Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer

Textbooks to go the way of the dinosaurs?

Although students and teachers alike have discovered various innovations and applications for computers over the past couple of decades, the advent of the tablet-style personal computer has very recently begun to revolutionize the market in a way that no other has done. Recent advances in lightweight, portable design, memory capacity, we could only dream of just a few short years ago, and ever-increasing networks of broadband Internet connectivity are combining to create a useful and convenient multi-purpose tool for students. Tablet sales have doubled in the past year- an explosion in popularity that even very optimistic projections for the product failed to predict.

While I don’t think anyone expects tablets to completely replace desktop or laptop computers (although a recent Nielsen survey did find that over 75% of respondents were now using their tablet for tasks that they once performed on their desktop or laptop computer), their versatility is truly astounding. One huge advantage of the tablet is that it doesn’t just replace an entire backpack full of textbooks, but also provides multimedia enhanced continuously-updated content that textbook authors could never even imagine. Whereas paper textbooks may direct student’s attention to further information and examples on the Internet, digital textbooks can provide videos and music to support any area of study at just the tap of a finger. For many students who do not learn effectively by simple reading text, this multimedia support provides a more integrated learning experience, which has been shown to improve retention and lead to positive learning outcomes.

Students may also use a tablet, as opposed to a laptop, for taking notes during lectures. Tablets provide the benefits of portability, instant startup and longer battery life so students don’t have to carry a power cord around and position themselves near an outlet. Students can also pull out their tablets and work on a project at anytime, anywhere on campus. And with cloud- based memory systems, students don’t have to bother with back-ups or flash drives if they want to continue work on their desktop computer or collaborate on a group project.

A further benefit of tablets, though one that is often cited as a shortcoming among users, is the limited ability to multitask. Now, it is true that developers have introduced thousands of applications to run on tablets, but tablets still simply cannot run many programs simultaneously. This may appear, on the surface, to pose a problem for the student user. However, in reality, students can perform any number of tasks on tablets…just not all of them at the same time. This may actually be good for a generation which is easily distracted by social media, online games, and other miscellaneous content on the Web.

Given the many benefits, it’s no wonder that tablets are beginning to make their way into classrooms. In fact, it would seem that the biggest factor working against this has simply been their limited availability. Given the long times of consumers who waited to get their hands on the first generation of tablets and the lag for other companies to get their tablets to market, many people are just now able to buy a tablet. Additionally, we should expect that as competition increases among developers, tablets should see the same steep price drops that we always witness among electronics. Thus, tablets should quickly become a very viable and economical alternative for savvy students.

According to the article, what makes tablets a better option for note-taking than laptops?

A. touch-screen technology 

B. longer battery life

C. bigger screen

D. quiet operation

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress in each of the following questions.

A. threaten             

B. mosquito                     

C. comfortable       

D. interesting

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrases that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Most educational specialists believe that early schooling should provide children with an (27) ________ of their own abilities and the self-confidence to use their abilities. One approach recognised by many (28) ________ as promoting these qualities is the Montessori method, first practised by Maria Montessori of Italy in the early 1900s. Nancy McCormick Rambusch is credited with (29) ________ the method in the United States, where today there are over 400 Montessori schools.

The method helps children learn for themselves by (30) ________ them with instructional materials and tasks that facilitate acts of discovery and manipulation. Through such exploration, children develop their sense of touch and learn (31) ________ to do everyday tasks without adult assistance. Other benefits include improvement in language skills, and acquaintance with elements of science, music, and art.

Điền ô số 29

A. popular

B. popularity

C. popularize

D. popularizing

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 56 to 64

Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places, it is actually considered unusual not to use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are more than a means of communication-having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.

The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has made some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer heath problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health. On the other hand, medical studies have shown changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones. Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment. In one case, a loss. He couldn’t remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer’s doctor didn’t agree. What is it that makes mobile phone potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about. As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it’s best to use mobile phone less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phone may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, its wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

“Negative publicity: in the passage most closely means________

A. information on the lethal effects of cell phones

B. widespread opinion about bad effects of cell phones

C. the negative public use of cell phones

D. poor ideas about the effects of cell phones

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrases that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Most educational specialists believe that early schooling should provide children with an (27) ________ of their own abilities and the self-confidence to use their abilities. One approach recognised by many (28) ________ as promoting these qualities is the Montessori method, first practised by Maria Montessori of Italy in the early 1900s. Nancy McCormick Rambusch is credited with (29) ________ the method in the United States, where today there are over 400 Montessori schools.

The method helps children learn for themselves by (30) ________ them with instructional materials and tasks that facilitate acts of discovery and manipulation. Through such exploration, children develop their sense of touch and learn (31) ________ to do everyday tasks without adult assistance. Other benefits include improvement in language skills, and acquaintance with elements of science, music, and art.

