data security.
→ Only traditional hacking relies on technical hacking techniques to compromise data security.
2. true
One technique is phishing emails which are typically the most successful form of social engineering this is
where hackers will send out emails to their victims in hopes of gaining sensitive information by tricking
them into clicking a malicious link giving the hacker access to information.
3. true
Another technique is physical breaches; this is where the hacker does an impersonation of someone else in
order to gain access to a secure location.
4. not given
Attackers can also use the technique of pretext calling; this is where an attacker makes up a scenario to
obtain the information they need. Pretext calling often requires trust to be formed between the attacker and
the victim.
→ The recording does not mention whether the information should be persuasive or not.
5. true
Always use a paper shredder to properly dispose of your printed material.
Part 2
6. kidney 0.14
7. xenotransplant 0.30
8. ventilator 0.37
9. biopsy 0.57
10. relief 1.36
Part 3
11. C
12. D
13. A
14. B
15. A
Interviewer Welcome back to the show. With me is Miriam Baker, a psychologist specialising in internet
use and behaviour. Miriam, moving on, I'd like to talk about this explosion of selfies and self-adoring posts
documenting almost everything we do in life on social media. What Is this all about?
Miriam: I'm so glad you brought this up, We are definitely seeing a large volume of content from users
about themselves. They thrive on how many likes they get. Social media is the perfect platform for
bragging and showing off. It's effortless and even celebrated. But users don't post everything about
themselves.
Interviewer: Well, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Miriam: I know, but seldom do we see the routine and boring parts of people's lives, like cleaning up the
house or paying their bills. Users portray only the interesting and fun stuff. They even sometimes go so far
as to stage content and posts that make their lives seem perfect; all in the pursuit of likes. (11) It's the
never-ending search for confirmation that they are worthy. Overall, they may have good lives with
friends and so on but they are looking for reinforcement from others. This unlimited 'look at me, look
at me' content is what we psychologists call digital narcissism and it's on the rise.
Interviewer: So what's wrong? Why are we so self-obsessed?
Miriam: It's the nature of the platform until it evolves into something more and it slowly will. Think about
it; It provides endless opportunities to focus on oneself and less on others and what's going on in the world.
This will definitely attract narcissists or bring out our narcissistic tendencies. We are more connected than
ever but less interested in other people. (12) That said, most social media users are not narcissistic
13
necessarily but they tend to be unsure in what they are looking for from the medium, causing
sometimes unpredictable online behaviour.
Interviewer: I can relate to that. Sometimes I spend time scrolling and clicking on posts for no real reason
except that I'm bored.
Miriam: We all know that feeling. When I joined a social network some years back, I never thought I
would post much but when (13) I did and got positive feedback, it was great. After some time, though, I
realised that in order for that to last I needed to post more. I could see how one could get addicted or feel
anxious about their posts. These are natural reactions but it's when we take it to another level and start
obsessing about how we are perceived that we are in danger of becoming digital narcissists.
Interviewer: So, it's really a digital phenomenon?
Miriam: Basically, yes. Before social media, TV provided an escape from reality by giving us a glimpse
into the lives of fictional characters on TV shows and films. Then came reality TV, turning everyday
people into stars. As. online video and the first social media sites started popping up, consumers became
the content themselves. We are still spending the same amount of time consuming and there is still lots to
consume (14) but what we are looking at has changed considerably.
Interviewer: Well, we all know one of these narcissists or may even be one ourselves. Is there an end to
this online behaviour?
Miriam: You might expect me to say work on raising your self-esteem and that may help but the real issue
at heart here is: are you representing yourself truthfully? I say this often to all forms of online engagement
(15) it’s important to focus on authenticity and just being yourself. It’s ok to share your passions with
the world but always keep in mind your real self. Seek out others with similar interests and create more in-
depth connections.
Interviewer: That makes sense to me. Can you tell me about other forms of online.
Part 4
16. There is tremendous controversy over the origin of the hamburger with many people claiming to have
bragging rights for this type of food.
17. The initial concept of burgers could possibly be associated with the introduction of steak tartare, a dish
of raw ground beef, usually served with raw eggs and chopped onions.
18-19. The Hamburg steak, which is salted, smoked, and usually served raw along with onions and bread
crumbs, then became popular on the menus of many restaurants in the U.S.
20. However, the original American burgers are claimed to have been invented by chance as Menches
Brothers used ground beef as a replacement for pork sausages at a fair.
21. Another American claimant to the title of inventor of the hamburger is Charlie Nagreen, who smushed
together meatballs and placed them between two slices of bread.
22. However, it is Lewis Lassen who officially earned his place as the creator of the hamburger. Lewis ran
a lunch wagon selling steak sandwiches; he ground up some scraps of beef and served it as a sandwich
sold between pieces of toasted bread.
23. Buns became more popular as White Castle set up a burger chain, staring out as a tiny food cart.
24. The first double-decker cheeseburger labelled the Big Boy was created in California.
25. Giants such as Mc Donald’s and Wendy’s started to venture into the business. Nowadays, we are
witnessing other types of burgers as alternatives for those served with scrap meat.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. A
Pull the plug on sth: to stop sth from continuing
Clip the wings of sb: to limit sb’s freedom
Nip sth in the bud: to stop sth before it has an opportunity to develop
Steal a march on sb: to gain an advantage over sb by acting before they do
27. C
A pipe dream is an idea/plan that is impossible or impractical
A clean slate is a state in which you are starting an activity or process again
A sore point is a subject about which someone feels annoyed
A crying shame is a great misfortune
28. D
Consort with sb: to spend time with a bad person
14
Fraternize with sb: to meet someone socially
Hobnob with sb: to socialize with someone, especially sb important or famous
Converse with sb: to have a conversation with sb
29. B
Sophistry (n): the use of fallacious arguments in order to deceive people
Solicitousness (n): a feeling of excessive concern
Substantiation (n): information or evidence that proves that something is true
Acumen (n): the ability to make good/correct judgments
30. B
Assiduously (adv): in a way that involves great care, attention and perseverance
Unstintingly (adv): in a way that is extremely generous
Lackadaisically (adv): in a way that lacks enthusiasm
Languorously (adv): in a way that is inactive and tired
31. A
An embarrassment of riches means so many good things or people that it is impossible to decide which of
them you want
Convolution (n): the use of complicated language
Conglomerate (n): a number of things or parts that are put together to form a whole
Hotchpotch (n): a confused mixture of different things
32. B
Gluttonous (adj): eating or drinking more than you need
Aromatic (adj): having a pleasant smell
Self-effacing (adj): not making yourself noticeable, or not trying to get the attention of other people
Vigilant (adj): always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger
33. B
34. B
35. D
Not a whit: not any amount

Part 2.
36. PACIFICATION (n) = the act of pacifying or bringing peace
37. MIRTHLESS (adj) = (of a smile/laugh) lacking real amusement and expressing irony
38. REVERENTIAL (adj) = full of respect and admiration
39. COLLEGIALITY (n) = companionship and cooperation between colleagues
40. CONTEMPORANEOUSLY (adv) = simultaneously
Part 3.
41. line 1: with => to
42. line 10: more => fewer/lesser
43. line 13: of => from
44. line 21: equivalences => equivalents
45. line 26: interpret => interpreting
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
46. idea 47. time 48. broadcast 49. with 50. how

51. perception 52. allow 53. actually 54. acts 55. analyzing/analysing/processing

Part 2.
56. NG
- Dẫn chứng: ‘This steady and undissipated attention to one object, is a sure mark of a genius’ =>
‘genius’ có nghĩa là ‘có khả năng xuất chúng trong 1 lĩnh vực nào đó’, không liên quan đến 2 tính cách
trong câu hỏi (strong will: sự kiên cường, single-mindedness: sự chuyên tâm).
- Dịch: Sự chú ý đều đặn và không ngừng nghỉ vào một đối tượng duy nhất là dấu hiệu chắc chắn của
một thiên tài…
15
57. T
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Used for decades to describe the parallel processing abilities of computers, multitasking is
now shorthand for the human attempt to do simultaneously as many things as possible...’
- Dịch: ‘Được sử dụng trong nhiều thập kỷ để mô tả khả năng xử lý song song của máy tính,
multitasking giờ đây là cách viết tắt cho nỗ lực của con người để thực hiện đồng thời nhiều việc nhất có
thể…’
58. NG
- Dẫn chứng: ‘…he coined the term ‘Attention Deficit Trait’ (ADT), a syndrome which he claims is
rampant in the business world…’ => ông chỉ đặt tên cho hội chứng ADT chứ không tìm ra cách chữa
trị cho bệnh
- Dịch:’… ông đã đặt ra thuật ngữ ADT, một hội chứng mà ông cho rằng đang hoành hành trong thế giới
kinh doanh
59. T
- Dẫn chứng: ‘… when people engage in ‘task-switching’ — that is, multitasking behavior — the flow of
blood increases to a region of the frontal cortex called Brodmann Area 10. (The flow of blood to
particular regions of the brain is taken as an indication of activity in those regions.)’ => kết hợp 2 câu,
nhận thấy khi multitask, máu dồn về vùng vỏ não trước này nhiều, dẫn tới hoạt động mạnh
- Dẫn chứng: '… khi mọi người tham gia vào 'task switching’ - nghĩa là hành vi đa nhiệm - lưu lượng
máu tăng đến một vùng vỏ não trước gọi là Vùng Brodmann 10. (Dòng máu đến các vùng cụ thể của
não được coi là một dấu hiệu hoạt động ở những khu vực đó.)’
60. F
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Unlike many other researchers who study multitasking, Meyer is optimistic that, with
training, the brain can learn to task-switch more effectively’ => nhiều nhà nghiên cứu không ủng hộ
quan điểm nêu trong câu hỏi
- Dịch: ‘Không giống như nhiều nhà nghiên cứu khác nghiên cứu về đa nhiệm, Meyer lạc quan rằng, với
việc rèn luyện, bộ não có thể học cách chuyển đổi nhiệm vụ hiệu quả hơn’
61. F
- Dẫn chứng: ‘….there is some evidence that certain simple tasks are amenable to such practice.’ => Giả
thuyết này có bằng chứng xác thực chứ không chỉ là phỏng đoán
- Dịch: ‘…. có một số bằng chứng cho thấy một số nhiệm vụ đơn giản nhất định có thể tuân theo cách
thực hành như vậy.’
62. T
- Dẫn chứng: ‘And when we sort of force ourselves to multitask, we’re driving ourselves to perhaps be
less efficient in the long run even though it sometimes feels like we’re being more efficient.’
- Dịch: ‘Và khi chúng ta buộc mình phải làm nhiều việc cùng một lúc, có lẽ về lâu dài chúng ta đang tự
làm mình kém hiệu quả hơn, mặc dù đôi khi chúng ta có cảm giác như mình đang làm việc hiệu quả
hơn.’

63. parallel processing abilities

- Dẫn chứng: Used for decades to describe the parallel processing abilities of computers,
multitasking is now shorthand for the human attempt to do simultaneously as many things as
possible [...]
- Dịch: Được sử dụng trong nhiều thập kỷ để mô tả khả năng xử lý song song của máy tính, đa nhiệm
giờ đây là cách viết tắt cho nỗ lực của con người để thực hiện đồng thời nhiều việc nhất có thể.
64. hyperactive environment
- Dẫn chứng: ADT is purely a response to the hyperactive environment in which we live [...]
- Dịch: ADT hoàn toàn là một phản ứng đối với môi trường năng động mà chúng ta đang sống
65. neurologists and psychologists
- Dẫn chứng: To better understand the multitasking phenomenon, neurologists and psychologists
have studied the workings of the brain.
- Dịch: Để hiểu rõ hơn về hiện tượng đa nhiệm, các nhà thần kinh học và tâm lý học đã nghiên cứu
hoạt động của não bộ.
66. response selection bottleneck

16
 - Dẫn chứng: Marois found evidence of a ‘response selection bottleneck’ that occurs when the brain
is forced to respond to several stimuli at once. As a result, task-switching leads to time lost as the
brain determines which task to perform.
- Dịch: Marois tìm thấy bằng chứng về “nút cổ chai lựa chọn phản ứng” xảy ra khi não buộc phải
phản ứng với nhiều kích thích cùng một lúc. Kết quả là, việc chuyển đổi nhiệm vụ dẫn đến mất thời
gian khi não xác định nhiệm vụ nào cần thực hiện.
67. adaptive executive control
- Dẫn chứng: Psychologist David Meyer believes that rather than a bottleneck in the brain, a process
of ‘adaptive executive control’ takes place, which ‘schedules task processes appropriately to obey
instructions about their relative priorities and serial order’
- Dịch: Nhà tâm lý học David Meyer tin rằng thay vì tắc nghẽn trong não, một quá trình 'kiểm soát
điều hành thích ứng' sẽ diễn ra, trong đó 'lên lịch cho các quy trình nhiệm vụ một cách thích hợp để
tuân theo các chỉ dẫn về mức độ ưu tiên tương đối và thứ tự nối tiếp của chúng
68. striatum, hippocampus
- Dẫn chứng: His research demonstrates that people use different areas of the brain for learning and
storing new information when they are distracted: brain scans of people who are distracted or
multitasking show activity in the striatum, a region of the brain involved in learning new skills;
brain scans of people who are not distracted show activity in the hippocampus, a region involved
in storing and recalling information.
- Dịch: Nghiên cứu của ông chứng minh rằng con người sử dụng các vùng não khác nhau để học và
lưu trữ thông tin mới khi họ bị phân tâm: bản quét não của những người bị phân tâm hoặc đa nhiệm
cho thấy hoạt động ở vùng thể vân, một vùng não liên quan đến việc học các kỹ năng mới; kết quả
quét não của những người không bị phân tâm cho thấy hoạt động ở vùng hải mã, vùng liên quan
đến việc lưu trữ và gợi nhớ thông tin.
Part 3.
69. D
- Dẫn chứng: ‘The second meeting of this kind’ in D links back to ‘The first of the environmental
summit meetings’ in the first paragraph. Both the summits mentioned in the two paragraphs also
have something to do with Rio de Janeiro: one was held within the city and the other discussed a
problem confronted by the city.
- Dịch: ‘Cuộc họp thứ hai theo hình thức này’ ở đoạn D liên kết với ‘Cuộc họp thượng đỉnh về môi
trường đầu tiên’ ở đoạn đầu tiên. Cả hai hội nghị thượng đỉnh được đề cập trong hai đoạn này cũng
có liên quan đến Rio de Janeiro: một hội nghị được tổ chức trong thành phố và hội nghị kia thảo
luận về một vấn đề mà thành phố đang phải đối mặt.
70. H
- Dẫn chứng: These two paragraphs are linked by their focus on the outcomes of the recent World
Summit in Johannesburg. The first paragraph discusses the delegates' commitment to improving
living conditions in the developing world by addressing issues related to water and sanitation. The
second paragraph continues by addressing the environmental resolutions made at the summit.
- Dịch: Hai đoạn này được liên kết với nhau nhờ sự tập trung của chúng vào kết quả tại Hội nghị
Thượng đỉnh Thế giới gần đây ở Johannesburg. Đoạn đầu tiên thảo luận về cam kết của các đại
biểu trong việc cải thiện điều kiện sống ở các nước đang phát triển bằng cách giải quyết các vấn đề
liên quan đến nước và vệ sinh. Đoạn thứ hai tiếp tục đề cập đến các nghị quyết về môi trường được
đưa ra tại hội nghị.
71. E
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘renewable energy’ in E corresponds with ‘the costs of renewables’ and
‘renewable energy sources’ in the previous paragraph.
- Dịch: Cụm từ 'năng lượng tái tạo' ở phần E tương ứng với 'chi phí của năng lượng tái tạo' và 'các
nguồn năng lượng tái tạo' ở đoạn trước.
72. G
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘improve the lot of the poor’ in G corresponds with ‘get more solar-
powered generation plants to rural areas’ in the following paragraph. It’s also easy to see that
paragraph G still discusses the outcomes of the World Summit in Johannesburg.

17
 - Dịch: Cụm từ ‘cải thiện điều kiện sống của người nghèo’ trong phần G liên kết với ‘đưa thêm nhiều
nhà máy sản xuất điện năng lượng mặt trời đến các vùng nông thôn’ trong đoạn văn sau. Cũng dễ
nhận thấy đoạn G vẫn thảo luận về kết quả của Hội nghị Thượng đỉnh Thế giới ở Johannesburg.
73. C
- Dẫn chứng: The steps mentioned to be taken by companies in paragraph C corresponds with ‘the
presence of big business’ in the following paragraph. The phrase ‘In addition’ can also be a helpful
indicator as it denotes that paragraph C continues to elaborate on the efforts of companies to
alleviate the poor’s struggles.
- Dịch: Các giải pháp được thực hiện bởi các công ty trong đoạn C tương ứng với ‘sự hiện diện của
doanh nghiệp lớn’ trong đoạn sau. Cụm từ 'In addition’ cũng có thể là một cụm từ chỉ định hữu ích
vì nó biểu thị rằng đoạn C tiếp tục trình bày nỗ lực của các công ty nhằm giảm bớt những khó khăn
của người nghèo.
74. A
- Dẫn chứng: Both paragraph A and the paragraph immediately following it discusses the results of a
report on energy distribution (notice how no other missing paragraph mentions a report) and cast
doubts on how efficacious such reports can be in improving the poor’s lot.
- Dịch: Cả đoạn A và đoạn ngay sau đó đều thảo luận về kết quả của một báo cáo về sư phân bổ năng
lượng (lưu ý rằng không có đoạn văn bị thiếu nào đề cập đến một báo cáo) và đặt ra nghi vấn về
tính hiệu quả của những báo cáo đó trong việc cải thiện cuộc sống của người nghèo.
75. B
- Dẫn chứng: The last sentence of the preceding paragraph (‘A question which…are they?’) suspects
how truly effective the conventions and reports can be in fighting poverty, whereas the first
sentence of paragraph B (‘Delegates seem to agree…not words’) underscores how it is felt that
concrete measures, rather than endless meetings, are of greater necessity; this allows for a seamless
transition of ideas (question-solution). B is the correct answer.
- Dịch: Câu cuối cùng của đoạn trước nghi ngờ tính hiệu quả thực sự của các công ước và báo cáo
trong cuộc chiến chống đói nghèo, trong khi câu đầu tiên của đoạn B nhấn mạnh việc các đại biểu
nhận thấy các biện pháp cụ thể, thay vì những cuộc họp, là cần thiết hơn; từ đó cho phép chuyển
đổi ý tưởng giữa 2 đoạn một cách liền mạch (câu hỏi-giải pháp). B là câu trả lời đúng.
Part 4.
76. B
- Dẫn chứng: If, like me, you've ever spent an evening hidden behind your cushion anticipating the
climax to some petrifying scene in a film, you're among millions of others who can't help but
watch horror films [a LOVE for horror] without the faintest idea of why they're putting
themselves through such an ordeal [HATE]. => The writer has mixed feelings about watching
horrors, or a love-hate relationship
- Dịch: Nếu, giống như tôi, bạn đã từng dành cả buổi tối ẩn mình sau chiếc đệm để chờ đợi đoạn cao
trào dẫn tới một cảnh kinh dị nào đó trong phim, thì bạn nằm trong số hàng triệu những người
không thể không xem phim kinh dị mà lại không hiểu lý do tại sao họ phải gồng mình trải qua thử
thách như vậy. => Tác giả có cảm xúc lẫn lộn khi xem những cảnh kinh dị, hay một mối quan hệ
yêu-ghét.
77. B
- Dẫn chứng: Watching these kinds of movies releases chemicals such as adrenaline, endorphins and
dopamine, which make most people feel charged with energy [invigoration], mirroring the 'fight
or flight' energy rush we experience in times of peril [akin to genuine danger], […]
- Dịch: Xem những loại phim này sẽ giải phóng các chất hóa học như adrenaline, endorphin và
dopamine, khiến hầu hết mọi người thấy tràn đầy năng lượng, tức bắt chước nguồn năng lượng
trong tình huống 'chiến đấu hay bỏ chạy' mà chúng ta gặp phải trong lúc nguy cấp [gần giống với
nguy hiểm thực sự], [ …].
78. D
- Dẫn chứng: Due to these chemicals, we can also get a feeling of pride [accomplishment] once
we've endured the entire film, as if we've confronted the horror ourselves!
- Dịch: Do những chất hóa học này, chúng ta cũng có thể có cảm giác tự hào sau khi xem hết bộ
phim, như thể chính chúng ta đang đối mặt với nỗi kinh hoàng vậy!
79. A
18
- Dẫn chứng: As ridiculous as it sounds, when we watch films presenting characters in dire straits
[…] we naturally set about contemplating how we would react if we were in the shoes of those in
danger on screen.
- Dịch: Nghe có vẻ nực cười, nhưng khi chúng ta xem những bộ phim có các nhân vật gặp hoàn cảnh
khó khăn […], chúng ta tự nhiên bắt đầu suy ngẫm xem mình sẽ phản ứng thế nào nếu rơi vào hoàn
cảnh tương tự.
80. C
- Dẫn chứng: These formulaic [predictably] movies enable us to conclude that we could never find
ourselves in such a disastrous situation, because we would be far more wary than the short-sighted
sap [dim: unintelligent] we see on the screen
- Dịch: Những bộ phim thiếu sự sáng tạo như thế này cho phép chúng ta kết luận rằng chúng ta
không bao giờ có thể rơi vào tình huống khó khăn, bởi vì chúng ta sẽ cảnh giác hơn nhiều so với
những tên ‘ngốc’ thiển cận [dim: không thông minh] mà chúng ta thấy trên màn ảnh.
81. B
- Dẫn chứng: Summary A. implies that we would always be smarter than the characters, but it misses
the key point that we believe we wouldn't find ourselves in such situations because we would be
more cautious. It's not just about outsmarting but about being more wary. Summary C. emphasizes
feeling superior to the characters due to their foolishness but overlooks the essential idea that our
confidence comes from the belief that we wouldn't end up in such situations due to our wariness.
Summary D. correctly notes that we believe we wouldn't face such situations but leaves out the
critical component that our confidence is derived from being more cautious, not just from our
astuteness. The original sentence emphasizes wariness, not just intelligence. That leaves B. as the
correct answer.
- Dịch: Bản tóm tắt A. ngụ ý rằng chúng ta sẽ luôn thông minh hơn các nhân vật, nhưng nó bỏ sót
điểm mấu chốt là chúng ta tin rằng mình sẽ không rơi vào những tình huống tương tự vì chúng ta
thận trọng hơn, ý nói khôn ngoan hơn chưa đủ mà còn phải cảnh giác. Bản tóm tắt C. nhấn mạnh
cảm giác ‘hơn người’ so với các nhân vật do sự ngốc nghếch của họ, nhưng bỏ qua ý cốt yếu rằng
sự tự tin đó đến từ niềm tin rằng chúng ta sẽ không rơi vào những tình huống như vậy nhờ biết cảnh
giác. Tóm tắt D. đúng khi chỉ ra rằng chúng ta tin sẽ không gặp phải những tình huống tương tự
nhưng bỏ qua ý quan trọng là sự tự tin của chúng ta bắt nguồn từ việc thận trọng, không chỉ từ sự
khôn ngoan. Câu gốc nhấn mạnh đến sự cảnh giác chứ không chỉ là trí thông minh, từ đó dễ nhận
thấy B. là câu trả lời đúng.
82. D
- Dẫn chứng: As ridiculous as it sounds, when we watch films presenting characters in dire straits
(when, for example, someone is trapped in a cave or running from a baddie)… - ‘straits’ or
‘predicaments’ means ‘situations that are difficult to get out of’
- Dịch: Nghe có vẻ nực cười, nhưng khi chúng ta xem những bộ phim có các nhân vật ở trong tình
huống khó khăn (ví dụ: khi ai đó bị mắc kẹt trong hang động hoặc chạy trốn khỏi kẻ xấu)…
83. D
- Dẫn chứng: Horror seems terrifying until you look at it from a broader perspective. […]
Sometimes, asking the most pragmatic [practical] questions makes a horror film turn into a joke.
- Dịch: Tác phẩm kinh dị nom đáng sợ cho đến khi bạn nhìn nó từ một góc độ rộng hơn. […] Đôi
khi, việc đặt những câu hỏi thực tế sẽ khiến một bộ phim kinh dị trở nên dễ chịu hơn hẳn.
84. C
- Dẫn chứng: This sentence ‘Some people also have a better ability to suspend belief than others,
which might heighten their chemical reactions.’ and the missing one are linked by the concept of
"suspension of disbelief" and its impact on viewers' reactions to horror films. The first sentence
discusses how the ability to suspend disbelief can enhance chemical reactions in the brain,
potentially making the experience more intense. The second sentence builds on this idea by
explaining how those who enjoy horror movies can separate fiction from reality, whereas those
who get immersed in the story (thus suspending disbelief more effectively) may find horror films
unbearable, making [D] the correct gap to place the missing sentence.
- Dịch: Câu 'Một số người cũng có khả năng gạt sự hoài nghi của họ sang một bên, từ đó làm tăng
phản ứng hóa học.' và câu còn thiếu được liên kết bởi khái niệm "gạt bỏ sự hoài nghi" và tác động
của hành động đó đến phản ứng của người xem đối với phim kinh dị. Câu đầu tiên thảo luận về
19
 việc loại bỏ sự hoài nghi có thể tăng cường các phản ứng hóa học trong não như thế nào, khiến trải
nghiệm trở nên mãnh liệt hơn. Câu thứ hai bồi đắp thêm cho ý này bằng cách giải thích những
người thích phim kinh dị có thể tách biệt hư cấu khỏi hiện thực, trong khi những người đắm chìm
trong câu chuyện có thể thấy phim kinh dị khó chịu, từ đó thấy được [D] là chỗ trống thích hợp để
đặt câu còn thiếu.
85. C
- Dẫn chứng: Horror films also appeal to our sense of 'what if', and exploring these kinds of scenarios
aids us in forward-planning for disasters [contingency planning]. […] Watching these kinds of
films also offers us a sense of mental superiority [self-assurance] to others as we believe that we
could avert most of the disasters that befall the characters. […] Further to making us feel clever,
these films also provide a form of bonding opportunity for many people [interpersonal bonds].
=> This leaves C as the only unmentioned benefit, making it the correct answer.
- Dịch: Phim kinh dị cũng đánh vào tâm lí hay lo âu của con người, và đi sâu vào những loại kịch
bản như thế này giúp chúng ta lập kế hoạch cho các tình huống không may [lập kế hoạch dự
phòng]. […] Xem những loại phim này cũng mang lại cho chúng ta cảm giác ‘hơn người’ [sự tự
tin] so với người khác vì ta tin rằng mình có thể ngăn chặn hầu hết những thảm họa ập đến. […]
Ngoài việc khiến chúng ta cảm thấy ‘thông minh’ hơn, những bộ phim này còn mang đến cơ hội
gắn kết cho nhiều người [mối liên kết giữa các cá nhân]. => Điều này khiến C trở thành lợi ích duy
nhất chưa được đề cập, biến nó thành câu trả lời đúng.
Part 5.
86. B
- Dẫn chứng: […] it turned out to be no more than a blip. After that we faced the prospect of radical
cost cutting […]
- Dịch: […] hóa ra nó chẳng hơn gì một sự cố nhỏ. Sau đó, chúng tôi phải đối mặt với viễn cảnh cắt
giảm chi phí triệt để […]
87. A
- Dẫn chứng: . I immediately set up a company, despite my canny parents urging restraint and
patience.
- Dịch: Tôi ngay lập tức thành lập công ty, bất chấp cha mẹ nhắc nhở tôi phải kiềm chế và kiên nhẫn.
88. D
- Dẫn chứng: Due to lack of funds and inadequate on-site backup however, the operation floundered.
We were getting nowhere fast. Marketing a product in the USA is a different kettle of fish from
the UK: the expectations are greater and the market is so huge in comparison. => Although the
USA entails a much more demanding business framework, the speaker’s company was not
adequately prepared [thus underestimating the effect of cultural differences]
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, do thiếu vốn và không đủ dự phòng tại chỗ nên hoạt động gặp khó khăn. Chúng
tôi chưa làm được gì đáng kể cả.Tiếp thị một sản phẩm ở Hoa Kỳ là một vấn đề khác với Vương
quốc Anh: kỳ vọng lớn hơn và thị trường so ra thì quá lớn. => Mặc dù Hoa Kỳ có khuôn khổ kinh
doanh khắt khe hơn nhiều nhưng công ty vẫn chưa có sự chuẩn bị đầy đủ.
89. A
- Dẫn chứng: I sunk all my savings into the company, took out loans, ran up an overdraft but was
still underfunded.
- Dịch: Tôi đổ hết tiền tiết kiệm của mình vào công ty rồi đi vay, vay thấu chi nhưng vẫn thiếu vốn.
90. C
- Dẫn chứng: Since his financial input was going to be considerable and he seemed trustworthy, we
felt we could hardly refuse, although our gut feeling told us otherwise.
- Dịch: Vì nguồn tài chính đầu vào của anh ấy rất đáng kể và anh ấy có vẻ đáng tin cậy nên chúng tôi
cảm thấy khó có thể từ chối, mặc dù trực giác mách bảo chúng tôi điều ngược lại.
91. A
- Dẫn chứng: Little did I know that he'd go straight to one of the big players in the industry and sell
my idea to them behind my back. => The expert betrayed his employer, exemplifying how one
should not be entrusted to be honest.
- Dịch: Tôi không hề biết rằng anh ấy sẽ đến thẳng một trong những công ty lớn trong ngành và bán
ý tưởng của tôi cho họ sau lưng tôi. => Chuyên gia đã phản bội người chủ của mình, minh chứng
cho việc không nên mù quáng tin rằng ai đó sẽ thực sự trung thực.
20
 92. B
- Dẫn chứng: However, when the number of requests suddenly burgeoned into over 10,000 a month,
we recruited staff in the heat of the moment […]
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, khi số lượng yêu cầu đột nhiên tăng lên hơn 10.000 mỗi tháng, chúng tôi đã tuyển
dụng nhân viên mà không cân nhắc thêm […]
93. C
- Dẫn chứng: […] the fact remains that the whole situation dragged on for an inexcusable length
of time before we faced up to it.
- Dịch: toàn bộ tình huống chiếm một khoảng thời gian dài tới mức không thể chấp nhận được trước
khi chúng tôi đối mặt với nó.
94. D
- Dẫn chứng: So we duly went over there and headhunted some key people from a competitor - so
far so good.
- Dịch: Vì vậy, chúng tôi đã đến đó và săn lùng một số người chủ chốt từ đối thủ cạnh tranh – tới đây
có vẻ ổn.
95. B
- Dẫn chứng: It paid off in the end but I was certainly out of my comfort zone for a while.
- Dịch: Nỗ lực của tôi đã được đền đáp nhưng tôi chắc chắn đã rời khỏi vùng an toàn của mình trong
một thời gian kha khá.

IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)

Part 1.
The excerpt elucidates hypervigilance in terms of its manifestations, underlying culprits, and elusive
nature. By definition, hypervigilance is described as a condition exceeding normal anxiety, causing
perpetual vicious cycles of worries and leading to a heightened sense of alertness even in the absence of
tangible threats. This continual rotation of perturbation underlines the chronic nature of hypervigilance and
its bearing on an individual's perception of reality. The root causes of it trace back to past traumas, where a
lack of resolution to a nightmarish event has left a haunting mental torture on sufferers. The difficulty in
diagnosing this condition can be attributed to the mind's insistence on confining distress to the boundaries
of the present, thereby neglecting the fundamentally historical origins of the fear.
Part 2.
The bar chart compares how much money five organizations gave to developing nations annually between
2008 and 2011.
Overall, there were distinct trends in the financial support provided by the examined organizations. While
Organization 2 markedly increased its assistance to economically disadvantaged countries, Organization 5
kept cutting back on its subsidies. The funding allocated by the other organizations fluctuated by varying
degrees. It is also clear that Organization 2 exceeded Organization 3 to claim the first spot for the latter
half of the period.
Organizations 2 and 3 were the ones that subsidized developing countries the most throughout the period.
In the first two years, the latter topped the chart, giving $1.5 billion in 2008 and around $1.8 billion in
2009 to less developed nations. These figures were around $200 million higher than the corresponding
numbers for Organization 2. However, in the latter half of the timeframe, financial aid coming from
Organization 2 far surpassed that from Organization 3, as the former surged to around $2.4 billion in 2010
and further to $2.6 billion at the end. Organization 3, in contrast, had reduced its support to $1.4 billion by
2010, and this was followed by a slight recovery that brought its number back to its initial level.
It is noticeable that the funding pattern of Organization 5 stood in stark contrast to that of Organization 2.
Initially, Organization 5 allocated roughly $1.2 billion to supporting developing nations. Yet, this figure
had dwindled steeply to only $0.4 billion by 2011, representing a threefold overall decline, which is the
most pronounced change rate in the chart. Regarding Organization 1, at first, it provided the lowest
financial assistance at approximately $0.6 billion. However, shortly thereafter, it overtook Organizations 4
and 5 to claim the third place, with its aid package soaring to nearly $1 billion in 2009, followed by a slight
decline to $0.7 billion at the end.

21
Finally, except for the year 2008, Organization 4 consistently displayed the lowest figures. Commencing at
$700 million, the amount of money that this organization gave to developing countries had halved by 2009
and further declined to $250 million by the end of the period, despite a recovery in 2010.
Part 3.
In a world where educational guidance shapes future trajectories, it is common belief that institutions
should embrace a nuanced approach to career selection that nurtures self-exploration and individual
potential. Nevertheless, there is a school of thought asserting that academic advisors have a duty to steer
students away from courses where their chances of success seem limited. Discussing these two points of
view, I vehemently disagree with the latter claim, since discouraging students from their chosen paths may
undermine the principles of academic freedom, the importance of failure, and personal growth.
On the one hand, guidance from experienced teachers can be beneficial in offering constructive feedback
on course selection to some extent, particularly during high school when students are still in the formative
stages of their academic journey. On the side of teachers and academic advisors, if equipped with extensive
experience, some of them comprehend industry expectations and possess insights into students' strengths
and weaknesses, qualifying them to proffer constructive feedback on course selection. Meanwhile, for
students, the high school period serves as a crucial time for reconsideration and self-reflection. Being
teenagers at the age of merely 18 years old, they have more time and energy to steer toward fields where
their potential can flourish and their academic pursuits align with their abilities. Illustrative of this is the
case that a student, despite aspiring for a Computer Science degree, is prone to diminished acceptance
chances into prestigious universities and a limited occupational success rate if they obviously lack a strong
foundation in Mathematics and Coding. In this context, it would be beneficial if educators could assist
them in meticulously contemplating their academic choices and potentially redirecting their direction if
necessary. Undoubtedly, in situations where it is clear and extreme, educational institutions should play a
supportive role in providing students with constructive criticism on their choice of university program,
acknowledging that it is ultimately students who decide their own academic path.
On the other hand, dissuading students from their interests should not be a primary approach for
institutions to provide guidance on program selection. First, the rationale lies in the distinctive aspirations,
talents, and preferences inherent in individuals. Therefore, educational institutions should foster an
environment that encourages students to explore their passions, even if those passions fall outside
conventional norms since restricting choices based on perceived success rates could hinder creativity and
innovation. Take Vietnam, for example, where there has been a traditional emphasis on academic success
in STEM fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Therefore, Vietnamese students
are often encouraged to pursue these disciplines due to perceived job opportunities and societal
expectations. However, this approach may overlook the creative and artistic talents that students might
possess in fields such as fine arts, literature, or social sciences, thus potentially leading to limited
opportunities for these students to nurture their aptitude. Second, failure and challenges, although
disheartening, are intrinsic components of the learning process. It is worth noticing that embracing
challenges and deriving valuable lessons from setbacks are indispensable life skills, enhancing personal
resilience and eventual triumphs. In other words, discouraging students from pursuing challenging fields
not only limits their growth potential but also sends the message that setbacks are to be vehemently
avoided, negating the profound value embedded in the learning experiences that adversities bring.
Consequently, allowing students to chart their academic journeys may empower them to develop
creativity, academic resilience and take ownership of their decisions.
In conclusion, although helpful guidance from qualified academic advisors is essential for high school
students with flexibility to redirect career paths, I hold the belief that educational institutions should focus
on providing students with resources and opportunities to challenge themselves rather than discouraging
them from exploring specific fields. This strategy values individual autonomy, unconventional talents, as
well as crucial insights gained from failure and challenges, thus creating a more inclusive academic
environment.
V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Ladies and gentlemen,
My topic today is [TOPIC 1]. So, let’s get started shall we?

Have you ever been given some money as a reward for your academic achievements? Or have you ever
been forced to stand outside your class with a thick dictionary on top of your head just because you are a
22
bit overhyped in class? Many of us, as students, must have undergone those kinds of experiences before.
That begs the question of whether the rewards - punishments system actually work and whether it can
engender appropriate behavior among students. In my speech today, I will attempt to analyze whether this
model is effective before voicing my opinion at the end.
On the one hand, rewards and punishments are considered to be useful in producing good-natured students
for some reasons. First, this system teaches students to differentiate right and wrong. The right things that
students should do are those deemed commendable and follow the common code of conduct, which, if
carried out correctly, will end up in the form of rewards. By contrast, wrong actions are despicable and
even heavily banned in academic settings, meaning that students undertaking them will be given
punishments. Such a clear distinction can shape students’ thinking and awareness of what is right or
wrong, what is acceptable and what is not in both their schools and later in our society as well. Second, the
rewards - punishments model aims to encourage appropriate deeds among students. Everyone wants to
receive compliments, especially students who are impressionable and crave recognition, be it academically
or societally. Hence, this system provides students with an impetus to strive for the good in order to earn a
reward while also avoiding the bad as they are frowned upon and they won’t help students gain an upper
hand in their studying environment. A prime example of this is the recycling trend in many universities.
Those who actively protect the environment will earn good points and are given rewards like tote bags,
decorative trees, or souvenirs, and those who do not will have to clean up at the end. Thus, students all tend
to try to take action to better the environment rather than spoiling it.
On the flip side, many argue that the carrot and stick method is counterproductive in fostering favorable
demeanor among students, and justifiably so. The first rationale for this is the completely extrinsic nature
of this approach, which may make students act against their intrinsic drives. As they are expected to
behave in certain ways that they might feel uncomfortable about, they would be scared to step out of
societal norms or make changes in their academic settings, which, in turn, can decrease their creativity,
self-esteem and increase their reliance on teachers or adults’ opinions rather than theirs. For example, if
those gaining high grades are given great monetary rewards, many other students would vie for the
valedictorian position just because they want the money or respect from others instead of actually wanting
to improve themselves academically. Second, this system can bring about psychological disorders among
students, especially those receiving punishments. As we read the news every day, I bet we all see the
severity of corporal punishments in schools as teachers misuse their commanding role and absurd
standards to judge their students badly and give them smacks all over their body. Not only does that hurt
students physically but it also leaves them mentally broken and even traumatized. Hence, instead of
encouraging good demeanors, such punishments do the opposite by making students distressed. In worst
cases, those students may even turn more rebellious and continue their chains of wrongdoings once schools
take punitive measures against them.
In conclusion, the system of rewards and punishments do have its good and bad sides. The key here, I
believe, isn’t eradicating or keeping this system, but rather, lies with how schools execute this paradigm. It
should be used to foster thoughtful behavior rather than promoting compliance. That is the end of my
speech. Thank you!

