IMPROVING READING SKILLS

THEME : IMPROVING READING SKILLS
READING QUESTIONS IN THE FINAL TEST OF THE GCSE
EXTRACTED FROM THE SAMPLE TEST - 2018 ( MOET)
READING 1: ( 7 questions)
Question 1. Main idea question
Question 2. “Unstated’” question
Question 3. Vocabulary in context question
Question 4. Reference question
Question 5. Vocabulary in context question
Question 6. (implied) detailed question
Question 7. (implied) detailed question
READING 2 (8 questions)
Question 1. Main idea question
Question 2. Vocabulary in context question
Question 3. Reference question
Question 4. “Unstated’ question
Question 5. Vocabulary in context question
Question 6. (implied) detailed question
Question 7. Vocabulary in context question
Question 8: Inferring question
PART 1: IMPROVING SCANNING SKILL (READING FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION)
TASK 1: Read the excerpts from sports articles and write the competitor’s name, sport and
accomplishment.
Excerpt 1:
With only seconds left in the game, striker Rene
Competitor’s name:
Lucci came up from behind to score the winning
Sport:
goal. This will surely make him a name to watch in
Achievement:
football

Excerpt 2:
The event, held this year in Sydney, Australia,
Competitor’s name:
includes participants from over twenty countries,
Sport:
including the US sailing team led by record holder
Achievement:
Alan Lock.
Excerpt 3:
The first round for bowling tournament takes place
Competitor’s name:
this Saturday. Don Clark’s team, which he helped
Sport:
win last year’s top prize, will lead the round.
Achievement:
Excerpt 4:
Born in 1895, legendary athlete Babe Ruth is one of
the most famous players in American baseball
history. In the span of his career, he scored 714 home
runs.
Excerpt 5:
Other breakthrough in women’s sport include Ann

Competitor’s name:
Sport:
Achievement:
Competitor’s name:
1

Meyers, who in 1974 became the first high school
student to play for the US national team in baseball.

Sport:
Achievement:

Excerpt 6:
We met with Antonio Diez, an Argentine water polo
player, to discuss how his team won the gold medal
at men’s Water Polo World Championship

Competitor’s name:
Sport:
Achievement

TASK 2: Write the numbers of sentences in exercise 1 that contain the following information. More
than one answer may be possible.
1. Important year
2. Day of the week
3. Reference to a country/ nationality
4. Location
5. Name of a competition
6. Education level
TASK 3: Scan the blog posts quickly and complete the chart.
Andy, 21

Beth,22

Paul,22

Practice is going to be tough this
year, but I know our team is going
to do really well in the
competition this spring. It’s
difficult waking up at 6 a.m. every
weekday to be at the court by
7a.m; especially for practice that
lasts an hour and a half , but I
really enjoy having a lot of energy
throughout the day. My team are
terrific as well, and we’ve become
great friends. I’m sure we’re going
to have the best basketball team in
the area.

I meet my cycling team once a
week, but we do our practicing on
our own. It’s definitely a team
sport with great emphasis on
individual performance. That
works really well for me,
particularly because I can practice
whenever I like. These days, I do
it for a couple of hours on Monday
and Wednesday after my class
which ends at 4.p.m. It’s perfect
because I can use the bike trails in
the park between school and
home. The only drawback is that
some team-mates don’t meet every

week. That’s not good for
teamwork.

I’m really excited about his year’s
polo competition. We’ve been
working really hard every
weekend to practice for it. I’d like
to practice more often but, with
everyone’s busy schedule, it’s
difficult to meet during the week.
But we spend about three hours
every Saturday and Sunday on the
polo field and that’s enough to get
good at it. I have a great time with
my horse, too. That’s the best
thing about it. If only the field
were maintained a little better, I’d
have no complaints at all

PLAYER

ANDY

BETH

PAUL

Sport
Practice days
Practice length

Likes
dislikes
TASK 4: Match the phrases with the headlines.
1/ the beginning of a practice
2/ a professional gain

a) Football fired over disappointed loss
b) Draw forces hockey game into thrilling overtime
2


3/ location of a major event
4/ a type of injury
5/ details of an exciting game
6/ a below standard performance

c) Wembley Stadium to host national championship game
d) Relay runner suffers broken ankle during race
e) Lyle Taylor wins bib in move from Liverpool to Chelsea
f) Training for Olympic rowing team to start Saturday.

