Tài liệu Reading Comprehension Skills

Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ
READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS
Skill 1: MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
Almost every reading passage will have a multiple-choice question about the main idea of a
passage. Such a question may be worded in a variety of ways; you may, for example, be asked
to identify the topic, subject, title, primary idea, or main idea. It is relatively easy to find the
main ideas by studying the topic sentences, which are most probably found at the beginning of
each paragraph.
If a passage consists of only one paragraph, you should study the beginning of that paragraph
to determine the main idea.
Example
The passage:
Basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education instructor in Springfield,
Massachusetts, by the name of James Naismith. Because of terrible weather in winter, his
physical education students were indoors rather than outdoors. They really did not like the idea
of boring, repetitive exercises and preferred the excitement and challenge of a game. Naismith
figured out a team sport that could be played indoors on a gymnasium floor, that involved a lot
of running, that kept all team members involved, and that did not allow the tackling and
physical contact of American style football.
The question:
What is the
topic
of this passage?
A. The life of James Naismith
B. The history of sports
C. Physical education and exercise
D. The origin of basketball
The first sentence of this passage states that
basketball was invented,
so the invention of
basketball is probably the topic. A quick check of the rest of the sentences in the passage

confirms that the topic is, in fact, the beginnings of the sport of basketball. Now you should
check each of the answers to determine which one comes closest to the topic that you have
determined. Answer A. mentions James Naismith but not basketball, so it is not the topic.
Answer B. is too general; it mentions sports but does not mention basketball. Answer C. is also
too general; it mentions physical education but does not mention basketball. The best answer is
therefore answer D.: the
origin of basketball
means that the way that
basketball was invented
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is going to be discussed.
If a passage consists of more than one paragraph, you should study the beginning of each
paragraph to determine the main idea. In a passage with more than one paragraph, you should
be sure to read the first sentence of each paragraph to determine the subject, topic, title, or
main idea.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about main
idea questions.
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE
QUESTION
What is the topic of the passage?
What is the subject of the passage?
What is the main idea of the passage?
What is the author's main point in the
passage?
With what is the author primarily
concerned?
Which of the following would be the best
title?

WHERE TO FIND THE
ANSWER
The answer to this type of question can
generally be determined by looking at the
first sentence of each paragraph.
HOW TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION
1. Read the first line of each paragraph.
2. Look for a common theme or idea in the
first
lines.
3. Pass your eyes quickly over the rest of
the
passage to check that you have really
found
the topic sentence(s).
4. Eliminate any definitely wrong answers
and
choose the best answer from the
remaining
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choices.
Skill 2: STATED DETAIL QUESTIONS
A stated detail question asks about one piece of information in the passage rather than the
passage as a whole. The answers to these questions are generally given in order in the
passage, and the correct answer is often a restatement of what is given in the passage this
means that the correct answer often expresses the same idea as what is written in the pas-
sage, but the words are not exactly the same.

Example
The passage:
Flutes have been around for quite some time, in all sorts of shapes and sizes and
made from a variety of materials. The oldest known flutes are, about 20,000 years old,
they were made from hollowed-out bones with holes cut in them. In addition to bone, older
flutes were often constructed from bamboo or hollowed-out wood.
Today flutes are generally made of metal, and in addition to the holes they have a
complicated system of keys, levers, and pads. The instrument belonging to well-known
flautist James Galway is not just made of any metal, it is made of gold.
The question:
According to the passage,
the oldest flutes
A. had holes cut in them
B. were made of metal
C. were made 200,000 years ago
D. had a complicated set of levers and pads
Since this question asks about
the oldest flutes,
you should see that this question is
answered in the second sentence. The passage states that the
oldest known flutes
were
bones
with holes cut in them,
so the best answer is answer A Answers B. and D. are true
about today's flutes but not about the oldest flutes, so they are incorrect. Answer C. is an
incorrect number; the oldest flutes are 20,000 years old, not 200,000 years old.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about
stated detail questions:

STATED DETAIL QUESTIONS
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HOW TO IDENTIFY
THE QUESTION
According to the passage…
It is stated in the passage
The passage indicates that…
Which of the following is true ?

WHERE TO FIND THE
ANSWER
The answers to the questions are found in order in the passage.

