PRACTICE TEST 28

PART A
Mark the letter А, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs
from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.
Question 1: A. breath B. threat C. without D. theme
Question 2: A. night B. bike C. spring D. price
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three
in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.
Question 3: A. determine B. acknowledge C. distinguish D. satisfy
Question 4: A. excess B. balloon C. effect D. comment
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions.
Question 5. The amount spent on defense is in sharp contrast to that spent on housing and health.
A. blare B. flask C. stark D. spark
Question 6. It is firmly believed that books are a primary means for disseminating knowledge and
information.
A. inventing B. distributing C. classifying D. adapting
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions.
Question 7. Most of the school-leavers are sanguine about the idea of going to work and earning money.
A. pessimistic B. expected C. fearsome D. excited
Question 8. A lot of adults pay lip service to the idea that it is important to listen to teenagers' ideas, but they
tend to listen and then forget.
A. empty promise B. solemn promise C. broken promise D. early promise
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.
Question 9: The bicycles ______ in that shop are the most expensive in town.
A. are sold B. selling C. sold D. are selling
Question 10: He doesn't seem to be aware ______ the coldness of their attitude towards his appeal.
A. of B. at C. in D. on
Question 11: We can’t go along here because the road ______.
A. is repairing B. is repaired C. is being repaired D. has been repaired
Question 12: I try to be friendly but it is hard to ______ some of my colleagues.
A. get on with B. watch out for C. come up with D. stand in for
Question 13: People feel it is time Ministers put their ______ on the table regarding their long-term plans.
A. cards B. hands C. feet D. papers
Question 14: He has no difficulty in ______ into use the perfect plans his friends have prepared.
A. lending B. taking C. putting D. heading
Question 15: __________ his assistance in those days, I would not be so successful now.
A. Had it not been for B. Unless I had C. If there were not D. If it had not for
Question 16: ______ the age of 21, he was able to gamble in Las Vegas.
A. When reached B. To reach C. As reaching D. Upon reaching
Question 17: He was ejected after committing five personal ______ in water sport game yesterday.
A. mistakes B. faults C. fouls D. errors
Question 18: ______ sounding very boring, the film was actually pretty interesting. I would recommend it!
A. However B. Although C. Despite D. Nevertheless
Question 19: It’s a good idea that everyone ______ hands to preserve the environment.
A. is joining B. joins C. has joined D. join
Question 20: We were all in ______ of the fact that the new manager was our oldfriend Duncan.
A. surprise B. shock C. awe D. amazement
Question 21: Yesterday, we went to ______ hospital to visit Henry, who had an operation.
A. Ø (no article) B. a C. an D. the
Question 22: In the movie, he plays a concerned and ______ father trying to bring up two teenage children on
his own.
A. sensory B. hypersensitive C. sensible D. senseless
Question 23: Neither of the boys came to school yesterday, ______?
A. didn’t they B. does they C. did they D. doesn’t they
Mark the letter А, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best completes each of
the following exchanges.
Question 24. John and Tim are talking about future jobs.
- John: “What kind of job would you like?” - Tim: “________.”
A. That will do B. Any time after next week
C. Any of them are OK D. Anything to do with computers
Question 25. A custom officer is talking to a client at the airport.
Officer: "Can I have your passport, please?"
Client: “______________”.
A. No, I'll think it expired B. But I don't like it
C. Thank you for your help D. Yes, here you go
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Our obsession with recording (26) ______ detail of our happiest moments could be damaging our ability to
remember them, according to new research.
Dr. Linda Henkel, from Fairfield University, Connecticut, described this as the ‘photo-taking impairment
effect’. She said, ‘People often whip out their cameras almost (27) _______ to capture a moment to the point
that they are missing what is happening right in front of them.’ When people rely on technology to
remember for them - counting on the camera to record the event and thus not needing to (28) ______ to it
fully themselves, it can have a negative impact on how well they remember their experiences.
In Dr Henkel’s experiment, a group of university students (29) _____ on a tour of a museum and asked to
either photograph or try to remember objects on display. The next day each student’s memory was tested.
The results showed that people were less accurate in recognising the objects (30) _______ they had
photographed compared with those they had only looked at.
Question 26. A. every B. all C. some D. most
Question 27. A. minded B. mindfully C. mindlessly D. mindset
Question 28. A. engage B. apply C. attend D. dedicate
Question 29. A. led B. were led C. leading D. had led
Question 30. A. where B. which C. those D. who
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the question.
