Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bài Đọc Chủ Đề Entertainment and Media
Bài Đọc Chủ Đề Entertainment and Media
PASSAGE 1
Many of most flexible examples of tool use in animals come from primates (the group that
includes humans, apes, and monkeys). For example, many wild primates use objects to threaten
outsides. But there are many examples of tool use by other mammals, as well as by birds and
other types of animals.
Tools are used by many species in the capture or preparation of food. Chimpanzees use sticks
and poles to bring out ants and termites from their hiding places. Among the most complex tool
use observed in the wild is the use of stones by Ivory Coast chimpanzees to crack nuts open.
They select a large flat stone as an anvil (a heavy block on which to place the nuts) and a smaller
stone as a hammer. Stones suitable for use as anvils are not easy to find, and often a chimpanzee
may carry a haul nuts more than 40 meters to finds a suitable anvil. The use of tools in
chimpanzees is especially interesting because these animals sometimes modify tools to make
them better suited for their intended purpose. To make a twig more effective for digging out
termites, for example, a chimp may first strip it of its leaves.
Surprisingly, there is also a species of bird that uses sticks to probe holes in the search for
insects. One of the species of Galapagos finch, the wood pecker finch, picks up or breaks off a
twig, cactus spine, or leaf stem. This primitive tool is then help in the beak and used to probe for
insects in holes in trees that the bird cannot probe directly with its beak. Birds have been seen to
carry twigs from tree to tree searching for prey.
Tools may also be used for defense. Hermit crabs grab sea anemones with their claws and use
them as weapons to repel their enemies. Studies have demonstrated that these crabs significantly
improve their chances against predators such as octopus by means of this tactic. Also, many
species of forest-dwelling primates defend themselves by throwing objects, including stones, at
intruders.
Question 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Primates are superior to other animals in using tools.
B. The use of stones as tools is similar across different animal species.
C. Birds and primates use tools that are different from those of sea animals
D. Many animals have developed effective ways of using tools.
Question 2. Why does the author mention ants and termites in the second paragraph?
A. To give an example of food that chimpanzee collect by using tools.
B. To emphasize that ants and termites often hide together in the same place.
C. To identify an important part of the chimpanzees diet.
D. To point out a difference between two closely related species.
Question 3. According to the passage Ivory Coast chimpanzees are among the most remarkable
of animal tool users because they______.
A. use tools to gather food B. use more than one tool to accomplish a
task
C. transport tools from one place to another D. hide their tools from one other animals
Question 4. The word “haul” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to______.
A. diet B. type C. load D. branch
Question 5. The word “strip” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to______.
A. search B. eat C. carry D. remove
Question 6. The word “probe” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to______.
A. change B. watch C. explore D. create
Question 7. According to the passage, what is characteristic of the way in which woodpecker
finches hunt insects?
A. The finches use different plant parts as tools to capture insects.
B. The finches make narrow holes in trees to trap insects.
C. The finches pick up insects that they find on leaves.
D. The finches catch insects in the air as they fly from tree to tree.
Question 8. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about the behavior of the
woodpecker finch?
A. It uses its beak as a weapon against enemies.
B. It uses the same twig to look for food in different trees.
C. It uses twigs and leaves to build its nest.
D. It avoids areas where cactus grows.
Question 9. According to the passage, studies have shown that hermit crabs manage to turn
octopus away by ____________.
A. attacking the octopus with their claws B. using stones as weapons
C. defending themselves with sea anemones D. hiding under sea plants
Question 10. Forest primates and certain sea animals are mentioned in the passage as examples
of animals that use tools for_______.
A. self-protection B. food preparation
C. hunting prey D. building nests or home plants grow
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-A 3-B 4-D 5-D
6-C 7-A 8-B 9-C 10-B
PASSAGE 2
Mickey Mouse was not Walt Disney’s first successful cartoon creation, but he is certainly his
famous one. It was on a cross-country train trip from New York to California in 1927 that Disney
first drew the mouse with the big ears. Supposedly, he took his inspiration from the tame field
mice that used to scamper into his old studio in Kansas City. No one is quite sure why he dressed
the mouse in the now-familiar shorts with two buttons and gave him the yellow shoes. But we do
know that Disney had intended to call him Mortimer until his wife Lillian intervened and
christened him Mickey Mouse.
Capitalizing on the interest in Charles Lindsborg, Disney planned Mickey’s debut in the short
cartoon Plane Crazy, with Minnie as a co-star. In the third short cartoon, Steamboat Willie,
Mickey was whistling and singing through the miracle of the modern soundtrack. By the 1930s
Mickey’s image had circled the globe. He was a superstar at the height of his career.
Although he has received a few minor changes throughout his lifetime, most notably the addition
of white gloves and the alterations to achieve the rounder forms of a more childish body, he has
remained true to his nature since those first cartoons. Mickey is appealing because he is nice. He
may get into trouble, but he takes it on the chin with a grin. He is both good-natured and
resourceful. Perhaps that was Disney’s own image of himself. Why else would he have insisted
on doing Mickey’s voice in all the cartoons for twenty years? When interviewed, he would say:
“There is a lot of the mouse in me.” And that mouse has remained one of the most pervasive
images in American popular culture.
Question 1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. The image of Mickey Mouse B. The life of Walt Disney
C. The history of cartoons D. The definition of American culture
Question 2. What distinguished Steamboat Willie from earlier cartoons?
A. Better color B. A sound track
C. Minnie Mouse as co-star D. The longer format
Question 3. The word “pervasive” in line 20 could be best replaced by
A. well loved B. widespread C. often copied D. expensive to
buy
Question 4. The word “appealing” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
A. attractive B. famous C. exceptional D.
distinguishable
Question 5. The word “those” in line 15 refers to
A. cartoons B. forms C. gloves D. changes
Question 6. Where in the passage does the author relate how Mickey got his name?
A. Lines 3 - 4 B. Lines 8 - 9 C. Lines 18 - 19 D. Lines 6 - 7
Question 7. What does the author mean by the statement “Although he has received a few minor
changes throughout his lifetime, most notably the addition of white gloves and the alterations to
achieve the rounder forms of a more childish body, he has remained true to his nature since those
first cartoons”?
A. The current version of Mickey Mouse is different in every way from the early cartoons.
B. The original Mickey Mouse was one of the first cartoon characters.
C. It the first cartoons, Mickey Mouse looked more like a child.
D. The personality of Mickey Mouse has not changed over the years.
Question 8. What did Disney mean when he said, “There is a lot of mouse in me”?
A. He was proud of the mouse that he created.
B. He knew that the mouse would be a famous creation.
C. He created the mouse with many of his own qualities.
D. He had worked very hard to create the mouse.
Question 9. The first image of Mickey Mouse is described as all of the following EXCEPT
A. He was dressed in shorts with two buttons. B. He had big ears.
C. He wore yellow shoes. D. He was wearing white gloves.
Question 10. The paragraph following this passage most probably discusses
A. the history of cartoons B. other images of popular culture
C. Walt Disney’s childhood D. the voices of cartoon characters
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-B 3-B 4-A 5-A
6-D 7-D 8-C 9-D 10-D
PASSAGE 3
Television, like language, can be a cultural challenge for better or worse, and this is what it is in
many of its activities, whether voluntarily or, on occasion involuntarily. Although it may
sometimes be soothing, television is often provocative in the sense that it gives information and
arouses interest. That being said, the new means of broadcasting and communicating throughout
the world increases the complexity of television even further.
An important question is what television is there to do and to say. In actual fact, however, the
issue does not seem to have been put in this way by all governments and their officials, nor by
private television companies.
Since the primary aim is to get an audience (and who would want to make television programs
nobody looked at?), programs are becoming more and more standardized. The cultural challenge
represented by television must not turn into a challenge to culture. At all events, television
carries massages which influence, and will increasingly influence, trends in societies one way or
another. Either television will contribute to enriching our culture or to enabling some of these
cultures to dominate others.
Undoubtedly there are outstanding events, such as broadcasts of major occasions, but the out-of-
the-ordinary nature of a cultural message soon becomes part of life, part of the every air breathed
by those to whom the messages are sent. Living in a world of painting, literature and music is a
very different thing from the stardom of a composer, writer or performer. While the heads of
television channels sometimes display boldness, they do not seem to find it necessary to do so
when it comes to music (with the occasional exception), because they themselves are not
convinced of the emotional impact of music on television. And yet, in spite of all obstacles,
music is a challenge through its daily presence. This represents a victory for whom? Pure music
– that is to say, music soberly presented through the playing of the performers – goes down very
well on the small screen. Its presence on television makes it part of everyday life.
Let us be optimistic and hope that those in charge of television of whatever kind are aware of the
importance of their function over and above audience surveys and ratings and that they will call
primarily on the talents of cultural people and give them priority over the salesman.
Question 1. What is the effect of television according to the author?
A. It causes intellectual laziness B. It makes the viewers think.
C. It is harmful to society. D. It confuses the viewers.
Question 2. Television’s function is to make people ___________.
A. Confused of what is happening B. More interested in what is happening
C. More culturally oriented D. More educated in society
Question 3. In the author’s opinion, what is wrong with the attitude of some governments to
television?
A. They do not think it is important. B. They do not pay enough attention to its
function.
C. They do not use it effectively. D. They have too much control over it.
Question 4. The influence that television may have is possibly ___________.
A. Ignored by almost everybody B. A substantial benefit for private
companies
C. Greatly considered by governments D. An enrichment and also a challenge to
cultures
Question 5. The author thinks that television programs are in danger of ____________.
A. Trying to please too many people B. Preventing the development of society
C. Losing their effect on our culture D. Declining in popularity
Question 6. What are the heads of television not convinced of its impact?
A. Music B. Literature C. Fine arts D. Painting
Question 7. According to the author, the heads of the television channels____________.
A. Have an adventurous approach to presenting music
B. Broadcast only important musical events
C. Do not think music is effective on television
D. Do not want music to be part of everyday life
Question 8. Music has become _____________.
A. Very important to policy makers B. Very important to television program
producers
C. Part of the cultural message D. Part of daily life
Question 9. What does the author hope will be the future of television?
A. More popular programs will be broadcast.
B. Television controllers will change their attitudes
C. Audience will go on increasing.
D. The right kind of program-makers will be appointed.
Question 10. The best title for this passage is?
A. Television and its programs
B. The influence of televisions on governments and companies
C. The impact of television on culture
D. The standardization of television programs
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-B 3-B 4-D 5-A
6-A 7-C 8-C 9-D 10-C
PASSAGE 4
Up to about 1915, movies were short and programmes were made up to several works. Then D.
W. Griffith and others began making longer films which provided the same powerful emotional
appeal as did melodrama and presented spectacles far beyond what the theatre could offer
Consequently, after World War I increasing numbers of spectators deserted the theatre for the
movies.
This trend was accelerated in the late 1920’s as a result of two new elements. In 1927 sound was
added to the previously silent film, and thus one of the theatre’s principal claims to superiority
vanished. In 1929 a serious economic depression began. Since audiences could go to the movies
for a fraction of what it cost to see a play, theatre-going became a luxury which few could afford,
especially as the depression deepened.
By the end of World War II, the American theatre had been reduced to about thirty theatres in
New York City and a small number of touring companies originating there.
Question 1. One thing that movies could do better than the theatre was __________ .
A. provide longer programmes B. provide emotional appeal
C. provide more melodrama D. provide greater spectacles
Question 2. Up to the 1920's one objection to films was that __________ .
A. they were too short B. they were silent
C. they were too expensive D. they did not tell a complete story
Question 3. One thing that made people choose the movies over the theatre was __________ .
A. World War I B. the fact that films were less expensive
C. the fact that films were silent D. the fact that films were shorter
Question 4. By the end of World War II __________ .
A. theatre had become entertainment for the mass
B. theatre - going was no longer considered a luxury
C. professional theatrical performances were confined mainly to New York City
D. there were no theatrical performances outside of New York City
Question 5. When the author of this paragraph says “this trend was accelerated in the late
1920”s”, he means that_________
A. many more people went to the theatre than the movies
B. the shift away from the movies to the theatre was slowed down
C. the popularity of the theatre was gradually increasing
D. the shift away from the theatre to the movies was speeded up
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-B 3-B 4-C 5-D
PASSAGE 5
The penny press, which emerged in the United Sates during the 1830’s, was a powerful agent of
mass communication. These newspapers were little dailies, generally four pages in length,
written for the mass taste. They differed from the staid, formal presentation of the conservative
press, with its emphasis on political and literary topics. The new papers were brief and cheap,
emphasizing sensational reports of police courts and juicy scandals as well as human interest
stories. Twentieth – century journalism was already foreshadowed in the penny press of the
1830’s.
The New York Sun, founded in 1833, was the first successful penny paper, and it was followed
two years later by the New York Herald, published by James Gordon Bennett. Not long after,
Horace Greeley issued the New York Tribune, which was destined to become the most
influential paper in America. Greeley gave space to the issues that deeply touched the American
people before the Civil War – abolitionism, temperance, free homesteads, Utopian cooperative
settlements, and the problems of labor. The weekly edition of the Tribune, with 100,000
subscribers, had a remarkable influence in rural areas, especially in Western communities.
Americans were reputed to be the most avid readers of periodicals in the world. An English
observer enviously calculated that, in 1829, the number of newspapers circulated in Great Britain
was enough to reach only one out of every thirty – six inhabitants weekly; Pennsylvania in that
same year had a newspaper circulation which reaches one out of every four inhabitants weekly.
Statistics seemed to justify the common belief that Americans were devoted to periodicals.
Newspapers in the United States increased from 1,200 in 1833 to 3000 by the early 1860’s, on
the eve of the Civil War. This far exceeded the number and circulation of newspapers in England
and France.
Question 1. What is the author’s main point in the first paragraph?
A. The penny press became an important way of disseminating information in the first half of
the nineteenth century
B. The penny press was modeled on earlier papers
C. The press in the nineteenth century reached only a small proportion of the population
D. The penny press focused mainly on analysis of politics
Question 2. What does the author mean by the statement in the first paragraph that twentieth-
century journalism was foreshadowed by the penny press?