HOW TO ANSWER
THE QUESTION
1. Choose a

key word in the question.
2. Skim in the appropriate part of the passage for the
key word or idea.
3. Read the sentence that contains the key word or
idea carefully.
4. Eliminate the definitely wrong answers and choose
the best answer
from the remaining choices.
Skill 3: FIND "UNSTATED" DETAILS
You will sometimes be asked in the reading section to find an answer that is
not stated

or
not mentioned
or
not true in
the passage. This type of question really means that three of
the answers are
stated, mentioned,
or
true
in the passage, while one answer is not.
Example

The passage:

The Florida Keys are a beautiful chain of almost 1,000 coral and limestone islands.
These islands form an arc that heads first southwest and then west from the mainland. U.S.
Highway 1, called the Overseas Highway, connects the main islands in the chain. On this
highway, it is necessary to cross forty-two bridges over the ocean to cover the 159 miles
from Miami, on the mainland, to Key West, the farthest island on the highway and the
southernmost city in the United States.
The question:
Which of the following is
NOT mentioned
about the Florida Keys?

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A. The Florida Keys are a chain of islands.
B. The Florida Keys contain coral and limestone.
C. The Florida Keys are in the shape of an arc.

D. The Florida Keys are not all inhabited.
This question asks for the one answer that is
not mentioned
about the Florida Keys.
The passage states that the Florida Keys are a
chain
(answer A) with
coral and limestone
(answer B) in the shape of an
arc
(answer C), so these answers are not correct. The best
answer is therefore answer D The passage does not mention whether or not the keys are
all inhabited.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about
“unstated” detail questions:

“UNSTATED” DETAIL QUESTIONS
HOW TO DENTIFY THE
QUESTION
Which of the following is not stated ?
Which of the following is not mentioned ?
Which of the following is not discussed…?
Which of the following are true except ?
WHERE TO FIND THE
ANSWER
The answers to these questions are found in order in the
passage.
HOW TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION
1. Choose a key word in the question.

2. Scan the appropriate place in the passage for the key word
(or related idea).
3. Read the sentence that contains the key word or idea
carefully.
4. Look for answers that are definitely true according to the
passage Eliminate those answers.
5. Choose the answer that is not true or not discussed in the
passage.
Skill 4: IMPLIED DETAIL QUESTIONS
In this type of question, you will be asked to answer a multiple choice question about a
reading passage by drawing a conclusion from a specific detail or details in the passage.
Questions of this type contain the words
implied, inferred, likely,
or
probably
to let you

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know that the answer to the question is not directly stated. In this type of question, it is
important to understand that you do not have to "pull the answer out of thin air." Instead,
some information will be given in the passage, and you will draw a conclusion from that
information.
Example
The passage:
The number of rings in a tree can be used to determine how old a tree really is. Each
year a tree produces a ring that is composed of one light-colored wide band and one dark-
colored narrow band. The wider band is produced during the spring and early summer
when tree stem cells grow rapidly and become larger. The narrower band is produced in fall
and early winter when cell growth is much slower and cells do not get very large. No cells

are produced during the harsh winter and summer months.
The question:
It is
implied
in the passage that if a tree has 100 wide bands and 100 narrow bands, then
it is
A. a century old
B. two centuries old
C. fifty years old
D. two

hundred years old
This question asks about the age of a tree with
100 wide bands
and
100 narrow
bands.
The passage does not tell the age of a tree with 100 wide and narrow bands, but it
does indicate that….
wide band
and
one

narrow band
are produced
each year
From this,
you can draw the conclusion that a tree with 100 wide and narrow bands is 100 years, or a
century,
old. The best answer to this question is therefore answer A

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about
implied detail questions.

IMPLIED DETAIL QUESTIONS
It is implied in the passage that……
It can be inferred from the passage that ….
It is most likely that……
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What probably happened ?

The answers to these questions are generally found in order in the passage.
1. Choose a key word in the question.
2. Scan the passage for the key word (or a related idea).
3. Carefully read the sentence that contains the key word.
4. Look for an answer that could be true, according to that sentence.
Skill 5: VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT QUESTIONS
You may be asked to determine the meaning of a difficult word or expression that you do
not know. In this case, the passage often gives you a clear indication of what the word or
expression means.
Example
The passage:
Professor Richmond's hobby is philately. The professor has been quite
interested in collecting stamps for a number of years
The question:
The word "philately" in line 1 could best be replaced by
A. a philanthropic attitude
B. a common profession
C. stamp collecting
D. teaching classes

In this question, you are asked to choose an expression to replace
philately.
You are
not expected to know the meaning of the word
philately.
Instead, you should understand
from the context that if the professor is interested in
collecting stamps,
then philately is
most likely
stamp collecting.
Answer C. is therefore the best answer to this question.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about
vocabulary questions:

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VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT QUESTIONS
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE
QUESTION
What is the meaning of “X” in line Y?
The word “X” in line Y could best be replaced by…

WHERE TO FIND THE
ANSWER
Information to help you understand the meaning of
a vocabulary word can often be found in the
context surrounding the word.