Educating children at home as an alternative to formal education is an option chosen by families in
many parts of the world. The homeschooling movement is popular in the United States, where close to one
million children are educated at home. In Canada, 1 percent of school-age children are homeschooled, and the
idea also enjoys growing popularity in Australia, where 20, 000 families homeschool their children. The
movement is not limited to these countries. Homeschooling families can be found all over the world, from
Japan to Taiwan to Argentina to South Africa.
Homeschooling is not a novel idea. In fact, the idea of sending children to spend most of their day
away from home at a formal school is a relatively new custom. In the United States, for example, it was not
until the latter part of the nineteenth century that state governments began making school attendance
compulsory. Before that, the concept of a formal education was not so widespread. Children learned the skills
they would need for adult life at home from tutors or their parents, through formal instruction or by working
side by side with the adults of the family.
In the modern developed world, where the vast majority of children attend school, families choose
homeschooling for a variety of reasons. For people who live in remote areas, such as the Australian outback
or the Alaskan Wilderness, homeschooling may be their only option. Children who have exceptional talents
in the arts or other areas may be homeschooled so that they have more time to devote to their special interests.
Much of the homeschooling movement is made up of families who, for various reasons, are dissatisfied with
the schools available to them. They may have a differing educational philosophy, they may be concerned
about the safety of the school environment, or they may feel that the local schools cannot adequately address
their children's educational needs. Although most families continue to choose a traditional classroom
education for their children, homeschooling as an alternative educational option is becoming more popular.
Question 31. Which of the following could be the main idea of the passage?
A. The origin of homeschooling.
B. The reasons why children should be educated at home.
C. A new form of school: Homeschooling
D. Homeschool option: a common form of education all over the world.
Question 32. What does the word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. the beginning of the 19th century B. the second half of the 19th century
C. the end of the 19th century D. the former part of the 19th century
Question 33. The word "widespread" in paragraph 2 mostly means ______.
A. uncommon B. exceptional C. customary D. prevalent
Question 34. According to the passage, the following are true about the Homeschooling, EXCEPT ______.
A. Before modern times, most students did not attend the school.
B. Families in developed and developing countries choose to educate their children at home.
C. People got familiar with school attendance before choosing to learn at home.
D. Parents or tutors were the ones who taught the children necessary skills in society.
Question 35. As mentioned in the last paragraph, children in rural areas ______.
A. believe that their needs to study is more than what a normal school can provide.
B. have no choice but stay at home to learn.
C. are not contented with the philosophy of the schools available.
D. prefer to improve their extraordinary interests.
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the
correct answer to each of the question.
Plants are subject to attack and infection by a remarkable variety of symbiotic species and have evolved a
diverse array of mechanisms designed to frustrate the potential colonists. These can be divided into preformed
or passive defense mechanisms and inducible or active systems. Passive plant defense comprises physical and
chemical barriers that prevent entry of pathogens, such as bacteria, or render tissues unpalatable or toxic to
the invader. The external surfaces of plants, in addition to being covered by an epidermis and a waxy cuticle,
often carry spiky hairs known as trichomes, which either prevent feeding by insects or may even puncture
and kill insect larvae. Other trichomes are sticky and glandular and effectively trap and immobilize insects.
If the physical barriers of the plant are breached, then preformed chemicals may inhibit or kill the intruder,
and plant tissues contain a diverse array of toxic or potentially toxic substances, such as resins, tannins,
glycosides, and alkaloids, many of which are highly effective deterrents to insects that feed on plants. The
success of the Colorado beetle in infesting potatoes, for example, seems to be correlated with its high tolerance
to alkaloids that normally repel potential pests. Other possible chemical defenses, while not directly toxic to
the parasite, may inhibit some essential step in the establishment of a parasitic relationship. For example,
glycoproteins in plant cell walls may inactivate enzymes that degrade cell walls. These enzymes are often
produced by bacteria and fungi.
Active plant defense mechanisms are comparable to the immune system of vertebrate animals, although
the cellular and molecular bases are fundamentally different. Both, however, are triggered in reaction to
intrusion, implying that the host has some means of recognizing the presence of a foreign organism. The most
dramatic example of an inducible plant defense reaction is the hypersensitive response. In the hypersensitive
response, cells undergo rapid necrosis ― that is, they become diseased and die ― after being penetrated by a
parasite; the parasite itself subsequently ceases to grow and is therefore restricted to one or a few cells around
the entry site. Several theories have been put forward to explain the bases of hypersensitive resistance.
Question 36. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The success of parasites in resisting plant defense mechanisms
B. Theories on active plant defense mechanisms
C. How plant defense mechanisms function
D. How the immune system of animals and the defense mechanisms of plants differ
Question 37. The phrase "subject to" is closest in meaning to _______.
