40 bài tập đọc HIỂU (270 câu) từ đề các sở GIÁO dục đào tạo image marked image marked

BÀI TẬP ĐỌC HIỂU
EXERCISE 1: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 36 to 42.
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 a signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way that it attracts
attention, as, for example, the dots and dashes of 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.
Although signals, signs, symbols and gestures are very useful, they do have a major disadvantage.
They usually do not allow ideas to be shared without the sender being directly adjacent to the receiver.
Without an exchange of ideas, interaction come to a halt. As a result, means of communication intended
to be used for long distances and extended periods must be based upon speech. To radio, television and
the telephone, one must add fax, paging systems, electronic mail, and the Internet, and no doubts but that
there are more means of communication on the horizon.
Question 1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Signs and signals
B. Gestures
C. Communication
D. Speech
Question 2. What does the author say about speech?
A. It is necessary for communication to occur.
B. It is the most advanced form of communication.
C. It is dependent upon the advances made by inventors.
D. It is the only true form of communication.
Question 3. The phrase “impinge upon” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. prohibit

B. improve
C. vary
D. intrude
Question 4. The word “it” in paragraph refers to _______.
A. signal
B. Function
C. way
D. environment
Question 5. Applauding was cited as an example of _______.
A. a sign
B. a gesture
C. a signal
D. a symbol
Question 6. Why were the telephone, radio, and television invented?
A. Because people wanted to communicate across long distances.
B. Because people wanted new forms of communication.
C. Because people were unable to understand signs, signals, and symbols.
D. Because people believed that signs, signals, and symbols were obsolete.
Question 7. It may be concluded from this passage that _______.
A. symbols are very easy to define and interrupt
B. only some cultures have signs, signals, and symbols
C. waving and handshaking are not related to culture


D. signs, signals, symbols, and gestures are forms of communication.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT BẠC LIÊU LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 2:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
An air pollutant is defined as a compound added directly or indirectly by humans to the atmosphere
in such quantities as to affect humans, animals, vegetation, or materials adversely. Air pollution requires

a very flexible definition that permits continuous changes. When the first air pollution laws were
established in England in the fourteenth century, air pollutants were limited to compounds that could be
seen or smelled - a far cry from the extensive list of harmful substances known today. As technology has
developed and knowledge of the health aspects of various chemicals has increased, the list of air
pollutants has lengthened. In the future, even water vapor might be considered an air pollutant under
certain conditions.
Many of more important air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides, carbon monoxides and nitrogen
oxides are found in nature. As the Earth developed, the concentration of these pollutants was altered by
various chemical reactions; they became components in biogeochemical cycles. These serve as an air
purification scheme by allowing the compounds to move from the air to the water or soil. On a global
basis, nature's output of these compounds dwarfs that resulting from human activities.
However, human production usually occurs in a localized area, such as a city. In such a region,
human output may be dominant and may temporarily overload the natural purification scheme of the
cycles. The result is an concentration of noxious chemicals in the air. The concentrations at which the
adverse effects appear will be greater than the concentrations that the pollutants would have in the
absence of human activities. The actual concentration need not be large for a substance to be a pollutant;
in fact, the numerical value tells us little until we know how much of an increase this represents over the
concentration that would occur naturally in the area. For example, sulfur dioxide has detectable health
effects at 0. 08 parts per million (ppm), which is about 400 times its natural level. Carbon monoxide,
however has a natural level of 0. 1 ppm and is not usually a pollutant until its level reaches about 15 ppm.
Question 8. What does the passage mainly dicuss?
A. What constitutes an air pollutant.
B. How much harm air pollutants can cause.
C. The economic impact of air pollution.
D. The effects of compounds added to the
atmosphere
Question 9. The word “adversely” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
A. considerably
B. quickly
C. admittedly

D. negatively
Question 10. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that ______.
A. the definition of air pollution will continue to change.
B. Most air pollutants today can be seen or smelled.
C. a substance becomes an air pollutant only in cities.
D. water vapor is an air pollutant in localized areas.
Question 11. The word “these” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.
A. the compounds moved to the water or soil
B. the pollutants from the developing Earth
C. the various chemical reactions
D. the components in biogeochemical cycles
Question 12. For which of the following reasons can natural pollutants play an important role in


controlling air pollution?
A. They're less harmful to living beings than other pollutants.
B. They function as part of a purification process.
C.They occur in greater quantities than other pollutants.
D. They have existed since the Earth developed.
Question 13. According to the passage, human- generated air pollution in localized regions ______.
A. will react harmfully with natural pollutants.
B. can overwhelm the natural system removing pollutants.
C. will damage area outside of the localized regions.
D. can be dwarfed by nature's output of pollutants.
Question 14. The word “localized” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to .
A. surrounded
B. encircled
C. specified
D. circled
Question 15. According to the passage, the numerical value of the concentration level of a substance is

only useful if .
A. it can be calculated quickly
B. it is in a localized area
C. the natural level is also known
D. the other substances in the area are known
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT BẠC LIÊU LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 3: Reading the following passage and mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answer sheet
to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
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 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 it does in Madagascar ? Much research on emotional expressions
has centered on such questions.
According to Paul Ekman, the leading researcher in this area, people speak and understand substantially
the same “facial language”. Studies by Ekman’s group have demonstrated that humans share a set of
universal emotional expressions that testify to the common biological heritage of the human species.
Smiles, for example, signal happiness and frowns indicate sadness on the faces of people in such far-flung
places as Argentina, Japan, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Sumatra, the United States, Vietnam, the jungles of
New Guinea, and the Eskimo villages north of Artic Circle. Ekman and his colleagues claim that people
everywhere can recognize at least seven basic emotions : sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt,
happiness, and surprise.
There are, however, huge differences across cultures in both the context and intensity of emotional
displays – the so-called display responses – expecially negative ones – while many American children are
encouraged to express their feelings more openly. Regardless of culture, however, emotions usually show


themselves, to some degree, in people’s behavior. From their first days in life, babies produce facial
expressions that communicate their feelings.
The ability to read facial expressions develops early, too. Very young children pay close attention to
facial expressions, and by age five, they nearly equal adults in their skill at reading emotions on people’s

faces. This evidence all points to a biological underpinning for our abilities to express and interpret a
basic set of human emotions. Moreover, as Chales Dawin pointed out over a century ago, some emotional
expressions seem to appear across species boundaries. Cross-cultural psychologists tell us that certain
emotional responses carry different meanings in diferrent cultures. For example, what emotion do you
suppose might be conveyed while sticking out your tounge ? For American, this might indicate disgust,
while in China it can signify surprise. Likewise, a grin on an American face may indicate joy, while on a
Japanese face it may just as easily mean embarrassment. Clearly, culture influences emotional
expressions.
(Adapted from )
Question 16: The best title for the passage is _________
A. human habit of displaying emotions

B. a review of research on emotional expressions

C. ways to control emotional expressions

D. cultural universals in emotional expressions

Question 17: The word “evolved” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______
A. reduced

B. increased

C. simplified

D. developed

Question 18: Many studies on emotional expressions try to answer the question whether _________
A. raising the eyebrows has similar meaning to rounding the mouth
B. raising the eyebrows has similar meaning to rounding the mouth

C. different cultures have similar emotional expressions
D. eyebrow raising means the same in Minneapolis and Madagascar
Question 19: Paul Ekman is mentioned in the passage as an example of ______
A. investigators on universal emotional expressions
B. researchers who can speak and understand many languages
C. researchers on universal language
D. lacked many main ingredients
Question 20: Smiles and frowns ____________
A. have different meaning in different cultures.
B. are universal expressions across cultures.
C. do not convey the same emotions in various cultures.
D. are not popular everywhere.
Question 21: Unlike American children, Asian children are encouraged to______.


