1

Ngoaingu24h.vn

RÈN KỸ NĂNG ĐỌC HIỂU CHỦ ĐỀ KHOA HỌC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ (1)
Cô: Vũ Thị Mai Phương
Exercise 1. Read the passage and choose the correct answer for each question.
For many years, scientists have speculated that the cataclysmic impact of ail asteroid with the earth was
responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs approximately 65 million years ago. Previous discoveries and
results have hinted that an asteroid two kilometers in diameter struck the Yucatan peninsula in Eastern
Mexico. This impact, stronger than one thousand nuclear explosions, is speculated to have cast a cloud of
dust and debris into the atmosphere, covering the entire surface temperature of the earth and blocking out
the sun and consequently lowering the surface temperature of the earth. With such a radical change in the
earth’s environment, scientists believe that over 99% of all animal and plant species were eradicated.
Only after millions of years did plants and animals even begin to recover. But, the reign of the dinosaurs
had ended and the age of mammals had begun.
The crucial link that has held this theory together has been the element iridium. Iridium is not commonly
found on either the surface of the earth or inside the crust. It is more commonly found in asteroids or
meteorites throughout the solar system. Scientists have hypothesized that after the asteroid impacted the
earth, an even layer of iridium sediment settled over the globe and eventually became part of its surface.
The theory, of course, has depended on the discovery of such an existing layer of iridium.
Unfortunately, scientists have never been able to offer absolute proof that this asteroid impact ever
occurred. Recently, however, a discovery may go a long way toward validating these scientists’ theories.
In 1996, a team of marine biologists excavated samples of rock from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean just
off the coast of Bermuda. Found thousands of meters below the sea, these samples contain iridium similar
to those found in the Yucatan peninsula thousands kilometers away. At first, scientists were skeptical
whether the samples were from the same time period. But since carbon dating placed them to 65 million
years ago, their doubts were quickly alleviated. Since then many of the other theories for the demise of
the dinosaur have been finally laid to rest.
Question 1. This passage mainly discusses a theory about
A. which type of dinosaur roamed where
B. archeological evidence from Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
C. why the dinosaurs turned into birds and reptiles
D. the extinction of the dinosaurs
Question 2. According to the passage, approximately how large was the asteroid that scientists believe
struck the Earth?
A. 2 kilometers in diameter
B. 65 kilometers in diameter
C. 1000 kilometers in diameter
D. 99 kilometers in diameter

Học tiếng anh cùng cô Vũ Mai Phương.

2

Ngoaingu24h.vn

Question 3. The word “hinted” is closest in meaning to

A. disproved B. flirted
C. denied D. implied
Question 4. The word “cast” is closest in meaning to
A. shone B. climbed
C. dispersed D. excused
Question 5. What can be inferred from the passage about asteroid impact mentioned in the passage?
A. New plants and animals evolved with the changed environment.
B. The gravitational force from the earth’s core is altered.
C. A planetary defense system formed.
D. The climate remained fairly constant.
Question 6. The word “reign” is closest in meaning to:
A. understanding B. dominance
C. denial D. extremity
Question 7. The word “It” refers to
A. crust B. asteroids
C. earth D. iridium
Question 8. What does third paragraph of the passage mainly discuss?
A. The major processes that have created the Earth’s crust.
B. The composition of the ocean floor in the Atlantic Ocean.
C. Recent discoveries that may confirm the asteroid impact hypothesis.
D. The discovery of ancient fossils located far beneath the ocean floor.
Question 9. According to the passage, the iridium found beneath the ocean floor near Bermuda
A. can be refined into fossil fuels
B. is similar to the iridium found on the Yucatan peninsula
C. originated from dinosaur remains
D. was chemically manufactured by miners
Question 10. The paragraph following the passage probably discusses
A. the relationship between volcanic activity and dinosaur extinction
B. why dinosaurs lived where they did

Học tiếng anh cùng cô Vũ Mai Phương.

3

Ngoaingu24h.vn

C. recent computer imagery of dinosaur movement

D. the possibility of a future asteroid impact
Exercise 2. Read the passage and choose the correct answer for each question.
The ubiquitous bar code, developed more than twenty years ago, is not a stagnant product. On the
contrary, the technology has been improved so that it can be used more efficiently. Much less expensive
than a computer chip, the bar code can hold more information than it has in the past by adding a second
dimension to the structure.
The bar code consists of a series of parallel vertical bars or lines of two different widths, although
sometimes four widths are used, printed in black on a white background. Barcodes are used for entering
data into a computer system. The bars represent the binary digits 0 and 1, just like basic computer
language, and sequences of these digits can indicate the numbers from 0 to 9, which can then be read by
an optical laser scanner and processed by a digital computer. Arabic numbers appear below the code.
The traditional bar code has been used to monitor skiers at ski lifts and to determine price and perform
inventory control on groceries, drugs, medical supplies, manufactured parts, and library books to name a
few. The bar code used on grocery products, introduced in the 1970s, is called a universal product code
(or UPC) and assigns each type of food or grocery product a unique code. The five digits on the left are
assigned to a particular manufacturer or maker and the five digits on the right are used by that
manufacturer to identify a specific type or make of product. Traditional single dimension bar codes are
not readily customizable because there is little extra space.
The two-dimensional bar code, with an information density of 1,100 bytes, allows a considerably greater
amount of information to be coded than does the traditional bar code, including customized information.
[A] It also has built-in redundancy, meaning that the identical information is duplicated on the same code.
[B] Therefore, if the code is damaged, it can still be read. [C] The technology even allows pictures or text
to be contained within the code, as well as barcode encryption. [D] The new technology dramatically
reduces the errors of the single dimensional bar code and reduces the enormous costs that some
companies have reported in the past.
Question 1. The word “ubiquitous” in the first sentence is closest in meaning to:
A. outdated B. ever-present C. new D. complicated
Question 2. The word “stagnant” in the first sentence is closest in meaning to
A. ever-changing B. useful C. stale D. useless
Question 3. The author implies that the bar code:
A. has only recently become popular
B. will never change
C. is not useful
D. has existed in one-dimensional form for years
Question 4. The author’s main purpose is to describe
A. the current technology and newest innovation of bar codes

Học tiếng anh cùng cô Vũ Mai Phương.

4

Ngoaingu24h.vn

B. problems with the bar code

C. the UPC used in grocery stores
D. why the bar code is no longer viable
Question 5. Where in the final paragraph ([A], [B], [C], or [D]) could the following sentence be logically
placed?
Thus, the manufacturer is able to add additional information on the bar code that it finds useful for its own
tracking purposes.
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
Question 6. Which of the following can be a UPC symbol?
A. A code with five digits on the left, five on the right, two different widths, and one number under each.
B. A code with six digits on the left, four on the right, two different widths, and one roman numeral under
each.
C. A code with five digits on the left, five digits on the right, five or six different widths, and one number
under each.
D. A code with five digits on the left, five digits on the right, reverse form (white text on black
background), and no numbers under.
Question 7. A UPC is a type of
A. computer program
B. bar code
C. grocery item
D. scanner
Question 8. The word “widths” in the second paragraph refers to
A. its size
B. its direction
C. its location
D. its content
Question 9. In the past, a common use of the bar code was
A. to encrypt pictures
B.to keep track of products stocked and sold
C. to act as a computer
D. to hide text
Question 10. The word “considerably” in the final paragraph is closest in meaning to

Học tiếng anh cùng cô Vũ Mai Phương.

5

Ngoaingu24h.vn

A. slightly
B. technologically
C. interestingly
D. far

Học tiếng anh cùng cô Vũ Mai Phương.