A. susceptible to B. classified by C. attractive to D. strengthened by
Question 38. The word "puncture" is closest in meaning to _______.
A. pierce B. pinch C. surround D. cover
Question 39. The word "which" refers to _______.
A. tissues B. substances C. barriers D. insects
Question 40. Which of the following substances does the author mention as NOT necessarily being toxic to
the Colorado beetle?
A. resins B. tannins C. glycosides D. alkaloids
Question 41. Why does the author mention "glycoproteins"?
A. To compare plant defense mechanisms to the immune system of animals
B. To introduce the discussion of active defense mechanisms in plants
C. To illustrate how chemicals function in plant defense
D. To emphasize the importance of physical barriers in plant defense
Question 42. The word "dramatic" could best be replaced by_______.
A. striking B. accurate C. consistent D. appealing
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined word or phrase in each
sentence that needs correcting.
Question 43. I worked (A) on an English assignment when (B) Thao called (C) me to break the news (D).
Question 44. Most workers seem (A) to be happy with (B) its new (C) working conditions (D).
Question 45. At the beginning of (A) the ceremony, there was a (B) respectable one-minute silence (C) in
remembrance of the victims of the (D) earthquake.
Mark the letter А, B, C,or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to
each ofthefollowing questions.
Question 46: I am sure he did not know that his brother graduated with flying colors.
A. He cannot have known that his brother graduated with very high marks.
B. He may not know that his brother is flying gradually up in a colorful balloon.
C. That his brother graduated with flying colors must have been appreciated by him.
D. He should not have been envious of his brother’s achievement.
Question 47: The table and the desk are of the same size.
A. The table is bigger than the desk. B. The table is not as big as the desk.
C. The desk is bigger than the table. D. The table is as big as the desk.
Question 48: She asked if I had passed the English test the week before.
A. “Had you passed the English test the week before?” she asked.
B. “Have you passed the English test the week before?” she asked.
C. “Did you pass the English test last week?” she asked.
D . “Have you passed the English test the last week?” she asked.
Mark the letter А, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair
of sentences in thefollowing questions.
Question 49: He is short-sighted. Therefore, he has to wear the glasses.
A. If he isn’t short-sighted, he won’t have to wear the glasses.
B. If he hadn’t been short-sighted, he wouldn’t have had to wear the glasses,
C. If he weren’t short-sighted, he wouldn’t have to wear the glasses.
D. Should he not be short-sighted, he won’t have to wear the glasses.
Question 50: Mike became a father. He felt a strong sense of responsibility towards his parents.
A. Were Mike to become a father himself, he would feel a strong sense of responsibility towards his parents.
B. Only after Mike had become a father himself did he feel a strong sense of responsibility towards his
parents.
C. Had Mike become a father himself, he would have felt a strong sense of responsibility towards his
parents.
D. Not until he felt a strong sense of responsibility towards his parents did Mike become a father himself.
PART B
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from
the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.
Question 1: A. kiss B. kite C. hit D. pink
Question 2: A. though B. throw C. thumb D. thin
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in
the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.
Question 3: A. knowledge B. fiction C. campaign D. trailer
Question 4: A. attraction B. appearance C. apartment D. applicant
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.
Question 5: He is capable ______ playing chess at an international level.
A. about B. to C. at D. of
Question 6: What do you want for dinner? I need you to ______ a decision so that I can start cooking.
A. make B. have C. go D. do
Question 7: The concert ______ by thousands of people as I predict.
A. is attending B. will be attended C. will have attended D. attended
Question 8: Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” in 1605, ______?
A. didn't he B. doesn't he C. hasn't be D. won't he
Question 9: My mother lost her purse when she ______ in a crowded street.
A. is crossing B. crossed C. crosses D. was crossing
Question 10: ______, we will travel to Da Nang.
A. When the epidemic is over B. When the epidemic will be over
C. When the epidemic had been over D. When the epidemic was over
Question 11: It was the only available restaurant in the area but he turned his nose ______ because he thought
it was not good enough for him.
A. up B. down C. on D. above
Question 12: The museum’s collection of paintings is often ______ than its collection of sculptures.
A. most impressive B. impressive C. more impressive D. the most impressive
Question 13: Vietnam Airlines regretted ______ the cancellation of the flight VA270887 to Ho Chi Minh city.
A. announcing B. to announce C. announce D. to announcing
Question 14: The police officers have ______ the search for the missing baby until dawn tomorrow.
A. put out B. brought on C. put off D. looked after
Question 15: An ______ system of fuel must be found to save the environment.