A. display their emotions openly.

B. change their behaviour.

C. control their emotions.

D. conceal their positive emotions.

Question 22: The word “negative” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to __________
A. positive

B. enthusiastic

C. opposing

D. affirmative

Question 23: The phrase “This evidence” in paragraph 3 refers to ________
A. the fact that children can control their feelings
B. human facial expressions
C. a biological underpinning for humans to express emotions
D. the fact that children are good at recognizing others’ emotions
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT NAM ĐỊNH - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 4: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the best answer for each question.
Successful students often do the followings while studying. First they have an overview before
reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs
jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another.
Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good,
they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “
fix-up” mistakes in comprehension.
Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills.
They tend to assume a passive role in learning and rely on others(e.g, teachers, parents) to monitor their
studying. For example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content, they
may not be aware of the purpose of studying, and their show little evidence of looking back, or employing
“fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information
seem to be unaware that they must extent beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember
it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality off their studying. Their studying
may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well.
They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and
completing work on time. Unlike good student who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet
purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of skills. They can not explain why
good study strategies are important for learning, and they tend to use the same, often ineffective, study
approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure of difficulty.
(Adapter from Study Skills: Managing Your Learning – NUI Galway)

Question 24: What is the topic of the passage?
A. Successful and low-academic achieving students.


B. Successful learners and their learning strategies.
C. Study skills for high school students.
D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning.
Question 25: The word “prior” in the first paragraph is closest meaning to _______-?
A. important

B. earlier

C. forward

D. good

Question26: According to the passage, what can be learnt about passive students?
A. They depend on other people to organize their learning.
B. They are slow in their studying.
C. They monitor their understanding.
D. The know the purpose of studying.
Question 27: According to the passage, to learn new ìnormaton, low-achieving students do
NOT________.
A. just understand it

B. relate it to what they have known

C. simply remember it

D. read it

Question 28: The underlined pronoun “They” in the last sentence refers to________
A. study strategies

B. study skills

C. low-achieving students

D. good studiers

(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT NAM ĐỊNH - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 5: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Sylvia Earle, a marine botanist and one of the foremost deep-sea explorers, has spent over 6,000
hours, more than seven months, underwater. From her earliest years, Earle had an affinity for marine life,
and she took her first plunge into the open sea as a teenager. In the years since then she has taken part in a
number of landmark underwater projects, from exploratory expeditions around the world to her celebrated
“Jim dive” in 1978, which was the deepest solo dive ever made without cable connecting the diver to a
support vessel at the surface of the sea.
Clothed in a Jim suit, a futuristic suit of plastic and metal armor, which was secured to a manned
submarine, Sylvia Earle plunged vertically into the Pacific Ocean, at times at the speed of 100 feet per
minute. On reaching the ocean floor, she was released from the submarine and from that point her only
connection to the sub was an 18-foot tether. For the next 2½ hours, Earle roamed the seabed taking notes,
collecting 15 specimens, and planting a U.S. flag. Consumed by a desire to descend deeper still, in 1981
she became involved in the design and manufacture of 20 deep-sea submersibles, one of which took her
to a depth of 3,000 feet. This did not end Sylvia Earle’s accomplishments.
Question 29: When did Sylvia Earle discover her love of the sea?


A. In her childhood.

B. During her 6,000 hours underwater.
C. After she made her deepest solo dive.
D. In her adulthood.
Question 30: It can be inferred from the passage that Sylvia Earle _______.
A. is not interested in the scientific aspects of marine research
B. is uncomfortable in tight spaces
C. does not have technical expertise
D. has devoted her life to ocean exploration
Question 31: The author’s opinion of Sylvia Earle is _______.
A. critical

B. supportive

C. ambivalent

D. disrespectful

Question 32: What will the paragraph following this passage probably be about?
A. Sylvia Earle’s childhood.
B. More information on the Jim suit.
C. Earle’s achievements after 1981.
D. How deep-sea submersibles are manufactured.
Question 33: The main purpose of this passage is _______.
A. to explore the botany of ocean floor
B. to present a short biography of Sylvia Earle
C. to provide an introduction to oceanography
D. to show the historical importance of the Jim dive
Question 34: Which of the following is not true about the Jim dive?
A. It took place in 1981.
B. Sylvia Earle took notes while on the ocean floor.

C. It was performed in the Pacific Ocean.
D. The submarine that Sylvia Earle was connected to was manned.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT BẠC LIÊU - LẦN 2)
EXERCISE 6 Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Long before they can actually speak, babies pay special attention to the speech they hear around
them. Within the first month of their lives, babies' responses to the sound of the human voice will be
different from their responses to other sorts of auditory stimuli. They will stop crying when they hear a
person talking, but not if they hear a bell or the sound of a rattle. At first, the sounds that an infant notices
might be only those words that receive the heaviest emphasis and that often occur at the ends of


utterances. By the time they are six or seven weeks old, babies can detect the difference between syllables
pronounced with rising and falling inflections. Very soon, these differences in adult stress and intonation
can influence babies' emotional states and behavior. Long before they develop actual language
comprehension, babies can sense when an adult is playful or angry, attempting to initiate or terminate
new behavior, and so on, merely on the basis of cues such as the rate, volume, and melody of adult
speech.
Adults make it as easy as they can for babies to pick up a language by exaggerating such cues. One
researcher observed babies and their mothers in six diverse cultures and found that, in all six languages,
the mothers used simplified syntax, short utterances and nonsense sounds, and transformed certain sounds
into baby talk. Other investigators have noted that when mothers talk to babies who are only a few
months old, they exaggerate the pitch, loudness, and intensity of their words. They also exaggerate their
facial expressions, hold vowels longer, and emphasize certain words.
More significant for language development than their response to general intonation is observation
that tiny babies can make relatively fine distinctions between speech sounds. In other words, babies enter
the world with the ability to make precisely those perceptual discriminations that are necessary if they are
to acquire aural language.
Babies obviously derive pleasure from sound input, too: even as young as nine months they will
listen to songs or stories, although the words themselves are beyond their understanding. For babies,

language is a sensory-motor delight rather than the route to prosaic meaning that it often is for adults.
Question 35: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. How babies differentiate between the sound of the human voice and other sounds.
B. The differences between a baby's and an adult's ability to comprehend language
C. How babies perceive and respond to the human voice in their earliest stages of language
development
D. The response of babies to sounds other than the human voice
Question 36: Why does the author mention a bell and rattle in paragraph 1?
A. To contrast the reactions of babies to human and nonhuman sounds.
B. To give examples of sounds that will cause a baby to cry.
C. To explain how babies distinguish between different nonhuman sounds.
D. To give examples of typical toys that babies do not like.
Question 37: The word “diverse” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. surrounding

