tài liệu thi công chức anh văn 2014 reading comprehension

III. Reading comprehension:
Passage 1
Our growing need for food, goods and energy has had many harmful effects on the
environment.
Gases produced by cars, power stations and factories cause acid rain, which kills
trees and damages buildings. By using more environmentally – friendly forms of transport,
we help reduce this form of pollution.
A layer of carbon dioxide and other gases traps heat and keeps the earth at the right
temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect. By burning fossil fuels we are producing
too much carbon dioxide, which is causing temperatures to rise gradually. This global
warming could lead to dramatic changes in climate.
A layer of a gas called zone protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Certain chemicals used in industry, such as CFCs, have caused a hole to develop in the
ozone layer. The increased levels of ultraviolet radiation damage plants and sea life, and
increase the risk of skin cancer.
Most of the energy we use to heat and light buildings, run machines, etc. is made by
burning fossil fuels. This will eventually run out, so we need to use more alternative sources
of energy, such as wind and solar power that are renewable and do not pollute the air. We
should also avoid wasting energy by using less electricity and water and insulating our
houses.
We are destroying our forests, which produce oxygen and provide habitats for
animals and birds. Deforestation also allows rain to wash away the soil, making the land
useless for growing things. We pollute water by dumping waste from factories and houses,
and by accidentally spilling chemicals and oil. Chemical fertilizers damage rivers and lakes
by causing a layer of tiny plants, called algae, to cover the surface of the water. Organic
farming does not harm the water supply.
Burying rubbish in landfills can let harmful chemicals leak through the ground into
rivers, and it uses a lot of land. Burning rubbish adds to global warming. By sorting out
rubbish for recycling, we can cut down on waste.
1. The passage is mainly about Environmental problems.
A. Man and Nature

B. How we should use the exciting sources of energy.
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C. Environmental problems
D. Rubbish recycling
2. Acid rain is caused by gases emitted from car exhausts and factories.
A. gases emitted from car exhausts and factories.
B. The burning of rubbish
C. The burying of rubbish
D. Ultraviolet radiation.
3. Skin cancer may be caused by Ultraviolet radiation.
A. the global warming.
B. Acid rain
C. Air pollution
D. Ultraviolet radiation.
4. We should use more alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar power
because they Will not run out and do not pollute the air.
A. are cheaper.
B. Will not run out and do not pollute the air.
C. Are easier to get.
D. Can be recycled.
5. If we destroy forests, Wildlife and farming will be affected.
A. animals and birds will have no place to live.
B. Rivers and lakes will be polluted.
C. Wildlife and farming will be affected.
D. Our wood supply will run out.
Passage 2:
In his book “The Making of the President”, 1960, Theodore White made some
insightful observations about the television debates between Kennedy and Nixon .He
contended that the debates had to be analyzed within the context of the explosion in the field
of the communications. During the previous debate, Americans had purchased television

sets at a phenomenal rate. By the evening of the debate, 88 percent of all American families
owned a television set, and a very large percentage turned into the debate.
The format was really less like a debate than like a press conference. Each candidate
was allowed an opening statement of eight minutes, and then two and a half minutes to
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respond to each question proposed by a panel. There was no provision for dialogue between
the candidates. As White observed, despite this format, Nixon proceeded as though he was
in a personal debates with Kennedy, trying to score points from the reporters on the panel.
In contrast, Kennedy spoke directly to the television viewers, concentrating on creating a
dynamic and appealing image in order to influence them.
Later Kennedy claimed that the debate were the single most important factor in the
election. In White’s view the debates did change the direction of the campaign. From
research studies, Including Gallup Poll, it appeared that Kennedy had gained at least 2
million votes as a result of the televised programs. When you consider that Kennedy won by
a little more than 100,000 votes, the debates had to have made the difference. It has been
clear to candidates since then that television debates are a very powerful tool.
6. What is the author’s main point?
A. Television should be removed from politics
B. The Gallup Poll was an accurate predictor of the 1960 election
C. Kennedy’s style in the TV debate affected the outcome of the election
D. Eight-eight percent of all Americans owned televisions in 1960
7. How many votes did Kennedy gain as a result of the debate?
A. 88 percent B. 100,000
C. 1,960,000 D. 2 million
8. The author mentions all the following as characteristics of the debate except:
A. A large television audience
B. A dialogue between the candidates
C. An opening statement by each candidate
D. Questions by a panel of reporters
9. The word “dynamic” in line 16 is closest in meaning to