A. The penny press darkened the reputation of news writing
B. Modern news coverage is similar to that done by the penny press
C. Twentieth – century journalism is more important than nineteenth- century journalism
D. Penny – press news reporting was more accurate than that in twentieth – century
newspapers
Question 3. Which of the following would LEAST likely be in a penny-press paper?
A. A report of theft of union funds by company officials
B. An article about a little girl returning a large amount of money she found in the street
C. A story about land being given away in the West
D. A scholarly analysis of an economic issue of national important
Question 4. Who was Horace Greeley (paragraph 2)?
A. The founder of the penny – press paper that did the most to influence the thinking of the
public
B. The publisher of the first penny-press paper to make a profit
C. The most successful writer for the penny press
D. The man who took over James Gordon Benette’s penny – press paper and made it
successful
Question 5. The word “remarkable” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________
A. discussable B. remote C. significant D. uneven
Question 6. The word “avid” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to________
A. intelligent B. critical C. thrifty D. eager
Question 7. The figures concerning newspaper circulation in Pennsylvania in 1829 are relevant
because they ________
A. explain why so many different periodicals were published
B. support the belief that Americans were enthusiastic readers of periodicals
C. prove that weekly periodicals were more successful than daily papers
D. Show the difference between reading habits before and after the Civil War
Question 8. The word “justify” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to ________
A. prove B. generate C. calculate D. modify
Question 9. The third paragraph is developed primarily by means of________
A. descriptions B. analysis of a process
C. contrasts D. ordering events in time sequence
Question 10. IT can be inferred that penny-press newspapers were all of the following
EXCEPT________
A. inexpensive B. profitable C. informal D. thorough
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-B 3-D 4-A 5-C
6-D 7-B 8-A 9-B 10-D
PASSAGE 6
THE BEATLES
In the 1960s, the Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since
then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps
difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys
from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by
performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these
songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular.
The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from
songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write
their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and
they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too
dangerous for them - their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their
clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when
they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask
them.
Question 1. The passage is mainly about
A. How the Beatles became more successful than other groups
B. Why the Beatles split up after 7 years
C. The Beatles’ fame and success
D. Many people’s ability to sing a Beatles song
Question 2. The four boys of the Beatles
A. Came from the same family B. Were at the same age
C. Came from a town in the north of England D. Received good training in music
Question 3. The word “sensational” is closest in meaning to
A. Notorious B. Bad C. Shocking D. Popular
Question 4. The first songs of the Beatles were
A. Written by themselves B. Broadcast on the radio
C. Paid a lot of money D. Written by black American
Question 5. What is not true about the Beatles?
A. The members had no training in music
B. They had a long stable career
C. They became famous when they wrote their own songs
D. They were afraid of being hurt by fans
Question 6. The Beatles stopped their live performances because________
A. they had earned enough money B. they did not want to work with each
other
C. they spent more time writing their own songs D. they were afraid of being hurt by fans.
Question 7. The year 1970 was the time when________
A. they split up B. they changed pop music
C. they started their career D. they stopped doing live performance
Question 8. What the fans of the Beatles often did was__________
A. sing together with them B. take their clothes as souvenirs
C. ask them to write more songs D. ask them why they should separate
Question 9. Some songs of the Beatles now___________
A. are still famous as they used to be B. became too old to sing
C. are sung by crazy fans D. are the most famous
Question 10. The tone of the passage is that of __________
A. admiration B. criticism C. neutral D. sarcasm
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-C 3-C 4-D 5-B
6-D 7-A 8-B 9-A 10-A
PASSAGE 7
REALITY TELEVISION
Reality television is a genre of television programming which, it is claimed presents
unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary
people rather than professional actors. It could be described as a form of artificial or
"heightened" documentary. Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the
early years of television, the current explosion of popularity dates from around 2000.
Reality television covers a wide range of television programming formats, from game or quiz
shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning programmes produced in Japan in the 1980s
and 1990s (a modern example is Gaki no tsukai), to surveillance- or voyeurism focused
productions such as Big Brother.
Critics say that the term "reality television" is somewhat of a misnomer and that such shows
frequently portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in
exotic locations or abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen
handlers. and with events on screen manipulated through editing and other post-production
techniques.
Part of reality television's appeal is due to its ability to place ordinary people in extraordinary
situations. For example, on the ABC show, The Bachelor, an eligible male dates a dozen women
simultaneously, travelling on extraordinary dates to scenic locales.Reality television also has the
potential to turn its participants into national celebrities outwardly in talent and performance
programs such as Pop Idol, though frequently Survivor and Big Brother participants also reach
some degree of celebrity.
Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an inaccurate description
for several styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based programs such as Big
Brother and Survivor, and other special-living-environment shows like The Real World, the
producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day activities and the
environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the competition plays out.
Producers specifically select the participants, and use carefully designed scenarios, challenges,
events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts. Mark Burnett, creator of
Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed with this assessment, and avoids the word “reality"
to describe his shows; he has said, "It tells good stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is
unscripted drama."
Question 1. In the first line, the writer says ‘it is claimed’ because _______.
A. they agree with the statement
B. everyone agrees with the statement
C. no one agrees with the statement
D. they want to distance themselves from the statement
Question 2. Reality television has _______.
A. always been this popular B. been popular since well before 2000
C. only been popular since 2000 D. been popular since approximately 2000
Question 3. Japan _______.
A. is the only place to produce demeaning TV shows
B. has produced demeaning TV shows copied elsewhere
C. produced Big Brother
D. invented surveillance focused productions
Question 4. People have criticised reality television because _______.
A. it is demeaning B. it uses exotic locations C. the name is inaccurate D. it shows
reality
Question 5. Reality TV appeals to some because _______.
A. it shows eligible males dating women
B. it uses exotic locations
C. it shows average people in exceptional circumstances
D. it can turn ordinary people into celebrities
Question 6. Pop Idol _______.
A. turns all its participants into celebrities
B. is more likely to turn its participants into celebrities than Big Brother
C. is less likely to turn its participants into celebrities than Big Brother
D. is a dating show
Question 7. The term ‘reality television’ is inaccurate _______.
A. for both talent- performance and special living environment programs
B. just for Big Brother and Survivor
C. for talent and performance programs
D. for special-living-environment programs
Question 8. Producers choose the participants _______.
A. on the ground of talent B. only for special-living-envoronment
shows
C. to create conflicts D. to make a fabricated world
Question 9. Mart Burnett _______.
A. was a participant on Survivor
B. is a critic of reality TV
C. thinks the term ‘reality television’ is inaccurate
D. writes the script for Survivor
Question 10. Shows like Survivor _______.
A. are definitely reality TV B. are scripted
C. have good narratives D. are theatre
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-D 3-B 4-C 5-C
6-C 7-A 8-C 9-C 10-C
LỜI GIẢI CHI TIẾT
Question 1:
Tác giả viết it is claimed là để giúp câu này mang tính objective và less subjective -> để họ
không có vẻ là người đã nói ra câu statement này
Question 2:
Thông tin trong câu . Although the genre has existed in some form or another since the early
years of television, the current explosion of popularity dates from around 2000.
Question 3:
Thông tin trong câu: Reality television covers a wide range of television programming formats,
from game or quiz shows which resemble the frantic, often demeaning programmes produced in
Japan in the 1980s and 1990s (a modern example is Gaki no tsukai)
Question 4:
Thông tin trong câu: Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an
inaccurate description for several styles of program included in the genre.
Question 5:
Thông tin trong câu: Part of reality television's appeal is due to its ability to place ordinary
people in extraordinary situations
Question 6:
Thông tin trong câu: Reality television also has the potential to turn its participants into national
celebrities outwardly in talent and performance programs such as Pop Idol, though frequently
Survivor and Big Brother participants also reach some degree of celebrity.
Question 7:
Thông tin trong đoạn Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an
inaccurate description for several styles of program included in the genre. In competition-based
programs such as Big Brother and Survivor, and other special-living-environment shows like
The Real World, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day
activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the competition
plays out.
Question 8:
Thông tin trong câu: Producers specifically select the participants, and use carefully designed
scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts
Question 9:
Thông tin trong câu: Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed with
this assessment, and avoids the word “reality" to describe his shows; he has said, "I tell good
stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama."
Question 10:
Thông tin trong câu: , "It tells good stories.”
BÀI DỊCH
Truyền hình thực tế là một thể loại chương trình truyền hình được tuyên bố rằng luôn đưa ra
các tình huống kịch tính hoặc hài hước không theo kịch bản có sẵn, ghi lại các sự kiện thực tế, và
các hoạt động của người dân bình thường chứ không phải diễn viên chuyên nghiệp. Nó có thể
được mô tả như một hình thức phim tài liệu nhân tạo hoặc "nâng cao" . Mặc dù thể loại này đã
tồn tại dưới một số hình thức khác nhau từ những năm đầu tiên của truyền hình, sự phổ biến hiện
nay của nó bắt đầu từ khoảng năm 2000.
Truyền hình thực tế bao gồm một loạt các dạng chương trình truyền hình, từ trò chơi và các
chương trình câu đố- những chươn trình giống với các chương trình rẻ tiền từng được sản xuất
rầm rộ tại Nhật Bản trong năm 1980 và 1990 (một ví dụ hiện tại là Gaki Tsukai), đến chương
trình theo dõi- hay các sản phẩm tập trung vào trí tò mò của Big Brother.
Những người chỉ trích nói rằng "truyền hình thực tế" phần nào là một cái thuật ngữ sai và các
chương trình như vậy thường xuyên dựng lên một thực tế đã bị sửa đổi và ảnh hưởng, với những
người tham gia put tại các địa điểm kỳ lạ hoặc trong các tình huống bất thường, đôi khi được
huấn luyện để hành động theo những cách nhất định bằng những người xử lý sau màn ảnh, và
với các sự kiện trên màn hình được thao tác thông qua sự biên tập và xử lý kỹ thuật sau sản xuất
khác.
Một phần của truyền hình thực tế hấp dẫn là do khả năng của nó trong việc đặt những người
bình thường trong các tình huống bất thường. Ví dụ, trong chương trình ABC, Người độc thân,
một người đàn ông đủ điều kiện hẹn hò cả chục phụ nữ cùng một lúc, đi du lịch trong những buổi
hẹn hò đến các địa phương danh lam thắng cảnh. Truyền hình thực tế cũng có khả năng để biến
người tham gia chương trình thành nhân vật nổi tiếng quốc gia trong những chương trình tài
năng và trình diễn như Pop Idol, mặc dù thường thì người tham gia Survivor và Big Brother cũng
đạt được một mức độ nổi tiếng tương đối.
Một số nhà bình luận đã cho rằng cái tên "truyền hình thực tế" mô tả không chính xác cho
nhiều phong cách của chương trình bao gồm trong thể loại này. Trong các chương trình dựa trên
thi thố cạnh tranh như Big Brother và Survival, và những chương trình về môi trường sống đặc
biệt như The Real World, nhà sản xuất thiết kế các định dạng của chương trình và kiểm soát các
hoạt động và môi trường sản xuất mỗi ngày, tạo ra một thế giới hoàn toàn được bịa đặt ra mà ở
đó các cuộc thi hoặc sự cạnh tranh diễn ra. Các nhà sản xuất tự tay chọn những người tham gia,
và sử dụng kịch bản, thách thức, các sự kiện, và các thiết lập đã được thiết kế cẩn thận để khuyến
khích thúc đẩy những hành vi và xung đột cụ thể. Mark Burnett, tác giả của chương trình
Survivor và các chương trình thực tế khác, đã đồng ý với đánh giá này, và ông cũng tránh từ
"thực tế" để mô tả chương trình của mình; ông đã nói: "Tôi làm về những câu chuyện hay. Nó
thực sự không phải là truyền hình thực tế. Thật ra nó là phim không có kịch bản trước mà thôi."
PASSAGE 8
History books recorded that the first film with sound was The Jazz Singer in 1927. But sound
films, or talkies, did not suddenly appear after years of silent screenings. From the earliest public
performances in 1896, films were accompanied by music and sound effects. These were
produced by a single pianist, a small band, or a full-scale orchestra; large movie theatres could
buy sound-effect machines. Research into sound that was reproduced at exactly at the same time
as the pictures - called "synchronized sound" – began soon after the very first films were shown.
With synchronized sound, characters on the movie screen could sing and speak. As early as
1896, the newly invented gramophone, which played a large disc carrying music and dialogue,
was used as a sound system. The biggest disadvantage was that the sound and pictures could
become unsynchronized if, for example, the gramophone needle jumped or if the speed of the
projector changed. This system was only effective for a single song or dialogue sequence.
In the "sound-on-film" system, sound was recorded as a series of marks on celluloid which could
be read by an optical sensor. These signals would be placed on the film alongside the image,
guaranteeing synchronization. Short feature films were produced in this way as early as 1922.
This system eventually brought us "talking pictures".
Question 1. The passage is mainly about the ______________.
A. research into sound reproduction. B. development of sound with movies.
C. disadvantages of synchronized sound. D. history of silent movies.
Question 2. According to the passage, films using sound effects were screened ___________.
A. as early as 1922 B. in 1927 C. before 1896 D. as early as
1896
Question 3. The word "screenings" is closest in meaning to "________________".
A. projections B. revelations C. demonstrations D. diversions
Question 4. Which of the following is not mentioned as a producer of sound to accompany
movies?
A. a Jazz Singer B. a single pianist C. a gramophone D. a small band
Question 5. It can be inferred that ______________.
A. sound-effect machines were not common because they were expensive
B. gramophones were developed about the same time as moving pictures.
C. most movie theaters had a pianist
D. orchestras couldn't synchronize sound with the pictures
Question 6. According to the passage, gramophones were ineffective because they
_______________.
A. were newly invented and still had imperfections.
B. changed speeds when the needle jumped.
C. were too large for most movie theaters.
D. got out of synchronization with the picture.
Question 7. The word "sequence" is closest in meaning to _________________
A. distribution B. organization C. interpretation D. progression
Question 8. The phrase "these signals" refers to ______________.
A. sounds B. marks C. series D. sensors
Question 9. According to the passage, sound-on-film guaranteed synchronization because the
recording was ________.