PART 2: DEALING WITH REFERENCE QUESTIONS
These questions ask you to identify referential relationships between the words in the passage. Often, the
relationship is between a pronoun and its antecedent (the word to which the pronoun refers). Sometimes other
kinds of grammatical reference are tested (like which or this).
How to Recognize Reference Questions:
Reference questions look similar to vocabulary questions. In the passage, one word or phrase is highlighted.
Usually the word is a pronoun. Then you are asked :
The word “x”in the passage refers to:
The four answer choices will be words or phrases from the passage. Only one choice is the word to which the

highlighted word refers.
Tips for Reference Questions:
1. If the reference question is about a pronoun, make sure your answer is the same number (singular or
plural) and case (first person, second person, third person) as the highlighted pronoun.
2. Substitute your choice for the highlighted word or words in the sentence. Does it violate any grammar
rules? Does it make sense?
3.Reference questions ask about the meanings of pronouns and demonstratives such as
-They/ them/ their / theirs
- It / its
- he, him /his
- she/ her/ hers
- which, who, that, and this.
- Other / others .
4. Read the question(s) and the options
5. Find the reference word in the passage
6. Identify the reference word of the preceding sentence
7. Match the reference word with the correct answer
The goal of these questions is simple: you need to decide what the pronoun or phrase refers to. You probably
already do this automatically when you read; if you don’t, then you probably have trouble understanding the
reading passages. Reference questions are one of relatively few question types that very basically test a skill
that is necessary to read well.
Pre- reference
-

The options that stand after the reference items should be eliminated first

-

It is advisable that the item that is close to the reference item should be chosen.
3

Post -reference – choose the reference that is closest .
EXAMPLES OF REFERENCE QUESTIONS
Example 1:
People who want to become university teachers need master's degrees. Getting a master's degree is a
necessity, but if it is gained too early, there may be concerns that the candidate lacks the real-world
experience to go with it. In fact, very few schools want to hire novices with little or no classroom experience
and even if they are accepted, they are usually ill-paid. One wise solution to the issue is for future
postgraduates to start working as teachers before going on to gain their master's degree.
(extracted from the first term exam 2016-2107)
Question 41. The word “they” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.
A. postgraduates
B. novices
C. schools
D. teachers
Example 2:
You can usually tell when your friends are happy or angry by the looks on their faces or by their actions.
This is useful because reading their emotional expressions helps you to know how to respond to them.
Emotions have evolved to help us respond to important situations and to convey our intentions to others. But
does raising the eyebrows and rounding the mouth say the same thing in Minneapolis as they does in
Madagascar? Much research on emotional expressions has centered on such questions.
(extracted from the first term exam 2016-2017)
Question 40: The word “ they” in paragraph 1 refers to ______
A. appropriate responses in particular situations
B. raising eyebrows and rounding the mouth
C. our intentions to others
D. research on emotional expressions
Example 3:
In many Asian cultures, for example, children are taught to control emotional responses - especially negative

ones- while many American children are encouraged to express their feelings more openly. Another
difference can be found when an American person understands a grin as a signal of joy while on a Japanese
face, it may mean embarrassment.
(extracted from the first term exam 2016-2017)
Question 44: the word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to __________
A. feeling
B. difference
C. a grin
D. face
Example 4:
When they were asked what they thought was a fair division of labor, women with jobs felt that housework
should be shared equally between male and female partners. Women who did not work outside the home
were satisfied to perform 80% - the majority of the household work – if their husbands did remainder.
Research has shown that, if levels increase beyond these percentages, women become unhappy and anxious,
and feel they are unimportant.
(extracted from the second term exam2016 -2017)
Question 2: The word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to__________
A. men
B. women
C. jobs
D. labour
Example 5:
The civil war broke out 6 years later. Immediately, Barton started war service by helping the soldiers with
their needs. At the battle of Bull run, Clara Barton received permission from the government to take care of
the sick and hurt. Barton did this with great empathy and kindness. She acknowledged each soldier as a
person . her endurance and courage on the battlefield were admired by many. When the war ended in 1865 ,
she used 4 years of her life to assist the government in searching for soldiers who were missing during the
war.
(extracted from the second term exam 2016-2017)
4

Question 33: The word ”this” in paragraph 2 refers to________
A. cooking for soldiers
B. receiving permission
C. acknowledging each soldier as a person
D. taking care of the sick and hurt
Example 6:
Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are many ways of
communicating without using speech. Signals, signs, symbols, and gestures may be found in every known
culture. The basic function of signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way that it attracts
attention, as, for example, the dots and dashes of a telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech, the potential
for communication is very great.
(extracted from the first term exam 2017-2018)
Question 40. The word "it" in paragraph refers to ________.
A. way
B. environment
C. function
D. signal
Example 7:
Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose general pattern varies little from one
setting to the next. Throughout a country, children arrive at school at approximately the same time, take
assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do homework, take exams, and so on. The slices
of reality that are to be learned, whether they are the alphabet or an understanding of the workings of
government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of the subject being taught. For example, high
school students know that they are not likely to find out in their classes the truth about political problems in
their communities or what the newest filmmakers are experimenting with. There are definite conditions
surrounding the formalized process of schooling.
(extracted from the first term exam 2017-2018)
Question 46. The word “they” in line 16 refers to ____________.

