READING PRACTICE TEST 7

PASSAGE 1 – Questions 1-10

The hugs that keep on giving
Every weekend over the past 10 months, Nguyen Bao Ngoc has been walking around the
Sword Lake in Hanoi, dressed up as Doraemon, a popular Japanese comic book
character that is half cat half robot. Stretching his arms out, he tries to hug as many
strangers as possible. Some stop to hug him back before putting money into one of the
boxes that his friends are holding. Some others walk faster and avoid eye contact with
him. Ngoc, 23, says he started the “Hug Me” (Om toi di) campaign in February, inspired
by the Free Hugs social movement in Australia. The difference is his hugs are not free,
because he wants to raise money to help children in poor and remote areas around the
country.[A]
The senior college student who is studying to become a TV reporter has been doing
charity work for three years. In one of his most successful attempts, he worked as a xe
om, motorbike taxi driver in his free time and donated all the money he could earn to
poor families in his hometown in Quang Binh Province. But “Hug Me,” Ngoc says, is
his favorite because with it, he can get the attention of his peers. “Young people at my
age have been more into social media than real life. We may cry over a sad story on
Facebook but when we witness the same story in real life, we can be indifferent". [B]
As hugging in public is not very common in Vietnam, Ngoc said he puts on
costume so that strangers will not feel uncomfortable. Doraemon, the cat is in fact
famous for its friendliness and kindness. Sometimes, for a change, he also dresses as a
bee or a puppy.[C]
Many students who gave him a hug donated more than VND 5,000, which is what he
hopes to receive, allowing the campaign to earn between $50 and $200 each week. Some
also brought old clothes and books. Ngoc has organized two trips to bring gifts and food
to children in Quang Binh and the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai this year.
The third has been planned for December.
Ngoc has been diagnosed with first stage bone marrow cancer but he says his condition
is "stable." He says he does not want to be defined by his illness. Having cancer is not
the motivation for him to help others. “I’d do it anyway. I want people to see me as a
student doing charity work, not a cancer patient doing charity work." [D]

1. Why does Ngoc start the "Hug Me" campaign?

A. to initiate a social movement in Australia
B. to offer free hugs
C. to raise money for charity
D. to pay for his tuition fee at college
2. The word "some" in paragraph 1 refers to
A. friends C. strangers
B. children D. boxes
3. The word "senior" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. last-year C. advanced
B. superior D. leading
4. The word "indifferent" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. uncaring C. dissimilar
B. concerned D. responsive
5. What character might probably not represent a costume that Ngoc dresses?
A. a cat C. a puppy
B. a bee D. a panda
6. How much is the "Hug Me" campaign expected to earn a month?
A. 5,000 VND
B. $50 and $200
C. $200 and $800
D. free
7. The word "third" in paragraph 4 refers to
A. province C. trip
B. campaign D. month
8. In which space (marked A, B, C and D in the passage) will the following sentence fit?
“I want to live and love in the real world, not the virtual world.” He added.
A. [A]
B. [B]
C. [C]
D. [D]
9. What does Ngoc mean when he said "I want people to see me as a student doing
charity work, not a cancer patient doing charity work"
A. having cancer motivates him to do charity work
B. he does not like being remembered by his illness
C. any student with such illness can do more to help other people
D. he is a student who helps cancer people
10. In which paragraph does the author mention the bad health condition of Nguyen Bao
Ngoc?
A. paragraph 1
B. paragraph 2
C. paragraph 4
D. paragraph 5

