42 bài tập đọc HIỂU ( 303 câu) từ đề cô vũ MAI PHƯƠNG 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.
Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by road. Some of these are made on public transport
but most are by private car.
In Britain many people rely on their cars for daily local activities, e.g. getting to work, doing the
shopping, and visiting friends. People living in urban areas may use buses, trains or, in London, the
Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find
anywhere to park a car. Some places in the country may have a bus only two or three times a week so
people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars.
In the US large cities have good public transportation systems. The El railroad in Chicago and the
underground systems of New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC are heavily used.
Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars. Families often have two cars and, outside major
cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc. Many college and even
high-school students have their own cars.
Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though railways link most towns and cities.
Most places are linked by motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their own
convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam. Long- distance
coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may be less
comfortable. Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may be by air.
There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London. A lot of freight is also
istributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail.
In the US much long-distance travel is by air. America has two main long-distance bus companies,
Greyhound and Trailways. Amtrak, the national network, provides rail services for passengers. Private
railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of freight goes
by road.
The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion
and pollution. It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a few
years, making both these problems worse. The British government would like more people to use public
transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to share rides
with neighbours. Most people say that public transport is simply not good enough. Americans too have

resisted government requests to share cars because it is less convenient and restricts their freedom.
Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities public transport is bad, so they
see no reason to use their cars less.


(Extracted from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Oxford University Press, 2000)
Câu 1: In Britain and the US most people travel by ______.
A. sea

B. rail

C. road

D. air

Câu 2: According to the passage, people in London may prefer the Underground to their own cars due
to____.
A. cheap tickets

B. air pollution

C. long distances

D. heavy traffic

Câu 3: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Few college students in the US have their own cars.
B. Families in the US often have more than one car.
C. Most Americans prefer to drive their cars outside large cities.
D. The underground systems are popular in some major US cities.

Câu 4: The phrase “at their own convenience” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. at the latest time and nearest place

B. at an appropriate time and place

C. at an early time and nearby place

D. at the fastest time and nearest place

Câu 5: According to the passage, people in Britain refuse public transport because ______.
A. they like to share rides with neighbours

B. they think it is not good enough

C. they see no reason to use their cars less

D. petrol is relatively cheap in Britain

(Đề số 1 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
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.
In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures for his business. He was not a good artist, so
he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his yard. That
was the first photograph.
The next important date in the history of photography was 1837. That year, Daguerre, another
Frenchman, took a picture of his studio. He used a new kind of camera and a different process. In his
pictures, you could see everything clearly, even the smallest details. This kind of photograph was called a

daguerreotype.
Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's process. Travelers brought back daguerreotypes from all
around the world. People photographed famous buildings, cities, and mountains.
In about 1840, the process was improved. Then photographers could take pictures of people and
moving things. The process was not simple and photographers had to carry lots of film and processing
equipment. However, this did not stop photographers, especially in the United States. After 1840,
daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities.


Matthew Brady was one well-known American photographer. He took many portraits of famous
people. The portraits were unusual because they were lifelike and full of personality. Brady was also the
first person to take pictures of a war. His 1862 Civil War pictures showed dead soldiers and ruined cities.
They made the war seem more real and more terrible.
In the 1880s, new inventions began to change photography. Photographers could buy film readymade in rolls, instead of having to make the film themselves. Also, they did not have to process the film
immediately. They could bring it back to their studios and develop it later. They did not have to carry lots
of equipment. And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive.
With a small camera, anyone could be a photographer. People began to use cameras just for fun.
They took pictures of their families, friends, and favorite places. They called these pictures "snapshots".
Documentary photographs became popular in newspapers in the 1890s. Soon magazines and books
also used them. These pictures showed true events and people. They were much more real than drawings.
Some people began to think of photography as a form of art. They thought that photographycould
do more than show the real world. It could also show ideas and feelings, like other art forms.
From “Reading Power” by Beatrice S. Mikulecky and Linda Jeffries
Câu 6: The first photograph was taken with ______.
A. a small handheld camera

B. a very simple camera

C. a daguerreotype

D. new types of film

Câu 7: Daguerre took a picture of his studio with ______.
A. a new kind of camera

B. a very simple camera

C. special equipment

D. an electronic camera

Câu 8: The word “this” in the passage refers to the ______.
A. carrying of lots of film and processing equipment
B. stopping of photographers from taking photos
C. fact that daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities
D. taking of pictures of people and moving things
Câu 9: The word “ruined” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______”.
A. poorly-painted

B. heavily-polluted

C. terribly spoiled

D. badly damaged

Câu 10: The word “lifelike” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______”.
A. moving

B. realistic

C. touching

D. manlike

Câu 11: Matthew Brady was well-known for ______.
A. inventing daguerreotypes

B. the small handheld camera

C. taking pictures of French cities

D. portraits and war photographs

Câu 12: As mentioned in the passage, photography can ______.