PRACTICE TEST 12
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
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Part 1: For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about rich people and decide whether these statements are
True (T), False (F), or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
1. According to studies, drivers of expensive cars are more likely to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks than
people driving lower-priced cars.
2. A survey shows that lower-income people tend to donate a much bigger share of their incomes than
wealthier people do.
3. Leaders in hunter-gatherer society are more compassionate than leaders in modern society.
4. As people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline.
5. Poor people are less motivated to improve their emotional intelligence than wealthy people. Your
answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2: For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about social engineering attacks and answer the questions.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
6. Besides divulging sensitive information, what do perpetrators deceive users into doing?
7. To avoid forged messages, what should be ignored?
8. What kind of messages do reliable sites never send?
9. What might cybercriminals make a page’s URL resemble?
10. What are the TWO characteristics that the letter ‘S’ in ‘HTTPS’ reveals about the connection?
Your answers:
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. For questions 11-15, listen to an interview with two authors called Simon Chirk and Naomi
Glenn, who are talking about getting started as a novelist and choose the answer (A, B, C or D)
which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
11. Simon thinks that young would-be authors should
A. attempt to get known in another field first.
B. secure the support of a publisher from the outset.
C. devote themselves to the more lucrative types of writing.
D. have sufficient intrinsic motivation to meet the challenge.
12. Naomi suggests that unpublished writers need to avoid
A. trying to combine writing with another occupation.
B. exhausting themselves with a gruelling routine.
C. attempting to work with outdated equipment.
D. becoming distracted from the task in hand.
13. Naomi agrees with Simon's point that a first novel should
A. explore an aspect of a glamorous lifestyle.
B. reflect the writer's own personal experience.
C. seek to replicate elements of recent bestsellers.
D. feature appealing characters in an everyday setting.
14. Naomi and Simon disagree about the extent to which young novelists should
A. do research into unfamiliar subject areas or periods.
B. aim for established genres with large readerships.
C. allow prospective publishers to suggest a theme.
D. concentrate on producing a strong narrative.
15. What point does Naomi make about teenage fiction?
A. Feedback from readers can be very stimulating.
B. Novels need to deal with sophisticated issues.
C. The long-term rewards can be worthwhile.
D. It's easy to develop a loyal following.
Your answers:

24
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about the future of the metaverse and supply the blanks
with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording
for each answer in the spaces provided.
THE FUTURE OF THE METAVERSE
What is the metaverse?
The metaverse is a 16.____________ virtual space that is created by the convergence of augmented reality,
virtual reality and the Internet.
The metaverse is not merely a technological concept, but potentially a 17.____________.
Elements of the metaverse
Virtual reality: immerses the user in a 18.____________ that simulates reality through the use
of interactive devices.
Augmented reality: allows users to overlay digital content onto our 19.____________ thereby blurring the
lines between physical and virtual realities.
The Internet: can be considered as a 20.____________ that connects platforms together.
Blockchain and Decentralization: make the space highly secure as no single entity has control over the
entire chain.
The technical infrastructure of the metaverse
Spatial computing: serves as the 21.____________ that enables digital systems to understand and respond
to the physical world, creating a more immersive and intuitive user experience.
Interoperability: ensures a seamless and unified experience by integrating 22.____________. Artificial
intelligence: enables virtual environments to adapt and respond to user behavior in real-time by means of
23.____________.
User experience in the metaverse
The creation of individual avatar: is more than just making a 24.____________ but an exploration and self-
expression trip through a dynamic virtual world.
Engaging with the metaverse: includes exploring virtual landscapes, meeting other avatars or even
participating in a virtual economy.
Conclusion
The metaverse is not just a technological revolution but serves as a 25.____________ as well, allowing
people to interact with the world.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. The interrogators gave the suspect ________ to get as much information as possible.
A. the cold shoulder B. the death stare C. the third degree D. the glad eye
27. The public was distraught after hearing the investigators’ failure to _________ the cause of the
wildfires in Hawaii.
A. lay down B. nail down C. tick down D. stick down
28. As globalization is the buzzword in this day and age, _________ is widely condemned throughout the
world.
A. obsequiousness B. capitulation C. insularity D. magnanimity
29. Although the party gained a clear majority in the election, its philosophy remained _________, never
achieving a clear and consistent form.
A. nebulous B. versatile C. appealing D. obstinate
30. We had planned a wonderful lawn party, but our hopes were _______ when it rained cats and dogs.
A. spoiled B. dashed C. smashed D. hit
31. In order to meet the demands of the customers at short notice, the manufacturing team resorted to
_________ as many workers as possible.
A. copping out B. roping in C. whipping up D. pushing on
32. Selena is depressed because all her efforts in ___________ for a promotion have been wasted.
A. going through hoops B. going round the house
C. going with the flow D. going with the territory

25
33. Getting back from the premier, my cousin _________ recommended the movie and even gave me free
tickets for it.
A. spectacularly B. specifically C. definitely D. thoroughly
34. It’s _________, Novak Djokovic’s spirit is indomitable in the tennis world, making him one of the
legends.
A. no contest B. no exam C. no test D. no competition
35. He was widely poured scorn on __________ his public endorsement of xenophobia.
A. in lieu of B. ahead of C. in advance of D. courtesy of
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered boxes
provided.
36. Even with the most damning evidence, the suspect still had the __________ to deny his crimes.
(FRONT)
37. To think that a __________ tennis player such as him would lose a match in the first round is absurd.
(SUM)
38. The teenaged _____ has taken the whole world by storm ever since his debut. (KIND)
39. After experiencing writer’s block for several months, Helen finally felt a wild idea _________ in her
head. (GERM)
40. The audience was disappointed as the actress spoke her lines _______. (WOOD)
Your answers
41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
On social media, Stanley collectors show off shelves of their rainbow-hue, Your Answers:
stainless steel treasures or gush over stickers and silicone doohickies to 41.
accessorize their favorite cups. Even those fortunate enough to avoid the 42.
hype have likely seen enough of these jumbo hydration totems in the wild to 43.
grasp the cultural moment that is footed. 44.
The Stanley 1913 brand has been around for more than a century, so in 45.
recent years the company has expanded its signature line of humble green
workaday drink into a limitless array of colors, designs and collaborations
that are so popular they incite near-violence.
The insatiable FOMO need to own a Stanley cup comes from savvy
marketing. When eyeing a brand revamp in 2020, Stanley’s global president
Terence Reilly specifically chose women as potential new consumer base.
Then, with a new palette of colors and designs, the company relied on
trusted influencers on social media to get the word out. The strategy
worked, as Stanley cups gained rabid popularity for its candy-like array of
colors and its ability to keep beverages hot and cold for long periods of
time. Those cups are so simple, so necessary, may be the key to why they’re
also the subject of so many consumer fantasies. The habitual meets the
aspirational when social media posts adding a shiny, new Stanley cup to a
lifestyle marked by clean, responsible, well-hydrated order, making us crave
for it even more.
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Heat can be deadly. In the United States, heat causes more fatalities than any other natural disaster, 46.
________ floods, tornados and hurricanes.
Our bodies normally have ways to handle the heat. As blood 47. ________ just below the skin's surface, it
releases heat. Evaporating sweat helps to cool our skin. But these methods work only up to a certain 48.

26
________. And as temperatures and humidity climb ever higher during heat waves - dampening our ability
to cool down with dispersal or evaporation - we become more 49. ________ to unrelenting heat.
Several body systems become stressed 50. ________ prolonged hot temperatures. Pushing blood toward
the skin in a(n) 51. ________ to cool the body can deprive vital organs like the heart and lungs of oxygen.
Excess sweating increases the risk of 52. ________, putting additional pressure on the heart to pump blood
thickened from lack of water. The kidneys, which need water to regulate fluid levels and 53. ________
toxins from blood, also suffer.
Body temperatures that climb too high can lead to faintness, headache and dizziness, hallmarks of heat
exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke 54. ________the body doesn't cool down, causing
overheated, oxygen-deprived organs to fail. People with heat stroke may become delirious or have
seizures, suffer from permanent organ damage or 55. ________ die.
Your answers
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Gift-giving
Every day, millions of shoppers hit the stores in full force—both online and on foot—searching frantically
for the perfect gift. Last year, Americans spent over $30 billion at retail stores in the month of December
alone. Aside from purchasing holiday gifts, most people regularly buy presents for other occasions
throughout the year, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and baby showers. This
frequent experience of gift-giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers. Many relish the
opportunity to buy presents because gift-giving offers a powerful means to build stronger bonds with one’s
closest peers. At the same time, many dread the thought of buying gifts; they worry that their purchases
will disappoint rather than delight the intended recipients.
Anthropologists describe gift-giving as a positive social process, serving various political, religious, and
psychological functions. Economists, however, offer a less favorable view. According to Waldfogel
(1993), gift-giving represents an objective waste of resources. People buy gifts that recipients would not
choose to buy on their own, or at least not spend as much money to purchase (a phenomenon referred to as
‘‘the deadweight loss of Christmas”). To wit, givers are likely to spend $100 to purchase a gift that
receivers would spend only $80 to buy themselves. This ‘‘deadweight loss” suggests that gift-givers are
not very good at predicting what gifts others will appreciate. That in itself is not surprising to social
psychologists. Research has found that people often struggle to take account of others’ perspectives— their
insights are subject to egocentrism, social projection, and multiple attribution errors.
What is surprising is that gift-givers have considerable experience acting as both gift-givers and gift-
recipients, but nevertheless tend to overspend each time they set out to purchase a meaningful gift. In the
present research, we propose a unique psychological explanation for this overspending problem—i.e., that
gift-givers equate how much they spend with how much recipients will appreciate the gift (the more
expensive the gift, the stronger a gift-recipient’s feelings of appreciation). Although a link between gift
price and feelings of appreciation might seem intuitive to gift-givers, such an assumption may be
unfounded. Indeed, we propose that gift-recipients will be less inclined to base their feelings of
appreciation on the magnitude of a gift than givers assume.
Why do gift-givers assume that gift price is closely linked to gift-recipients’ feelings of appreciation?
Perhaps givers believe that bigger (i.e., more expensive) gifts convey stronger signals of thoughtfulness
and consideration. According to Camerer (1988) and others, gift-giving represents a symbolic ritual,
whereby gift-givers attempt to signal their positive attitudes toward the intended recipient and their
willingness to invest resources in a future relationship. In this sense, gift-givers may be motivated to spend
more money on a gift in order to send a “stronger signal” to their intended recipient. As for gift-recipients,
they may not construe smaller and larger gifts as representing smaller and larger signals of thoughtfulness
and consideration.
The notion of gift-givers and gift-recipients being unable to account for the other party’s perspective seems
puzzling because people slip in and out of these roles every day, and, in some cases, multiple times in the
course of the same day. Yet, despite the extensive experience that people have as both givers and receivers,
they often struggle to transfer information gained from one role (e.g., as a giver) and apply it in another,
27
complementary role (e.g., as a receiver). In theoretical terms, people fail to utilize information about their
own preferences and experiences in order to produce more efficient outcomes in their exchange relations.
In practical terms, people spend hundreds of dollars each year on gifts, but somehow never learn to
calibrate their gift expenditures according to personal insight.
For questions 56-62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given
(NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. Nearly $30 billion was expended on gift-giving during December of last year.
57. Individuals may be deterred from gift-giving due to the prospects of dissatisfying the recipients.
58. The expenditure on a present often exceeds the expectations of the recipient.
59. Contrary to givers’ optimism, there is little to suggest that a costly present is tantamount to pleasure.
60. Gifts of immense worth serve the sole purpose of demonstrating one’s commitment to interpersonal
bonds.
61. The frequency with which people give and take renders certain beliefs behind gift exchange
questionable.
62. Experience acquired from gift-receiving cannot be harnessed for the purpose of gift-sharing.
For questions 63-68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Whilst gift-giving has become a staple in modern times, its prominence may also breed 63.________
among potential givers. Despite being heralded as a 64. __________ for its multifarious merits, the
practice is still considered a drain of valuable resources owing to an anomaly called the 65. _______,
where inaccurate presumptions of givers exist. This lack of veracity is attributable to over-expenditure,
though recipients may not entirely cherish the gift merely on the grounds of its 66. _______. Receivers,
indeed, may not share the same view as gift-givers that more pricey presents act as a token of greater 67.
________. Consequently, not only will individuals try in vain to nurture more desirable relationships, but
they also fail to match 68. _________ with budgets dedicated to gift exchange.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Twenty people-specialists, experts, thinkers sit around a seminar table. They might be discussing
education, the stock market or one of a whole range of issues. Although people are speaking, no one is
saying anything. At least half of the participants have an original idea at the front of their mind. But they
do not share it because it is too valuable. They are afraid that one of the others will steal the idea and use it,
publish it or sell it before they do. Their intellectual property is at risk.
69.
There has always been a reluctance to share new ideas in professions linked to the media, but it's a
phenomenon that seems to be spreading, especially into the world of policy. It is finding its way into
government departments and the think tanks, those groups of intellectuals and academics whose job it is to
inform and inspire government policy. On an individual level, hoarding and hiding make good sense, but
collectively it impoverishes conversation potentially to the detriment of good policymaking.
70.
In other words, you cannot feel the quality of an idea before deciding whether to buy it or not. This means
that ideas make bad commodities. Pricing, in the usual economic sense, is impossible because the value of
the product is not physically captured at least, not immediately. This is why intellectual property lawyers
are licking their lips, and why one academic has just taken out the first- ever patent on an idea.
71.
On the face of it, the argument that we are becoming intellectual misers flies in the face of current
developments. Isn't the Internet democratising knowledge? And what about the free software at the heart of
cyberspace? Far from living in monastic silence, aren't we being bombarded with ideas and information?

28
 72.

All this means that intellectual generosity is becoming rarer and much more precious. It also elevates the
role of trust. If my colleague gives me an idea, and I pass that idea on, either in print or through
conversation, it's critical that I "tag" it as hers, rather than succumbing to the temptation to pass it off as my
own.
73.

There are issues for employers here, too. When someone's ability to add value rests on their skill at coming
up with ideas, how do managers ensure that they are working as hard as they should be? Maybe they are
storing up the best stuff for the online consultancy they run from home.
74.

Moreover, educational institutions and organizations need to play a pivotal role in fostering this culture of
intellectual generosity. By emphasizing the importance of collaboration and proper attribution early on, we
cultivate a generation of thinkers who value sharing over secrecy. Academic and professional
environments should reward those who contribute to the collective knowledge pool, ensuring that
recognition aligns with the principles of trust and openness.
75.

So if we want to encourage intellectual generosity, as well as fostering an atmosphere of co-operation

rather than distrust, we need to tag ideas to the person they originally came from. So how about it? As John
Knell puts it: do you dare to share?
Missing paragraphs:
A. At the same time, people now have the ability to broadcast their thoughts to a global audience in real-
time, bypassing traditional gatekeepers such as publishers and media outlets. This has democratized the
spread of information but also introduced new challenges in verifying the originality and credibility of
the ideas being shared.
B. Ultimately, the challenge lies in balancing the protection of intellectual property with the need for open
exchange. While legal frameworks and tagging systems can provide a structure, the real change must
come from a shift in mindset. Embracing a culture of intellectual generosity not only enriches our
conversations and policies but also paves the way for groundbreaking advancements that can only arise
from true collaboration.
C. Such a system of tagging would mean that my colleague continues to reap the rewards of her
intellectual labour, making her more willing to share her ideas with others in the future, and it would
also mean that our conversations would be free of the fear of theft. In short, she will trust me, and vice
versa, thus ensuring a free flow of information.
D. In most cases, the desire of workers to be recognised as talented, to win promotion and gain greater
financial rewards is sufficient incentive, but managers need to ensure that good ideas are credited
property through tagging, to keep the best minds on board.
E. This new intellectual coyness highlights the peculiar quality of information and ideas in a market
economy. The essential problem is this: you cannot know the value of a piece of information, still less
an original idea, unless you know what it is. But once gleaned, it cannot be returned to its originator
intact.
F. Images of the so-called ‘new economy’, that much talked about product of the age of information are
of complexity and hubbub. You get the sense that it is a noisy place. In fact, however, such is the fear
of being intellectually gazumped that people who you might think of as being in the driving seat of that
new economy are becoming rather cagey, and as a result, it echoes to the I sound of silence as received
wisdoms are recycled.
G. But legal and contractual approaches to the problem are of limited use. Many of the best ideas come
out of a conversation between two people. Who, then, do they belong to? And the danger of legally
based approaches is that they will make us more guarded, not less so.
H. Well, yes. But most of the information we receive is of limited value. How many people who have a
truly innovative idea will broadcast it on the web? Some, hut 57 not many. With so much guff all over
the place, the value of an original idea is all the more worth guarding.
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Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

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. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Strange as it may seem, consumer watchdogs are convinced that burgeoning online shopping numbers will
not result in the death of the High Street. Instead, it will force an evolution in terms of the shopping
experience.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the under 40s rely on the existence and security of a retail outlet if
only for somewhere to check the item they want to buy. However, frequently, their spot of research may
ultimately lead to an online transaction when it comes to the actual purchase. It is common practice for the
consumer to enter a store to get a physical idea of their intended purchase, use their phone to compare the
store price of their prospective purchase with those found online, and then opt for the best price available.
The phenomenon has been dubbed 'showrooming' and has led to many large supermarket brands opening
what's known as 'dark stores', which in turn are creating thousands of new jobs. They're not designed for
your typical shopper, in fact they're ugly purpose-built warehouses that are never likely to see a real
shopper. They are merely there for the growing population of insatiable online shoppers. Imagine an
enormous supermarket with fully stocked shelves, no customers, no garish advertising and no busy
tillpoints. That pretty much sums them up. They are populated by busy 'personal shoppers' filling up
trolleys with customer's orders; and the only face these retailers have is the driver who delivers the
shopping.
Dotcom food shopping is still in its infancy but is predicted to double in value over the next five years to
an enormous 12 billion. In fact technology-driven consumer behaviour will generate growth across at least
twenty different retail sectors resulting in an estimated 1.5 trillion in future sales by 2016. Clearly there is
money to be made in spite of the economic downturn in Europe.
When it comes to food, the need to see what you buy is not quite as great, but especially within the
clothing sector, most shoppers would rather have a tangible idea of what they're spending their money on.
Because so many consumers are frequently connected to the Internet to research and analyse their purchase
either by price checking or through social shopping, retailers are faced with the challenge of finding ways
to make being connected part of the shopping experience. Visualisation technologies are likely to feature
much more heavily, making it easier to actually see items. In the furniture sector, for example, people will
virtually place items in their homes and ensure that they suit as well as fit the environment. Already it's
possible to see mini videos of modelled clothing, and technology packages will reflect this requirement by
becoming faster and more efficient processes for mobile devices.
Yet, if people want to go into bricks and mortar shops, technology does dictate that 'showrooming' is here
to stay, which forces the high street retailer to reassess the role of the store. For smaller stores it is likely to
mean partnering up with larger outlets to allow a greater flexibility in terms of pricing, but large flagship
stores are going to become more like brand cathedrals where, rather than being places for purchasing, they
will evolve into interesting areas for advertising the product while customers are free to purchase online.
In truth, many big name designer retailers have already started doing just this. With growing competition
to draw people to their sites, they are developing consumer concepts which go far beyond the mere
displaying of product. Architecture is key, as well as clever interior designing often coupled with
interesting design exhibits, so that the experience becomes artistically stimulating while potentially
encouraging a purchase. Rifling the racks is not enough and any store has to offer something extra. This
will be a key consideration for town planners and developers if they want to keep the average high street
bricks and mortar shops open. Yes, their physical existence is reassuring, but they are most definitely
going to have to go that extra mile to get numbers through their doors. Shopping really isn't just about the
purchase anymore, it's about an entire experience involving recreational options and eating choices in
addition to the retail element. A clever marriage of shop, restaurant, museum, salon -and art gallery is
going to be key. If it was the over 40's only in the shops, the town centre as we know it would be dead.
76. What claim have consumer watchdogs made about the High Street?
A. It has no future.
B. It has little appeal for the younger generation.
C. It will need to reinvent itself.
30
D. It offers much to the online shopper.
77. Why are some consumers choosing not to purchase in store?
A. Because they are dissatisfied once they actually view the items.
B. Because they find more favourable deals elsewhere.
C. Because there is no showroom.
D. Because they are dissatisfied with the service.
78. What is least likely to be driving the opening of 'dark stores'?
A. The dramatic rise in online shopping.
B. The need to cut supermarket running costs.
C. The potential for generating more revenue.
D. The need to meet customer demands.
79. The word "garish" in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. scant
B. shiny
C. colorful
D. showy
80. What is the projected impact of technology-driven consumer behavior on retail sectors, including
dotcom food shopping?
A. Online food shopping will expand to twice its current worth, contributing to an aggregate growth of 1.5
trillion across various sectors by 2016.
B. Technology-driven consumer behavior will stabilize the value of online food shopping while
diminishing the impact on other retail sectors.
C. Economic downturn in Europe will obstruct the growth of online food shopping and constrain
technology-driven retail sales.
D. Online food shopping will witness minimal growth, but other retail sectors will experience substantial
increases, totaling 12 billion by 2016.
81. Why do shoppers particularly prefer to see what they are buying in the clothing sector?
A. Clothing is more costly than food.
B. Clothing necessitates a tactile assessment.
C. Limited online availability for clothes.
D. Less online investigation for food.
82. In what way might developments in visualisation technology hinder the survival of bricks and mortar
stores?
A. By reducing the need to visit stores.
B. By increasing high street rental costs.
C. By forcing more online transactions.
D. By introducing a more attractive element to the shopping experience.
83. What techniques have some retailers used to attract customers?
A. They have improved their advertising campaigns.
B. They have evolved their product range.
C. They have turned their stores into galleries.
D. They have found ingenious ways to create cutting edge retail spaces.
84. The word “this” in the last paragraph refers to
A. reassessing the role of the store
B. partnering up with other outlets
C. evolving into areas for advertising
D. being places for purchasing
85. An appropriate title for the passage could be
A. The decline of online shopping
B. High-street shopping unaffected by technology
C. The irrelevance of retail outlets in modern shopping
D. The changing face of shopping
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
81. 82. 83. 84. 85.
31
Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For questions 86-95,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
My favourite Shakespearean role
Five actors who are very experienced at playing characters from the plays of Shakespeare explain their
favourite role to play
A Sir Alan Wallace as Macbeth
As an experienced actor with a profound appreciation for the works of William Shakespeare, my favourite
role to date has been Macbeth. Portraying the ambitious and troubled Scottish general allowed me to
explore the complexities of human nature. I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth's transformation
from a brave and noble warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt. Shakespeare's language
provides some great material for an actor, and Macbeth's speeches are particularly captivating. The famous
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” speech encompasses the despair and hopelessness that
Macbeth experiences. It's a moment where the character's vulnerability is clear to everyone, and, as an
actor, I strive to convey the raw emotions embedded within the words. The role continues to challenge and
inspire me, allowing me to explore the depths of human nature through the lens of Shakespeare's genius.
B Dame Julie Dear as Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth always has a special place in my heart. This powerful and extremely complex character has
been a source of endless fascination throughout my career. Portraying her journey from a manipulative and
ambitious woman to a tormented soul consumed by guilt is a true acting challenge. Lady Macbeth's speech
in Act 1, Scene 5, where she calls upon the spirits to fill her with cruelty, demonstrates her strong will and
burning desire for power. Exploring the depths of her mind, I aim to convey her internal struggles and the
tragic consequences of her actions. What I find most intriguing about Lady Macbeth is her status as a
woman in a male-dominated world. Through her character, Shakespeare provides a fascinating exploration
of femininity and the destructive forces that can arise when ambition is out of control.
C Ian Stewart as King Lear
In my award-winning career, one Shakespearean role stands out above all others, and that is the tragic
figure of King Lear. This complex character exhibits the full range of human emotions. One of the most
powerful scenes in the play occurs during the storm on the heath, where Lear confronts the harsh realities
of his own stupidity. The raw vulnerability and emotional turmoil of this moment provide an immense
challenge for any actor. It is a scene where the full force of Lear's internal struggle becomes apparent, and I
strive to convey his pain and anguish with utmost sincerity. King Lear offers a profound examination of
human nature, exposing the fragility that can consume even the mightiest of individuals. The poetic
richness of his speeches, particularly during the emotional moments of self-reflection, gives me the
opportunity to connect with the audience on a deeper level. It is a great challenge, but also a privilege to
bring such a complex character to life.
D Kevin Woods as Hamlet
Ah, the world-famous Prince of Denmark, Hamlet! It is with great enthusiasm that I declare this
Shakespearean role to be my absolute favourite. The complexities of Hamlet's character, his philosophical
reflections and his quest for justice provide a treasure trove for any actor. Hamlet's speech in Act III, Scene
1, where he considers the nature of existence with the iconic phrase "To be, or not to be', remains one of
the most renowned passages in all of literature. It is a moment of reflection that demonstrates the depth of
Hamlet's psyche. Bringing this extensive inner life to the stage is a challenge I really enjoy. What sets
Hamlet apart is his multi-dimensionality. He is simultaneously a scholar, a philosopher, a son seeking
revenge and a prince caught in the web of political intrigue. Examining all of these layers and portraying
the intricate emotions of a character trying to come to terms with life's most profound questions is an
exhilarating journey for an actor.
E Dame Mary Small as Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing"
When it comes to Shakespearean roles, I am extremely fond of the quick-witted and spirited Beatrice from
Much Ado About Nothing". Portraying this fiercely independent and fiery character has been a true delight
throughout my career. Beatrice's sharp wit and her ability to hold her own in a world dominated by men
make her a timeless and empowering figure. She is a woman unafraid to speak her mind and challenge
norms and expectations in society. It is a joy to bring her vibrant energy and dark humour to the stage.
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Shakespeare's language in 'Much Ado About Nothing' is particularly playful and filled with witty
exchanges. The dialogue between Beatrice and Benedick is a delight to perform, as they shoot comments at
each other, like two tennis players passing a ball. Portraying Beatrice also allows me to celebrate the
strength and intelligence of women while also reminding audiences of the power of love and the
importance of embracing vulnerability.
In which section are the following mentioned?
86. a scene where a character is confronted by an uncomfortable truth
87. an appreciation of a character's contradiction of society's expectations of them
88. still having to work hard to portray a character despite having done it many times
89. an appreciation of how their character can behave in many different ways
90. the significant change in the personality and behaviour of a character
91. how a Shakespearean character can go beyond conventional gender boundaries
92. finding a way to access what is going on in the mind of their character
93. the linguistic complexities of a character's speeches
94. the amusing back-and-forth between their character and another character
95. how their character experiences remorse
Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.
91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)

Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words.
HOLIDAY BLUES
The holiday season has always been a cause for celebration around the world. The opportunity to take a
break from work, be frivolous, go on holiday, meet family and friends – all good reasons to look forward
to the holidays with enthusiasm and anticipation. Or at least that is what we are led to believe. Research
carried out in America suggests that these feelings of euphoria may be somewhat misplaced. A study
recently carried out by the New York University Child Study Centre has concluded that one in three people
of varying ages suffer ‘holiday blues’ to varying extents, from a mild feeling of sadness to severe,
sometimes even suicidal, depression.
According to Dr Frank Pittman, a leading family psychiatrist, the most significant cause for holiday
depression actually stems from our concerns about our family. During the holiday season, families meet,
often for the first time since the last holiday season, and try to make these reunions ‘perfect’. However,
such good intentions are often thwarted by old family arguments, feelings of not being appreciated or
being used, all of which result in holiday stress. It seems that the idyllic picture of our family we wish to
build in our minds cannot be sustained in reality.
Although Pittman holds family to be the source of much of the problem, others point to a more general
social context. Gift shopping, for example, does not help reduce tensions – crowded shops, long queues,
the pressure of choosing just the right present – all of these things contribute to a feeling of stress and
anxiety. On the other end of the scale, there are those without family who experience a sense of extreme
loneliness and isolation throughout this period, often spending the long holidays alone. Any feelings of
inadequacy they may harbor throughout the year can often become unbearable at a time when friends are
unavailable and enjoying an apparently cozy break with their loved ones. In fact, such is the extreme
nature of this isolation that many organizations have been established to offer some help and support to
those who feel most alone over what should be the ‘festive’ season.
Part 2. The chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and transport in
four countries from 1990 to 2005. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
Some people think that schools should reward students who show the best academic results, while
others believe that it is more important to reward students who show improvements. Write a
response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim.
V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
With media conspiracy, certain individuals and organizations are trying to polish their reputations
under the cover of charity work. Doubts arise out of public concern over the truth which has been
withheld or distorted. What is your opinion about the current media conspiracy?

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KEY AND EXPLANATION
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
1. FALSE
Multiple studies have found that the more expensive your car is, the more likely you are to not only cut in
front of other vehicles but also drive through crosswalks when a pedestrian is waiting to cross.
2. TRUE
The U.S. nationwide survey data shows that the wealthy contribute a lower percentage of their
household income. For example, a household that makes under $25,000 in the U.S. donate around 4.2
percent of their earnings but those making $100,000 or more only contribute 2.7 percent. Even when
people are arbitrarily put in charge or given power, it makes them moreselfish
3. NOT GIVEN
4. TRUE
You can even see this in the brain when using fMRI scans, areas like the prefrontal cortex that activate
when understanding mental states or considering the thoughts of others, show less activity in those with a
higher social class. Poor people also have a greater ability to assess the emotional states of others have
more interpersonal interactions, greater eye contact, head nodding and laughing compared to richer people
who are more likely to self groom fidget or doodle.
5. FALSE
One possible explanation for this is that people with less materials resources and privilege
rely more on others to meet their needs, and this creates a pressure to be more emotionally intelligent. So,
of course, not all rich people are jerks but in general as your wealth increases your empathy decreases,
making rich people statistically more likely to be jerks.
Part 2.
6. downloading malicious software 0.09
7. (the) reply address 0.42
8. unsolicited (messages) 0.56
9. (a) genuine site 1.35
10. encrypted and secure 1.48
Part 3.
11. D 12. D 13. B 14. A 15. C
lnt: With me I have two writers, Simon Chirk, author of fifteen best-selling novels, and Naomi Glenn who
writes fiction for teenagers. Simon, the image we get of authors these days is of media-savvy youngsters
making a quick fortune. Is it really that easy?
S: Well, we've all got stories in us, whether it's family secrets, grand passions or quirky comedies. But it's
quite another matter knowing how to tap into them. To my mind, the desire to make pots of money is
scarcely the best starting point. You've got to be up for the challenge of creating a fictional world; one that
wouldn't exist if you didn't put your particular energy and talent into it - and that's got to be there in no
small measure. (11) Otherwise you're unlikely to have the resilience, patience and sheer willpower to
get it finished, let alone get it published in some form. Unless, of course, you're already in the public eye
for some other reason, in which case you'll have the commercial publishers falling over themselves to sign
you up.
lnt: Would you go along with that, Naomi?
N: I remember my first novel, getting up at six every morning to write before putting in a full day at the
office. It was gruesome but that's still the norm for a lot of young unpublished writers. It's a real effort, you
get drained of energy, but I look back on it with a certain pride. Because if I got stuck, which everyone
does at some point, I'd no choice but to keep at it - that can be painful. (12) Suddenly the idea of tidying
up your bedroom becomes incredibly attractive but you've got to resist the urge - writers are past
masters at displacement activities! The other thing I'd say is avoid being beguiled into spending a fortune
on high-tech kit - you just need a basic software package to bash the stuff out – getting to grips with
anything else just wastes time.
lnt: So, what's the ideal subject matter to start off with?
S: Well, there's a lot to be said for the old adage: write about what you know. But if what you know 's a
fairly uninspiring job, it'll hardly be the right context for massmarket readers. They'll be hoping for
something more aspirational, like the world of fashion or horseracing or whatever. (13) I mean your
35
characters can do those humdrum jobs but that shouldn't be the background against which the
whole story is set.
N: And another thing to avoid is jumping on the bandwagon. Just because last year's number one
blockbuster was a thriller set in the world of high finance, doesn't mean that the market wants a whole raft
of inferior imitations. It's an easy trap to fall into. So yes, it's best not to stray from familiar ground.
S: But whatever genre you go for, you've got to be giving the reader some sort of added value, some kind
of insight into another world, as well as just a cracking good story. I mean, the other thing to mention is
that (14) if you don't have an inspirational idea buried somewhere inside you, then research can take
you there. If you explore another world in depth, then inspiration can stem from that and you can
share your new found enthusiasm with your readers.
N: Well, there's something in that but again I'm rather inclined to think that that comes later, when
you've played out your own ideas and you need to go somewhere else - so you don't just keep repeating
the same old stuff. You're beginning to contradict yourself actually, Simon.
S: Am I? Oh well - it was ever so!
Int: But you write for teenagers Naomi, which must have its own challenges.
N: Well, it's a whole different ballgame. I mean fundamentally there's kids' literature on the one hand and
then there's mainstream adult stuff on the other - and because of that narrow window, there's not actually a
vast amount on the market that's specifically aimed at teenagers because they quickly move on. (15) But
whilst initial volume of sales can be a lot lower than with the big adult genres, the shelf life of your
work can extend over the generations, meaning income stacks up. But, it's also difficult to hit the right
note. Teenagers are quick to let you know if anything you've written feels patronising or dumbed down -
yet they aren't quite ready for the complexities of adult fiction - so you're walking a bit of a tightrope. I
sometimes think there must be easier ways of earning a living!
Part 4.
16. vast interconnected 0.14
17. transformative vision 0.46
18. computer-generated environment 1.01
19. tangible surroundings 1.21
20. digital thread 1.35
21. lynchpin/linchpin 2.21
22. standards and protocols 2.45
23. machine learning algorithms 3.03
24. static figure 3.47
25. new frontier 4.47
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. C
Give sb the third degree: to treat sb violently or badly to persuade them to confess or give information
Give sb the cold shoulder: to intentionally ignore or show no interest in sb
Give sb the death stare: to give sb an angry look
Give sb the glad eye: to look at sb in a way that shows you are attracted by them
27. B
Nail down sth: to understand sth completely or make sth certain
Stick sth down: to write something somewhere
Lay sth down: to officially establish a rule/ to put away or stop using sth/ to record a piece of music
28. C
Insularity (n): the quality of only being interested in your own country and not being willing to accept
foreign ideas
Obsequiousness (n): the fact of being servile and trying to please sb
Magnanimity (n): kindness and generosity, especially towards an enemy or an opponent
Capitulation (n): an unwilling acceptance of sth
29. A
Nebulous (adj): (of ideas) vague, lacking form
Obstinate (adj): (of a problem/ a situation) difficult to deal with,
(of sb) unreasonably stubborn
36
30. B
Dash one’s hopes: to destroy ones hopes
31. B
Rope in: to persuade sb to participate in sth
Cop out: to avoid doing sth that one ought to do
Whip up: to make sth quickly/ to stimulate strong feelings
32. A
Go through hoops: to do a lot of difficult things before you are allowed to do or have sth you want
Go with the flow: agree with other opinions or do what others do
Go round the houses: to waste time making things complicated
Go with the territory: be part of a particular activity
33. D
Thoroughly recommend (collocation)
34. A
No contest is used to say that sb/sth is the best of its kind
35. D
(By) courtesy of: because of
In lieu of: instead
Ahead of: in front of/ having more points than sb in an election/ before sth/ in the future
In advance of sb/sth: before sb/sth
Part 2.
36. EFFRONTERY (n): extreme rudeness
37. CONSUMMATE (adj): perfect, or complete in every way
38. WUNDERKIND (n): a prodigy
39. GERMINATING (v): to start developing
40. WOODENLY (adv): awkwardly and stiffly
Part 3.
41. line 2: rainbow-hue => rainbow-hued
42. line 7: footed => afoot
43. line 9: so => but
44. line 17: potential => a potential
45. line 27: adding => add
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
46. including 47. circulates/ 48. point 49. vulnerable/ 50. under
flows susceptible