PASSAGE 2 – Questions 11-20

 MY FIRST BIKE
My biking beginnings can be summed up in two words: teenage love. My first
girlfriend was small with short blonde hair, and I was mad about her. Our romance
came to an abrupt end, however, when she started going out with another guy in my
hometown, Crieff. He rode a 50 cc road motorbike first and then a 125. And whereas I
had always walked my girlfriend home, suddenly she was going back with this guy.
I was nearly sixteen by then and already heartbroken. Then one day, on the way
back from a shopping trip to Perth with my mum, we passed Buchan’s, the local bike
shop. There was a light blue 50 cc bike on display right at the front of the shop. I didn’t
know what make it was, or if it was any good. Such trivialities were irrelevant to me.
All I knew was that I could get it in three months’ 10 time when I was sixteen and
allowed to ride it. Maybe I could even get my girlfriend back.
I’d ridden my first bike when I was about six. My father organised a tiny red Honda 50
cc and we headed off to a field that belonged to a family friend. I clambered on and shot
off. I thought it was just the best thing. Just one large heap of straw. I thought I would
have a go. I came racing towards the adults, shot right through the gap in the straw. I
was thrilled to hear the adults scream and elated that it had frightened them. It was my
first time on a motorbike. It was exciting and I wanted more.
So when I looked through Buchan’s window in Perth that day, it suddenly all
made sense to me. I can’t remember whether it was to win back my ex-girlfriend’s heart
or not, but more than anything else it meant that, instead of having to walk everywhere, I
could ride my motorbike to school and the games fields at the bottom of Crieff and when
I went out at weekends.
I started to fantasise about it. I spent all my waking hours thinking about getting
on and starting up the bike, putting on the helmet and riding around Crieff. I couldn’t
sleep. Driven to desperation by my desire for a bike, I made a series of promises to my
mum: I won’t leave town. I’ll be very safe. I won’t take any risks. I won’t do anything
stupid. But, in fact I was making the promises up – I never thought about keeping them.
Crieff is a small town and my whole childhood was spent walking around the
town. It was great, but I was getting to that age when children become aware of the
possibilities of venturing further afield. Unless, like us, you went everywhere by
bicycle. With so many beautiful places nearby, the idea of getting a motorbike was too
much to resist.
11. The word "romance" in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by:
A. love affair
B. fascination
C. charm
D. lover
12. Why did Ewan's relationship with his first girlfriend finish?
 A. She didn't enjoy walking
B. She met someone with a motorbike
C. He was upset by her behavior
D. He made her angry
13. What does “such trivialities” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. his mother’s attitude to the bike
B. the bike’s size and colour
C. the bike’s price
D. the bike’s quality and its manufacturer
14. Why didn't Ewan buy the bike immediately?
A. He couldn't afford it
B. He wasn't old enough to ride it.
C. He hadn't learnt how to ride it.
D. He didn't know if his girlfriend would like it.
15. The adults were frightened the first time Ewan rode a motorbike because they thought
A. the bike was too noisy.
B. the bike was too fast.
C. he was going to have an accident.
D. the bike was too big for him.
16. What was Ewan's main reason for buying the motorbike?
A. It was less expensive than a car.
B. It would help his relationship with his girlfriend.
C. It was good for his image.
D. It was a useful means of transport.
17. How did Ewan’s desire for the bike affect his behaviour?
A. He couldn’t think about anything else.
B. He spent more time talking to his mother.
C. He invented reasons for buying the bike.
D. He spent a lot of time riding a friend’s bike.
18. The word "it" in paragraph 5 refer to
A. the bike C. his hometown Crieff
B. the helmet D. his desperation
19. What does Ewan mean by saying “venturing further afield”? in the last paragraph?
A. taking greater risks
B. becoming more independent
C. travelling to more distant places
D. living somewhere different

20. Who, according to the whole passage, was most against Ewan getting a motorbike?
 A. his first girlfriend
B. his father
C. his mother
D. his friends

PASSAGE 3 – Questions 21-30

THE BEATLES
The Beatles became the most popular group in rock music history. This quartet of
extraordinarily talented musicians generated a phenomenal number of pieces that won
gold records. They inspired a frenzy that transcended countries and economic strata.
While all of them sang, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the majority of their
songs. Originally, Lennon and five others formed a group called the Quarrymen in 1956,
with McCartney joining them later that year. George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul
McCartney, together with Stuart Sutcliffe, who played the bass guitar, and Pete Best on
the drums, performed together in several bands for a few years, until they finally settled
on the Silver Beatles in 1960. American rock musicians, such as Chuck Berry and Elvis
Presley, influenced Lennon’s and McCartney’s music, whose first hits consisted of
simple tunes and lyrics about young love, “Love Me Do” and “Please, Please Me”. The
Beatles’s U.S tour propelled them to stardom and led to two movies A Hard Day’s Night
and Help!, filmed in 1964 and 1965. The so-called British invasion of the United States
was in full swing when they took the top five spots on the singles charts, followed by the
release of their first film.
During the 1960s, their music matured and acquired a sense of melody. The lyrics
of their songs became deeper and gained in both imagination and meaning. Their
popularity continued to grow as the Beatles turned their attention to social problems and
political issues in “Nowhere Man” and “Eleanor Rigby.” Loneliness and nostalgia come
through in their ballads “Michelle” and “Yesterday,” which fully displayed the group’s
professional development and sophistication. Lennon’s sardonic music with lyrics written
in the first person, and McCartney’s songs that created scenarios with offbeat
individuals, contributed to the character of the music produced by the group. In addition
to their music, the Beatles set a social trend that popularized long hair, Indian music, and
mod dress.
For a variety of reasons, the musicians began to drift apart, and their last concert
took place in San Francisco in 1966. The newspapers and tabloids publicized their
quarrels and lawsuits, and the much idolized group finally disbanded in 1970. However,
their albums had outsold those of any other band in history. Although all of the Beatles
continued to perform solo or form new rock groups, alone, none could achieve the
recognition and success that they had been able to win together.
21: What does the passage mainly discuss?
 A. The history and music of the Beatles
C. The history and milestone of rock music
B. The fashion and music popular in the 1960s
D. The creation and history of a music group
22: According to the passage, how many members were in the band, formed in 1956?
A. four
B. five
C. six
D. seven
23: According to the passage, which of the Beatles had the greatest musical talent?
A. John Lennon and Paul McCartney
B. George Harrison and John Lennon
C. Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best
D. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison
24: The author of the passage implies that the Beatles _____________.
A. competed with American musicians
B. wrote their music as a group
C. became popular relatively quickly
D. were active in social movements
25: According to the passage, the Beatles’s fame grew as a result of_____________.
A. Chuck Berry’s involvement
B. their American tour
C. two movies made in the U.S
D. their first two hits
26: The author of the passage implies that over time, the music and lyrics by the Beatles
_____________.
A. became more complex than at the beginning of their career
B. declined in quality and political significance
C. were dedicated to women named Eleanor and Michelle
D. made them the richest musician in the world
27: The word “acquired” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _____________.
A. imparted C. imprinted
B. attached D. attained
28: According to the passage, when did the Beatles experience their greatest success?
A. In the late 1950s
B. After their break-up in 1970
C. During the early and mid-1960s.
D. Throughout their lifetimes.
29: The word “scenarios” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _____________.
 A. sceneries
B. situations
C. life stories
D. love themes
30: The word “disbanded” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____________.
A. separated
B. slipped
C. reveled
D. bonded