A. print old pictures

B. convey ideas and feelings

C. show the underworld

D. replace drawings

Câu 13: Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?
A. Different Steps in Film Processing

B. Story of Photography

C. Photography and Painting

D. Story of Famous Photographers

(Đề số 1 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 3: 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 team of Russian scientists has challenged the theory that the woolly mammoths became extinct
10,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age. The scientists have reported that the beasts may have survived
until 2000 B.C. on an island off the coast of Siberia, where researchers uncovered 29 fossilized woolly
mammoth teeth ranging in age from 4,000 to 7,000 years. The question to be asked now is, how did these
prehistoric pachyderms survive in their island environment? One possibility is that they adapted to their
confined surroundings by decreasing their bulk. This theory is based on their smaller tooth size, which
has led scientists to believe that they were only 6 feet tall at the shoulder compared with 10 feet of their
full-sized counterpart. But would this be enough to enable them to survive thousands of years beyond
that of other mammoths? Researchers are still working to uncover the reasons for this isolated group's
belated disappearance.
Câu 14: With which topic is this passage mainly concerned?
A. Some scientists have challenged a theory.
B. Some small teeth have been discovered.
C. Some mammoths lived longer than others.
D. Some pachyderms survived on an island.
Câu 15: According to the passage, some researchers suggest that mammoths became extinct
A. about 2,000 years ago

B. about 4,000 years ago

C. about 7,000 years ago

D. about 10,000 years ago

Câu 16: The word "woolly" as used in line 1 refers to the animal's
A. body size

B. feet size

C. hair

D. teeth

Câu 17: The author uses the word "counterpart" in line 7 to refer to
A. mammoths with more feet

B. mammoths in an earlier time

C. mammoths with smaller teeth

D. larger mammoths on the island

Câu 18: According to the scientists, the woolly mammoths may have managed to survive because they
A. shed their hair

B. grew smaller teeth

C. became herbivores

(Đề số 2 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)

D. decreased in size

Exercise 4: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.
As heart disease continues to be the number-one killer in the United States, researchers have become
increasingly interested in identifying the potential risk factors that trigger heart attacks. High-fat diets
and "life in the fast lane" have long been known to contribute to the high incidence of heart failure. But
according to new studies, the list of risk factors may be significantly longer and quite surprising.
Heart failure, for example, appears to have seasonal and temporal patterns. A higher percentage of heart
attacks occur in cold weather, and more people experience heart failure on Monday than on any other day
of the week. In addition, people are more susceptible to heart attacks in the first few hours after waking.
Cardiologists first observed this morning phenomenon in the mid-1980, and have since discovered a
number of possible causes. An early-morning rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and concentration of heart
stimulating hormones, plus a reduction of blood flow to the heart, may all contribute to the higher
incidence of heart attacks between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.
In other studies, both birthdays and bachelorhood have been implicated as risk factors. Statistics reveal
that heart attack rates increase significantly for both females and males in the few days immediately
preceding and following their birthdays. And unmarried men are more at risk for heart attacks than their
married counterparts. Though stress is thought to be linked in some way to all of the aforementioned risk
factors, intense research continues in the hope of further comprehending why and how heart failure is
triggered.
Câu 19: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. risk factors in heart attacks

B. seasonal and temporal patterns of heart attacks

C. cardiology in the 1980s

D. diet and stress as factors in heart attacks

Câu 20: The word "potential" could best be re-placed by which of the following?
A. harmful

B. primary

C. unknown

D. possible

Câu 21: The phrase "susceptible to" in line 6 could best be replaced by
A. aware of

B. affected by

C. accustomed

D. prone to

Câu 22: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a possible cause of many heart attacks?
A. decreased blood flow to the heart

B. increased blood pressure

C. lower heart rate

D. increase in hormones

Câu 23: Which of the following is NOT cited as a possible risk factor?
A. having a birthday

B. getting married

C. eating fatty foods

D. being under stress

Câu 24: The word "phenomenon" in line 7 refers to which of the following?
A. habit

B. illness

C. occurrence

D. activity

Câu 25: word "trigger" as used in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to which of the following?


A. involve

B. affect

C. cause

D. encounter

Câu 26: Which of the following does the passage infer?
A. We now fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
B. We recently began to study how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
C. We have not identified many risk factors associated with heart attacks.
D. We do not fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
(Đề số 2 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)

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.
It is estimated that over 99 percent of all species that ever existed have become extinct. What causes
extinction? When a species is no longer adapted to a changed environment, it may perish. The exact
causes of a species’ death vary from situation to situation. Rapid ecological change may render an
environment hostile to a species. For example, temperatures may change and a species may not be able to
adapt. Food Resources may be affected by environmental changes, which will then cause problems for a
species requiring these resources. Other species may become better adapted to an environment, resulting
in competition and, ultimately, in the death of a species.
The fossil record reveals that extinction has occurred throughout the history of Earth. Recent
analyses have also revealed that on some occasions many species became extinct at the same time – a
mass extinction. One of the best-known examples of mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago with
the demise of dinosaurs and many other forms of life. Perhaps the largest mass extinction was the one
that occurred 225 million years ago. When approximately 95 percent of all species died, mass extinctions
can be caused by a relatively rapid change in the environment and can be worsened by the close
interrelationship of many species. If, for example, something were to happen to destroy much of the
plankton in the oceans, then the oxygen content of Earth would drop, affection even organisms not living
in the oceans. Such a change would probably lead to a mass extinction.
One interesting, and controversial, finding is that extinctions during the past 250 million years have
tended to be more intense every 26 million years. This periodic extinction might be due to intersection of
the Earth’s orbit with a cloud of comets, but this theory is purely speculative. Some researchers have also
speculated that extinction may often be random. That is, certain species may be eliminated and others
may survive for no particular reason. A species’ survival may have nothing to do with its ability or
inability to adapt. If so, some of evolutionary history may reflect a sequence of essentially random events.
Question 27: The word “it” in line 2 refers to
A. environment

B. species

C. extinction

Question 28: The word “ultimately” in line 6 is closest in meaning to

D. 99 percent


A. exceptionally

B. dramatically

C. eventually

D. unfortunately

Question 29: What does the author say in paragraph 1 regarding most species in Earth’s history?
A. They have remained basically unchanged from their original forms.
B. They are no longer in existence.
C. They have been able to adapt to ecological changes.
D. They have caused rapid change in the environment.
Question 30: The word “demise” is closest in meaning to
A. change