A. inserted beside the image on the film B. marked on the gramophone
C. read by an optical sensor D. made during the film of the picture
Question 10. Short feature films produced as early as 1922 __________.
A. were recorded by optical sensors B. preceding talking pictures
C. were only effective for dialogue sequences D. put musicians out of work
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-D 3-A 4-A 5-B
6-A 7-D 8-B 9-A 10-B
PASSAGE 9
THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMICS
The period from the late 1930s to the middle 1940s is known as the Golden Age of comic books.
The modem comic book came about in the early 1930s in the United States as a giveaway
premium to promote the sales of a whole range of household products such as cereal and
cleansers. The comic books, which were printed in bright colors to attract the attention of
potential customers, proved so popular that some publishers decided to produce comic books that
would come out on a monthly basis and would sell for a dime each. Though comic strips had
been reproduced in publications prior to this time, the Famous Funnies comic book, which was
started in 1934, marked the first occasion that a serialized book of comics was attempted.
Early comic books reprinted already existing comic strips and comics based on known
characters; however, publishers soon began introducing original characters developed
specifically for comic books. Superman was introduced in Action Comics in 1938, and Batman
was introduced a year later. The tremendous success of these superhero comic books led to the
development of numerous comic books on a variety of topics, though superhero comic books
predominated. Astonishingly, by 1945 approximately 160 different comic books were being
published in the United States each month, and 90 percent of U.S. children were said to read
comic books on a regular basis.
Question 1. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that, at the beginning of the 1930s, comic books
most likely cost _________.
A. nothing B. 5 cents C. 10 cents D. 25 cents
Question 2. Comic books would least likely have been used to promote _________.
A. soap B. cookies C. jewelry D. bread
Question 3. It is implied in the passage that Famous Funnies _________.
A. was a promotional item B. appeared in a magazine
C. had been produced prior to 1934 D. was published on a regular basis
Question 4. From the information in paragraph 2, it appears that Superman most likely
_________.
A. was introduced sometime after Batman
B. was a character that first appeared in a comic book
C. first appeared in Famous Funnies
D. first appeared in a promotional comic strip
Question 5. It is implied in paragraph 2 that it is surprising that _________.
A. comic strips were more popular than comic books
B. superheroes were not too popular
C. 90 percent of U.S. children did not read comics
D. comic books developed so quickly
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-A 3-D 4-B 5-D
PASSAGE 10
Everyone loves Jane Austen’s novels- scientists, feminists, college freshmen, traditionalists, even
readers who think they don’t like fiction. After Shakespeare and perhaps Dickens, Austen is the
most universally admired writer in the English language. Her popularity is extraordinary when
one considers that she deals with neither death nor religion nor great moments in history. Her
subject is courtship, and her stories all end the same way- in happy marriage. Yet no one has
ever accused Austen of being shallow or suggested that her novels appeal because of their
escapism. Quite the contrary- her work is usually characterized as wise, witty and realistic.
In many ways, Austen’s novels resemble Shakespeare’s comedies, which also end in marriage.
Both the novels and the comedies demonstrate how much human nature may be revealed within
the confines of a circumscribed environment and a limited plot. Like Shakespeare, Austen makes
women her central characters.
By using their wits and their moral sensibilities as a substitute for the power they do not have,
they bring about a desired end. This element in itself - the success of the weak over the powerful
- may account for some part of Austen’s popularity.
The greater part of Austen’s appeal, however, is rooted in her ability to combine the seemingly
incompatible qualities of romance and irony, engagement and detachment. Rational though she
may initially appear from the beauty of her balanced sentences, there is much in Austen’s work
that is firmly rooted in the realm of the feelings. Despite her elevation of civility, restraint, good
manners, good sense, and duty, Austen’s novels are essentially fairy tales-fantasies. They are
grounded in realism and made credible by careful observation and sound precepts of moral
behaviour, but they are fantasies nevertheless.
Question 1. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Jane Austen’s life and work B. American literature and novels
C. The attraction of Jane Austen’s novels D. Jane Austen and Shakespeare
Question 2. We can infer from the passage that most literary critics would admire Austen’s work
for all of the following EXCEPT _________.
A. her insights into human nature B. her revelation of universal truths
C. her humor D. the realism of her plot
Question 3. The word “courtship” most closely means __________.
A. flirtation B. friendship C. love D. comradeship
Question 4. The author compares Austen’s novels to Shakespeare’s comedies primarily in order
to ________.
A. establish Austen’s literary stature B. emphasize the wit that both authors
displayed
C. discuss the role of women in literature D. illustrate how each author developed
characters
Question 5. The author of this passage appears to respect Jane Austen mostly for __________.
A. her universality of appeal B. the great variety of her plots
C. her lack of irony D. her treatment of important historic
events
Question 6. The author claims that Austen’s work resembles Shakespeare’s comedies in that
both writers ________.
A. placed stock characters to complex situations
B. placed more emphasis on setting than plot
C. worked to create an awareness of women’s political inequality
D. created complex characters within restricted plots
Question 7. You can infer from the sentence that begins “This element in itself...” that the author
believes which of the following?
A. The strongest characters are those who start out poor and become rich.
B. The most popular literary characters are those who are the most powerful.
C. Readers dislike plots in which powerless characters increase their social rank by
misrepresenting themselves.
D. Readers like to identify with characters who overcome adversity.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-C 3-C 4-D 5-A
6-D 7-D
BÀI DỊCH
Mọi người ai cũng yêu câu chuyện tiểu thuyết của Jane Austen - cô là một nhà khoa học , một
người đấu tranh bình quyền, một sinh viên đại học năm nhất, một người theo chủ nghĩa truyền
thống, ngay cả khi người đọc những người nghĩ họ không thích những câu chuyện tiểu thuyết hư
cấu.Sau Shakespeare và có lẽ là sau Dickens., Austen là một nhà văn tài năng bậc nhất trong nền
văn học viết bằng tiếng anh. Cô nổi tiếng đến nỗi có người nhận xét rằng cô ấy sẵn sàng đối mặt
với cái chết, những vấn đề tôn giáo hay những khoảng khắc trong lịch sử Chủ đề trong những tác
phẩm của cô là về tình cảm và những câu chuyện của cô tất cả đều có cái kết giống nhau – một
cuộc hôn nhân tràn đầy hạnh phúc . Chưa có một ai nói rằng Austen nông cạn hay cho rằng
những tiểu thuyết của cô hấp dẫn bởi vì khuynh hướng thoát ly thực tế của chúng. Trái lại, những
tác phẩm của cô thường được đánh giá là thông minh, có chút hài hước và thực tế. Xét trên nhiều
khía cạnh, những câu chuyện tiểu thuyết của Austen giống với những câu chuyện hài của
Shakespeare, mà thường kết thúc với nội dung về chuyện hôn nhân. Cả những cuốn tiểu thuyết
và những câu chuyện hài đều diễn tả năng lực tư nhiên của con người sẽ được bộc lộ đến một
mức độ nào đó trong giới hạn hoàn cảnh xác định và những cốt truyện bị giới hạn Giống như
Shakespeare, Austen xây dựng hình tượng người phụ nữ ở trung tâm . Bằng việc sử dụng trí
thông minh của họ và sự nhạy cảm về đạo đức của người phụ nữ thay thế cho những sức mạnh
mà người phụ nữ không có, những người phụ nữ mang đến cái kết đầy khát khao. Chính thành
công khi điểm yếu vượt lên trên sức mạnh – có thể mang lại một phần trong sự nổi tiếng của
Austen. Phần khác lớn hơn trong sự thành công của Austen , mà là cội nguồn trong khả năng của
cô để kết hợp những phẩm chất trái ngược nhau nhưng lại hòa quyện với nhau , khi vừa lãng mạn
vừa đanh thép, vừa gắn kết lại vừa tách rời. Mặc dù lý trí xuất hiện ban đầu từ vẻ đẹo cân đối , có
nhiều tác phẩm của Austen được xem như thánh ca của tính cảm. Mặc dù sự đề cao về sự lịch sự,
sự giản dị, cử chỉ tốt, giác quan tốt và trách nhiệm. Các tiểu thuyết Austen nói về câu chuyện cổ
tích lãng mạn. Những câu chuyện nói về chủ nghĩa hiện thực và được viết nên bởi những quan
sát tinh tế đến đáng kinh ngạc và những nhận thức từ thực tế, nhưng những câu chuyện ấy vẫn có
những nét lãng mạn.
PASSAGE 11
Books which give instructions on how to do things are very popular in the United States today.
Thousands of these How-to books are useful. In fact, there are about four thousand books with
titles that begin with the words “How to”. One book may tell you how to earn more money.
Another may tell you how to save or spend it and another may explain how to give your money
away.
Many How-to books give advice on careers. They tell you how to choose a career and how to
succeed in it. If you fail, however, you can buy the book “ How to Turn Failure into Success”. If
you would like to become very rich, you can buy the book “How to Make a Millionaire”. If you
never make any money at all, you may need a book called “How to Live on Nothing”.
One of the most popular types of books is one that helps you with personal problems. If you
want to have a better love of life, you can read “How to Succeed in Love every Minute of Your
Life”. If you are tired of books on happiness, you may prefer books which give step-by-step
instructions on how to redecorate or enlarge a house.
Why have How-to books become so popular? Probably because life has become so complex.
Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve.
How-to books help people deal with modern life.
Question 1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. How-to books. B. How to make a millionaire.
C. How to turn failure into success. D. How to succeed in love every minute of
your life.
Question 2. The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to ________________
A. advice B. how-to books C. career D. instruction
Question 3. Which of the following is NOT the type of books giving information on careers?
A. “How to Turn Failure into Success”
B. “How to Succeed in Love every Minute of Your Life”
C. “How to Make a Millionaire”
D. “How to Live on Nothing”
Question 4. The word “step-by-step” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____________
A. little by little B. gradually C. slower and slower D. A and B
Question 5. It can be inferred from the passage that _______________
A. Today people are more bored with the modern life.
B. Modern life is more difficult to deal with.
C. Today people are more interested in modern life.
D. Today people have fewer choices to make.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-C 3-B 4-D 5-A
PASSAGE 12
How do television and other visual media affect the lives of individuals and families all over the
world? The media can be very helpful to people who carefully choose the movies and shows that
they watch. With high quality programs in various fields of study, such as science, medicine,
history, arts, and so on, television and video tapes increase the viewer’s knowledge; they can also
improve thinking ability. Moreover, television benefits elderly people who cannot go out often,
as well as patients in hospital. Additionally, it offers language learners the advantage of “real-
life” audio-visual instruction and aural comprehension practice at any time of day or night.
Television and video can also provide almost everyone with good entertainment – a pleasant way
to relax and spend free time at home.
However, there are several serious disadvantages to the visual media. First of all, some people
watch the “tube” for more hours a day than they do anything else. Instead of spending time
taking care of their children, many parents use television as an “electronic babysitter”. As a
result, television and video can easily replace family communication, physical activities and
other interests. Secondly, those who, young and old, spend more time watching television than
manual work can easily suffer from near-sightedness and obesity. The third negative feature of
the media is the amount of violence and horror on the screen that have bad effect on children and
teenagers. Finally, the most negative effect of television and video might be addiction. People
often feel a strange and powerful need to watch television or play a video tape even when they
do not enjoy it or have free time for entertainment.
Question 1. To many elderly people and patients in hospitals, television ________.
A. is an ideal tool of entertainment B. is not enjoyable
C. has bad effects on their health D. must be banned
Question 2. What is the relation of television and health?
A. Television makes a patient recover quickly.
B. Television is a good cure.
C. Watching television too much is good for our health.
D. Watching television too much easily leads to near-sightedness and obesity.
Question 3. Television can make negative effects on children because it has ________.
A. movies and shows B. various fields of study
C. high quality programs D. the amount of violence and horror on
screen
Question 4. The word “tube” in the second paragraph means ________.
A. babysitter B. television C. cassette player D. video
Question 5. The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. television is a good babysitter
B. children should not watch television too much
C. television and other visual media have both advantages and disadvantages
D. All are correct
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-D 3-D 4-B 5-C
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-C 3-B 4-C 5-C
6-C 7-D
PASSAGE 14
VIDEO GAMES
The habits of those who constantly play video games are very important to people working in
video- game industry. If video games are going to be one of the most attractive features of future
interactive systems, it is essential for producers to know what types of games to make, how best
to present such games on interactive video and how to ensure that such games maintain their
fascination for people.
Above all, it is vital to build up detailed profiles of people who are addicted to video games.
Until recently, the chief market for video games has been boys aged eight to fifteen. The
fascination for interactive video games is seen in its purest form in this group. Video games
appeal to some deep instinct in boys who find it impossible to tear themselves away from them.
Schoolwork is ignored, health is damaged and even eating habits are affected. Girls of the same
age, however, are entirely different, demonstrating far greater freedom from the hold of video
games. Quite simply, they can take video games in their stride, being able to play them when
they want and then leave them alone.
Question 1. Producers of video games are keen on ___________.
A. developing computer techniques in making such games
B. learning about drug to which people are addicted
C. designing ways to change their video games into television programs
D. finding the best ways of continuing to attract people
Question 2. The people who are most attracted to video games are ___________.
A. young adult women B. girls between eight and fifteen
C. boys from eight to fifteen years’ old D. both boys and girls between eight and
fifteen.
Question 3. ___________ have different attitude towards playing video games.
A. Adult men and women B. Girls and boys below eight
C. Girls and boys above fifteen D. Boys and girls from eight to fifteen
Question 4. The addiction to video games can be so powerful that it can _______.
A. make people relaxing B. destroy people's instincts
C. separate boys from girls D. make people physically ill
Question 5. Compared with boys of the same age, girls are _________.
A. more addicted to video games B. more intelligent than boys
C. more concentrated on video games D. less influenced by video games
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-C 3-C 4-B 5-D
PASSAGE 15
The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York city. For a long time, it has
been the newspaper of record in the United States and one of the world’s great newspapers. Its
strength is in its editorial excellence; it has never been the largest newspaper in terms of
circulation.