B. divided

C. different

D. stimulating

Question 38: The word “They” in paragraph 2 refers to _______.
A. mothers

B. investigators

C. babies

D. words

Question 39: The passage mentions of the following as ways adults modify their speech when talking to
their babies EXCEPT _______.
A. giving all words equal emphasis

B. speaking with shorter sentences

C. speaking more loudly than normal

D. using meaningless sounds

Question 40: What point does the author make to illustrate that babies are born with the ability to acquire
language?
A. Babies begin to understand words in songs.
B. Babies exaggerate their own sounds and expressions.
C. Babies are more sensitive to sounds than are adults.
D. Babies notice even minor differences between speech sounds.
Question 41: According to the author, why do babies listen to songs and stories, even though they cannot
understand them?
A. They understand the rhythm.
B. They enjoy the sound.
C. They can remember them easily.
D. They focus on the meaning of their parents’ words.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT BẠC LIÊU - LẦN 2)
EXERCISE 7: Read the following passage and mart the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Fish that live on the sea bottom benefit by being flat and hugging the contours. There are two very
different types of flatfish and they have evolved in very separate ways. The skates and rays, relatives of
the sharks have become flat in what might be called the obvious way. Their bodies have grown out
sideways to form great “wings” They look as though they have been flattened but have remained

symmetrical and “the right way up”. Conversely fish such as plaice, sole, and halibut have become flat in
a different way. There are bony fish which have a marked tendency to be flattened in a vertical direction;
they are much “taller” than they are wide. They use their whole vertically flattened bodies as swimming
surfaces, which undulate through the water as they move. Therefore when their ancestors migrated to the
seabed, they lay on one side than on their bellies. However, this raises the problem that one eye was
always looking down into the sand and was effectively useless - In evolution this problem was solved by
the lower eye “moving” around the other side. We see this process of moving around enacted in the
development of every young bony flatfish. It starts life swimming near the surface, and is symmetrical
and vertically flattened, but then the skull starts to grow in a strange asymmetrical twisted fashion, so that
one eye for instance the left, moves over the top of the head upwards, an old Picasso - like vision.
Incidentally, some species of 20 flatfish settle on the right side, others on the left, and others on either
side.
Question 42: The word “conversely” is closest in meaning to _______.
A. similarly
B. alternatively
C. inversely
D. contrarily
Question 43: The passage is mainly concerned with _____.
A. bony flatfish
B. evolution asymmetrical
C. symmetrical flatfish
D. different types of flatfish
Question 44: The author mentions skates and rays as examples of fish that _______.
A. have spread horizontally
B. become asymmetrical


C. resemble sharks
D. appear to fly
Question 45: The word “this” refer to _______.

A. the migration of the ancestors
B. the difficulty of the only one eye being useful
C. the problem of the one eye looking downwards
D. the practice of lying on one side
Question 46: According to the passage, the ability of a bony flatfish to move its eyes around is _______.
A. average
B. excellent
C. weak
D. variable
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT NINH BÌNH - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 8:Read the following passage and mart the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
If you enjoy water sports, Hawaii is the place for you. You can go swimming all year round in the
warm water. You can go sport fishing from the shore or from a boat. If you like boats, you can go sailing,
canoeing, or windsurfing. Or, you can also try some other water sports that are especially popular in
Hawaii: surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Surfing is a sport which started in Hawaii many years ago. The Hawaiians called it “he’e nalu”,
which means “to slide on a wave”. If you want to try surfing, you need, first of all, to be a good swimmer.
You also have to have an excellent sense of balance. You must swim out from the beach with your
surfboard under your arm. When you get to where the waves begin to break, you wait for a calm moment.
Then you try to stand up on the board. The wave will begin to rise under you. You must try to steer the
board with your feet so you stay on top of the wave. The important thing is to keep your balance and not
fall down. If you can manage this, you will have an exciting ride all the way in to the shore.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are two ways to get a close look at the beauty lying below the surface
of the ocean. The waters off the Hawaiian Islands are clean, clear and warm. They contain hundreds of
kinds of colorful fish. The undersea world is made even more colorful by the coral reefs of red, gold,
white and light purple. Among these reefs there may be larger fish or sea turtles.
Scuba diving allows you to see the most interesting undersea sights. “Scuba” means “Self-contained
Underwater Breathing Apparatus”, that is, equipment for breathing and swimming around far under
water. In Hawaii, you can take special courses to learn how to scuba dive. After the courses, you can get a

certificate that will allow you to dive alone. Since it can be dangerous, proper instruction and great care
are always necessary when you are scuba diving.
If you are adventurous, you might try snorkeling instead of scuba diving. Less equipment is needed,
just a face mask, a breathing tube (snorkel) and flippers for your feet. It only takes a few minutes to learn
how to snorkel. Although you cannot dive deep into the water, you can swim with your face below the
surface. Breathing through the tube, you float on the surface, and keep yourself moving with your
flippers. Even from the surface like this, there will be plenty of color and beauty to see.
Question 47: Which statement is supported by the information in the passage?
A. Snorkeling requires much more equipment and training than scuba diving.
B. When you are snorkeling you can go deep under water.
C. Snorkeling involves breathing through the tube, floating on the surface and moving with flippers.
D. Snorkeling is a sport started in ancient times.
Question 48: Which of the following is NOT true about surfing?
A. It requires swimmers to have an excellent sense of balance.
B. It requires expensive equipment.
C. It was invented by the native Hawaiians.
D. Anyone who wants to try surfing need to be a good swimmer.
Question 49: The water around the Hawaiian Islands is ____.
A. often quite cold
B. full of colorful things to see
C. usually very dark
D. full of dangerous fish
Question 50: According to the passage, scuba diving ____.


A. is an ancient Hawaiian water sport
B. requires good balance
C. is the only way to see the fish underwater
D. requires special equipment and training
Question 51: It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. water sports are all expensive
B. you need to take serious courses for all water sports
C. everyone can find a way to enjoy sports in the water
D. swimming in Hawaii can be dangerous
Question 52: The passage is mainly about _______.
A. water sports in Hawaii
B. water sports around the world
C. tourist activities in Hawaii
D. an adventure under water
Question 53: The word “proper” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. informative
B. appropriate
C. short and clear
D. enthusiastic
Question 54: The word “this” in the second paragraph refers to _______.
A. standing on the board
B. keeping balanced and not falling down
C. The wave beginning to rise
D. staying on top of the wave
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT NINH BÌNH - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 9: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate
the correct answer to each of the following questions.
People appear to be born to compute. The numerical skills of children develop so early and so inexorably
that it is easy to imagine an internal clock of mathematical maturity guiding their growth. Not long after learning to
walk and talk, they can set the table with impressive accuracy – one plate, one knife, one spoon, one fork, for each
of the five chairs. Soon they are capable of noting that they have placed five knives, spoons, and forks on the table
and, a bit later, that this amounts to fifteen pieces of silverware. Having thus mastered addition, they move on to
subtraction. It seems almost reasonable to expect that if a child were secluded on a desert island at birth and
retrieved seven years later, he or she could enter a second-grade mathematics class without any serious problems of
intellectual adjustment.