B. recovery

C. help

D. death

Question 31: Why is “plankton” mentioned in line 14?
A. To illustrate a comparison between organisms that live on the land and those that live in the ocean

B. To point out that certain species could never become extinct
C. To demonstrate the interdependence of different species
D. To emphasize the importance of food resources in preventing mass extinction.
(Đề số 3 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
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.
Learning means acquiring knowledge or developing the ability to perform new behaviors. It is
common to think of learning as something that takes place in school, but much of human learning occurs
outside the classroom, and people continue to learn throughout their lives.
Even before they enter school, young children learn to walk, to talk, and to use their hands to
manipulate toys, food, and other objects. They use all of their senses to learn about the sights, sounds,
tastes, and smells in their environments. They learn how to interact with their parents, siblings, friends,
and other people important to their world. When they enter school, children learn basic academic subjects
such as reading, writing, and mathematics. They also continue to learn a great deal outside the classroom.
They learn which behaviors are likely to be rewarded and which are likely to be punished. They learn
social skills for interacting with other children. After they finish school, people must learn to adapt to the
many major changes that affect their lives, such as getting married, raising children, and finding and
keeping a job.
Because learning continues throughout our lives and affects almost everything we do, the study of
learning is important in many different fields. Teachers need to understand the best ways to educate
children. Psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other human-service workers need to
understand how certain experiences change people’s behaviors. Employers, politicians, and advertisers
make use of the principles of learning to influence the behavior of workers, voters, and consumers.


Learning is closely related to memory, which is the storage of information in the brain.
Psychologists who study memory are interested in how the brain stores knowledge, where this storage
takes place, and how the brain later retrieves knowledge when we need it. In contrast, psychologists who
study learning are more interested in behavior and how behavior changes as a result of a person’s
experiences.

There are many forms of learning, ranging from simple to complex. Simple forms of learning
involve a single stimulus. A stimulus is anything perceptible to the senses, such as a sight, sound, smell,
touch, or taste. In a form of learning known as classical conditioning, people learn to associate two
stimuli that occur in sequence, such as lightning followed by thunder. In operant conditioning, people
learn by forming an association between a behavior and its consequences (reward or punishment). People
and animals can also learn by observation - that is, by watching others perform behaviors. More complex
forms of learning include learning languages, concepts, and motor skills.
(Extracted from Microsoft® Student 2009 – DVD Version)
Question 32: According to the passage, which of the following is learning in broad view comprised of?
A. Knowledge acquisition outside the classroom

B. Knowledge acquisition and ability development

C. Acquisition of academic knowledge

D. Acquisition of social and behavioral skills

Question 33: According to the passage, what are children NOT usually taught outside the classroom?
A. literacy and calculation

B. life skills

C. interpersonal communication

D. right from wrong

Question 34: Getting married, raising children, and finding and keeping a job are mentioned in paragraph
2 as examples of ______.
A. the changes to which people have to orient themselves
B. the areas of learning which affect people’s lives

C. the situations in which people cannot teach themselves
D. the ways people’s lives are influenced by education
Question 35: Which of the following can be inferred about the learning process from the passage?
A. It becomes less challenging and complicated when people grow older.
B. It takes place more frequently in real life than in academic institutions.
C. It is more interesting and effective in school than that in life.
D. It plays a crucial part in improving the learner’s motivation in school.
Question 36: According to the passage, the study of learning is important in many fields due to ______.
A. the great influence of the on-going learning process
B. the need for certain experiences in various areas
C. the influence of various behaviors in the learning process


D. the exploration of the best teaching methods
Question 37: It can be inferred from the passage that social workers, employers, and politicians concern
themselves with the study of learning because they need to ______.
A. change the behaviors of the objects of their interest towards learning
B. make the objects of their interest more aware of the importance of learning
C. thoroughly understand the behaviors of the objects of their interest
D. understand how a stimulus relates to the senses of the objects of their interest
Question 38: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Psychologists are all interested in memory as much as behaviors.
B. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with how the stored knowledge is used.
C. Psychologists studying learning are interested in human behaviors.
D. Psychologists studying memory are concerned with the brain’s storage of knowledge.
Question 39: The passage mainly discusses ______.
A. practical examples of learning inside the classroom
B. application of learning principles to formal education
C. general principles of learning
D. simple forms of learning

(Đề số 3 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 7: 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.
On July 16, 1969, America launched the Apollo 11, Lunar Landing Mission from Kennedy Space Center.
This was a 363-foot-tall space vehicle, the five engines of which on the Saturn V rocket generated 7.5
million pounds of thrust. Twelve minutes after the launch, the astronauts were in orbit 120 miles above
the Earth. At a speed of 17,400 mph, they began their four-day journey to the moon. They had nearly a
quarter of a million miles to go.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Amstrong descended from the lunar module ladder. Just prior to taking his first
step on the moon, Armstrong pilles on a special ring, causing a TV camera to automatically deploy. as he
stepped into the moon’s surface, he proclaimed, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind.” However, Armstrong inadvertently omitted the “a” before “man”. This error slightly changed
the meaning of what was to become known as Armstrong’s famous statement.
Question 40. What is the passage mainly about?
A. the first manned mission to the moon

B. how fast the rocket traveled

C. the first man in space

D. the reason Neil Armstrong is so famous

Question 41. The word “they” in the passage refers to ________


A. Apollo 11

B. astronauts

C. Americans

D. engines

Question 42. The word “deploy” in the passage is closet in meaning to__________
A. photograph