The Times was established in 1851 as a penny paper whose editors wanted to report the news in a
restrained and objective fashion. It enjoyed early success as its editors set a pattern for the
future by appealing to a cultured, intellectual readership instead of a mass audience. However, in
the late nineteenth century, it came into competition with more popular, colorful, if not lurid,
newspapers in New York City. Despite price increases, the Times was losing $1,000 a week
when Adolph Simon Ochs bought it in 1896.
Ochs built the Times into an internationally respected daily. He hired Carr Van Anda as editor.
Van Anda placed greater stress than ever on full reporting of the news of the day, and his
reporters maintained and emphasized existing good coverage of international news. The
management of the paper decided to eliminate fiction from the paper, added a Sunday magazine
section, and reduced the paper’s price back to a penny. In April 1912, the paper took many risks
to report every aspect of the sinking of the Titanic. This greatly enhanced its prestige, and in its
coverage of two world wars, the Times continued to enhance its reputation for excellence in
world news.
In 1971, the Times was given a copy of the so-called “Pentagon Papers,” a secret government
study of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. When it published the report, it became involved
in several lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court found that the publication was protected by the
freedom-of-the-press clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Later in the 1970s,
the paper, under Adolph Ochs’s grandson, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, introduced sweeping changes
in the organization of the newspaper and its staff and brought out a national edition transmitted
by satellite to regional printing plants.
Question 1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The New York Times publishes the best fiction by American writers.
B. The New York Times became highly respected throughout the world.
C. The New York Times broadcasts its news to TV stations via satellite.
D. The New York Times lost its prestige after the Vietnam War.
Question 2. It can be inferred from the passage that the circulation of the New York Times is
_____.
A. not the best in the world B. the smallest in the world
C. the worst in the world D. not the largest in the world
Question 3. Which phrase is closest in meaning to the word “restrained” in paragraph 2?
A. Put in prison B. With self-control C. Without education D. In handcuffs
Question 4. What word or phrase does the word “his” as used in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Van Anda B. Reporters C. News of the day D. International
news
Question 5. To improve its circulation, the management of the Times did all of the following
EXCEPT _____.
A. emphasized good coverage of international news
B. increased the number of lurid stories, even if they were not true
C. added a Sunday magazine section
D. eliminated fiction from the paper
Question 6. The passage implies that the newspaper’s reputation _____.
A. decreased when it lowered its price to a penny
B. grew because Adolph Ochs bought it in 1896
C. decreased because it could not compete with other New York papers
D. increased because of its coverage of the Titanic’s sinking
Question 7. According to the passage, the Times has a national edition that is _____.
A. protected by the Supreme Court B. printed in the form of a Sunday
magazine
C. shipped by train and air transport daily D. transmitted by satellite to regional
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-D 3-B 4-A 5-B
6-D 7-D
Question 1:
Bài viết nói về quá trình báo The Times hình thành, phát triển và được tôn trọng qua các mốc
thời gian cụ thể
Question 2:
Thông tin nằm ở đoạn: “Its strength is in its editorial excellence; it has never been the largest
newspaper in terms of circulation.”
Question 3:
Restrained ≈ with self-control: kìm nén, kiềm chế (bản thân)
Question 4:
His được thay thế cho Van Anda ở vế trước: “Van Anda placed greater stress than ever on full
reporting of the news of the day”
Question 5:
Phương án A ở đoạn 3: “Van Anda placed greater stress than ever on full reporting of the news
of the day, and his reporters maintained and emphasized existing good coverage of international
news” Phương án B ở đoạn 3: “The management of the paper decided to eliminate fiction from
the paper, added a Sunday magazine section” Phương án D ở đoạn 3: “The management of the
paper decided to eliminate fiction from the paper, added a Sunday magazine section”
Question 6:
Thông tin nằm ở đoạn: “In April 1912, the paper took many risks to report every aspect of the
sinking of the Titanic. This greatly enhanced its prestige”
Question 7:
Thông tin nằm ở đoạn: Later in the 1970s, the paper, under Adolph Ochs’s grandson, Arthur
Ochs Sulzberger, introduced sweeping changes in the organization of the newspaper and its staff
and brought out a national edition transmitted by satellite to regional printing plants”
PASSAGE 16
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as envelopes or
packages with stamps on them. It is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, with estimates of
the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.
Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but
the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge.
This is especially important for those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps.
Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries that create limited
runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced
by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries.
Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic
Investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to
store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious
metals.
Question 1. The estimated number of stamp collectors in the United States is _______.
A. 30 million B. 20 million C. 10 million D. 15 million
Question 2. Philatelic knowledge is especially important for _______.
A. many casual collectors enjoy
B. some small countries
C. those who intend to spend large amounts for stamps
D. the postal needs of the countries
Question 3. Some collectors have taken to Philatelic investment because they _______.
A. have observed the generally rising prices of stamps.
B. have observed the generally rising prices of rare stamps.
C. have observed the generally low prices of stamps.
D. haven’t observed the generally rising prices of stamps.
Question 4. The word ‘they’ in paragraph 4 refers to _______.
A. Stamp collectors B. Small countries
C. Rare stamps D. The prices of rare stamps
Question 5. Which of the following is NOT true about rare stamps?
A. They are among the most portable of tangible investments.
B. It’s easy for us to store rare stamps.
C. They are an important source of revenue.
D. They offer an attractive alternative to art.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-C 3-B 4-C 5-C
PASSAGE 17
Of all modem instruments, the violin is apparently one of the simplest. It consist in essence of
a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or resonator, and a long neck covered with a
fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched at high tension. The beauty of design, shape,
and decoration is no accident the proportions of the instrument are determined entirely by
acoustical considerations. Its simplicity of appearance is deceptive. About 70 parts are invoked
in the construction of a violin. Its tone and its outstanding range of expressiveness make it an
ideal solo instrument. No less important however, is its role as an orchestral and chamber
instrument in combination with the larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the
violins form the nucleus of the modern symphony orchestra.
The violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its importance as an instrument in its own
right dates from the early 1600's, when it first became standard in Italian opera orchestras. Its
stature as an orchestral instrument was raised further when in 1626 Louis XIII of France
established at his court the orchestra known as Les vinq-quatre violons du Roy (The King's 24
Violins), which was to become widely famous later in the century. In its early history, the violin
had a dull and rather quiet tone resulting from the fact that the strings were thick and were
attached to the body of the instilment very loosely. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century
exciting technical changes were inspired by such composer-violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini.
Their instrumental compositions demanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was
produced by using thinner strings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had to be made
to the violin's intemal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could withstand the extra
strain. Accordingly, a higher standard of performance was achieved, in terms of both facility
and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably elaborated; and new fingering patterns
on the fingerboard were developed for very high notes.
Question 1. The word "they" in the passage refers to ____________.
A. Civaldi and Tartini B. thinner strings and a higher string
tension
C. internal structure and fingerboard D. small changes
Question 2. What is the main idea presented in paragraph 3?
A. The violin had reached the height of its popularity by the middle of the eighteenth century
B. The violin has been modified to fit its evolving musical functions
C. The technique of playing the violin has remained essentially the same since the 1600's.
D. The violin is probably the best known and most widely distributed musical instrument in
the world.
Question 3. The word "strain" is closest meaning to ________________.
A. strength B. straggle C. stress D. strategy
Question 4. The word "standard" is closest in meaning to _________ .
A. practical B. customary C. unusual D. possible
Question 5. According to the passage, early violins were different from modem violins in that
early violins _________.
A. were heavier B. produced softer tones
C. were easier to play D. broke down more easily
Question 6. According to the passage, which of the following contributes to a dull sound being
produced by a violin?
A. A long fingerboard B. a small body C. high string tension D. thick strings
Question 7. The author mentions Vivaldi and Tartini in passage as examples of composers
whose music ______________.
A. inspired more people to play the violin B. had to be adapted to the violin
C. demanded more sophisticated violins D. could be played by only their students
Question 8. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as contributing to the ability to
play modem violin music EXCEPT _____________ .
A. use of rare wood for the fingerboard and neck
B. different ways to use the fingers to play very high notes
C. more complicated techniques for the left hand
D. minor alterations to the structure of the instrimient
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-B 3-C 4-B 5-B
6-D 7-C 8-A
BÀI DỊCH
Trong tất cả các dụng cụ hiện đại, violin hiển nhiên là một trong những cái đơn giản nhất.
Nó bao gồm bản chất của một hộp âm thanh gỗ rỗng, đánh bóng, hoặc phần tạo vang, và một cổ
dài bao phủ bởi một bàn phím bấm, dọc theo đó bốn dây kéo dài ở độ căng cao. Vẻ đẹp của thiết
kế, hình dạng, và trang trí không phải là ngẫu nhiên mà tỷ lệ của nhạc cụ được xác định hoàn
toàn bằng các sự cân nhắc âm thanh. Sự đơn giản của bên ngoài là lừa dối. Khoảng 70 phần được
viện dẫn trong cấu tạo của một cây đàn violin. Âm thanh và sự nổi bật khiến nó trở thành một
nhạc cụ đơn lý tưởng. Tuy nhiên không kém phần quan trọng là vai trò của nó như là một nhạc
cụ dàn nhạc trong sự kết hợp với các nhạc cụ cùng dòng lớn hơn và sâu sắc hơn cùng một loại,
violin tạo thành tâm điểm của dàn nhạc giao hưởng hiện đại.
Violin đã tồn tại từ khoảng năm 1550. Tầm quan trọng của nó như một công cụ theo cách
riêng của nó bắt đầu từ đầu những năm 1600, khi nó lần đầu tiên trở thành tiêu chuẩn trong các
dàn nhạc opera của Ý. Độ cao của nó như là một nhạc cụ dàn nhạc đã được nêu ra nhiều hơn khi
năm 1626 Louis XIII của Pháp thành lập tại sân của ông một dàn nhạc được gọi là “Les vinq
quatre violcas du Roy” (Vua của 24 chiếc violin), mà đã trở nên nổi tiếng rộng rãi vào cuối thế
kỷ. Trong giai đoạn đầu tiên của lịch sử của nó, violin có âm thanh thô và khá yên tĩnh, kết quả
từ thực tế là các dây dày và được gắn liền với cơ thể của instilment rất lỏng lẻo. Trong thế kỷ
mười tám và mười chín, những thay đổi kỹ thuật thú vị đã được lấy cảm hứng từ những nhà soạn
nhạc vĩ cầm như Vivaldi và Tartini. Các bản nhạc của họ đòi hỏi một giai điệu sáng hơn, rõ ràng
hơn và sáng hơn hơn được tạo ra bằng cách sử dụng các dây mỏng hơn và dây căng hơn. Những
thay đổi nhỏ đã được thực hiện với cấu trúc bên trong của violon và các bàn phím để họ có thể
chịu được thêm căng thẳng. Theo đó, một tiêu chuẩn cao hơn về hiệu năng đã đạt được, về mặt
cơ sở và sự tương tác. Kỹ thuật tay trái đã được xây dựng kỹ lưỡng; và các mẫu ngón tay mới
trên khay đã được phát triển cho các nốt rất cao.
PASSAGE 18
The Influence of Advertising on Pricing
Advertising makes an immense difference in the popularity of a product. Studies have shown
that consumers usually pay more for advertised products than non-advertised products. As a
result, the marketing and advertising industry is a multibillion-dollar-a-year business. Local
commercials can cost as little as several hundred dollars to products, while national companies
have been known to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single commercial.
Interestingly, the source of these expensive commercials is the consumers who view the
advertisements from the comfort of their living room. Companies influence the prices that
consumers pay in two ways.
When consumers purchase any products, they are obviously paying for the cost of
manufacturing the product. However, they are also paying for the advertising campaign devised
to convince consumers to buy the product. The more costly the advertising campaign, the higher
the price paid by consumers. Companies are allowed to set these high prices because consumers
have shown that they will continue to pay them. For instance, a multinational chain of coffee
shops significantly raised its prices a few years ago, due in no small part to an expensive national
advertising campaign. While regular customers noticed and were not fond of the hike, one was
quoted as saying, “I doubt it will make an impact [on consumers]. It won’t change my habit.”
Indeed, it did not, the company experienced record sales in spite of the fact its prices were higher
than its competitors’.
Another way advertising tends to affect product pricing is seen in the arena of perceived value
to the consumers. The perceived value is the worth that consumers assign to a product. Studies
show that often the advertising for a product determines its value more than the quality or
necessity of the product itself. One way a company may take advantage of this perceived value is
by running commercials during prime time. These ads are usually much more expensive than
others. For example, a national commercial that ran during a popular American show cost close
to $745,000 to run for thirty seconds. If people watching the show perceive that the product is
more valuable simply because it was advertised during prime time, they are often willing to pay
higher prices. So, whether it is seen in the cost of the commercials or the advertiser-assigned
value, it is obvious that advertising drives product pricing and directly affects consumers.
Question 1. The author mentions commercials running during prime time in order to ____.
A. contrast effective advertising with unsuccessful product.
B. refute the idea that consumers pay more for products they see on television.
C. explain how consumers justify paying higher prices for products.
D. provide a function of television advertising on a national level
Question 2. The author uses the chain of coffee shops as an example of_____.
A. a costly advertising campaign that failed
B. the competitive nature of the advertising industry
C. a means by which large businesses deceive consumers.
D. the acceptance of higher costs by consumers
Question 3. Which of the following is NOT true about the perceived value of a product?
A. It is partially determined by consumers. B. It is influenced by advertising.
C. It can be higher than the actual value. D. It is the same as the true value.
Question 4. Which of the following can the inferred from paragraph 3?
A. Price is not the only factor affecting buyer decisions.
B. Consumers will pay less when they see expensive advertisements.
C. The lowest-priced products are usually purchased the most.
D. Consumers become angry when prices are raised too high.
Question 5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about the coffee
chain’s price increase?
A. Many consumers stopped buying their coffee there.
B. The coffee chain raised prices so they could advertise more.
C. Customers acknowledged the change in prices.
D. The price increase did not change customers’ drinking habits.
Question 6. Which of the following is true about the effect of higher-priced ad campaign?
A. They have positive effect on customers B. They increase the price consumers must
pay.
C. They result in competitor price matching. D. They are a response to consumer
demand.
