May 31st

Read the following passage and mark the better 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 1 to 7.
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 of the following do music arrangers probably NOT do?
A. decide how fast or slow a song will be
B. decide the price of the CD
C. decide which pitch to use
D. decide which instrument to use
Question 2. Which piece of equipment is used at the end of the recording process?
A. a microphone C. a multi-track recorder
B. a guitar or piano D. a mixing board
Question 3. The word classic in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to________
A. a modern song C. a famous song
B. a lively song D. a traditional song
Question 4. The word capture in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to_______.
A. compose B. record C. download D. share
Question 5. It can be inferred from the passage that_______.
A. having a famous person sing a song will usually make it successful
B. studio musicians would be more successful as members of one musical group
C. it is important to buy albums made by performing artists who are not yet famous
D. people are often unaware of the amount of work that goes into creating music
Question 6. The word they in paragraph 4 refers to________.
A. instruments C. artists
B. stars D. backgrounds
Question 7. What is the article mainly about?
A. people who play a background role in creating music
B. songwriting teams who combine their talents
C. instrumentalists who work as hired musicians
D. pop stars who write the biggest hits
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 8 to 12.
Write the Perfect Crime Novel
Most people are born with the natural ability to tell stories, ___(8)___ only a rare few have the determination to
become professional authors, and even fewer have the joy of seeing their novels top the list of bestselling books.
Some of the world's famous crime writers have ___(9)___ the greatest success of all.
Who can deny the appeal of famous detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot? Even if you
haven't read the ___(10)___ books you will have seen them in films or on the TV. If you have an ambition to
become the next Agatha Christie what should you do? The best starting point is to read ___(11)___ of examples
of crime fiction written by good authors. You will need a notebook to carry around with you or, even better,
some loose sheets of paper ___(12)___ you can make notes on and then file into a folder. After all, the most
everyday situation -for example, watching a woman get off a train - may be the inspiration for your first
bestseller.
Question 8. Question 9. Question 10. Question 11. Question 12.
A. but A. made A. initial A. little A. that
B. or B. achieved B. first B. lots B. where
C. because C. wrote C. original C. much C. who
D. so D. put D. early D. every D. when
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 13. With the final examinations coming very soon his anxiety was rising to almost unbearable limits.
A. boredom B. calmness C. sadness D. worry
Question 14. If you want to attend this evening's event, you should look the part. There are a lot of celebrities
there.
A. remember the scripts C. dress in an unsuitable way
B. wear formal clothes D. forget what to say
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 15. The train arrived at the station. Shortly after that the passengers rushed towards it.
A. Only after the passengers rushed towards the station did the train arrive.
B. Had the train arrived at the station, the passengers could have rushed towards it.
C. Not until the passengers had rushed towards the station did the train arrive.
D. Scarcely had the train arrived at the station when the passengers rushed towards it.
Question 16. Mary doesn't come to class today. She contracts a serious illness.
A. Provided that Mary contracts a serious illness, she will come to class today.
B. If Mary didn't contract a serious illness, she would come to class today.
C. In case Mary didn't contract a serious illness, she wouldn't come to class today.
D. Unless Mary had contracted a serious illness, she wouldn't come to class today.
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 17.
A. mice B. side C. bite D. link
Question 18.
A. they B. than C. thin D. that
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 19. It is unnecessary for you to finish the report until tomorrow afternoon.
A. You may finish the report after tomorrow afternoon.
B. You have to finish the report until tomorrow afternoon.
C. You shouldn't finish the report until tomorrow afternoon.
D. You needn't finish the report until tomorrow afternoon.
Question 20. I last drove to work in 2000.
A. I didn't drive to work in 2000. C. I have driven to work since 2000.
B. I haven't driven to work since 2000. D. I started driving to work in 2000.
Question 21. Tom said: "Why do you keep staring at me, Janet?"
A. Tom asked Janet why did she keep staring at him.
B. Tom asked Janet why she had kept staring at him.
C. Tom asked Janet why she keeps staring at him.
D. Tom asked Janet why she kept staring at him.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.
Question 22. You'll get a better______ of exchange at our bank in a few days.