B. begin working

C. stop functioning

D. light up

Question 43. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. The Life of Neil Armstrong

B. The History of space travel

C. The story of Apollo 11

D. The John F.Kenedy center

Question 44. It can be inferred that Armstrong’s statement was important because ______
A. Neil Armstrong was a great speaker
B. this was the first time America had sent people into space
C. they were the first words to be spoken on the moon
D. the statement was spoken from the lunar module ladder
(Đề số 4 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 8:Read the following passage and mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answers sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
Generally, in order to be preserved in the fossil record, organisms must possess hard body parts such as

shells or bones. Soft, fleshy structures are quickly destroyed by predators or decayed by bacteria. Even
hard parts left on the surface for any length of time will be destroyed, therefore, organisms must be buried
rapidly to escape destruction by the elements and to be protected against agents of weathering and
erosion. Marine organisms thus are better candidates for fossilization than those living on the land
because the ocean is typical the site of sedimentation, whereas the land is largely the site of erosion. The
beds of ancient lakes were also excellent sites for rapid burial of skeletal remains of freshwater organisms
and skeletons of other animals, including those of early humans, Ancient swaps were particularly
plentiful with prolific growths of vegetation, which fossilized in abundance. Many animals became
trapped in bogs overgrown by vegetation. The environment of the swaps kept bacterial decay to a
minimum, which greatly aided in the preservation of plants and animals. The rapidly accumulating
sediments in flood plains, deltas, and stream channels buried freshwater organisms, along with other
plants and animals that happened to fall into the water.
Only a small traction of all the organisms that have ever lived are preserved as fossils. Normally, the
remains of a plant or animal are completely destroyed through predation and decay. Although it seems
that fossilization is common for some organisms, for others it is almost impossible. For the most part of,
the remains of organisms are recycled in the earth, which is fortunate because otherwise soil and water
would soon became depleted of essential nutrients. Also, most of the fossils exposed on Earth’s surface
are destroyed by weathering processes. This make for an incomplete fossil record with poor or no
representation of certain species. The best fossils are those composed of that form the vast majority of


unaltered fossils. Calcite and aragonite also contributed to a substantial number of fossils of certain
organisms.
Question 45. The word “agents” is closest in meaning to ________
A. examples

B. causes

C. areas

D. dangers

Question 46. The fact that the “land is largely the site of erosion” is significant because_______
A. erosion is less destructive than sedimentation
B. fossils are most common in areas subject to erosion
C. erosion contributes to the destruction of skeletal remains
D. few organisms live in areas that experience extensive erosion
Question 47. The best fossils are those_______
A. consist of Calcite and aragonite

B. from hard parts of animals or plants

C. still in the shape of the original animal or plant

D. animals or plants common for fossilization

Question 48. Why does the author mention “aragonite” in the last line?
A. To argue that certain fossils are more informative than others.
B. to explain why fossils are rare
C. To illustrate the kinds of inorganic hard parts that can form fossils
D. To compare aragonite fossils and calcite fossils.
Question 49. It can be inferred that flood plains, deltas, and stream channels are similar in which of the
following ways?
A. Rapid sedimentation in such locations makes it difficult to locate fossils
B. Such locations are likely to rich sources of fossils.
C. Fossilized human remains are only rarely found in such locations
D. Animals rather than plants have been preserved at such locations.
Question 50. Why are marine organisms good candidates for fossilization?
A. It take longer for them to be preserved
B. They have more fleshy structures than land organisms

C. The water environment speeds the decay caused by bacteria
D. It is likely that they will be buried rapidly
Question 51. According to the passage, an organisms without hard body parts____
A. is not heavy enough to sink below the surface

B. is not attractive to predators

C. is not likely to appear in the fossil record

D. takes a long time to decay

Question 52. FAccording to the passage, why were the remains of organisms trapped in swamps better
preserved for the fossil record than those that were not?
A. The swamp environment reduced the amount of bacterial decay


B. Swamp waters contained higher amounts of materials such as calcium carbonate
C. There were fewer sediments in swamps than in other bodies of water
D. Swamp vegetation accelerated the decomposition of organisms
(Đề số 4 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương - Moon.vn)
Exercise 9: Read the following passage and blacken the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.
There is a common expression in the English language referring to a blue moon. When people say that
something happens “only once in a blue moon,” they mean that it happens only very rarely, once in a
great while. This expression has been around for at least a century and a half; there are references to this
expression that date from the second half of the nineteenth century. (5) The expression “a blue moon” has
come to refer to the second full moon occurring in any given calendar month. A second full moon is not
called a blue moon because it is particularly blue or is any different in hue from the first full moon of the
month. Instead, it is called a blue moon because it is so rare. The moon needs a little more than 29 days to
complete the cycle from full moon to full moon. Because every month except February has more than 29

days, every month will have at least one full moon (except February, which will have a full moon unless
there is a full moon at the very end of January and another full moon at the very beginning of March). It is
on the occasion when a given calendar month has a second full moon that a blue moon occurs. This does
not happen very often, only three or four times in a decade. The blue moons of today are called blue
moons because of their rarity and not because of their color; however, the expression “blue moon” may
have come into existence in reference to unusual circumstances in which the moon actually appeared
blue. Certain natural phenomena of gigantic proportions can actually change the appearance of the moon
from Earth. The eruption of the Krakatao volcano in 1883 left dust particles in the atmosphere, which
clouded the sun and gave the moon a bluish tint. This particular occurrence of the blue moon may have
given rise to the expression that we use today. Another example occurred more than a century later.
When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, the moon again took on a blue tint.
Question 53. This passage is about
A. an idiomatic expression