Question 7. How do companies determine the price they charge for a product?
A. By basing their prices on advertising costs and competitor prices.
B. By including the cost of advertising in the overall costs.
C. By determining the overall costs of making the products.
D. By choosing perceived value or manufacturing costs.
Question 8. Which of the following can be inferred about pricing and advertising?
A. Products that are not advertised cost more than advertised products.
B. Companies selling higher-priced products usually advertised more.
C. Customers will pay little for a non-advertised product.
D. Local companies will not spend money on advertising.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-D 3-D 4-A 5-A
6-B 7-B 8-B
PASSAGE 19
The term "folk song" has been current for over a hundred years, but there is still a good deal
of disagreement as to what it actually means. The definition provided by the International Folk
Music Council states that folk music is the music of ordinary people, which is passed on from
person to person by being listened to rather than learned from the printed page. Other factors that
help shape a folk song include: continuity (many performances over a number of years);
variation (changes in words and melodies either through artistic interpretation or failure of
memory); and selection (the acceptance of a song by the community in which it evolves).
When songs have been subjected to these processes their origin is usually impossible to trace.
For instance, if a farm laborer were to make up a song and sing it to a-couple of friends who like
it and memorize it, possibly when the friends come to sing it themselves one of them might
forget some of the words and make up new ones to fill the gap, while" the other, perhaps more
artistic, might add a few decorative touches to the tune and improve a couple of lines of text. If
this happened a few times there would be many different versions, the song's original composer
would be forgotten, and the song would become common property. This constant reshaping and
re-creation is the essence of folk music. Consequently, modem popular songs and other
published music, even though widely sung by people who are not professional musicians, are not
considered folk music. The music and words have been set by a printed or recorded source,
limiting scope for further artistic creation. These songs' origins cannot be disguised and therefore
they belong primarily to the composer and not to a community.
The ideal situation for the creation of folk music is an isolated rural community. In such a
setting folk songs and dances have a special purpose at every stage in a person's life, from
childhood to death. Epic tales of heroic deeds, seasonal songs relating to calendar events, and
occupational songs are also likely to be sung.
Question 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Influences of folk music on popular music
B. Elements that define folk music
C. Themes commonly found in folk music
D. The standards of the International Folk Music Council
Question 2. Which of the following statements about the term "folk song" is supported by the
passage?
A. It is considered to be out-of-date. B. The International Folk Music Council
invented it
C. It has been used for several centuries. D. There is disagreement about its meaning.
Question 3. The word "it" in line 7 refers to
A. community B. song C. acceptance D. memory
Question 4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a characteristic of the
typical folk song?
A. It is constantly changing over time.
B. it is passed on to other people by being performed.
C. It appeals to many people.
D. It contains complex musical structures.
Question 5. The word "subjected" in line 8 is closest in meaning to
A. exposed B. imitated C. modified D. reduced
Question 6. According to the passage, why would the original composers of folk songs be
forgotten?
A. Singers dislike the decorative touches in folk song tunes.
B. Audiences prefer songs composed by professional musicians.
C. Numerous variations of folk songs come to exist at the same time.
D. Folk songs are not considered an important form of music.
Question 7. The word "essence" in line 16 is closest in meaning to
A. basic nature B. growing importance C. full extent D. first phase
Question 8. The author mentions that published music is not considered to be folk music
because _____.
A. the original composer can be easily identified
B. the songs attract only the young people in a community
C. the songs are generally performed by professional singers
D. the composers write the music in rural communities
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-D 3-B 4-D 5-A
6-C 7-A 8-A
BÀI DỊCH
Thuật ngữ "bài hát dân ca" đã có mặt trong hơn một trăm năm nay, nhưng vẫn có nhiều
sự bất đồng về ý nghĩa của nó. Định nghĩa của Hội đồng âm nhạc dân gian quốc tế cho rằng âm
nhạc dân gian là âm nhạc của những người bình thường, được truyền từ người này sang người
khác bằng cách lắng nghe hơn là học từ giấy vở. Các yếu tố khác góp phần hình thành nên một
bài hát dân gian bao gồm: tính liên tục (nhiều buổi trình diễn trong một số năm); Biến thể (thay
đổi từ và giai điệu hoặc thông qua giải thích nghệ thuật hoặc nhớ chưa đúng); và lựa chọn (sự
chấp nhận của một bài hát bởi cộng đồng mà nó phát triển).
Khi bài hát đã qua các quá trình này, nguồn gốc của chúng thường không thể lần ra được.
Ví dụ, nếu một người làm ruộng sáng tác một bài hát và hát nó cho một vài người bạn yêu thích
nó và ghi nhớ nó, có thể khi những người bạn này hát nó, một người trong số họ có thể quên mất
một vài từ và họ bịa ra từ mới để bù vào, trong khi đó những người khác, có lẽ mang tính nghệ
thuật hơn, có thể bổ sung một cái chạm trang trí cho giai điệu và cải tiến một vài lời hát. Nếu
điều này xảy ra một vài lần sẽ có nhiều phiên bản khác nhau, người sáng tác bán đầu sẽ bị lãng
quên, và bài hát sẽ trở thành tài sản chung.Việc tái thay đổi và tái sáng tạo liên tục này là bản
chất của âm nhạc dân gian.Vì vậy, các bài hát phổ biến hiện đại và âm nhạc xuất bản khác, mặc
dù được hát rộng rãi bởi những người không phải là nhạc sĩ chuyên nghiệp, không được coi là
âm nhạc dân gian. Nhạc và lời đã được đặt ra bởi một nguồn được in hoặc thu âm, hạn chế phạm
vi cho sự sáng tạo nghệ thuật xa hơn. Nguồn gốc của những bài hát không thể che giấu được và
do đó chúng thuộc về nhà soạn nhạc và không phải là một cộng đồng.
Tình huống lý tưởng để tạo ra âm nhạc dân gian là một cộng đồng nông thôn bị cô lập.
Trong các thiết lập như vậy các bài hát và điệu múa dân gian có một mục đích đặc biệt ở mỗi giai
đoạn trong cuộc đời của một người, từ thời thơ ấu cho đến lúc chết. Những câu chuyện kinh điển
về những việc anh hùng, những bài hát theo mùa liên quan đến các sự kiện theo lịch, và các bài
hát nghề nghiệp cũng có thể được hát.
PASSAGE 20
The goal of Internet-based encyclopedia Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) is to give everyone on
the planet access to information. Like other encyclopedias, Wikipedia contains lots of
information: more than 2.5 million articles in 200 different languages covering just about every
subject. Unlike other encyclopedias, however, Wikipedia is not written by experts, but by
ordinary people. These writers are not paid and their names are not published. They contribute to
Wikipedia simply because they want to share their knowledge.
Encyclopedias began in ancient times as collections of writings about all aspects of human
knowledge. The word itself comes from ancient Greek, and means “a complete general
education”. Real popularity for encyclopedias came in the nineteenth century in Europe and the
United States, with the publication of encyclopedias written for ordinary readers. With the
invention of the CD-ROM, the same amount of information could be put on a few computer
discs. Then with the Internet, it became possible to create an online encyclopedia that could be
constantly updated, like Microsoft’s Encarta. However, even Internet-based encyclopedias like
Encarta were written by paid experts. At first, Wikipedia, the brainchild of Jimmy Wales, a
businessman in Chicago, was not so different from these. In 2001, he had the idea for an
Internet-based encyclopedia that would provide information quickly and easily to everyone.
Furthermore, that information would be available free, unlike other Internet encyclopedias at that
time.
But Wales, like everyone else, believed that people with special knowledge were needed to write
the articles, and so he began by hiring experts. He soon changed his approach, however, as it
took them a long time to finish their work. He decided to open up the encyclopedia in a radical
new way, so that everyone would have access not only to the information, but also to the process
of putting this information online. To do this, he used what is known as “Wiki” software (from
the Hawaiian word for “fast”), which allows users to create or alter content on web page. The
system is very simple: When you open the web site, you can simply search for information or
you can log on to become a writer or editor of articles. If you find an article that interests you –
about your hometown, for example – you can correct it or expand it. This process goes on until
no one is interested in making any more changes.
Question 1. Microsoft’s Encarta is cited in the passage as an example of ________________
A. CD-ROM dictionary B. printed encyclopedia
C. online encyclopedia D. updateable online encyclopedia
Question 2. The word “brainchild” in the second paragraph of the passage can be best replaced
by ________________
A. born B. child C. product D. father
Question 3. The word “approach” in the third paragraph of the passage means
________________
A. idea B. time C. method D. writing
Question 4. The user of Wikipedia can do all of the following EXCEPT ___________________
A. have access to information B. determinate the website
C. modify information D. edit information
Question 5. We can say that Jimmy Wales ________________
A. became very famous after the formation of Wikipedia
B. is the father of Wikipedia
C. made a great profit from Wikipedia
D. decides who can use Wikipedia
Question 6. Wiki software enables ___________________
A. exchanging articles B. a purchase of information
C. limited access D. editing
Question 7. Wikipedia is a(n) _____________
A. book B. journal C. article D. dictionary
Question 8. Wikipedia is written by _____________
A. paid written B. millionaires C. normal people D. world experts
Question 9. The phrase “these writers” in the first paragraph refers to ________________
A. ordinary readers B. ordinary people C. encyclopedia experts D. every subject
Question 10. The phrase “the word” in the second paragraph refers to _______________
A. knowledge B. encyclopedia C. writing D. collection
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-C 3-A 4-B 5-B
6-D 7-B 8-C 9-B 10-B
Dịch bài
Mặc dù chúng ta đã quen nhắc tới những bộ phim được sản xuất trước năm 1927 là
“phim câm”, phim chưa bao giờ thực sự im lặng. Ngay từ khi mới bắt đầu, âm nhạc đã được xem
là thứ đồng hành không thể thiếu; khi những bộ phim của Lumiere được trưng bày tại triển lãm
điện tử công khai đầu tiên ở Hoa Kỳ vào tháng 2 năm 1896, chúng đã được hòa âm cùng với
những bản piano trên các giai điệu phổ biến. Ban đầu, âm nhạc không có mối quan hệ đặc biệt
với phim; một bản nhạc đệm bất kì thể loại nào cũng đã đủ. Tuy nhiên, chỉ trong một thời gian
ngắn, sự không phù hợp của việc chơi nhạc sống động cho một bộ phim trang trọng đã trở nên rõ
ràng, và các nghệ sĩ piano điện ảnh bắt đầu quan tâm đến việc phối hợp các tác phẩm của họ với
cảm xúc của bộ phim.
Khi các rạp chiếu phim tăng lên về số lượng và về tầm quan trọng, một nghệ sĩ violin và
một nhà cello có thể làm việc như là nghệ sĩ dương cầm trong một số trường hợp và trong các
rạp chiếu phim lớn hơn, các dàn nhạc nhỏ đã được hình thành. Trong một vài năm việc lựa chọn
âm nhạc cho từng chương trình phim hoàn toàn nằm trong quyết định của người chỉ huy hoặc
người chỉ đạo dàn nhạc, và rất thường xuyên thì tiêu chuẩn chính để được nắm giữ vị trí này
không phải nằm ở kỹ năng hay thẩm âm mà là ở việc sở hữu một kho tàng các bản nhạc đồ sộ
riêng. Bởi người chỉ huy dàn nhạc hiếm khi được xem những bộ phim và phải tới đêm trước khi
những bộ phim được trình chiếu (đó là trong trường hợp người chỉ đạo dàn nhạc may mắn mới
được xem bộ phim vào thời điểm đó) nên sự sắp xếp các bản nhạc thường được ứng biến một
cách gấp gáp nhất.
Để giúp khắc phục những khó khăn này, các công ty phân phối phim đã bắt đầu việc xuất
bản các đề xuất cho bản nhạc đi kèm. Ví dụ vào năm 1909, Công ty Edison đã bắt đầu phát hành
những bộ phim của họ với những biểu thị tâm trạng ẩn trong đó như “vui”, “buồn”, “sống động”.
Những đề xuất này dần trở nên rõ ràng hơn và vì thế đã xuất hiện những bản sắp xếp trình tự
xuất hiện của bản nhạc bao gồm cả tâm trạng được biểu thị, các tiêu đề của bản nhạc phù hợp, và
hướng chính xác để chỉ ra nơi tiếp theo mà một phần bản nhạc sẽ tiếp tục.
Những bộ phim nhất định có những bản nhạc được đặc biệt sáng tác cho chúng. Bản nhạc
nổi tiếng nhất trong những bản dàn bè này là bản nhạc được soạn và sắp xếp cho bộ phim Birth
of a Nation của D. W. Griffith's, bộ phim ra mắt năm 1915.
PASSAGE 22
Music can bring us to tears or to our feet, drive us into battle or lull us to sleep. Music is indeed
remarkable in its power over all humankind, and perhaps for that very reason, no human culture
on earth has ever lived without it. From discoveries made in France and Slovenia, even
Neanderthal man, as long as 53,000 years ago, had developed surprisingly sophisticated, sweet-
sounding flutes carved from animal bones. It is perhaps then, no accident that music should
strike such a chord with the limbic system – an ancient part of our brain, evolutionarily speaking,
and one that we share with much of the animal kingdom. Some researchers even propose that
music came into this world long before the human race ever did. For example, the fact that whale
and human music have so much in common even though our evolutionary paths have not
intersected for nearly 60 million years suggests that music may predate humans. They assert that
rather than being the inventors of music, we are latecomers to the musical scene.
Humpback whale composers employ many of the same tricks that human songwriters do. In
addition to using similar rhythms, humpbacks keep musical phrases to a few seconds, creating
themes out of several phrases before singing the next one. Whale songs in general are no longer
than symphony movements, perhaps because they have a similar attention span. Even though
they can sing over a range of seven octaves, the whales typically sing in key, spreading adjacent
notes no farther apart than a scale. They mix percussive and pure tones in pretty much the same
ratios as human composers – and follow their ABA form, in which a theme is presented,
elaborated on and then revisited in a slightly modified form. Perhaps most amazing, humpback
whale songs include repeating refrains that rhyme. It has been suggested that whales might use
rhymes for exactly the same reasons that we do: as devices to help them remember. Whale songs
can also be rather catchy. When a few humpbacks from the Indian Ocean strayed into the Pacific,
some of the whales they met there quickly changed their tunes – singing the new whales’ songs
within three short years. Some scientists are even tempted to speculate that a universal music
awaits discovery.