HOW TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION
1. Find the word in the passage.
2. Read the sentence that contains the word carefully.
3. Look for context clues to help you understand the
meaning.
4. Choose the answer that the context indicates.

Skill 6: "WHERE" QUESTIONS
There will be a multiple-choice question that asks where certain information is found.
The answer choices will list possible locations for that information.
Example
The passage:
The words "capital" and "capitol" are confused in spelling and in meaning by a lot of
people who try to use them. Both their spellings and their meanings are quite closely
related. A "capital" is the location of the center of government, while a "capitol" is the
actual building where the government officials meet. Thus, in the United States, for
example, the Capitol building is located in Washington, D.C., which is the capital city of
the United States.
The question:
Where in the passage
does the author define the word "capital"?
A. Lines 1-2
B. Lines 3-4

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C. Line 5
D. Line 6
To answer this question, you should skim for the word

capital
and then look for its
meaning A
capital
is
the location of the center of government,
and this definition is given
in the third line. Answer B. is therefore the best answer to this question.
The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember when
you are trying to determine where in the passage something is found:

QUESTION ABOUT WHERE IN THE PASSAGE
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE
QUESTION
Where in the passage…….?
WHERE TO FIND THE
ANSWER
The answer can be in any of the lines listed in the answer to the question.
HOW TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION
1. Choose a key word or idea in the question.
2. Skim the appropriate past(s) of the passage looking
for the key word or idea.
3. Choose the answer that contains the key word or idea
READING TEST
1/ Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each sentence.
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THE EARTH
As viewed from space, Earth's distinguishing characteristics are its blue waters and

white clouds. Enveloped by an ocean of air consisting of 78% nitrogen and 21%
oxygen, the planet is the only one in our solar system known to harbor life. Circling
the Sun at an average distance of 149 million km (93 million miles). Earth is the
third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest planet in the solar system. Its rapid
spin and molten nickel-iron core give rise to an extensive magnetic field which,
coupled with the atmosphere, shields us from nearly all of the harmful radiation
coming from the Sun and other stars. Most meteors burn up in the Earth's
atmosphere before they can strike the surface. The planet's active geological
processes have left no evidence of the ancient pelting it almost certainly received
soon after it was formed. The Earth has a single natural satellite—the Moon.
1.
Approximately how much of the Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen?


One-fourth


One-half


Three-fourths


All of it
2. Which of the following helps to create Earth's magnetic fields?


Its blue waters

Its nitrogen atmosphere


Its molten metal core


The Moon
3.
What two factors help protect the Earth from radiation?


Magnetic field and atmosphere


Rapid spin and molten iron-nickel core


The Sun and the Moon

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Blue waters and white clouds
4. In the second sentence, "consisting" most nearly means


hardening


containing

withholding


shortening
5.
Why does the Earth show almost no signs of having been hit by numerous meteors in the
past?


Humans have built over most of the craters.


Most meteors fell into the ocean and not on land.


Earth's magnetic field repeled most meteors.


Earth's natural geologic activity has eliminated most traces.
6. The main idea of this passage is that


there are life-supporting characteristics on Earth.


Earth is predominantly water.

Earth has no common characteristics with other planets.


Earth is the only planet with a moon.
7. The word "distinguishing" as it is used in this selection means


elevating in nature.


devastating in nature.


characteristics like all other planets.


characteristics that set it apart from other planets
8. It's probable that the next paragraph would discuss


people on planets.


the solar system as a whole.


the Earth's natural satellite—the Moon.


rings around Saturn.

9. As used in this selection, the word "harbor" is synonymous with


support


surround


water


include
1
0.
This selection leads one to believe that


Earth never gets hit by meteors.


Earth always gets hit by meteors.


Earth was hit by meteors in some past time period.

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Earth may be bombarded by meteors in the near future.