51. effort 52. dehydration 53. filter 54. if 55. even

Part 2.
56. F
- Dẫn chứng: Last year, Americans spent over $30 billion at retail stores in the month of December
alone. => ‘Nearly’ có nghĩa là ‘gần như’, tức là chưa đủ 30 tỷ đô-la, trong khi đó văn bản cho ‘over’,
tức là hơn con số đó.
- Dịch: Năm vừa rồi, người dân Hoa Kì tốn hơn 30 tỷ đô-la tại các cửa hàng bán lẻ nội trong tháng 12.
57. T
- Dẫn chứng: At the same time, many dread the thought of buying gifts; they worry that their purchases
will disappoint rather than delight the intended recipients.
- Dịch: Đồng thời, nhiều người ngại nghĩ đến việc mua quà; họ lo lắng rằng quà họ tặng sẽ gây thất vọng
hơn là làm hài lòng người nhận.
58. NG
- Dẫn chứng: People buy gifts that recipients would not choose to buy on their own, or at least not spend
as much money to purchase => không đề cập tới sự mong đợi của người nhận
- Dịch: Người ta mua quà mà người nhận không tự mình chọn mua, hoặc ít nhất là không bỏ ra nhiều
tiền để mua
37
59. T
- Dẫn chứng: Although a link between gift price and feelings of appreciation might seem intuitive to
gift-givers, such an assumption may be unfounded
- Dịch: Mặc dù mối liên hệ giữa giá quà tặng và cảm giác trân trọng có vẻ trực quan đối với người tặng
quà, nhưng giả định như vậy có thể không có cơ sở.
60. F
- Dẫn chứng: […] whereby gift-givers attempt to signal their positive attitudes toward the intended
recipient and their willingness to invest resources in a future relationship => large gifts serve a dual
rather than sole purpose.
- Dịch: theo đó người tặng quà cố gắng thể hiện thái độ tích cực của họ đối với người nhận và sự sẵn
sàng đầu tư nguồn lực vào mối quan hệ trong tương lai.
61. T
- Dẫn chứng: The notion of gift-givers and gift-recipients being unable to account for the other party’s
perspective seems puzzling (=questionable) because people slip in and out of these roles every day,
and, in some cases, multiple times in the course of the same day. (the bold part indicates the
frequency with which people partake in gift exchange)
- Dịch: Việc người tặng quà và người nhận quà không thể hiểu được quan điểm của bên còn lại có vẻ
khó hiểu bởi vì mọi người đảm nhận những vai trò này hàng ngày, và trong một số trường hợp, nhiều
lần trong cùng một ngày.
62. F
- Dẫn chứng: despite the extensive experience that people have as both givers and receivers, they often
struggle to transfer information gained from one role (e.g., as a giver) and apply it in another,
complementary role (e.g., as a receiver) => mọi người thường không thực hiện được việc áp dụng kinh
nghiệm từ việc tặng sang nhận quà, mặc dù việc này có thể và rất được khuyến khích
- Dịch: mặc dù mọi người có kinh nghiệm sâu rộng với tư cách là người cho và người nhận, nhưng họ
thường gặp khó khăn trong việc chuyển thông tin thu được từ một vai trò (ví dụ: với tư cách là người
cho) và áp dụng nó trong một vai trò bổ sung khác (ví dụ: với tư cách là người nhận).
63. Ambivalent feelings
- Dẫn chứng: This frequent experience of gift-giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers.
- Dịch: Trải nghiệm tặng quà thường xuyên này có thể gây ra cảm giác mâu thuẫn ở người tặng quà.
64. Positive social process
- Dẫn chứng: Anthropologists describe gift-giving as a positive social process, serving various political,
religious, and psychological functions.
- Dịch: Các nhà nhân chủng học mô tả việc tặng quà là một quá trình xã hội tích cực, phục vụ nhiều chức
năng chính trị, tôn giáo và tâm lý.
65. Deadweight loss
- Dẫn chứng: People buy gifts that recipients would not choose to buy on their own, or at least not spend
as much money to purchase (a phenomenon referred to as ‘‘the deadweight loss of Christmas”).
- Dịch: Mọi người mua những món quà mà người nhận không muốn tự mình mua, hoặc ít nhất là không
chi nhiều tiền để mua (một hiện tượng được gọi là “sự mất mát nặng nề của lễ Giáng sinh”).
66. Magnitude
- Dẫn chứng: Indeed, we propose that gift-recipients will be less inclined to base their feelings of
appreciation on the magnitude of a gift than givers assume.
- Dịch: Thật vậy, chúng tôi cho rằng người nhận quà sẽ ít có xu hướng đánh giá cao giá trị của món quà
hơn những gì người tặng nghĩ.
67. Thoughtfulness and consideration
- Dẫn chứng: Perhaps givers believe that bigger (i.e., more expensive) gifts convey stronger signals of
thoughtfulness and consideration.
- Dịch: Có lẽ người tặng tin rằng những món quà lớn hơn (tức là đắt tiền hơn) truyền tải những tín hiệu
mạnh mẽ hơn về sự chu đáo và cân nhắc.
68. Personal insight
- Dẫn chứng: In practical terms, people spend hundreds of dollars each year on gifts, but somehow never
learn to calibrate their gift expenditures according to personal insight.
- Dịch: Trên thực tế, mọi người chi hàng trăm đô la mỗi năm cho quà tặng, nhưng bằng cách nào đó họ
không bao giờ học cách điều chỉnh việc chi tiêu cho quà tặng theo hiểu biết cá nhân.
38
Part 3.
69. F
- Dẫn chứng: ‘You might think it’s a noisy place’ in F contrasts with ‘seminar table’ in the first
paragraph. ‘Intellectually gazumped’ in F is another way to phrase ‘steal the idea and use it’ and ‘Their
intellectual property is at risk’ in the first paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘Có thể bạn nghĩ nơi đấy ồn ào’ trong F tương phản với ‘bàn hội thảo’ trong đoạn đầu tiên. ‘Bị
chiếm đoạt về mặt trí tuệ’ trong F là một cách khác để diễn đạt việc ‘ăn cắp ý tưởng và sử dụng nó’ và
‘Tài sản trí tuệ của họ đang gặp rủi ro’ trong đoạn đầu tiên…
70. E
- Dẫn chứng: ‘This intellectual coyness’ in E corresponds with ‘hoarding and hiding’ in the previous
paragraph. ‘cannot feel the quality of an idea before deciding whether to buy it or not’ in the paragraph
following E is essentially summing up the idea of ‘you cannot know the value of a piece of
information, […] unless you know what it is’ in E.
- Dịch: ‘Sự kín đáo này’ trong E tương ứng với ‘tích trữ và che giấu’ trong đoạn trước đó. ‘không thể
biết được chất lượng của một ý tưởng trước khi quyết định có nên tin nó hay không’ trong đoạn tiếp
sau E về cơ bản đang tổng kết ý tưởng ‘bạn không thể biết giá trị của một mẩu thông tin, [...] trừ khi
bạn biết nó là gì’ trong E.
71. G
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘intellectual property lawyers’ in the previous paragraph corresponds with
‘legal and contractual approaches’ in G. ‘Intellectual misers’ in the following paragraph is another nod
to the fact that ‘we are becoming more intellectually guarded’ in G.
- Dịch: Cụm từ ‘luật sư sở hữu trí tuệ’ trong đoạn trước tương ứng với ‘cách tiếp cận mang tính pháp lý
và hợp đồng’ trong G. ‘Những kẻ keo kiệt về trí tuệ’ trong đoạn sau đó là một cách ám chỉ khác đến
việc ‘chúng ta đang dần bảo vệ sản phẩm trí tuệ nghiêm ngặt hơn’ trong G.
72. H
- Dẫn chứng: The most obvious indicator that H is the best fit for this space is the ‘Well, yes’ that
responds to the questions posed previously. ‘the value of an original idea is all the more worth
guarding’ in H is also a direct cause for the fact that ‘intellectual generosity is becoming rarer’ stated in
the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Dấu hiệu nhận biết H là câu đúng là câu ‘À, vâng’ trả lời lại các câu hỏi đã nêu trước đó. ‘giá trị
của một ý tưởng nguyên bản càng đáng được bảo vệ’ trong H cũng là nguyên nhân trực tiếp cho việc
‘sự hào phóng trí tuệ đang trở nên hiếm hoi hơn’ được nêu trong đoạn tiếp theo.
73. C
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Such a system of tagging’ in C encompasses the tagging process mentioned in the
previous paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘Một hệ thống nhắc tên như vậy’ trong C bao gồm quy trình nhắc tên được đề cập trong đoạn
trước đó.
74. D
- Dẫn chứng: It’s easy to see that D is expanding the idea of employees potentially guarding their ideas
mentioned in the previous paragraph. Further clues are ‘managers’ in D corresponding to ‘employers’
in the previous paragraph, ‘incentives’ in D paraphrasing ‘how can managers ensure that they are
working as hard as they should be?’ in the previous paragraph.
- Dịch: Dễ dàng nhận thấy rằng D đang mở rộng thêm việc nhân viên có thể bảo vệ ý tưởng của họ được
đề cập trong đoạn trước. Các clues phụ bao gồm ‘managers’ trong D tương ứng với ‘employers’ trong
đoạn trước, ‘incentives’ trong D diễn giải lại câu ‘how can managers ensure that they are working as
hard as they should be?’ trong đoạn trước.
75. B
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘Ultimately’ in B signals that this paragraph sums up the ideas mentioned
throughout the passage. ‘True collaboration’ in B also corresponds with ‘an atmosphere of co-
operation’ in the final paragraph of the text.
- Dịch: Cụm từ ‘Ultimately’ trong B báo hiệu rằng đoạn văn này tổng kết các ý tưởng được đề cập xuyên
suốt bài viết. ‘True collaboration’ trong B cũng tương ứng với ‘an atmosphere of co-operation’ trong
đoạn cuối của văn bản.
Part 4.
76. C
39
- Dẫn chứng: Strange as it may seem, consumer watchdogs are convinced that burgeoning online
shopping numbers will not result in the death of the High Street. Instead, it will force an evolution
[reinvention] in terms of the shopping experience.
- Dịch: Dù có vẻ kỳ lạ, các cơ quan giám sát người tiêu dùng tin rằng số lượng đơn mua sắm trực tuyến
ngày càng tăng sẽ không dẫn đến sự biến mất của các cửa hàng trên phố lớn. Thay vào đó, nó sẽ thúc
đẩy sự phát triển về trải nghiệm mua sắm.
77. B
- Dẫn chứng: It is common practice for the consumer to enter a store to get a physical idea of their
intended purchase, use their phone to compare the store price of their prospective purchase with
those found online, and then opt for the best price available [favourable deals].
- Dịch: Thông thường, người tiêu dùng sẽ vào cửa hàng để xem sản phẩm họ định mua một cách trực
quan, sau đó dùng điện thoại để so sánh giá của sản phẩm đó tại cửa hàng với giá tìm thấy trên mạng,
và cuối cùng chọn mức giá tốt nhất có thể.
78. B
- Dẫn chứng:
A. The dramatic rise in online shopping
The text explicitly states that "burgeoning online shopping numbers" are a significant factor. This rise in
online shopping is a primary reason for the creation of 'dark stores,' which cater to the needs of online
shoppers.
C. The potential for generating more revenue
The concept of 'dark stores' aligns with the goal of increasing revenue by efficiently serving the growing
number of online shoppers. By fulfilling online orders more effectively, supermarkets can capture a larger
share of the e-commerce market.
D. The need to meet customer demands
The text highlights the importance of catering to "the growing population of insatiable online shoppers."
This demand from consumers for online shopping options is a crucial factor driving the creation of 'dark
stores.'
This leaves B as the least likely reason, making it the correct answer.
- Dịch:
A. Văn bản rõ ràng đề cập rằng "số lượng mua sắm trực tuyến ngày càng tăng" là một yếu tố quan trọng.
Sự gia tăng này trong mua sắm trực tuyến là lý do chính cho việc tạo ra các 'cửa hàng không người’, nhằm
phục vụ nhu cầu của những người mua sắm trực tuyến.
C. Khái niệm 'cửa hàng không người’ phù hợp với mục tiêu tăng doanh thu bằng cách phục vụ hiệu quả số
lượng người mua sắm trực tuyến ngày càng tăng. Bằng cách hoàn thành các đơn đặt hàng trực tuyến hiệu
quả hơn, các siêu thị có thể chiếm một phần lớn hơn của thị trường thương mại điện tử.
D. Văn bản nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của việc đáp ứng "dân số ngày càng tăng của những người mua sắm
trực tuyến không thể thoả mãn." Nhu cầu này từ người tiêu dùng đối với các lựa chọn mua sắm trực tuyến
là một yếu tố quan trọng thúc đẩy việc tạo ra các 'cửa hàng không người.'
→ B là câu trả lời đúng.
79. D
- Dẫn chứng: They are merely there for the growing population of insatiable online shoppers. Imagine an
enormous supermarket with fully stocked shelves, no customers, no garish advertising and no busy
tillpoints. => ‘garish’ means ‘showy’, or ‘unpleasantly bright’
- Dịch: Chúng chỉ đơn thuần để phục vụ số lượng những người mua sắm trực tuyến khó tính ngày càng
tăng. Hãy tưởng tượng một siêu thị khổng lồ với các kệ hàng đầy đủ nhưng không có khách hàng,
không có quảng cáo lòe loẹt và không có quầy thu ngân bận rộn. => 'garish' có nghĩa là 'lòe loẹt' hoặc
'sáng chói một cách khó chịu'.
80. A
- Dẫn chứng: The text states that "Dotcom food shopping is still in its infancy but is predicted to double
in value over the next five years to an enormous 12 billion." Additionally, it mentions that "technology-
driven consumer behaviour will generate growth across at least twenty different retail sectors resulting
in an estimated 1.5 trillion in future sales by 2016." Therefore, the correct answer – A – encapsulates
both the specific prediction for dotcom food shopping and the broader impact on various retail sectors.
- Dịch: Văn bản cho biết rằng "Mua sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến vẫn chưa thực sự phát triển, nhưng được
dự đoán sẽ tăng gấp đôi giá trị trong năm năm tới, lên đến con số khổng lồ 12 tỷ." Ngoài ra, nó đề cập
40
 rằng "Hành vi tiêu dùng được thúc đẩy bởi công nghệ sẽ tạo ra tăng trưởng ở ít nhất hai mươi lĩnh vực
bán lẻ khác nhau, dẫn đến doanh số bán hàng ước tính 1,5 nghìn tỷ vào năm 2016." Do đó, câu trả lời
đúng – A – bao quát cả dự đoán cụ thể về mua sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến và tác động rộng hơn đến các
lĩnh vực bán lẻ khác nhau…
81. B
- Dẫn chứng: When it comes to food, the need to see what you buy is not quite as great, but especially
within the clothing sector, most shoppers would rather have a tangible idea [tactile assessment] of
what they're spending their money on.
- Dịch: Khi nói đến thực phẩm, thường mọi người sẽ không có nhu cầu xem trực tiếp sản phẩm, nhưng
đặc biệt trong lĩnh vực quần áo, hầu hết người mua sắm thích được thử trước rồi mới chọn mua.
82. A
- Dẫn chứng: Visualisation technologies are likely to feature much more heavily, making it easier to
actually see items. In the furniture sector, for example, people will virtually place items in their homes
and ensure that they suit as well as fit the environment. => Visualization technologies allow buyers to
view items before purchase, thus making it unnecessary to visit physical stores (or bricks and mortars
stores, in this case), thus hindering their development.
- Dịch: Các công nghệ hình ảnh hóa có khả năng được sử dụng nhiều, từ đó giúp việc quan sát các mặt
hàng trở nên dễ dàng hơn. Trong lĩnh vực nội thất chẳng hạn, mọi người sẽ đặt các món đồ vào nhà của
mình trên không gian ảo và đảm bảo rằng chúng phù hợp cũng như vừa vặn với không gian. => Các
công nghệ hình ảnh hóa cho phép người mua xem các mặt hàng trước khi mua, do đó không cần phải
đến các cửa hàng vật lý (hoặc cửa hàng ‘bricks and mortars’ trong trường hợp này), từ đó cản trở sự
phát triển của chúng.
83. D
- Dẫn chứng: With growing competition to draw people to their sites, they are developing consumer
concepts which go far beyond the mere displaying of product. Architecture is key, as well as clever
interior designing often coupled with interesting design exhibits, so that the experience becomes
artistically stimulating [cutting edged] while potentially encouraging a purchase.
- Dịch: Khi mà việc hút mọi người đến trang web ngày càng trở nên cạnh tranh, các cửa hàng bán lẻ
đang phát triển các ý tưởng tiêu dùng vượt xa việc chỉ trưng bày sản phẩm. Kiến trúc là yếu tố then
chốt, cũng như thiết kế nội thất thông minh kết hợp cùng các triển lãm thiết kế thú vị, giúp cho trải
nghiệm vừa tạo hứng thú về mặt nghệ thuật lại vừa khuyến khích mua hàng.
84. C
- Dẫn chứng: For smaller stores it is likely to mean partnering up with larger outlets to allow a greater
flexibility in terms of pricing, but large flagship stores are going to become more like brand cathedrals
where, rather than being places for purchasing, they will evolve into interesting areas for advertising
the product […] In truth, many big name designer retailers have already started doing just this. =>
‘Large flagship stores’ belong to the same group as ‘big name designer retailers’, therefore ‘this’ refer
to ‘evolving into areas for advertising’, making C the correct answer. (Readers should pay attention to
the cohesion between the two sentences)
- Dịch: Đối với các cửa hàng nhỏ, điều này thường đồng nghĩa với việc hợp tác với các cửa hàng lớn hơn
để cho phép sự linh hoạt về mặt giá cả, nhưng các cửa hàng cơ sở lớn sẽ trở thành những "đền thờ
thương hiệu" nơi, thay vì chỉ để mua sắm, sẽ phát triển thành những khu vực quảng cáo sản phẩm [...]
Trên thực tế, nhiều nhãn hàng thời trang danh tiếng đã bắt đầu thực hiện chiến dịch này. => ‘Large
flagship stores' thuộc cùng một nhóm với ‘big name designer retailers’, do đó ‘this’ đề cập đến ‘phát
triển thành các khu vực quảng cáo', biến C thành câu trả lời đúng. (HS nên chú ý đến sự liên kết giữa
hai câu.)
85. D
- Dẫn chứng:
A. This title suggests that online shopping is decreasing, which contradicts the text's emphasis on the
growth and increasing significance of online shopping, particularly the concept of 'showrooming' and
the prediction that dotcom food shopping will double in value.
B. This title incorrectly implies that technology has no impact on high street shopping, whereas the text
clearly discusses how technology is forcing high street retailers to evolve and adapt to new consumer
behaviors, including the rise of 'showrooming' and the integration of online and offline shopping
experiences.
41
C. This title suggests that retail outlets are becoming irrelevant, which is misleading. The text indicates
that while the role of traditional retail outlets is changing, they are still important for consumers who
use them for research before making online purchases. Additionally, it discusses how high street
retailers are adapting by transforming stores into brand experiences and integrating technology to stay
relevant.
D. Title D, meanwhile, encapsulates the main themes of the text, highlighting how traditional high street
retail is evolving in response to the rise of online shopping and technology-driven consumer behavior,
making it the correct one
- Dịch:
A. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng mua sắm trực tuyến đang giảm, điều này trái ngược với sự tập trung của văn bản
vào sự tăng trưởng và tầm quan trọng ngày càng tăng của mua sắm trực tuyến, đặc biệt là khái niệm
'showrooming' và dự đoán rằng mua sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến sẽ tăng gấp đôi giá trị.
B. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng công nghệ không ảnh hưởng đến việc mua sắm trên phố lớn, trong khi văn bản
rõ ràng đã thảo luận về cách công nghệ đang buộc các nhà bán lẻ trên phố lớn phải tiến triển và thích
nghi với hành vi tiêu dùng mới, bao gồm sự gia tăng của 'showrooming' và tích hợp trải nghiệm mua
sắm trực tuyến và ngoại tuyến.
C. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng các cửa hàng bán lẻ mất đi tầm quan trọng. Văn bản chỉ ra rằng trong khi vai trò
của các cửa hàng bán lẻ truyền thống đang thay đổi, chúng vẫn quan trọng đối với người tiêu dùng sử
dụng chúng để nghiên cứu trước khi thực hiện mua sắm trực tuyến. Ngoài ra, nó thảo luận về cách nhà
bán lẻ trên phố lớn đang thích nghi bằng cách biến các cửa hàng thành trải nghiệm thương hiệu và tích
hợp công nghệ để tận dụng chúng triệt để.

→ Trong khi đó, tiêu đề D tóm tắt các chủ đề chính của văn bản, nhấn mạnh cách bán lẻ truyền thống trên
phố lớn đang tiến triển để đáp ứng với sự gia tăng của mua sắm trực tuyến và hành vi tiêu dùng được thúc
đẩy bởi công nghệ, từ đó biến D thành đáp án đúng nhất.
Part 5.
86. C
- Dẫn chứng: One of the most powerful scenes in the play occurs during the storm on the heath, where
Lear confronts the harsh realities of his own stupidity.
- Dịch: Một trong những cảnh gây ảnh hưởng nhất trong vở kịch xảy ra trong cơn bão trên vùng đất
hoang, nơi Lear đối mặt với thực tế khắc nghiệt về sự ngu ngốc của chính mình.
87. E
- Dẫn chứng: She is a woman unafraid to speak her mind and challenge norms and expectations in
society.
- Dịch: Cô ấy là một người phụ nữ không ngại nói lên suy nghĩ của mình và thách thức những chuẩn
mực cũng như kỳ vọng trong xã hội.
88. A
- Dẫn chứng: I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth's transformation from a brave and noble
warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt. […] The role continues to challenge and
inspire me [the speaker has portrayed this role many times], allowing me to explore the depths of
human nature through the lens of Shakespeare's genius.
- Dịch: Tôi thích thú với thử thách nắm bắt quá trình biến đổi của Macbeth từ một chiến binh dũng cảm
và cao quý thành một bạo chúa tàn nhẫn đối mặt với cảm giác tội lỗi. […] Vai diễn này tiếp tục thử
thách và truyền cảm hứng cho tôi [diễn giả đã thể hiện vai diễn này nhiều lần], cho phép tôi khám phá
chiều sâu bản chất con người qua lăng kính thiên tài của Shakespeare.
89. D
- Dẫn chứng: What sets Hamlet apart is his multi-dimensionality. He is simultaneously a scholar, a
philosopher, a son seeking revenge and a prince caught in the web of political intrigue. Examining all
of these layers and portraying the intricate emotions of a character trying to come to terms with life's
most profound questions is an exhilarating journey for an actor.
- Dịch: Điều làm nên sự khác biệt của Hamlet là tính đa chiều của anh ấy. Anh vừa là một học giả, một
triết gia, một người con trai đang tìm cách trả thù và một hoàng tử bị vướng vào mạng lưới âm mưu
chính trị. Xem xét tất cả các lớp này và khắc họa những cảm xúc phức tạp của một nhân vật đang cố
gắng giải quyết những dấu chấm hỏi sâu sắc nhất của cuộc sống là một hành trình đầy phấn khích đối
với một diễn viên.
42
90. A
- Dẫn chứng: I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth's transformation from a brave and noble
warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt.
- Dịch: Tôi thích thú với thử thách nắm bắt quá trình biến đổi của Macbeth từ một chiến binh dũng cảm
và cao quý thành một bạo chúa tàn nhẫn đối mặt với cảm giác tội lỗi.
91. E
- Dẫn chứng: Beatrice's sharp wit and her ability to hold her own in a world dominated by men make
her a timeless and empowering figure. She is a woman unafraid to speak her mind and challenge
norms and expectations in society.
- Dịch: Sự hóm hỉnh sắc bén của Beatrice và khả năng giữ vững lập trường của mình trong một thế giới
do đàn ông thống trị khiến cô trở thành một nhân vật có sức mạnh vượt thời gian. Cô ấy là một người
phụ nữ không ngại nói lên suy nghĩ của mình và thách thức những chuẩn mực cũng như kỳ vọng trong
xã hội.
92. D
- Dẫn chứng: It is a moment of reflection that demonstrates the depth of Hamlet's psyche. Bringing this
extensive inner life to the stage is a challenge I really enjoy. […] Examining all of these layers and
portraying the intricate emotions of a character trying to come to terms with life's most profound
questions is an exhilarating journey for an actor.
- Dịch: Đây là khoảnh khắc suy ngẫm thể hiện chiều sâu tâm hồn của Hamlet. Đưa đời sống nội tâm
phong phú này lên sân khấu là một thử thách mà tôi thực sự thích thú. […] Xem xét tất cả các lớp này
và khắc họa những cảm xúc phức tạp của một nhân vật đang cố gắng giải quyết những câu hỏi sâu sắc
nhất của cuộc sống là một hành trình đầy phấn khích đối với một diễn viên.
93. C
- Dẫn chứng: The poetic richness of his speeches, particularly during the emotional moments of
self-reflection, gives me the opportunity to connect with the audience on a deeper level.
- Dịch: Sự giàu chất thơ trong các lời thoại của anh, đặc biệt là trong những khoảnh khắc đầy cảm xúc
khi tự suy ngẫm, cho tôi cơ hội kết nối với khán giả ở mức độ sâu sắc hơn.
94. E
- Dẫn chứng: The dialogue between Beatrice and Benedick is a delight to perform, as they shoot
comments at each other, like two tennis players passing a ball.
- Dịch: Thực hiện cuộc đối thoại giữa Beatrice và Benedick rất thú vị, khi họ đưa ra những nhận xét về
nhau, giống như hai vận động viên quần vợt chuyền bóng.
95. B
- Dẫn chứng: Portraying her journey from a manipulative and ambitious woman to a tormented soul
consumed by guilt is a true acting challenge. […] Exploring the depths of her mind, I aim to convey
her internal struggles and the tragic consequences of her actions.
- Dịch: Miêu tả hành trình của cô từ một người phụ nữ hay thao túng và đầy tham vọng đến một tâm hồn
dày vò vì tội lỗi là một thử thách diễn xuất thực sự. […] Khám phá chiều sâu tâm trí của cô ấy, tôi
mong muốn truyền tải những đấu tranh nội tâm và hậu quả bi thảm từ hành động của cô ấy.
IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1.
The passage elucidates the phenomenon of holiday blues and explores its underlying culprits.
Paradoxically, according to the New York University Child Study Centre, amid the traditionally joyous
holiday season, 33% of people from various demographics suffer from varying extents of “holiday blues”.
Dr Frank Pittman, a prominent family psychiatrist, attributes holiday depression to familial issues,
claiming that gatherings can shatter the fantasies of a blissful family reunion and cause distress by
reigniting old conflicts or provoking unpleasant feelings. Nevertheless, others have a more panoramic
view, putting the blame on the conundrum of gift shopping or the absence of loved ones including families
and friends during holidays, which causes extreme forlornness.
Part 2.
The bar chart compares the proportion of government expenditure on roads and transport in Italy, Portugal,
the UK, and the USA every five years from 1990 to 2005.

What is the most striking when looking at the data is that all countries experienced decreases in their
budgetary allocation for roads and transport during the studied period, with the largest fall being observed
43
in Portugal. Despite this, this country remained the nation subsidizing roads and transport the most among
the four surveyed, proportionally.
Throughout the given period, Portugal and Italy dedicated much higher portions of funds to roads and
transport than did the UK and US. Notably, the former started with the highest figure on the whole chart, at
about 26%. Thereafter, however, this figure had fallen fairly steeply to 20% by 1995, after which it
registered a steady decline of 2% every 5 years, ending the period at around 16%. A roughly similar
declining trend can be seen in Italy, where the government had cut fund allocation for roads and transport
from 20% to roughly 13% between 1990 and 2000. Although towards the end of the period the proportion
of spending on this area rose, this recovery was rather negligible.
Turning to the UK, it was the only nation in the survey showing an increase in the share of subsidies for
roads and transport in the first two years given, from approximately 11% to 13%. Nevertheless, its outlay
for this sector had halved by 2000, representing the most pronounced change on the chart. Similar to Italy,
the UK did see its figures recovering at the end, yet this increase was far too insignificant compared to the
previous fall.
Finally, there was generally little change in the USA category. Here, the proportion of government
expenditure on roads and transport hovered around 12% throughout the surveyed period, with a peak of
nearly 14% in 2000.
Part 3.
The ongoing debate surrounding the allocation of rewards in schools constitutes a complex and
multifaceted issue. While it is commonly believed that these rewards should be contingent on students'
academic achievements, some claim otherwise, asserting that the key factor should be the improvements
made during the learning journey. Discussing these two points of view, I vehemently agree that each
approach holds its own merits, and the optimal resolution lies in adopting a comprehensive strategy that
facilitates the all-encompassing development of students.
On the one hand, rewarding students for academic results can be seen as a way to foster a cultural milieu
towards excellence, and provide clear recognition for those who consistently perform at a high scholastic
level. By offering recognition and encouraging prowess in academia, educational institutions can foster a
merit-based approach that aligns with the principles of meritocracy. Take a monthly academic achievement
award as an example, which recognizes and acknowledges students who demonstrate outstanding
performance in their studies. This methodology not only incentivizes students who may not initially rank
among the top performers but also provides assurance to high-achieving students that consistent
maintenance of their academic excellence will still earn them the awards. The positive reinforcement
creates a culture of healthy competition and a collective drive for success. To reiterate, in some respects,
rewarding outstanding academic achievements can be a potent catalyst for fostering a culture of excellence
and motivating students to constantly strive for more knowledge.
On the other hand, grades should never be a sole criterion, because rewarding students for improvements
stands as a testament to the acknowledgment of the intrinsic value embedded in diligence and commitment,
irrespective of their initial academic standings. By adopting this perspective, educational institutions not
only applaud the end result of effort but support the transformative journey itself, imparting a distinctive
emphasis on the virtues of tenacity and perseverance and a growth mindset in students. An outstanding
facet of acknowledging improvement lies in its inherent inclusivity. Unlike a rigid focus on absolute
outcomes, this approach takes into account the diverse starting points of students and celebrates the
individual progress made by every student, notwithstanding their level of competence. Illustrative of this is
the case that a student, who had initially struggled with mathematics, demonstrated a noticeable upward
trajectory after unwavering commitment and extensive hours of dedicated study, though not achieving the
top scores in class. If this student gets recognized and commended for his/her progress, it not only boosts
his/her confidence but also serves as a motivating factor for other students facing academic challenges.
Hence, this inclusive ethos reinforces the idea that success is not solely defined by where one starts but by
the distance traveled and the hurdles overcome.
A balanced approach that appreciates both academic excellence and progress seems most prudent. Such an
approach can create a holistic learning environment, where students are motivated to strive for continuous
improvement while also acknowledging and celebrating their unique strengths and accomplishments.
Ultimately, an equitable and comprehensive reward system in schools should inspire all students,
regardless of their starting points, to embrace the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.

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In conclusion, both paradigms have their own advantages. Striking a balance between the two may create a
more supportive and motivating learning environment that caters to the diverse needs and strengths of
students, considering both the destination and the journey.
V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Ladies and gentlemen, my topic today is [TOPIC 2].
Every day, we consume a colossal amount of information, either consciously or unconsciously, and a big
part of it comes from the media. However, the rise of media conspiracy allows individuals and
organizations to embellish their names under the cloak of charity work, which in turn, stirs up concerns
among the public about whether they are fed the right and sufficient information. This reality begs the
question of what exactly is the current media conspiracy and how it affects us - the public. In my speech
today, I will attempt to delve into the assumed role of the media before elaborating on the current media
conspiracy and its consequences.
Since its induction, the media has been expected to provide the public with useful, accurate, up-to-date
information about what’s going on in our world, and most importantly, it has to stay loyal to the truth.
Media platforms also play a vital role in spreading kind-hearted actions like the charitable work that
individuals undertake as those benevolent activists are the driving force to consolidate the mutual
sympathy of the whole community. Plus, the coverage of those people can encourage others to participate
in charity work, which, in turn, lays the foundation for a better society.
That being said, the actual things the media has been doing is a whole different story. Rather than fulfilling
their noble functions, the media has easily been manipulated by organizations and individuals to serve their
malicious purposes. The nature of the media is that it craves reputation and wants to grab the attention of
the public through sensational headlines or controversial stories. In other words, its top priority is to
maximize profits from views and shares. Thus, sometimes the moral factor is overlooked and media
conspiracy comes into play when bad people take advantage of it. For instance, politicians can exploit the
media to brainwash people by concealing the truth related to the political landscape of different countries.
In this case, celebrities use the media to showcase the impression of them doing charitable work to gain
profits or increase their social impact. As for media agencies, to uplift their standing and quench their thirst
for money, they often are more than willing to create a false portrayal of what are fundamentally
praiseworthy activities.
After all, with media conspiracy being all the rage these days, people are worried about the dire
implications it can have for all stakeholders, including the public themselves, influencers, organizations,
and media agencies. Regarding the public, as they are deprived of the right to know the truth, they tend to
accept what they have been given by the media, and in the long run, they might lose faith in the media for
fear of being unconsciously hoaxed by misleading contents. Individuals and organizations that misuse the
media to spread unauthorized information will be damned if the public finds out, and that may even ruin
their whole career or push them out of their desirable spotlight. Finally, media agencies are to blame
harshly for bending the truth, which would cause them to lose considerable profits and worse, make them
suffer from a crisis of distrust from the public. With cases related to charity work, media conspiracy
sometimes leads to ignorance or even the denial of charity work done by celebrities even if they do it out
of good will. Instead of being appreciated for their contribution, they may have to come in for harsh
criticism as people believe that the whole thing is fake, as with the case of Tran Thanh - a famous
Vietnamese comedian, whose helpful intentions were questioned seriously by his followers as he has a
history of doing some shoddy charitable work.
In conclusion, after scrutinizing the role, the reality and the consequences of media conspiracy, I believe
that this phenomenon may get out of hand unless governments and authorities intervene with strict
regulations about what is portrayed in the media. We, the readers and viewers of information, also should
be alert, mindful, and vigilant to all sources of information that we take in through media platforms. That is
the end of my speech. Thank you!

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 PRACTICE TEST 13
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to a talk and decide whether these statements are True (T), False (F),
or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. We categorize ourselves into personality types as they are believed to indicate our characteristics.
2. MBTI weighs those having practical observations versus those following their hunches.
3. A Scorpio and a Capricorn have contrasting personalities.
4. High base-rate characteristics are highly favored as they cater to the majority of people.
5. Each of the Big Five can be correlated to various regions of our brains.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about fintech and answer the questions. Write NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
6. Apart from robo-advisors, online payments and currencies, what exactly does fintech entail?
7. What types of technologies accumulated the greatest investment in fintech?
8. What has fintech done for those lacking banking services?
9. Who are facing competition from robo-advisors?
10. What services are considered to be risky compared to traditional banks?
Your answers
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. For questions 11-15, listen to an interview with a famous scientist, Marcus Goran, and choose
the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear . Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
11. Marcus says that in order to make ground-breaking discoveries, scientists need _____.
A. to set themselves ambitious targets
B. to find satisfaction in the process itself
C. to keep minor achievements in perspective
D. to accept that few will share their passions
12. Marcus implies that high-quality science occurs when scientists _____.
A. have confidence in their predictions
B. are able to avoid potential disasters
C. face challenges in the hope of making significant advances
D. go through with what they have already planned
13. Marcus uses the metaphor of the painter to show that _____.
A. science is a cumulative process.
B. science is only partially creative.
C. science requires a critical audience.
D. science requires both skill and vision.
14. Why does Marcus liken ground-breaking science to rock-climbing?
A. Each involves working without much support.
B. A great deal is expected of participants in both.
C. Both require a high level of specialised training.
D. Each involves a comparable set of procedures.
15. What does Marcus feel about rules in science?
A. Most of them remain to be discovered.
B. Some have been formulated prematurely.
C. Too much emphasis is placed on them.
D. Some are too complicated to be useful.
Your answers
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

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Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about human obsession with gold and supply the blanks
with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording
for each answer in the spaces provided.
Gold has always been a human obsession due to its pre-eminence, evident in ancient pharaoh tombs,
Olympic medals, monarchs' crowns, and even 16.________, emphasizing its unrivalled, 17. _________.
Gold possesses unique properties: it never 18.__________, remaining resistant to heat, making it an
excellent choice for electronics. Gold is precious, but our obsession with it has a dark side. During the
reign of King Midas and the era of the19.__________ terrorizing America for gold, valuable artwork was
destroyed. During the 19th century, California and southern Australia, the 20._____________, were prime
locations for gold rushes, yet the efforts of many were mostly futile, except for fortunate instances such as
the discovery of a 289-kilogram 21._________. Gold wars and theft were also substantial concerns,
contributing to conflicts and instability throughout history. A prime example of such a robbery is Brink's-
Mat robbery of 1983, in which the gold stolen is believed to have been mixed with copper to 22.________.
Besides, gold mining, a 23.________ deed, poses a significant environmental and humanitarian threat
when gold is 24.____________ from the earth, particularly during unregulated small-scale mining. Our
obsession with this 25._______ has led to numerous negative consequences, but by acknowledging its
darker aspects, we can utilize it more responsibly.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. The children are ______________ in the next room. Tell them to keep quiet.
A. getting their bearings B. pulling their weight
C. carrying the can D. raising the rafters
27. I wouldn’t go ___________ to say that he’s incorrigible.
A. much farther B. further than C. as far as D. so far
28. It was the bankruptcy of his business that really did _______ him.
A. out B. for C. with D. of
29. Jeremy decided to have a ____________ with his male friends before the wedding.
A. hen night B. bachelorette party C. stag night D. lawn party
30. Having had to rely on a meager salary for years as a dustman, he _______ to be offered such a well-
paid job.
A. wasn’t any the less delighted B. was no more delighted
C. was little more than delighted D. was still less delighted
31. As ___________ the value of free trade, Bennett was often called upon to give speeches around the
world extolling the virtues of unencumbered commerce.
A. an antagonist to B. a caviler about
C. a stalwart of D. a diviner of
32. “Why don’t you put out some food for the stray cats?”
“Because ___________ to come inside next”.
A. We have them to want B. We’ll have them wanting
C. We’re having them wanting D. We’re having them to want
33. The two families went to the same holiday destinations for 3 years in a row. Was it a ________ of fate
or some intricate plan?
A. spice B. quirk C. freak D. spot
34. Several months after the devastating __________, all that remained of Jamjang village was a circle of
burned huts and blackened ashes.
A. cacophony B. corroboree C. hullabaloo D. conflagration
35. Where they are unequal, one thinks of them as _________ distributed, as part of a kind of natural or
social lottery or as the result of good or bad luck.
A. fortuitously B. circuitously
C. gratuitously D. felicitously
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

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Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered boxes
provided.
36. Olga went to medical school to become a(n) __________ because he was interested in how the human
mind works. (ANALYZE)
37. We shouldn't concentrate too much on ______ spending patterns – they won't tell us much. (TYPE)
38. He ______ a version in which the President praised him for the good work he was doing. (FABLE)
39. The loveliest scenes, he found, were comprised of the simplest, most natural ______ of native plants.
(POSITION)
40. Abuses of the investigative process may ______ lead to abridgment of protected freedoms.
(PERCEIVE)
Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
The conception of dieting might have originated in Greece. Ancient Greeks Your Answers
were big off fitness and health as they believed having a healthy body meant 41.
having a healthy mind. However, the “ideal” body of the Greeks was not 42.
based on a person’s visual physique but instead on their physical abilities. 43.
In the mid-1800s, the idea of “ideal body types” arose, and beauty became 44.
reliant on the visualities of a person’s body. The thin and form-fitting 45.
clothing of the mid-19th century was so prevalent that the first “diet
influencer” emerged. Lord Byron was considered the most beautiful man in
the world by the Victorians. He recounted his diet of starving himself and
then binge eating, after that he would try to sweat off any gained weight
under many layers of clothing. Besides, the frail and thin image of the
Victorian era was popularized by the Empress of Austria - Elizabeth Amelie
Wittelsbac. She worked all day to keep her small physique, taking long hikes,
horseback riding, gymnastics, starving herself, and using emetics (to induce
vomiting) to keep her weight down.
Today, the word “diet” is lost to popular culture. Instead of its original
meaning, the word refers to different ways one can restrict food intake.
Though it may not seem as it, pop culture and social media have made fad
diets more prevalent in society; think juice cleanses, liquid diets, and pre-
workout. When looking to lose weight, it’s better for people to adopt a more
balanced and diverse diet and regular exercise instead of spending even more
money on the next miracle diet.
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Standard strategies for negotiation often leave people dissatisfied, worn out, or alienated - and frequently
all 46. _____. People find themselves in a(n) 47. _____. They see two ways to negotiate - soft or hard. Soft
negotiators want to avoid personal conflict and so make concessions readily in order to reach 48. _____.
They want an amicable resolution, yet they often end up exploited and feeling bitter. Hard negotiators see
any situation as a contest of wills in which the side that takes the more extreme positions and holds out
longer fares 49. _____. They want to win, yet often end up producing a(n) 50. _____ hard response which
exhausts them and their resources and harms their relationship with the other.
There is a third way to negotiate, a way neither hard nor soft, but 51. _____ both hard and soft. The
method of principled negotiation is to decide issues on their 52. _____ rather than through a haggling
process focused on what each side says it will and won't do. It suggests that you look for mutual gains 53.
_____ possible, and that where your interests conflict, you should insist that the result be based on some
fair standards independent of the will of 54. _____ side. The method of principled negotiation employs no
tricks and no posturing. It shows you how to obtain what you are 55. _____ to and still be decent.
Your answers
48
 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Hounded into Office
As our would-be rulers snap and snarl at one another's heels during an election campaign, spare a thought
for their four-legged friends. For in the desperate need to herd us toward the election booths, even family
pets must become political animals. Not content with kissing babies, bombarding our homes with junk
mail and accosting the confused and unemployed in shopping precincts, aspiring MPs may well have the
family pooch in tow on the hustings, hoping some of its qualities of loyalty, devotion and all-round
lovableness might rub off. According to sociologists, such hopes are not misplaced. Apparently, we do
attach positive social attributes to pet owners. They are seen as trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous to
the vulnerable.
Tony Blair is no pet lover - he notoriously expelled John Major's cat, Humphrey, from Downing Street in
1997, prompting rumors that he had gone so far as to have the hapless moggy bumped off. But it can be no
coincidence that he chose to announce the election date from the stage of a South London comprehensive
school, giving television cameras heart-warming visuals that included a cross, a school choir singing
hymns, and David Blunkett's guide dog, Lucy. This faithful, intelligent, supremely reliable black Labrador-
retriever cross has come to symbolize for the public the same sterling qualities her blind owner showed as
Education Secretary.
When New Labour came to power in 1997, Mr Blunkett was regarded with some suspicion as an off-
message Northern relic of old Labour. His Braille machine and Lucy's dog box were the only modest
personal touches he brought to his Westminster office. Then, to the delight of children, he started to take
his guide dog on school visits, using tests about her age to assess the success of his numeracy policy. He
also uses Lucy as a foil for his political jokes, interpreting her sleepiness, or on one occasion her vomiting
while he was being attacked in Parliament, as responses to the shortcomings of his opponents' debating
skills.
No one could have played the canine card more often than Peter Mandelson. During the 1997 campaign, he
hired a bulldog called Fitz, perhaps to focus voters' minds on New Labour's patriotic qualities. But Fitz was
so ugly, belligerent and bowlegged that pictures of him had to be airbrushed to soften him up.
Mandelson next tried to sell us a pup with the far cuter Bobby, a retriever. Yet photographs of Bobby
enthusiastically licking his master's face and stories about the minor cult status he had won in Northern
Ireland and the valentines he was sent by other dogs failed to make his saturnine master appear lovable.
Even adding a second dog, a Jack Russell called Jack, did not do the trick. Both dogs have now been
removed from the national limelight, along with their owner, to try to win the love of the voters of
Hartlepool. Mandelson's eventual downfall was prefigured in 1999 when Bobby went for an inaugural tour
of Parliament and was cornered by Lucy. Lucy made short work of the new dog on the block. As Blunkett
put it afterwards: 'Lucy growled and saw him off. She showed him who's boss around here.'
America, even more than Britain, is the land of pet spin, though it can occasionally backfire. President
Lyndon B Johnson lifted one of his beagles, Him and Her, by its long floppy ears during a photo shoot. He
denied being unkind, saying that his mother had always picked him up by his ears, but the public outcry
persisted and sent his popularity plummeting. But the dog in the White House has a long history, from
George Washington, who kept a dog, a parrot and a horse, right through to George W Bush's spaniel, Spot,
who has just moved in.
Richard Nixon had mixed results in pet politics. As Eisenhower's vice-presidential candidate in 1952, he
managed to help the electorate overlook his five o'clock shadow and somewhat repellent personality by
parading his spaniel, Checkers. The trick didn't work twice. In 1973, as he faced impeachment, Nixon tried
to soften his image again with a new dog, the Irish setter, King Timahoe, who shook hands with everyone.
But master and man never hit it off. On one of the White House tapes, as Nixon complained that his aides
were deserting him, a dog barks and the President bellows: 'King! Goddam! Get off me!'
Tony Blair is unlikely to follow the American example too enthusiastically, and he would be wise to
remember both the example of Peter Mandelson and the (supposedly humorous) words of Mark Twain:
'Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.'