A. intelligent B. energetic
C. attractive D. conventional
10. The word “them” in line 17 refers to
A. candidates B. reporters
C. viewers D. points
Passage 1
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The legal limit for driving after drinking alcohol is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100
millilitres of blood, when tested. But there is no sure way of telling how much you can drink
before you reach this limit. It varies with person depending on your weight, your sex, if
you’ve just eaten and what sort of drinks you’ve had. Some people reach their limit after
only three standard drinks.
In fact, your driving ability can be affected by just one or two drinks. Even if you’re
below the legal limit, you could be still taken to court if a police officer thinks your driving
has been affected by alcohol.
It takes about an hour for the body to get rid of the alcohol in one standard drink. So,
if you have a heavy drinking session in the evening you might find that your driving ability
is still affected the next morning, or you could even find that you’re still over the legal limit.
In addition, if you’ve had a few drinks at lunchtime, another one or two drinks in the early
evening may well put you over the legal limit.
In the test with professional drivers, the more alcohol drinks they had had the more
certain they were that they could drive a test course through a set of movable posts… and
the less able they were to do it!
So the only way to be sure you’re safe is not to drink at all.
Alcohol is a major cause of road traffic accidents. One in three of the drivers killed in
road accidents have levels of alcohol which are over the legal limit, and road accidents after
drinking are the biggest cause of death among young men. More than half of the people
stopped by the police to take a breathalyzer test have a blood alcohol concentration of more
than the legal limit.
It is important to remember that driving after you’ve been drinking doesn’t just affect

you. If you’re involved in an accident in affects a lot of other people as well, not least the
person you might kill or injure.
1. The amount of alcohol a person can drink before reaching the legal limit is
a. 800 mg of pure alcohol,
b. approximately three standard drinks.
c. Different for different people.
d. Exactly proportional to body weight.
2. When might you be taken to court by the police for drinking and driving?
a. When you have driven a vehicle after drinking any alcohol at all.
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b. When you have drunk at least three drinks before driving.
c. Only when tests show that you have 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.
d. When the police think that you have been drinking from the way you
are driving.
3. When you have been drinking heavily in the evening, the next day you might be
a. still drunk until lunchtime.
b. unable to drive until the evening.
c. Over the legal limit in the morning.
d. unable to drive all day.
4. Alcohol is a major cause of road accidents in that
a. most drivers who die in these accidents have been drinking.
b. More young men die in drink-related accidents than in any other way.
c. Drinking affects people’s eye-sight.
d. One in three drivers drink heavily.
5. What does this article urge you to remember particularly about driving after
drinking?
a. You may be taken to court by the police.
b. You are putting yourself in danger.
c. You may hurt another road-user.
d. You put many other people at risk.

Passage 2:
Computer programmer David Jones earns £ 35,000 a year by designing new
computer games, yet he cannot find a bank prepared to let him have a cheque card. Instead,
he has been told to wait another two years, until he is 18.
The 16-year-old boy works for a small firm in Liverpool, where the problem of most
young people of his age is finding a job. David’s firm releases two new games for the
expanding home computer market each month.
But David’s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Despite his salary,
earned by investing new programs within tight schedules, with bonus payments and profit
sharing, he cannot drive a car, take out a mortgage, or obtain credit cards.
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He lives with his parents in their council house in Liverpool, where his father is a bus
driver. His company has to pay £ 150 a month in taxi fares to get him the five miles to work
and back every day because David cannot drive.
David got his job with the Liverpool based company four months ago, a year after
leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job
because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs”, he said. “I
suppose £ 35,000 sounds a lot but actually that’s being pessimistic. I hope it will come to
more than that this year”. He spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives
his mother £20 a week. But, most of his spare time is spent working.
“Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “But I had
been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I
wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are
fairly young, anyway.”
David added: “I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a
possibility. You never know when the market might disappear:.
6. Why is David different from other young people of his age?
A. He earns an extremely high salary
B. He is not unemployed
C. He doesn’t go out much