Question 1. Why did the author write the passage?
A. To suggest that music is independent of life forms that use it
B. To illustrate the importance of music to whales
C. To describe the music for some animals, including humans
D. To show that music is not a human or even modern invention
Question 2. According to the passage, which of the following is true of humpback whales?
A. they do not use rhyme, unlike humans.
B. their tunes are distinctively different from human tunes.
C. whale songs of a particular group cannot be learned by other whales.
D. they can sing over a range of seven octaves.
Question 3. The underlined word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to ______.
A. whole songs B. whales C. octaves D. human
composers
Question 4. Which of the following is NOT true about humpback whale music?
A. It uses similar patterns to human songs.
B. It’s in a form of creating a theme, elaborating and revisiting in rhyming refrains.
C. It’s easy to learn by other whales.
D. It’s comparative in length to symphony movements.
Question 5. The underlined word “refrains” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. sounds B. notes C. words D. tunes
Question 6. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Music may have an influence on the whale brain.
B. The earliest human beings came from France and Slovenia.
C. The research of musical brain always leads to a discovery of a universal music.
D. Humpback whales imitate the way human composers work in creating their own music.
Question 7. The underlined word “sophisticated” in paragraph 1 can be best replaced
by______.
A. well-trained B. difficult C. well-developed D. experienced
Question 8. Which of the following concepts is defined in the passage?
A. symphony movements B. attention span
C. the limbic system D. the animal kingdom
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-D 3-B 4-D 5-D
6-A 7-C 8-C
PASSAGE 23
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MUSIC
Think for a moment about the last music album you bought. Most likely, you’ll think of the
singer or band that made you want to buy the album. You might even know the name of the
guitar player or the drummer. Those talented performers, however, are only some of the people
in the music industry work behind the scenes, but the roles they play in the musical progress are
very important.
Songwriters: Songs begin with the songwriter. Some songwriters work alone, but many work in
teams that combine the talents of a lyricist, who writes the words to songs, and an
instrumentalist, often a piano player or guitarist, who writes the music. Many of today’s pop stars
work with songwriters. For example, some of Lady Gaga’s biggest hits were written by Nadir
Khayat, also known “RedOne”. Some songwriting teams have become very famous, such as
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman, who were responsible for many big 1980s pop
hits.
Arrangers: After a song has been written, music arrangers make it more appealing by deciding
which instruments will be used, what tempo, or speed, the song will have, and whether the song
should have a lower or higher pitch. A good arrangement can bring a song to life and make it a
classic.
Studio Musicians: Not every singer or instrumentalist can be a star, and many work in the
background as studio musicians. These artists are not a part of any one musical group. Instead,
they are hired for recording sessions that eventually become the albums you buy, as well as
soundtracks for television shows, movies, and radio ads.
Recording Engineers: Recording engineers also play a major role in creating the final sound
that you hear. First, these engineers set up the recording studio, the room where the performers
play, placing musicians and microphones in exactly the right places to get the best sound. Next,
they use electronic equipment, such multi-track recorders, to capture the music. Finally, long
after the musicians have gone home, recording engineers use a mixing board to balance the
melodies and rhythms of each musician, and sometimes to incorporate special sound effects or
additional tracks.
Many people make a living with music. You may not recognize all of their names, but all of
them work together to create the songs you love to listen to.
Question 1. Which piece of equipment is used at the end of the recording process?
A. a multi-track recorder B. a guitar or piano
C. a mixing board D. a microphone
Question 2. Which sentence is NOT true about studio musicians?
A. They work in the recording studio.
B. They earn money for each session that they do.
C. They are not as famous as the artists they play for.
D. They usually support or play for the same artist.
Question 3. Which of the following do music arrangers probably NOT do?
A. decide the price of the CD B. decide how fast or slow a song will be
C. decide which instrument to use D. decide which pitch to use
Question 4. The word “classic” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _________.
A. a traditional song B. a famous song C. a lively song D. a modern song
Question 5. Which statement would the author probably agree with?
A. Studio musicians would be more successful as members of one musical group.
B. It is important to buy albums made by performing artists who are not yet famous.
C. Having a famous person sing a song will usually make it successful.
D. People are often unaware of the amount of work that goes into creating music.
Question 6. Why does the author mention Lady Gaga?
A. to give an example of a star who works with a songwriter.
B. to explain why she does not write her own songs.
C. to compare her with other talented songwriters.
D. to persuade readers to buy her music.
Question 7. The article is mainly about ________.
A. people who play a background role in creating music
B. pop stars who write the biggest hits
C. songwriting teams who combine their talents
D. instrumentalists who work as hired musicians
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-D 3-D 4-B 5-D
6-A 7-A
PASSAGE 24
Advertising helps people recognize a particular brand, persuades them to try it, and tries to
keep them loyal to it. Brand loyalty is perhaps the most important goal of consumer advertising.
Whether they produce cars, canned foods or cosmetics, manufacturers want their customers to
make repeated purchases. The quality of the product will encourage this, of course, but so, too,
will affect advertising.
Advertising relies on the techniques of market research to identify potential users of a
product. Are they homemakers or professional people? Are they young or old? Are they city
dwellers or country dwellers? Such questions have a bearing on where and when ads should be
placed. By studying readership breakdowns for newspapers and magazines as well as television
ratings and other statistics, an advertising agency can decide on the best way of reaching
potential buyers. Detailed research and marketing expertise are essential today when advertising
budgets can run into thousands of millions of dollars.
Advertising is a fast-paced, high-pressure industry. There is a constant need for creative ideas
that will establish a personality for a product in the public's mind. Current developments in
advertising increase the need for talented workers.
In the past, the majority of advertising was aimed at the traditional white family - breadwinner
father, non- working mother, and two children. Research now reveals that only about 6 percent
of American households fit this stereotype. Instead, society is fragmented into many groups, with
working mothers, single people and older people on the rise. To be most successful, advertising
must identify a particular segment and aim its message toward that group.
Advertising is also making use of new technologies. Computer graphics are used to grab the
attention of consumers and to help them see products in a new light. The use of computer
graphics in a commercial for canned goods, for instance, gave a new image to the tin can.
Question 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. How to develop a successful advertising plan.
B. New techniques and technologies of market research.
C. The central role of advertising in selling products.
D. The history of advertising in the United States.
Question 2. The word "this" in bold type in paragraph 1 refers to______.
A. the quality of the product B. effective advertising
C. repeatedly buying the same brand D. the most important goal
Question 3. It can be inferred from paragraph 2 that advertisers must______.
A. encourage people to try new products
B. aim their message at homemakers and professional people
C. know about the people who will buy the product
D. place several ads in newspapers and magazines
Question 4. According to paragraph 2, market research includes______.
A. studying television ratings.
B. hiring researchers with backgrounds in many fields.
C. searching for talented workers.
D. determining the price of a product.
Question 5. The author implies that the advertising industry requires______.
A. millions of dollars B. a college-educated work force
C. innovative thinking D. government regulation
Question 6. According to the passage, most advertising used to be directed at______.
A. working mothers with children B. two-parent families with children
C. unmarried people D. older adults
Question 7. The phrase "in a new light" in bold type in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to
______.
A. differently B. with the use of color enhancement
C. more distinctly D. in a more energy-efficient way
Question 8. Where in the passage does the author give an example of a new development in
advertising?
A. Paragraph 1 B. Paragraph 2 C. Paragraph 5 D. Paragraph 3
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-C 3-C 4-A 5-C
6-B 7-A 8-C
PASSAGE 25
Music is a very important part of our lives. Music is for dancing, drinking, eating, loving and
thinking. Some songs remind us of our childhood or youth. Others remind us of the people we
love. Many important occasions, like weddings and funerals have special music. Every nation
has a national song like the American “ The Star-Spangled Banner”. In the U.S., high school and
colleges have school songs, too.
Music is a part of the history of America. It expresses of the problems and feelings of its people.
As the years pass, the music grows and changes.
Modern science has also changed music. Inventions like records, radio, movies, electric
instruments, tape recorders and video have changed the way we play and listen to music. They
have helped to make music become an important form of international communication.
American music, from the earliest folk songs to modern “ pop”, is known around the world.
Music is one of America’s most important exports. It brings the people of the world together.
Even when people cannot understand the same language, they can share the same music. Many
people learn and practise English by singing songs. Understanding American music can help you
understand American people, their history and culture.
Question 1. What is TRUE about the song “The Star – Spangled Banner”?
A. It is played in weddings. B. It is liked by every nation.
C. It is the national song of the U.S. D. It is one of the American school songs.
Question 2. According to the passage, music is changed thanks to the following inventions
EXCEPT ________.
A. videos B. electric instruments
C. tape recorders D. international communication
Question 3. The word “exports” in the last paragraph is nearest in meaning to things that can be
________.
A. bought B. sold C. enjoyed D. changed
Question 4. What is the earliest form of music in America?
A. school music B. national music C. folk music D. pop music
Question 5. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A. An introduction to American music B. The development of American music
C. The history of American music D. The future of American music
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-D 3-B 4-C 5-A
PASSAGE 27
Country music is one of the most popular kinds of music in the United States today. Maybe
country music is very popular because it is about simple but strong human feelings and events
like love, sadness, good times and bad times. It tells real life stories and sounds the way people
really talk. As life becomes more complicated and difficult, it is good to hear about simple
ordinary people.
Country music is sometimes called country-western music. It comes from two kinds of music.
One is the traditional music of the people in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern of the
United States. The other is traditional, cowboy music from the American West. The singers
usually play guitars when they sing.
Country music became very popular in the South. During World War II, thousands of people
from the South moved to the Northeast and the Midwest to work in factories. They took their
music with them. Soldiers from the rest of the country went to army camps in the South and
learned to enjoy country music there. Slowly, it became popular all over the United States.
Question 1. Country music is very popular because _________.
A. it is about events like love, sadness B. it is about strong human feelings
C. it tells about good times, bad times D. All are corret.
Question 2. Country music is _________.
A. from two kinds of music which haven’t been widely known
B. sometimes called country-western music
C. considered as the cowboy music from the American West
D. the traditional music of the people in the eastern of the Untied State
Question 3. According to the passage, it is true to say that_________.
A. country music is a kind of complicated and difficult music
B. country music is very close to people’s real lives
C. only good singers can sing country music
D. we cannot sing country music if we don’t know how to play the guitar
Question 4. According to the passage, it is NOT true to say that_________.
A. country music was brought from the South by soldiers
B. country music gradually became popular all over the United States
C. country music became very popular in the South
D. factory workers took country music with them from the South
Question 5. The best title for the passage is_________.
A. Music in the United States B. The Formation of Country Music
C. Country Music D. The Benefits of Country Music
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-B 3-B 4-A 5-C
PASSAGE 28
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 health problems
from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been 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 traveling salesman had to retire at young age because of serious memory 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 phones 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
phones 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 phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for
your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often.
Question 1. According to the passage, cell phones are especially popular with young people
because ______.
A. they cannot be replaced by regular phones.
B. they are indispensable in everyday communications.
C. they keep the users alert all the time.
D. they make them look more stylish.
Question 2. The phrase “negative publicity” in the passage most likely means______.
A. information on the lethal effects of cell phones.
B. the negative public use of cell phones.
C. poor ideas about the effects of cell phones.
D. widespread opinion about bad effects of cell phones.
Question 3. The word “potentially” in the passage most closely means ______.
A. possibly. B. privately. C. certainly. D. obviously.
Question 4. According to the writer, people should ______.
A. never use mobile phones in all cases. B. only use mobile phones in medical
emergencies.
C. keep off mobile phones regularly. D. only use mobile phones in urgent cases.
Question 5. According to the passage, what makes mobile phones potentially harmful is ______.
A. their raiding power. B. their power of attraction.
C. their invisible rays. D. their radiant light.
Question 6. The man mentioned in the passage, who used his cell phone too often, ______.
A. could no longer think lucidly. B. had a problem with memory.
C. abandoned his family. D. suffered serious loss of social skills.
Question 7. The changes possibly caused by the cell phones are mainly concerned with ______.
A. the smallest units of the brain. B. the mobility of the mind and the body.
C. the arteries of the brain. D. the resident memory.
Question 8. Doctors have tentatively concluded that cell phones may .
A. cause some mental malfunction. B. have damaged their users’ emotion.
C. change their users’ social behaviours. D. change their users’ temperament..
ĐÁP ÁN
1-D 2-D 3-A 4-D 5-C
6-B 7-A 8-A
Dịch bài
Có hàng triệu người đang sử dụng điện thoại di động ngày nay. Ở nhiều nơi, điều đó thậm chí bị
coi là bất thường nếu ta không sử dụng tới 1 chiếc. Ở nhiều quốc gia, điện thoại di động rất phổ
biến đối với giới trẻ. Họ nhận thấy rằng điện thoại không chỉ đơn thuần là 1 phương tiện giao
tiếp mà chúng còn chứng minh rằng họ sành điệu có nhiều mối quan hệ.
Sự bùng nổ trong sử dụng điện thoại di động trên khắp thế giới đã khiến một số chuyên gia y tế
lo ngại. Một số bác sĩ quan ngại rằng trong tương lai, nhiều người có thể sẽ gặp vấn đề về sức
khoẻ do việc sử dụng điện thoại di động. Tại Anh, đã có một cuộc tranh luận gay gắt về vấn đề
này. Các công ty điện thoại đang lo lắng về việc công chúng sẽ biết đến những ảnh hưởng xấu
của điện thoại di động. Họ nói rằng không có bằng chứng nào cho thấy điện thoại di động có hại
cho sức khoẻ của người dùng. Mặt khác, các nghiên cứu y học đã cho thấy có sự thay đổi trong
tế bào não của một số người đang sử dụng điện thoại di động. Dấu hiệu thay đổi mô trong não có
thể được phát hiện bằng thiết bị quét hiện đại. Trong một trường hợp, một nhân viên bán hàng đã
phải nghỉ hưu khi còn rất trẻ vì chứng mất trí nhớ trầm trọng. Anh ta không thể nhớ những thao
tác nghiệp vụ đơn giản và thường xuyên quên cả tên của con trai mình. Người đàn ông này
thường nói chuyện điện thoại di động khoảng sáu giờ mỗi ngày trong tuần làm việc của mình
trong một vài năm. Bác sĩ gia đình đổ lỗi cho việc sử dụng điện thoại di động, nhưng bác sĩ công
ti thì không đồng tình.