49
For questions 56-62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given
(NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. Politicians make use of pets as they are aware of the savory reputations pet owners possess.
57. Given his overall aversion to pets, Tony Blair was confirmed to have eliminated his rival’s feline
friend.
58. Thanks to Lucy, Mr. Blunkett’s numeracy policy became a resounding success.
59. Bobby’s defeat to Lucy bore no indication of Peter Mandelson’s rather lackluster career.
60. President Johnson’s justification for his so-called mistreatment of the dog failed to suppress the
public’s anger.
61. Richard Nixon consistently succeeded in disguising his unpleasant disposition by utilizing his pet dogs.
62. Mark Twain subtly praised canines’ goodwill through his remark.
For questions 63-68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Alongside the cut-throat competition among prospective rulers exists another potent force: the
domesticated dog, adored for their unwavering faithfulness as well as 63. _______. Having fully grasped
the advantages canines might bring to his political game, upon an announcement, the politician known as
Tony Blair proactively harnessed 64. _______ which, noticeably, featured a widely beloved dog, Lucy.
Her owner, Mr. Blunkett, though initially doubted to be a(n) 65. _______ of a political ideology, soon went
on to display political prowess. Another ardent supporter of canine politics was Peter Mandelson, whose
two friends included Fitz – deemed to embody the 66. _______of his owner’s party and Bobby, who even
acquired a(n) 67. _______. However, Richard Nixon, a prospective 68. _______, experienced quite erratic
outcomes regarding his experience with dogs.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
In case you didn’t hear the news, there was a major shake-up in the competitive SCRABBLE world last
summer in Buffalo. Conrad Bassett-Bouchard, a 24-year-old graduate student from Portland, Oregon, won
the $10,000 first prize at the National SCRABBLE Championship, making him the youngest American to
ever win the tournament.
69.
SCRABBLE has been one of the most popular board games in the world for decades. And, now, as an
increasingly popular domain for scientific research on expertise, it is giving psychologists a better
understanding of the underpinnings of complex skill and a clearer picture of the origins of greatness. The
overarching goal of this research is to better understand the interplay between “software” and “hardware”
aspects of the cognitive system.
70.
The basic goal of SCRABBLE is to create intersecting words by placing lettered tiles on a board.
Knowledge is, of course, critical for success in this task. If you want to become a great SCRABBLE
player, first and foremost, you have to know a lot of words. A top player will know most of the two
hundred thousand or so words in the SCRABBLE dictionary. Among the plays in the final game at the
National SCRABBLE Championship in Buffalo: WAB, TROOZE, HOURI, AA, KIBI, and QUA.
71.
Finally, you have to know SCRABBLE strategy—or what aficionados call “rack management”—such as
how to keep a good mix of consonant and vowels. People aren’t born with this type of specialized
knowledge. Research indicates that we may come into the world equipped with the building blocks for
complex skills such as math, but certainly nothing as specific as knowledge of words in a particular
language. Thus, experience is necessary to become an expert in SCRABBLE.
72.

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Overall, the elite group had spent an average of over 5,000 hours on SCRABBLE study, compared to only
about 1,300 hours for the average group. Another study found that competitive SCRABBLE players
devoted an average of nearly 5 hours a week to memorizing words from the SCRABBLE dictionary.
Clearly, expert SCRABBLE players are to some degree “made.”
73.
Working memory is the ability to hold in mind information while using it to solve a problem, as when
iterating through possible moves in a SCRABBLE game. Visuospatial reasoning is the ability to visualize
things and to detect patterns, as when imagining how tiles on a SCRABBLE board would intersect after a
certain play. Both abilities are influenced by genetic factors.
74.
What might explain SCRABBLE experts’ superiority in working memory and visuospatial reasoning? One
possibility is that playing SCRABBLE improves these cognitive abilities, like a work-out at the gym
makes you stronger. However, this seems unlikely based on over a century of research on the issue of
“transfer” of training. When people train on a task, they sometimes get better on similar tasks, but they
usually do not get better on other tasks. They show “near” transfer, but not “far” transfer.
75.
These findings challenge the dogma that anyone can become anything they want to become—like the best
SCRABBLE player in the world—with enough hard work. At the same time, they add to an emerging
understanding of complex skill that may ultimately bring expertise within reach of a larger number of
people than is currently the case.
Missing paragraphs:
A. Software factors include knowledge and skills that are acquired through experience, whereas hardware
factors include genetically-influenced abilities and capacities. SCRABBLE is ideal for research on how
these factors interact not only because it is relatively easy to find research participants from a wide
range of skill, but because it can be imported into the lab.
B. And, in fact, SCRABBLE skill has been found to correlate positively with the amount of time people
spend engaging in SCRABBLE-related activities. In one study, using official SCRABBLE rating as an
objective measure of skill, researchers found that groups of “elite” and “average” SCRABBLE players
differed in the amount of time they had devoted to things like studying word lists, analyzing previous
SCRABBLE games, and anagramming—and not by a little.
C. But the big news was that the win ended Nigel Richards’ run of four titles. Richards, a reclusive New
Zealander, is widely regarded as the best SCRABBLE player of all-time—the “Michael Jordan of the
game,” as one co-competitor put it. Along with five U.S. National titles, Richards has won the World
SCRABBLE Championship three times, and the Thailand International—the largest SCRABBLE
tournament in the world—eleven times.
D. For the same basic reason that basketball players tend to be tall, a more likely explanation is that
people high in working memory and visuospatial reasoning abilities are people who tend to get into,
and persist at, playing SCRABBLE: because it gives them an advantage in the game. This explanation
fits with what behavioral geneticists call gene-environment correlation, which is the idea that our
genetic makeup influences our experiences.
E. For example, it may one day be possible to give people precise information about their abilities, and of
the likelihood of achieving success in particular domains given those abilities. It may also be possible
to design approaches to training complex skills that accelerate the acquisition of expertise.
F. But there is evidence that basic cognitive abilities play a role, too. In a study recently published in
Applied Cognitive Psychology, Michael Toma and his colleagues found that elite SCRABBLE players
outperformed college students from a highly selective university on tests of two cognitive abilities:
working memory and visuospatial reasoning.
G. Further evidence pointing to a role of these abilities in SCRABBLE expertise comes from a recent
brain imaging study by Andrea Protzner and her colleagues at the University of Calgary. Using fMRI,
these researchers recorded the brain activity of SCRABBLE players and control subjects as they
performed a task. The major finding of this study was that competitive SCRABBLE players recruited
brain regions associated with working memory and visual perception to perform this task to a greater
degree than the control subjects did.

51
H. You also need to be adept at identifying potential plays. Expert players can rattle off dozens of possible
plays for any given rack—for, say, GINOPRS, words like SPORING, GIPONS, PIROG, PINGO, OS,
and SORN. Many serious SCRABBLE players “cross-train” by playing anagramming games like
Boggle, or by just solving anagrams, which Conrad Bassett-Bouchard compares to a basketball player
practicing free throws.
Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

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. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
THE WORLD'S A STAGE - BUT IT'S A BIT SILLY, REALLY
The well-known actor Anthony Hopkins once described his profession as a 'futile, wasteful life in a false
environment’. Do other actors feel the same way? Tom Conti gives his view.
There are moments in the life of any actor when a sense of the futility of it does impinge. There is a story
told about the great British actor Laurence Olivier making a particularly extravagant exit from the stage,
saying: 'My God, this is no job for a grown man.'
In my family, such occasions are known as 'stoat moments'. It all goes back to a time in my career before I
could be sure of regular work. Many years ago I was appearing in a desperately poor production of The
Wind in the Willows. I was playing the Chief Stoat. We were standing in the wings, five grown men
clothed head to toe in white nylon fur, whiskers painted on our faces, the end of our noses blacked. I
looked down the line, saw the five of us, and said, 'I can't go on’. And I didn't. I just couldn't do it. I have
to say that the 'stoat' never ceases to present itself.
The 'stoat' syndrome can be particularly extreme in Hollywood, where there's a bogus aspect to the whole
business. It's such a high- profile, high-profit business that it attracts a lot of people who really ought not to
be in it. When you're shooting a film, you enter a make-believe world and, inside the production office,
there is a second, rather different make-believe world. So there is a feeling of unreality both on and off the
set. Maybe that does eventually get to you.
For example, there is something that people in Hollywood say a kind of equivalent of 'Hello, how are you?'
which is very silly. They say, 'Hi Tom, it's so exciting that you're here.' I know perfectly well that it's not
remotely exciting for them that I'm there. I'm afraid I've been around too long to take it at face value.
The other thing about Hollywood that drives everybody mad is that no one will take a decision on the basis
of the talent involved. Instead, people look up a 'demograph' table; I've seen this from the other side
when I've been sitting in production offices trying to cast a film. I'll say: How about so and so, he was great
in such and such a film?' And someone will say: 'No, it's two years ago, he's dead in the water, the figures
are way down’. The truth is that a good actor has more chance of making a movie successful than a bad
one, but that is not considered. Things like that do drive me crazy.
Of course, in a sense, there is something very silly about acting, in that you pretend to be someone else.
But you have to keep those thoughts at bay because, after all, this is your livehood, and there is an awful
lot to be said on the positive side. I find, for one thing, that the stage is the only place where I function well
and efficiently. If only I could do the same when I'm sitting at my desk, sorting out the peripheral aspects
of the business, life would be a lot simpler.
To be less introspective, we actors probably do ourselves an injustice by feeling that what we do is wholly
unimportant. People have a thirst to be entertained, so by quenching that we fulfil a necessary function for
society. I'm currently in a play, and when I look out I see hundreds of people having a good time.
There is a perception of acting as frivolous. and, if you adopt that attitude, you endanger yourself- and the
quality of your work. Only a few people really know what the quality of your work is. When we first
become noticed, it is a very exciting, glamorous time. After that, you do become part of the furniture. But
for those of us who are lucky enough to be successful in the business, being an actor is a privilege and it
gains you access to people and places that are denied to almost everyone else.
76. What did Laurence Olivier's comment reflect about his perception of acting?
A. He found acting to be physically demanding.
B. He believed acting was a trivial profession.
C. He thought acting required excessive training.
D. He enjoyed the theatrical nature of acting.
77. What does the writer say about ‘stoat moments’?
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A. They occur whenever he cannot see the point of what he is doing.
B. They are most likely to occur in certain types of stage productions.
C. The story about Laurence Olivier helped him to understand them.
D. He regrets the effect they have on people he is acting with.
78. What does the writer emphasise about Hollywood in the third paragraph?
A. how difficult it is to get on with the people who work there
B. the false nature of everything connected with working there
C. how conscious it is of the unreal image it projects
D. the effect that it has on anyone who goes to work there
79. What does the writer say about the greeting that people in Hollywood give?
A. The people who say it do not expect it to be taken seriously.
B. It annoys him more than anything else that people say it.
C. The people who say it do not realise they are being insincere.
D. He has too much experience of the place to find it flattering.
80. The writer says that, when he is sitting at his desk,
A. he is doing something that does not come easily to him.
B. he realises he is sometimes too negative about acting.
C. he is doing something that is more sensible than acting.
D. he sometimes thinks about how silly acting is.
81. The writer mentions the play he is in to illustrate his view that
A. actors think too much about their role in society.
B. criticism of the profession of acting is unfair.
C. the entertainment industry is not given the status it deserves.
D. the public do not think that acting is a pointless profession.
82. What often transpires for actors following the initial glamour?
A. Their works gain widespread acknowledgment.
B. They perpetually revel in continuous excitement.
C. They become an integral yet unnoticed part of the industry.
D. Their work undergoes frequent evaluation.
83. The word ‘peripheral’ is closest in meaning to
A. external
B. invisible
C. unimportant
D. accidental
84. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
A. Despite the inherent silliness and occasional futility, acting provides unique benefits.
B. Actors should disregard the superficial aspects of Hollywood and focus on their craft.
C. The transient nature of fame can be a negative experience for actors.
D. The notion that acting is silly should be rejected to maintain the integrity of the profession.
85. The phrase “‘demograph’ table”, within the context provided, most likely means
A. a list of demographic groups that watch certain movies.
B. a seating arrangement chart in production offices.
C. a table of actors categorized by their suitability for different film genres.
D. a data-driven chart predicting an actor's box office revenue.
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 5. The passage below consists of four paragraphs marked A, B, C and D. For questions 86-95,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
A. The morning routine differs little in space from down on the surface of our beloved Blue Planet in
terms of what bases must be covered. Grooming is equally important here: after all, hair doesn't wash
itself: nor do teeth remain pearly white without regular attention: stubble quickly becomes an untidy
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 mess of fuzz unless there is regular shaving; and the call of nature cannot simply be ignored. However,
this microgravity environment poses its own unique set of problems, which must be overcome - it is
only the methods of grooming which differ, then. That said, on the dental side, the process is more or
less identical, so the only significant decision is which brand of toothpaste to bring! And shaving is still
shaving, even orbiting 400-odd kilometers above Earth. For hair, a rinseless shampoo is best. Indeed,
this would not be unfamiliar to people who have been confined to bed in hospital, unable to use the
bathroom, as that is precisely what the product was originally developed for. A similar dry-wash is
used on the body. too. The toilet situation is, admittedly, rather more complex, though, requiring leg
restraints for positioning in the case of number twos, with waste then being collected using a vacuum
type mechanism fairly similar to that on-board modern-day aircraft. Number ones are a little more
complicated as the liquid must be funneled into a wastewater tank
B. Exercise and free time are just as important on the space station as they are down below, particularly
given the extent to which astronauts are confined in their movements. There can, after all, be no
weekends away, though like most other workers, astronauts do, typically, get Saturdays and Sundays
off. Many choose to while away their downtime playing music or cards, watching films and catching
up with family members remotely. The station also has various types of gym equipment, focusing on
cardiovascular exercises: after all, weight lifting would not be an expedient use of time in low gravity
conditions! And there are multiple windows to the outside world, where, quite literally, the scenery is
stunning. Indeed, the sense of awe one gets gazing down upon the earth as it spins below never wears
off. Particularly impressive on the scenic front, though, are the sunrises and sunsets, and we are
privileged to be afforded at least one of each every hour.
C. In terms of the work carried out on a day-to-day basis, the main focus is on experimentation after all
this is primarily a research facility. Think of the space station as an orbital laboratory. The main focus
of our work is on the effects of a microgravity environment. The experiments are often quite complex
and require not only the input of those active on the station itself, but also monitoring and control work,
which is carried out at mission control. In a way, the astronauts themselves are part lab rats, for many
of the experiments have to do with human physiology and how we adjust to life in space. Were any of
the systems to fail, the effects could be catastrophic, so, when not partaking in research, crew members
are concerned with the maintenance of the orbital platform itself, which also requires input and
monitoring from below.
D. Of course, without proper sustenance, we wouldn't last long up here either, so a lot of focus goes on
this aspect of daily life, too. Much like on a long camping trip, the food we take with us must be non-
perish able and we must dispose of all food waste carefully. Fruit can be eaten in its natural form, but
much of what is eaten is freeze-dried, which requires the addition of water before consumption. Of
course, an oven is provided to heat food to the right temperature, but since refrigeration is not possible,
food storage and preparation demand significant time and attention. Astronauts have three square meals
a day, carefully planned by nutritionists to have the optimal calorific intake, which varies from person
to person, so close personal attention in this matter is required and given. Condiments come in liquid
form only, as, for instance, grains of pepper could float away and clog air vents or contaminate
equipment, or indeed, get stuck in astronauts’ eyes or other external organs.
In which extract
86. is it implied that certain activities would be very unproductive in space?
87. does the writer say that something common continuously amazes him?
88. is it implied that the stakes if something goes wrong are extremely high?
89. is a potential serious airborne hazard to astronauts' well-being highlighted?
90. is it suggested that astronauts must be fixed in position to do something?
91. is the suitability for use in space of something invented for another purpose mentioned?
92. does the writer suggest astronauts are often the subjects of a form of investigation?
93. is the special outside help astronauts receive with one aspect of health mentioned?
94. is it implied that a certain appliance is not suitable for use in space?
95. does the writer express gratitude for being able to experience something in space?
Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.
91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

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IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words.
What is the unconscious?
It took until the early 20th century for humanity to start to pay proper attention to a highly distinctive
feature of the mind: that it is divided into a conscious and an unconscious part. In the former and far
smaller section lies all that we have direct awareness of and can reflect on at will; while in the latter and far
larger part lie the many processes and functions that constantly unfold somewhere within our craniums but
which ‘we’ (the cognizant part of us) cannot directly register and would struggle to put into words. This
split inspires some highly paradoxical-sounding situations; for example, we write using complex rules of
grammar which we would have no idea how to explain to a stranger.
The reason why a lot of what we do remains unconscious has to do with efficiency. Needing to have no
active awareness of most mental processes allows us to focus on just one or two areas of concern. What we
call thinking would quickly become impossible if we had to remain at all times alert to how we were
breathing, interpreting the wavelengths from our fovea centralis or achieving hormonal balance in our
pituitary glands. But there is a more ticklish, provocative thesis as to why certain things remain
unconscious: because they violate our self-image, because we are too proud and sentimental to face up to
who we actually are. A lot of what we strive to keep in the unconscious mind flies rather radically in the
face of what we would like to be true about ourselves. Were we to be fully aware of these less acceptable
parts of ourselves, we might grow untenably disgusted by our natures. We remain unconscious from a
sentimental wish for a comfortable, dignified-feeling existence.
The problem, as psychology sees it, is that this unknowing exacts a high price. However awkward it might
be to face up to our proclivities, unconscious material is better off brought into the light than pressed down
forcefully in our mental catacombs. We need to know where our regrets genuinely lie; we have to get to
know our true desires and actual frustrations. Wherever we remain ignorant, painful symptoms develop.
We end up in depression because we don’t know what we are sad about, we wind up anxious when we’re
ignorant of our real worries or irritable because we have sidestepped the true locus of our rage.
Part 2. The two bar charts show the proportion of 14-16 year-old students studying a foreign
language in an English Speaking country and the top three popular foreign languages. Summarise
the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
We can learn much more from people whose views we share than from people whose views
contradict our own. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree
with the claim.
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V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Some people think that success should be measured by the material possessions a person has
acquired while others think that it should be judged by the knowledge he or she has. Discuss both
views and give your opinion.

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KEY AND EXPLANATION
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
1. T
(0:11) We think of these things like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and other personality tests as giving
us some sort of explanation of why we are the way we are.
2. T
(0:34) The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, also known as the MBTI, is a test that supposedly reveals four
facets of your personality: introversion vs. extraversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and
judging vs. perceiving
3. F
(1:26) For instance, a Scorpio (which is someone who was born between October 23rd and November
22nd) is supposed to be jealous and stubborn, while a Capricorn (someone who was born between
December 22nd and January 19th) is responsible and condescending.
4. NG
(2:00) This is because the given traits are what’s known as high base-rate characteristics, meaning that
they’re true of a large portion of the population.
5. NG
(2:51) It’s believed that the Big Five may actually have some bearing on things like job performance, and
some scientists have even worked to locate regions of the brain that can be associated with individual
aspects of the Big Five.
Part 2.
6. crowdfunding platforms
(0:30) It refers to everything from cashless payments, to crowdfunding platforms, to robo-advisors, to
virtual currencies.
7. payment and lending/payment, lending
(1:06) Startups focusing on payment and lending technologies received the majority of those funds.
8. filled a void
(1:40) Financial technology has filled a void for people around the world who don’t have access to
traditional banking services.
9. wealth managers
(2:23) For example, wealth managers now have to compete with robo-advisors - which are automated
financial planning services.
10. peer-to-peer lending platforms
(2:53) Think of peer-to-peer lending platforms, where individuals borrow and lend without going through a
bank.
Part 3.
11. B 12. C 13. D 14. A 15. C
Interviewer: My guest today is the Nobel prize-winning scientist Marcus Goran. His love of the natural
world prompted a scientific career motivated, he says, not just by the desire to know, but also the beauty of
scientific research. But is that the beauty of research itself, Marcus, or the beauty of the discovery?
Marcus: I think the moment of discovery in science - actually finding out something new, that nobody's
even dreamt of before - is one of the most amazing things a human being can do. To sit there looking at a
new land nobody has ever seen is just like being an explorer in the most distant, darkest jungle imaginable.
But also during the actual process you can do beautiful experiments, you can have beautiful thoughts on
the way to a conclusion ... and actually, (11) if you're going to persevere and reach the big ground-
breaking discoveries, you've got to get fulfilment out of those smaller, interim pleasures, if not, you'd
soon give up.
Interviewer: You mean the long dark nights along the way, when there's no beauty at all because you're
just not getting anywhere.
Marcus: I'm afraid there's much more of that than there is of either creative spark or Eureka moments. All
science is tough, and requires you to keep going in the face of your disappointments. (12) But if you're at
the cutting edge of research, you'll have lots of setbacks because if you already knew what was going to
happen, then of course, you'd be able to make sure it all worked out according to plan every time, but that's
not how really high -quality work is pushed forward.
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Interviewer: You use the word creative - is what you do truly creative?
Marcus: Well, I mean people think of science and ... well, they know you stand on other scientists'
shoulders, you use what they have discovered to move towards something else and so on, and so ask, you
know, 'Where's the creativity in that?' But maybe if I use a painter as a sort of metaphor for this, because
(13) a painter has to be technically skilled to be able to apply the paint on the canvas in the best way,
but they also need to have a creative feel for what it is they're trying to present; how it is they're
going to have impact on the observer. There's a parallel here with science. We have to be technically
able; that is shake the test tubes, know how to do the experiment, but we've also got to think about what it
means, what it's going to tell us about nature itself.
Interviewer: So curiosity, creativity, a bit of doggedness and a lot of luck gets you to the Nobel Prize? Is
that all it takes?
Marcus: Well, there's a lot to it really. When you're well behind the frontiers of science, then any trained
person can lift the stuff off the shelf and do a good job ... and a lot of science is like that and that's what lies
behind a lot of the advice to industry, to governments and so on. And for that, the routine well-trained
people are probably better than Nobel laureates, because they're less likely to get bored. (14) But when
you're at or beyond the frontier, you really have to get the people who are used to, as it were,
climbing the clean rock - not using ladders and cables to help them. That's when the real
breakthroughs come.
Interviewer: But is it not also true that as fast as you learn the rules that govern the world around us. So it
generates conditions that confound those rules and the unpredictable happens?
Marcus: (15) Well, people seem to live under the illusion that the world's governed by a series of
simple rules from which we can make the calculations which allow predictions about the future; and
that the things we can't predict are a mystery because we haven't found the rules yet. Not so. In
actual fact, the mysteries confound us precisely because they're incredibly complicated. You know, we
can predict a century ahead when there will be an eclipse of the sun, but we often can't predict the day
before whether the sky will be clear enough of cloud to see it. Local weather is just one of a number of
systems that are so sensitive to the conditions of the moment that. to put it poetically, something as
seemingly trivial as the flapping of butterflies' wings can carry you way out in your predictions, get you to
a different end point.
Interviewer: I see. Well, on that note. we have to leave it. Marcus, thank you.
Part 4.
16. Oscar winners' statuettes
In everything from monarchs' crowns to Oscar winners' statuettes, gold screams pre-eminence. (0:17)
17. universal appeal
In fact, it's hard to think of another substance with such universal appeal. (0:13)
18. rusts or tarnishes
It never rusts or tarnishes and is a great conductor, making it perfect for electronics. (0:42)
19. Spanish Conquistadors
The Spanish Conquistadors terrorized the Americas for gold. (1:29)
20. wild frontiers
In the 19th century, gold seduced men and women in a different way, as they hurried to wild frontiers like
California and southern Australia for gold rushes. (1:57)
21. gold specimen
Although some did strike it lucky Bernhardt Holtermann discovered a gold specimen weighing more than
289 kilograms in Australia in 1872 - many found only a few flakes, while the real fortunes were
by those selling them shovels. (2:04)
22. hide its origins
It's thought that some of it was melted down and mixed with copper to hide its origins. (3:06)
23. notoriously energy-intensive
Gold mining is notoriously energy-intensive, producing as much carbon each year as the emissions from
about 28 million cars. (3:17)
24. continually plundered
As well as being stolen and smuggled, gold is continually plundered from the earth. (3:12)
25. dazzling metal

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Humanity's obsession with this dazzling metal has driven us to violence, exploitation and destruction.
(3:53)
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. D
Raising the rafters: to make very loud noise
Get one's bearings: to get into the swing of things
Pull one’s weight: to contribute fairly and proportionately to a group effort
Carry the can: to take the blame or responsibility for sth wrong
27. C
Go as far as to V: to do/say sth extreme
28. B
Do for sb: to seriously hurt/kill sb
29. C
Stag night/party: a party for a groom-to-be man
Hen night = bachelorette party: a party for a bride-to-be woman
Lawn party: a garden party
30. A
Not any the less: not less
31. C
A stalwart (n): a loyal person
An antagonist (n): sb who is strongly opposed to sth
A caviler (n): sb who raises annoying petty objections
A diviner (n): sb who claims to be able to say what is going to happen in the future using special powers or
abilities
32. B
33. B
Quirk of fate: a strange or unexpected event
34. D
Conflagration (n): an extensive fire
Cacophony (n): an unpleasant mixture of loud noises
Hullabaloo (n): a loud noise/ public disapproval
Corroboree (n): a party of celebration
35. A
Fortuitously (adv): by chance
Gratuitously (adv): in a way that is unnecessary
Circuitously (adv): in a way that is not straight or direct
Felicitously (adv): in a way that expresses well the intended thought or feeling
Part 2.
36. Psychoanalyst (n): a person who treats patients using psychoanalysis
37. Atypical (adj): not typical or usual
38. Confabulated (v): to invent experiences or events that did not really happen, to have a conversation
39. Juxtaposition (n): the fact of putting things that are not similar next to each other
40. Imperceptibly (adv): in a very slight way that a person is unable to notice or feel
Part 3.
41. Line 2: off => on
42. Line 8: visualities => visuals
43. Line 14: that => which
44. Line 15: Besides => Yet/However
45. Line 25: as => like
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
46. three 47. dilemma 48. agreement/ 49. better 50. equally
consensus

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 51. rather 52. merits 53. wherever 54. either 55. entitled
Part 2.
56. T
- Dẫn chứng: According to sociologists, such hopes are not misplaced. Apparently we do attach positive
social attributes to pet owners.
- Dịch: Theo các nhà xã hội học, hy vọng như vậy không phải đặt nhầm chỗ. Rõ ràng là chúng ta liên kết
những đặc tính xã hội tích cực với những người nuôi thú cưng.
57. F
- Dẫn chứng: Tony Blair is no pet lover - he notoriously expelled John Major's cat, Humphrey, from
Downing Street in 1997, prompting rumors that he had gone so far as to have the hapless moggy
bumped off. => These are only rumors, it is not ascertained that Tony eliminated the cat.
- Dịch: Tony Blair không phải là người yêu thú cưng - ông ta đã trục xuất con mèo Humphrey của John
Major khỏi phố Downing vào năm 1997, làm dấy lên tin đồn rằng ông ta đã đi xa đến mức đuổi con
mèo không may mắn đi.
58. NG
- Dẫn chứng: Then, to the delight of children, he started to take his guide dog on school visits, using tests
about her age to assess the success of his numeracy policy. => Lucy’s age was utilized to test school
children and gauge the policy’s efficiency, the dog itself did not contribute to the policy’s success.
- Dịch: Sau đó, trước sự vui mừng của bọn trẻ, ông bắt đầu đưa chú chó dẫn đường của mình đi thăm
trường, sử dụng các bài kiểm tra về độ tuổi của nó để đánh giá sự thành công trong chính sách toán học
của mình. => Tuổi của Lucy được dùng để kiểm tra học sinh và đánh giá hiệu quả của chính sách, bản
thân chú chó không góp phần vào sự thành công của nó.
59. F
- Dẫn chứng: Mandelson's eventual downfall was prefigured in 1999 when Bobby went for an inaugural
tour of Parliament and was cornered by Lucy. Lucy made short work of the new dog on the block. =>
‘Prefigure’ means to foreshadow or to ‘bear an indication’; the defeat of Bobby foreshadowed the
downfall (or the lackluster career) of its owner,
- Dịch: Sự sụp đổ của Mandelson đã được định trước vào năm 1999 khi Bobby tham gia chuyến tham
quan khai mạc Quốc hội và bị Lucy dồn ép. Lucy đã “xử” gọn con chó mới => 'Prefigure’' có nghĩa là
báo trước; sự thua cuộc của Bobby báo trước sự sụp đổ (hoặc sự nghiệp mờ nhạt) của chủ nhân nó.
60. T
- Dẫn chứng; He denied being unkind, saying that his mother had always picked him up by his ears, but
the public outcry persisted and sent his popularity plummeting.
- Dịch: Ông phủ nhận việc mình không tử tế, nói rằng mẹ ông trước đây luôn cầm tai ông nhấc lên,
nhưng sự phản đối kịch liệt của công chúng vẫn tiếp tục và khiến sự nổi tiếng của ông giảm mạnh.
61. F
- Dẫn chứng: The trick didn’t work twice… As Eisenhower's vice-presidential candidate in 1952, he
managed to help the electorate overlook his five o'clock shadow and somewhat repellent personality by
parading his spaniel, Checkers…On one of the White House tapes, as Nixon complained that his aides
were deserting him, a dog barks and the President bellows… => This tactic succeeded initially, but it
then backfired as he yelled at the dog.
- Dịch: Thủ thuật này đã không thành công hai lần… Với tư cách là ứng cử viên phó tổng thống của
Eisenhower vào năm 1952, ông đã cố gắng khiến cử tri không để ý tới bộ râu và tính cách có phần khó
chịu của mình bằng cách phô trương chú chó săn của mình, Checkers…Trên một trong những đoạn
băng của Nhà Trắng, khi Nixon phàn nàn rằng các trợ lý của ông đang bỏ rơi ông, một con chó sủa và
vị Tổng thống gầm lên…
62. T
- Dẫn chứng: 'Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.'
=> the dog possesses great loyalty and other desirable traits (‘favor’ here can be understood as
‘privilege’, whereas ‘merit’ mean ‘the quality of being good and deserving praise’)

63. All-around lovableness

- Dẫn chứng: [...] aspiring MPs may well have the family pooch in tow on the hustings, hoping some of
its qualities of loyalty, devotion and all-round lovableness might rub off.
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- Dịch: [...] các nghị sĩ đầy tham vọng có thể sẽ lôi kéo chú chó của gia đình vào cuộc tranh cử, hy vọng
những phẩm chất về lòng trung thành, sự tận tâm và sự đáng yêu toàn diện của chúng có thể được lan
tỏa.
64. Heart-warming visuals
- Dẫn chứng: [...] he chose to announce the election date from the stage of a South London
comprehensive school, giving television cameras heart-warming visuals that included a cross, a
school choir singing hymns, and 'David Blunkett's guide dog, Lucy.
- Dịch: [...] ông đã chọn công bố ngày bầu cử từ sân khấu của một trường học tổng hợp ở Nam London,
mang đến cho máy quay truyền hình những hình ảnh ấm lòng bao gồm cây thánh giá, dàn hợp xướng
của trường hát thánh ca và chú chó dẫn đường của 'David Blunkett, Lucy.
65. Off-message Northern relic
- Dẫn chứng: When New Labour came to power in 1997, Mr Blunkett was regarded with some suspicion
as an off- message Northern relic of old Labour.
- Dịch: Khi Đảng Lao động Mới lên nắm quyền vào năm 1997, ông Blunkett bị nghi ngờ là một ‘di tích’
lạc hậu của Đảng Lao động cũ ở phương Bắc.
66. Patriotic qualities
- Dẫn chứng: During the 1997 campaign, he hired a bulldog called Fitz, perhaps to focus voters' minds
on New Labour's patriotic qualities.
- Dịch: Trong chiến dịch tranh cử năm 1997, ông đã thuê một con chó bulldog tên là Fitz, có lẽ để tập
trung tâm trí cử tri vào phẩm chất yêu nước của Đảng Lao động Mới.
67. Minor cult status
- Dẫn chứng: Yet photographs of Bobby enthusiastically licking his master's face and stories about the
minor cult status he had won in Northern Ireland [..]
- Dịch: Chưa hết, những bức ảnh Bobby nhiệt tình liếm mặt chủ nhân và những câu chuyện về sự nổi
tiếng mà chú ta đã giành được ở Bắc Ireland [...]
68. Vice-presidential candidate
- Dẫn chứng: Richard Nixon had mixed results in pet politics. As Eisenhower's vice-presidential
candidate in 1952, [...]
- Dịch: Richard Nixon lại có kết quả khá khác nhau khi tham gia vào ‘pet politics’. Với vai trò là ứng cử
viên phó tổng thống thống của Eisenhower vào năm 1952.
Part 3.
69. C
- Dẫn chứng: ‘the win’ in C refers back to ‘Conrad Bassett-Bouchard, a 24-year-old graduate student
from Portland, Oregon, won the $10,000 first prize’ in the first paragraph.
- Dịch: 'The win' trong C đề cập đến 'Conrad Bassett-Bouchard, một sinh viên tốt nghiệp 24 tuổi từ
Portland, Oregon, đã giành giải nhất trị giá $10,000' trong đoạn đầu tiên.
70. A
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Software factors’ and ‘hardware factors’ in A corresponds with ‘“software” and
“hardware” aspects’ in the previous paragraph. In fact, the paragraph of A elaborates on how
SCRABBLE can be useful in researching the two aforementioned aspects of cognitive system.
- Dịch: Các yếu tố phần mềm' và 'các yếu tố phần cứng' trong A tương ứng với 'các khía cạnh phần mềm
và phần cứng' trong đoạn trước. Thực tế, đoạn của A giải thích chi tiết về cách SCRABBLE có thể trở
nên hữu ích trong việc nghiên cứu hai khía cạnh đã đề cập của hệ thống nhận thức.
71. H
- Dẫn chứng: ‘be adept at identifying potential plays’ in H is another prerequisite to becoming a good
SCRABBLE player, supplementing ‘have to know a lot of words’ in the previous paragraph. If
students are still unsure, the word ‘Finally’ in the immediately following paragraph suggests that the
paragraph itself and the two immediately before it all encapsulate tips/prerequisites to becoming a good
player.
- Dịch: 'Thành thạo trong việc xác định các nước đi có thể xảy ra’ trong H là một điều kiện tiên quyết
khác để trở thành một người chơi SCRABBLE giỏi, bổ sung cho 'phải biết nhiều từ' trong đoạn trước.
Nếu học sinh vẫn còn không chắc chắn, từ 'Cuối cùng' trong đoạn ngay sau H gợi ý rằng bản thân đoạn
văn và hai đoạn ngay trước đó bao gồm các mẹo/yêu cầu để trở thành một người chơi giỏi.
72. B