A. slices of reality
B. similar textbooks
C. boundaries
D. seats
Example 8:
Parents may get another kind of help from the companies they work for. Many companies now let people
with children work part-time. That way, parents can spend more time with their children. Some husbands
may even stop working for a while to stay with the children. For these men there is a new word: They are
called "househusband". In the United States more and more men are becoming househusband every year.
(extracted from the second term exam 2017-2018)
Question 20: The word " they" in paragraph 5 refers to _______________
A. parents who work part-time
B. children who spend more time with
fathers than mothers
C. fathers who spend more time with their children
D. husbands who stop working to stay with the
children
Example 9:
For animals other than mammals, then, feeding is not intrinsic to parental care. Animals add it to their
reproductive strategies to give them an edge in their lifelong quest for descendants. The most vulnerable
moment in any animal's life is when it first finds itself completely on its own, when it must forage and fend
for itself. Feeding postpones that moment until a young animal has grown to such a size that it is better able
to cope.
(extracted from the second term exam 2017-2018)
Question 47: The word “it” in the last paragraph refers to ______
A. feeding
B. moment
C. young animal
D. size
Example 10 :

Different cultures follow their own special customs when a child's baby teeth fall out. In Korea, for
example, they have the custom of throwing lost teeth up on the roof of a house. According to tradition, a
magpie will come and take the tooth. Later, the magpie will return with a new tooth for the child. In other
Asian countries, such as Japan and Vietnam, children follow a similar tradition of throwing their lost teeth
onto the roofs of houses.
5


( extracted from the actual test 2017 -2018)
Question 29. The word "their" in paragraph 1 refers to ______.
A. houses'

B. roofs'

C. children's

D. countries'

Example 11:
The combination of these human-related effects and natural obstacles such as disease or low birthrates has
proven to be too much for some species to overcome. They have no chance of survival without human help.
( extracted from the actual test 2017-2018 )
A. natural obstacles

B. low birthrates

B. some species

D. human-related effects

Example 12 :
The pleasure derived from this activity is common to all kinds of reading. But different types of books give
us different types of pleasure. First in order of popularity is novel-reading. Novels contain pictures of
imaginary people in imaginary situations, and give us an opportunity of escaping into a new world very much
like our world and yet different from it. Here we seem to live a new life, and the experience of this new life
gives us a thrill of pleasure.
(extracted from the sample test 2018 )
Question 31. The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to ______.
A. a new life

B. our world

C. an opportunity

D. a thrill of pleasure

Example 13:
Another difference is the existence in France of prestigious higher educational institutions known as grandes
écoles, which provide advanced professional and technical training. Most of these schools are not affiliated
with the universities, although they too recruit their students by giving competitive examinations to
candidates. The grandes écoles provide rigorous training in all branches of applied science and technology,
and their diplomas have a somewhat higher standing than the ordinary licence.
(extracted from the sample test 2018 )
Question 37: The word ”their” in paragraph 3 refers to _____________
A. schools
B. universities
C. examinations

D. branches

Example 14:
North Americans are familiar with the many "person on the street" interviews on local television news shows.
While such interviews can be highly entertaining, they are not necessarily an accurate indication of public
opinion. First, they reflect the opinions of only those people who appear at a certain location. Thus, such
samples can be biased in favor of commuters, middle-class shoppers, or factory workers, depending on which
area the new people select.
(extracted from the actual IELTS test )
Question 6. The word "they" refers to ______.
6


A. interviews

B. opinions

C. news shows

D. North Americans

Example 15:
Although people commonly associate the word clone with modern scientific advancements, its usage in
botany (the study of plants) is far removed from those developments; a clone is, in the world of plants, a
completely natural thing, even a common one. Generally speaking, a clone is an individual which is
genetically identical to its progenitor, the parent from which the clone was produced. In this type of
procreation, only one progenitor is necessary. There are, of course, relatively few animals which reproduce in
this way. While certain types of fish, reptiles, and insects (among others) do reproduce asexually, most
creatures from the animal kingdom are born from two parent individuals with two discrete sets of genes. In
comparison, plants frequently reproduce asexually, creating genetically identical offspring, or clones. The
term for this type of procreation is vegetative reproduction, which includes a number of different processes
by which various plants multiply.