D. He lives at home with his parents
7. David’s greatest problem is …………………………………
A. making the banks treat him as an adult
B. investing computer games
C. spending his salary
D. learning to drive
8. He was employed by the company because …………………………
A. he had worked in a computer shop
B. he had written some computer programs
C. he works very hard
D. he had learnt to use computers at school
9. He left school after taking O-levels because ………………………………….
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A. he did not enjoy school
B. he wanted to work with computers and staying at school did not help him
C. he was afraid of getting too old to start computing
D. he wanted to earn a lot of money
10. Why does David think he might retire early?
A. You have to be young to write computer programs
B. He wants to stop working when he is a millionaire
C. He thinks computer games might not always sell so well
D. He thinks his firm might go bankrupt
Passage 1:
Unlike the eye, the ear has no lid; therefore noise penetrates without protection .Loud
noises instinctively signal danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including
human beings. In response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate. In fact, there is a general
increase in functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to fear.
Because noise is unavoidable in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly
responding in the same ways that we could respond to danger. Recently, researchers have
concluded that noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance. It may be a

serious threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not only
the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach. We have long known that hearing loss is
America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we are learning that some of us
with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of noise as well.
1. According to the passage, people response to loud noises in the same ways that they
response to
A. annoyance B. danger
C. damage D. disease
2. It can be inferred from this passage that the eye
A. responds to fear.
B. enjoys greater protection than the ear
C. increases functions
D. is damaged by noise.
3. What is the author’s main point?
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A. noise may pose a serious threat to our physical and psychological health
B. Loud noises signal danger
C. Hearing loss is America’s number nonfatal health problem
D. The ear is not like the eye.
4. Noise is
A not a serious problem today
B. America’s number one problem
C. an unavoidable problem in an industrial society
D a complex problem
5. What was the topic of the paragraph that preceded this passage?
A. The eye B. Heart diseases
C. Ulcers D. Fear
Passage 2
Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by
being corrected at the same time: if corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a

thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those
around him use. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other
people. In the same way the children learn to do all the other thing s. They learn to do
without being taught – to – talk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle – compare their own
performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the necessary changes.
But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistake himself, let alone
correct them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a
mistake unless it was pointed out for him or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he
became dependent on teachers. Let him do it himself. Let him work out, with the help of
other children if he wants it. What this word says, what the answer is to that problem,
whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not.
If it is the matter of right answers, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him
the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on
such routine work? Our job should be to help children when he tells us that he can’t find the
way to get the right answer. Let’s end all this nonsense of grades exams, marks. Let us
throw them all out, and let children learn what all educated people must someday learn, how
to measure their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know.
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Let them get on this job in the same way that seems most sensible to them, with our
help as school and used for the rest of one’s life is nonsense in a word as complicated and
rapidly changing as ours. Anxious parents and teacher say, “but suppose they fail to learn
something essential, something they will need to get on in the world?” don’t worry, if it is
essential, they will go out into the world and learn it.
6. What does author think is the best way for children to learn things?
A. By copying what other people do.
B. By making mistakes and having them corrected.
C. By asking questions
D. By answering questions
7. What does the author think teachers should NOT do?
A. They give children correct answer.