Điều gì làm cho điện thoại di động có khả năng gây hại như vậy? Câu trả lời là bức xạ. Các máy
móc công nghệ cao có thể phát hiện ra một lượng nhỏ bức xạ phát ra từ điện thoại di động. Các
công ty điện thoại di động đồng ý rằng có một vài bức xạ, nhưng họ nói rằng số lượng đó rất nhỏ
để phải bận tâm. Bàn về sự an toàn khi tiếp tục sử dụng điện thoại di động, cách tốt nhất là sử
dụng chúng ít thường xuyên hơn. Dùng điện thoại thông thường nếu là cuộc nói chuyện dài. Chỉ
sử dụng điện thoại di động khi bạn thực sự cần. Điện thoại di động có thể rất hữu ích và tiện
dụng, đặc biệt là trong những trường hợp khẩn cấp. Trong tương lai, điện thoại di động có thể là
1 cảnh báo rằng chúng không tốt cho sức khoẻ của bạn. Vì vậy, ngay từ bây giờ, hãy khôn ngoan
khi không sử dụng chúng quá thường xuyên.
PASSAGE 29
BRITISH PUB – GOING
Pub-going is one of Britain's most popular pastimes. More than 75 percent of adults patronize
pubs. About a third of these are regulars, dropping in at least once a week. To accommodate
these patrons, the country has some 61,000 pubs -- which is short for public house. The owner,
or host, is called the publican. Most pubs are cheerful and pleasant places, providing their
patrons a comfortable chair and perhaps a fireplace. Until about two or three decades ago, the
pub was generally a male bastion. Today, most welcome women. Some establishments also cater
to whole families.
Ordering "a beer" in a pub is like asking for "a wine" in France. A pub offers a wide and varied
selection of brews, perhaps as many as 20 different types. Most are draught, some in bottles and
a few in cans. Most pubs also serve wine and hard liquor. To order a glass of draft beer, you ask
for "a pint." At more than half a liter, though, a pint is a large drink. You can also order a half
pint. Just ask for "a half."
Pubs also offer food, and not just "crisps" (potato chips, which also come in a wide and varied
selection). In most pubs you can get a full meal, including such traditional favorites as the
ploughman (cheese sandwich), steak and kidney pie and, of course, fish and chips. Some food
items are listed as "Bar Snacks." Despite the word snack, the portion you'll receive will be a one-
item meal such as a sandwich, a pizza or a hamburger.
Question 1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Pub – going is the most popular pastime in Britain.
B. More than three fourths of adults patronize pubs.
C. About 75 percent of British adults are pub – goers.
D. About a third of British adults patronize pubs.
Question 2. Which name does “pub” stand for?
A. Public B. Publican C. Public house D. Publish house
Question 3. Which statement is TRUE about pub customers?
A. Most pubs prefer female customers than males.
B. Most pubs now only welcome men.
C. Most pub customers used to be men 30 years ago.
D. Families are favorites customers of pubs.
Question 4. Drinking a pint of beer means you drink _______.
A. a half B. half a liter C. over half a liter D. half a glass
Question 5. How many types of food are served in one “snack”?
A. one B. two C. three D. four
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-C 3-C 4-C 5-A
PASSAGE 30
Facebook is a for-profit online social media and social networking service. The Facebook
website was launched on February 4th, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, along with fellow Harvard
College students and roommates. Since 2006, anyone age 13 and older has been allowed to
become a registered user of Facebook though variations exist in minimum age requirement,
depending on applicable local laws.
Over 25 million people in the Uk use Facebook. That’s 45% of population! And on average,
each user spends over six hours a month on Facebook. Though not the highest this is a
considerable number. Is Facebook is a dangerous obsession or just harmless fun? Seventeen-
year-old Bethan has written on her blog about what it was like to stop using Facebook.
I think I am a Facebook addict. I log on to Facebook everyday to chat to my friends real
friends and loads of online friends. Sometimes I have ten conversations going at the same time. I
upload photos and update my Facebook profile all the time. But recently I’ve started to feel
worried if I am offline for more than a few hours. And then last week I forgot to meet a real
friend because I was online! I’ve realised I could have a problem. So I’ve decided to give it up
for a while.
I found it really hard. Facebook and my friends demanded to know why I had left. I spent the
first few evenings wondering what everyone was chatting on Facebook. I even phoned a couple
of friends to find out. The fourth night I wasn’t quite so bad. I actually concentrated on my
homework better and I had more time to watch my TV programmes. And I spoke to my friends
during the day at school. At the end of the first week, I reactivated my account, I think Facebook
is fun and it’s useful for posting messages to friends and sharing photos. But I’ll try not to spend
so much time on it in the future.
Question 1. Which of the following is NOT true about Facebook users in UK?
A. 45% of the country’s population used Facebook.
B. More than 25 millions of Brits use Facebook.
C. The amount of time British users spent on Facebook is highest.
D. Averagely, 6 hours per month are spent by British users.
Question 2. The highlight word “it” in the passage refers to .
A. worrying B. facebook C. a problem D. meeting her
real friend
Question 3. Facebook___________.
A. was non-profitable. B. was launched solely by Mark
Zuckerberg.
C. follows each country’s regulation. D. can be used by people of all ages.
Question 4. Which of the following is NOT the thing Bethan does as a Facebook addict?
A. be curious about Facebook activities when logging out.
B. have numerous online conversation at the same time.
C. use Facebook everyday
D. long to be offline nearly all the time.
Question 5. The word “applicable” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .
A. different B. unsuitable C. relevant D. opposite
Question 6. What does Bethan conclude about Facebook?
A. The best use of Facebook is to share photos and messages.
B. Facebook is not as good as TV.
C. Users should spend more time on Facebook.
D. Facebook is great as long as not too much time is spent on.
Question 7. What happened to make Bethan decide to quit Facebook for a while?
A. She forgot an offline meeting B. She started to feel nervous
C. She had too many offline friends D. She uploaded too many photos
Question 8. When she decided to give up Facebook .
A. her friends didn’t care much B. she found it too difficult to continue
C. she made progress after some days D. she couldn’t focus on her homework
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-B 3-C 4-D 5-C
6-D 7-A 8-C
DỊCH NGHĨA
Facebook là một phương tiện truyền thông xã hội trực tuyến vì lợi nhuận và dịch vụ mạng xã
hội. Trang web Facebook đã được đưa ra vào ngày 4 tháng 2 năm 2004 bởi Mark Zuckerberg,
cùng với các bạn sinh viên và bạn cùng phòng của trường Harvard College. Kể từ năm 2006, bất
kỳ ai từ 13 tuổi trở lên đã được phép trở thành người dùng đã đăng ký của Facebook mặc dù các
biến thể tồn tại theo yêu cầu tuổi tối thiểu, tùy thuộc vào luật địa phương hiện hành.
Hơn 25 triệu người ở Anh sử dụng Facebook. Đó là 45% dân số! Và trung bình, mỗi người dùng
dành hơn sáu giờ một tháng trên Facebook. Mặc dù không phải là cao nhất nhưng đây là một con
số đáng kể. Facebook có phải là một nỗi ám ảnh nguy hiểm hay chỉ là niềm vui vô hại? Bethan
mười bảy tuổi đã viết trên blog của mình về việc nó như thế nào để ngừng sử dụng Facebook.
Tôi nghĩ tôi là một người nghiện Facebook. Tôi đăng nhập vào Facebook hàng ngày để trò
chuyện với bạn bè thực sự của bạn bè và vô số bạn bè trực tuyến. Đôi khi tôi có mười cuộc hội
thoại cùng một lúc. Tôi tải lên hình ảnh và cập nhật hồ sơ Facebook của tôi tất cả các thời gian.
Nhưng gần đây tôi đã bắt đầu cảm thấy lo lắng nếu tôi ngoại tuyến trong hơn một vài giờ. Và rồi
tuần trước tôi đã quên gặp một người bạn thực sự vì tôi đã trực tuyến! Tôi đã nhận ra rằng tôi có
thể có một vấn đề. Vì vậy, tôi đã quyết định từ bỏ nó một thời gian.
Tôi thấy nó thực sự khó khăn. Facebook và bạn bè của tôi đã yêu cầu được biết lý do tôi rời đi.
Tôi đã dành vài buổi tối đầu tiên tự hỏi mọi người đang trò chuyện gì trên Facebook. Tôi thậm
chí đã gọi điện cho một vài người bạn để tìm hiểu. Đêm thứ tư tôi không quá tệ. Tôi thực sự tập
trung vào bài tập về nhà tốt hơn và tôi có nhiều thời gian hơn để xem các chương trình truyền
hình của mình. Và tôi đã nói chuyện với bạn bè của tôi trong ngày ở trường. Vào cuối tuần đầu
tiên, tôi kích hoạt lại tài khoản của mình, tôi nghĩ rằng Facebook rất thú vị và hữu ích khi đăng
tin nhắn cho bạn bè và chia sẻ ảnh. Nhưng tôi sẽ cố gắng không dành quá nhiều thời gian cho nó
trong tương lai.
PASSAGE 31
Even before the turn of the century, movies began to develop in two major directions: the
realistic and the formalistic. Realism and formalism are merely general, rather than absolute,
terms. When used to suggest a tendency toward either polarity, such labels can be helpful, but in
the end they are still just labels. Few films are exclusively formalist in style, and fewer yet are
completely realist. There is also an important difference between realism and reality, although
this distinction is often forgotten. Realism is a particular style, whereas physical reality is the
source of all the raw materials of film, both realistic and formalistic. Virtually all movie directors
go to the photographable world for their subject matter, but what they do with this material - how
they shape and manipulate it - determines their stylistic emphasis.
Generally speaking, realistic films attempt to reproduce the surface of concrete reality with a
minimum of distortion. In photographing objects and events, the filmmaker tries to suggest the
copiousness of life itself. Both realist and formalist film directors must select (and hence
emphasize) certain details from the chaotic sprawl of reality. But the element of selectivity in
realistic films is less obvious. Realists, in short, try to preservethe illusion that their film world
is unmanipulated, an objective mirror of the actual world. Formalists, on the other hand, make no
such pretense. They deliberately stylize and distort their raw materials so that only the very naive
would mistake a manipulated image of an object or event for the real thing.
We rarely notice the style in a realistic movie; the artist tends to be self-effacing. Some
filmmakers are more concerned with what is being shown than how it is manipulated. The
camera is used conservatively. It is essentially a recording mechanism that reproduces the
surface of tangible objects with as little commentary as possible. A high premium is placed on
simplicity, spontaneity, and directness. This is not to suggest that these movies lack artistry,
however, for at its best the realistic cinema specializes in art that conceals art.
Question 1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Acting styles B. Film plots
C. Styles of filmmaking D. Filmmaking 100 years ago
Question 2. With which of the following statements would the author be most likely to agree?
A. Realism and formalism are outdated terms.
B. Most films are neither exclusively realistic nor formalistic
C. Realistic films are more popular than formalistic ones.
D. Formalistic films are less artistic than realistic ones.
Question 3. Whom does the author say is primarily responsible for the style of a film?
A. The director B. The actors C. The producer D. The camera
operator
Question 4. The word "shape" in line 8 is closest in meaning to________
A. specify B. form C. understand D. achieve
Question 5. The word "preserve" in line 14 is closest in meaning to________
A. encourage B. maintain C. reflect D. attain
Question 6. The word “They” in line 16 refers to________
A. films B. realists C. formalists D. raw materials
Question 7. How can one recognize the formalist style?
A. It uses familiar images. B. It is very impersonal.
C. It obviously manipulates images. D. It mirrors the actual world.
Question 8. The word "tangible" in line 20 is closest in meaning to________
A. concrete B. complex C. various D.
comprehensible
Question 9. Which of the following terms is NOT used to describe realism in filmmaking?
A. Simple B. Spontaneous C. Self-effacing D. Exaggerated
Question 10. Which of the following films would most likely use a realist style?
A. A travel documentary B. A science fiction film
C. A musical drama D. An animated cartoon
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-B 3-A 4-B 5-B
6-C 7-C 8-A 9-D 10-A
PASSAGE 32
The hit movie Finding Nemo follows a clownfish that is scooped up from the Great Barrier
Reef. In real life, clownfish are among the thousands of colorful sea creatures that call the Great
Barrier Reef home.
Stretching 1,250 miles along Australia’s northeastern coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the
longest coral reef in the world. A coral reef is a living underwater structure. But these days, the
Great Barrier Reef has found itself in trouble. Overfishing, pollution, and high temperatures are
harming its health. That’s why the government in Australia is trying to help rescue the reef.
While coral may look like a plant, it is actually made up of tiny sea animals. Those sea
animals are called coral polyps. As polyps die, they leave hard shells behind. Other polyps grow
on top of the shells. Over thousands of years, they form a coral reef in warm water that is not
very deep.
In many ways, the Great Barrier Reef resembles an underwater garden. Coral can be hard or
soft. It forms in different colors and in strange shapes. Some coral looks like hardened brains.
Other coral looks like fans and lettuces. The reef bursts with schools of tropical fish, darting
among gaps in the coral.
The reef supplies food and shelter to creatures living in and around the coral. Turtles, sharks,
sea horses, and crabs are among its many inhabitants.
While the reef is important to ocean life, it helps humans, too. People rely on the reef for both
food and jobs. It also provides medicine used to treat disease. Each year, Great Barrier Reef
contributes about $975 million to the economy through tourism and fishing.
Is it surprising, then, that the Great Barrier Reef is under too much stress? Fishing nets and
ships break off sections and damage the reef. Air and water pollution are also doing harm. At the
same time, warmer sea temperatures have caused coral bleaching on half of the reef. The high
temperatures cause the coral to turn white often killing it.