(extracted from the actual TOEFL test)
Question 1: The phrase “this type of procreation” refers to
(A) becoming genetically identical
(B) reproduction by cloning
(C) birth to a pair of parents
(D) producing individual sets of genes
Example 16:
All workers, like the queen, are female, but the workers are smaller than the queen. The male honeybees are
called drones; they do no work and cannot sting. They are developed from unfertilized eggs, and their only
job is to impregnate a queen. The queen must be fertilized in order to lay worker eggs. During the season,
when less honey is available and the drones is of no further use, the workers block the drones from eating the
honey so that they will starve to death.
Question : The word “They” in the last paragraph refers to_________.
A. queens
B. workers
C. honeybees
D. drones
Example 17:
People used to know more or less how their children would live. Now things are changing so quickly that
they don’t even know what their own lives will be like in a few years’ time. What follows is not science
fiction. It is how experts see the future. You are daydreaming behind the steering wheel; is it too dangerous?
No! That’s no problem because you have it on automatic pilot, and with its hi-tech computers and cameras,
your car “knows” how to get home safe and sound.
Question : What does “its” in line 5 refer to?
A. Your car.
B. Your home.
C. The future.
D. The steering wheel.
PART 3: DEDUCING THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
TYPES OF QUESTIONS

The word “…..” in line 19 is closest in meaning to…
The word “…..” in line 20 could be best replaced by…
In line, the phrase “ …...” could be best replaced by which of the following?
The phrase "the wee hours" in paragraph 3 probably refers to the period of time ______.
TIPS: Steps of guessing unknown vocabulary
- Step 1: Guessing meaning from word formation
- Step 2: Guessing meaning from context
Example 1:
Bees live in a structured environment and social structure within a hive, which is a nest with storage space
for the honey. The different types of bees each perform a unique function.
7


Question: It is stated in paragraph 2 that a hive is_________.
A. a storage space
B. a nest
C. a type of bee
D. a type of honey
Example 2:
Bees, classified into over 10,000 species, are insects found in almost every part of the world except the
northernmost and southernmost regions.
The word “species” in the first sentence probably means_________.
A. enemies
B. mates
C. killers
D. varieties
Example 3
But that is not all. Almost every school in the USA understands that real classroom teaching experience is a
vital part of a teacher's training. Before taking over a class, a person typically needs to complete a training
program, including working as a supervised student teacher.

(Extracted from the first term test 2016-2017)
The word “vital” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to______ .
A. very useless
B. very easy
C. very important
D. very interesting
Example 4:
A recent study shows that an unequal share of household chores is still the norm in many
households, despite the fact that many more women now have jobs. In a survey of 1,256 people ages between
18 and 65, men said they contributed an average of 37% of the total housework, while the women estimated
their share to be nearly double that, at 70%. This ratio was not affected by whether the woman was working
or not.
When they were asked what they thought was a fair division of labor, women with jobs felt
that housework should be shared equally between male and female partners. Women who did not
work outside the home were satisfied to perform 80% - the majority of the household work – if their
husbands did remainder. Research has shown that, if levels increase beyond these percentages, women
become unhappy and anxious, and feel they are unimportant.
(Extracted from the second term test 2016-2017)
Question 1:The word remainder in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______ .
A. what is done
B. what is fulfilled
C. what is left
D. what is share
Question 2: The word norm in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______ .
A. changing thing B. strange thing
C. usual thing
D. unequal thing
Question 3: The word estimated in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______ .
A. wanted
B. divided

C. hoped
D. guessed
Example 5:
The civil war broke out 6 years later. Immediately, Barton started was service by helping the soldiers with
their needs. At the battle of Bull Run, Clara Barton received permission from the government to take care of
the sick and hurt. Barton did this with great empathy and kindness. She acknowledged each soldier as a
person. Her endurance and courage on the battlefield were admired by many. When the war ended in 1865,
she used 4 years of her life to assist the government in searching for soldiers who were missing during the
war.
(Extracted from the second term test 2016-2017)
Question 1: The phrase broke out in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. extended
B. broke down
C. closed
Question 2: The word acknowledged in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by
A. nursed
B. recognized
C. pleaded
Example 6:

D. began
D. believed
8


Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are many ways of
communicating without using speech. Signals, signs, symbols, and gestures may be found in every known
culture. The basic function of signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way that it attracts
attention, as, for example, the dots and dashes of a telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech, the potential
for communication is very great. Less adaptable to the codification of words, signs also contain meaning

in and of themselves. A stop sign or a barber pole conveys meaning quickly and conveniently.
Symbols are more difficult to describe than either signals or signs because of their intricate relationship with
the receiver's cultural perceptions. In some cultures, applauding in a theater provides performers with an
auditory symbol of approval. Gestures such as waving and handshaking also communicate certain cultural
messages.
(Extracted from the first term test 2017-2018)
Question 1 :The phrase "impinge upon" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. prohibit
B. affect
C. vary
D. improve
Question 2: The word "potential" in paragraph 1 could be replaced by _______.
A. advantage
B. possibility
C. organization
D. range
Question 3: The word "intricate" in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by _______.
A. inefficient
B. complicated
C. historical
D. uncertain
Example 7:
It is commonly believed in the United States that school is where people go to get an education.
Nevertheless, it has been said that today children interrupt their education to go to school. The distinction
between schooling and education implied by this remark is important.
Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling. Education knows no bounds. It can
take place anywhere, whether in the shower or on the job, whether in a kitchen or on a tractor. It includes
both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole universe of informal learning. The agents
of education can range from a revered grandparent to the people debating politics on the radio, from a child
to a distinguished scientist. Whereas schooling has a certain predictability, education quite often produces