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- Dẫn chứng: The statement ‘Thus, experience is necessary to become an expert in SCRABBLE’ in the
preceding paragraph is further elucidated by the first statement in B, ‘[…] SCRABBLE skill has been
found to correlate positively with the amount of time people spend engaging in SCRABBLE-related
activities’, essentially meaning the more time somebody devotes to the game (or the more experience
they have with the game), the better they are at it. The following paragraph also mentions an ‘elite
group’, something already mentioned in B.
- Dịch: Câu 'Do đó, kinh nghiệm là điều cần thiết để trở thành một chuyên gia trong SCRABBLE' trong
đoạn trước được giải thích thêm bởi câu đầu tiên trong B, '[...] kỹ năng SCRABBLE được phát hiện có
mối tương quan tích cực với lượng thời gian mọi người dành cho các hoạt động liên quan đến
SCRABBLE', về cơ bản có nghĩa là càng nhiều thời gian ai đó dành cho trò chơi (hoặc càng nhiều kinh
nghiệm họ có với trò chơi), họ càng giỏi. Đoạn tiếp theo cũng đề cập đến một 'nhóm tinh hoa', điều này
đã được đề cập trong B.
73. F
- Dẫn chứng: The two phrases ‘working memory’ and ‘visuopatial reasoning’ are both excessively
addressed in F and in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Hai cụm từ 'trí nhớ làm việc' và 'khả năng lập luận thị giác' đều được đề cập nhiều trong F và
trong đoạn tiếp theo.
74. G
- Dẫn chứng: The statement ‘[…] competitive SCRABBLE players recruited brain regions associated
with working memory and visual perception to perform this task to a greater degree than the control
subjects did.’ in G is rephrased in the following paragraph as ‘SCRABBLE experts’ superiority in
working memory and visuospatial reasoning.’
- Dịch: Câu '[...] những người chơi SCRABBLE cạnh tranh đã huy động các vùng não liên quan đến trí
nhớ làm việc và nhận thức thị giác để thực hiện nhiệm vụ này ở mức độ cao hơn so với nhóm đối
chứng.' trong G được diễn đạt lại trong đoạn tiếp theo là 'sự vượt trội của các chuyên gia SCRABBLE
về trí nhớ làm việc và khả năng lập luận thị giác'.
75. D
- Dẫn chứng: Seeing that the previous paragraph provides a potential explanation as to the superiority of
SCRABBLE players in certain cognitive skills, ‘a more likely explanation’ in D suggests that the
paragraph of D is another, more reasonable, explanation.
- Dịch: Vì đoạn trước cung cấp một lời giải thích về sự vượt trội của người chơi SCRABBLE trong một
số kỹ năng nhận thức nhất định, 'một lời giải thích hợp lý hơn' trong H cho thấy rằng đoạn H là một lời
giải thích khác nhưng hợp lý hơn.
Part 4.
76. B
- Dẫn chứng: Laurence Olivier's comment, "My God, this is no job for a grown man," reflects his
perception of acting as trivial or lacking serious importance. “No job for a grown man” can be
interpreted as “frivolous” or even ‘immature”, thus emphasizing the triviality of the occupation.
- Dịch: Nhận xét của Laurence Olivier, "Chúa ơi, đây không phải là công việc dành cho một người đàn
ông trưởng thành," phản ánh cái nhìn của ông về nghiệp diễn – một công viêc tầm thường hoặc thiếu
tầm quan trọng. “No job for a man” có thể được hiểu là “phù phiếm” hoặc thậm chí là “thiếu trưởng
thành”, nhấn mạnh sự tầm thường của công việc này.
77. A
- Dẫn chứng: There are moments in the life of any actor when a sense of the futility of it does impinge.
[…] In my family, such occasions are known as 'stoat moments'. => “Futility” means “a sense of
pointlessness”, or “not know what one’s doing”, thus making A the correct answer.
- Dịch: Bất kì diễn viên nào rồi cũng sẽ dừng lại trong một giây phút bất lực trước công việc của mình.
[…] Trong gia đình tôi, những lúc như vậy được gọi là gian nan, thánh thức. => “futility” tức là “vô
nghĩa” hay “không biết bản thân đang làm gì”, do đó đáp án A đúng.
78. B
- Dẫn chứng: The 'stoat' syndrome can be particularly extreme in Hollywood, where there's a bogus
[false] aspect to the whole business. […] So there is a feeling of unreality both on and off the set.
- Dịch: Hội chứng 'stoat' có thể đặc biệt nghiêm trọng ở Hollywood, khi mà mọi mặt của tượng đài
ngành giải trí đều gây cảm giác ‘giả tạo’. […] Vì vậy mà luôn có cảm giác thiếu tính chân thực cả trong
và ngoài phim trường…
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79. D
- Dẫn chứng: I know perfectly well that it's not remotely exciting for them that I'm there. I'm afraid I've
been around too long to take it at face value [finds it flattering].
- Dịch: Tôi biết rất rõ rằng việc tôi ở đó chẳng có gì thú vị đối với họ. Tôi e rằng tôi đã tồn tại quá lâu ở
đấy để lại thấy dễ chịu mỗi khi được mọi người chào.
80. A
- Dẫn chứng: I find, for one thing, that the stage is the only place where I function well and efficiently.
If only I could do the same when I'm sitting at my desk, sorting out the peripheral aspects of the
business, life would be a lot simpler. => ‘comes easily’ means ‘being very easy or effortless to do’,
which correlates with ‘function well and efficiently’ in the provided sentence, making A the correct
answer.
- Dịch: Tôi nhận thấy rằng sân khấu mới là nơi tôi hoạt động hiệu quả. Giá như tôi có thể ngồi vào bàn
làm việc, sắp xếp các khía cạnh ngoại vi của công việc kinh doanh hiệu quả được như thế thì cuộc sống
sẽ đơn giản hơn rất nhiều. => ‘come easy’ có nghĩa là ‘làm rất dễ dàng hoặc không tốn nhiều công
sức’, tương ứng với ‘hoạt động hiệu quả’ trong câu đã cho, khiến A trở thành câu trả lời đúng.
81. D
- Dẫn chứng: People have a thirst to be entertained, so by quenching that we fulfil a necessary
function for society [not pointless].
- Dịch: Con người luôn mong muốn được giải trí nên khi đáp ứng nhu cầu ấy, chúng ta đã mang lại lợi
ích cho xã hội.
82. C
- Dẫn chứng: When we first become noticed, it is a very exciting, glamorous time. After that, you do
become part of the furniture. => ‘part of the furniture’ means ‘someone so familiar that you no longer
notice them’, or ‘indispensable yet unnoticed’
- Dịch: Lần đầu được mọi người chú ý chắc hẳn rất thú vị. Nhưng về sau này, bạn dần trở thành 1 phần
quen thuộc hơn nhiều. => ‘part of the furniture’ có nghĩa là ‘ai đó quen thuộc đến mức bạn không còn
để ý đến họ nữa’ hoặc ‘không thể thiếu nhưng vẫn chưa được chú ý’.
83. C
‘Peripheral’, in this context, means ‘unimportant’ as the author is discussing business-related matters.
84. A
- Dẫn chứng: The author discusses the "stoat moments" and the artificiality of Hollywood (as discussed
in question No.3) but ultimately recognizes the personal fulfillment he gains from performing and the
societal need for entertainment (as discussed in question No.6). He values the unique experiences and
access acting affords him, suggesting a deeper appreciation for the profession despite its flaws.
- Dịch: Tác giả bàn về "những khoảnh khắc khó khăn" và tính giả tạo của Hollywood (như đã nói ở câu
hỏi số 3) nhưng cuối cùng nhận ra sự thỏa mãn từ việc biểu diễn và đáp ứng nhu cầu giải trí của xã hội
(như đã nói ở câu hỏi số 6). Ông trân trọng những trải nghiệm độc đáo và khả năng tiếp cận mà diễn
xuất mang lại, từ đó cho thấy sự kính nghiệp bất chấp những khó khăn mà nghiệp diễn có thể gây nên.
85. D
- Dẫn chứng: I'll say: ‘How about so and so, he was great in such and such a film?' And someone will
say: 'No, it's two years ago, he's dead in the water, the figures [the revenues generated by the
productions featuring the actor/actress] are way down’. The truth is that a good actor has more
chance of making a movie successful than a bad one, but that is not considered. => The phrase
therefore metaphorically refers to a statistical chart that Hollywood executives use to predict an actor's
potential box office revenue for a specific type of film.
- Dịch: Tôi sẽ nói: ‘Thế còn anh này, anh ấy chẳng phải rất hợp vai này sao?’ Và ai đó sẽ nói: 'Không, đã
hai năm rồi, anh ta coi như chết chìm, doanh thu từ các sản phẩm do anh ta đóng đang giảm sút'. Sự
thật là một diễn viên giỏi có nhiều cơ hội làm nên 1 bộ phim thành công hơn một diễn viên tầm thường,
nhưng điều đó lại không ai màng đến. => Cụm từ ‘demograph’s table’ ám chỉ một cách ẩn dụ một biểu
đồ thống kê mà các nhà điều hành Hollywood sử dụng để dự đoán doanh thu phòng vé của một diễn
viên đối với một loại phim cụ thể.
Part 5.
86. B
- Dẫn chứng: weight lifting would not be an expedient use of time in low gravity conditions
- Dịch: nâng tạ sẽ không phải là cách sử dụng thời gian hợp lý trong điều kiện trọng lực thấp
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87. B
- Dẫn chứng: And there are multiple windows to the outside world, where, quite literally, the scenery is
stunning. Indeed, the sense of awe one gets gazing down upon the earth as it spins below never wears
off.
- Dịch: Và có nhiều cửa sổ nhìn ra thế giới bên ngoài, nơi mà theo đúng nghĩa đen, phong cảnh tuyệt
đẹp. Quả thực, cảm giác kinh ngạc khi nhìn xuống trái đất khi nó quay bên dưới không bao giờ vơi đi.
88. C
- Dẫn chứng: Were any of the systems to fail, the effects could be catastrophic […]
- Dịch: Nếu bất kỳ hệ thống nào bị lỗi, hậu quả có thể rất thảm khốc […]
89. D
- Dẫn chứng: Condiments come in liquid form only, as, for instance, grains of pepper could float away
and clog air vents or contaminate equipment, or indeed, get stuck in astronauts’ eyes or other external
organs.
- Dịch: Đồ gia vị chỉ ở dạng lỏng, chẳng hạn như hạt tiêu có thể trôi đi và làm tắc các lỗ thông hơi hoặc
làm nhiễm bẩn thiết bị, hoặc thực sự, bị mắc kẹt trong mắt phi hành gia hoặc các cơ quan bên ngoài
khác.
90. A
- Dẫn chứng: The toilet situation is, admittedly, rather more complex, though, requiring leg restraints for
positioning in the case of number twos […]
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, phải thừa nhận rằng tình huống đi vệ sinh khá phức tạp hơn, đòi hỏi phải có chỗ tựa
chân để định vị trong ‘trường hợp số hai’ […]
91. A
- Dẫn chứng: For hair, a rinseless shampoo is best. Indeed, this would not be unfamiliar to people who
have been confined to bed in hospital, unable to use the bathroom, as that is precisely what the product
was originally developed for.
- Dịch: Đối với tóc, dầu gội khô là tốt nhất. Điều này sẽ không xa lạ với những người phải nằm trên
giường bệnh, không thể sử dụng phòng tắm, vì đó chính xác là mục đích ban đầu của sản phẩm.
92. C
- Dẫn chứng: In a way, the astronauts themselves are part lab rats, for many of the experiments have to
do with human physiology and how we adjust to life in space.
- Dịch: Theo một cách nào đó, bản thân các phi hành gia cũng là những con chuột thí nghiệm, vì nhiều
thí nghiệm liên quan đến sinh lý con người và cách chúng ta thích nghi với cuộc sống trong không
gian.
93. D
- Dẫn chứng: Astronauts have three square meals a day, carefully planned by nutritionists to have the
optimal calorific intake, which varies from person to person, so close personal attention in this matter is
required and given.
- Dịch: Các phi hành gia có ba bữa ăn mỗi ngày, được các chuyên gia dinh dưỡng lên kế hoạch cẩn thận
để có lượng calo hấp thụ tối ưu, thay đổi tùy theo từng người, vì vậy cần phải có sự quan tâm chặt chẽ
theo cá nhân trong vấn đề này.
94. D
- Dẫn chứng: […] since refrigeration is not possible, food storage and preparation demand significant
time and attention.
- Dịch: […] vì không thể làm lạnh nên việc bảo quản và chuẩn bị thực phẩm đòi hỏi nhiều thời gian và
sự chú ý.
95. B
- Dẫn chứng: Particularly impressive on the scenic front, though, are the sunrises and sunsets, and we are
privileged to be afforded at least one of each every hour.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, đặc biệt ấn tượng về mặt cảnh đẹp là cảnh bình minh và hoàng hôn, và chúng tôi vinh
dự được chiêm ngưỡng ít nhất một cảnh trong mỗi giờ.
IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1.
The passage delves into the concept of unconsciousness and elucidates its principles as well as drawbacks.
Firstly, a dichotomy between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind is highlighted. The former,
being a smaller part, directs our mental activities within the boundaries of our awareness. The latter;
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however, comprises processes outside the realm of our acknowledgment. Secondly, it is suggested that
besides freeing up the conscious mind to focus on problems that need our deliberate attention, the
unconsciousness also serves self-preservation purposes. It creates an impenetrable fortress of stately
existence that people yearn for by canceling out the white noises of self-violating disturbances.
Nevertheless, this self-ignorance can sow the seeds of mental breakdown and thus, however embarrassing
it may be, the exploration of our deeply buried unconscious materials is indispensable.
Part 2.
The provided charts detail the percentage of 14-16-year-old students studying a non-native language in one
particular English-speaking country in 1984 and 2007, along with the shifts in popularity among the top
three foreign languages.
What is the most striking when looking at the data is a decrease in foreign language study for both genders,
with girls outranking boys in both years given. It is also important to note that French and German
experienced significant declines in popularity, contrasting sharply with Spanish, which recorded a
substantial increase.
Looking first at the demographic of 14-16-year-olds studying a foreign language, in 1984, it was reported
that nearly half of girls studied a non-native tongue, and this figure was about 20% higher than that for
their male counterparts. While their percentages had similarly declined by 2007, the gap between the two
gender cohorts narrowed due to a steeper decrease among girls (10%) compared to boys (3%).
Turning to the top three foreign languages, French remained the most popular choice, despite a halving of
its popularity to 25% between 1984 and 2007. German also experienced a decline, albeit less pronounced,
falling by a third from 20% to 13% between the two years surveyed. Notably, the only language seeing a
rise in popularity was Spanish, with its figures almost tripling from only 3% in 1984 to 10% 23 years later.
Notwithstanding this, it remained far less popular compared to French and German.
Part 3.
In the ever-evolving landscape of human interaction, the question of where we derive the most significant
insights and learning experiences remains a topic of considerable debate. At the heart of this discourse lies
the assertion that we can glean far more knowledge and understanding from individuals who share our
viewpoints than from those whose perspectives diverge from our own. While it is true that learning from
like-minded individuals can provide affirmation, validation, and reinforcement of our beliefs, I vehemently
disagree with this statement because of the intellectual stimulation and empathy development that
engaging with individuals whose views contradict ours can engender.
On the one hand, engaging with like-minded individuals can generate a supportive and affirming
environment that fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie. To demonstrate, whether it is joining a
hobby group, participating in a professional network, or attending community events, engaging with
individuals who share similar views often provides a sense of validation and confirmation, reinforcing our
beliefs and values. When we interact with the like-minded, we feel affirmed in our convictions, knowing
that we are not alone in our opinions. This validation can be particularly comforting in situations where our
views may be questioned or challenged by those with differing opinions. Confirmation from like-minded
individuals can boost our confidence and self-esteem, thus helping us to strengthen our resilience and push
forward with bravery against the norms. Take a group of entrepreneurs coming from different fields who
are passionate about the integration of artificial intelligence into teaching as an example. Although others
may view this idea with skepticism, the group’s firm belief in their project and collective efforts may be
able to mitigate the current drawbacks of AI and find a way to make the benefits of this technology to
teaching and learning outshine its limitations. To reiterate, the validation and confirmation received from
engaging with others who share similar views can contribute to a sense of belonging, empowerment, and
emotional well-being.
On the other hand, engaging with individuals whose views diverge from our own is crucial for fostering
intellectual growth, expanding our understanding of complex issues, and promoting empathy and
tolerance. By actively seeking out diverse perspectives and engaging in open-minded discourse with those
who hold differing opinions, we expose ourselves to a broader range of ideas, experiences, and
worldviews. This exposure challenges us to critically evaluate our beliefs, question assumptions, and
consider alternative viewpoints, ultimately leading to improved critical thinking abilities and
communication skills. Illustrative of this argument is a debate competition where contestants participate in
discussions on contentious social issues. Hence, contenders with varying beliefs engage in rigorous
discourse, presenting arguments from different ideological standpoints, thus helping them hone their
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critical thinking skills, learn to articulate their views more effectively, and make informed decisions about
what they want to contribute to the discussions. Therefore, constantly challenging oneself with differing
viewpoints can minimize confirmation bias and narrow-mindedness due to overreliance on similar
viewpoints, which hinders one's ability to evaluate ideas critically. Moreover, interacting with individuals
who hold divergent views fosters empathy and understanding by encouraging us to recognize and
appreciate the unique experiences and perspectives of others. Through respectful and constructive
dialogue, we can bridge divides, find common ground, and work towards solutions that reflect the diverse
needs and interests of society. In embracing the diversity of thought, we not only enrich our own lives but
also contribute to a more inclusive and harmonious society.
In conclusion, while learning from those who share our views has its place, actively seeking out diverse
perspectives is essential for the advancement of one individual and society as a whole. By embracing
diversity of thought and engaging in dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives,
people can cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves, ultimately leading to personal and intellectual
growth.
V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Ladies and gentlemen,
My topic today is [TOPIC 3]. So, let’s get started shall we?
I wanna start by asking you one question.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I mention Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg? Some
may say they are billionaires, yes, some may say they own lots of companies, yes, others say they live in
colossal mansions, I bet it’s another yes. Do you see the common point of all these things? Money. We
tend to attach those successful people with money and lots of material possessions. But to earn that much,
their knowledge must also be considerable right? To answer what qualifies as success, in my speech today,
I will compare success based on material possessions and the knowledge one owns before voicing my own
opinion at the end.
On the one hand, success is often measured by the material possessions a person has acquired because of
several reasons. First, material possessions are tangible, making them easier to be seen, felt, touched, and
used to evaluate one’s success. People who drive shiny cars, wear expensive tailored clothes, or live in
mansions with both indoor and outdoor swimming pools are often deemed as successful ones living on top
of the world because what they own can clearly be quantified. Palpable things are also easily shown off to
the world, making us form a perception that those people must be so successful that they can afford
exorbitant physical stuff. Second, material possessions are almost always linked with money, and money is
often thought to be the ultimate measure of success in our current world. We always say that “money can’t
buy happiness”, but what if it can? Money cannot buy happiness, but it can certainly buy the means for us
to enjoy happiness, be it holiday trips abroad or high-end technological gadgets. Hence, those possessing
tons of money are put on a high pedestal as the most successful people, not just because of the money
itself, but because they can use their money to lead fulfilling lives.
On the other hand, some may argue that material possessions are too superficial to be the ultimate scale of
success as we need a stronger foundation here - knowledge. The first rationale for this is that knowledge is
power, and the more knowledge we have, the better equipped we are to make informed decisions and
navigate through life's challenges. Having a deep understanding of various subjects and concepts allows
individuals to think critically and creatively, which are essential skills for success. The ability to analyze
information, solve problems, and in turn, make sound decisions is all rooted in the knowledge we acquire.
That’s why knowledge is so powerful in preparing us for success and also, allowing us to shoot for
success. Second, success based on knowledge is about continuously growing and adapting to new
situations. In other words, it includes a willingness to engage in lifelong learning and self-improvement.
By staying curious and open-minded, individuals can stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the ever-
changing world around them. Such pursuit of knowledge can lead to their success in various aspects of life,
such as career advancement, personal relationships, and overall life satisfaction.
In conclusion, success based on material possessions may satisfy external validation and fulfill personal
needs, while success based on wisdom can lead to personal growth, happy relationships, and a deeper
understanding about the world. Ultimately, I believe that success should be defined based on our values,
beliefs, and goals. No matter what our choice about what matters more, it’s important that we consider how
each path aligns with our happiness and general well-being. That is the end of my speech. Thank you!

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 PRACTICE TEST 14
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to a talk and decide whether these statements are True (T), False (F),
or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. Biological age determines how much damage time has caused to your physical body.
2. The more we age, the longer our telomeres get.
3. The 2008 experiment meant to revive cancer cells by submerging them into ethanol.
4. Resilience measures the recovery time of both human sickness and their DOSI value.
5. Discovering life-extending methods will tackle the hidden catalysts of resilience loss.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about record labels and answer the questions. Write NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
6. What is another name for label groups?
7. In what aspects are independent labels smaller than major labels?
8. Compared to its major counterpart, what is an independent label likened to?
9. Which money-making method features the music placement in entertainment platforms?
10. Before social media boomed, what processes did record labels take charge of?
Your answers
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3: You will hear part of an interview with someone who reviews hotels. For questions 11-15,
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
11. What does Paddy say about some readers of her column?
A. They suspect that she enjoys criticising hotels.
B. Her attitude to hotels has changed because of their response.
C. Her comments match their experiences of hotels.
D. They prefer reading about hotels they would not want to visit.
12. What does Paddy say about some hotel-keepers?
A. They sometimes have to force themselves to have a sense of humour.
B. They would be more suited to a different profession.
C. They expect to receive negative comments about their hotels.
D. They are surprised that they become friends of hers.
13. Paddy says that some hotel-keepers she has contacted about the book have
A. realised that she does not really have an assistant called Emily.
B. corrected inaccuracies that were in her review of their hotels.
C. responded favourably despite criticisms she had made.
D. made her wonder whether her reviews of their hotels were unfair.
14. Paddy says that one hotel-keeper she spoke to told her that
A. other people are unlikely to be treated in the same way in hotels as she is.
B. he was unwilling to discuss some of the comments in her review.
C. her reviews did not have as much influence as she believed.
D. he no longer wanted his hotel to appear in the book.
15. The same owner also told her that
A. he had passed information about her to other hotels.
B. he resented her description of him in her review.
C. he did not understand why she wanted to put his hotel in her book.
D. there was nothing distinctive about her physical appearance.
Your answers
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

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Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about why the Southern Ocean is extraordinary and
supply the blanks with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken
from the recording for each answer in the spaces provided.
While the oceans are teeming with creatures that appear quite bizarre to human beings as 16. __________,
the most alien-like creatures are found in the Southern Ocean. Unlike other fish with oxygen-carrying red
blood cells, Antarctic icefish have clear blood and large hearts, absorb oxygen through their skin, and
possess a(n) 17. ____________ in their body fluids. Their lifespan is extraordinarily long, especially
seafloor sponges, which are frontrunners for the title of the longest-living animal. The Southern Ocean
hosts enormous creatures such as the Blue whale, the Colossal Squid, the biggest 18. ____________ on the
planet, dinner plate-sized sea spiders, textbook-sized scale worms, and 20-armed starfish as large as 19.
____________. Despite appearing to be connected to the other oceans on our planet, the Ocean is cut off
from the rest of the world by the river known as the 20. ____________, which prevents this ocean life
from 21. ____________ with one from other oceans. However, this property still benefits the food chain
by stirring up nutrients from the depths. Its salty nature, which contributes to its coldness, results in
abundant 22. ___________, thereby delaying the aging process of creatures. Research has been conducted
on this ocean due to its alien environment, which resembles 23. ___________ more than the rest of our
own, further emphasizing the Southern Ocean as a(n) 24. ____________. During the voyage of Dr.
Virginia and Dr. Bik, samples of tiny 25. ____________ called nematodes were collected for further
research into their resilience to climate change.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. He was given a ________ to carry out the dangerous experiments.
A. blank check C. rain check
B. white check D. fine check
27. The teacher ________ Tom’s essay to make it sound less aggressive.
A. brazens out C. waters down
B. mucks up D. ticks over
28. _________ on by his parents, James decided to burn the midnight oil and aced his exam, which took
his classmates by surprise.
A. Edged C. Cracked
B. Spurred D. Picked
29. She pleaded guilty, admitting she had _________ the men charged with fraud.
A. aided and abetted C. huffed and puffed
B. chopped and changed D. cut and run
30. The famous actress filed a lawsuit against a tabloid, accusing it of character __________, and
eventually, re-established her reputation.
A. elimination C. annihilation
B. extermination D. assassination
31. The two teams will go ___________ tonight in the final round of the championship.
A. shoulder-to-shoulder C. head-to-head
B. cheek-to-cheek D. eye-to-eye
32. Although many criminal confessions take several hundred sentences, in Crime and Punishment,
Dostoevsky stages Raskolnikov’s confession with relentlessly _________ plainness by using fewer than 20
words.
A. laconic C. tortuous
B. sonorous D. serpentine
33. Upon reaching the peak of Everest, the climbers breathed ________ due to exhaustion.
A. brutally C. raggedly
B. shabbily D. scruffily
34. The commander-in-chief said he'd like __________ by Thursday, if that's possible.
A. finished the report C. the report will be finished
B. the report finished D. have the report finished
35. It was so blazing hot that we ________ our clothes and dived into the swimming pool.
A. flung off C. laid off
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B. dashed off D. cleared off
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered boxes
provided.
36. The prophet had a ________ of the future of the world. (PRESENT)
37. The impact on the environment of this massive oil spillage is __________. (PONDER)
38. He regretted the __________ of what he said and offered his heartfelt apology to those who were hurt
because of his criticisms. (TEMPER)
39. He suffered from the kind of hypersensitivity which, unchecked or unguarded, would have
__________ him. (CAPACITY)
40. The mind-boggling TV series Sense8 has posed a serious question: What happens when our
convictions and callings clash__________ with those of ordinary people? (CONCILIATE)
Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
Geocaching has been all the rage among adventure lovers for a while. It is a Your Answers:
type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stash of 41.
objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek 42.
games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers, and seekers use global 43.
positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches. For example, a 44.
cache may be hidden on one side of a tree, or may only be visible from a 45.
certain angle. Because geocachers want the hobby to remain safe for people
of all ages, caches are located 150 feet off railroad tracks. After registering
online, geocachers look for coordinations (the longitude and latitude) of
caches. Caches have two or three parts: a waterproof container, a logbook to
list the people who visit the cache, and sometimes a low-cost trinket or
geocoin. Common materials found inside caches might include foreign
currency, keychains, ornaments, or booklets. Valuable objects, food, or
other items that could be easily damaged are not allowed in geocaching.
As geocaching has grown, virtual caches, or caches that don't include an
actual physical object, are no longer allowed. Most of the time, these virtual
caches involved getting geocachers to a historical site or scenic vista.
Waymarking is similar to virtual geocaching. Its clues lead participants to
interesting spots or trails. Some national parks and wilderness areas do not
allow geocaching, therefore they encourage waymarking as a good way to
see the area.
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Time travel has long intrigued us; it’s enough to 46. __________ a whole sub-genre of science fiction. It’s
mind-boggling to consider all of the implications of traveling 47. __________ time and having free will.
It’s easy to see that the universe 48. __________we know it would be rather unstable if, for instance, you
could travel 49. __________ in time and kill your own grandfather. But is it possible?
To begin to understand the possibilities of time, we first need a brief 50. __________ of spacetime. We’re
all familiar with our three-dimensional world, but we need to consider a 51. __________ dimension as well
—time. Time passes. 52. __________, you can sit still in a chair not traveling in three-dimensions, but
traveling in spacetime. We think of time as forward. Stephen Hawking explains this as three “arrows of
time”. The thermodynamic arrow of time 53. __________ from a time of low entropy (high organization)
to a time of high entropy (low organization/high chaos). It passes from a glass of water sitting on a table to
a shattered glass and a 54. __________ of water on the floor. There’s a psychological arrow of time: we

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55. __________ the past, but not the future. Finally, there’s a cosmological arrow of time. The universe is
expanding (though this arrow could reverse in the future).
Your answers
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Though there are 600 million cars on the planet, and counting, there are also seven billion people, which
means that for the vast majority of us getting around involves taking buses, ferry boats, commuter trains,
streetcars, and subways. In other words, traveling to work, school, or the market means being a
straphanger: somebody who, by choice or necessity, relies on public transport, rather than a privately
owned automobile.
Half the population of New York, Toronto, and London do not own cars. Public transport is how most of
the people of Asia and Africa, the world’s most populous continents, travel. Every day, subway systems
carry 155 million passengers, thirty-four times the number carried by all the world’s airplanes, and the
global public transport market is now valued at $428 billion annually. A century and a half after the
invention of the internal combustion engine, private car ownership is still an anomaly.
And yet public transportation, in many minds, is the opposite of glamor—a squalid last resort for those
with one too many impaired driving charges, too poor to afford insurance, or too decrepit to get behind the
wheel of a car. In much of North America, they are right: taking transit is a depressing experience.
Anybody who has waited far too long on a street corner for the privilege of boarding a lurching,
overcrowded bus, or wrestled luggage onto subways and shuttles to get to a big city airport, knows that
transit on this continent tends to be underfunded, ill-maintained, and ill-planned. Given the opportunity,
who wouldn’t drive? Hopping in a car almost always gets you to your destination more quickly.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Done right, public transport can be faster, more comfortable, and cheaper
than the private automobile. In Shanghai, German-made magnetic levitation trains skim over elevated
tracks at 266 miles an hour, whisking people to the airport at a third of the speed of sound. In provincial
French towns, electric-powered streetcars run silently on rubber tires, sliding through narrow streets along
a single guide rail set into cobblestones. From Spain to Sweden, Wi-Fi equipped high-speed trains
seamlessly connect with highly ramified metro networks, allowing commuters to work on laptops as they
prepare for same-day meetings in once distant capital cities. In Latin America, China, and India, working
people board fast-loading buses that move like subway trains along dedicated busways, leaving the sedans
and SUVs of the rich mired in dawn-to-dusk traffic jams. And some cities have transformed their streets
into cycle-path freeways, making giant strides in public health and safety and the sheer livability of their
neighborhoods—in the process turning the workaday bicycle into a viable form of mass transit.
If you credit the demographers, this transit trend has legs. The “Millennials,” who reached adulthood
around the turn of the century and now outnumber baby boomers, tend to favor cities over suburbs, and are
far more willing than their parents to ride buses and subways. Part of the reason is their ease with iPads,
MP3 players, Kindles, and smartphones: you can get some serious texting done when you’re not driving,
and earbuds offer effective insulation from all but the most extreme commuting annoyances. Even though
there are more teenagers in the country than ever, only ten million have a driver’s license (versus twelve
million a generation ago). Baby boomers may have been raised in Leave It to Beaver suburbs, but as they
retire, a significant contingent is favoring older cities and compact towns where they have the option of
walking and riding bikes. Seniors, too, are more likely to use transit, and by 2025, there will be 64 million
Americans over the age of sixty-five. Already, dwellings in older neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.,
Atlanta, and Denver, especially those near light-rail or subway stations, are commanding enormous price
premiums over suburban homes. The experience of European and Asian cities shows that if you make
buses, subways, and trains convenient, comfortable, fast, and safe, a surprisingly large percentage of
citizens will opt to ride rather than drive.
For questions 56 - 62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given
(NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. Every individual travels by public transportation on a regular basis.
57. In terms of daily passenger index, global underground systems outstrip all remaining modes of transit
by 34 times.
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58. Although the internal combustion engine has been utilized for 150 years, those who own an automobile
are still few and far between.
59. Public transit in North America leaves a lot to be desired regarding its financial resources, servicing
and planning.
60. Wifi-fitted trains from Spain to Sweden are swifter compared to their maglev counterparts in Shanghai.
61. Merely a fraction of all adolescents in the USA possess a driving license.
62. As displayed by Eurasian examples, once given adequate attention, public vehicles can reign supreme
over personal ones.
For questions 63 - 68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Nowadays, becoming a(n) 63._________ is the go-to option for commuting to one’s destinations of choice,
irrespective of whether this is due to essentiality or personal decisions. Whilst the ownership of private
vehicles is therefore deemed rather peculiar, public transportation still remains a(n) 64._________ for
desperate travelers. Nonetheless, radical approaches have been adopted on a global scale to bolster the
efficiency of public transit, with one in particular harnessing cycles – ultimately bettering communal
security, well-being and 65. _________. All this can be attributed to the arrival of millennials, with their
cutting-edge technology affording both convenience and serenity, albeit not against 66. _________. A(n)
67. _________ of geriatrics nearing retirement are also increasingly opting for long-established places,
though given how communal transport is gaining traction among the elderly, in-town accommodation in
proximity to transit points is witnessing 68.________ compared to its suburban equivalent.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.

63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.

Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Taking the Plunge
Paying people to take part in clinical trials is frowned upon. But in a world of risks and rewards, what's the
problem, asks Julian Savulescu
Consider the following scenario. Researchers from an Australian biotech company want to enlist a family
with a rare genetic mutation for a study into genetic illness. They strongly believe that they can identify
one of the genes involved in the disease in this family, and if they do, the company stands to make a large
amount of money The researchers aim to persuade the family to take part in the study by offering each
member $10,000. All they would have to do is give some saliva samples.
69.
Such standards are rigorously enforced. But there is another way of looking at it. Pharmaceuticals and
biotech companies carry out trials because they hope eventually to make substantial profits from the
results. The researchers also benefit financially and through the advancement of their careers. Meanwhile,
the participants in a trial barely benefit at all. Indeed, they could be said to be exploited in the interests of
industry and biomedicine.
70.
Now compare the trial mentioned above with a real example in which a patient is invited to take part in a
study into genetic predisposition to glaucoma, a disease of the eye which can cause a person to gradually
lose their sight. If she agrees, the patient will have access to a new genetic test for glaucoma that is not
available outside the study. The cost of this test is a few hundred dollars.
71.

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The issue becomes most acute when applied to high-risk research. Ethics committees argue that in these
cases money may make people go against their better judgment and take risks that they would not
ordinarily take. However, not paying volunteers who take part in high-risk research makes an even greater
mockery of the system.
72.
In many cases such as this, the financial reward is the only thing that makes it worthwhile for a volunteer
to take the risk. But why should that bother ethics committees? We make such decisions every day. Do we
always make them against our better judgment?
73.
Similarly, an unemployed man sees an advertisement for a construction worker's job. Al the interview, the
employer tells him the job involves working on high scaffolding and that the risk of dying on the site is
between 1 in 2000 and 1 in 5000 higher per year than working at ground level. In compensation for this he
will receive an extra $10,000 a year. He takes the job.
74.
Why should they be treated as a special case? Life is all about taking considered risks. If $10,000 is the
going rate for taking on a 1 in 2000 increased risk of dying then researchers should be allowed to offer
volunteers the going rate. Competent rational people are quite able to weigh up the risks and benefits for
themselves. I have never understood the suggestion that offering money restricts people's freedom to
choose.
75.
It seems to me we should allow people to take measured risks for the chance to improve the quality of their
lives or their children's lives or for anything else they value. We should allow them to make that choice in
any field.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Missing paragraphs:
A. For example, a researcher wishes to recruit healthy, unemployed men at a local labor exchange for a
study into the effects of new anti-hypertensive medications. The volunteers would have to wear a device to
measure pressure in the heart. This can cause life-threatening complications, although the risk of death is 1
in 2000 and is clearly stated on the consent form, yet all the researcher can offer the volunteers is a mere
$100 for their trouble.
B. In many countries today such a scenario is inconceivable. Researchers are not allowed to offer
significant sums of money to participants in a medical trial, even for low-risk experiments. Offering money
is considered 'undue inducement that could interfere with a volunteer's judgment on whether to take part,
and turn the relationship between scientist and subject into a commercial, unethical one.
C. Benefits in kind like this are permissible. and many volunteers receive them. They are not considered
undue inducements, yet money is. This is paternalistic and nonsensical. It would be far more respectful to
volunteers if researchers could offer them the choice.
D. Could you say that either situation resulted in unsound judgements? In both cases they are effectively
being paid for taking on a greater risk. There appears nothing objectionable in their decisions, yet
participants in medical trials are not even allowed to make the choice.
E. The crucial things are to ensure that the risk involved is reasonable compared with the benefits it will
offer the participant and society, and that the participants are fully informed and give their consent freely.
If the risks balance the benefits for example if the right study is likely to save the lives of patients in the
future and the participants know all the risks and are free to make their choice, then what does it matter
how much they are paid?
F. Consider a couple with two young children who are contemplating buying a new car. They find one for
$30,000 but if they spend an extra $10,000, they could get one with significantly better safety features such
as airbags and an anti-lock braking system. The safer car has been shown to reduce the risk of death by 1 in
2000 a year. But the couple decide to buy the cheaper car and spend the extra $10,000 on a family holiday
instead.