2/Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
TITANIC
If you were to stop people in the street and ask them to name a ship that had been sunk, it is
nearly that all of them would say the Titanic. For the sinking of the Titanic was, if not the most
tragic, certainly the most famous sea disaster in the history of ocean travel. The Titanic was built
as a luxury liner, intended to be the fastest in the world, and great deal of publicity had
surrounded it. The last point probably explains why so many important people from all walks of
life were on the boat when it went down. The Titanic was on its maiden voyage to America in
1912 when it struck an ice berg and sank. Of its 2,300 passengers, more than two-thirds were
drowned. Because the Titanic was thought to be virtually unsinkable, no one was prepared for
the tragedy. There was total as few of the passengers had bothered to learn the necessary drill
in the event of trouble. There was severe shortage of lifeboats and those that were launched
were still half-empty. The one point of calm was to be very end. What makes the sinking of the
Titanic even more tragic is the fact that warnings of icebergs had been sent; yet the liner was
still continuing at full speed. In addition one ship was only ten miles away but did not receive the
distress signal. One good thing did, however, result from the disaster. The whole question of
safety at sea was looked into, resulting in much better safety measures, including stricter lifeboat
regulations and the establishment of an iceberg patrol.
1. The sinking of the Titanic was ________.


the most tragic sea disaster


the most historic sea disaster


the most famous sea disaster

the first great sea disaster

2. Why were so many important people on board?


The Titanic had received a lot of publicity.


The Titanic was a luxury liner.


It was the fastest liner in the world


They wanted to go to America.
3. The lifeboats were ________.
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too short


launched too soon


half finished

poorly equipped

4. The chances of disaster were increased because ________.


no warnings had been sent


the dance band was playing too loud


the Titanic was traveling too fast


there were no distress calls

5. The positive result of the disaster was that ________.


a full inquiry was made


a program of iceberg destruction was started


life boats were made larger


sea travel was made safer
3/Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each

sentence.
When we were in England last year, I went fishing with my friend, Peter. Early in the morning we
were sitting quietly by the side of a lake when we had an unpleasant surprise. We saw a duck
come along with three ducklings paddling cheerfully behind her. As we watch them, there was a
sudden swirl in the water. We caught a glimpse of the vicious jaws of a pike – a fish which is
rather like a fresh water shark – and one of the ducklings was dragged below the surface. This
incident made Peter furious. He vowed to catch the pike. On three successive mornings we
returned to the vicinity and used several different kinds of bait. On the third day Peter was lucky.
Using an artificial frog as bait, he managed to hook the monster. There was a desperate fight but
Peter was determined to capture the pike and he succeeded. When he had got it ashore and
killed it, he weighed the fish and found that it scaled nearly thirty pounds – a record for that
district.
1. To what does surprise in line 2 probably refer?


to the duck


to the ducklings


to the action of the pike


to the time of the day

2. Which word in the third sentence of the passage suggest that the ducklings were unaware of
the danger below them?

three


along

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paddling


cheerfully

3. What were Peter’s feelings about the incident two days later?


He caught and killed the pike.


He remained determined to catch the pike.


He vowed that he would catch the remaining ducklings.


He caught a frog and used it as bait for the pike.

4. How much was the pike worth?

About thirty pounds.


About two hundred and forty dollars.


The passage contains no information on this point.


The passage says that the fish scaled nearly thirty pounds.

5. Which of the following title best sum up the whole passage?


Mysterious disappearance of ducklings.


Revenge on a duck.


Record pike caught by an angry fisherman.


Huge pike caught by fisherman after desperate struggle at sea.
4/Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
Stress is with us all the time. It comes from mental or emotional activity as well as physical
activity. It is unique and personal to each of us. So personal, in fact, that what may be relaxing
to one person may be stressful to another. For example, if you're a busy executive who likes to
keep occupied all of the time, "taking it easy" at the beach on a beautiful day may feel extremely

frustrating, nonproductive, and upsetting. You may be emotionally distressed from "doing
nothing." Too much emotional stress can cause physical illnesses such as high blood pressure,
ulcers, or even heart disease. Physical stress from work or exercise is not likely to cause such
ailments. The truth is that physical exercise can help you to relax and to better handle your
mental or emotional stress.
1. In the third sentence, "unique" most nearly means


stressful.


distinctive.


brisk.


relaxing.

2. Which of the following people would find "taking it easy" stressful?


Construction worker

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Business executive

Farm worker


Truck driver

3. In the sixth sentence, "distressed" most nearly means


upset.


distinctive.


relaxed.


active

4. In the eighth sentence, "ailments" most nearly means


traits.


episodes.


characteristics.

illnesses.

5. Which of the following would be a determinant as to what people find stressful?


Personality


Education


Marital status


Shoe size

6. This article, published by the Department of Health and Human Services, probably came
from the


Federal Bureau of Investigation.


Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration.


Education Administration.

Communicable Diseases Administration.

7. Stress is


optional.


relaxing.


manageable.


the same for all people.

8. A source of stress NOT specifically mentioned in this passage is


educational activity.


physical activity.


mental activity.


emotional activity.

9. Physical problems caused by emotional stress can appear as all of the following EXCEPT


ulcers.

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pregnancy.


heart disease.


high blood pressure.

10. One method mentioned to help handle stress is


physical exercise.


tranquilizers.


drugs.


taking it easy.
5/

Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each sentence.
As Andrea turned off the motorway onto the road to Brockbourne, the small village in which she
lived, it was four o'clock in the afternoon, but already the sun was falling behind the hills. At this
time in December, it would be completely dark by five o'clock. Andrea shivered. The interior of
the car was not cold, but the trees bending in the harsh wind and the patches of yesterday's
snow still heaped in the fields made her feel chilly inside. It was another ten miles to the cottage
where she lived with her husband Michael, and the dim light and wintry weather made her feel a
little lonely. She would have liked to listen to the radio, but it had been stolen from her car when
it was parked outside her office in London about two weeks ago, and she had not got around to
replacing it yet. She was just coming out of the little village of Mickley when she saw the old
lady, standing by the road, with a crude hand-written sign saying "Brockbourne" in her hand.
Andrea was surprised. She had never seen an old lady hitchhiking before. However, the weather
and the coming darkness made her feel sorry for the lady, waiting hopefully on a country road
like this with little traffic. Normally, Andrea would never pick up a hitchhiker when she was
alone, thinking it was too dangerous, but what was the harm in doing a favor for a little old lady
like this? Andrea pulled up a little way down the road, and the lady, holding a big shopping bag,
hurried over to climb in the door which Andrea had opened for her. When she did get in, Andrea
could see that she was not, in fact, so little. Broad and fat, the old lady had some difficulty
climbing in through the car door, with her big bag, and when she had got in, she more than
filled the seat next to Andrea. She wore a long, shabby old dress, and she had a yellow hat
pulled down low over her eyes. Panting noisily from her effort, she pushed her big brown canvas
shopping bag down onto the floor under her feet, and said in a voice which was almost a
whisper, "Thank you dearie I'm just going to Brockbourne." "Do you live there?" asked
Andrea, thinking that she had never seen the old lady in the village in the four years she had
lived there herself. "No, dearie," answered the passenger, in her soft voice, "I'm just going to
visit a friend. He was supposed to meet me back there at Mickley, but his car won't start, so I
decided to hitchhike there isn't a bus until seven, and I didn't want to wait. I knew some kind
soul would give me a lift." Something in the way the lady spoke, and the way she never turned
her head, but stared continuously into the darkness ahead from under her old yellow hat, made
Andrea uneasy about this strange hitchhiker. She didn't know why, but she felt instinctively that

there was something wrong, something odd, something dangerous. But how could an old lady
be dangerous? it was absurd. Careful not to turn her head, Andrea looked sideways at her
passenger. She studied the hat, the dirty collar of the dress, the shapeless body, the arms with
their thick black hairs Thick black hairs? Hairy arms? Andrea's blood froze. This wasn't a
woman. It was a man. At first, she didn't know what to do. Then suddenly, an idea came into
her racing, terrified brain. Swinging the wheel suddenly, she threw the car into a skid, and
brought it to a halt. "My God!" she shouted, "A child! Did you see the child? I think I hit her!"
The "old lady" was clearly shaken by the sudden skid. "I didn't see anything dearie," she said. "I
don't think you hit anything." "I'm sure it was a child!" insisted Andrea. "Could you just get out

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and have a look? Just see if there's anything on the road?" She held her breath. Would her plan
work? It did. The passenger slowly opened the car door, leaving her bag inside, and climbed out
to investigate. As soon as she was out of the vehicle, Andrea gunned the engine and accelerated
madly away. The car door swung shut as she rounded a bend, and soon she had put a good
three miles between herself and the awful hitchhiker. It was only then that she thought about
the bag lying on the floor in front of her. Maybe the bag would provide some information about
the real identity about the old woman who was not an old woman. Pulling into the side of the
road, Andrea lifted the heavy bag onto her lap and opened it curiously. It contained only one
item a small hand axe, with a razor-sharp blade. The axe, and the inside of the bag, were
covered with the dark red stains of dried blood. Andrea began to scream. (MDH 1994 From a
common urban legend)

1. Where did Andrea work?


Brockbourne

Mickley


London


the text doesn't say

2. How was Andrea feeling as she drove home?


happy


afraid


lonely


hot

3. Why didn't she listen to the radio?


The radio had been stolen from her car.