surprises. A chance conversation with a stranger may lead a person to discover how little is known of other
religions. People are engaged in education from infancy on. Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive term.
It is a lifelong process, a process that starts long before the start of school, and one that should be an integral
part of one's entire life.
(Extracted from the first term test 2017-2018)
Question 1: What does the author probably mean by using the expression “children interrupt their
education to go to school” (lines 2) ?
A. Going to several different schools is educationally beneficial.
B. School vacations interrupt the continuity of the school year.
C. Summer school makes the school year too long.
D. All of life is an education.
Question 2: The word “bounds “in line 4 is closest in meaning to ___________.
A. rules
B. experience
C. limits
D. exceptions
Question 3: The word “chance” in line 9 is closest in meaning to_________________.
A. unexpected
B. unusual
C. lengthy
D. lively
Question 4: The word “an integral” in line 12 is closest in meaning to ____________.
A. an equitable
B. a profitable
C. a pleasant
D. an essential
Example 8:
9

These days, however, more and more women work outside the home. They do not stay with the children all
day. They, too, come home tired in the evening. They do not want to spend the evening cooking dinner and
cleaning up. They do not have time to clean the house and do the laundry. So who is going to do the
housework now? Who is going to take care of the children?
(Extracted from the second term test 2017-2018)
Question: The word "laundry" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _____________
A. place where clothes are washed
C. shopping

B. washing and ironing
D. cooking and washing up

Example 9:
But not all animal parents, even those that tend their offspring to the point of hatching or birth, feed
their young. Most egg-guarding fish do not, for the simple reason that their young are so much smaller than
the parents and eat food that is also much smaller than the food eaten by adults. In reptiles, the crocodile
mother protects her young after they have hatched and takes them down to the water, where they will find
food, but she does not actually feed them. Few insects feed their young after hatching, but some make other
arrangement, provisioning their cells and nests with caterpillars and spiders that they have paralyzed with
their venom and stored in a state of suspended animation so that their larvae might have a supply of fresh
food when they hatch.
For animals other than mammals, then, feeding is not intrinsic to parental care. Animals add it to
their reproductive strategies to give them an edge in their lifelong quest for descendants. The most vulnerable
moment in any animal's life is when it first finds itself completely on its own, when it must forage and fend
for itself. Feeding postpones that moment until a young animal has grown to such a size that it is better able
to cope. Young that are fed by their parents become nutritionally independent at a much greater fraction of
their full adult size. And in the meantime those young are shielded against the vagaries of fluctuating of
difficult-to-find supplies. Once a species does take the step of feeding its young, the young become totally
dependent on the extra effort. If both parents are removed, the young generally do not survive.
(Extracted from the second term test 2017-2018)

Question 1: The word "tend" in line 7 is closest in meaning to
A. sit on
B. move
C. notice
Question 2: The word "provisioning" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
A. supplying
B. preparing
C. building
Question 3: The word "edge" in line 17 is closest in meaning to
A. opportunity
B. advantage
C. purpose
Question 4: The word "shielded" in line 22 is closest in meaning to
A. raised
B. protected
C. hatched

D. care for
D. expanding
D. rest
D. valued

Example 10:
The idea of giving lost teeth to an angel or fairy is also a tradition in the West. Many children in Western
countries count on the Tooth Fairy to leave money or presents in exchange for a tooth. The exact origins of
the Tooth Fairy are a mystery, although the story probably began in England or Ireland centuries ago.
According to tradition, a child puts a lost tooth under his or her pillow before going to bed. In the wee hours,
while the child is sleeping, the Tooth Fairy takes the tooth and leaves something else under the pillow.
( extracted from the actual test 2017-2018 )
10

Question 1: The word "origins" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. countries
B. families
C. beginnings
D. stories
Question 2: The phrase "the wee hours" in paragraph 3 probably refers to the period of time ______.
A. early in the evening
C. late in the morning
Example 11:

B. soon after midnight
D. long before bedtime

The extinction of one species can set off a chain reaction that affects many other species, particularly if the
loss occurs near the bottom of the food chain. For example, the extinction of a particular insect or plant might
seem inconsequential
Is it the responsibility of humans to save every kind of life form from disappearing, or is extinction an
inevitable part of nature, in which the strong survive and the weak perish?
( extracted from the actual test 2017-2018 )
Question 1: The word "inconsequential" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. unimportant
B. unavoidable
C. unexpected
D. unrecognizable
Question 2:The word "perish" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. disappear
Example 12:

B. complete

C. remain

D. develop

The uniformity in curriculum throughout the country leaves each university with little to distinguish itself.
Hence, many students prefer to go to Paris, where there are better accommodations and more cultural
amenities for them.
The German were the first to stress the importance of universities as research facilities, and they also created
a sense of them as emblems of a national mind.
(extracted from the sample test 2018 )
Question 1: The word “uniformity” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. proximity

B. discrepancy

C. similarity

D. uniqueness

Question 2: The word “emblems” in the final paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
A. representatives

B. directions

C. structures

D. delegates

Example 13: The pleasure derived from this activity is common to all kinds of reading. But different types
of books give us different types of pleasure. First in order of popularity is novel-reading. Novels contain
pictures of imaginary people in imaginary situations, and give us an opportunity of escaping into a new world
very much like our world and yet different from it. Here we seem to live a new life, and the experience of
this new life gives us a thrill of pleasure.

