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I’m not very ___________ at Math. I love English instead.

 

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Journalists: Protection of Sources
Being a reporter for a major news publication can be a difficult job. The best journalists often work long hours and have to do a bit of dirty work to uncover scandals that others want to remain secret. In many cases, it is a bit of information provided by an undisclosed source that finally helps to break the story. But do reporters have a legal right to keep their sources a secret? The protection of sources is the idea that journalists have the right to keep their sources of their news stories a secret. Those who support this idea insist that if reported are forced to reveal their sources, it will be much harder for them to do their job. It certainly seems logical that fewer people would come forward with sensitive information if they know that eventually their identity will be revealed to the public. Furthermore, in cases where the source’s information uncovers a ring of corruption or somehow damages the reputation of a rich and powerful person or company, releasing the source’s identity could put their life in danger. For the most part, reporters are rarely required by law to reveal undisclosed sources if it is a minor case of little importance. Yet in some instances, when vital or leaked information is involved, a journalist may be asked to testify in court and reveal how they got their information. In the US, such a situation arose after a mass shooting in Colorado in 2012. One journalist, with information provided by an anonymous source, wrote an article claiming that the suspected killer had sent a diary detailing plans to kill people to his psychiatrist a few days before the murder occurred. The suspect’s lawyer then demanded the reporter should reveal her source because they felt it damaged their defense case. In the end, the judge declined to force the reporter to testify. So are there any cases when reporters should reveal their sources? Many would argue that when the issue is a matter of national security, journalists should be willing to reveal their sources if it can help to save lives. For instance, let’s say a reporter receives a tip from an anonymous source about a terrorist attack. In this scenario, saving innocent lives should be more important than protecting one’s source. In the end, it seems that forcing reporters to reveal their sources should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
5. What best matches the definition of the phrase “_break the story_” in paragraph 1 __________

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___students required to wear uniforms at all times?

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Spain _____ at one time a very powerful country.

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Getting Curious about Curiosity’s Mission to Mars
The topic of space exploration reached a high point during the 1960s, as Soviets and Americans competed for dominance. Yet after the Soviets put the first man in space and Americans landed the first men on the moon, many people lost interest as nothing else could compare to these groundbreaking accomplishments. Recently, a robotic rover on a mission to Mars has generated massive interest the public. Curiosity is a robotic car-sized rover that is part of NASA’s long-term plan to learn more about the terrain and conditions on the Red Planet. One of its main goals was to determine whether or not it was possible for life to develop on Mars. Using mechanical arms, Curiosity can gather soil and rock samples from the ground and analyze them to determine their chemical composition. Since transporting around Mars was vital to the success of the mission, a lot of effort was put into Curiosity’s transportation abilities. Mars’ terrain is not smooth, so designers enabled Curiosity to roll over bumpy areas. Once Curiosity left the Earth, there would be no opportunities to repair it, so engineers also had to be spot on about Curiosity’s power solution. Therefore, they devised a system that can generate power internally from a radioisotope generator. Finally, to capture stunning pictures of Mars, Curiosity was equipped with several state-of-the-art cameras. The cameras also help the rover avoid hazards, navigate, and detect information about the atmosphere. After a 350-million-mile journey, Curiosity landed on Mars in 2012, an impressive 1.5 miles away from its initial target. Upon arrival, NASA’s website crashed due to an overload of visitors. People just couldn’t seem to get enough information on the mission. But the real thrills came in the weeks and months that followed, as people got their first real glimpse about what life was really like on Mars. The mission was originally supposed to last for two years, but scientists are now optimistic that it could continue for up to 15 years, depending on Curiosity’s condition. No matter what happens at this point, it is safe to say that Curiosity’s mission to Mars has been a smashing success.
3. What best matches the meaning of the phrase “_spot on_” in paragraph 2?

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Last year, there were millions of international tourist arrivals across the globe. Whether they were students on their (1)______ years looking for overseas adventure, stressed-out workers hoping to get away for a weekend, or retirees (2)______ to relax in an exotic location- clearly none of them thought they could find the same experience at home. The question is whether foreign travel brings more advantages or disadvantages. An obvious positive point is that going abroad sometimes helps people to expand their knowledge of the world. If they are (3)_____ – minded, they can learn about new cultures and hopefully gain a more accurate understanding about their way of life. In addition, there is the economic benefit of tourism to countries which have few other resources. It can provide an income to many people within the industry. Having said that, some people simply go to a foreign resort (4)______ by high walls and therefore learn little about their holiday (5)______. Another issue is that hordes of tourists often spoil the “unspoilt” places they visit. The most recent example of this is Antarctica, where last year cruise ships took thousands of visitors to view the disappearing icebergs and wildlife. Vegetation, nesting penguins and resting walrus are vulnerable when humans intrude

Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word or phrase

There are many reasons (1) _____ taking regular time with our family is important:

It (2) _____ a place to listen, teach, learn, and (3) _____ ourselves freely and safely. It provides (4) _____ to discuss family joys, issues, and problems. Family members can practice skills in a non-threatening (5) _____. Families are a (6) _____ part of our society and the fabric of our communities - we spend (7) _____ time together to get our feelings (8) _____ belonging, our values, support and understanding. It helps (9) _____ family members together and feel safe in today's world where (10) _____ can lead to family disintegration.