B. They point out children’s mistakes for them.
C. They allow children to mark their own work,
D. They encourage children to copy from one another.
8. The passage suggests that learning to speak and to ride a bicycle is………
A. not really an important skill.
B. more important than other skills.
C. basically different from learning to do other things.
D. basically the same as learning other skills.
9. Exams grades, marks should be abolished because children’s progress should only be
estimated by …………………
A. educated persons
B. the children themselves
C. teachers
D. parents
10. The author fears that children will grow up into adults who are ……………
A. too dependent on others
B. too critical of themselves
C. unable to think for themselves
D. unable to use basic skills
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Passage 1:
TRAVELING BY AIR
Air travel is the most common way in which people travel long distance.
International airports are so busy that airplanes are taking off and landing every few
minutes. They can carry as many as 500 passengers at a time. Flying is the fastest way to
far-off destinations.
The very first human flight was made in a balloon built by two French brothers, in
1783. It was able to fly because it contained hot air, which is lighter than cold air. The
balloon floated up into the sky just as a piece of paper is blown upwards by the wind. The
wind blows balloons, and so they cannot be steered in any one direction. Because of this,

airships were invented in the mid-1800s. There were balloon with engines so that flying
direction could be controlled. Unfortunately, many of these airships caught fire during the
flight. As a result, they were never used again after the 1930s.
It is strange to think that at the beginning of this century, no one had ever flown in an
aero plane. However a few brave people were making their test flights in gliders. A German
inventor designed the hang-glider in the 1890s. His experiments helped to show that aircraft
with wings could be controlled in the air.
A few years later, two American brothers built the first aero plane. This was, in fact,
a glider fixed with a small engine. It was called Flyer I, and had his flight in 1903.
Unfortunately, it never flew for longer than a minute. Their aero planes improved quickly,
however, in 1908, Flyer III flew more than 100 kilometers. The next year, a Frenchman
flew from France to England. The aero plane he designed formed the shape of the aero
plane that is used today.
1. Traveling by air is ____________.
A. more expensive than traveling by land or by sea
B. the fastest way of traveling long distances
C. the least common way for people to travel
D. the best way to travel to places nearby
2. Balloons were able to stay up in the air because they _________.
A. were filled with cold air B. used the wind’s strength
C. were lighter than hot air D. were filled with hot air
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3. The difference between airships and balloons is that airships ___________.
A. had an engine B. didn’t catch fire
C. used the wind D. were safer
4. When using a hang glider in the air, the person would ________________.
A. sit on top of it B. lie across the wings
C. stand on top of it D. hang underneath it
5. On its first flight, Flyer I stayed in the air for __________________.
A. just over one kilometer B. about one minute

C. more than 100 kilometers D. over 100 minutes
Passage 2:
Many thousands of children have accidents in their homes. As a result, some children
die. The most common accidents are with the fire and hot water. Small children often touch
pots of boiling water on the stove. The pot falls over and the hot water falls on the children
and burns them. Some children like to play with fire. They enjoy striking matches or
throwing things on fire to make it burn brightly. If the fire gets too big, it gets out of control.
Then the house catches fire. It is very dangerous to play with matches. When a child strikes
a match, the flame soon burns near his fingers. Then he drops the match on the floor. Many
houses catch fire in this way. Some kinds of clothing burn very easily. Many children have
been badly burned because they have stood too near a fire and their clothing has suddenly
caught fire.
Although fire and hot water cause most accidents in the homes, many children cut
themselves with knives. Others get an electric shock. Some children are made very ill from
taking their parents’ medicine. Many small children have to go to hospital every year
because they thought a box of medicine was a box of sweets.
There is only one good way to see to it that (to make sure that) accidents do not
happen in the home. Do not touch anything that is dangerous.
6. What causes most accidents?
A. Fire and matches B. Fire and hot water
C. Pots of boiling water and fat D. Big fire which get out of control
7. What do children often do with lighted matches?
A. Throwing things on the matches to make them burn brighter.
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B. Throw the matches on the fire.
C. Throw them on the floor.
D. Set fire to their clothes.
8. Why has the clothing of children caught fire?
A. Children have been too near a fire.
B. Other children have set fire to their clothing.