She liked peace and quiet.

The radio was broken.


There was a strike at the radio station.

4. Why did she stop to give the old lady a ride?


It was a cold evening.


Andrea felt lonely.


She felt sorry for the lady.


All of the above.

5. Where did the lady want to go?


Brockbourne


Mickley


London

The text doesn't say

6. What made Andrea afraid when she looked at the old lady?


She had a moustache.


She had a hard voice like a man.

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She had a shopping bag.


She had hairy arms.

7. Why did Andrea suddenly stop the car?


She thought she had hit a child in the road.


She skidded on some ice in the road.


She wanted to trick the passenger into getting out.

She was so afraid that she couldn't concentrate, and she nearly had a crash.

8. What did Andrea do when the "old lady" got out?


waited for her


drove away quickly


opened her bag


switched off the engine

9. Why did Andrea look in the old lady's bag?


She wanted to steal what was in it.


She wanted to find her address so that she could send the bag back to her.


She wanted to borrow the old lady's tools.

She wanted to find out who the strange

10. What was the "old lady" probably going to do to Andrea?


nothing


kill her


give her an axe


visit her in Brockbourne
6/Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
According to the best evidence gathered by space probes and astronomers, Mars is an
inhospitable planet; more similar to Earth’s moon than Earth itself. It is frozen solid, blanketed by
the mere wisp of an atmosphere – a dry, stark, seemingly lifeless world. However, certain
scientists believe that these conditions could be changed. They have begun seriously investigate
the possibility of transforming Mars into a more Earth-like planet: enriching the atmosphere with
oxygen, obtaining water from the polar ice caps, seeding the planet with plant and animal life
from Earth, and eventually establishing permanent human colonies. “It was once thought to be
so far in the future as to be irrelevant,” said Christopher McKay, a research scientist at the
National Aeronautics and space Administration. “But now it is starting to look practical. We could
do it in four or five decades.” The idea of “terra-forming” Mars, as enthusiasts call it, has it roots
in science fiction. But as researchers develop a more profound understanding of how Earth’s
ecology supports life, they have begun to see that it may be possible to create similar conditions
on Mars.

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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ
1. With which of the following is the passage primarily concerned?


The possibility of changing the Martian environment.


The challenge of interplanetary travel.


The advantage of establishing colonies on Mars.


The need to study the Martian ecology.

2. Which of the following does the author NOT give as a characteristic of the planet Mars?


It is cold and dry.


It is quite similar to Earth’s moon.


It apparently has no life.


It has a rich atmosphere.

3. According to Christopher McKay, the possibility of transforming Mars ______.


could only occur in science fiction stories


will take place in the next few years


is completely impractical


could be accomplished in 40 to 50 years

4. As used in the passage, the term “terra-forming” refers to _______.


a process for adapting plants to live on Mars


a means of transporting materials through space


a method of building housing for colonists on Mars


a system of creating Earth-like conditions on other planets

5. According to the article, the basic knowledge needed to transform Mars comes from
________.

the science of astronomy


a knowledge of Earth’s ecology


data from space probes


science fiction stories
7/Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
A few years ago a shortage of natural gas drove prices sky high. Like-wise, gasoline prices rose
when demands exceeded supplies. A glut in the oil market drove prices back down. The law of
supply and demand functioned according to texbook description in the case of oil, but the
situation is otherwise in the current natural gas market. Natural gas consumers are finding their
heating bills more of a burden than last year, in spite of a dramatic increase in suppliers. There is
so much natural gas available that many suppliers are closing down their plants for lack of a
market, and it is rumored that some suppliers are even burning off their surplus gas.
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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ
1. You can infer that the law of supply and demand means that prices