11


Next in order of popularity are travel books, biographies and memoirs. These tell us tales of places we have
not seen and of great men in whom we are interested. Some of these books are as wonderful as novels, and
they have an added value that they are true. Such books give us knowledge, and we also find immense
pleasure in knowing details of lands we have not seen and of great men we have only heard of.
(extracted from the sample test 2018 )
Question 1: The word “derived” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. differed

B. established

C. bought

D. obtained

Question 2: The word “immense” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. great

B. limited

C. personal

D. controlled

Example 14:
After lunch, you go down the hall to your home office. Here you have everything you need to do your work.
Thanks to your information screen and your latest generation computer, you needn’t go to the office any
more. The information screen shows an urgent message from a co-worker in Brazil. You can instantly send
back a reply to him and go on to deal with other matters.
Question 1 : The word “urgent” in the last paragraph probably means________.
A. expected
B. pressing
C. unnecessary
D. hurry
Question 2: What is “reply” CLOSEST in meaning to?
A. answer
B. request
C. replay

D. question

Example 15 :Read the paragraph and circle the correct word
Not every actor will end up being a (1) celebrity / famous, constantly in the public (2) eye / sight. Most
begin their careers working in the theatre, where the learn their craft. It’s important to develop the ability to
give a good (3) act / performance night after night, even if you are wearing a heavy stage (4) suit / costume
that’s difficult to move in. But these are problems that all ( 5) talented/ suitable performers learn to
overcome. And though world-wide fame may be hard to achieve, theatre (6) spectators / audiences always
appreciate good acting.
TASK 1: Match the words in bold with their synonyms
a) viewing figures, number of people who watch a show
b) person who makes a TV show
c) transmit , show on TV

d) people who watch TV
e) photographers who follow celebrities and take their photos
1/ What time do they broadcast the news on VTV1 in the evening?
2/ Angry viewers voted her off the reality TV show.

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3/ The show’s ratings have improved since Andy Crouch took on the lead role- seven million viewers now
tune in to watch each episode.
4/ Kate got a job as a TV producer on a new celebrity cooking programme.
5/ She is so famous that the paparazzi follow her everywhere
TASK 2
Write the correct part of speech of the words in bold
1. The applause was deafening as the curtain came down. The audience loved the play
2. I’m not having much luck booking a seat for the ballet. The tickets are sold out
3. Homeland is a series with very high viewer ratings in the UK- the final episode was watched by 2.8
million people.
4. She managed to perform in the concert despite feeling unwell. After the show she went back to bed.
5. She was tremendously pleased with the positive reviews of her novel.
Deduce the meaning of the words in bold.
1. deafening means ……………………………………………
2. booking means :…………………………………………….
3. ratings means ………………………………………………
4. despite means :……………………………………………...
5. tremendously means: …………………………………………
PART 4:IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SKIMMING SKILL
Skimming is an essential fast reading skill that you should possess. In the ACTUAL test, skimming enables
you to quickly understand the main idea or gist of the text and also its overall organization. It allows you to
draw a road map of the text and as such, it is easier for you to locate the answers of the questions on the text.

When you skim a text, your eyes move very quickly and you do not focus on every word but the sentences or
the words which are considered the topic sentences or the key words. After skimming the text, you are able to
answer these following questions:
- What is the main idea of the text?
- What is the topic sentence of this text?
The topic of a reading can generally be expressed in a word or several words. The main idea, on the other
hand, is expressed as a sentence; it is a complete thought.

TYPES OF QUESTIONS
-WHAT IS THE MAIN TOPIC OF THE PASSAGE?
- THE BEST TITLE FOR THE PASSAGE IS ………
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- THE MAIN TOPIC FOR THE PASSAGE IS ………
- WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR MAINLY DISCUSS
- THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PASSAGE IS …
How Can I Locate the Main Idea?
Once you can find the topic, you are ready to find the main idea. The main idea is the point of the paragraph.
It is the most important thought about the topic.
To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is being said about the person, thing, or idea
(the topic)?
The author can locate the main idea in different places within a paragraph. The main idea is usually a
sentence, and it is usually the first sentence. The writer then uses the rest of the paragraph to support the
main idea.
Here’s a paragraph we can use as an example. Try to locate the topic and the main idea.
Most teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It is a big
decision. There are a number of things you can do to narrow the choices. For example you can take an
interest test, do some research on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field in which you are
interested, or “job-shadow”, in which you spend a day with a person who is working in a field that interests