In an effort to help save the reef, the government has limited fishing to two-thirds of it. That
plan increases the number of “green zones”. Those are areas that are off-limits to fishermen and
boats. However, tourists and researchers can still visit them. The Australia government says that
its plan will help keep the reef safe from some threats.
(Weekly Reader 2009)
Question 1. Where is the Great Barrier Reef?
A. in northwestern coast of Australia B. in southeastern coast of Australia
C. in the northeastern coast of Australia D. in southwestern coast of Australia
Question 2. Which of the following does not do harm to the Great Barrier Reef?
A. tourists B. overfishing C. pollution D. high
temperature
Question 3. Where can the coral reef usually be found?
A. in warm deep water B. in cold shallow water C. in warm shallow water D. in cold deep
water
Question 4. Which of the following is NOT a creature that lives in the Great Barrier Reef?
A. coral polyps B. turtles C. sea horses D. whales
Question 5. In paragraph 4, what image does the author most likely want the reader to visualize?
A. Many fish quickly moving through the coral.
B. Fish moving toward the center, or target, of the coral.
C. Fish exploding when they come into contact with gaps in the coral.
D. Structured, orderly groups of young fish without a clear path.
Question 6. What does the word “contributes” in paragraph 6 mean?
A. pays the economy B. makes money for the economy
C. owes the economy D. costs the economy
Question 7. What is this passage mostly about?
A. The causes of reef problems and possible solutions
B. Coral bleaching, which causes the reef to turn white
C. Overfishing and higher temperatures
D. the history of tourism to the Great Barrier Reef
Question 8. According to the passage which of the following sentences is true?
A. The clownfish is the only colorful creatures found in the Great Barrier Reef.
B. The Great Barrier Reef is the second longest coral reef in the world.
C. Coral is a kind of plant because it is made up of dead coral polyps.
D. Coral forms in strand shapes and in different colors.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-A 3-C 4-D 5-A
6-B 7-A 8-D
PASSAGE 33
Soap Opera: Guiding Light
Soup operas are the daytime dramas we have all come to know and love (or hate). They got
their name from the soap manufactures Proctor & Gamble that sponsored the early radio and TV
shows. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Guiding Light is the World’s longest
running story. The show has been on for over 70 years.
Guiding Light began as a radio series on January 25, 1937, and moved to TV on June 30,
1952. When it was broadcast by CBS. Guiding Light was first set in the town of Five Pint, then
Selby Flats and finally Springfield (which is also the name of the town the Simpson live in)
Over the seven decades that it has been running, Guiding Light has been many intriguing plot
changes, and you’re not alone if you can’t make head or tail of it them. People have returned
from the dead (the character Roger Thorpe died three times); there have been secrets, lies and
even a bizarre plot twist involving clones.
On February 29, 2008, Guiding Light underwent a revamp. It is now on the cutting edge of
daytime television. A new webpage (www.findyourlight.net) has been launched, and the show
now sports a new opening sequence. The producers are taking a whole new approach in an
attempt to replace the traditional fixed camera shots. In an effort to re-invent soap operas, shaky
handy cam close-ups will provide more realistic shots. Gone are the days of studio sets. The new
–look Guiding Light will be shot in more outdoor locations around the small town of Peapack,
New Jersey.
Question 1. Why daytime dramas are called “soap opera”?
A. People like to wash their laundry while watching them.
B. The people on the show do their laundry in public.
C. They were originally sponsored by soap manufacturers
D. There are lots of commercials for soap in them.
Question 2. How is it that Guiding Light has been around for 70 years but TV has not?
A. It tapped 70 years worth of episodes already.
B. It just feels like it’s been around for 70 years.
C. Most of the people who watch it are over the age of 70.
D. It started out as a radio show.
Question 3. What does the sentence “It is now on the cutting edge of daytime television” mean?
A. Guiding Light is using modern technology and new ideas.
B. Guiding Light is a suspense thriller.
C. Guiding Light is very exciting and popular with housewives.
D. Guiding Light is now shown every day on CBS.
Question 4. The word "it" in the passage refer to ___________.
A. CBS B. The Simpsons C. Guiding Light D. Five point
Question 5. How have the producers hoped to revamp the show?
A. By giving it a new opening sequence. B. By using handy cams.
C. By using real locations instead of sets. D. All of the above.
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-D 3-A 4-C 5-D
PASSAGE 34
Traditional media come from the people and antecede the mass media; their appeal has
historically been both functional and aesthetic. Whether of roughly-hewn folk origins or of
classifically rigid moulds, they have always served to entertain, educate to reinforce existing
ideas or ideologies or to change existing values and attitudes. In other words, it is a means of
changing values, attitudes and norms in order to provide a proper climate for social and
economic progress. It is also a method of promoting certain behavioural acts or patterns. The aim
is to get people to perform specific acts to achieve objectives of national policy (e.g. visiting
clinics, investing in bonds, using fertilizer). Moreover, it is a channel for conveying information
about available techniques and facilities which people may use to solve problems.
Being close to people at the local level, these channels are potentially useful in the service of
social concerns, as determined by local, provincial or national authorities themselves. They are,
moreover, abundantly present in areas where mass media technology has not been fully or
effectively developed to capture sustained interest at local, provincial or national levels. Folk
media are personal forms of entertainment and communication. This is important because
behavioural changes are most easily brought about by personal interaction. These forms of art
are a part of the way of life of a community and provide acceptable means of bringing
development issues into the community in its own-terms. They are capable of reaching intimate
social groups, thus making use of already established communication networks in the
audience.
Question 1. Why is traditional media considered the roof of mass media?
A. Because it relates to the minds and hearts of the local population.
B. Because it is a form of a country’s as well as a region’s traditional arts.
C. Because both the local people and foreign visitors like puppetry the most.
D. Because its purpose is art performance and entertainment.
Question 2. What purpose of traditional media is NOT mentioned?
A. Education B. Entertainment
C. Information dissemination D. Value reformation
Question 3. What is the easiest way to change a person's behaviour?
A. By personal interaction B. Through modern entertainment
C. By public speaking D. By information exchange
Question 4. The phrase “established communication networks” probably refer to
_____________.
A. traditional media B. development issues C. provincial audience D. intimate social
groups
Question 5. What is the word “hewn” in Paragraph 1 closest in meaning to?
A. known B. shared C. shaped D. reflected
ĐÁP ÁN
1-A 2-C 3-A 4-D 5-C
PASSAGE 35
Bali, the fabled "Island of the Gods", has been enchanting visitors for centuries with its rich
cultural traditions and spectacular panoramas. From lofty, mist enshrouded volcanoes and cool
mountain lakes down through terraced rice fields to a golden strand lapped by azure waters,
every square inch of Bali offers a fresh and unforgettable image.
No less enchanting are its people, some 2.7 million souls whose artistry and piety are recognized
throughout the world Balinese Hinduism, a complex fusion of Indian cosmology. Tantric
Buddhism and homegrown mythology, is the primary faith of Bali's inhabitants, and so deeply
woven into the fabric of their daily lives that the line between the spiritual and the material is
blurry at best.
Those of you keen on delving into the island's fascinating culture will have plenty of
opportunities, as colorful ceremonies and traditional performance occur with regularity of
sunrise. Most hotels offer nightly dance shows of one form or another, tailored to tourist
audiences but none the less exquisite. The hill town of Ubud, the island's premier arts center,
also has a full schedule of performance, and the nearby stone-cutter's village of Batubulan is
famed for its Barong lion dances.
The shoppers among you will find Bali a treasure house of handicraft and fine work of art. The
Balinese are incredibly gifted artists and craftsmen, and their material creation are imbued with
the same sense of wonderment with which they regard their universe. Stone and wood carvings,
traditional and modern paintings and intricately designed jewelry in gold and silver are readily in
shops and galleries throughout the island.
As for recreation, there is no shortage of option. Nature walks, horseback riding, diving, surving
- even bungy jumping and white water rafting - await the adventurous here.
Question 1. The topic of the given passage is ___________.
A. Balinese life B. Scenery in Bali C. Tourism in Bali D. Bali for
recreation
Question 2. The second paragraph of the passage mainly discusses __________.
A. Population in Bali B. artistry and piety of Bali
C. Balinese religion D. daily lives of Balinese
Question 3. The word “their” in the second paragraph refers to __________.
A. 2.7 million souls B. Bali’s inhabitants
C. daily lives D. the spiritual and the material
Question 4. Which of the following might be a synonym of the word “exquisite” in third
paragraph?
A. skillful B. clever C. spiritual D. material
Question 5. You can find all these recreational activities in Bali EXCEPT ___________.
A. horseback riding B. nature walks C. water rafting D. parachute
jumping
ĐÁP ÁN
1-C 2-B 3-B 4-A 5-D
LỜI GIẢI CHI TIẾT
Question 1:
Chủ đề của đoạn văn đã cho là ___________.
A. Cuộc sống của người Bali B. Phong cảnh ở Bali
C. Du lịch ở Bali D. Bali để giải trí
=> Dẫn chứng: Bali, the fabled "Island of the Gods", has been enchanting visitors for centuries
with its rich cultural traditions and spectacular panoramas. From lofty, mist enshrouded
volcanoes and cool mountain lakes down through terraced rice fields to a golden strand lapped
by azure waters, every square inch of Bali offers a fresh and unforgettable image.
Bali, "Đảo của các vị thần" huyền thoại, đã mê hoặc du khách trong nhiều thế kỷ với truyền
thống văn hóa phong phú và bức tranh toàn cảnh ngoạn mục. Từ những ngọn núi lửa cao, sương
mù bao phủ và những hồ nước trên núi mát lạnh xuyên qua những cánh đồng lúa bậc thang đến
một dải vàng nằm giữa làn nước trong xanh, mỗi inch vuông của Bali mang đến một hình ảnh
tươi mới và khó quên.
Question 2:
Đoạn thứ hai của đoạn văn chủ yếu thảo luận về __________.
A. Dân số ở Bali B. nghệ thuật và lòng đạo đức của Bali
C. Tôn giáo của người Bali D. cuộc sống hàng ngày của người Bali
=>Dẫn chứng: No less enchanting are its people, some 2.7 million souls whose artistry and piety
are recognized throughout the world Balinese Hinduism, a complex fusion of Indian cosmology.
Tantric Buddhism and homegrown mythology, is the primary faith of Bali's inhabitants, and so
deeply woven into the fabric of their daily lives that the line between the spiritual and the
material is blurry at best.
Không kém phần mê hoặc là người dân ở Bali, khoảng 2,7 triệu linh hồn có nghệ thuật và lòng
đạo đức được công nhận trên khắp thế giới Ấn Độ giáo Balani, một sự hợp nhất phức tạp của vũ
trụ học Ấn Độ. Phật giáo Mật tông và thần thoại quê hương, là đức tin chính yếu của cư dân Bali,
và được khắc sâu vào kết cấu của cuộc sống hàng ngày của họ rằng ranh giới giữa tinh thần và
vật chất bị mờ đi nhiều nhất
Question 3:
Từ ngữ “their” trong đoạn thứ hai đề cập đến __________.
A. 2,7 triệu linh hồn B. Cư dân Bali C. cuộc sống hàng ngày D. tinh thần và
vật chất
=> Dẫn chứng: No less enchanting are its people, some 2.7 million souls whose artistry and
piety are recognized throughout the world Balinese Hinduism, a complex fusion of Indian
cosmology
Dịch: Không kém phần mê hoặc là người dân ở Bali, khoảng 2,7 triệu linh hồn có nghệ thuật và
lòng đạo đức được công nhận trên khắp thế giới Ấn Độ giáo Balani, một sự hợp nhất phức tạp
của vũ trụ học Ấn Độ.
Question 4:
Điều nào sau đây có thể là từ đồng nghĩa của từ “exquiste” trong đoạn thứ ba?
A. khéo léo B. thông minh C. tinh thần D. vật chất
=> exquisite (tinh tế)= skillful (khéo léo)
Question 5:
Bạn có thể tìm thấy tất cả các hoạt động giải trí này ở Bali NGOẠI TRỪ ___________.
A. cưỡi ngựa B. đi bộ tự nhiên C. đi bè nước D. nhảy dù
=> Dẫn chứng: As for recreation, there is no shortage of option. Nature walks, horseback riding,
diving, surving - even bungy jumping and white water rafting - await the adventurous here.
Dịch: Đối với giải trí, không thiếu các lựa chọn. Tự nhiên đi bộ, cưỡi ngựa, lặn, sống sót - thậm
chí nhảy bungee và đi bè nước trắng - đang chờ đợi những người thích phiêu lưu ở đây.
PASSAGE 36
There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper
classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, although it does not offer
anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by
someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.
“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in
preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and
apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels
of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or
job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right. There
was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your name,
address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice
offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just
for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And
in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write
and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.
Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The
advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It
might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”,
was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature
specially designed for the job interview.
There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education
at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the
curriculum vitae.
Question 1. What does the phrase “make use of” in the second paragraph probably mean?
A. Make a day of. B. Benefit from C. Get on with D. Put up with
Question 2. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper
columns___________ .
A. informs job hunters of the opportunities available
B. promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employment
C. divides available jobs into various types
D. informs employers of the people available for work
Question 3. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because
________.
A. there is a lack of jobs available for artistic people
B. there are so many top-level jobs available
C. there are so many people out of work
D. the job history is considered to be a work of art
Question 4. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would
A. write an initial letter giving their life history
B. pass some exams before applying for a job
C. have no qualifications other than being able to read and write
D. keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview
Question 5. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include
in the letter__________ .
A. something that would distinguish one from other applicant’s
B. hinted information about the personality of the applicant
C. one’s advantages over others in applying for the job
D. an occasional trick with the aggressive approach
Question 6. The word “worked” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to _____________.
A. earned money B. was used C. was effective D. functioned
Question 7. What does the word “which” in the fourth paragraph refer to?
A. the advice B. the letter C. the rest D. approach
Question 8. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because
_____________.
A. there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertised
B. there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees
C. jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadays
D. the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicated
ĐÁP ÁN
1-B 2-B 3-C 4-D 5-A
6-C 7-B 8-A