A. economy B. economically C. economical D. economics
Question 16: Ferdinand Marcos, ______ to leave the Philippines after allegations of stealing foreign aid and
treasury money, died in exile in Hawaii.
A. was forced B. forced C. having forced D. was forcing
Question 17: There will be a brief ______ in the proceedings while the piano is moved into place.
A. pause B. blank C. fall D. wait
Question 18: Despite how troublesome they could be, my uncle's always had a ______ spot for his children.
A. warm B. kind C. good D. soft
Question 19: The couple's first dance was a beautiful expression of ______ love for each other.
A. the B. 0 (no article) C. an D. a
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best completes each of the
following exchanges.
Question 20: Mrs. Mai is at the bookstore. She is asking to see the latest novel.
- Mrs. Mai: “Could I see that latest novel?” - The shopkeeper: “______”
A. No, thanks. B. Certainly! Madam. C. It is expensive. D. You are so kidding!
Question 21: Jim and Laura are talking about how to keep fit.
- Jim: “Do you agree that physical exercises can keep our body fit?” - Laura: “______.”
A. Of course not B. I’m not with you there C. There’s no doubt about that D. That’s very surprising
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
Question 22: I knew he just made several flattering remarks on me because he wanted to borrow some money.
A. teasing B. discouraging C. praising D. threatening
Question 23: Living in a big city has some drawbacks like pollution, traffic, crime, and high costs.
A. benefits B. disadvantages C. conveniences D. specialties
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
Question 24: One of the main goals of ASEAN is to promote peace and stability through the establishment of
fair and equitable relationships between countries in the region.
A. injustice B. mutual C. broken D. uneasy
Question 25: Although she was new to the company, she wasn't afraid to make waves and speak up about the
unfair treatment of her coworkers, ultimately leading to positive changes in the workplace.
A. obey her new boss B. have an argument C. ask for a pay rise D. keep quiet
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to
each of the following questions.
Question 26: It’s forbidden to touch the statues in the museum.
A. You should touch the statues in the museum. B. You mustn’t touch the statues in the museum.
C. You can’t touch the statues in the museum. D. You need to touch the statues in the museum.
Question 27: The last time I traveled abroad was last summer.
A. I didn’t travel abroad last summer. B. It’s last summer since I didn’t travel abroad.
C. I have traveled abroad since last summer. D. I have not traveled abroad since last summer.
Question 28: "What time do you usually wake up?" asked my roommate.
A. My roommate asked me what time did I usually wake up.
B. My roommate asked me what time I usually woke up.
C. My roommate asked me what time I usually wake up.
D. My roommate asked me what time had I usually woken up.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in
each of the following questions.
Question 29: Scarecrows help farmers save their crops from hungry birds in ancient time.
A. their B. from C. help D. time
Question 30: The students should review the regulations of the exam before sitting for them.
A. before B. The C. regulations D. them
Question 31: Confusion and certainty are the major characteristics of the permissible society according to the
conservative historians.
A. permissible B. to C. the D. are
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of
sentences in the following questions.
Question 32: I don’t have a spare ticket. I can’t take you to the concert.
A. As long as I have a spare ticket, I can take you to the concert.
B. If I had had a spare ticket, I could have taken you to the concert.
C. If I had a spare ticket, I could take you to the concert.
D. If I have a spare ticket, I can take you to the concert.
Question 33: Using e-cigarettes is forbidden in schools because of its harmful effects. There is no
exception whatsoever.
A. On no account are students in schools allowed to use e-cigarettes because of its harmful effects.
B. Under no circumstances were students in schools allowed to use e-cigarettes because of its harmful effects.
C. At no time are students in schools banned from using e-cigarettes because of its harmful effects.
D. By no means were students in schools banned from using e-cigarettes because of its harmful effects.
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 34 to 38.
When asked where they prefer to shop, (34) ______ students replied that they are keen on flea markets. You
can pick up a large variety of items: clothes, antiques, plants, second-hand furniture, rugs- just about anything
you can think of. For example, you can find fabulous vintage clothing at very low prices, so you come away
feeling you’ve found a great bargain worth much more than what you paid.
Beware, (35) ______, as you have to pay in cash and you are often not given a receipt for the items you buy.
This can be a problem if the item is faulty as you will not have a (36) ______. Of course, you often get great
value for money but if you want to return an item for some reason, the (37) ______ are rarely willing to give
you a refund. As there is no price tag on the item (38) ______ you buy, the seller can’t be expected to remember
how much they sold it to you.