you. These are just a few helpful ideas as you begin to choose a career.
In this paragraph:


the topic is jobs or career choices



the main idea is a few ideas to help the reader choose a career

TASK 1:Read the only first sentence in each of the four text below. What do you think each text will
be about?
1.
2.
Why spend hours on the road or on the train when Anyone who travel anywhere can become ill, but the
you could fly to your meeting in approximately sixty frequent business traveler is more at risk than most of
minutes? ‘What about the cost?’ you say. ‘Surely air us. Stomach problems are the most common, with up
travel is far too expensive- the accounts department to half of all business people reporting at least one
would never agree to it.’ Well, we’ve got good news such incident in a foreign country. These distressing
here, too. We’re offering flights from London to complaints can sometimes be avoided, if you are
Glasgow for just £69 return ,if you book in advance. careful about what to eat and drink. Experts also
Plus, with our early morning and late evening flights, advised us to be careful of adding ice in drinks, since
think of how much you will save in overnight the ice may have been made with contaminated
accommodation. Isn’t it time to have a word with water. You should bear this in mind when drinking
your accounts department?
water, too. Only bottled water will give you
reasonable chance of staying well. There can be a
few things worse than flying half-way around the
world- only to miss an important meeting due to
illness.

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2.
Just what is it that turns normal people into monster
when they get behind the wheel of a car? We have
seen from studies that the people who get stressed
and angry while driving do not lose their tempers in
ordinary everyday situations. Some experts have
claimed that people become territorial about the road
space their car occupies. If someone invades this, the
reaction is an angry one. However, we also have to
consider the purpose of the journey. When people are
late for an appointment or a meeting, they get
annoyed and every little event on the road can cause
anger and stress.

4.
Language is not only the barrier you have to
overcome in another country – there are many
cultural differences that can stand in the way of
doing good business . The business card is a perfect
example of this. In the West, we might casually
accept someone’s card and put it in our pocket. This
could cause offence in many parts of Asia, where you
are expected to look at it and keep it in sight during
your meeting. Also, be careful with your appearance.
A smart, clean suit would be the safest look and men
should be clean-shaven, too. Remember that in some
cultures you are expected to remove your shoes in

certain rooms so pay attention to details such as your
socks

Match each text with a heading. There are two extra headings which you do not need to use.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Respect foreign custom
When an accident happens
Come fly with us
Anger on the road
Improve your business
How to stay well while travelling

TASK 2 :ACTUAL TEST
line
2

THE LATEST ADDITION
We all know that people can be addicted to drink and cigarettes and
that others spend hours texting friends of playing video games. Now it
seems that more and more of us are becoming addicted to exercise.
Take sue for example. She wakes up three mornings a week at 5.30 to
run five miles before going to work. Every evening, she goes to her health
club to do aerobics and weight training . Her daily life revolves around
her exercise schedule. She is a mother, but she spends very little time with

her husband or her two young children
“Exercise addicts are just like other kind of addict,” says Dr Martin Shaw,
from the College Of Medicine in Michigan, USA. “An addiction is
something that interferes with your job your social life and your
relationship with other people .The addiction becomes the main focus
in your life and other important things in life suffer.
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Just as people addicted to alcohol need to drink more and more to
satisfy their needs, people addicted to exercise increasing levels if
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it. The activity that people most commonly become addicted to is
jogging. Other sports can be expensive. Going to aerobics classes or to
a swimming pool costs money, and if you want to lift weights, you need
the right equipment
As with most other addictions, on exercise addiction can be an escape
from reality, but the media also plays and important part. People see
models and athletes and want to look the same as them. Consequently,

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some people think that they are fat when they are really not. Of course most

24

people know how much exercise is right for them, but an
increasing number seem to be hooked. (285 words)

Task 1 :Read the passage and find the words / phrase in the text which mean
1. things you need to do an activity : ………………………………………………
2. addicted :…………………………………………………………………………
3. stops something happening in the correct way………………………………….
4. get worse…………………………………………………………………………
5. is organized………………………………………………………………………
6. people who do sports very well, or as a their job………………………………..
7. usually or frequently………………………………………………………………
8. most important thing …………………………………………………………….
Task 2 : Reading for details. Read the text and tick the sentences True (T) or False

(F). Pick out the

sentences in the passage to justify your answer.
1/ The most important thing in Sue’s life is exercise
2/ Dr Shaw says that doing a lot of exercise is good for you and your life
3/ People who are addicted to exercise enjoy life more
4/ A lot of people go jogging because it doesn’t cost much
5/ Many people who are addicted to something don’t enjoy their lives
6/ People who exercise a lot want to work as models or athletes
Task 3: Understanding references
1. In line 2 , ‘others’ refers to people / cigarettes / friends / video games.
2. In line 16, ‘it’ refers to a substance / exercise / alcohol /need
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3. In line 23, ‘they’ refers to people / models / athletes/
4. In line 24, ‘ them’ refers to their bodies / most people
Task 4 : Read the text and choose the best summary
A. Everyone should get some regular exercise.