rise if supplies are abundant


fall if supplies are limited

rise if supplies are limited


stay even when supplies are abundant

2. The author’s purpose is to


discuss oil prices


discuss gas shortages


question high gas prices


compare gas and oil prices

3. You can infer that gas suppliers are burning their surplus gas in order to


lower the prices on their product


create a shortage to sustain high prices

get rid of an inferior product


create a glut in the market

4. Many suppliers of natural gas are


reducing their prices


going out of business


running out of gas


converting to the oil business

5. The cost of heating with natural gas this year


has risen


depends on supply and demand


is easier to bear

has remained the same as last year

6. The amount of natural gas currently available is


more than last year’s supply


equal to last year’s supply


less than last year’s supply


none of the above
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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ
8/ Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
Since life began eons ago, thousands of creatures have come and gone. Some, such as the
dinosaurs, became extinct due to naturally changing ecologic conditions. More recent threats to
life forms are humans and their activities. Man has drained marshes, burned prairies, damned
and diverted rivers. Some of the more recent casualties of man's expansion have been the dodo,
great auk, passenger pigeon, Irish elk, and Steller's sea cow. Sadly, we can no longer attribute
the increasing decline in our wild animals and plant species to "natural" processes. Many species
are dying out because of exploitation, habitat alteration or destruction, pollution, or the
introduction of new species of plants and animals to an area. As mandated by Congress,
protecting endangered species, and restoring them to the point where their existence is no
longer jeopardized, is the primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered

Species Program.
1. In line 1, "eons" most nearly means


ages


particles


animals


conditions

2. Which of the following is a form of man's habitat alteration?


Glacial encroachment


Hurricanes


Damned rivers


Snow storms

3. Which of the following have become extinct due to man's destruction?

African elephants


Irish elk


Giant panda


White Bengal

4. Which of the following would be a likely theme for the next paragraph ?


Naturally changing ecological conditions


Animals that have become extinct


Achievements of the government Endangered Species program


Programs that have destroyed natural habitats

5. In the second paragraph, "attribute" most nearly means

assign.


characteristic.


introduce.


change.

6. The tone of this passage is
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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ


nationalistic


pro-wildlife


anti-wildlife


feminist

7. "Habitat alteration" as used in this paragraph means

changing clothes.


changing animals' environments.


changing humans' environments.


climate change.

8. According to this passage,


man is the cause of some animal extinction.


animals often bring about their own extinction.


Congress can absolutely end extinction of animals.


a law is more important than human responsibility.

9. Which of the following is NOT a cause of increasing decline of wild animal population?


Exploitation

Pollution


Habitat alteration


Congressional law

10. The primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Program
can be stated as


custodial care of endangered species.


enforcement of Congressional law.


education of the public.


stopping pollution.
9/ Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
"Mummy! Mummy!" shouted little Murna racing from the front door through to the kitchen.
"There's a parcel. The postman's brought a parcel!" Her mother, Savni, looked at her in surprise.
She had no idea who could have sent them a parcel. Maybe it was a mistake. She hurried to the
door to find out. Sure enough, the postman was there, holding a parcel about the size of a small
brick. "From America, madam," he said. "See! American stamps." It was true. In the top right-

hand corner of the brown paper parcel were three strange-looking stamps, showing a man's
head. The package was addressed to Savni, in big, clear black letters. "Well, I suppose it must be
from Great-Aunt Pasni," said Savni to herself, as the postman went on his way down the street,
whistling. "Although it must be twenty years since we heard anything from her. I thought she
would have been dead by now." Savni's husband Jornas and her son Arinas were just coming in
from the garden, where Murna had run to tell them about the parcel. "Well, open it then!" said
Arinas impatiently. "Let's see what's inside!" Setting the parcel down in the middle of the table,
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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ
Savni carefully began to tear open the paper. Inside, there was a large silver container with a
hinged lid, which was taped shut. There was also a letter. "What is it? What is it?" demanded
Murna impatiently. "Is it a present?" "I have no idea," said Savni in confusion. "I think it must be
from Great-Aunt Pasni. She went to America almost thirty years ago now. But we haven't heard
from her in twenty years. Perhaps the letter will tell us." She opened the folded page cautiously,
then looked up in dismay. "Well, this is no help!" she said in annoyance. "It's written in English!
How does she expect us to read English? We're poor people, we have no education. Maybe Pasni
has forgotten her native language, after thirty years in America." "Well, open the pot, anyway,"
said Jornas. "Let's see what's inside." Cautiously, Savni pulled the tape from the neck of the silver
pot, and opened the lid. Four heads touched over the top of the container, as their owners stared
down inside. "Strange," said Arinas. "All I see is powder." The pot was about one-third full of a
kind of light-grey powder. "What is it?" asked Murna, mystified. "We don't know, darling," said
Savni, stroking her daughter's hair. "What do you think?" Murna stared again into the pot. "I
think it's coffee," she announced, finally. "American coffee." "It's the wrong colour for coffee,
darling," said Jornas thoughtfully. "But maybe she's on the right track. It must be some kind of
food." Murna, by now, had her nose right down into the pot. Suddenly, she lifted her head and
sneezed loudly. "Id god ub by doze," she explained. "That's it!" said Arinas. "It must be pepper!
Let me try some." Dipping a finger into the powder, he licked it. "Yes," he said, "it's pepper all
right. Mild, but quite tasty. It's American pepper." "All right," said Savni, "we'll try it on the stew
tonight. We'll have American-style stew!" That evening, the whole family agreed that the
American pepper had added a special extra taste to their usual evening stew. They were