Điền ô số 31

A. how

B. what

C. that

D. which

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

It’s a sound you will probably never hear, a sickened tree sending out a distress signal. But a group of scientists has heard the cries, and they think some insects also hear the trees and are drawn to them like vulture to a dying animal. Researchers with the US Department of

Agriculture’s Forest Service fastened sensors to the bark of drought-stricken trees clearly heard distress calls. According to one of the scientists, most parched trees transmit their plight in the 50-hertz to 50-kilohertz range. (The unaided human ear can detect no more than 20 kilohertz). Red oak, maple, white pine, and birch all make slightly different sounds in the form of vibrations at the surface of the wood.

The scientists think that the vibrations are created when the water columns inside tubes that run along the length of the tree break, a result of too little water following through them. These fractured columns send out distinctive vibration pattems. Because some insects communicate at ultrasonic frequencies, they may pick up the trees' vibration and attack the weakened trees. Researchers are now running tests with potted trees that have been deprived of water to see if the sound is what attracts the insects. “Water-stressed trees also smell differently from other trees, and they experience thermal changes, so insects could be responding to something other than sound”, one scientist said.

All the following are mentioned as possible factors in drawing insects to weakened trees EXCEPT  ________ .

A. thermal changes

B. sounds

C. changes in color

D. smells

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The custom of paying a bride price before marriage is still a well-established part of many African cultures. In paying a bride price, the family of the groom must provide payment to the family of the bride before the marriage is allowed. The bride price can vary greatly from culture to culture in Africa. In the Zulu and Swazi tribes of southern Africa, the bride price often takes the form of cattle. In Western African, kola nuts, shells, and other goods are often used for the payment of the bride price. The actual payment of money sometimes takes place, but the payment of goods is more frequent. The amount of paid in a bride price can also vary. In modern times, the bride price is occasionally quite small and its value is mainly symbolic. However, the bride price can still be quite high, especially among prominent or highly traditional families.

There are a number of justifications used to explain the payment of bride price. The first is that the bride price represents an acknowledgement of the expense the bride's family has gone in order to raise her and bring her up as a suitable bride for the groom. It also represents payment for the loss of a family member, since the bride will officially become a member of her husband's family and will leave her own. On a deeper level the bride price represents payment for the fact that the bride will bring children into the family of the groom, thereby increasing the wealth of the family. This concept is reinforced by the fact that the bride price must often be returned if the bride fails to bear children.

The payment of the bride price has quite a number of effects on African society. First, the payment of bride price acts to increase the stability of African family structures. Sons are dependent on their fathers and older relatives to help them pay the bride price of their wives, and this generally leads to greater levels of obedience and respect. The negotiations between the two families concerning the bride price allow the parents and other family members to meet and get to know one another before the marriage. Finally, since the bride price must often be repaid in case of divorce, the bride's family often works to make sure that any marital problems are solved quickly. Bride prices also work as a system of wealth distribution in African cultures. Wealthier families can afford to support the marriage of their son, and thus their wealth is transferred to other families.

Question:The author uses the word "marital" to indicate that the problems are related to ________.

A. money

B. law

C. marriage

D. pregnancy

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer for each of the questions.

Understanding India's Caste System

It has been said that life is what we make of it. In other words, if we work hard and focus on our goals, we can have great careers and enjoy high status is society. However, these opportunities don’t exist for everyone. In some places, the family you are born into will decide almost everything about your life. India’s caste system is an example of this.   

The caste system is a major part of the Hindu religion that has existed for thousands of years. It is a way of organizing and grouping people based on the occupation of the family. Castes will determine whom people can socialize with and their place in society. Originally, a person’s caste was supposed to be determined by their personality, but over time it has been linked to their job and family.

There are four classes, also known as varnas, in India’s caste system. The highest one is Brahmin. People in this class have jobs in education and religion. These are seen as extremely important functions for the society as they deal with the knowledge. The second highest level is the Kshatriya, or ruling class. People from this group can be soldiers, landowners, or have jobs in politics. The class beneath this is the Vaishya. These people often work in the commercial sector as merchants. The fourth class level is the Shudra. Shudras typically work as unskilled labourers doing factory or farm work, or they may also be employed as artists. 

There is another group, the Harijan, that is at the bottom and considered to be outside of the caste system. For many years, they were known as Untouchables, people from this caste held the most undesirable jobs in society, such as cleaning up garbage. Furthermore, they weren’t allowed to pray at public temples or drink water from the same wells as other classes. If someone from another caste came into contact with an Untouchable, they were considered dirty and would be expected to bathe vigorously to clean themselves. 

Although the caste system still exists in India, the government is taking steps to improve the living conditions and decrease unemployment rates for the Shudras and Harijan. This includes providing better health care, offering literacy programmes, and making sure that people from higher social classes do not exploit them. It seems unlikely that the caste system will disappear any time soon, but the overall conditions for those at the bottom do seem to be improving

The word “this” in paragraph 1 refers to ________.

A. the fact that your origin will mostly decide your future 

B. the pleasure of life in India   

C. the India’s caste system existing for thousands of years   

D. the major part of the Hindu religion