Question 34: A. each B. many C. much D. every
Question 35: A. however B. therefore C. although D. otherwise
Question 36: A. protection B. guarantee C. quality D. diversity
Question 37: A. buyers B. customers C. guests D. vendors
Question 38: A. where B. when C. which D. who
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions from 39 to 43.
A gift card is a card that is issued by a particular store. It’s worth a certain amount of money. It looks like a
credit card, but it actually works like cash. A gift-card holder can spend the amount of money noted on the
card in the store that issued it. These cards are big money makers for retail companies. One reason is that
when gift-card holders go to the store, they often see other things to buy, and they end up spending more
money than the gift card is worth. Unused cards are another big source of revenue. Companies make millions
of dollars because large numbers of people never use their cards. They either lose them, forget about them, or
decide that it’s not worth the effort.
Gift cards are becoming extremely popular in many countries around the world. In the United States, they are
one of the most popular types of gifts. Why? People love the convenience – cards are easy to buy and easy to
use, either in the store or online. The recipient can select his or her own gift, and the giver does not have to
worry about finding just the right thing.
Question 39: What is the passage mainly about?
A. Facts about gift cards B. How to use credit cards
C. Why gift cards are popular D. Another form of cash
Question 40: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. It is convenient to give and use gift cards.
B. Gift cards are gaining popularity in the world.
C. Companies make large profits from gift cards.
D. Unused cards are considered worthless.
Question 41: The word “they” in paragraph 1 refers to ______.
A. Gift-card holders B. Unused cards C. Companies D. Credit cards
Question 42: Which of the following can be an explanation for the popularity of gift cards?
A. People appreciate the convenience. B. Cards are not easy to buy.
C. Gift cards can only be bought online. D. The givers can choose their own gifts.
Question 43: The word recipient in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. receiver B. sender C. buyer D. donor
Read the following and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions from 44 to 50.
A large number of inventions require years of arduous research and development before they are perfected.
For instance, Thomas Edison had to make more than 1,000 attempts to invent the incandescent light bulb
before he finally succeeded. History is replete with numerous other examples of people trying, yet failing to
make inventions before they eventually succeeded. Yet some inventions have come about not through hard
work but simply by accident.
In most cases, when someone unintentionally invented something, the inventor was attempting to create
something else. For example, in the 1930s, chemist Roy Plunkett was attempting to make a new substance
that could be used to refrigerate items. He mixed some chemicals together. Then, he put them into a
pressurized container and cooled the mixture. By the time his experiment was complete, he had a new
invention. It was not a new substance that could be used for refrigeration though. Instead, he had invented
Teflon, which is today most commonly used to make nonstick pots and pans. Similarly, decades earlier, John
Pemberton was a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia. He was attempting to create a tonic that people could use
whenever they had headaches. While he was not successful in that endeavor, he managed to invent Coca -
Cola, the world - famous carbonated soft drink.
Scientists have also made crucial discoveries by accident when they were conducting experiments. In
1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, an antibiotic, in this manner. He discovered some mold
growing in a dish with some bacteria. He noticed that the bacteria seemed to be avoiding the mold. When he
investigated further, he determined some of the many useful properties of penicillin, which has saved
millions of lives over the past few decades. Likewise, in 1946, scientist Percy Spencer was conducting an
experiment with microwaves. He had a candy bar in his pocket, and he noticed that it suddenly melted. He
investigated and learned the reason why that had happened. Soon afterward, he built a device that could
utilize microwaves to heat food: the microwave oven.
Question 44: Which title best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
A. History's Most Important Inventions
B. Accidental Inventions and Discoveries
 C. How to Become a Great Inventor
D. You Don't Always Get What You Want
Question 45: In paragraph 1, the word arduous is closest in meaning to _______.
A. detailed B. tough C. specific D. constant
Question 46: In paragraph 2, the word endeavor is closest in meaning to _______.
A. research B. dream C. request D. attempt
Question 47: What does the author say about Teflon?
A. People first used it as a refrigeration device B. It was created many years before Coca-Cola
C. The man who made it was a pharmacist D. It is used for kitchenware nowadays
Question 48: Who was John Pemberton?
A. The person who made Teflon B. The creator of Coca-Cola
C. The man who discovered penicillin D. The inventor of the microwave
Question 49: The author uses Alexander Fleming as an example of ________.
A. one of the most famous inventors in history
B. a person who made an accidental scientific discovery
C. someone who became a millionaire from his invention
D. a man who dedicated his life to medical science
Question 50: What does the author imply about penicillin?
A. Doctors seldom use it nowadays. B. Some people are not affected by it.
C. It is an invaluable medical supply. D. Mold combines with bacteria to make it.