Of course, the truth is not so simple. This century, the work of cognitive psychologists has illuminated the
subtle forms of daily learning on which intellectual progress depends. Children were observed as they slowly
grasped or, as the case might be, bumped into concepts that adults that for granted, as they refused, for instance, to
concede that quantity is unchanged as water pours from a short stout glass into a tall thin one. Psychologists have
since demonstrated that young children, asked to count the pencils in a pile, readily report the number of blue or red
pencils, but must be coaxed into finding the total.
Such studies have suggested that the rudiments of mathematics are mastered gradually, and with effort. They
have also suggested that the very concept of abstract numbers – the idea of a oneness, a twoness, a threeness that
applies to any class of objects - is a prerequisite for doing anything more mathematically demanding than setting a
table – is itself far from innate.
Question 55. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Trends in teaching mathematics to children
B. The fundamental concepts of mathematics that children must learn
C. The development of mathematical ability in children
D. The use of mathematics in child psychology
Question 56. It can be inferred from the passage that children normally learn simple counting _______.
A. when they begin to be mathematically mature
B. after they reach second grade in school
C. by looking at the clock
D. soon after they learn to talk
Question 57. The word “illuminated” is closest in meaning to _______.
A. clarified
B. accepted
C. illustrated
D. lighted
Question 58. According to the passage, when small children were asked to count a pile of red and blue pencils,
they _______.


A. counted the number of pencils of each color

B. guessed at the total number of pencils
C. counted only the pencils of their favorite color
D. subtracted the number of red pencils from the number of blue pencils
Question 59. Which of the following statement would the author LEAST agree with?
A. Most people follow the same pattern of mathematical development.
B. Children learn to add before they learn to subtract.
C. Children naturally and easily learn mathematics.
D. Mathematical development is subtle and gradual.

(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT HÀ NỘI - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 10: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate
the correct answer to each of the following questions.
In the history of technology, computers and calculators were innovative developments. They are
essentially different from all other machines because they have a memory. This memory stores instructions and
information. In a calculator, the instructions are the various functions of arithmetic, which are permanently
remembered by the machine and cannot be altered or added to. The information consists of the numbers which are
keyed in.
An electronic pocket calculator can perform almost instant arithmetic. A calculator requires an input unit to
feed in numbers, a processing unit to make the calculation, a memory unit, and an output unit to display the result.
The calculator is powered by a small battery or by a panel of solar cells. Inside is a microchip that contains the
memory and processing units and also controls the input unit, which is the keyboard, and the output unit, which is
the display.
The input unit has keys for numbers and operations. Beneath the key is a printed circuit board containing a
set of contacts for each key. Pressing a key closes the contacts and sends a signal along a pair of lines in the circuit
board to the processing unit, in which the binary code for that key is stored in the memory. The processing unit also
sends the code to the display. Each key is connected by a different pair of lines to the processing unit, which
repeatedly checks the lines to find out when a pair is linked by a key.
The memory unit stores the arithmetic instructions for the processing unit and holds the temporary results
that occur during calculation. Storage cells in the memory unit hold the binary codes for the keys that have been
pressed. The number codes, together with the operation code for the plus key, are held in temporary cells until the

processing unit requires them.
When the equals key is pressed, it sends a signal to the processing unit. This takes the operation code - for
example, addition - and the two numbers being held in the memory unit and performs the operation on the two
numbers. After the addition is done, the result goes to the decoder in the calculator's microchip. This code is then
sent to the liquid crystal display unit, which shows the result, or output, of the calculation.
Question 60. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To summarize the history of technology
B. To explain how a calculator works
C. To discuss innovative developments in technology
D. To compare computers and calculators with other machines
Question 61. What can be inferred about machines that are not calculators or computers?
A. They are older than computers.
B. They are less expensive than computers.
C. They cannot store information in a memory.
D. They have simple memory and processing units.
Question 62. The word “innovative” in paragraph 1 could best replaced by _______.
A. revolutionary
B. complicated
C. important
D. recent
Question 63. In what part of the calculator are the processing and memory units?
A. The output unit
B. The solar cells
C. The battery
D. The microchip
Question 64. According to the passage, one function of the memory unit is _______.
A. to control the keyboard
B. to send codes to the display unit

C. to alter basic arithmetic instructions
D. to store temporary results during calculation
Question 65. The word “This” in paragraph 5 refers to _______.
A. the equal key
B. the plus key
C. the memory unit
D. the processing unit
Question 66. The word “contacts” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. connections
B. commands
C. locations
D. codes
Question 67. Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE about calculators?
A. Sending codes takes place only in the memory unit of a calculator.
B. Calculator and computers have a memory.
C. Calculators require a lot of instructions to operate quickly.
D. Pressing a key activates a calculator.

(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT HÀ NỘI - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 11: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
A Working Vacation
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get your dream job? It can take years to get the
education and develop the skills you need for the perfect job. However, there is a way to experience your
dream job without having to get the required training or degree. Since 2004, Brian Kurth’s company,
Vocation Vacations, has been connecting people with mentors who have the jobs of their dreams.
Kurth had been working for a phone company before starting his own company. He didn’t like his job,
and he had a long time to think about it on his drive to and from work. He also thought about his dream
job while driving. He was interested in becoming a dog trainer, but he didn’t want to take any chances
and switch to a field he didn’t have experience in. He really wanted to know what the job was like and if

it was realistic for him to work towards his goal. So, he found a mentor – a dog trainer that could tell him
about the job and everything it involved. After that, he helped his friends find mentors to explore jobs
they were interested in. They thought it was helpful to talk to people who had their dream jobs before
spending lots of time and money getting the training they needed for those jobs.
Kurth saw how much this helped his friends, so he decided to turn it into his business. He started
Vocation Vacations in 2004, and by 2005, the company was offering experience with over 200 dream
jobs. Today, about 300 mentors work with the company to share their knowledge about their jobs.
Customers pay to experience the job of their dreams and work with these mentors to see what a job is
really like. A “job vacation” costs between $350 and $3,000 and can be for one to three days. Many
people use Vocation Vacations to see if their dream job is a career path they want to continue. Others do
it just to experience the job of their dreams one time.
Vocation Vacations jobs are in the fields of fashion, food, entertainment, sports and animals. Many
people want to try glamorous jobs. For example, they want to try working as actors, music producers,
photographers and fashion designers. According to Kurth, some other popular dream jobs are working as
bakers, hotel managers and wedding planners.
Source: Summit 2 by Pearson Education, 2017
Question 68. What is the passage mainly about?
A. A company where people can experience their dream jobs
B. A company where people get the training for their dream jobs
C. Brian Kurth’s dream job as a dog trainer
D. Brian Kurth’s company as a dream job provider
Question 69. The word their in paragraph 3 refers to _______.
A. jobs
B. mentors
C. customers
D. experiences
Question 70. What do mentors at Vocation Vacations do?