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G. One such ethics committee in Australia nearly rejected a proposal to pay a particular group of people
the equivalent of just 10 US dollars for completing an anonymous questionnaire about their behavior for a
study on the spread of hepatitis C
H. If this is the case, surely it is only fair that they share in the rewards? Publicly funded research is
perhaps more complicated, as participants may be acting in the public interest. But my main argument
applies equally to commercial and non-commercial trials: researchers should be allowed to pay volunteers,
and to pay them well, even for high-risk research.
Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an extract 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.
Have you noticed how bizarre social media and the news cycle has been lately? In the age of digital media,
journalism is changing significantly. Widely available storytelling and distribution tools, misinformation
spreading like wildfire, social media filter bubbles-headlines and stories are increasingly vying for
attention, plastered across a smörgåsbord of platforms. Can media get any stranger? Without a doubt.
The videos we watch and podcasts we listen to may themselves soon be seamlessly manipulated, distorting
the truth in new ways. Photoshop was just the beginning. Advanced media creation tools today are cheaper
than ever, and innovative tech is accelerating the bleeding edge, further blurring the line between fantasy
and reality.
One of the latest developments was introduced last week at the Adobe Max conference in San Diego.
Engineered to make audio editing easier, Adobe's Project VoCo allows users to edit voices by rearranging
words or saying phrases never actually recorded all via typing. The software requires a minimum of 20
minutes of recorded talking to do its magic. Then you can make an edited or brand new snippet of speech...
In short, this is the audio version of Photoshop- the ability to create something from nothing. A new
generation of "sound-shopping," à la photoshopping, has been born.
On the surface, many immediate practical applications like dialogue editing for video will become much
easier. Gamers can also benefit from characters whose dialogue is more flexible instead of defaulting to
whatever the designers initially wrote. And voice interfaces – like Siri or Alexa - are likely to sound more
nuanced too.
But while the tone of the presentation was playful, the dark side of Project VoCo is hard to ignore, and
Adobe presenter Zeyu Jin didn't hesitate to share the negative implications. To combat misuse, he said
Adobe is working on forgery prevention, using watermarks to distinguish between real or fake. It's also
worth noting that the tool isn't publicly available, as the project is still under development. Still, it won't be
too long until such tools are available.
Video and sound manipulation isn't new, as anyone who's ever seen a Hollywood film can attest. What's
new is the affordability of such tools and the scale they can achieve nowadays versus expensive and
complicated software workflows of the past. Anyone with a relatively affordable computer, hardware, and
access to the internet theoretically could do what once only major post- production studios could achieve.
Software alone won't devalue big budget Hollywood filmmaking – we can never seemingly have enough
grandiose destruction in films these days but it will make user-generated content easier to produce at a
much higher quality than previously imaginable. The future of media has already arrived, but distribution
may be much more bottom-up than the top-down many have come to expect, as more new tools roll out
and greater numbers of people learn to use them.
Fake audio is only one facet of the larger emerging trend of audiovisual distortion. [A] Video facial
manipulation via Stanford's Face2Face has shown promising results, and the software is similarly aimed at
mass distribution. [B] And there's more: a newly developed machine learning algorithm can convert still
images into mini videos, and it doesn't require video or audio at all, just a still image. [C] Last but not
least, we continue to see major advances in gaming graphics.
[D] Each of these tools on its own isn't necessarily so harmful, but their convergence has huge
implications. When computers are translating languages as well as humans and chatbots are becoming
tools for communicating with dead friends and relatives, piecing all these tools together is the magic glue
that could one day create believable avatars of real, non-living or entirely fake personalities who can speak
every language, personalize every one-on-one interaction, and perform something different to a new
audience every time.
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76. Which choice best describes the structure of the passage as a whole?
A. mode of analysis is endorsed, its applicability to a recent breakthrough is explained, and adjustments to
current concepts are proposed.
B. research project is outlined, its deficiencies are explained with reference to a recent trial, and corrective
measures are suggested.
C. group of resources is described, a little-known liability is explained, and a tone of optimism in spite of
reservations is established.
D. broad tendency is delineated, its scope is explained with reference to an initiative from a single
company, and consequences are assessed.
77. The author poses questions in the first paragraph in order to
A. anticipate specific responses that help to move along a discussion.
B. pinpoint the problems that directly inspired the Adobe Max conference.
C. raise issues that are meant to provoke reflection yet do not suggest set conclusions.
D. cast doubt on the usefulness of the various technologies linked to Project VoCo.
78. The phrase “à la” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
A. according to
B. by means of
C. similar to
D. preceded by
79. Within the passage, the author calls attention to software-based tools that are notable for their
A. unpredictability.
B. insignificance.
C. permanence.
D. accessibility.
80. On the basis of the author's analysis of trends in imaging and audio software, current computer and
video games are increasingly likely to feature
A. streamlined commands for how players command their in-game avatars.
B. more lifelike conversations among in-game characters
C. situations that resemble real-life predicaments.
D. extensive audio from human voice actors.
81. What does the phrase “grandiose destruction” in paragraph 7 suggest in the context of modern
filmmaking?
A. the spectacular and extravagant scenes of high-action sequences
B. the removal of large-scale film sets to make space for user-generated content studios
C. the elimination of extravagant storytelling in favor of more minimalist approaches
D. the process of eliminating older filmmaking techniques for newer technologies
82. How might media distribution change as new tools become more widely used?
A. It will continue to follow an established hierarchy.
B. It will prioritize big-budget Hollywood films over independent productions.
C. It will reduce the quality of user-generated content.
D. It will increasingly adopt a community-driven model.
83. Look at the four squares [.] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.
Beyond faces, Interactive Dynamic Video provides the ability to manipulate physical objects onscreen
using software with shocking results.
Where could the sentence best be added?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
84. What profound implications could arise when combining advanced technological tools?
A. The creation of multilingual chatbots.
B. The development of lifelike personas.
C. The enhancement of machine learning algorithms.
D. The improvement of video facial manipulation techniques.
85. The passage is most likely excerpted from
A. a personal blog
B. an IT textbook
C. a tech article
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D. a scientific report
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For questions 86-95,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
Should drama take centre stage?
Do students benefit from studying drama? We've asked five experts to share their views on incorporating
drama into education.
Expert A
Discussion about the role of drama in education has always focused on whether drama should be taught as
a mandatory subject. Educationists, policy-makers and of course other interested stakeholders may raise a
raft of pertinent points supporting or opposing this proposition, but that shouldn't preclude drama from
featuring in other lessons. At its core, drama teaches students a range of communicative and interpersonal
skills that are easily transferable to other school subjects and beyond. For instance, role-play dialogues,
arguably the most accessible of drama activities, can be used to great effect in other subjects, including
foreign languages, literature and even history. We must ensure that any debates about the place of drama
lessons in the school timetable are kept distinct from the use of drama activities as a valid pedagogical tool.
Expert B
Creative subjects such as drama continue to attract substantial attention from educational experts.
However, most of the research has been directed towards the implications for schools and colleges, and
whether these subjects can achieve positive learning outcomes for students. Conversely, relatively little
research has been conducted in the area of drama teaching in higher education contexts. Further light
should be shone on this area because universities are becoming increasingly creative with their teaching
techniques and their use of drama. Many such institutions are discovering that drama is an ideal means by
which students can gain meaningful practical experience in areas related to their future careers. For
instance, common drama activities, like improvisation exercises, can help medical students learn more
about interacting with anxious patients.
Expert C
While the benefits of exposing students to the arts are generally accepted, there has been a shift in recent
years away from focusing on performance-related disciplines. Inevitably, given the increasing
governmental scrutiny schools are under regarding students' performance in formal exams, some
establishments are reluctant to allocate teaching time to those subjects that are not formally assessed.
Instead, priority is given to what are considered core subjects, such as maths and science, to appease
education authorities. Overlooking subjects like drama in this way is incredibly short-sighted and
misguided. However, attitudes to education and teaching approaches tend to go in cycles. Hopefully,
drama and other arts subjects will be reinstated and be taught at school again before long.
Expert D
Performing arts are well established in many educational contexts around the world, but the approaches
taken to the teaching of drama vary. In some countries, drama is treated as a niche subject that should only
be offered to students displaying an innate aptitude for creative subjects. These students are encouraged to
pursue drama and it is even presented as a viable career path. What this approach fails to recognise is that
drama has intrinsic value in itself, regardless of a student's future aspirations or natural ability. It enriches
students' lives by helping them discover new worlds of possibility. Restricting some students' access to
drama, or indeed any creative subject, simply because they are deemed to lack certain skills is wrong. Not
only will it reinforce the idea that the arts are elitist, but it could also prevent students from broadening
their creative horizons.
Expert E
It's encouraging to see that the teaching of drama now receives widespread support within most
educational circles. This certainly hasn't always been the case, but the consensus now seems to be that
drama shouldn't be regarded as an optional extra. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional,
assessment-focused views of education towards a more holistic approach in which learners' individual
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strengths, needs and interests should be considered. However, in the rush to incorporate drama teaching
into the school curriculum, we must ensure that it is done to the same rigorous standards as with any other
subject. Unless drama classes are taught by specialist teachers with professional training, the concern is
that drama will continue to be on the periphery, rather than an integral part of the school experience.
Which expert makes the following statements?
86. External influences can determine how schools organise their timetables.
87. Do not confuse drama as a specialist subject with drama as a class activity.
88. Drama can be particularly useful when teaching career-based skills.
89. Drama lessons are an important way to expose students to culture.
90. Educational experts are becoming increasingly in favour of teaching drama.
91. Drama deserves a place on the school curriculum.
92. More needs to be done to improve the quality of drama teaching in schools.
93. Drama should be offered to all pupils, regardless of their level of talent.
94. Drama can enhance learners' experience of many different subjects.
95. There is a need for additional study on some aspects of drama teaching.
Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)

Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words.
Controlling conundrums in life through pessimism
Insomnia has a good claim to being counted among the most excruciating tortures that can ever befall us,
blighting us with suffocating headaches, irritability, low level depression and an overall grisly sense that
our lives are passing us by in a blur of weariness and confusion. No wonder if we sometimes get furious at
all those well-meaning recommendations that get sent our way: the sentimental hogwash about lavender-
scented candles, no phones after seven, chamomile tea, and meditations in the lotus position.
Given the pain, it might sound odd – perhaps perverse – to approach our situation from a very different
angle and suggest that if we ever want to master our situation, we may have to make a truly uncommon
and surprising move. We should stare at our situation with heroic courage and defiant ferocity and accept
that we have clearly been condemned by some malevolent wizard to a life of more or less continual
insomnia. This is our lot and we have to accept it on the chin – the way we might a death sentence.
Then, once the full resonance of our appalling state has been absorbed, something even stranger might just
unfold: we may well – after a time – fall asleep. A major part of what aggravates sleeplessness is a
desperate roiling sense that we should be asleep – and yet are not. Not only are we not sleeping, but we’re
engaged in a battle with the idea that we resolutely should be, which contributes crucially to our awakened
state. We need to broker peace through pessimism. Pessimists appreciate that so much of what gets in the
way of our goals is anxiety about reaching them. It’s our worry that we’re going to be constipated that
creates the anxiety that keeps us so. Or the worry that we’ll fail an exam or might mess up a speech or a
date that ushers in the tension that ensures we will. But once we can concede that our digestion is truly
messed up and that we’re definitely going to flunk the date, the certificate and the speech, we gain access
to a lightness of spirit that contributes vitally to success. Wanting something too hard may be the chief
enemy of getting it; we may have to embrace failure in order to have any chance of winning. It’s the wrong
sort of hope that complicates our future; and the right sort of darkness that can liberate us.
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Part 2. The table shows the frequency of adults using the Internet in one European country from
2006 to 2010. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
Living in the abundance of mass media does more harm than good. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
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V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Plagiarism in academics has become a pressing problem in many countries today. What are the
causes of this problem? What are some possible solutions?

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KEY AND EXPLANATION
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
1. T
(0:30) If you want to find out what toll all that mileage has taken on your body, you need to know your
biological age.
2. F
(0:48) As age increases, DNA accumulates damage, mitochondria break down, and the telomeres at the
ends of our chromosomes shorten.
3. F
(1:15) In a breakthrough study in 2008, a group of biologists conducted an experiment, where they put
human cancer cells in ethanol to initiate cell death.
4. T
(2:25) The length of time that it takes for them to recover—and their DOSI to return to normal—is what’s
known as resilience.
5. NG
(3.25) If we treat the underlying causes of resilience loss, we could develop life-extending treatments that
can one day help us live beyond the known limits.
Part 2.
6. umbrella companies
(0:54) There are two types of music labels: major labels, which are organized into umbrella companies
called label groups, and independent labels.
7. staff and roster/staff, roster
(1:27) They're typically much smaller, both in staff and in roster, and tend to take a more tailored
approach to dealing with their artists.
8. (a) boutique situation
(1:44) The benefits between major and indie labels, it kind of comes down to personal preference and indie
label can be much more of a boutique situation.
9. master licensing
(2:40) Labels typically make money on the master recording one of three ways: through music sales,
downloading or streaming the work of their artists; brand partnerships when an artist endorses a product;
and master licensing, using the exact recording of a song for a commercial movie or video game.
10. marketing and distribution/marketing, distribution
(3:33) There was a time when record labels were the only way that anyone could actually get their music
out to the public. They controlled all the marketing and distribution of getting your music into stores.
Part 3.
11. D 12. B 13. C 14. A 15. D
Interviewer: I'm talking to Paddy Burt, who has a weekly hotel review column in a national newspaper and
who has just compiled a collection of those reviews for a forthcoming book. Paddy, when you go to a hotel
to review it, what's your attitude?
Paddy: I always have high hopes - a 'bet this one's going to be good' feeling. But you never can tell. Hotels
that look so idyllic in one of the guides can be a terrible letdown, which is why (11) readers who say they
enjoy the column invariably add 'particularly the bad ones'. For example, I recently got this letter
from a reader, who says: 'It used to be every other week that you gave some poor hotelier a bashing.
Now it's a rare treat to read about one you've been severely critical of, and that's a pity since I love it
when you lay into a pretentious but bad one. Of course, it's helpful when you recommend a good
hotel, but, for entertainment's sake, do try to find some awful ones, too.
Interviewer: So are you always aiming to find fault? Are you glad when you find something you can be
critical of?
Paddy: I don't have to try. And while I'm always happy to slam into any pretentious hotel that doesn't come
up to scratch, it's a different matter when the people are nice and their hotel isn't. I still have to write about
it and sometimes it hurts. Hotel-keeping, it has been said, is akin to show business and, in the ones I like
best, (12) there is always a leading man or woman who is sometimes so good I think he or she has
missed their true vocation. Such hoteliers usually have a sense of humour. They may not like what I have

81
written about them, but will respond in a good-humoured way. They are professionals. Many of them have
become friends.
Interviewer: What kind of hotels do you prefer? Is it possible to generalise about that?
Paddy: Well, I admit I have a penchant for owner-run hotels; they are more personal than the chains. With
a few exceptions, I like the owners of small hotels. Which is why I've had such fun researching my book of
review pieces that have appeared in the newspaper - calling them if they haven't responded to the
questionnaire I sent them and either telling them who I am or, if I think they're going to shout at me,
pretending to be the assistant I haven't got, Emily. (13) 'She didn't give us a very good review, did she?'
some said, well, no - but maybe they have since made improvements and would like people to know
about them? Thus encouraged, the majority of these hoteliers have entered not just into the book but
into the spirit and have contributed interesting behind-the-scenes stories.
Interviewer: So some of the hotels you reviewed and wanted to put in the book haven't been included?
Paddy: That's right. There's one, for example, where the owner said - I recorded all the calls - 'After
insulting us and lying in her article, there is no way we would help her perpetuate her grievances against
the world in a publication.' To specify the lies, he pounced on a remark I had made expressing surprise on
being served certain vegetables in his restaurant. 'She doesn't understand proper food,' he said. I was
enthusiastic about it, actually, and if he wasn't being so disagreeable, I would have liked to include his
hotel in the book. On and on he went. 'Since her visit, we've noticed that a lot of people read her articles
and then cross hotels off their potential list as a result of what she's said. (14) They then go to hotels
where she's been fawned over and where they probably won't be fawned over. We've also noticed she
prefers staying in hotels that are almost empty because that's when they have time to make a fuss of her.'
Actually, being fawned over is the last thing that I want.
Interviewer: So your column can provoke quite a reaction, then?
Paddy: Oh, yes. In fact, the same owner also said 'After she stayed here, we had four hotels asking for her
description. They wanted to know what car she was driving and what credit card she had. Unfortunately,
we couldn't give (15) a description because she's fairly nondescript.' But the peculiar thing is that when
it finally clicked that being in the book wasn't going to cost him a penny, he said he wanted to be included.
Maybe it was because he remembered that I had remarked on his resemblance to a much-loved comedian,
sadly now dead. I declined his kind offer.
Interviewer: I can see why. Paddy Burt, thanks for talking to me.
Part 4
16. landlubbers
Earth’s oceans are full of animals that seem pretty strange to us landlubbers. (0:03)
17. natural antifreeze
Icefish also have gigantic hearts compared to red-blooded fish, they have the ability to absorb oxygen
directly through their smooth skin as opposed to just through their gills, and on top of that, they have a
natural antifreeze in their body fluids. (0:36)
18. invertebrate
Some of its giants include the Antarctic Blue whale –the largest animal on the planet– and the Colossal
Squid –the largest invertebrate on the planet. (1:13)
19. manhole covers
Antarctic sea spiders are the size of dinner plates, scale worms are the size of marine biology textbooks,
and freaky, 20-armed starfish reach the size of manhole covers. (1:27)
20. Antarctic Circumpolar Current
Although the Southern Ocean seems like it’s connected to our planet’s other oceans, its life is completely
cut off from the rest of the world’s oceans by what is essentially a giant circular river called the Antarctic
Circumpolar Current. (1:47)
21. interbreeding
It exists as a giant spiral of water that extends from the surface to the seafloor, acting as a barrier that has
prevented most Southern Ocean life from interbreeding with life from other oceans for the last 30 million
years. (2:02)
22. dissolved oxygen
And that cold water allows it to hold onto lots of dissolved oxygen. (2:27)
23. Saturn’s biggest moon

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Seriously, conditions in the Southern Ocean may be more similar to other worlds, like Saturn's biggest
moon, than to the rest of our own. (2:47)
24. otherworldly wonder
But even if aliens don’t exist, the Southern Ocean is an otherworldly wonder right here on Earth (2:51)
25. soil-dwelling worms
Nematodes, little soil-dwelling worms found on and off of every continent on Earth, are Dr. Bik's
specialty. (3:18)
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. A
Blank check: the authority and the freedom to do whatever you decide is necessary or best
Rain check: an offer or request to do or get something at a later time than was originally intended
27. C
Water down sth: to deliberately make an idea or opinion less extreme
Brazen it out: to continue in a confident way without showing shame or embarrassment
Muck sth up: to spoil sth completely
Tick over: sth makes little progress
28. B
Spur sb on: to encourage sb
Crack on sth: to start or continue doing sth quickly
Pick on sb: to bully sb
29. A
Aid and abet sb: to help sb do sth illegal or wrong
Chop and change: to keep changing your ideas, opinions, activities, or job
Huff and puff: to breathe loudly
Cut and run: make a speedy or sudden departure from an awkward or hazardous situation rather than deal
with it.
30. D
Character assassination (n): an intentional attempt to tarnish the reputation of a person by criticizing them
severely and unfairly
Extermination (n): the act of killing all the animals or people in a particular place or of a particular type
Annihilation (n): complete destruction
31. C
Head-to-head (adj, adv): involving a direct competition between two people or teams
Shoulder-to-shoulder: side by side
Cheek-to-cheek: if two people dance cheek to cheek, they dance very close to each other in a romantic way
See eye to eye: if two people see eye to eye, they agree with each other
32. A
Laconic (adj): using very few words for expression
Sonorous (adj): having a deep, pleasant sound
Tortuous (adj): full of twists and turns; not straight or direct
Serpentine (adj): complicated and difficult to understand
33. C
Raggedly (adv): in a way that is not regular or controlled
Scruffily (adv): in a dirty or untidy way
Shabbily (adv): in a way that is not in good condition or unfair
34. B
Would like sth done
35. A
Fling off: to quickly put on/remove something, especially a piece of clothing
Dash off: to write sth quickly/ to leave hastily
Lay sb off: to make sb redundant
Clear sb off: to tell sb to go away rudely
Part 2.
36. PRESENTIMENT (n): a feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going to happen
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37. IMPONDERABLE (adj): immeasurable
38. INTEMPERANCE (n): the action or quality of showing anger or violence that is too extreme and not
well controlled
39. INCAPACITATED (v): to remove someone’s ability to do something
40. IRRECONCILABLY (adv): in a way that makes it impossible to find an agreement, or is impossible to
deal with
Part 3.
41. line 3: stash => stashes
42. line 11: off => from
43. line 12: coordinations => coordinates
44. line 23: include => involve
45. line 29: therefore => although/though
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
46. spur 47. through 48. as 49. backwards 50. introduction

51. fourth 52. Therefore 53. points 54. puddle 55. remember
Part 2.
56. F
- Dẫn chứng: […] the vast majority of us getting around involves taking buses, ferryboats, commuter
trains, streetcars, and subways => most, but not all, people travel by public transportation regularly.
- Dịch: […] Đại đa số chúng ta di chuyển bằng xe buýt, phà, tàu hỏa, xe điện và tàu điện ngầm => hầu
hết, nhưng không phải tất cả, mọi người thường xuyên di chuyển bằng phương tiện công cộng.
57. F
- Dẫn chứng: Every day, subway systems carry 155 million passengers, thirty-four times the number
carried by all the world’s airplanes, […] => Subway only exceeds airplanes in terms of daily
passenger, not the rest of public transit modes.
- Dịch: Mỗi ngày, hệ thống tàu điện ngầm vận chuyển 155 triệu hành khách, gấp ba mươi bốn lần số
lượng vận chuyển của tất cả các máy bay trên thế giới, […] => Tàu điện ngầm chỉ vượt máy bay về
lượng hành khách hàng ngày chứ không vượt qua tất cả các hệ thống giao thông công cộng còn lại.
58. T
- Dẫn chứng: A century and a half after the invention of the internal combustion engine, private car
ownership is still an anomaly.
- Dịch: Một thế kỷ rưỡi sau khi phát minh ra động cơ đốt trong, việc sở hữu ô tô cá nhân vẫn còn là một
điều hiếm thấy.
59. T
- Dẫn chứng: In much of North America, they are right: taking transit is a depressing experience. …
knows that transit on this continent tends to be underfunded, ill-maintained, and ill-planned.
- Dịch: Ở phần lớn Bắc Mỹ, họ nói đúng: sử dụng phương tiện công cộng là một trải nghiệm phiền toái.
… biết rằng phương tiện công cộng trên lục địa này có xu hướng thiếu vốn, không được bảo trì quy
hoạch kém.
60. NG
- Dẫn chứng: In Shanghai, German-made magnetic levitation trains skim over elevated tracks at 266
miles an hour…From Spain to Sweden, Wi-Fi equipped high-speed trains seamlessly connect with
highly ramified metro networks… => No specific figures were displayed for the Wifi-equipped trains,
therefore not allowing any comparison.
- Dịch: Tại Thượng Hải, các đoàn tàu từ trường do Đức sản xuất chạy lướt trên đường ray trên cao với
tốc độ 266 dặm một giờ…Từ Tây Ban Nha đến Thụy Điển, các đoàn tàu cao tốc được trang bị Wi-Fi
kết nối liền mạch với các mạng lưới tàu điện ngầm phân nhánh cao… => Không có số liệu cụ thể nào
được hiển thị cho xe lửa được trang bị Wi-Fi, do đó không cho phép sự so sánh nào.
61. NG
- Dẫn chứng: Even though there are more teenagers in the country than ever, only ten million have a
driver’s license […] => there is no mention of how much (a fraction: a small part of something larger)
teenagers with a license constitute in the total.
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- Dịch: Mặc dù trong nước có nhiều thanh thiếu niên hơn bao giờ hết, nhưng chỉ có mười triệu người có
bằng lái xe […] => không đề cập đến việc thanh thiếu niên có bằng lái xe chiếm bao nhiêu trên tổng số
(fraction: một phần nhỏ).
62. T
- Dẫn chứng: The experience of European and Asian cities shows that if you make buses, subways, and
trains convenient, comfortable, fast, and safe, a surprisingly large percentage of citizens will opt to ride
rather than drive.
- Dịch: Kinh nghiệm của các thành phố châu Âu và châu Á cho thấy rằng nếu bạn làm cho xe buýt, tàu
điện ngầm và xe lửa trở nên thuận tiện, thoải mái, nhanh chóng và an toàn thì một tỷ lệ lớn người dân
sẽ chọn đi xe hơn là lái xe.
63. straphanger
- Dẫn chứng: […] means being a straphanger: somebody who, by choice or necessity, relies on public
transport, rather than a privately owned automobile.
- Dịch: […] có nghĩa là trở thành một người đi xe công cộng: một người nào đó, do sự lựa chọn hoặc cần
thiết, dựa vào phương tiện giao thông công cộng, thay vì ô tô thuộc sở hữu tư nhân.
64. squalid last resort
- Dẫn chứng: And yet public transportation, in many minds, is the opposite of glamor—a squalid last
resort for those with one too many impaired driving charges, too poor to afford insurance, or too
decrepit to get behind the wheel of a car.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, trong suy nghĩ của nhiều người, giao thông công cộng trái ngược với sự hào nhoáng -
một phương sách cuối cùng tồi tàn dành cho những người bị phạt quá nhiều phí lái xe, quá nghèo
không đủ tiền mua bảo hiểm hoặc quá suy sụp để ngồi sau tay lái ô tô.
65. sheer livability
- Dẫn chứng: And some cities have transformed their streets into cycle-path freeways, making giant
strides in public health and safety and the sheer livability of their neighborhoods […]
- Dịch: Và một số thành phố đã biến đường phố của họ thành đường cao tốc dành cho xe đạp, đạt được
những bước tiến lớn về sức khỏe và an toàn cộng đồng cũng như khả năng sống của các khu vực lân
cận. […]
66. extreme commuting annoyances
- Dẫn chứng: you can get some serious texting done when you’re not driving, and earbuds offer effective
insulation from all but the most extreme commuting annoyances.
- Dịch: bạn có thể nhắn đàng hoàng khi không lái xe và tai nghe nhét tai mang lại khả năng cách âm hiệu
quả, trừ những điều khó chịu nhất khi đi lại.
67. significant contingent
- Dẫn chứng: but as they retire, a significant contingent is favoring older cities and compact towns […]
- Dịch: nhưng khi họ nghỉ hưu, một phần đáng kể đang ưa chuộng các thành phố cũ và thị trấn nhỏ…
68. enormous price premiums
- Dẫn chứng: Already, dwellings in older neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Denver,
especially those near light-rail or subway stations, are commanding enormous price premiums over
suburban homes
- Dịch: Hiện tại, những ngôi nhà ở các khu dân cư cũ ở Washington, D.C., Atlanta và Denver, đặc biệt là
những khu gần ga tàu điện ngầm hoặc đường sắt nhẹ, đang có mức giá chênh lệch rất lớn so với những
ngôi nhà ở ngoại ô.
Part 3.
69. B
- Dẫn chứng: Link between the first paragraph and 'such a scenario': link between B and 'Such
standards’ in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Liên kết giữa đoạn đầu tiên và 'kịch bản như vậy': liên kết giữa B và 'Các tiêu chuẩn như vậy'
trong đoạn văn sau.
70. H
- Dẫn chứng: Link between ‘they could be said to be exploited’ and ‘if this is the case’.
- Dịch: Mối liên kết giữa “có thể coi là họ đã bị lợi dụng” và “nếu đúng như vậy”.
71. C
- Dẫn chứng: Link between ‘the patient will have access to a new genetic test' and 'Benefits in kind
like this’
85
- Dịch: Mối liên kết giữa ‘bệnh nhân sẽ được tiếp cận với xét nghiệm di truyền mới’ và ‘Lợi ích hiện
vật như thế này’
72. A
- Dẫn chứng: Link between 'not paying volunteers’, the example given in A and 'In many cases such
as this’ in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Liên kết giữa 'tình nguyện viên không được trả tiền’, ví dụ được đưa ra ở A và 'Trong nhiều
trường hợp như thế này’ ở đoạn sau.
73. F
- Dẫn chứng: Link between 'Do we always make them against our better judgment?' in the previous
paragraph and the example given in F, with a further example in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Mối liên kết giữa 'Chúng ta có luôn khiến chúng đi ngược lại khả năng phán đoán tốt hơn của
mình không?' trong đoạn trước và ví dụ ở phần F, cùng với một ví dụ khác ở đoạn sau.
74. D
- Dẫn chứng: Link between the two preceding examples and "Could you say that either situation
resulted in unsound judgements?”
- Dịch: Mối liên kết giữa hai ví dụ trước và "Bạn có thể nói rằng một trong hai tình huống đều dẫn
đến những đánh giá thiếu căn cứ không?"
75. E
- Dẫn chứng: Link between 'I have never understood’ in the previous paragraph and the summary of
arguments in E, ending with 'then what does it matter how much they are paid?"
- Dịch; Liên kết giữa 'Tôi chưa bao giờ hiểu’ ở đoạn trước và tóm tắt các lập luận ở E, kết thúc bằng
'thì họ được trả bao nhiêu thì có quan trọng gì?’
Part 4.
76. D
- Dẫn chứng: The passage begins with a description of a general trend towards media representations
becoming manipulated and even distorted, and then focuses on Adobe's Project VoCo. The passage
describes this project; then, the author hones in on the potential risks associated with it. Choose D to reflect
this content.
- Dịch: Đoạn văn bắt đầu bằng phần mô tả xu hướng chung khiến các phương tiện truyền thông trở
nên bị thao túng và thậm chí bị bóp méo, sau đó tập trung vào Dự án VoCo của Adobe. Đoạn trích mô tả
dự án này; sau đó, tác giả tập trung vào những rủi ro tiềm ẩn liên quan đến nó. Chọn D để phản ánh nội
dung này.
77. A
- Dẫn chứng: Have you noticed how bizarre social media and the news cycle has been lately? […]
Can media get any stranger? => The author uses questions for which the potential response of a reader can
most likely be predicted and is suggested in the lines that follow soon after. Since the outcomes of these
questions are known, they function rhetorically to advance the author's argument. Choose A as appropriate.
- Dịch: Bạn có nhận thấy gần đây mạng xã hội và tin tức kỳ lạ thế nào không? […] Các phương tiện
truyền thông còn có thể kì lạ đến độ nào nữa? => Tác giả sử dụng những câu hỏi có thể đoán trước được
phản ứng tiềm ẩn của người đọc và chúng được gợi ý ở những dòng tiếp theo. Vì kết quả của những câu
hỏi này đã được biết trước nên chúng có chức năng tu từ để thúc đẩy lập luận của tác giả. A là đáp án
đúng.
78. C
- Dẫn chứng: In short, this is the audio version of Photoshop - the ability to create something from
nothing. A new generation of "sound-shopping," à la photoshopping, has been born. => the phrase “à la”
refers to how audio can be manipulated in the same manner as [or similar to] photos (photoshopping),
making C the correct answer
- Dịch: Nói tóm lại, đây là phiên bản âm thanh của Photoshop - khả năng tạo ra thứ mới hoàn toàn từ
con số không. Một thế hệ "sound-shopping" mới, tựa như photoshopping, đã ra đời. => cụm từ “à la” ám
chỉ cách xử lý âm thanh giống như xử lí ảnh (photoshopping), C là đáp án đúng.
79. D
- Dẫn chứng: What's new is the affordability of such tools and the scale they can achieve nowadays
versus expensive and complicated software workflows of the past." => Software-based editing tools are
becoming more accessible due to being less expensive and less complicated to use; choose D as
appropriate.
86
- Dịch: Điểm mới là những công cụ này rất hợp túi tiền, chưa kể kết quả mà chúng cho ra so với quy
trình thực hiện phần mềm đắt tiền và phức tạp hơn trong quá khứ." => Các công cụ chỉnh sửa dựa trên
phần mềm đang trở nên dễ tiếp cận hơn do ít tốn kém hơn và ít phức tạp hơn khi sử dụng; D là câu trả lời
đúng.
80. B
- Dẫn chứng: Gamers can also benefit from characters whose dialogue is more flexible instead of
defaulting to whatever the designers wrote. => Technological shifts will make it increasingly possible for
video and computer games to feature more lifelike conversations; choose B as the best answer.
- Dịch: Người chơi được tiếp cận các nhân vật có lời thoại linh hoạt hơn thay vì mặc định như nhà
thiết kế đã viết. => Những thay đổi về công nghệ sẽ giúp các trò chơi điện tử và máy tính ngày càng có
nhiều tính năng hội thoại sống động hơn; B là câu trả lời đúng nhất.
81. A
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase "grandiose destruction" refers to the spectacular and extravagant scenes of
destruction or action sequences that are commonly featured in big budget Hollywood films. Despite
advancements in technology enabling higher-quality user-generated content, audiences continue to crave
and appreciate these visually stunning and impactful elements in mainstream cinema.
- Dịch: Cụm từ "grandiose destruction" dùng để chỉ những pha hành động hoành tráng thường xuất
hiện trong các bộ phim kinh phí lớn của Hollywood. Bất chấp những tiến bộ trong công nghệ cho phép nội
dung do người dùng tạo ra đem lại chất lượng cao hơn, khán giả vẫn tiếp tục trông chờ và đánh giá cao
những yếu tố hình ảnh ấn tượng trong điện ảnh chính thống.
82. D
- Dẫn chứng: The future of media has already arrived, but distribution may be much more bottom-
up [community-driven] than the top-down [hierarchical] many have come to expect, as more new tools
roll out and greater numbers of people learn to use them.
- Dịch: Ta đã trải nghiệm các phương tiện truyền thông hết sức tân tiến, nhưng việc phân phối chúng
có thể được thực hiện bởi cộng đồng thay vì mang tính phân cấp từ trên xuống như nhiều người thường
mong, khi có nhiều công cụ mới được thử nghiệm và số lượng người học cách sử dụng nhiều hơn.
83. B
- Dẫn chứng: This sentence ‘Video facial manipulation via Stanford's Face2Face has shown
promising results, and the software is similarly aimed at mass distribution.’ and the missing one are linked
by the concept of "autovisual distortion". More notably, the first sentence discusses video facial
manipulation, whereas the missing one starts with “Beyond faces”, making [B] the correct gap to place the
missing sentence
- Dịch: Câu 'Thao tác chỉnh sửa khuôn mặt trên video thông qua Face2Face của Stanford đã cho kết
quả đầy hứa hẹn và phần mềm này cũng nhằm mục đích phân phối đại trà.' và câu còn thiếu được liên kết
bởi khái niệm "biến đổi phương tiện nghe-nhìn". Đáng chú ý, câu đầu tiên thảo luận về thao tác chỉnh sửa
khuôn mặt trong video, trong khi câu còn thiếu bắt đầu bằng “Beyond Faces”, dễ thấy [B] là chỗ trống
thích hợp để đặt câu còn thiếu.
84. B
- Dẫn chứng: Each of these tools on its own isn't necessarily so harmful, but their convergence
[when combining them] has huge implications. […], piecing all these tools together is the magic glue that
could one day create believable avatars of real, non-living or entirely fake personalities who can speak
every language, personalize every one-on-one interaction, and perform something different to a new
audience every time.
- Dịch: Bản thân mỗi công cụ không nguy hiểm, nhưng khi chúng được kết hợp lại sẽ ẩn chứa nhiều
tiềm năng. […], ghép tất cả những công cụ này lại với nhau là chất keo ma thuật mà một ngày nào đó có
thể tạo ra những hình đại diện ảo nhưng lại giống như nhân cách thật - những “người” có thể nói mọi ngôn
ngữ, cá nhân hóa mọi tương tác trực tiếp và luôn mang lại điều khác biệt đến với người dùng.
85. C
- Dẫn chứng: The provided text is distinctively suited to a tech article discussing current and future
trends in digital media, the impact of technology on media production, and ethical considerations related to
advanced media manipulation tools. Furthermore, the phrase “last week” in paragraph 3 is used to denote a
recent event – something articles are often deployed to report.
- Dịch: Văn bản phù hợp làm một bài báo công nghệ bởi nó thảo luận về các xu hướng hiện tại và
tương lai của phương tiện truyền thông kỹ thuật số, tác động của công nghệ đối với việc sản xuất phương
87
tiện truyền thông và những cân nhắc về mặt đạo đức liên quan đến các công cụ thao tác phương tiện truyền
thông tiên tiến. Hơn nữa, cụm từ “tuần trước” ở đoạn 3 được dùng để biểu thị một sự kiện gần đây – thể
hiện một chức năng tiêu biểu của các bài báo, đó là báo cáo lại các sự kiện mang tính thời sự.
Part 5.
86. C
- Dẫn chứng: Inevitably, given the increasing governmental scrutiny schools are under regarding
students’ performance in formal exams, some establishments are reluctant to allocate teaching time to
those subjects that are not formally assessed.
- Dịch: Điều này không thể tránh khỏi; do chính phủ ngày càng giám sát các trường học về kết quả
học tập của học sinh trong các kỳ thi chính thức, một số cơ sở không muốn phân bổ thời gian giảng dạy
cho những môn học không được đánh giá chính thức.
87. A
- Dẫn chứng: We must ensure that any debates about the place of drama lessons in the school
timetable are kept distinct from the use of drama activities as a valid pedagogical tool.
- Dịch: Chúng ta phải đảm bảo rằng bất kỳ cuộc tranh luận nào về vị trí của các bài học kịch trong
thời khóa biểu ở trường đều phải tách biệt với việc sử dụng các hoạt động kịch như một công cụ sư phạm
hợp lệ.
88. B
- Dẫn chứng: Many such institutions are discovering that drama is an ideal means by which students
can gain meaningful practical experience in areas related to their future careers.
- Dịch: Nhiều tổ chức như vậy đang phát hiện ra rằng kịch là một phương tiện lý tưởng để sinh viên
có thể có được trải nghiệm thực tế có ý nghĩa trong các lĩnh vực liên quan đến nghề nghiệp tương lai của
họ.
89. D
- Dẫn chứng: It enriches students' lives by helping them discover new worlds of possibility.
- Dịch: Nó làm phong phú thêm cuộc sống của học sinh bằng cách giúp họ khám phá những thế giới
mới đầy tiềm năng.
90. E
- Dẫn chứng: It's encouraging to see that the teaching of drama now receives widespread support
within most educational circles.
- Dịch: Thật đáng khích lệ khi thấy rằng việc dạy kịch hiện nay nhận được sự ủng hộ rộng rãi trong
hầu hết giới giáo dục.
91. C
- Dẫn chứng: Overlooking subjects like drama in this way is incredibly short-sighted and misguided.
[...] Hopefully, drama and other arts subjects will be reinstated and be taught at school again before long.
- Dịch: Nhìn nhận những môn học như kịch theo hướng này vô cùng thiển cận và sai lầm. […] Hy
vọng rằng kịch và các môn nghệ thuật khác sẽ được phục hồi và giảng dạy ở trường học trong thời gian
không lâu nữa.
92. E
- Dẫn chứng: However, in the rush to incorporate drama teaching into the school curriculum, we
must ensure that it is done to the same rigorous standards as with any other subject.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, trong nỗ lực kết hợp việc dạy kịch vào chương trình giảng dạy ở trường, chúng ta
phải đảm bảo rằng nó được thực hiện theo các tiêu chuẩn khắt khe giống như bất kỳ môn học nào khác.
93. D
- Dẫn chứng: Restricting some students' access to drama, or indeed any creative subject, simply
because they are deemed to lack certain skills is wrong.
- Dịch: Việc hạn chế khả năng tiếp cận của một số học sinh với kịch nghệ, hoặc thực sự là bất kỳ
môn học sáng tạo nào, chỉ vì họ bị cho là thiếu một số kỹ năng nhất định là sai lầm.
94. A
- Dẫn chứng: At its core, drama teaches students a range of communicative and interpersonal skills
that are easily transferable to other school subjects and beyond. For instance, role-play dialogues, arguably
the most accessible of drama activities, can be used to great effect in other subjects, including foreign
languages, literature and even history.
- Dịch: Về cốt lõi, kịch dạy cho học sinh một loạt các kỹ năng giao tiếp và giao tiếp có thể dễ dàng
áp dụng sang các môn học khác và hơn thế nữa. Ví dụ, các đoạn hội thoại đóng vai, được cho là hoạt động
88
kịch dễ tiếp cận nhất, có thể được sử dụng hiệu quả trong các môn học khác, bao gồm ngoại ngữ, văn học
và thậm chí cả lịch sử.
95. B
- Dẫn chứng: […] relatively little research has been conducted in the area of drama teaching in
higher education contexts. Further light should be shone on this area because universities are becoming
increasingly creative with their teaching techniques and their use of drama.
- Dịch: […] tương đối ít nghiên cứu đã được thực hiện trong lĩnh vực giảng dạy kịch trong bối cảnh
giáo dục đại học. Cần có thêm ánh sáng về lĩnh vực này vì các trường đại học đang ngày càng trở nên sáng
tạo với kỹ thuật giảng dạy và việc sử dụng kịch của họ.
IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1.
The passage elucidates an unconventional approach to navigating the complexities of life. For insomnia
sufferers, it may sound bizarre to them if they are given any words of wisdom that encourage them to
succumb to their conditions. Paradoxically; nonetheless, such resignation can actually work miracles since
it extricates them from the psychological dynamics surrounding sleeplessness. By liberating people from
consternation that sends us down a rabbit hole trapped by denial of facts, pessimism can sometimes
provide us with beams of light at the end of a long and excruciating tunnel. Coming to terms with failures
is indispensable and so is turning off some sparkling rays of hope for the sake of a clearer sense of future
direction.
Part 2.
The table provides information about adult internet usage frequencies in one particular European country
between 2006 and 2010.
What is the most striking when looking at the data is the significant growth in the proportions using the
internet on daily and weekly bases. This increase was counterbalanced by marked declines in the
percentages of those using the internet 3 times per month and non-internet users.
During the given time, the majority of adults were using the internet on a daily basis. Beginning at 36%,
the cohort of daily users registered a rise of about 5% annually until 2008, after which it surged to 65% and
further to 72% in 2010, which is notably the highest figure on the whole chart.
Although the group of weekly internet users also witnessed an overall increase over the period, its pattern
was more volatile compared to its daily counterpart’s. Specifically, between 2006 and 2008, its figures
almost doubled from 15% to 29%; however, this was followed by a gradual fall to 22% at the end of the
period.
Turning to the demographic of adults using the internet only 3 times per month, it was the only group to
see no change in the first two years surveyed, maintaining at 15%. Thereafter, its percentages fell steadily,
reaching 5% by 2010, marking a threefold decline over the period.
A far more pronounced decrease was observed in the category comprising individuals reportedly never
using the internet. In 2006, this group encompassed a third of the examined adult population; however, its
figures had halved by 2008 prior to a plummet to only 1% at the end. This represents a 34-fold decline
over the period, which was by far the largest fall recorded in the survey.
Part 3.
In the technology-driven world, means of information dissemination have been ubiquitous, exerting
transformative effects on society. However, a bold assertion occurs that the negative impacts of this
phenomenon eclipse the perceived benefits. I ardently advocate for this position, primarily due to concerns
about the unchecked spread of misinformation and the infringement upon private lives.
Granted, proponents of media-rich culture might argue that the increasingly interconnected digital
landscape offers access to a wide breadth of information, thereby forging a more informed society. They
can cite the fact that there exist ample educational resources on the internet, social media platforms, or
news broadcasts, suggesting that students can optimize their study by incorporating disparate approaches
and the latest information. Nevertheless, this line of reasoning is ill-founded, since it fails to factor in the
formidable ramifications of unfiltered information dissemination. Amidst the exponential mushrooming of
mass communication channels, the task of regulating and monitoring the authenticity and transparency of
conveyed messages becomes an ever more daunting endeavor. Consequently, the vast expanse of available
information across media outlets is beset with misleading or inaccurate content, ultimately distorting
individuals' worldviews. Demonstrably as follows, the spread of false information during the COVID-19