A. rat C. worth
B. value D. charge
Question 23. His bag is on the table,________?
A. isn't it B. did it C. does it D. wasn't it
Question 24. If you_______ the rules, you will be excluded from the game immediately.
A. break B. make C. take D. miss
Question 25. Sandy stole my_______ when she announced that she was pregnant two days before I'd planned to
tell people about my pregnancy.
A. light B. sun C. storm D. thunder
Question 26. To many children, playing computer games is a form of ________.
A. relax B. relaxation C. relaxingly D. relaxed
Question 27. They_________ the floor when their mother came home.
A. cleaned B. were cleaning C. clean D. are cleaning
Question 28. John will start doing homework _______.
A. when he finished his lunch C. after he had finished his lunch
B. as soon as he finishes his lunch D. before he finished his lunch
Question 29. We need to do this________ than we are at the moment.
A. more quickly C. quickly
B. the quickest D. most quickly
Question 30. Over the past few days, social media users in Vietnam have been sharing photos_________ by AI
avatar, which is a part of the Zalo messaging app.
A. was created B. created C. create D. creating
Question 31. I could hear voices but I couldn't_______ what they were saying.
A. turn up C. try out
B. make out D. bring about
Question 32. He promises_______ the assignment before 5p.m.
A. submit B. to submit C. to submitting D. submitting
Question 33. Many new roads in my neighborhood_______ by foreign workers next month.
A. have built B. build C. will be built D. built
Question 34. Her new apartment is different_______ her old one.
A. to B. for C. of D. from
Question 35. My brother used to work as_________ doctor in this hospital.
A. the B. no article C. a D. an
Question 36. The General refused to________ the possibility of defeats.
A. entertain B. navigate C. introduce D. stimulate
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best completes each of the
following exchanges.
Question 37. Laura and Michael are talking about their school rules.
- Laura: "I think that all students must wear uniforms at school."
- Michael: “_______. Wearing uniforms helps students feel equal in many ways."
A. I disagree with you C. There is no doubt about it
B. I can't agree with you D. I don't think so.
Question 38. Hung is talking to Lam at recess.
- Hung: "Would you like to have dinner with me?"
- Lam: “_______”
A. Yes, so do I C. Yes, I'd love to
B. Yes, it is D. Don't mention it
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word in each of the following questions.
Question 39. The businessman inspected the contract carefully before signing it.
A. judged B. checked C. ignored D. restored
Question 40. Her graceful performance of this traditional art form in the evening session was a real source of
pleasure.
A. negative B. harmful C. elegant D. simple
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 41.
A. prevention B. urbanised C. entity D. graduate
Question 42.
A. hometown B. village C. father D. hotel
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 43 to 47.
Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; others make it happen...
Gregg Bleakney's dream was to travel the Americas from top to bottom. He got the idea after he finished a 1,600
kilometer (1,000 mile) bike ride. Gregg's friend, Brooks Allen, was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and slowly
formed a plan they would travel from Alaska to Argentina by bike. To pay for the trip, Gregg and Brooks worked
and saved their money for years. Once they were on the road, they often camped outdoors or stayed in hostels.
In many places, local people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them food.
During their trip, Gregg and Brooks cycled through deserts, rainforests, and mountains. They visited modern
cities and ancient-ruins such as Machu Picchu in Peru. And everywhere they went, they met other cyclists from all
over the world. In May 2007-two years, twelve countries, and over 30,500 km (19,000 mites) later-Gregg
eventually reached Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. (Near Guatemala, Brooks had to
return to the U.S., and Gregg continued without him.)
The trip taught both men a lot about traveling, especially if you travel abroad. What did they learn? Here is some
of Gregg's advice:
Travel light. The less baggage you have, the less you'll worry about.
Be flexible. Don't plan everything. Then you'll be more relaxed and happy, especially if there are problems.
Be polite. As one traveller told Gregg, "Always remember that nobody wants to fight, cheat, or rob a nice guy."