A. explore jobs that people are interested in

B. train people for their dream jobs
B. give people advice on how to choose a job
D. show people what their jobs are like
Question 71. The word glamorous in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. uncommon
B. attractive
C. unskilled
D. ordinary
Question 72. All of the following are true about Vocation Vacations EXCEPT ______.
A. it belongs to Brian Kurth
B. the company was started in 2004
C. the company hires about 300 mentors
D. it provides jobs in many different fields
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT HẢI PHÒNG - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 12: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Scientists have identified two ways in which species disappear. The first is through ordinary or
“background” extinctions, where species that fail to adapt are slowly replaced by more adaptable life
forms. The second is when large numbers of species go to the wall in relatively short periods of biological
time. There have been five such extinctions, each provoked by cataclysmic evolutionary events caused by
some geological eruption, climate shift, or space junk slamming into the Earth. Scientists now believe that
another mass extinction of species is currently under way – and this time human fingerprints are on the
trigger.
How are we are doing it? Simply by demanding more and more space for ourselves. In our assault on the
ecosystems around us we have used a number of tools, from spear and gun to bulldozer and chainsaw.
Certain especially rich ecosystems have proved the most vulnerable. In Hawaii more than half of the
native birds are now gone – some 50 species. Such carnage has taken place all across the island
communities of the Pacific and Indian oceans. While many species were hunted to extinction, others
simply succumbed to the „introduced predators’ that humans brought with them: the cat, the dog, the pig,
and the rat.

Today the tempo of extinction is picking up speed. Hunting is no longer the major culprit, although rare
birds and animals continue to be butchered for their skin, feathers, tusks, and internal organs, or taken as
savage pets. Today the main threat comes from the destruction of the habitat of wild plants, animals, and
insects need to survive. The draining and damming of wetland and river courses threatens the aquatic
food chain and our own seafood industry. Overfishing and the destruction of fragile coral reefs destroy
ocean biodiversity. Deforestation is taking a staggering toll, particularly in the tropics where the most
global biodiversity is at risk. The shinking rainforest cover of the Congo and Amazon river basins and
such place as Borneo and Madagascar have a wealth of species per hectare existing nowhere else. As
those precious hectares are drowned or turned into arid pasture and cropland, such species disappear
forever.
Source: Final Countdown Practice Tests by D.F Piniaris, Heinle Cengage Learning, 2010
Question 73. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Human activity and its impact on a mass extinction of species
B. The two ways in which species disappear
C. The tempo of extinction of species today
D. Deforestation as a major cause of mass extinctions of species
Question 74. The word assault in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.
A. development
B. attack
C. effort
D. influence
Question 75. All of the following are mentioned as a form of habitat destruction EXCEPT ________.
A. destroying coral reefs
B. cutting down forests
C. damming wetlands and rivers
D. hunting rare birds and animals


Question 76. What was the main threat to biodiversity in Hawaii and other islands in the Pacific and
Indian oceans until recently?

A. tools used by human beings
B. human assault on ecosystems
C. vulnerable rich ecosystems
D. hunters and introduced predators
Question 77. The word them in paragraph 2 refers to _______.
A. species
B. oceans
C. predators
D. humans
Question 78. Which is no longer considered a major cause of the mass extinction under way currently?
A. the building of dams across rivers
B. the destruction of habitats of species
C. the shrinking of rainforests in the tropics
D. the killing of animals for their body parts
Question 79. The word butchered in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____.
A. raised
B. traded
C. cooked
D. killed
Question 80. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A. the current mass extinction is different from the other five in that it is caused by humans
B. hunting is the major contributing factor that speeds up the extinction of species
C. habitat destruction makes a minor contribution to the current mass extinction of species
D. it’s impossible for scientists to identify the causes of mass extinctions of species
(ĐỀ THI THỬ SỞ GD&ĐT HẢI PHÒNG - LẦN 1)
EXERCISE 13: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
It's often said that we learn things at the wrong time. University students frequently do the
minimum of work because they're crazy about a good social life instead. Children often scream before
their piano practice because it's so boring. They have to be given gold stars and medals to be persuaded to

swim, or have to be bribed to take exams. But the story is different when you're older.
Over the years, I've done my share of adult learning. At 30, I went to a college and did courses in
History and English. It was an amazing experience. For starters, I was paying, so there was no reason to
be late — I was the one frowning and drumming my fingers if the tutor was late, not the other way round.
Indeed, if I could persuade him to linger for an extra five minutes, it was a bonus, not a nuisance. I wasn't
frightened to ask questions, and homework was a pleasure not a pain. When I passed an exam, I had
passed it for me and me alone, not for my parents or my teachers. The satisfaction I got was entirely
personal.
Some people fear going back to school because they worry that their brains have got rusty. But the
joy is that, although some parts have rusted up, your brain has learnt all kinds of other things since you
were young. It has learnt to think independently and flexibly and is much better at relating one thing to
another. What you lose in the rust department, you gain in the maturity department.
In some ways, age is a positive plus. For instance, when you're older, you get less frustrated.
Experience has told you that, if you're calm and simply do something carefully again and again,
eventually you'll get the hang of it. The confidence you have in other areas — from being able to drive a
car, perhaps — means that if you can't, say, build a chair instantly, you don't, like a child, want to destroy
your first pathetic attempts. Maturity tells you that you will, with application, eventually get there.
I hated piano lessons at school, but I was good at music. And coming back to it, with a teacher who
could explain why certain exercises were useful and with musical concepts that, at the age of ten, I could
never grasp, was magical. Initially, I did feel a bit strange, thumping out a piece that I'd played for my
school exams, with just as little comprehension of what the composer intended as I'd had all those years


before. But soon, complex emotions that I never knew poured out from my fingers, and suddenly I could
understand why practice makes perfect.
Question 81: It is implied in paragraph 1 that _______.
A. parents should encourage young learners to study more
B. young learners are usually lazy in their class
C. young learners often lack a good motivation for learning
D. teachers should give young learners less homework

Question 82: While doing some adult learning courses at a college, the writer was surprised _________.
A. to get on better with the tutor
B. to feel learning more enjoyable
C. to have more time to learn
D. to be able to learn more quickly
Question 83: The phrase "get there" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _________.
A. arrive at an intended place with difficulty
B. achieve your aim with hard work
C. have the things you have long desired
D. receive a school or college degree
Question 84: The word "It" in paragraph 3 refers to ________.
A. The brain
B. The joy
C. A thing
D. The school
Question 85: What is the writer's main purpose in the passage?
A. To encourage adult learning.
B. To describe adult learning methods.
C. To show how fast adult learning is.
D. To explain reasons for learning.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 01)
EXERCISE 14:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Humans have struggled against weeds since the beginnings of agriculture. Marring our gardens is
one of the milder effects of weeds - any plants that thrive where they are unwanted. They clog waterways,
destroy wildlife habitats, and impede farming. Their spread eliminates grazing areas and accounts for
one-third of all crop loss. They compete for sunlight, nutrients, and water with useful plants.
The global need for weed control had been answered mainly by the chemical industry. Its herbicides
are effective and sometimes necessary, but some pose serious problems, particularly if misused. Toxic
compounds threaten animal and public health when they accumulate in food plants, groundwater, and

drinking water. They also harm workers who apply them.
In recent years, the chemical industry has introduced several herbicides that are more ecologically
sound. Yet new chemicals alone cannot solve the world's weed problems. Hence, scientists are exploring
the innate weed-killing powers of living organisms, primarily insects and microorganisms.
The biological agents now in use are environmentally benign and are harmless to humans. They can
be chosen for their ability to attack selected targets and leave crops and other plants untouched. In
contrast, some of the most effective chemicals kill virtually all the plants they come in contact with,
sparing only those that are naturally resistant or have been genetically modified for resistance.
Furthermore, a number of biological agents can be administered only once, after which no added
applications are needed. Chemicals typically must be used several times per growing season.
Question 86: With what topic does this passage primarily deal?
A. The importance of the chemical industry.
B. The dangers of toxic chemicals..
C. A proposal to ban the use of all herbicides
D. Advantages of biological agents over chemical ones.
Question 87: The word "Marring" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______________.