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pandemic, such as conspiracy theories about the origins of the virus or misinformation about the
effectiveness of certain treatments, has led to bewilderment and mistrust among the public.
Another biding concern is the potential invasion of privacy in a media-saturated world. The excess of
media can spawn a cut-throat market, in which media firms would go to any lengths to achieve a broader
audience. The consequences can be dire if some platforms resort to unscrupulous activities such as
spamming or wiretapping to collect data from potential customers. To illustrate, Facebook has long been
accused of gathering its users’ information to sell covertly to other companies for advertising purposes.
This demonstrates the deleterious aspects of the media-rich culture.
In conclusion, I firmly hold the view that the surplus of media is predominantly undesirable due to the risk
of individuals becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and the potential intrusion into
their private lives. Hence, the growth of media must be kept in check, and media literacy be promoted to
harness the power of mass communication for societal advancement.
V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Ladies and gentlemen,
My topic today is [TOPIC 4]. So, let’s get started shall we?
At some point during our school years, I bet we all feel tired of doing boring, repetitive types of school
tests and just want to give up. But we have to go to school and do homework, so we might be tempted to
go online and copy others’ work, right? Such a scenario begs the question of why we choose plagiarism
over our own attempt and whether there are any possible measures that we can take to stop this. In my
speech today, I will try to elaborate on plagiarism in academics by addressing these two concerns.
As plagiarism is going rampant in academic settings, there are three main reasons for this. First, in many
cases, plagiarism mostly comes from a lack of understanding of the concept itself. Plagiarism basically
means you take or copy someone’s work and make it your own, but many students may not fully
understand the concept, leading to improper citations of different sources in their own essays. This can lead
to unintentional plagiarism, where students include information from different sources without giving their
authors proper credit. Second, the pressure to perform well academically may make students resort to
plagiarism. In a society where our worth is often judged very superficially based on school grades or
exams, students are stressed out and burdened by the fear of failure. Hence, they may have no choice but to
succumb themselves to plagiarism methods to save time, effort, or simply to finish tons of workload that
they are assigned by teachers. Third, with the bewilderingly tech-driven inventions, the accessibility of the
Internet and free online tools make it easier for students to plagiarize. Now, with just a click of the mouse,
students can find any information through newspapers, videos, or ChatGPT (which can generate anything
they need), and use them in their assignments without properly citing those sources. Such availability and
convenience are too tempting for students to miss, especially those who are either stressed out by schools
or too lazy to do their tasks.
In order to combat plagiarism, schools need to focus on the core of the matter - which is to educate
students about academic integrity. School rules should explicitly state what is allowed and what is not
when it comes to exam or study practices, and put plagiarism in the “must not do” box. Enforcing some
punitive measures, such as probation or cleaning duties, may also serve as a deterrent for students who
want to plagiarize. Furthermore, extracurricular sessions about proper citation practices ought to be
implemented so that students would know how to distinguish between downright copying and appropriate
reference ideas. Professors can also leverage legit plagiarism detection software when grading students to
ensure that their works are original. Another deep-rooted cause that needs to be tackled is academic
pressure. Rather than emphasize high achievement and perfect grades, schools should be an encouraging
environment for students to thrive in different ways instead of only excelling academically. If that can be
done, plagiarism shouldn’t be a cause for concern as students may no longer need to fulfill unreachable
academic expectations.
In conclusion, plagiarism is a serious and pervasive issue in academic settings that can have far-reaching
consequences for students. By addressing the root causes of plagiarism, including academic stress, lack of
understanding of citation practices, improper use of online sources, and offering solutions like educating
students and changing the general mindset of people in academics, we can work towards creating a culture
of academic integrity and help students develop their own ideas and skills, leading to a more fulfilling
academic experience for all. That is the end of my speech. Thank you!

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 PRACTICE TEST 15
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about technology addiction and decide whether these
statements are True (T), False (F), or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
1. Playing video games is equally addictive as taking drugs.
2. We tend to view technology-related addictions as tangible things that exist in our everyday life.
3. We consistently put blame on technology for various problems that we encounter.
4. Many influencers now are popularizing invalid ideas about technology addiction to gain money for
themselves.
5. Regardless of conclusive proof, we still remained worried about potential dangers.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about the role of milk in the animal kingdom and answer
the questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer
in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
6. What is the animal whose moms’s milk has 60% fat?
7. What does joey’s milk protect it from?
8. What animals drink milk that contains high levels of calcium?
9. What food do flamingo’s chicks consume?
10. Whose milk do we keep drinking?
Your answers
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. You will hear part of a conversation between Joanna, an HR manager, and Duncan, a
member of staff, about empathy. For questions 11-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits
best according to what you hear.
11. Why has Duncan come to Joanna's office?
A. to complain about an apparently inappropriate decision
B. to clarify the nature of his work
C. to enquire about the purpose of a course
D. to discuss what kind of training he requires
12. When dealing with disputes between employees, Joanna prioritises ...
A. ensuring both parties are satisfied with the outcome.
B. conducting research to uncover what really happened during the dispute.
C. identifying who is responsible for the underlying problems.
D. minimising the risk of similar issues arising again.
13. What technique does Joanna NOT use when attempting to understand Duncan's training needs?
A. responding positively to his opinions and expectations
B. explaining the hidden benefits of the training course
C. presenting her own understanding of his desires and requirements
D. using checking questions to obtain confirmation of her interpretations
14. What point does Joanna make about 'the dark side to empathy'?
A. You may experience it when you witness another person suffering.
B. It's easier to influence somebody whose emotional state you understand.
C. It typically involves emotional empathy without cognitive empathy.
D. It can be used to trick people into believing they have defeated you.
15. Why does Joanna avoid giving any examples of empathy techniques?
A. She believes empathy should never be used for manipulation.
B. She is reluctant to pre-empt the content of the training course.
C. She thinks Duncan is more likely to respond positively to his own ideas.
D. She is trying to sway Duncan into supporting her viewpoint.
Your answers

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11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 4. For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about the versatility of soybeans and supply the blanks
with the missing information. Write ONLY ONE WORD taken from the recording for each answer
in the space provided.
American industrialist, Henry Ford, had an obsession with soybeans, from which he extracted oil to create
16. ___________ for his cars’ coating. Further from using it for machines, he even organized a(n) 17.
___________ banquet, a significant integration of this ingredient into cuisine.
Soy's success that traced back to as far as 5,500 years ago is partly due to its ability to be grown easily in
various conditions, and its high density of proteins and fats has led to its use in multifarious products
ranging from 18. ___________ to biodegradable plastic in recent years.
Various separation methods are employed based on the desired products. To isolate soy proteins, 19.
___________ beans can be flattened using rollers to make thin flakes, which are then soaked in water to
extract the proteins. Alternatively, the entire beans can be soaked and subsequently crushed into a(n) 20.
___________, protein-rich liquid.
Soy fats, meanwhile, are obtained by drying, cleaning, and feeding soybeans into a(n) 21. ___________.
By adding water and spinning the mixture, components are separated into refined soy oil and lecithin, with
the latter serving as a(n) 22. ___________ agent in the food industry. For instance, we can see the use of
this substance in the production of chocolate, where phospholipids attach to both the fatty elements of
cocoa butter and the 23. ___________ sugar particles, or powdered products that need to be immediately
24. ___________. Soybean, in general, is beneficial for health, though it can sometimes lead to excessive
25. ___________. Given the large area required for soy production, it's essential to consume soybeans in a
humane and sustainable manner.
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. They had ________ that the warning sign was conspicuous on the road.
A. so designed it C. designed it such as
B. designed it to be D. designed it like
27. Jane loves the novel so much that she has read it _________ times and times over.
A. from day to day C. from pillar to post
B. from cover to cover D. from page to page
28. The Federal Reserve Board’s decision to lower the prime lending rate had a __________ effect on the
economy, for stock prices and corporate investment improved in very short order.
A. conditional C. inimical
B. salutary D. prejudicial
29. Being on a diet, Silvia could only enjoy her sister’s birthday feast ________, watching her family
members consume the delicious food.
A. munificently C. voraciously
B. gluttonously D. vicariously
30. Helene was not so much a musical expert as she was a ________; she enjoyed music but could not
converse in great detail about the subject.
A. polymath C. laureate
B. virtuoso D. dilettante
31. After getting into some trouble in his youth, he decided to turn his life around and walk on the
________ and _________ path.
A. straight/wide C. firm/narrow
B. straight/narrow D. firm/wide
32. In her thesis, the researcher aimed to ______ the underlying principles of human behavior from a
complex array of psychological data.
A. educe C. edulcorate
B. edify D. edict
33. As the deadline for the project approached, the team ________ the hatches, working late into the night
to ensure everything was completed on time.
A. railed against C. battened down
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B. buckled under D. nipped in
34. ________ the plummet in expenses for luxury fashion items announced yesterday were the strong retail
sales figures released today ________ growing slowly, is not coming to bankruptcy.
A. Accompanied by - as it was to suggest the shopping mall business, albeit
B. Accompanying- as is suggestive of the shopping mall business, lest
C. Followed by - with the shopping mall business, suggestively
D. Following - symbolizing a suggestion of the shopping mall business, though
35. The guilt of his actions continued to _________ his conscience, leaving him restless and uneasy.
A. flake out B. egg on
C. buoy up D. gnaw at
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered boxes
provided.
36. The author's writing style is often criticized for being _________ structured, lacking creativity and
originality in its approach to storytelling. (FORM)
37. In the data analysis, the researcher identified one ____________ that significantly deviated from the
rest of the dataset, indicating a potential error or anomaly in the observations. (LIE)
38. She meticulously ______ her face, using makeup to highlight her cheekbones and define her jawline
before the photo shoot. (TOUR)
39. The new software update aims to make the system more _______, allowing different devices and
platforms to seamlessly communicate and share data with one another. (OPERATE)
40. The author's argument was built upon the _______ that humans are inherently rational beings, a
premise that was later questioned by critics who pointed out the complexities of human behavior.
(SUPPOSE)
Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the mistakes and
WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
The coquette aesthetic has been around for several seasons now, but it continues Your Answers
to grow in popularity as 2024's biggest fashion trends start to come into focus. 41.
Coquette, by the Oxford Languages definition, simply means "a woman who 42.
flirts." The trend inspired by that definition includes details like lace, pearls and 43.
bows in a frequently pastel palette. Other hallmarks of the look include ballet 44.
flats or Mary Jane shoes, corsets, puff sleeves and gold jewelry as finish. 45.
Countless influences can be cited when trying to pinpoint the coquette style's
origins, named the Japanese street style known as Lolita. Taking inspiration
from the Vladimir Nabokov book of the same name, Lolita's direct influence on
coquette styling can be seen in the Victorian, Rococo and Baroque flourishing
adorning their intricate outfits. Whereas Lolita clothes often accentuate
childlike innocence and modesty, coquette can be a bit sexier, with wearers
generally less likely to cover up as drastically as you might see on Lolitas.
Popular television show "Bridgerton" also had a role in shaping the coquette
trend, thanks to its Regency-era costuming, which includes lots of empire waist
dresses, satin gloves and elaborate updos topped with sparkly crowns. More
brands have followed suit and have begun incorporating details like oversized
sleeves, cupcake-shaped dresses and dainty florals into their lineup. Luckily for
those who don't want to jump the full plunge, many also toned down the
editorialized vision of the origins in order to make them wearable for a wider
array of fashion lovers.
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
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Historically, Bristleworms have had a bad reputation 46. ___________ saltwater aquarium aficionados.
These marine worms usually 47. ___________ the hobbyist's aquarium by hitching a ride on a piece of
coral. Once established, they become part of the tank's ecosystem. Bristleworms 48. ___________ greatly
in size. The smallest ones are about an inch long, and the large ones can grow 49. ___________ over 20
inches, although, being segmented, their bodies are often retracted and so not usually seen at their greatest
50. ___________. Literature has frequently contended that bristleworms are 51. ___________, asserting
that they eat clams, anemones and even coral fish. However, most enthusiasts now conclude that small
bristleworms 52. ___________ no threat, and are merely scavengers, clearing the tank from detritus and
53. ___________ of animals that are already dead. 54. ___________, larger worms, particularly those of
the species known as fireworms, are voracious eaters and can do irreparable damage. These worms are
better removed, although this is a challenge in itself, as the worms are nocturnal, sensitive to light and will
go 55. ___________ hiding at the slightest disturbance.
Your answers
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
First Contacts
Scientists have been listening for extraterrestrial transmissions since the 1960s, but all they have picked up
is static. There are a lot of stars and, by inference, lots of planets, on which aliens could evolve. So why
hasn't one had the courtesy to make itself known to us? It is a good question, one originally posed by the
Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, one of the founders of quantum physics. If intelligent life is common in the
universe, we should have been contacted long ago, he argued. After all, Earth is relatively young in
astronomical terms, while alien civilisations elsewhere in the universe have had billions of years to rise,
establish themselves and make themselves known to humanity. 'So where are they?' asked Fermi. This is
Fermi's paradox, and one which scientists, despite all their efforts, still struggle to resolve.
Much of their problem lies with the basic make-up of our galaxy. The Milky Way is an unremarkable
group of stars, in a not very special part of the cosmos that contains a hundred billion stars - a promising
enough number if seeking the odd intelligent alien, you might have thought. However, most of these stars
are going to be too big, too short-lived, too hot or too cold to support planets that might sustain intelligent
beings. Thus the hunt to find the homes of clever extraterrestrials becomes less of a steady systematic
search and more of a hunt for a planetary needle in a galactic haystack.
And there are other reasons why our galaxy is not alive with the sound of extraterrestrial twitter. From the
perspective of US astronomers Peter D Ward and Donald Brownlee, Earth turns out to be prime galactic
real estate. First, our sun is a highly stable star unaffected by wild fluctuations in radiation output.
Furthermore, our solar system is situated in a safe suburban part of the galaxy, undisturbed by close
neighboring stars that could dislodge comets hovering at the edges of most solar systems. For good
measure, our world is further blessed in having a relatively large moon which helped stabilise Earth's
rotation, preventing wild climactic swings. In other words, say these scientists, the primitive slime that
evolved on Earth was blessed with conditions that allowed it, eventually, to evolve into the only intelligent
creatures known to science: ourselves. So, while alien life may be commonplace on other planets, a hostile
environment may mean that only single-cell forms can be supported there.
Or it could be that extraterrestrial civilisations are ten a penny in our galaxy but doomed from the start.
Aliens may simply be like us: just smart enough to invent technology but not clever enough to control it.
Thus they may be wiping themselves out round the galaxy almost as fast as they develop technology, an
argument put forward by the evolutionary expert Stephen Jay Gould. 'Perhaps any society that could build
technology for such interplanetary travel must first pass through a period of potential destruction where
technological capacity outstrips social or moral restraint. Perhaps no societies can ever emerge intact from
such a crucial episode!’
Such arguments are rejected by other astronomers, however. These scientists have argued that absence of
evidence is very different from evidence of alien absence. For a start, says Seth Shostak, chief astronomer
for the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI), alien hunting has been hindered - until recently -
by a lack of equipment and resources. Governments have consistently refused to finance SETI programs,
and so its practitioners have had to borrow time on astronomical radio telescopes, usually for only a few
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days at a time. 'It's like trying to do medical research when you have to go next door to borrow a
microscope for a couple of hours at most’, adds Shostak. However, SETI scientists are now building their
own telescopes, a classic example being the Allen Array, funded through an $11.5m donation from Paul
Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. 'When we do get a signal, we will follow its source very carefully across
the sky as the Earth rotates’, says Shostak. 'Then we will ask other observatories to check it out, and if they
back us, we will simply announce the existence of a message from E.T!’
However, the biology of aliens themselves is virtually unguessable. An alien could be of almost any size or
shape imaginable, though most scientists believe he or she (or it) is likely to be a carbon-based being like
ourselves, from a world like ours, that is rich in water; the matrix of life. Indeed, the process of biological
convergence, which produces similar species from organisms with very different evolutionary origins,
makes it plausible that aliens will be very similar to us, not just in design but in behavior. For the latter, we
don't have a great record, having wiped out countless other species. So if aliens do call, it may be best not
to pick up the receiver.
For questions 56 - 62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given
(NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. The approximately sixty-year-old search for extraterrestrial beings has borne no fruit so far.
57. Only a handful of stars in the Milky Way feature planets that possess favorable conditions for life to
flourish.
58. By steadying our planet’s orbit, the Moon serves to preclude meteorological upheavals.
59. Cataclysm resulting from ethical misconduct is not always present when civilizations undergo
momentous technological advances.
60. Seth Shostak claims that the occasional shortage of subsidies from officials has hampered progress in
tracking life on other planets.
61. According to Seth Shostak, confirmation from manifold observatories is fundamental should public
statements be made.
62. Considering their presumed biological similarity to humans, one would expect aliens to exhibit
generally amiable attitudes.
For questions 63 - 68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Up until this point, the quest for celestial beings engenders little promise, with a particular theory known as
63. ___________ highlighting the absurdity behind such a dearth of evidence regarding aliens. Given that
the majority of stars are too hostile to life, however, it stands to reason that this pursuit less closely
resembles a 64. ___________. It is also within these unforgiving terrains that merely unicellular life forms
can thrive, in contrast to our Earth, which is deemed top-notch 65. ___________ for its near-ideal
conditions. That said, extraterrestrial societies might have afflicted trouble among themselves seeing how
66. ___________ often strays from ethical considerations – a viewpoint highly contested by many
contemporary researchers. These scholars, meanwhile, struggle to pinpoint any meaningful information
owing to insufficient governmental attention, though alternative projects (i.e. the 67. ___________) are on
the horizon. Still, the diversity with which aliens are portrayed renders their anatomy almost 68.
___________.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.

63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.

Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes
provided.
Hunter-Gatherer Blues
These days you can be sure that, whenever a scientist discovers a new wrinkle in the way the human mind
works, some sort of Darwinian exploration will not be far behind. Research has shown that, while people
find it easy to remember the direction of objects moving towards them or away from them, they have little
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recall for the spin direction of rotating objects. The reason for this is that natural selection has never had
cause to equip us with such a memory mechanism.
69.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not ideologically opposed to such pat evolutionary answers, unlike many
social scientists who regard culture as all-powerful in determining how we think and behave. I just wonder
whether these Darwinian explanations help or hinder further scientific investigation. Indeed, as a practising
psychiatrist, I find myself wondering this more and more as I watch evolutionary thinking being repeatedly
used to explain the existence of mental illnesses and personality disorders.
70.
Thus, paranoia could be helpful because suspiciousness might be beneficial in environments that are not as
safe as they seem. Some forms of depression might exist because withdrawing from the social fray might
actually be a good thing when you're competing with people who could injure or kill you if you tried to
assert yourself. And even severe postnatal depression could have hidden Darwinian benefits, according to
some anthropologists.
71.
Are such explanations useful or harmful? Paradoxically, I think they are both, for reasons that can be
explained by looking at that other all-embracing approach to understanding behaviour, Freudianism. Freud,
of course, proposed that sexuality was the driving force of human behaviour. This finds more than an echo
in the evolutionary psychologists' view that we are trapped by sexual strategies to maximise the replication
of genes. Fread had us in thrall to repressed sexual memories and psychic energies spilling out of the
unconscious; evolutionary psychology has us in thrall to genes and innate neural mechanisms adapted to
suit the needs of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
72.
Darwinian attempts to explain depression bear this out. Evolutionary psychology predicts, for example,
that older mothers giving birth for the first time should be less prone to postnatal depression than younger
first-time mothers, as their current infant could be their only chance to reproduce. In fact, older first-time
mothers are even more prone to postnatal depression.
73.
This suggests that you don't have to be depressed to realise that asserting yourself isn't worth it: although
their depression had apparently after, the treated rats still didn't bother, presumably because they thought
they would fail. Depressed people give up trying even when victory is clearly possible-that is precisely
why depression is so puzzling.
74.
Harmful, because, like theorising about the unconscious, evolutionary psychology might discourage
scientists from looking for more productive explanations for mental illnesses. Useful, because we already
know that many psychiatric patients can benefit greatly from being given a comprehensible account of
their otherwise frightening and confusing symptoms. For this purpose, why shouldn't Darwin be at least as
effective as Freud?
75.
The beauty of evolutionary psychology for patients is that it could help them to stop endlessly asking why.
For scientists, that is precisely its danger.
Missing paragraphs:
A. Despite these shortcomings, evolutionary psychology, like psychoanalysis, is undeniably attractive
because of the apparent coherence and simplicity of the explanations it offers. And it's this appeal that I
think is both potentially useful and potentially harmful.
B. There is a second echo: Freud produced ingenious explanations for behaviour, but backed away from
generating testable predictions that could confirm or falsity his hypotheses. He famously argued that, when
a patient vociferously rejected an analyst's interpretation, this was good evidence that it was right, and if
the patient agreed with the doctor's exposition, this also was evidence it was right. Well, evolutionary
psychology suffers from a related, albeit less extreme, form of the problem. It might seem to generate
testable predictions, but on close inspection you usually find some sort of circularity in the argument, or
that the predictions either offer no more insights than common sense or are plainly wrong. The evolution of
the human mind, alas, has left no fossils.

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C. The aggressive personality would have been the ideal choice as protector of the primitive community
and not marginalised as he or indeed she-is at present. Many "unacceptable" behaviours would have been
of the utmost value in the evolution of the human psyche. Regardless of how we view acts of aggression
today, the fact remains that they once played a vital role in our life-and-death struggle for survival.
D. Think about it. Since largely abandoning Freud, all therapists have had to offer patients seeking
explanations is a hodge podge of one-off theories and speculations, some based on brain chemistry, some
on behaviour, and each specific to just a single condition or even symptom. At a stroke, evolutionary
psychology can provide patient and therapist with a unifying framework for thinking about all symptoms
and all mental illnesses. A woman suffering from postnatal depression might feel hugely relieved to be told
that her condition has an evolutionary explanation. Why should we deny her that relief?
E. Our ancestors would obviously have needed to know whether an animal they were hunting was
approaching or retreating, but rotating objects would have been largely absent from the rough and tumble
of their lives. Ergo, we don't remember enough about rotation from past experiences to be able to
intuitively, say, pull a car out of a spin. We have to learn to do such things by role.
F And if other forms of depression really are the result of a neural adaptation designed to make some of us
keep our heads down when it would be dangerous to assert ourselves, you'd think antidepressants would
reverse this. In fact, no evidence to this effect has been found among laboratory rats given antidepressants.
If anything, the rats tried even less hard to pick fights with the dominant members of their group.
G There is a suggestion that, since the mothers most likely to suffer are those in bad relationships or tough
circumstances, postnatal depression is evolution's way of telling mothers not to waste valuable
reproductive effort investing in offspring who are unlikely to thrive. In other words, it's no senseless
accident that severely depressed mothers sometimes neglect or even kill their infants. They are doing it at
the behest of genes whose silent command is "don't bother with this one."
H If these conditions are so bad for us, goes the well-rehearsed logic of the Darwinian approach, why
didn't natural selection weed out the genes that make us vulnerable? Answer: a tendency to depression or
paranoia or whatever must have conferred some subtle survival benefit on our ancestors that kept the genes
in the pool. Identify those benefits and, hey presto, you have a rationale for the condition.
Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an extract 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.
Many vertebrates and invertebrates show a preferential use of one side of their body over the other, a
phenomenon known as laterality. Laterality stems from cerebral lateralization, whereby specific types of
information are preferentially processed in one hemisphere of the brain.
It is now widely accepted that brain lateralization conveys both costs and benefits while performing certain
tasks and that it can have fitness consequences for animals in their natural environment. Previous studies
have demonstrated that strongly lateralized animals perform better than non- lateralized animals in a
variety of contexts. For example, Magat and Brown found that strongly lateralized parrots were faster at
learning a complex task than non-lateralized parrots. In addition, strongly lateralized parrots and domestic
chickens were faster in discriminating between pebbles and grains than non-lateralized individuals.
Moreover, brain lateralization is suggested to enhance simultaneous task performance such as foraging
whilst also looking out for predators. The costs of laterality are various and context specific. For example,
strongly lateralized animals often have difficulty in solving spatial tasks because their inherent turn bias
can be difficult to overcome. Similarly, strongly lateralized individuals perform relatively poorly when
they have to compare similar information in each visual hemifield.
The observed pattern of laterality across species, and particularly the variation within species, is likely
shaped by natural selection to suit contemporary ecological and social conditions. Large bodied parrots
that use extractive foraging techniques tend to be strongly lateralized whereas small bodied species that
graze on grass seeds and nectar are non-lateralized. In addition, the pattern of lateralization varies between
populations subject to differential predation pressure. Fish from high predation regions are more strongly
lateralized compared to fish from low predation regions and their pattern of laterality also differs. It has
been argued that fish from high predation locations, or those that readily rely on schooling, show enhanced
laterality so that they can keep track of their shoal mates and other stimuli simultaneously.
Laterality has been extensively studied using fish as model organisms. A large number of fish species form
schools (a cohesive group of fish that swim in polarized and synchronized manner) or shoals (a loose
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social aggregation of fish). Group cohesion provides advantages by enhancing foraging success and anti-
predator behaviors.
It is easy to imagine how such finely tuned maneuvers could be influenced by laterality. One might predict,
for example, that the stability and the cohesion of a fish school are preserved if all the fishes tend to swim
in the same direction. Alternatively, perhaps schools are best comprised of a range of lateralized
individuals that prefer to take up different locations within the school. It is possible that fish with either a
right eye or a left eye bias for viewing conspecifics would be positioned on the left and right side of the
school respectively. This would allow lateralized fish to simultaneously gather information about their
school mates in one hemifield and other key stimuli in the contra-lateral hemifield (e.g., predators or prey).
In theory, this would enable them to perform more efficient anti-predator or foraging behavior due to their
ability to process the information more quickly in the appropriate hemisphere.
It is well documented that the position adopted by a fish when swimming within a school is influenced by
a range of factors, including the internal motivational state (e.g., level of hunger), hydrodynamics and
predator avoidance strategies. Moreover, positions within a school have different costs and benefits
associated with them. For example, peripheral positions may enhance foraging opportunities, but they are
also more vulnerable to predation. Individuals within populations vary in their laterality scores and the
present study suggests that each fish positions itself within the school accordingly. Individuals that were
more left lateralized when viewing their mirror image were found in positions at the periphery of the
school, keeping the majority of their shoal mates within their preferred visual field. It is highly likely that
this school position is the product of an active choice on the behalf of the fish which compete for
their preferred positions within the school in a highly dynamic fashion and is dependent on the
laterality scores of the other fish in the school. It may be that strongly lateralized fish (particularly right
biased individuals) benefit from occupying in these positions but we have yet to conduct tests which
involve predator or prey detection in a schooling context.
76. According to the passage, the primary mechanism through which laterality manifests in the brain is
A. hemispheric dominance
B. neural synchronization
C. bilateral integration
D. cortical plasticity
77. The author includes specific examples in the second and third paragraphs most likely to
A. highlight complications that impede research that links laterality to species survival.
B. point out inconsistencies in study results that explain laterality in schooling fish.
C. help clarify the function and significance of laterality in the natural world.
D. suggest plausible avenues of research on lateralized species and predation.
78. Strongly lateralized animals are often challenged by
A. difficulty in adapting to new environments due to fixed movement patterns.
B. limited ability to contrast details across vision fields.
C. increased vulnerability to predators due to restricted vision.
D. reduced social interaction due to their inherent biases.
79. One central idea in the passage is that
A. lateralization enhances behaviors that help ensure species survival.
B. the costs of lateralization to individual species are difficult to assess.
C. a single species can have individuals with both lateralized and non-lateralized brains.
D. predatory species and species of prey display different hemispheric preferences.
80. The author implies that schooling fish make excellent candidates for laterality studies because
hemispheric preference
A. exists in a multitude of species and thus ensures a representative research sample.
B. is suggestive of species with advanced brain structures that function as a group.
C. could explain behaviors of individuals that affect the efficiency of the group.
D. has been widely linked to group behaviors used as predator avoidance strategies.
81. The word ‘conspecifics’ in paragraph 5 refers to animals that
A. have a predefined social hierarchy
B. swiftly adapt to their environments
C. prefer to travel in groups
D. belong to the same species
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82. Which of the following would provide the best support for the author's assertion about school position
in the last paragraph?
A. Data focusing on laterality as an individual trait rather than on its function in a group
B. Study results showing that altruistic behavior is characteristic of schooling species
C. Research findings indicating that schooling species are capable of making consensus decisions
D. A report on observed similarities between fish that travel individually and fish that travel in groups
83. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in
the last paragraph? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out
essential information.
A. Fish haphazardly determine their locations within a school, despite some influence from the laterality
scores of their peers.
B. Fish vie for certain positions within a school, yet their laterality scores are not a pivotal factor in this
competitive process.
C. Fish actively designate their spots within a school through competition, but their choices are unaffected
by the laterality scores of their peers.
D. Fish strategically select their positions within a school based on competition and the laterality scores of
other fish.
84. The author of the passage would most likely disagree with which of the following statements?
A. Lateralization enhances performance in specific tasks.
B. Lateralization can be a double-edged sword for animals.
C. Lateralization is exhibited by all species to the same degree.
D. Lateralization aids in concurrent task performance.
85. The main purpose of the passage is to
A. analyze a characteristic shared by certain species.
B. trace the development of a scientific research method.
C. compare and contrast two prevailing theories.
D. pose a hypothesis and explain its validity.
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For questions 86-95,
read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
Careers of the future!
Occupations are constantly evolving, now more so than ever with the speed of technological development.
We take a look at some unusual sounding career choices that might become more commonplace over the
next few decades.
A Body Part Designer
During the last century, vast strides have been made in the field of medicine. Some of the biggest leaps
have been in the areas of organ transplantation and prosthetics and more recently researchers have taken
this a step further by producing artificial body parts in labs. The belief is that additional expansion in this
area will eventually lead to the creation of body part designers. These designers would be responsible for
manufacturing complex organs and limbs using the recipients own cells to ensure a genetic match. Then,
using bio printing it will become possible to 'print' replacement body parts. The hope is that by using a
patient's own genetic code, it would help avert a problem which has dogged this branch of the medical tree
since its inception: organ rejection.
B Robot Counsellor
With the robot revolution in full swing, many future homes will have service robots providing just about
anything from housework to companionship. People looking to purchase such robots will work closely
with robot counsellors to determine which model is best suited to their needs. This job requires the skills of
a traditional counsellor: observing and understanding their clients, but it also requires extensive knowledge
of the robots they are representing. Like computer salesmen with psychology degrees, counsellors will
work to pair each customer with their perfect machine by observing how they interact and will stick around
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to troubleshoot should a conflict arise. Counsellors must be skilled at juggling the various needs of the
client and matching them with the characteristics of the robot to reach a harmonious relationship.
C Garbage Designer
Working with rubbish in the past may not have been the ideal job for most people but in the future jobs
dealing with waste will take on a new appeal. Garbage designers will work towards the ultimate goal of
waste-free production. They will work under the concept of 'upcycling', the practice of turning waste into
better quality products. Old toothbrushes could be made into bracelets or old magazines into woven
placemats to name a few examples of what these designers will be creating. With an extensive background
in materials and engineering, people in this field will have to reconsider the way materials are used and
come up with innovative solutions.
D Drone Specialists
In the very near future the skies will be populated with drones, more drones and even more drones. Soon
we can expect to see employment ads like the following: 'Help Wanted: Full-time aerial drone drivers
needed for our growing fleet of surveillance, delivery and communication drones. We are also looking for
drone repair techs, drone dispatchers, and drone salesmen'. The possibilities are endless as drones
proliferate in business and industry, serving a variety of complex purposes. Those interested in this rapidly
advancing field will need to develop an area of expertise and be prepared to react quickly to unforeseen
events.
E Rewilder
As natural landscapes continue to disappear across the planet as the result of overdevelopment, it will be
crucial in the future to enlist the agricultural and wildlife knowhow of rewilders. These experts will bring
back nature to destroyed areas. They will fundamentally work to undo environmental damage and
revitalize the land. Removing fences to restore flight paths for birds, tearing up roads and replacing them
with forests and reintroducing native species are just some of the tasks rewilders will engage in. They need
to have a long-term vision for a project and anticipate what will be needed in order to re-establish natural
landscapes. This job is not to be underestimated and will have a critical impact on the future of the planet.
Of which job are the following stated?
86. Professionals in this job need to base their decisions on future conditions.
87. It involves finding a skillful balance between humanity and technology.
88. The evolution of this job involves a change in views about its status.
89. The target is the complete elimination of something.
90. There is a future obligation to individual clients.
91. This job encompasses a variety of different careers.
92. It involves developing intricate structures using source material.
93. This job involves the destruction of existing structures.
94. It's important to be able to act rapidly if things don't go to plan.
95. An aspect of the job prevents a serious issue that has caused difficulty in the past.
Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)

Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words.
A weakness of the school system
By attempting to fit in as much as possible, the school day is continually being added to. In many ways,
this would appear to be a good idea, as our knowledge and understanding of the world is always growing
and it would seem logical to incorporate this into schools. The reality, however, has some decided
drawbacks. There is a growing feeling amongst many that the modern school curriculum, in an effort to
teach as many varied subjects as possible, is actually teaching students less. It seems that by constantly
adding to what should be taught in the classroom, the classes are less focused, not offering the deeper
learning that institutions perhaps should.
With classes sometimes only 30 minutes long, the overwhelming amount of information teachers are
required to present often only gives students time to learn facts, not to think in any great detail about what
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they are being presented with. The problem is that students are not getting the opportunity to absorb what
they are being taught as the curriculum expands in order to keep what has already been taught and
supplement it with everything new that comes along. The weaknesses of such a system are clear – well-
informed though such students may be, there is the risk of an increasing number of graduates who have no
real creative or intellectual ability. By denying students the opportunity to sit and think their way through
problems, or even consider their own opinion, some schools are not always providing a truly educational
atmosphere. Literature, writing and the social sciences are good examples of subjects that cannot be
considered as ‘covered’ by a mass of information without the opportunity to discuss, debate or consider
meaning or implications. There are also important social skills to be learned during such periods of open
discussion, skills that are not addressed by an endless flow of teacher-centered information.
Teachers themselves have also voiced concerns about the amount of information they are required to
impress upon their students. There is a feeling in many educational establishments that students are no
longer being educated, but taught how to pass tests. In a world where academic success is too often
measured by examination results, this is a serious concern. If there is too much information to simply be
memorized and not enough time to truly assimilate it, what happens to students who fail to meet the grade?
By current standards, they are failures, yet they may have great potential in areas not covered by the test
and there are many students who, despite clear intellectual ability, simply do not perform well in tests.
Again, the problem is one of focus, as education authorities are looking at the outcome of schooling rather
than the content presented in the class.
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Part 2. The table shows the production of cocoa beans (in tons) in six regions from 1992 to 1998.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
From 2025 onwards, English will become an optional subject in the national high school graduation
examination. However, while many people express their advocacy for this decision, others insist that
the change will have backfire effects. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Some people believe the purpose of education should be helping the individual to become useful for
society, while others believe it should help individuals to achieve their personal ambitions. Discuss
both sides and give your opinion.