B. an unusual color

C. a month on the calendar

D. a phase of the moon

Question 54. How long has the expression “once in a blue moon” been around?
A. For around 50 years

B. For less than 100 years

C. For more than 100 years

D. For 200 years

Question 55. A blue moon could be best described as

A. a full moon that is not blue in color

B. a new moon that is blue in color


C. a full moon that is blue in color

D. a new moon that is not blue in color

Question 56. The word “hue” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. shape

B. date

C. color

D. size

Question 57. Which of the following might be the date of a “blue moon”?
A. January 1

B. February 28

C. April 15

D. December 31

Question 58. How many blue moons would there most likely be in a century?
A. 4

B. 35

C. 70

D. 100

Question 59. According to the passage, the moon actually looked blue
A. after large volcanic eruptions

B. when it occurred late in the month

C. several times a year

D. during the month of February

Question 60. The expression “given rise to” in the passage could be best replaced by
A. created a need for

B. elevated the level of

C. spurred the creation of

D. brighten the color of

(Đề số 5 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
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.
Colors are one of the most exciting experiences in life. I love them, and they are just as important to me
as emotions are. Have you ever wondered how the two are so intimately related?
Color directly affects your emotions. Color both reflects the current state of your emotions, and is

something that you can use to improve or change your emotions. The color that you choose to wear either
refects your current state of being, or reflects the color or emotion that you need.
The colors that you wear affect you much more than they affect the people around you. Of course they
also affect anyone who comes in contract with you, but you are the one saturated with the color all day!
I even choose items around me based on their color. In the morning, I choose my clothes based on the
color or emotion that I need for the day. So you can consciously use color to control the emotions that you
are exposed to, which can help you to feel better.
Color, sound, and emotions are all vibrations. Emotions are literally energy in motion; they are meant to
move and flow. This is the reason that real feelings are the fastest way to get your energy in motion. Also,
flowing energy is exactly what creates healthy cells in your body. So, the fastest way to be healthy is to
be open to your real feelings. Alternately, the fastest way to create disease is to inhibit your emotions.
Question 61. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Colors can help you become healthy.
B. Colorful clothes can change your mood
C. Emotions and colors are closely related to each other


D. Colors are one of the most exciting.
Question 62. Which of the following can be affected by color?
A. Your need for thrills

B. Your appetite

C. Your friend's feelings D. Your mood

Question 63. According to this passage, what creates disease?
A. Wearing the color black

B. Ignoring your emotions

C. Being open to your emotions

D. Exposing yourself to bright colors

Question 64. The term "they" in paragraph 3 refers to
A. none of these

B. colors

C. people

D. emotions

Question 65. Why does the author mention that color and emotions are both vibrations?
A. Because vibrations make you healthy
B. Because they both affect how we feel.
C. To prove the relationship between emotions and color.
D. To show how color can affect energy levels in the body.
(Đề số 5 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 11: Read the following passage choose the correct answer to each of the question.
Around 365 B.C. in ancient Greece, the great teacher Plato told a story about a place called Atlantis. Plato
described Atlantis as a continent in the Atlantic Ocean. He said it had been the home of a powerful people
who were destroyed when the continent was swallowed by the sea.
Ever since Plato’s time, people have wondered if the story about Atlantis was really true. Was there ever
such a place as Atlantis? During the Middle Ages, many people believed in the legend of Atlantis. Some
men even made voyages to find the “lost continent”. Later, most people believed Atlantis to be just a
myth. Scientists could find no evidence to show that such a place had ever existed.
Ideas change in time, however, for now some scientists think that Atlantis might have been a real place. A
Greek professor has offered a new theory. He says that Atlantis was not a continent in the Atlantic Ocean
but an island called Thera in the Aegean Sea. The professor says that 3,500 years ago much of Thera

collapsed into the sea when a volcano erupted. He thinks that before the explosion Thera had been the
home of a people called Minoans. The Minoans were sea traders who ruled the Aegean Sea from 2,000
B.C. to 1,250 B.C.
Scientist who have come to investigate Thera have found an ancient city buried beneath volcanic ash and
stone. It appears that the people who lived in the city had an advanced civilization. They were probably
Minoans.
Is Thera the “lost continent” of Atlantis? No one may ever know for certain. Atlantis may remain a riddle
without an answer.
Question 66. According to Plato, Atlantis was in the ____.


A. Atlantic Ocean

B. Pacific Ocean

C. Red Ocean

D. Aegean Sea

Question 67. The word in paragraph 3 that means “fell down” is ____.
A. collapsed

B. existed

C. erupted

D. rode

Question68. A lot of people in the Middle Ages ____.
A. thought that Atlantis was only a myth

B. found some evidence about the “lost continent”

C. made voyage to visit Atlantis

D. believed in the existence of Atlantis

Question 69. Who were the ancient Minoans?
A. scientists

B. sea traders

C. teachers

D. Greek professors

Question 70. Which statement seems true for the passage?
A. Plato was a Greek teacher who lived in Atlantis. B. There are different theories about Atlantis.
C. There are no different theories about Atlantis.