A. spoiling
B. planting
C. dividing
D. replacing
Question 88: Which of the following terms does the author define in the first paragraph?
A. weeds
B. nutrients
C. wildlife habitats
D. grazing area
Question 89: Which of the following statements about the use of chemical agents as herbicides would the
author most likely agree?
A. It is safe but inefficient.

B. It is occasionally required.
C. It should be increased.
D. It has become more dangerous recently.
Question 90: Which of the following is NOT given as an advantage of using biological agents over
chemical herbicides?
A. They are safer for workers.
B. They are less likely to destroy desirable plants.
C. They are more easily available.
D. They do not have to be used as often.
Question 91: The word "innate" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. effective
B. organic
C. natural
D. active
Question 92: According to the passage, biological agents mainly consist of ____________.
A. herbicides
B. useful plants
C. weeds
D. insects and microorganisms
Question 93: Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A. A general idea is introduced and several specific examples are given.
B. Two possible causes of a phenomenon are compared.
C. A problem is described and possible solutions are discussed.
D. A recommendation is analyzed and rejected.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 01)
EXERCISE 15: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Perhaps it was his own lack of adequate schooling that inspired Horace Mann to work so hard for the
important reforms in education that he accomplished. While he was still a boy, his father and older
brother died, and he became responsible for supporting his family. Like most of the children in his town,

he attended school only two or three months a year. Later, with the help of several teachers, he was able
to study law and became a member of the Massachusetts bar, but he never forgot those early struggles.
While serving in Massachusetts legislature, he signed a historic education bill that set up a state board of
education. Without regret, he gave up his successful legal practice and political career to become the first
secretary of the board. There he exercised an enormous influence during the critical period of
reconstruction that brought into existence the American graded elementary school as substitute for the
older distinct school system. Under his leadership, the curriculum was restructured, the school year was
increased to a minimum of six months, and mandatory schooling was extended to age sixteen. Other
important reforms included the establishment of state normal schools for teacher training, institutes for inservice teacher education, and lyceums for adult education. He was also instrument in improving salaries
for teachers and creating school libraries.
Mann’s ideas about school reform were developed and distributed in twelve annual reports to the state of
Massachusetts that he wrote during his tenure as secretary of education. Considered quite radical at the
time, the Massachusetts reforms later served as a model for the nation. Mann was recognized as the
farther of public education.
Question 94: Which of the following titles would best express the main topic of the passage?
A. The Father of American Public Education
B. Philosophy of Education
C. The Massachusetts State Board of Education.
D. Politics of Educational Institutions


Question 95: Which of the following describes Horace Mann’s early life?
A. He attended school six months a year.
B. He had to study alone, without help.
C. He supported his family after his father died.
D. He was an only child.
Question 96: The word “struggles” in line 5 could best be replaced by _______.
A. valuable experiences B. happy situations
C. influential people
D. difficult times

Question 97: What did Horace Mann advocate?
A. The state board school system.
B. The district school system.
C. The substitute school system.
D. The graded school system.
Question 98: How were Mann’s educational reforms distributed?
A. In twelve annual reports to the state of Massachusetts.
B. In reports that he wrote for national distribution.
C. In speeches that he made throughout the country.
D. In books that could be found in school libraries.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 02)
EXERCISE 16:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Psychologists have debated a long time about whether a child’s upbringing can give it the ability to do
outstandingly well. Some think that it is impossible to develop genius and say that it is simply something
a person is born with. Others, however, argue that the potential for great achievement can be develop.
The truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.
It seems very obvious that being born with the right qualities from gifted parents will increase a child’s
ability to do well. However, this ability will be fully realized only with the right upbringing and
opportunities. As one psychologist says, “To have a fast car, you need both a good engine and fuel”.
Scientists have recently assessed intelligence, achievement, and ability in 50 sets of identical twins that
were separated shortly birth and brought up by different parents. They found that achievement was based
on intelligence, and later influenced by the child’s environment.
One case involving very intelligent twins was quoted. One of the twins received a normal upbringing, and
performed well. The other twin, however, was brought up by extremely supportive parents and given
every
possible opportunity to develop its abilities. That twin, thought starting out with the same degree of
intelligence as the other, performed even better.
This case reflects the general principle of intelligence and ability. The more favorable the environment,
the more a child’s intelligence and ability are developed. However, there is no link between intelligence

and socioeconomic level of a child’s family. In other words, it does not matter how poor or how rich a
family is, as this does not affect the intelligence.
Gifted people cannot be created by supportive parents, but they can be developed by them. One professor
of music said that outstanding musicians usually started two or three years earlier than ordinary
performers, often because their parents had recognized their ability. These musicians then needed at least
ten years’ hard work and training in order to reach the level they were capable of attaining.
People who want to have very gifted children are given the following advice:

Marry an intelligent person.


Allow children to follow their own interests rather than the interests of the parents.



Start a child’s education early but avoid pushing the child too hard.



Encourage children to play; for example, playing with musical instrument is essential for a child
who wants to become an outstanding musician.


Question 99: The upbringing of highly intelligent children requires________.
A. an expensive education
B. good musical instruments
C. parental support and encouragement
D. wealthy and loving parents
Question 100: The word “Others” used in the first paragraph refers to_________.
A. other people

B. other scientists
C. other children
D. other geniuses
Question 101: When scientists studied intelligence and ability in twins, they found that _______.
A. ability depends mainly on intelligence and achievement
B. intelligence and development are irrelevant to ability
C. ability depends both on intelligence and environment
D. different twins generally have different levels of ability
Question 102: Scientists chose twins for their study because_______.
A. each twin has the same environment as his/her twin
B. they are born into the same family, hence the same upbringing
C. they have the same economic background and hence the same opportunities
D. they have the same genetic background, usually with similar intelligence
Question 103: How were great musicians different from ordinary musicians in their development?
A. Their ability was realized at an early stage and then nurtured.
B. They practice playing their instruments for many years.
C. They concentrated on music to the exclusion of the other areas.
D. They were exceptionally intelligent and artistic.
Question 104: The writer advises that gifted children should be allowed to follow________.
A. Their own interests
B. Their parents’ interests
C. Only their interests in musical instruments
D. Only their interests in computer games
Question 105: When encourage their gifted children, parents should avoid________.
A. Pushing their children too hard
B. Letting them play their own way.
C. Permitting them to follow their own interests
D. Starting their education at an early age
Question 106: The remark: “to have a fast car, you need both a good engine and fuel’’ in the passage
means that in order to become a genius, ________.