Question 43. Which sentence about Gregg and Brooks' trip is NOT true?
A. Only Gregg made the complete trip from Alaska to Argentina.
B. To pay for the trip, they saved their money and traveled cheaply on the road.
C. During their trip, they met people from all over the world.
D. In Guatemala, Gregg got sick and went back to the U.S.A.
Question 44. Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. The Southernmost City in the World
B. Things to See and Do in Alaska-and Argentina
C. Cycling the Americas from Top to Bottom
D. Argentina: The Land of Adventure
Question 45. The word flexible in the passage is closest in meaning to_______.
A. able to change easily C. well-planned
B. careful D. difficult
Question 46. In the second paragraph, the word their refers to_______.
A. hostels B. local people C. places D. Gregg and Brooks
Question 47. Where did Greg and Brooks stay at night when they were on the road?
A. They stayed in ancient buildings.
B. They camped outdoors or stayed in hostels.
C. They stayed at a local family.
D. They stayed in the rainforests.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs corrections in
each of the following questions.
Question 48. These clothes are being sold at a discount, but fewpeople buy it.
A. few B. being C. it D. at
Question 49. Last summer, I spend all my vacation in the countryside with my parents.
A. my vacation C. with
B. the D. spend
Question 50. Predictable cruise control uses GPS technology to determine the exact position of the vehicle and
to know which driving conditions have to be taken into account.
A. exact B. conditions C. account D. Predictable

MAY 31ST
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 1. Tiana forgets to bring her notebook to the biology class yesterday morning.
A. to B. forgets C. biology D. morning
Question 2. My family and my job both play an important part in my life, fulfilling separate
but complimentary needs.
A. important B. complimentary C. fulfilling D. both play
Question 3. Many living organisms depend largely on the environment for the satisfaction of its needs.
A. its B. on C. Many D. satisfaction
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.
Question 4. The movie_______ by Steven Spielberg won several awards at the film festival last year.
A. directing B. directed C. direct D. to direct
Question 5. Park Hang-seo, who was the head coach of_______ Vietnam national football team, is a new idol of
many people.
A. an B. a C. the D. Ø
Question 6. Sharon and Matt were at the party last night,_______?
A. weren't they C. were they
B. didn't they D. did they
Question 7. After they________ lunch, they went for a walk in the park.
A. have finished B. finishing
C. had finished D. finishes
Question 8. Ms. Lan will visit her parents_______.
A. as soon as she had returned from her trip C. after she returns from her trip
B. when she was returning from her trip D. until she returned from her trip
Question 9. Before I buy tickets for a show I always read the_______ in the newspapers to make sure it's worth
seeing.
A. reviews C. articles
B. headlines D. advertisements
Question 10. If she studied harder, she_______ her exams with flying colors.
A. will have passed C. would pass
B. would have passed D. will pass
Question 11. I applied for the job and was asked to______ an interview the following day.
A. receive B. perform C. attend D. visit
Question 12. Sharon and Matt are having a party to_______ their wedding anniversary.
A. recognize B. celebrate C. remember D. invite
Question 13. Before the deadline, we should_______ our plans and make sure everyone knows their roles in the
project.
A. finalisation B. finally C. finalise D. final
Question 14. True friends stay by your side through_______, regardless of challenges faced.
A. safe and sound C. thick and thin
B. high and low D. up and down
Question 15. The sooner John takes your medicine,_______ he will feel.
A. the better B. better C. the good D. the best
Question 16. Many children are_______ by their grandparents when their parents are unable to care for them.
A. grown up B. given up C. taken up D. brought up
Question 17. Susan is quite familiar_________ the company's policies after attending the orientation session.
A. with B. by C. in D. for
Question 18. _______ the noise outside, she managed to concentrate on her studies.
A. Although B. Because of C. Despite D. Because
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 19. The singer had many hit songs in 2007, but her popularity has faded in recent years.
A. remembered B. sold C. disappeared D. increased
Question 20. Nobody will want to be friends with you if you are considered beyond the pale in your social circle.
A. impressive B. normal C. acceptable D. tolerable
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.