C. Some children have dropped matches on their clothing.
D. Hot water has fallen over their clothing.
9. Which one of the following is the cause of many other accidents in the home?
A. playing with electricity B. Eating too many sweets.
C. Sick children playing with things D. Playing tricks on other children
10. What is the best way to see to it that accidents do not happen in the home?
A. Wear clothes that do not burn easily
B. Don’t keep knives and medicine in the house
C. Turn off the electricity supply.
D. Don’t touch anything that appears unsafe.
Passage 1:
Many people from rural areas are leaving behind their traditional way of life and
moving to the city. They believe that well-paying jobs are plentiful in the city.
At home on the farm, life is always a struggle with nature. Typhoons, floods or
droughts can easily destroy a harvest and leave the farmer with little or no money until the
following year. Often farmers look for other work when they need more money for their
family.
The increase in population, however, has led to overcrowding in many cities. This
puts a strain on schools and hospitals, as well as water and electricity supplies. Increased
pollution is another unpleasant result.
There is almost a human side to this tragedy. Families sometimes have to live apart.
In these cases, children may live at home with relatives, while their parents go and live in an
urban area.
Governments all over the world are trying to provide facilities for these migrants, but
it can be quite a problem.
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1. Why are many people leaving their countryside for the city?
A. To get jobs B. Because they like that
C. To avoid their traditional way of life D. Because they believe in people in the city.
2. What is life in rural areas like?

A. Very happy B. Very hard
C. Very comfortable D. Very easy
3. What causes overcrowding in many cities?
A. Floods B. Lots of people move to these cities
C. Pollution D. Well-paying jobs
4. What does overcrowding cause?
A. Schools and hospitals
B. The increase in population
C. Lack of money
D. Strain on schools and hospitals, lack of water and electricity supplies, and increased
pollution
5. Where are the children whose parents leave rural areas to work in cities?
A. They stay in their countryside. B. They live with their relatives in the city.
C. They live in urban areas. D. They live at home with their parents
Passage 2:
Mr. Smith gave his wife ten pounds for her birthday – ten pretty pound notes. So the
day after her birthday, Mrs. Smith went shopping. She queued for a bus, got on, and sat
down next to a lady. After a while, she noticed that the old lady’s handbag was open. She
saw a wad of ten pound notes which was exactly the same as hers. So she quickly looked
into her own bag, the notes had gone ! Mrs. Smith was sure that the old lady who was sitting
next to her had stolen them. She thought she would have to call the police, but as she
disliked making a fuss and getting people into trouble, she decided to take back the money
from the old lady’s handbag and said nothing more about it. She looked around the bus to
make sure nobody watching, and then she carefully put her hand into the old lady’s bag,
took the notes and put them in her own bag.
When she got home that evening , she showed her husband the beautiful hat she had
bought.
“ How did you pay for it?” he asked.
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“ With the money you gave me for my birthday, of course.” She replied

“ Oh, what’s that, then?” he asked, as he pointed to a wad of pound notes on the table.
6. When did Mrs. Smith go shopping ?
A. After awhile B. On her birthday
C. The day after her birthday D. Ten days ago
7. What did Mrs. Smith see in the old lady’s hand bag ?
A. a pound note B. a wad of ten pound notes
C. a wad of one pound notes D. ten pounds
8. What was Mrs. Smith sure the old lady had done ?
A. stolen her money B. call the police
C. given her money to her husband D. taken her bag
9. Why did Mrs. Smith look around the bus ?
A. to call the police B. to make sure nobody was watching
C. to make a fuss D . to look for her money
10. What did Mr. Smith point to ?
A. Mrs. Smith’s beautiful hat B. Mrs. Smith’s handbag
C. The table D. A wad of ten pound notes
PASSAGE 1:
In 776 B.C. the first Olympic Games were held at the foot of mount Olympus to
honor the Greek’s chief god, Zeus. The warm climate for outdoor activities, the need for
preparedness in war, and their lifestyle caused the Greeks to create competitive sports. Only
the elite and military could participate at first, but later the games were open to all free
Greek male who had no criminal record. The Greeks emphasized physical fitness and
strength in their education of youth. Therefore, contests in running, jumping, discuss and
javelin throwing, boxing, and horse and chariot racing were held in individual cities, and the
winners competed every four years at mount Olympus. Winners were greatly honored by
having olive wreaths placed on their heads and having poems sung about their deeds.
Originally these contests were held as games of friendship, and any wars in progress were
halted to allow the games to take place. They also helped to strengthen bonds among
competitors and the different cities represented.
The Greek attached so much importance to the games that they calculated time in