A. You need to have good health and good nourishment
B. You need intelligence and you need to develop it
C. You should try to move quickly and efficiently
D. You must nourish your brain and train your muscles hard
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 02)
EXERCISE 17: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
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.
Although signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are very useful, they do have a major disadvantage in
communication. They usually do not allow ideas to be shared without the sender being directly adjacent
to the receiver. Without an exchange of ideas, interaction comes to a halt. As a result, means of
communication intended to be used for long distances and extended periods must be based upon speech.
Radio, television and the telephone are only a few.
Question 107: Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Gestures
B. Signs and signals
C. Speech
D. Communication
Question 108: The word “it” in paragraph 1 refers to ____________.

A. way
B. environment
C. function
D. signal
Question 109: The word “intricate” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ___________.
A. inefficient
B. complicated
C. historical
D. uncertain
Question 110: Why were the telephone, radio, and television invented?
A. Because people were unable to understand signs, signals, and symbols.
B. Because people believed that signs, signals, and symbols were obsolete.
C. Because people wanted to communicate across long distances.
D. Because people wanted new forms of communication.
Question 111: What does the author say about speech?
A. It is only true for communication
B. It is dependent upon the advances made by inventors
C. It is the most advances form of communication
D. It is necessary to occur
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 03)
EXERCISE 18:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Smallpox was the first widespread disease to be eliminated by human intervention. Known as a
highly contagious viral disease, it broke out in Europe, causing the deaths of millions of people until the
vaccination was invented by Edward Jenner around 1800. In many nations, it was a terror, a fatal disease
until very recently. Its victims suffer high fever, vomiting and painful, itchy, pustules that left scars. In
villages and cities all over the world, people were worried about suffering smallpox.
In May, 1966, the World Health Organization (WHO), an agency of the United Nations was
authorized to initiate a global campaign to eradicate smallpox. The goal was to eliminate the disease in
one decade. At the time, the disease posed a serious threat to people in more than thirty nations. Because

similar projects for malaria and yellow fever had failed, few believed that smallpox could actually be
eradicated but eleven years after the initial organization of the campaign, no cases were reported in the
field.
The strategy was not only to provide mass vaccinations but also to isolate patients with active
smallpox in order to contain the spread of the disease and to break the chain of human transmission.
Rewards for reporting smallpox assisted in motivating the public to aid health workers. One by one, each
small-pox victim was sought out, removed from contact with others and treated. At the same time, the
entire village where the victim had lived was vaccinated.
By April of 1978 WHO officials announced that they had isolated the last known case of the disease
but health workers continued to search for new cases for additional years to be completely sure. In May,


1980, a formal statement was made to the global community. Today smallpox is no longer a threat to
humanity. Routine vaccinations have been stopped worldwide.
Question 112: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. The eradication of smallpox
B. The World Health Organization
C. Infectious disease
D. Smallpox vaccinations
Question 113: The word “contagious” is closest in meaning to ___________.
A. courteous
B. arresting
C. numerous
D. catching
Question 114: The global community considered the smallpox ___________.
A. a minor illness
B. a deadly illness
C. a mental illness
D. a rare illness
Question 115: The word “its” in paragraph 2 refers to ___________.

A. the disease
B. the terror
C. the vaccination
D. the death
Question 116: According to the passage, what way was used to eliminate the spread of smallpox?
A. Vaccination of entire villages
B. Treatment of individual victims
C. Isolation of victims and mass vaccinations
D. Extensive reporting of outbreaks
Question 117: How was the public motivated to help the health workers?
A. By educating them.
B. By rewarding them for reporting smallpox cases.
C. By isolating them from others.
D. By giving them vaccinations.
Question 118: Which one of the statements doesn’t refer to smallpox?
A. Previous project had failed.
B. People are no longer vaccinated for it.
C. The WHO set up a worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease.
D. It was a fatal threat.
Question 119: It can be inferred from the passage that ___________.
A. yellow fever have been reported this year
B. no new cases of smallpox have been reported this year
C. smallpox victims no longer die when they contact the disease
D. smallpox is not transmitted from one person to another
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 03)
EXERCISE 19: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
In Africa, people celebrate with joy the birth of a new baby. The Pygmies would sing a birth-song to the
child. In Kenya, the mother takes the baby strapped to her back into the thorn enclosure where the cattle
are kept. There, her husband and the village elders wait to give the child his or her name.

In West Africa, after the baby is eight days old, the mother takes the baby for its first walk in the big,
wide world, and friends and family are invited to meet the new baby. In various African nations, they
hold initiation ceremonies for groups of children instead of birthdays. When children reach a certain
designated age, they learn the laws, beliefs, customs, songs and dances of their tribes. Some African tribes
consider that children from nine to twelve are ready to be initiated into the grown up world. They may
have to carry out several tests.
Maasai boys around thirteen years old to seventeen undergo a two-stage initiation. The first stage lasts
about three months. The boys leave their parents' homes, paint their bodies white, and are taught how to
become young warriors. At the end of this stage, they have their heads shaved and they are also
circumcised. At the second stage, the young warriors grow their hair long and live in a camp called a
“manyatta” where they practice hunting the wild animals that might attack the Maasai herds. This stage


may last a few years. When they are ready, they will marry and become owners of large cattle herds like
their fathers. The girls are initiated when they are fourteen or fifteen. They are taught by the older women
about the duties of marriage and how to care for babies. Soon after that they are married and lead a life
similar to that of their mothers.
Question 120: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Celebrations in Africa
B. Birthday ceremonies for children in Africa
C. Traditions of Maasai people when having a new baby
D. Activities in a birth celebration
Question 121: Where do people in Kenya give the name to the child?
A. at the village church B. on the cattle farm
C. at their house
D. near the thorn fence
Question 122: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2?
A. An eight-day-old child will be taken for the first walk by his or her mother.
B. Children have to learn their tribes' cultures and traditions when they are old enough.
C. Children are initiated for a mature life in the presence of their friends and family.

D. Children have to overcome a few trials to enter the grown-up world.
Question 123: The word "undergo" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______________.
A. commence
B. experience
C. participate in
D. explore
Question 124: What does the word "they" in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. the Maasai herds
B. the wild animals
C. the young warriors
D. the cattle owners
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 04)
EXERCISE 20:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
What picture do you have of the future? Will life in the future be better, worse or the same as now? What
do you hope about the future?
Futurologists predict that life will probably be very different in 2050 in all the fields, from entertainment
to technology. First of all, it seems that TV channels will have disappeared. Instead, people will choose a
program from a 'menu' and a computer will send the program directly to the television. Today, we can use
the World Wide Web to read newspaper stories and see pictures on a computer thousands of kilometers
away. By 2050, music, films, programs, newspapers and books will come to us by computer.
In what concerns the environment, water will have become one of our most serious problems. In many
places, agriculture is changing and farmers are growing fruit and vegetables to export. This uses a lot of
water. Demand for water will increase ten times between now and 2050 and there could be serious
shortages. Some futurologists predict that water could be the cause of war if we don't act now.
In transport, cars running on new, clean fuels will have computers to control the speed and there won't be
any accidents. Today, many cars have computers that tell drivers exactly where they are. By 2050, the
computer will control the car and drive it to your destination. On the other hand, space planes will take
people halfway around the world in two hours. Nowadays, the United States Shuttle can go into space and
land on Earth again. By 2050, space planes will fly all over the world and people will fly from Los

Angeles to Tokyo in just two hours.
In the domain of technology, robots will have replaced people in factories. Many factories already use
robots. Big companies prefer robots - they do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and they work 24
hours a day. By 2050, we will see robots everywhere - in factories, schools, offices, hospitals, shops and
homes.