POWER POSING FOR CONFIDENCE
Some people are born confident and others aren't, right? Perhaps not. Psychologist Amy Cuddy thinks that we
can become more confident simply by changing our body language.
Studies have shown that our body language - how we sit, stand and move around - has an important effect on
how other people view us. For example, if you cross your arms and look away, people will probably think you're
not interested in what's going on. According to Cuddy, your pose can also affect how confident you feel. If you
avoid eye contact and hunch your back, you'll feel less confident.
So, how can you increase your self-confidence? One way is by doing what Cuddy calls 'the power pose'. Stand up
straight, legs apart, with your hands on your hips, and hold this pose for two minutes whenever you need a
confidence boost. Afterwards, you should feel much more confident. Power posing is especially useful before job
interviews, and it also proves beneficial for public speaking.
Changing our body language isn't very hard to do and there are many benefits that come with it. Improving your
body language can help improve your self-confidence and give other people a good impression of you.
(Adapted from Keynote Elementary. Workbook. Ben Cevik with Steve Longworth)
Question 21. The passage is mainly about______.
A. a theory on body language and confidence C. the benefits of confidence in body language
B. how to naturally increase confidence D. techniques for successful public speaking
Question 22. According to paragraph 1, there is a link between_______.
A. personality traits and confidence C. intelligence and confidence
B. genetics and confidence levels D. body language and confidence
Question 23. The word "view" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to_______.
A. regard B. observe C. change D. ignore
Question 24. The word "it" in paragraph 3 refers to_______.
A. a job interview C. a confidence boost
B. self-confidence D. power posing
Question 25. According to the passage, to boost our confidence, we can do all of the following actions
EXCEPT_______.
A. stand up straight with hands on hips
B. maintain eye contact
C. practice power posing
D. cross arms and look away
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 26.
A. snow B. town C. bowl D. show
Question 27.
A. washed B. helped C. cleaned D. laughed
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Maybe that's why many people may be open to
trying foreign food at lunch or dinner, but they're not adventurous enough to experiment with anything new at
breakfast. But what about you? Below, we look at typical breakfasts in some different countries. Would you have
them or are they too spicy, too fattening or just too different?
The traditional breakfast in South Korea is rice and soup. People then choose extra dishes to go with it such as
grilled fish, vegetables and kimchi, which is pickled cabbage with chilies. Kimchi is so popular that the first
Korean astronaut took some with him to the international space station! Of course, these days, many Koreans
have such busy lifestyles they don't have enough time to make breakfast and just grab a quick coffee and some
cereal or toast.
Breakfast in Bulgaria includes tea or strong coffee, sesame bread and butter, cheese made from sheep's milk,
honey, olives, boiled eggs and- most importantly - kiselo mlyako, a local yoghurt. Bulgaria has a lot of people
aged over 100 and many believe that the secret behind this is their yoghurt, which most Bulgarians eat every
day.
Many Costa Ricans start their day with the national dish, gallo pinto, which is a mixture of fried rice and black
beans. It's lightly spiced and often served with fried plantain (a kind of banana used like a vegetable in a lot of
Central American and Caribbean cooking), cream and fried eggs. There's usually some strong local coffee as
well-or perhaps some agua dulce ('sweet water"), which is made from sugar cane juice.
(Adapted from Outcomes, Pre-Intermediate by Kathryn, Aldridge-Morris)
Question 28. Which of the following can be the main idea of the passage?
A. comparing breakfast recipes in different cultures
B. encouraging readers to try new foods for breakfast
C. discussing the health benefits of various breakfast foods
D. exploring traditional breakfasts from different countries
Question 29. The phrase 'experiment with' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______
A. produce B. change C. detect D. test
Question 30. The word 'grab' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to________.
A. take quickly C. prepare gradually
B. obtain carefully D. purchase briefly
Question 31. The word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to_______
A. lifestyles C. extra dishes
B. rice and soup D. South Koreans
Question 32. According to paragraph 3, Bulgaria has more and more centenarians due to_______.