B. Some types of exercise are more expensive than others
C. Some people are doing more exercise than is good for them
D. A lot of models and athletes are addicted to exercise
TASK 3: ACTUAL TEST
SPEED DATING – THREE MINUTES TO MEET YOUR MATCH
A. These days it seems to be impossible for some people to find the partners of their dreams.
Perhaps people spend too much time at work. Or perhaps they are too choosy, but
whatever the reason, more and more men and women are using dating services to help
them find love. Speed dating is the latest craze and we ask Luigi, an organizer of speed
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dating evenings in San Francisco, to tell us how it works.
B. The idea of speed dating is that you meet as many potential partners as possible in an
evening. People know at first impressions are important and they don’t want to waste time
talking to the wrong person.
C. At a speed- dating evening, there is always an even number of participants and an equal
number of men and women. This way you always have somebody to speak to. First of all,

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we give each man and a woman a badge with a number on it. When the “dating” begins,
the two participants with number one start at table number one. The two with button
number two start at table number two, and so on. After a few minutes, a bell rings and the
men stand up and move to the next table while the women stay where they are. The men

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have to move however much they are enjoying the conversation at the time.
D. Between each “date” you are allowed a minute to take notes about the person you’ve
talked to. The evening continues until you’ve met everyone there. You have just enough

time with each person to decide if you want to see them again. Everyone gives their notes
to the organizers and they make the arrangements if a couple want to meet again . You
only have contact with people you like and who like you. There is no need for difficult

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calls or trying to avoid people you don’t want to see.
E. Some people think that speed dating is unnatural. They say it makes first impressions too
important and feel that people need time to get to know each other. Whatever you think,
though, speed dating is very popular and it’s coming to your town soon.

1: Complete the sentences with the key words in bold from the text
1. Dave is a very good …………………He planned and made all the arrangements for the party.
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2. If something is ……………., it is not what usually happens and can make people feel uncomfortable.
3. When I was younger, I used to wear ………….a with the name of my favourite rock band on it.
4. No guy will ever right for Judy. She’s just too …………………
5. ……………….means ‘possible in the future’
6. A ………….is a talk between two or more people
7. …………are people who take part in something
8. Jenny and Dave are a very nice ………………
2: Read the text and match the questions (1-5) to the paragraphs (A-E)
1. What is the basic idea of speed dating?

…………………….

2. What if I want to see the people again?

…………………….

3. Does anyone think speed dating is a good idea?

…………………….

4. How do speed- dating evenings work?

…………………….

5. Why do people need to find love?

…………………….

3: Read the text and choose the correct answer
1. In line 1, the partner of their dream means………
A. the perfect person to start a business with
B. the perfect girlfriend or girlfriend
C. somebody they knew in the past
D. the perfect person to share secret with
2. In line 4, the latest craze is something that …..
A.is very popular at the moment
C. people think is difficult to define
3. In line 7, your first impressions are ………
A. the first words you say to somebody
C. what you think about somebody when you first

B. people think is mad
D. is very expensive at the present
B. your first boyfriend or girl friend

D. the reasons for your meeting somebody

meet them.
4. In line 7, waste time means ………
A. to not use time in a good way
B. to use time to do something
C. to wait for something to happen
D. to use time in a good way
5.In line 8 , an even number of participants is , for example …….
A. two men and three women
C. three women and three men
6. In line 13, a bell rings means ………….

B. three women and two men
D. one woman and two men

A. a bright light
B. a sudden noise
C. music
D. a telephone call
7. In line 16, when participants take notes they …………..
A. write something on paper
B. ask more questions
C. exchange phone numbers
D. exchange wishes
8.In line 19, have contact with means……………
A. see or speak to again
B. touch
C. remember
D. do business

9.In line 20, if you try to avoid somebody, you try ……..
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A. to see them
B. not to see them
C. to find their phone number
D. to accept their invitation
10.The word “ choosy” in line 2 is closest in meaning to ….
A. difficult to please
B. easy to please
C. interesting to see
D. boring to talk to
11. The word "they " in paragraph D , line 19 refers to …………...
A. notes
C. everyone

B. organizers
D. a couple

REFERENCE BOOKS
-

Effective reading- Mac Millan, Chris Gough.
Reading for First- Mac Millan, Malcolm Mann- Steve Taylore- Knowles.
Đề thi học kỳ , Sở Giáo Dục- Đào Tạo Lâm Đồng.
Đề thi Tốt nghiệp THPT Quốc Gia , Bộ Giáo Dục- Đào Tạo.
TOEFL IBT- Reading

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