Last but not least, medicine technology will have conquered many diseases. Today, there are electronic
devices that connect directly to the brain to help people hear. By 2050, we will be able to help blind and
deaf people see and hear again. Scientists have discovered how to control genes. They have already
produced clones of animals. By 2050, scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how
they look, how they behave and how much intelligence they have.
Question 125: The passage mainly discusses ________________.
A. The effect of the futurologists' prediction on our lives
B. The effect of telecommunication on our future life
C. The changes in our future life compared with our life today
D. The importance of cloning in the future
Question 126: What can be inferred about the life in 2050 according to the passage?
A. Life in 2050 will be much better than that of today.
B. TV will be an indispensable means of communication and business.
C. People will not suffer from the shortage of water due to the polar melting.
D. The deaf will not have to depend any longer on the electronic hearing devices.
Question 127: We can conclude from the passage that in 2050 ________________.
A. People will be able to travel around the world in two hours.
B. Fewer cars will be used to keep the environment green and clean.
C. No one will be injured or die because of accidents.
D. Space planes will take the place of cars as a means of transport.
Question 128: The word "This" in paragraph 3 refers to __________________.
A. the possible war
B. the cash crop planting C. the serious shortage D. the demand for water

Question 129: What is the author's attitude in paragraph 3?
A. concerned
B. explanatory
C. outraged
D. emotional
Question 130: Why does the author use "prefer robots" in paragraph 5?
A. To show the importance of robots in production.
B. To encourage the workers to resign from work.
C. To compare the robots with the workers.
D. To emphasize the scientist's role in inventing robots.
Question 131: The word "conquered" in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______________.
A. controlled
B. diagnosed
C. transmitted
D. caused
Question 132: What may NOT be true about life in 2050?
A. Many forms of entertainment will come to us thanks to computer.
B. Blind and deaf people will be helped by scientists to see and hear again.
C. Scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how intelligent they are.
D. Our sources of water for agriculture will increase ten times.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 04)
EXERCISE 21: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
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.
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.
Question 133: What does the author probably mean by using the expression "children interrupt their
education to go to school"?
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 134: The word "chance" is closest in meaning to _________.
A. unplanned
B. unusual
C. lengthy
D. lively
Question 135: The word "an integral" is closest in meaning to _________.
A. an equitable
B. a profitable
C. a pleasant

D. an essential
Question 136: The word "they" refers to __________.
A. slices of reality
B. similar textbooks
C. boundaries
D. seats
Question 137: From the passage, we can infer that a high school teacher
A. is free to choose anything to teach
B. is bound to teach programmed subjects
C. is not allowed to teach political issues
D. has to teach social issues to all classes
Question 138: The passage is organized by ________.
A. listing and discussing several educational problemsB. contrasting the meanings of two related words
C. narrating a story about excellent teacher
D. giving examples of different kinds of schools
Question 139: The passage supports which of the following conclusions?
A. Without formal education, people would remain ignorant.
B. Education systems need to be radically reformed.
C. Going to school is only part of how people become educated.
D. Education involves many years of professional training.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 05)

EXERCISE 22:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
In the West, cartoons are used chiefly to make people laugh. The important feature of all these cartoons is the
joke and the element of surprise which is contained. Even though it is very funny, Unlike most American
and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past have also attempted to
educate people, especially those who could not read and write. a good cartoon is always based on close
observation of a particular feature of life and usually has a serious purpose.
Cartoons in the West have been associated with political and social matters for many years. In wartime, for

example, they proved to be an excellent way of spreading propaganda. Nowadays cartoons are often used to
make short, sharp comments on politics and governments as well as on a variety of social matters. In this way,
the modern cartoon has become a very powerful force in influencing people in Europe and the United States.
Unlike most American and European cartoons, however, many Chinese cartoon drawings in the past
have also attempted to educate people, especially those who could not read and write. Such cartoons about


the lives and sayings of great men in China have proved extremely useful in bringing education to illiterate
and semi-literate people throughout China. Confucius, Mencius and Laozi have all appeared in very interesting
stories presented in the form of cartoons. The cartoons themselves have thus served to illustrate the teachings of the
Chinese sages in a very attractive way.
In this sense, many Chinese cartoons are different from Western cartoons in so far as they do not depend
chiefly on telling jokes. Often, there is nothing to laugh at when you see Chinese cartoons. This is not their
primary aim. In addition to commenting on serious political and social matters, Chinese cartoons have aimed
at spreading the traditional Chinese thoughts and culture as widely as possible among the people.
Today, however, Chinese cartoons have an added part to play in spreading knowledge. They offer a very
attractive and useful way of reaching people throughout the world, regardless of the particular country in
which they live. Thus, through cartoons, the thoughts and teachings of the old Chinese philosophers and
sages can now reach people who live in such countries as Britain, France, America, Japan, Malaysia or
Australia and who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture.
Until recently, the transfer of knowledge and culture has been overwhelmingly from the West to the East
and not vice versa. By means of cartoons, however, publishing companies in Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Singapore are now having success in correcting this imbalance between the East and the West.
Cartoons can overcome language barriers in all foreign countries. The vast increase in the popularity of
these cartoons serves to illustrate the truth of Confucius's famous saying "One picture is worth a thousand
words."
Question 140: Which of the following clearly characterizes Western cartoons?
A. Seriousness, propaganda, and attractiveness.
B. Enjoyment, liveliness, and carefulness.
C. Humor, unexpectedness, and criticism.

D. Originality, freshness, and astonishment.
Question 141: Chinese cartoons have been useful as an important means of __________.
A. amusing people all the time
B. educating ordinary people
C. spreading Western ideas
D. political propaganda in wartime
Question 142: The major differences between Chinese cartoons and Western cartoons come from their
_________.
A. purposes
B. values
C. nationalities
D. styles
Question 143: The pronoun "this" in paragraph 4 mostly refers to _________.
A. a propaganda campaign B. a funny element
C. a piece of art
D. an educational purpose
Question 144: The passage is intended to present __________.
A. a description of cartoons of all kinds the world over
B. an opinion about how cartoons entertain people
C. an outline of Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons
D. a contrast between Western cartoons and Chinese cartoons
Question 145: Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. An Excellent Way of Spreading Propaganda
B. A Very Powerful Force in Influencing People
C. Cartoons as a Way of Educating People
D. Chinese Cartoons and Western Cartoons
Question 146: Which of the following is most likely the traditional subject of Chinese cartoons?
A. The stories and features of the lives of great men the world over.
B. The illiterate and semi-literate people throughout China.
C. The philosophies and sayings of ancient Chinese thinkers.

D. Jokes and other kinds of humor in political and social matters.
Question 147: According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. Language barriers restricted cartoons.
B. Cartoons will replace other forms of writing.
C. Western cartoons always have a serious purpose.
D. Cartoons can serve various purposes.
(ĐỀ THI THỬ DỰ BỊ SỞ 05)