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four-year cycles called “Olympiads,” dating from 776 B.C. the contests coincided with
religious festivities and constituted an all-out effort on the part of the participants to please
the gods. Any who disobeyed the rules were dismissed and seriously punished. These
athletes brought shame not only to themselves, but also to the cities they represented.
1. Which of the following is not true?
(A) winners placed olive wreaths on their own heads
(B) the games were held in Greece every four years
(C) battles were interrupted to participate in the game
(D)poems glorified the winners in song
2. The word “elite” in line 4 is closest in meaning to
(A)aristocracy (B)brave (C)intellectuals (D)muscular
3. Why were the Olympic Games held?
(A)to stop wars (B) to honor Zeus
(C) to crown the best athletes (D) to sing songs about the athletes
4. Approximately how many years ago did these games originate?
(A)800 years (B) 1,200 years
(C)2,300 years (D) 2,800 years
5. What conclusion can we draw about the ancient Greeks?
(A)they were pacifists
(B) they believed athletic events were important
(C) they were simple
(D)they couldn’t count, so they used “Olympiad” for dates
PASSAGE 2:
In the United States, presidential election are held in years evenly divisible by four
(1884, 1900, 1964, etc.). Since 1840, American presidents elected in years ending with zero
have died in office, with one exception. William h. Harrison, the man who served the
shortest term, died of pneumonia only several weeks after his inauguration.
Abraham Lincoln was one of four presidents who were assassinated. He was elected
in 1860, and his untimely death came just five year later. James A. Garfield, a former union

army general from Ohio, was shot during his first year in office (1881) by a man to whom
he wouldn’t give a job. While in his second term of office (1901), William McKinley,
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another Ohioan, attended the pan – American exposition in buffalo, New York. During the
reception, he was assassinated while shaking hands with some of the guest. John F Kennedy
was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas only three years after his election.
Three years after his election in 1920, warren g. Harding died in office. Although it
was never proved, many believe he was poisoned. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four
times (1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944), the only man to serve so long a term. He had
contracted polio in 1921 and eventually died of the illness in 1945.
Ronald Reagan, who was elected in 1890 and re-elected four years later, suffered an
assassination attempt but did not succumb to the assassin’s bullets. He was the first to break
the long chain of unfortunate events. Will the candidate in the election of 200 also be as
lucky?
1. All of the following were election year EXCEPT
(A)1960 (B) 1930 (C) 1888 (D) 1824
2. Which president served the shortest term in office?
(A) Abraham Lincoln (B) Warren G. Harding
(C ) William McKinley (D) William H. Harrison
3. Which of the following is true?
(A)all presidents elected in years ending in zero have died in office
(B)only presidents from Ohio have died in office
(C)Franklin D. Roosevelt completed four terms as president
(D)four American presidents have been assassinated
4. How many presidents elected in years ending in zero since 1840 have died in office?
(A)7 (B) 5 (C) 4 (D) 3
5. The word “inauguration” in line 5 means most nearly the same as
(A)election
(B)acceptance speech
(C)swearing-in ceremony

(D)campaign
PASSAGE 1:
With profitable growth becoming more and more problematic for all businesses, small
businesses selling into mature markets are finding it particularly difficult to go forward. For
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some time, larger companies have acquired other businesses in an effort to expand rapidly.
With good planning, small businesses increased sales, new products and technologies,
access to new markets, and got many other benefits in less time, cheaper, and with less
effort than it would take to create them.
This approach is not without its risks, however, and while a mistake for a large company
could mean reduced income for the year, for a small company it could mean a loss of the
company itself. The key to the success of takeovers, for all companies, is in the quality of
the target company, the fit it makes in the new parent company, and the terms of the
financing.
26. What does this passage discuss?
(A) How to avoid being taken over by a larger company.
(B) How to obtain profitable corporate growth.
(C) How to pay for a takeover using other people’s money.
(D) How to sell a small business for a high price.
27. What does the passage say is a risk of a takeover for a large company?
(A) Employee morale and production go down.
(B) Temporary decline in income
(C) Credit becomes more difficult
(D) The company may be lost to a smaller company
28. Which of the following is NOT listed as determining the success of takeovers?
(A) Source and availability of money.
(B) The size of the takeover company.
(C) How good the target company is
(D) How the target and takeover companies work together
29. The word “ problematic” in line 1 most nearly means