D. Everyone knows where the lost continent is.

(Đề số 6 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 12:Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.
It is hard to get any agreement on the precise meaning of the term “social class”. In everyday life, people
tend to have a different approach to those they consider their equals from that which they assume with
people they consider higher or lower than themselves in the social scale. The criteria we use to “place” a
new acquaintance; however, are a complex mixture of factors. Dress, way of speaking, area of residence
in a given city or province, education and manners all play a part.
In Greece, after the sixth-century B.C., there was a growing conflict between the peasants and the landed

aristocrats, and a gradual decrease in the power of the aristocracy when a kind of “middle class” of traders
and skilled workers grew up. The population of Athens, for example, was divided into three main classes
which were politically and legally distinct. About one-third of the total were slaves, who did not count
politically at all, a fact often forgotten by those who praise Athens as the nursery of democracy. The next
main group consisted of resident foreigners, the “metics”, who were freemen, though they too were
allowed no share in political life. The third group was the powerful body of “citizens”, who were
themselves divided into sub-classes.
The medieval feudal system, which flourished in Europe from the ninth to the thirteenth century, gave
rise to a comparatively simple system based on birth. Under the King, there were two main classes - lords
and “vassals”, the latter with many subdivisions.
In the later Middle Ages; however, the development of a money economy and the growth of cities and
trade led to the rise of another class, the “burghers” or city merchants and mayors. These were the
predecessors of the modern middle class. Gradually high office and occupation assumed importance in
determining social position, as it became more and more possible for a person born to one station in life


to move to another. This change affected the town more than the country areas, where remnants of
feudalism lasted much longer.
Question 71. According to the passage, people evaluate others’ position by which following factors
EXCEPT ____.
A. the place they live

B. the job they do

C. their dress

D. the way in which they behave towards other people

Question 72. The author implies that slaves in Greece in the sixth century B.C. ____.
A. were not allowed to count votes at elections

B. were not politically significant

C. controlled one-third of the democratic votes

D. were kept ignorant as a political measure

Question 73. The word “remnants” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to ____.
A. opponents

B. remains

C. torn clothing

D. garments

Question 74. It can be indicated from the passage that the decline of the Greek aristocracy’s power in the
sixth century B.C. ____.
A. caused international conflict in the area
B. lasted for only a short time
C. was assisted by a rise in the number of slaves
D. coincided with the rise of a new “middle class” of traders and peasants
Question 75. The word “they” in the second paragraph refers to ____.
A. freeman

B. slaves

C. metics

D. citizens

Question 76. The author implies that Athens is often praised as the nursery of democracy ____.
A. because even very young children could vote
B. in spite of its heavy independence on slave labor
C. even though slaves were allowed to vote
D. because its three main classes were politically and legally distinct
Question 77. The word “predecessors” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to
A. supporters

B. ancestors

C. descendants

D. authorities

Question 78. The passage is mainly about
A. the human history
B. the modern society
C. the social life in ancient Greece
D. the division of social classes in the ancient world
(Đề số 6 - Môn Tiếng Anh - Vũ Mai Phương – Ngoaingu24h)
Exercise 13: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.


Anumber of factors related to the voice reveal the personality of the speaker. The first is the broad
area of communication, which includes imparting information by use of language, communicating with a
group or an individual and specialized communication throughperformance. Aperson conveys thoughts
and ideas through choice of words, by a tone of voice that is pleasant or unpleasant, gentle or harsh, by
the rhythm that is inherent within the language itself, and by speech rhythms that are flowing and regular

or uneven and hesitant, and finally, by the pitch and melody of the utterance. When speaking before a
group, a person’s tone may indicate uncertainty or fright, confidence or calm. At interpersonal levels,
the tone may reflect ideas and feelings over and above the words chosen, or may believe them.Here
the participant’s tone can consciously or unconsciously reflect intuitive sympathy or antipathy, lack of
concern or interest, fatigue, anxiety, enthusiasm or excitement, all of which are usually discernible by the
acute listener. Public performance is a manner of communication that is highly specialized with its own
techniques for obtaining effects by voice and /or gesture. The motivation derived from the text, and in the
case of singing, the music, in combination with the performer’s skills, personality, and ability to create
empathy will determine the success of artistic, political, or pedagogic communication. Second, the
voice gives psychological clues to a person’s self-image, perception of others, and emotional health. Selfimage can be indicated by a tone of voice that is confident, pretentious, shy, aggressive, outgoing, or
exuberant, to name only a few personality traits. Also the sound may give a clue to the facade or mask of
that person, for example, a shy person hiding behind an overconfident front. How a speaker perceives the
listener’s receptiveness, interest, or sympathy in any given conversation can drastically alter the tone of
presentation, by encouraging or discouraging the speaker. Emotional health is evidenced in the voice by
free and melodic sounds of the happy, by constricted and harsh sound of the angry, and by dull and
lethargic qualities of the depressed.
Question 79: What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The function of the voice in performance
B. Communication styles
C. The connection between voice and personality
D. The production of speech
Question 80: What does the author mean by stating that, “At interpersonal levels, tone may reflect
ideas and feelings over and above the words chosen”?
A. Feelings are expressed with different words than ideas are.
B. The tone of voice can carry information beyond the meaning of words.
C. A high tone of voice reflects an emotional communication.
D. Feelings are more difficult to express than ideas.


Question 81: The word “derived” is closest in meaning to _______.