PASSAGE 4 – Questions 31-40

THE UNITED NATIONS
When the United Nations was first formed in 1945, only 51 countries were
members. Now, however, the United Nations is truly a world organization. In fact, today
almost every nation in the world is a member of the UN. The main goal of the United
Nations is to bring different nations together to promote peace and justice in the world.
The UN also works to make the world a safe and secure place.
It is important to remember that the UN is not a "world government". This means
that the UN does not make laws for different countries to follow. It also does not enforce
laws made by governments. However, the UN does hold regular votes on global policies
and issues. Also, like a government, the UN is divided into different branches, or
sections. Considering that the UN is such a large organization, it makes sense that it
needs to be separated into different pieces to be effective. There are six branches in
the United Nations. Below, the first three branches of the UN are discussed. In a later
chapter, the other three divisions will be explained.
The main branch is called the "General Assembly". In this branch, all members of the
United Nations are represented. Each member country has one vote. These votes are
counted when the UN has meetings about world issues. For example, if there is a
problem in a certain area of the world or in a particular country, the UN will vote on
how to best solve the problem. At least two thirds of all member countries, that is 67
percent, must agree on how to resolve the problem in order for the UN to take
action. If less than two-thirds of the voting countries agree, no immediate action is
taken.
Another branch of the UN is the Security Council. (A) The main purpose of this
department is to maintain international peace and keep the world secure. (B) In this
branch, there are only fifteen members. Five of these members are permanent. The
permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom (Britain), and the
United States. (C) The other ten members are elected by the General Assembly for two-
year terms. (D)
 The third important branch of the UN is the Economic and Social Council. This
branch works to help monitor the world economy. It also works to resolve social issues
around the world. For example, issues of concern for the Economic and Social Council
are violations of human rights, the fight against international crime such as selling illegal
drugs, and destruction of the environment. There are 54 government representatives
serving on this council. These members are elected by the General Assembly to serve
for three-year terms. Council members are elected to represent certain areas of the
world, so the council has fourteen members from Africa, eleven from Asia, ten from
South America, and nineteen from Europe and North America.

31. The word “branches” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

A. growing parts
B. locations
C. divisions
D. places of separation
32. The word “maintain” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. hold on to
B. preserve
C. develop
D. argue
33. The pronoun "it" in paragraph 5 refers to
A. the world economy
B. the general assembly of the UN
C. the monitors
D. the Economic and Social Council.
34. In paragraph 2, why does the writer mention the highlighted sentence?
"Considering that the UN is such a large organization, it makes sense that it needs to
be separated into different pieces to be effective."
A. To defend the reasoning behind separating the UN into different sections
B. To argue for the UN as a world government
C. To say that there are a total of six branches in the UN
D. To explain how the voting works in the UN
35. How does the author argue that the UN is a true global organization?
A. There are 51 nations involved.
B. It allows each country to vote.
C. It includes almost all countries in the world.
D. It acts as a global government.
36. According to the passage, where does the largest percentage of representatives on the
Economic and Social Council come from?
 A. Europe and North America
B. Asia
C. South America
D. Africa
37. According to the passage, how many members of the Security Council are elected on a
rotating basis?
A. 15
B. 5
C. 20
D. 10
38. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the
highlighted sentence in paragraph 3?
At least two-thirds of all member countries, that is 67 percent, must agree on how to
resolve the problem in order for the UN to take action
A. The United Nations cannot take action right away because the General Assembly
always has to meet together and vote.
B. At least 66 percent of the General Assembly votes whenever the UN is asked to
take action.
C. A certain number of members must vote the same way in order for the assembly to
do something.
D. Countries that vote in General Assembly of the UN seldom agree, so immediate
action on issues is not taken.
39. Where would the following sentence best fit in paragraph 4?
If the Council feels that international peace is being threatened, the fifteen members
will try to outline a way to resolve the situation in a peaceful manner.
A. Paragraph 4, line 1
B. Paragraph 4, line 2
C. Paragraph 4, line 4
D. Paragraph 4, line 5
40. What does the author imply when he explains that the UN is not a world government?
A. The UN would probably work better if it did function as a government.
B. Some larger countries would like the UN to be a government.
C. Many people mistakenly think that the UN is really a type of government.
D. Countries do not like governments.