A. their traditional breakfast C. their healthy lifestyle
B. their local yoghurt D. their strong coffee
Question 33. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A. Fried plantain is a banana used as a vegetable in South American cooking.
B. South Koreans opt for a quick coffee and cereal due to busy lifestyles.
C. Costa Ricans typically start their day with gallo pinto and strong coffee.
D. Bulgaria attributes the longevity of its people to daily consumption of kiselo mlyako.
Question 34. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Breakfast habits are influenced by cultural preferences in various countries.
B. Costa Ricans prefer a light breakfast with minimal ingredients.
C. Bulgarian yoghurt consumption leads to a longer lifespan of more than 100 people.
D. South Koreans have busy lifestyles and often skip breakfast.
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.
Xie Qiuping is the Chinese woman ___(35)___ holds the record for the longest head hair in the world. When the
Guinness Book of Records ___(36)___ it in 2004, it was 5.627 metres long. The height of a giraffe is only a little
more than that.
Xie Qiuping had her last haircut over 45 years ago when she was thirteen years old and she doesn't want to cut it
ever again. She decided to stop cutting it because her mother told her that girls with long hair are more
attractive than ___(37)___ girls with short hair. Then, she realized that she really liked having long hair.
Xie is a friendly and easy-going person, ___(38)___ she doesn't have a problem with people in the street who ask
if they can touch her hair. People ask her how she manages her hair and she tells them that having extremely
long hair is ___(39)___ for her now and she makes sure she has enough time to wash and brush it.
Question 35. Question 36. Question 37. Question 38. Question 39.
A. whom A. recorded A. the others A. also A. normal
B. who B. noted B. another B. but B. unique
C. which C. measured C. other C. so C. common
D. whose D. counted D. others D. or D. regular
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 stress in each of the following questions.
Question 40.
A. popular B. efficient C. hazardous D. generous
Question 41.
A. happen B. explain C. support D. achieve
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 42. When my headphones broke, I couldn't figure out how to fix them.
A. explain B. report C. decide D. understand
Question 43. Scientists are claiming that the new medicine will be able to cure countless diseases.
A. many B. minor C. limited D. essential
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best completes each of
the following exchanges.
Question 44. Ann is making a suggestion for this Saturday afternoon.
- Ann: "Shall we go for a walk in the park this Saturday afternoon?"
- Mai: "_____________. And let's bring some snacks with us."
A. I'm sorry, but I can't C. I don't feel like it
B. Thank you very much D. That's a good idea
Question 45. Lucci and Fiona are talking about their project.
- Lucci: "I believe that we should start working on the project early to avoid last-minute stress."
- Fiona: "_________. The sooner the better!"
A. I'm afraid I disagree C. You're welcome
B. That's not true D. You're right
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 46. The black dress is more expensive than the white one.
A. The white dress isn't as expensive as the black one.
B. The black dress is less expensive than the white one.
C. The black dress isn't as expensive as the white one.
D. The white dress is more expensive than the black one.
Question 47. Tom said, "I'll give you this book back tomorrow, Mary."
A. Tom told Mary that he would give her this book back tomorrow.
B. Tom said to Mary that she will give him that book back the next day.
C. Tom told Mary that he would give her that book back the next day.
D. Tom told Mary that I would give you that book back the next day.
Question 48. It's six years since I last went abroad.
A. I have gone abroad for six years. C. I haven't gone abroad for six years.
B. I have six years to go abroad. D. I didn't go abroad six years ago.
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 49. David is unemployed, so he can't book this flight by himself.
A. If David booked this flight by himself, he would be unemployed.
B. David could book this flight by himself if he were unemployed.
C. If it were not for David's unemployment, he could book this flight by himself.
D. Provided David were unemployed, he could book this flight by himself.
Question 50. We had reached the top of the mountain. We realized how far we had come.
A. Scarcely we had reached the top of the mountain did we realize how far we had come.
B. Hardly had we reached the top of the mountain than we realized how far we had come.
C. Not until had we reached the top of the mountain that we realized how far we had come.
D. No sooner had we reached the top of the mountain than we rePalized how far we had come.