A. discussed

B. prepared

C. registered

D. obtained

Question 82: Why does the author mention “artistic, political, or pedagogic communication”?
A. As examples of public performance.
B. As examples of basic styles of communication.
C. To contrast them to singing.
D. To introduce the idea of self-image.
Question 83: According to the passage, an exuberant tone of voice mat be an indication of a person’s
_______.
A. general physical health

B. personality

C. ability to communicate

D. vocal quality

Question 84: According to the passage, an overconfident front may hide ________.
A. hostility

B. shyness

C. friendliness

D. strength

Question 85: According to the passage, what does a constricted and harsh voice indicate?
A. lethargy

B. depression

C. boredom

D. anger

(Đề số 1 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 14:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions.
U.N. Abandons Treaty to Ban Cloning
U.N. diplomats abandoned efforts to draft a treaty that would outlaw human cloning. They will
likely settle for a weaker statement, and won’t seek a widespread ban, officials said. The debate began
when Italy introduced a document into the UN. to stop any attempt at cloning human life. The Belgians
objected to the use of the term “human life” in the document, because they feared it would put a stop to
all forms of human cloning.
[1] There is near universal support among the United Nations’ 191 members for a ban on
reproductive cloning-creating cloned babies. [2] Many countries have wrestled over whether to allow
cloning for stem cell and other types of research. [3] Indeed, many researchers believe that stem cells
could be used to repair nerve tissue or cure diseases, including Alzheimer’s. [4] Stem cells are taken from
embryos and cloned, but extracting these cells kills the embryo. Opponents say that this is equal to
murder.
Question 86: What is the main topic of this passage?
A. a disagreement on cloning
B. the definition of “life”

C. reasons why cloning should be banned
D. the arguments against cloning babies
Question 87: Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage?
A. a chronological listing of steps used in cloning
B. a discussion of ways to use cloning for better health
C. a description of nations’ opinions about cloning and reasons for those opinions
D. none of the answers
Question 88: The word “it” in-the text refers to _______.
A. a ban
B. an attempt at cloning human life
C. use of the phrase “human life”
D. research
Question 89: Which of the following can be inferred from his passage?
A. The production of cloned babies will probably be banned.
B. No one knows what life is or when life begins.
C. Cloning for medical research will probably be banned.
D. Most diseases will be cured through cloning.
Question 90: Why are some countries “wrestling” over whether to ban cloning or not?
A. Because it is a very harmful process.
B. Because they don’t want to upset the UN.
C. Because the issue is morally and legally difficult.
D. Because they want to fight with other countries over cloning.
Question 91: The phrase “universal support” means _______.
A. every country is against the issue
B. every country is for the issue
C. there are equal numbers for and against the issue.
D. none of the answers
Question 92: The word “extracting” in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. growing

B. removing

C. curing

D. killing

Question 93: Which is the best place for the following sentence?
“Another type of cloning is the cause of the controversy.”
A. [l]

B. [2]

C. [3]

D. [4]


(Đề số 1 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 15: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The Battle of Gettysburg
One of the most important battles of the American Civil War occurred around the small town of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from July 1 to July 3, 1863. What began as a search for shoes by the Confederate
Army quickly escalated into a major battle. As the Confederate soldiers sought new shoes, they
unexpectedly encountered Union cavalry stationed west of the town at Willoughby Run, and the battle began.
After much fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, the Confederates pushed the Union forces back
through the town of Gettysburg, where they regrouped south of the town along the high ground near a
cemetery.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered General R.S. Ewell to seize the high ground from the

battle - weary Union soldiers "if practical." Ewell hesitated in the attack, giving the Union troops a chance to
establish a stronghold along Cemetery Ridge and then bring in reinforcements with artillery. By the time Lee
realized Ewell had not attacked, the opportunity had vanished. Other failures by the Confederates included the
generals' opposition to the attack plans and a lack of information about Union defense. This combination of
errors allowed the Union forces to win a critical victory in the Civil War. By the end, a total of 160,000
men were involved in this fierce and bloody battle.
Question 94: What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Shoes were an important factor in the Battle of Gettysburg.
B. Mistakes by Confederate forces led to a critical victory for the Union at Gettysburg.
C. The Battle of Gettysburg began accidentally and involved heavy casualties on both sides.
D. General Ewell hesitated in the attack on the high ground.
Question 95: Why does the author mention that "Ewell hesitated to attack"?
A. to explain an important mistake by the Confederates
B. to show that the Confederates were afraid
C. to show that Ewell was against the war
D. none of the answers
Question 96: Which of the following best describes how the Battle of Gettysburg began?
A. an accidental meeting

B. an expected fight

C. a carefully planned surprise attack

D. a misunderstanding

Question 97: According to the passage, which of the following is assumed in the Battle of Gettysburg?
A. 160.000 men were killed.


B. It was a major victory for General Lee.

C. The Union soldiers were led by General Ewell.
D. Both sides had many casualties.
Question 98: The word “escalated” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by __________.
A. failed

B. ended

C. grew

D. continued

Question 99: The word “they” in paragraph 1 refers to __________.
A. soldiers

B. shoes

C. battles

D. Army

Question100: Complete the summary by choosing one sentence (A, B, C or D) that is among the most
important information to fill in the blank.
SUMMARY: This passage discusses the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle began when Confederate and
Federal soldiers met by accident near Gettysburg.__________. Failures by the Confederate
forces in planning and intelligence allowed the Union army to win the battle.
A. When Lee realized that Ewell had not attacked, the opportunity was gone.
B. Confederate General Ewell hesitated to attack, which allowed the Union forces time to prepare.
C. The Confederate soldiers regrouped south of Gettysburg on high ground.
D. A total of 160,000 men were involved in the battle.
(Đề số 2 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )

Exercise 16:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D 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 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 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 farflung 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 rules. 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. Regardless of culture, however,
emotions usually show themselves, to some degree, in people's behavior. From their first days of 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 Charles Darwin 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 different cultures. For example, what emotion do
you suppose might be conveyed by sticking out your tongue? For Americans, 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.
Question 101: Unlike American children, Asian children are encouraged to ______.
A. display their emotions openly
B. conceal their positive emotions
C. control their emotions
D. change their behaviour
Question 102: The word "evolved" is closest in meaning to ________.
A. increased