A. flexible B difficult to achieve
C. feasible D. likely to increase
30. The word “ approach” in line 8 most nearly means
A. access B. plot
C. solution D. method
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PASSAGE 2 :
To modern women: love or career first?
On the threshold of life, love and career are very important for young people. However,
many young women are now afraid of getting married because of their career.
In modern society, women have the same opportunity as men now, they can decide
their life. To them, the family is not everything any more, but the career is that the
reason why more and more women get married late. When they are still at university,
these women want to have two or three graduate degrees or to go abroad for further
study. After graduation, they indulge in their job to earn a lot of money. When they have
a little free time, they spend it learning foreign language or surfing the internet to get
information. As a result, they have no time for their love.
When asked, they say that getting married is very complicated. They like to be free to
pursue their career, which makes their life meaningfully. Some say: “When we are still
young, we should not miss any opportunity”. However , When they are successful in
their career, have a lot of money and position in society , they realize that choosing a life
partner is not easy at all because they can not accept those who are not equal to them .
At present, women mentioned above are more and more popular. Being different
from those who get married early and are pleased with their families.
31. Why are many young women now afraid of getting married?
A. because of their freedom.
B. because of their career.
C. because of their parents.
D. because of their degrees.
32. What do women want to have when they are still at university?

A. They want to have some graduate degrees.
B. They want to go abroad.
C. They want to study.
D. They want to have two or three graduate degrees or to go abroad for further
study.
33. Why do many women want to get married late nowadays?
A. They want to pursue their career.
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B. They want to go abroad.
C. They do not have free time.
D. They do not want to get married early.
34. What do women expect from their future partner?
A. A person who is rich.
B. A person who is handsome.
C. A person who is intelligent.
D. A person who is equal to them.
35. Who can decide their life?
A. Their parents.
B. Their friends.
C. Themselves.
D. Their bosses.
PASSAGE 1:
Reducing your intake of sweet food is one way to keep your teeth healthy. The least cavity-
causing way to eat sweets is to have them with meals and not between. The number of times
you eat sweets rather than the total amount determines how much harmful acid the bacteria
in your savila produces. But the amount of sweets influences the quality of your saliva.
Avoid, if you can, sticky sweets that stay in your mouth a long time. Also try to brush and
floss your teeth after eating sugary foods. Even rinsing your mouth with water is effective.
Whenever possible, eat foods with fiber, such as raw carrot sticks, apples, celery sticks, etc.,
that scrape off plaque, acting as a toothbrush. Cavities can be greatly reduced if these rules

are followed when eating sweets .
26. What does this passage mainly discuss?
(A) A healthy diet (B) Food with fiber
(C) Sweets and cavities (D) Tooth decay
27. The word “influences” in line 4 closest in meaning to
(A) deters (B) affects
(C) increases (D) undertakes
28. What can be concluded from the passage about sweets?
(A) All sweets should be avoided.
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(B) Sweets should be eaten with care.
(C) It is better to eat sweets a little at a time throughout the day.
(D) Sticky sweets are less harmful than other sweets.
29. According to the passage, the value of eating foods with fiber is that
(A) they contain Vitamin A.
(B) they are less expensive than a toothbrush.
(C) they are able to remove the plague from your teeth.
(D) they contain no sugar.
30. The author of the passage states that the amount of acid produced by the bacteria
in your saliva increases
(A) with the amount of sweets you eat.
(B) with the number of times you eat sweets.
(C) if you eat sweets with your meals.
(D) if you eat sticky sweets.
PASSAGE 2 :
The causes of headaches, whether they are the common kind of tension or migraine
headaches, or any other kind, are usually the same. During periods of stress, muscles in the
neck, head, and face are contracted so tightly that they exert tremendous pressure on the
nerves beneath them. Headaches, taking many forms from a constant, dull pain to an
insistent hammering result.