delighted with it. By the end of the week, there was only a teaspoonful of the grey powder left in
the silver container. Then Savni called a halt. "We're saving the last bit for Sunday. Dr. Haret is
coming to dinner, and we'll let him have some as a special treat. Then it will be finished." The
following Sunday, the whole family put on their best clothes, ready for dinner with Dr. Haret. He
was the local doctor, and he had become a friend of the family many years before, when he had
saved Arinas's life after an accident. Once every couple of months, Savni invited the doctor for
dinner, and they all looked forward to his entertaining stories of his youth at the university in the
capital. During dinner, Savni explained to the doctor about the mysterious American pepper, the
last of which she had put in the stew they were eating, and the letter they could not read. "Well,
give it to me, give it to me!" said the doctor briskly. "I speak English! I can translate it for you."
Savni brought the letter, and the family waited, fascinated, as the doctor began to translate.
"Dear Savni: you don't know me, but I am the son of your old Great-Aunt Pasni. She never talked
much to us about the old country, but in her final illness earlier this year, she told us that after
her death, she wanted her ashes to be sent back home to you, so that you could scatter them on
the hills of the country where she was born. My mother died two weeks ago, and her funeral and
cremation took place last week. I am sending her ashes to you in a silver casket. Please do as
she asked, and spread them over the ground near where she was born. Your cousin, George
Leary." (MDH 1995 from a common urban legend)
1. Why does Savni save the last bit of the powder?


as a souvenir


for Dr. Haret


to analyse it

to spread it on the hills

2. Where does this story take place?


America


Arinas


India

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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ

The text doesn't say

3. How was the parcel wrapped?


in brown paper


in silver paper


in grey paper

in tape

4. Who was Savni?


a little girl


the Great-Aunt


the mother of the family


the son of the family

5. Why don't the family read the letter?


They are too impatient to look in the container.


It is addressed to the doctor.


It is in English.


It is missing.

6. What does Murna think is in the pot?


dust


ashes


coffee


pepper

7. Why does Arinas think that the powder is pepper?


It tastes very hot.


It makes Murna sneeze.


It is written on the pot.


The letter says so.

8. What does the family do with the powder?

They keep it to give to the doctor.


They send it back to America.


They make drinks with it.


They put it on their food.

9. How does Dr. Haret solve the mystery?


He analyses the powder.


He recognizes the powder.


He is a friend of Pasni.


He translates the letter.

10. What was really in the pot?
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Created by Dam Van Tai 51KT1 - HXDĐ

coffee


Great-Aunt Pasni


dust


special American pepper
10/ Read the article below and then choose the best answer to completes each
sentence.
Write in a way that draws the reader’s attention to the sense and substance of the writing, rather
than to the mood and temper of the author. If the writing is solid and good, the mood and
temper of the writer will become revealed finally, and not at the expense at the work. Therefore,
the first price of advice is this: to achieve style, begin by affecting none – that is, place yourself
in the background. A careful and honest author does not need to worry about style. As he
becomes proficient in the use of language, his style will emerge, because he himself will emerge,
and when this happens he will find this increasingly easy to break through the barrier that
separates him from other minds, other hearts – which is, of course the purpose of writing, as
well as its principal reward. Fortunately, the act of composition or creation disciplines the mind:
writing is one way to go about thinking, and the practice and habit of writing not only drain the
mind but supply it, too.
1. To develop a good style, a writer should ________.


reveal his own mood and temper

disregard the reader’s attention


let the work he writes become a means of self-expression


put himself in the background

2. To “affect style” means to ________.


bring style about


pretend to have a particular style


cause or create a natural style


transform your own style

3. Style, according to the author, is ________.


a barrier to true self-expression


an unconscious revelation of self which can not be forced

a waste of time


the effect of heredity

4. “Composition disciplines the mind” means that ________.


composition punishes the mind


composition trains the mind


composition hunts the mind


composition cripples the mind

5. The opposite of ‘background’ is ________.
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