B. reduced

C. developed

Question 103: The phrase "this evidence" refers to ________.
A. human facial expressions
B. the fact that children can control their feelings
C. a biological underpinning for humans to express emotions
D. the fact that children are good at recognizing others' emotions
Question 104: Young children _______.
A. make amazing progress in controlling their emotions
B. take time to control their facial expressions
C. are sensitive towards others' emotions
D. spend a long time learning to read others' emotions
Question 105: The biggest difference lies in ________.
A. how often positive emotions are shown

D. simplified


B. how emotional responses are controlled

C. how intensive emotions are expressed
D. how long negative emotions are displayed
Question 106: Paul Ekman is mentioned in the passage as an example of _______.
A. investigators on universal emotional expressions
B. researchers on universal language
C. researchers who can speak and understand many languages
D. lacked many main ingredients
Question 107: The best title for the passage is ___________.
A. ways to control emotional expressions
B. cultural universals in emotional expressions
C. Human habit of displaying emotions
D. review of research on emotional expressions
Question 108: Many studies on emotional expressions try to answer whether _________.
A. eyebrow raising means the same in Minneapolis and Madagascar.
B. different cultures have similar emotional expressions.
C. rounding the mouth has the same meaning in Minneapolis and Madagascar.
D. raising the eyebrows has similar meaning to rounding the mouth.
(Đề số 2 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 17: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
Although management principles have been implemented since ancient times, most management
scholars trace the beginning of modern management thought back to the early 19005, beginning with the
pioneering work of Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) Taylor was the first person to study work scientifically.
He is most famous for introducing techniques of time and motion study, differential piece rate systems,
and for systemtically specializing the work of operating employees and managers. Along with other
pioneers such as Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Taylor set the stage, labeling his philosophy and methods
“scientific management’. At that time, his philosophy, which was concerned with productivity, but which
was often misinterpreted as promoting worker interests at the expense of management, was in marked
contrast to the prevailing industrial norms of worker exploitation.
The time and motion study concepts were popularized by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The

Gilbreths had 12 children. By analyzing his children’s dishwashing and bed making chores, this pioneer


efficiency expert, Frank Gilbreth, hit on principles whereby workers could eliminate waste motion. He
was memorialized by two of his children in their 1949 book called “Cheaper by the Dozen”.
The Gilbreth methods included using stop watches to time worker movements and special
tools (cameras and special clocks) to monitor and study worker performance, and also involved
identification of “therbligs” (Gilbreth spelled backwards) - basic motions used in production jobs. Many
of these motions and accompanying times have been used to determine how long it should take a skilled
worker to perform a given job. In this way an industrial engineer can get a handle on the approximate
time it should take to produce a product or provide a service. However, use of work analysis in this way is
unlikely to lead to useful results unless all five work dimensions are considered. physical, psychological,
social, cultural, and power.
Question 109: What is the passage primarily about?
A. The limitations of pioneering studies in understanding human behavior.
B. How time and motion studies were first developed.
C. The first applications of a scientific approach to understanding human behavior.
D. The beginnings of modern management theory.
Question 110: It can be inferred from the first paragraph that ______.
A. workers welcomed the application of scientific management
B. Taylor’s philosophy is different from the industrial norms
C. by the early 1900s science had reached a stage where it could be applied to the workplace
D. workers were no longer exploited after the introduction of scientific management.
Question 111: The word “prevailing” is closest in meaning to ______.
A. predominant

B. broadly accepted

C. prevalent

D. common

Question112: According to the passage, Frank Gilbreth discovered how workers could eliminate
waste motion by ______.
A. using special tools such as cameras and clocks
B. using stop watches
C. applying scientific management principles
D. watching his children do their chores
Question 113: According to the passage, the time it takes a skilled worker to perform the motion of a
given job can be measured by using ______.
A. stop watches

B. all five work dimensions

C. special tools

D. therbligs

Question 114: Where in the passage does the author comment that the principles of scientific


management were often misunderstood?
A. Lines l-5

B. Lines 7-9

C. Lines 12-15

D. Lines 16-20

Question 115: All of the following are true except ______.
A. Scientific management was concerned with productivity.
B. the beginnings of modern management thought commenced in the 19th century.
C. Frank Gilbreth’s fame was enhanced by two of his children writing a book.
D. Analyzing work to increase productivity is not likely to be useful unless all of the dimensions
are considered.
(Đề số 3 – Sách tham khảo - Vũ Mai Phương )
Exercise 18:Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer
to each of the questions.
A survey is a study, generally in the form of an interview or a questionnaire, which provides
information concerning how people think and act. In the United States, the best-known surveys are the
Gallup poll and the Harris poll. As anyone who watches the news during presidential campaigns knows,
these polls have become an important part of political life in the United States.
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. Second, television interviews tend to attract
outgoing people who are willing to appear on the air, while they frighten away others who may feel
intimidated by a camera. A survey must be based on a precise, representative sampling if it is to
genuinely reflect a broad range of the population.
In preparing to conduct a survey, sociologists must exercise great care in the wording of questions.
An effective survey question must be simple and clear enough for people to understand it. It must also be
specific enough so that there are no problems in interpreting the results. Even questions that are less
structured must be carefully phrased in order to elicit the type of information desired. Surveys can be
indispensable sources of information, but only if the sampling is done properly and the questions are
worded accurately.
There are two main forms of surveys: the interview and the questionnaire. Each of these forms of
survey research has its advantages. An interviewer can obtain a high response rate because people find it
more difficult to turn down a personal request for an interview than to throw away a written

questionnaire. In addition, an interviewer can go beyond written questions and probe for a subject’s