Although at least 50% of American adults are estimated to suffer one or more headaches per
week, it is the 20 million migraine sufferers who are in special difficulties. Migraines,
which are mostly suffered by women, can involve tremendous, unrelieved pain.
Migraines, which may also be caused by stress, can occur in people who bottle up their
emotions and who are very conscientious in their performance. Escaping from stressful
situations, being open with one’s feeling, lowering one’s expectations, can help reduce the
stress and so cut down on these headaches which cannot be “ helped” by aspirin and other
non-prescription painkillers.
31. During periods of stress,
(A) the neck, hand, and face are contracted.
(B) some nerves have great pressure put on them.
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(C) a constant dull pain always results.
(D) some important muscles experience hammering.
32. In America,
(A) a majority of adults has at least one headache a week.
(B) only women suffer migraines.
(C) over 20 million men suffer migraines.
(D) a majority of the headaches suffered are migraine headaches.
33. According to the author, migraines can be caused by
(A) expectation of stress.
(B) being too worried about doing a good job.
(C) escaping from one’s emotions.
(D) lowering your expectations in life.
34. Headaches can be avoided by
(A) taking aspirin.
(B) taking painkillers which are not on prescription.
(C) being very emotional.
(D) reducing stressful situations.
35. The words “ bottle up” in line 10 are closest in meaning to

(A) suppress (B) cover
(C) support (D) promote
IV. READING COMPREHENSION:
Passage 1:
In 1920, after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and
politics, the Panama Canal was officially opened, finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans by allowing ships to pass through the fifty-mile canal zone instead of traveling some
seven thousand miles around Cape Horn. It takes a ship approximately eight hours to
complete the trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars, one-
tenth of what it would cost an average ship to round the Horn. More than fifteen thousand
ships pass through its locks each year.
The French had initiated the project but sold their rights to the United States. The
latter had controled it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama took over its
duties.
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26. What is the passage about?
A. Pacific Oceans C. Cape Horn
B. Panama D. Panama Canal
27. Who currently controls the Panama Canal?
A. France C. Panama
B. United States D. Canal Zone
28. On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horn?
A. $1,500 C. $150,000
B. $15,000 D. $ 1,500,000
29. In what year was construction probably begun on the canal?
A. 1881 C. 1939
B. 1920 D. 1999
30. What can we conclude about Panama Canal?
A. This is a costly project which should be reevaluated.
B. Despite all the problems involved, the project is beneficial.

C. Many captains prefer to sail around Cape Horn because it is less expensive.
D. Due to all the problems, three governments had to control the canal over the year.
Passage 2:
Alexander Graham Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the nineteenth century,
and later came to the United States. Several members of his family did a great deal to
encourage him in the field of science. His father was most instrumental by supervising his
work with the deaf. While he dealt with the deaf and investigated the science of acoustics,
his studies eventually led to invention of the multiple telegraph and his greatest invention –
the telephone. The last quarter century of his life was dedicated to advances in aviation.
31. What is this passage about?
A. Edinburgh, Scotland
B. The United States
C. Alexander Graham Bell
D. The deaf in the United States
32. What was considered to be Alexander Graham Bell’s greatest invention?
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A. Radio B. television C. computer D. telephone
33. To what did Bell dedicate the last years of his life?
A. the deaf B. acoustics C. aviation D. the multiple telegraph
34. Which of the following statements is not true?
A. Alexander Graham Bell was born in Scotland.
B. His family supported him in the field of science.
C. His father did not want him to work with the deaf.
D. The multiple telegraph was one of his inventions.
35. What can we conclude about Alexander Graham Bell?
A. He worked very hard, but never achieved success.
B. He spent so many years working in aviation because he wanted to be a pilot.
C. He dedicated his life to science and the well-being of mankind.
D. He worked with the deaf so that he could invent the telephone.
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