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KEY AND EXPLANATION
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
1. F
(0:26) We know the amount of dopamine that's released when you do something like have sex, eat food or
play video games. It's kind of a pretty narrow band, but taking drugs like cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines
has a much larger impact.
2. T
(1:08) Here we are 20 years later, talking about video game addiction, Internet addiction, and smartphone
addiction, as if they're they're real own things along with checklists, acronyms and media headlines.
3. NG
(1:27) We're not really sure if technology might cause problems in people's lives, or if those who already
have problems in their lives gravitate towards using technology in less healthy ways.
4. NG
(1:55) They're running for-profit clinics, they're using methods of treatment that haven't been either
standardized or validated or shown to help people.
5. T
(2:44) We didn’t stop worrying about rap music, Dungeons & Dragons or video games because of new
empirical evidence.
Part 2.
6. hooded seal pups
(0:54) Imagine feeding your baby a milkshake for every meal. Well, for hooded seal pups, that's nothing.
Their mother's milk contains 60% fat, the fattiest milk in the world.
7. germs
(1.07) Meanwhile, the milk also contains an antibiotic more powerful than penicillin, which protects the
young joeys from germs since they're born without a fully functioning immune system.
8. nine-banded armadillos
(1:43) But while aardvarks have some pretty potent milk, nine-banded armadillos make some special
stuff of their own.
9. crop milk
(2:19) Instead, it consists of a substance called crop milk because it's stored in the parent's crop, and
flamingos are one of only three birds that can produce this stuff.
10. plain old cattle
(2:50) Now, all this milk might sound like the next health-food craze, but there's a good reason we
generally stick to plain old cattle: They're much easier to milk.
Part 3.
11. A 12. D 13. B 14. B 15. C
D: Excuse me, Joanna. Do you have a second?
J: Sure, Duncan. How can I help you?
D: Well, it's just that I've been assigned to take some soft skills training, 'Empathy in the Workplace'.
J: Ah, yes, that's right. That would have been at the request of your line manager. It's a really useful course
- I've been on it myself and it's had a huge impact on me.
D: It may well have done, (Q11) but I really don't think it's my cup of tea. I mean, my job is all about
hard-nosed negotiations, not touchy-feely stuff like empathy. I don't need to feel sorry for the people
I'm up against - quite the contrary, to be brutally frank.
J: Well, empathy isn't about feeling sorry for people - you seem to be confusing it with sympathy. Empathy
is simply about trying to understand how other people feel, what motivates them, and so on. But beyond
that, it's about an authentic desire to understand other people, at a deep level, and to care about their
feelings.
D: Right. Well, in that case, it's definitely not for me. I'm not into feelings and emotions at all. I mean, I
can see why it'd be useful in a job like yours, human resources, which is all about keeping everybody
happy and all that.
J: Well, to some extent, but it's much more about defusing disagreements. When two people experience the
same situation and come to radically different conclusions about what has transpired, it's useful to get
inside their heads to work out why they are interpreting those events so differently. Often that involves
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going back in time to understand the build- up to the problematic situation, perhaps over several months or
years, which may have affected the way each party perceived it. Once you've done that, rather than
allocating blame, (Q12) it's a matter of supporting the parties in the resolution of their current
dispute, even if that means simply gritting their teeth and agreeing to put it behind them, and above all the
prevention of its recurrence.
D: Sounds lovely. But my business is cold, hard sales, not conflict resolution.
J: OK, fair enough. So what sort of training would appeal to you?
D: Sales techniques. Tricks for turning prospects into paying customers who keep coming back for more.
J: (Q13) Yeah, that makes sense (Option A). So you'd like to be more persuasive? Is that right?
(Option D)
D: Exactly.
J: It sounds like you need to be able to get inside prospective clients' heads (Option C), to understand
what they really want, and to somehow manipulate their emotions so they buy from you, rather than your
competitors, perhaps by exploiting their deepest fears and needs. Have I understood you correctly?
(Option D) (All the techniques mentioned in Option A, C and D are used, leaving B the correct
answer for Q13)
D: Absolutely. That'd be awesome. Can you recommend a course that'd help me with those things?
J: Sure, I have just the course for you. It's called "Empathy in the workplace".
D: But that's... the same course as you offered me before. Have you just been manipulating me?
J: Possibly. A lot of people think empathy is all about being lovely and kind to people - and to a great
extent it can be like that. (Q14) But there's also a dark side to empathy: you can use it to manipulate
people. Basically, you can split empathy into two elements: cognitive empathy involves understanding
others' emotions, while emotional empathy is all about sharing those emotions - trying to feel what the
other person is feeling. Like when you see somebody whack their thumb with a hammer, and you literally
feel their pain for a moment.
D: Ouch!
J: Exactly. (Q14) So it's perfectly possible to have one without the other, which is where manipulation
comes in. If you take the time to find out exactly how they're feeling and why, it's much easier to
persuade them to do what you want them to. After all, you can't lead them towards your preferred
destination if you don't know where they're starting from.
D: Aha... yes, I see what you mean. Empathy for manipulation. I like that.
J: Well, just because it can be used to manipulate people, it doesn't mean you should. If you're too blatant
about it, people will spot the manipulation sooner or later and feel cheated. I think it's better to treat it as
persuasion: giving people what they really need, so they come away feeling as if they've won the
negotiation. That way, they're more likely to keep coming back for more.
D: Definitely. Great. So can you give me some examples of techniques to develop empathy?
J: (Q15) Well, I bet you can think of some for yourself. What do you think?
D: Er... ask open-ended questions and pay close attention to their answers. I mean, really home in on what
the other person is saying. Allow them sufficient time to gather their thoughts and then be patient while
they're expressing those thoughts out loud. And, er actually care about how they feel, rather than just
feigning interest. Is that right?
J: (Q15) Sounds like you're a natural. You're going to love the course.
D: I'm sure I will. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks so much for listening to me!
J: No problem at all. That's my job.
Part 4
16. enamel
He extracted their oil to make enamel for painting his cars. (0:14)
17. soy-centric
At the Chicago World’s Fair, he hosted a soy-centric feast. (0:28)
18. mayonnaise
And once they’re grown, soybeans have an incredibly high density of proteins and fats; ingredients which
in recent years have been used in everything from mayonnaise to biodegradable plastic. (1:14)
19. dehulled
To isolate soy proteins, dehulled beans are sometimes pressed through rollers to create thin flakes, and
then steeped in water to draw out the proteins. (1:27)
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20. whitish
Alternatively, whole beans can be simply soaked and ground into a whitish, protein-rich liquid. (1:36)
21. extruder
In one extraction method, soybeans are dried, cleaned, and then fed into an extruder. (1:57)
22. emulsifying
This process is called emulsification and soy lecithins are used as an emulsifying agent in a huge variety of
foods. (2:38)
23. water-soluble
For example, during chocolate production phospholipids attach to both the fatty components of the cocoa
butter and the water-soluble sugar particles, making them easier to combine into a smooth mixture. (2:46)
24. rehydrated
A similar process happens in powdered products that need to be instantly rehydrated. (2:55)
25. flatulence
But for many people, the biggest complaint about soy consumption is the occasional increase in flatulence.
(3:50)
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. A
27. B
From cover to cover: to read all the way through from the beginning to the end
From pillar to post: to be forced to move from one place to another
From day to day: if sth changes from day to day, it changes often
28. B
Salutary (adj): causing improvement
Conditional (adj): expressing the idea that one thing depends on another thing
Inimical (adj): harmful or limiting
Prejudicial (adj): harmful
29. D
Vicariously (adv): in a way that is experienced through the actions of another person.
Munificently (adv): generously
Gluttonously (adv): eating or drinking excessively
Voraciously (adv): in a way that is very eager to have a lot of something
30. D
Dilettante (n): a person who is interested in a subject, but whose understanding of it is not very deep or
serious
Polymath (n): a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning
Laureate (n): a person who is given a very high honor
Virtuoso (n): a person who is extremely skilled at sth
31. B
The straight and narrow path: the honest and morally acceptable way of living
32. A
Educe (v): bring out or develop (something latent or potential).
Edulcorate (v): make (something) more acceptable or palatable.
Edify (v): to improve people’s minds or characters by teaching them about something
Edict (n): an official order or statement given by somebody in authority
33. C
Batten down the hatches: to prepare yourself for a period of difficulty or trouble
34. A
35. D
Gnaw at: to make somebody feel anxious, frightened or uncomfortable over a long period of time
Flake out: to lie down or go to sleep because you are extremely tired
Egg on: to encourage somebody to do something, especially something that they should not do
Buoy up: to make somebody feel cheerful or confident
Part 2.
31. FORMULAICALLY (adv) = in a way that is made up of fixed patterns of words or ideas
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32. OUTLIER (n) = a person or thing that is different from or in a position away from others in the group
33. CONTOUR (v) = to put dark liquid or powder on your face in order to emphasize its features
34. INTEROPERABLE (adj) = (of computer systems or programs) able to exchange information
35. PRESUPPOSITION (n) = something that you believe to be true and use as the beginning of an
argument even though it has not been proved
Part 3.
41. line 9: as => to
42. line 11: named => namely
43. line 16: flourishing => flourishes
44. line 28: jump => take
45. line 30: origins => originals
III. READING (50 POINTS)
Part 1.
46. among 47. enter 48. vary 49. to 50. extent

51. harmful 52. pose 53. carcasses 54. however 55. into
Part 2.
56. T
- Dẫn chứng: Scientists have been listening for extraterrestrial transmissions since the 1960s, but all
they have picked up is static. => Right now is the 2020s, which means the search has been going on for 60-
ish years.
- Dịch: Các nhà khoa học đã theo dõi các tín hiệu truyền từ ngoài Trái đất từ những năm 1960,
nhưng tất cả những gì họ thu được chỉ là tĩnh lặng. => Bây giờ là những năm 2020, có nghĩa là việc tìm
kiếm đã diễn ra được 60 năm.
57. NG
- Dẫn chứng: However, most of these stars are going to be too big, too short-lived, too hot or too
cold to support planets that might sustain intelligent beings. => Most are hostile, but there is no mention
over whether the remaining few are conducive to life or not.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, hầu hết những ngôi sao này sẽ quá lớn, thời gian tồn tại quá ngắn, quá nóng hoặc
quá lạnh để hỗ trợ các hành tinh có thể nuôi dưỡng những sinh vật thông minh. => Hầu hết đều thù địch,
nhưng không đề cập đến việc số ít còn lại có lợi cho cuộc sống hay không.
58. T
- Dẫn chứng: For good measure, our world is further blessed in having a relatively large moon which
helped stabilize Earth's rotation, preventing wild climactic swings.
- Dịch: Nói một cách tích cực, thế giới của chúng ta còn may mắn hơn khi có một mặt trăng tương
đối lớn giúp ổn định chuyển động quay của Trái đất, ngăn chặn sự dao động khí hậu.
59. F
- Dẫn chứng: 'Perhaps any society that could build technology for such interplanetary travel must
first pass through a period of potential destruction where technological capacity outstrips social or
moral restraint. […]
- Dịch: Có lẽ bất kỳ xã hội nào có thể xây dựng công nghệ cho việc du hành liên hành tinh như vậy
trước tiên phải trải qua thời kỳ hủy diệt tiềm tàng khi năng lực công nghệ vượt xa giới hạn xã hội hoặc đạo
đức.
60. F
- Dẫn chứng: For a start, says Seth Shostak, chief astronomer for the Search for Extra Terrestrial
Intelligence (SETI), alien hunting has been hindered - until recently - by a lack of equipment and
resources. Governments have consistently (>< occasional) refused to finance SETI programs…
- Dịch: Seth Shostak, nhà thiên văn học trưởng của Tổ chức Tìm kiếm Trí thông minh Ngoài Trái đất
(SETI), cho biết ngay từ đầu, việc săn lùng người ngoài hành tinh đã bị cản trở - cho đến gần đây - do thiếu
thiết bị và tài nguyên. Các chính phủ đã liên tục (>< thỉnh thoảng) từ chối tài trợ cho các chương trình
SETI…
61. T
- Dẫn chứng: 'Then we will ask other observatories to check it out, and if they back us, we will
simply announce the existence of a message from E.T!’
108
- Dịch: 'Sau đó, chúng tôi sẽ yêu cầu các đài quan sát khác kiểm tra và nếu họ ủng hộ chúng tôi,
chúng tôi sẽ chỉ thông báo về sự tồn tại của một tin nhắn từ E.T!'
62. F
- Dẫn chứng: Indeed, the process of biological convergence […] makes it plausible that aliens will be
very similar to us, not just in design but in behavior. For the latter, we don't have a great record…
- Dịch: Quả thực, quá trình hội tụ sinh học […] khiến người ta có thể tin rằng người ngoài hành tinh
sẽ rất giống chúng ta, không chỉ về cơ thể mà còn về hành vi. Về phần sau, chúng ta không có lịch sử mấy
tốt đẹp…
63. Fermi's paradox
- Dẫn chứng: This is Fermi's paradox, and one which scientists, despite all their efforts, still
struggle to resolve.
- Dịch: Đây là nghịch lý của Fermi, và là nghịch lý mà các nhà khoa học, bất chấp mọi nỗ lực, vẫn
phải vật lộn để giải quyết.
64. steady systematic search
- Dẫn chứng: Thus the hunt to find the homes of clever extraterrestrials becomes less of a steady
systematic search and more of a hunt for a planetary needle in a galactic haystack.
- Dịch: Do đó, cuộc săn tìm ngôi nhà của những người ngoài hành tinh thông minh trở thành một
cuộc tìm kiếm có trật tự mà giống một cuộc săn lùng chiếc kim hành tinh trong đáy biển thiên hà.
65. galactic real estate
- Dẫn chứng: From the perspective of US astronomers Peter D Ward and Donald Brownlee, Earth
turns out to be prime galactic real estate.
- Dịch: Từ quan điểm của các nhà thiên văn học người Mỹ Peter D Ward và Donald Brownlee, Trái
đất hóa ra là nơi ở tốt nhất của thiên hà.
66. Technological capacity
- Dẫn chứng; 'Perhaps any society that could build technology for such interplanetary travel must
first pass through a period of potential destruction where technological capacity outstrips social or moral
restraint. Perhaps no societies can ever emerge intact from such a crucial episode.’
- Dịch: 'Có lẽ bất kỳ xã hội nào có thể xây dựng công nghệ cho việc du hành liên hành tinh như vậy
trước tiên phải trải qua thời kỳ hủy diệt khi năng lực công nghệ vượt xa giới hạn xã hội hoặc đạo đức. […]
67. Allen Array
- Dẫn chứng: However, SETI scientists are now building their own telescopes, a classic example
being the Allen Array, funded through an $11.5m donation from Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, các nhà khoa học SETI hiện đang chế tạo kính thiên văn của riêng họ, một ví dụ
điển hình là Allen Array, được tài trợ thông qua khoản quyên góp 11,5 triệu USD từ Paul Allen, người
đồng sáng lập Microsoft.
68. unguessable
- Dẫn chứng: However, the biology of aliens themselves is virtually unguessable.
- Dịch: Tuy nhiên, mặt sinh học của người ngoài hành tinh hầu như không thể đoán trước được.
Part 3.
69. E
- Dẫn chứng: ‘we don't remember enough’ in E links back to ‘natural selection has never had cause
to equip us with such a memory mechanism’ in the first paragraph. ‘Such evolutionary answers’ in the first
paragraph also corresponds with ‘do such things by role’ in E.
- Dịch: 'chúng ta không nhớ đủ' trong E liên kết với 'chọn lọc tự nhiên chưa bao giờ có lý do để trang
bị cho chúng ta cơ chế ghi nhớ như vậy' trong đoạn đầu tiên. ‘Những câu trả lời thiếu suy nghĩ như vậy’
trong đoạn đầu tiên cũng tương ứng với ‘làm những việc như vậy theo vai trò’ trong E.
70. C
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Many "unacceptable" behaviours would have been of the utmost value’ in C
corresponds with ‘paranoia [a negative/unacceptable behaviour] could be helpful’ in the following
paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘Nhiều hành vi "không thể chấp nhận" rất có giá trị’ trong C tương ứng với 'hoang tưởng
[một hành vi tiêu cực/không thể chấp nhận] có thể hữu ích' trong đoạn văn sau.
71. G
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘postnatal depression’ appears both in G and the preceding paragraph. ‘A
suggestion’ in G also corresponds with ‘these explanations’ in the following paragraph.
109
- Dịch: Cụm từ ‘trầm cảm sau sinh’ xuất hiện cả ở phần G và đoạn trước. ‘Gợi ý’ trong G cũng tương
ứng với ‘những lời giải thích này’ trong đoạn văn sau.
72. B
- Dẫn chứng: ‘There is a second echo’ in B highlights that B will be another explanation to
Freudianism mentioned in the preceding paragraph. ‘Some sort of circularity’ in B also corresponds with
‘older first-time mothers are even more prone to postnatal depression’ in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘Có một lí do nữa’ ở phần B nhấn mạnh rằng B sẽ là một lời giải thích khác cho chủ nghĩa
Freud được đề cập ở đoạn trước. ‘Một sự tuần hoàn’ ở phần B cũng tương ứng với ‘những người lần đầu
làm mẹ lớn tuổi thậm chí còn dễ bị trầm cảm sau sinh hơn’ trong đoạn văn sau.
73. F
- Dẫn chứng: ‘other forms of depression’ in F supplements the discussion about postnatal depression
in the preceding paragraph. ‘Rats tried even less hard’ in F also corresponds with ‘assert yourself’ and ‘the
treated rats ‘in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘các dạng trầm cảm khác’ ở phần F bổ sung cho phần thảo luận về trầm cảm sau sinh ở đoạn
trước. 'Những con chuột thậm chí còn cố gắng ít hơn' ở F cũng tương ứng với 'khẳng định bản thân' và
'những con chuột được điều trị' trong đoạn văn sau.
74. A
- Dẫn chứng: ‘give up trying even when victory is clearly possible’ in the preceding paragraph
corresponds with ‘these shortcomings’ in A. ‘Both potentially useful and potentially harmful’ in A also
links with ‘harmful because’ and ‘useful because’ in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: 'từ bỏ cố gắng ngay cả khi chiến thắng rõ ràng là có thể đạt được' ở đoạn trước tương ứng với
'những thiếu sót này' ở A. 'Cả hữu ích và gây hại' ở A cũng liên kết với 'có hại vì' và 'hữu ích vì' trong đoạn
sau.
75. D
- Dẫn chứng: ‘be told that her condition has an evolutionary explanation’ in D corresponds with
‘comprehensible account of their otherwise frightening and confusing symptoms.’ in the preceding
paragraph.
- Dịch: 'được cho biết rằng tình trạng của cô ấy có một lời giải thích về mặt tiến hóa' ở phần D tương
ứng với 'lời giải thích dễ hiểu về các triệu chứng đáng sợ và khó hiểu của họ.' trong đoạn trước.
Part 4.
76. A
- Dẫn chứng: Laterality stems from cerebral lateralization, whereby specific types of information
are preferentially processed in one hemisphere of the brain. => The concept of “cerebral lateralization”
is synonymous with hemispheric dominance, where each hemisphere of the brain tends to specialize in
processing certain types of cognitive functions or tasks.
- Dịch: Sự thuận một bên bắt nguồn từ sự phân nhánh của não, theo đó các loại thông tin cụ thể được
ưu tiên xử lý ở một bán cầu não. => Khái niệm “sự phân nhánh của não” đồng nghĩa với sự chiếm ưu thế
của một bán cầu não, trong đó mỗi bán cầu não có xu hướng chuyên xử lý một số loại chức năng hoặc
nhiệm vụ nhận thức nhất định.
77. C
- Dẫn chứng: Previous studies have demonstrated that strongly lateralized animals perform better
than non-lateralized animals in a variety of contexts. For example, Magat and Brown found that strongly
lateralized parrots were faster at learning a complex task than non-lateralized parrots. In addition,
strongly lateralized parrots and domestic chickens were faster in discriminating between pebbles and
grains than non-lateralized individuals. => These examples serve to illustrate how laterality benefits the
animals who possess it, namely allowing for better task completion and specialized features, making C the
correct answer.
- Dịch: Các nghiên cứu trước đây đã chứng minh những động vật thiên về một bên não sẽ hoạt động
tốt hơn những động vật khác trong nhiều trường hợp. Ví dụ, Magat và Brown phát hiện ra rằng những con
vẹt có thiên hướng sử dụng 1 bên não sẽ tiếp thu được một nhiệm vụ phức tạp nhanh hơn những con vẹt
khác. Ngoài ra, những con vẹt và gà nhà có thiên hướng sử dụng 1 bên não có khả năng phân biệt giữa sỏi
và ngũ cốc nhanh hơn so với những cá thể còn lại. => Những ví dụ này dùng để minh họa việc sử dụng tập
trung 1 bên não mang lại lợi ích như thế nào cho động vật, cụ thể là cho phép hoàn thành nhiệm vụ tốt hơn
và tạo nên các tính năng chuyên biệt. C là câu trả lời đúng
78. B
110
- Dẫn chứng: Similarly strongly lateralized individuals perform relatively poorly when they have
to compare [contrast] similar information in each visual hemifield [vision field].
- Dịch: Các cá thể có tính thiên về 1 bên mạnh hoạt động tương đối kém khi chúng phải so sánh
thông tin tương tự trong mỗi bán cầu thị giác.
79. A
- Dẫn chứng: Fish from high predation regions are more strongly lateralized compared to fish
from low predation regions and their pattern of laterality also differs. It has been argued that fish from
high predation locations, or those that readily rely on schooling, show enhanced laterality so that they can
keep track of their shoal mates and other stimuli simultaneously. […] Group cohesion provides
advantages by enhancing foraging success and anti-predator behaviors. => Laterality is continuously
mentioned to be developed among species that confront predation, heightening survivability.
- Dịch: Cá từ các vùng có nhiều kẻ săn mồi có khả năng sử dụng 1 bên não tốt hơn so với cá từ các
vùng có ít kẻ săn mồi và mô hình phân nhánh của chúng cũng khác nhau. Người ta lập luận rằng cá từ các
địa điểm có nhiều kẻ thù tự nhiên, hoặc những loài dễ dàng dựa vào bầy đàn, thể hiện tính tập trung được
nâng cao để chúng có thể theo dõi đồng thời các bạn cùng đàn và các tác nhân bên ngoài khác. […] Sự gắn
kết trong nhóm mang lại lợi thế bằng cách nâng cao khả năng kiếm ăn và chống lại động vật ăn thịt. =>
Tính tập trung được phát triển giữa các loài phải đối mặt với sự săn mồi, từ đó nâng cao khả năng sống sót.
80. C
- Dẫn chứng: Group cohesion [efficiency of the group] provides advantages by enhancing foraging
success and anti-predator behaviors. It is easy to imagine how such finely tuned maneuvers could be
influenced by laterality.
- Dịch: Sự liên kết nhóm mang lại lợi thế bằng cách nâng cao khả năng tìm kiếm thức ăn và chống
lại động vật ăn thịt. Không khó để mường tượng tính tập trung đã mài giũa các kĩ năng này như thế nào.
81. D
- Dẫn chứng: Alternatively, perhaps schools are best comprised of a range of lateralized individuals
that prefer to take up different locations within the school. It is possible that fish with either a right eye or a
left eye bias for viewing conspecifics would be positioned on the left and right side of the school
respectively. => In this context, ‘conspecifics’ refers to ‘fish that belong to the same school’, though in a
broader sense, it can be interpreted as ‘animals of the same species’.
- Dịch: Ngoài ra, đàn cá tốt nhất nên bao gồm một loạt các cá thể được phân cấp để đảm nhận vai trò
khác nhau. Có thể những con cá thiên về mắt phải hoặc mắt trái để quan sát đồng loại sẽ được xếp tương
ứng ở bên trái và bên phải của đàn. => Trong ngữ cảnh này, 'conspecifics' dùng để chỉ 'cá thuộc cùng một
đàn', mặc dù theo nghĩa rộng hơn, nó có thể được hiểu là 'động vật cùng loài'.
82. B
- Dẫn chứng: It is well documented that the position adopted by a fish when swimming within a
school is influenced by a range of factors, including the internal motivational state (e.g., level of hunger),
hydrodynamics and predator avoidance strategies. […] For example, peripheral positions may enhance
foraging opportunities, but they are also more vulnerable to predation. Individuals within populations vary
in their laterality scores and the present study suggests that each fish positions itself within the school
accordingly. => Altruistic behavior among schooling species supports the author's assertion by providing
a mechanism through which fish can dynamically and cooperatively choose their positions within the
school, balancing individual preferences and group benefits to enhance overall cohesion and survival.
- Dịch: Có tài liệu chứng minh rằng vị trí của cá khi bơi trong đàn bị ảnh hưởng bởi nhiều yếu tố,
bao gồm trạng thái bên trong (ví dụ: mức độ đói), thủy động lực học và chiến lược tránh kẻ săn mồi. […]
Ví dụ, các cá thể nằm ở vị trí ngoại vi có thể tăng cường cơ hội kiếm ăn nhưng chúng lại dễ bị kẻ thù bắt.
Các cá thể trong quần thể có tính tập trung khác nhau và nghiên cứu hiện tại gợi ý rằng mỗi cá thể có vị trí
tương ứng trong bầy đàn. => Hành vi mang tính vị tha giữa các cá thể sống theo bầy ủng hộ khẳng định
của tác giả bằng cách cung cấp một cơ chế qua đó cá có thể linh hoạt lựa chọn vị trí của chúng trong đàn,
cân bằng giữa lựa chọn cá nhân và lợi ích nhóm để nâng cao sự gắn kết và sinh tồn chung của bầy đàn.
83. D
- Dẫn chứng:
A. This statement suggests that the determination of fish positions is random or haphazard, which
contradicts the original sentence's emphasis on active choice and competition. Additionally, it downplays
the influence of laterality scores, whereas the original sentence highlights the importance of these scores in
the decision-making process.
111
B. This statement fails because it states that laterality scores are not pivotal, directly opposing the original
sentence's assertion that laterality scores are crucial in determining positions. The original sentence makes
it clear that laterality scores are a significant factor in how fish compete for positions.
C. This statement is inaccurate because it claims that the choices are unaffected by the laterality scores of
their peers. In contrast, the original sentence explicitly states that the positioning is dependent on the
laterality scores of other fish in the school, making peer laterality scores a key aspect of the positioning
process.
This leaves D as the most precise encapsulation of the highlighted sentence.
- Dịch:
A. Đáp án này gợi ý rằng việc xác định vị trí của cá là ngẫu nhiên, điều này mâu thuẫn với sự nhấn mạnh
của câu gốc vào sự lựa chọn và cạnh tranh tích cực. Ngoài ra, câu này còn hạ thấp tầm ảnh hưởng của mức
độ tập trung, trong khi câu gốc nhấn mạnh rằng tính chất này rất quan trọng trong việc đưa ra lựa chọn.
B. Đáp án này sai vì nó gợi ý rằng mức độ tập trung không phải là yếu tố then chốt, phản bác trực tiếp
khẳng định của câu ban đầu rằng mức độ tập trung rất quan trọng trong việc xác định vị trí.
C. Đáp án này không chính xác vì nó cho rằng việc lựa chọn không bị ảnh hưởng bởi mức độ tập trung của
các cá thể cùng đàn. Ngược lại, câu ban đầu nói rõ vị trí phụ thuộc vào mức độ tập trung của những con cá
khác trong đàn.
=> D là bản tóm tắt chính xác nhất của câu được in đậm.
84. C
- Dẫn chứng: The passage explains that “The observed pattern of laterality across species, and
particularly the variation within species, is likely shaped by natural selection to suit contemporary
ecological and social conditions.” Thus, the author would disagree with the idea that all animals exhibit
the same degree of lateralization regardless of their ecological conditions.
- Dịch: Đoạn văn giải thích rằng mô hình của sự thiên lệch thay đổi giữa các loài và các quần thể,
cũng như bị ảnh hưởng bởi quá trình chọn lọc tự nhiên để đáp ứng điều kiện sống. Do đó, tác giả sẽ không
đồng ý với ý kiến cho rằng tất cả các loài động vật đều có mức độ thiên lệch giống nhau bất kể điều kiện
sinh thái của chúng..
85. A
- Dẫn chứng: It is easy to see that the passage consistently discusses laterality in animals. It starts off
with defining laterality, then goes on to present the pros and cons of laterality, some examples and a further
analysis on fish schooling. A is the correct answer.
- Dịch: Dễ dàng nhận thấy đoạn văn luôn đề cập đến tính tập trung ở động vật. bắt đầu bằng việc
định nghĩa tính tập trung về 1 bên, sau đó tiếp tục trình bày những ưu và nhược điểm của tính chất này
cũng như đưa ra một số ví dụ và phân tích sâu hơn về ví dụ đàn cá. A là câu trả lời đúng.

Part 5.
86. E
- Dẫn chứng: They need to have a long-term vision for a project and anticipate what will be
needed in order to re-establish natural landscapes.
- Dịch: Họ cần có tầm nhìn dài hạn cho một dự án và dự đoán những gì sẽ cần thiết để tái thiết lập
cảnh quan thiên nhiên.
87. B
- Dẫn chứng: Counsellors must be skilled at juggling the various needs of the client and matching
them with the characteristics of the robot to reach a harmonious relationship.
- Dịch: Người tư vấn phải có kỹ năng đáp ứng các nhu cầu khác nhau của khách hàng và kết hợp
chúng với các đặc điểm của robot để đạt được mối quan hệ hài hòa.
88. C
- Dẫn chứng: Working with rubbish in the past may not have been the ideal job for most people but
in the future jobs dealing with waste will take on a new appeal.
- Dịch: Làm việc với rác thải trước đây có thể không phải là công việc lý tưởng đối với hầu hết mọi
người nhưng trong tương lai, công việc xử lý rác thải sẽ có sức hấp dẫn mới lạ.
89. C
- Dẫn chứng: Garbage designers will work towards the ultimate goal of waste-free production. They
will work under the concept of 'upcycling', the practice of turning waste into better quality products.

112
- Dịch: Các nhà thiết kế rác sẽ làm việc hướng tới mục tiêu cuối cùng là sản xuất không có rác thải.
Họ sẽ làm việc theo khái niệm 'tái chế nâng cấp', phương pháp biến rác thải thành sản phẩm có chất lượng
tốt hơn.
90. B
- Dẫn chứng: Like computer salesmen with psychology degrees, counsellors will work to pair each
customer with their perfect machine by observing how they interact and will stick around to
troubleshoot should a conflict arise.
- Dịch: Giống như những nhân viên bán máy tính với bằng tâm lý học, nhân viên tư vấn sẽ làm việc
để ghép nối từng khách hàng với chiếc máy hoàn hảo của họ bằng cách quan sát cách họ tương tác và sẽ
theo sát để khắc phục sự cố nếu xảy ra xung đột.
91. D
- Dẫn chứng: ‘We are also looking for drone repair techs, drone dispatchers, and drone salesmen.’
The possibilities are endless as drones proliferate in business and industry, serving a variety of complex
purposes.
- Dịch: ‘Chúng tôi cũng đang tìm kiếm kỹ thuật viên sửa chữa máy bay không người lái, người điều
phối máy bay không người lái và nhân viên bán máy bay không người lái'. Điều gì cũng có thể xảy ra khi
máy bay không người lái ngày càng phổ biến trong kinh doanh và công nghiệp, phục vụ nhiều mục đích
phức tạp.
92. A
- Dẫn chứng: These designers would be responsible for manufacturing complex organs and limbs
using the recipients own cells to ensure a genetic match.
- Dịch: Những nhà thiết kế này sẽ chịu trách nhiệm sản xuất các cơ quan và chi phức tạp bằng cách
sử dụng tế bào của chính người nhận để đảm bảo sự trùng khớp về mặt di truyền học.
93. E
- Dẫn chứng: Removing fences to restore flight paths for birds, tearing up roads and replacing
them with forests and reintroducing native species are just some of the tasks rewilders will engage in.
- Dịch: Loại bỏ hàng rào để khôi phục đường bay cho các loài chim, phá bỏ các con đường và thay
thế chúng bằng rừng cũng như đưa các loài bản địa trở lại chỉ là một số nhiệm vụ mà những người tái
hoang dã sẽ thực hiện.
94. D
- Dẫn chứng: Those interested in this rapidly advancing field will need to develop an area of
expertise and be prepared to react quickly to unforeseen events.
- Dịch: Những người quan tâm đến lĩnh vực đang phát triển nhanh chóng này sẽ cần phát triển lĩnh
vực chuyên môn và sẵn sàng phản ứng nhanh chóng với các sự kiện không lường trước được.
95. A
- Dẫn chứng: […] it would help avert a problem which has dogged this branch of the medical tree
since its inception: organ rejection.
- Dịch: […] nó sẽ giúp ngăn chặn một vấn đề đã đeo bám chuyên ngành y này kể từ khi nó ra đời:
đào thải nội tạng.
IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1.
The passage delves into the shortcomings of the contemporary educational curriculum alongside their
underlying culprits. Despite attempts to accommodate all-encompassing knowledge at school, the modest
class duration is a stumbling block, culminating in superficial learning experiences. Due to the teacher-
centered pedagogical approach, students are spoon-fed with information rather than taught to achieve a
profound comprehension of the lessons or participate in in-class interaction. Consequently, they may be
deprived of creativity, intellectual development, critical thinking and other crucial soft skills. Furthermore,
concerns also revolve around an overwhelming focus on exam performance and rote learning, which may
lead to an incomplete assessment of students’ abilities and prejudices against test underperformers. Again,
this can be attributed to the prominence authorities give to school results instead of class materials.
Part 2.
The table gives information about how many tons of cocoa beans were produced annually in several
regions every two years between 1992 and 1998.

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Overall, cocoa bean production increased significantly in Oceania, South America, and Asia whereas most
other regions experienced decreases. It is also reported that South America and Asia were by far the largest
producers.
In 1992, South America had the highest production of cocoa beans, at 143,000 tons per year (TPY),
followed by Asia, which produced 119,000 TPY. By 1996, however, Asian production had surpassed
South America's, with the former reaching 236,000 TPY, while the latter had dipped to 127,000 TPY.
Thereafter, the cocoa bean production of South America swelled to 389,000 TPY, but it could not take its
initial position back, as the production in Asia kept rising, jumping to its highest level of 436,000 TPY in
1998.
Regarding the other regions, Oceania saw its production increasing steadily, from 40,000 TPY to 77,000
over the period, while North and Central America's production bottomed out at 25,000 TPY in 1994 but
quickly bounced back, ultimately returning to its initial level of 46,000. Seeing an opposite pattern,
England’s production, after peaking at 67,000 TPY, had fallen to 49,000 TPY by 1998, representing a
7,000 TPY decline since the first year. Finally, African production had almost tripled to 119,000 TPY by
1996 only to fall back to just 25,000 two years later.
Part 3.
Vietnam’s education system has undergone numerous extensive reforms over centuries to foster upward
social mobility. As of late, a policy has been put forward by the Ministry of Education and Training,
stating that English be an optional subject in the national highschool graduation examination. While some
vehemently oppose it for fears of deepened neglect and educational inequality, others, myself included, see
it as a welcome shift for its overwhelming merits.
On the one hand, there are compelling reasons justifying the validity of the initiative. First and foremost,
it would ease the strain on governmental resources and teaching staff. This is because financial and human
investments required for test design, test supervision and grading would be significantly reduced. The
streamlined exam procedure, in turn, can even allow resources to be allocated to other crucial aspects of
education, such as curriculum enhancement. Secondly, a mandatory inclusion of English in the exam does
not necessarily guarantee language proficiency. When being pressured to study so as to be eligible for
graduation, an exam-oriented mindset may be fostered, with which students are obsessed with exam
preparation rather than truly acquiring and applying the second language in real-life situations. Such a
static body of knowledge, however, is subject to obsolescence over a long term. Additionally, the national
exam itself is not an accurate yardstick of language capability, as it does not assess listening and speaking
skills. After all, the decision proves to be a well-thought-out adaptation.
On the other hand, opponents argue that the elective English graduation exam inherently harbors some
loopholes. First of all, it might cultivate a lackadaisical attitude towards English learning. Without the
requirement serving as a compulsion to diligently study English, young students, particularly those
struggling, may withdraw from engaging themselves seriously in the study. This neglect, overtime, can
translate into insufficient English command, hampering Vietnamese students to make progress in the
globalized workforce. Even more, the reform potentially exacerbates existing educational inequalities. As
English is no longer a prerequisite to graduating from upper secondary education, schools in rural and
disadvantaged areas such as Lai Chau and Dien Bien may deprioritize English instruction due to limited
resources. Meanwhile, more well-off and developed areas, with abundant resources and ample access to
educational facilities continue to prioritize English. The gap in language competence among regions is then
further widened, tantamount to lop-sided development of both students themselves and the country.
Nevertheless, it is essential to recognize that these potential demerits can be assuaged and even preempted
through rigorous assessment and joint efforts by all stakeholders. Schools and parents can provide support
and incentives to students so as to boost their morale in learning. For instance, teachers can create a
stimulating learning experience by providing close assistance and adopting innovative teaching methods,
such as immersion or technology-assisted quizzes. Simultaneously, the government can take the initiative
in subsidizing facilities and resources in disadvantaged areas to reinforce educational equality.
In conclusion, whilst there are possible pitfalls of aggravating nonchalance to English learning and
regional disparities in education, they can be prevented by mutual efforts. Hence, I firmly believe that
making English optional in the national highschool graduation exam is warranted, as it holds great
promise in streamlining the examination process and promoting true learning.

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V. SPEAKING (20 POINTS)
Ladies and gentlemen,
My topic today is [TOPIC 5].
Everyone agrees that education is hugely important. The thing is we are not particularly sure what we want
from it. Just ask yourself why you go to school every day. Why sit there for hours on end? To study, many
may say, but for what? Some might say it’s for them to become decent citizens and competent workers.
And some might say it is for themselves. They need education to get them to achieve their life goals. In my
speech today, I will attempt to settle this heated debate by providing my viewpoints on both sides before
voicing my own opinion.
On the one hand, helping individuals to become useful for society should be viewed as the ultimate
purpose of education, and reasonably so. First, education is the backbone of a nation’s economic prosperity
and societal progress. Knowledge is a powerful tool to broaden our understanding about the world, and
education provides students with knowledge needed to understand complex issues facing society. Such a
deep understanding allows them to come up with innovative solutions to different problems and in turn,
builds a well-educated workforce that can contribute to a country’s economic growth. Besides, being
imbued with the essence of education also means that students will acquire social and moral values, which
mold them into decent citizens in the future. A prime example for this is civic education, in which students
are taught the right codes of conduct and mandatory rules, and that knowledge helps them to become law-
abiding and responsible citizens. Second, as students themselves are responsible for our future world,
education should instill them with the means to become good people for society. As for knowledge
acquisition, schools should give students a basic proficiency in practical concepts, namely capitalism,
politics, or history, which helps learners grasp how the world works and develop a sense of civic
responsibility. Plus, education can nurture empathy and compassion among students, which allow them to
interact well with people and work towards creating a better future for everyone. Once well-equipped,
students would be more confident in their role as future builders of the world.
On the other side, some argue that the core of education should be helping individuals to achieve their
ambitions. The main rationale for this is that such an aim affords learners a chance to unlock their
potential. Admittedly, the current education system, which judges individuals on the premise of their test
scores, finds it difficult to cater to every individual need. Yet, helping students realize who they are, what
they want, what are their strengths and weaknesses should be emphasized as they themselves are unique
entities with various merits that they may have yet to realize. Teachers should foster intellectual curiosity
and a sense of exploration among students so that they can discover what they truly like. For instance,
students should not be compelled to memorize math formulas but instead, be challenged to discover and
understand the underlying principles, thus able to solve any problems presented and further realize their
capabilities. Furthermore, focusing on teaching students the establishment and maintenance of personal
relationships is invaluable to their self-growth. On the way to accomplish their ambitions, students will
cross paths with people from all walks of life, those who can be their partners, collaborators or colleagues.
Hence, when schools teach students to interact with peers and to be well-versed in exchanging information,
they learn how to forge close-knit bonds with others, which substantially enrich their emotional
development and personal progress. This role of education has enormous significance, especially in this
hectic world where sustainable connections are being so neglected as to be forgotten.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that helping students to reap benefits for themselves and become upright
citizens should both take precedence as the ultimate point of the school system. These two goals should go
hand in hand to ensure the fullest development of all students and the betterment of our education system.
That is the end of my speech. Thank you!

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