(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 :
The television has undoubtedly changed society. For a modern person to think about (1)__________ the world was like without television is actually hard to imagine. The world before the TV was one of little information flowing in to communities throughout the world. All information that people could get was filtered through newspapers often had specific biases that caused them to (2)__________ the news to whatever their preference was. Although television would follow this to a certain (3)__________, it was able to hit a widespread audience at the same time. In other words, people literally watched the broadcast at the same time each day, and they began (4)__________ news as things happened. A television grew into something that practically every household in industrialized nations had, businesspeople were quick to realize the (5)__________ television had. They realized there was an enormous amount of money to be made, and therefore they were willing to invest in the technology and infrastructure that made it possible.

 A ______ is a report in a newspaper or magazine in which a writer gives his opinion of a book, a film, or a play.

(391)________

If she________ rich, she would travel around the world.
(128)_______

Read the reading below carefully, and then complete it with the best option A, B, C or D given below:
To help pay for infrastructure improvements, Governor Bill Anderson (1)------- a $1 increase on the toll fee for vehicles entering the western turnpikes. The governor’s decision took effect last week. It is expected that an amount of $80 million dollars will be generated from the increase this year and will be used to repair the state’s turnpike system. (2)-------, the Transport Authority is now scheduling tunnel and road renovations to ensure drivers’ convenience and safety. In a press conference held last week, Governor Anderson addressed the motorists’ concerns. He said that although the toll fee increase is (3)-------, he believes that it will improve road and traffic conditions for all drivers using the turnpike.

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Most of the pupils are _____ to pass the examination.

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My family lives near a small school. There are four ................. (1) in it: my parents, sister and me. I am the youngest member. My father is a worker in the factory. He works such as an engineer. He ............... (2) up early in the morning. First he brushes his teeth and ................. (3) his face. Then he has a bread ............... (4) breakfast. His work starts from7.00 a.m to 4.00 pm so He comes ............... (5) home very early. In the evening He stays at home, watches TV and goes to bed at 10.00 pm. And my mother is an English teacher at Hung Ha town. My parents are very young. My sister is a student .................... (6) Minh Khai primary school. She is thirteen years old. She is in her classroom. She is studying Arts subject. She can draw many pictures. They are very beautiful. She likes Arts the most because she wants to be an artist. I am a student too, I like ................... (7) football, go fishing, go camping and go swimming in summer. Last year my family went to Ho Chi Minh city to visit our uncles and aunts. They ..................... (8) many photos with my family. I bought a lot of souvenirs ................. (9) my friends. Now I am in my class I am learning English because tomorrow my school is holding the English language Festival. All the teachers and students are going to .............. (10) beautiful school uniforms. We are going to have a good time

When you have a small child in the house, you _____ leave small objects lying around. Such objects ____ be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

(370)__________

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There are three valid arguments to support the preservation of endangered species. Aesthetic justification contends that biodiversity contributes to the quality of life because many of the endangered plants and animals are particularly appreciated for their unique physical beauty. The aesthetic role of nature in all its diverse forms is reflected in the art and literature of every culture attaining symbolic status in the spiritual life of many groups. According to the proponents of the aesthetic argument, people need nature in all its diverse and beautiful forms as part of the experience of the world. Another argument that has been put forward, especially by groups in the medical and pharmacological fields, is that of ecological self-interest. By preserving all species, we retain a balance of nature that is ultimately beneficial to humankind. Recent research on global ecosystems has been cited as evidence that every species contributes important or even essential functions that may be necessary to the survival of our own species. Some advocates of the ecological argument contend that important chemical compounds derived from rare plants may contain the key to a cure for one of the diseases currently threatening human beings. If we do not protect other species, then they cannot protect us. Apart from human advantage in both the aesthetic and ecological arguments, the proponents of a moral justification contend that all species have the right to exist, a viewpoint stated in the United Nations World Charter for Nature, created in 1982. Furthermore, if humankind views itself as the stewards of all the creatures on Earth, then it is incumbent upon human beings to protect them, and to ensure the continued existence of all species. Moral justification has been extended by a movement called “deep ecology,” the members of which rank the biosphere higher than people because the continuation of life depends on this larger perspective. To carry their argument to its logical conclusion, all choices must be made for the biosphere, not for people.
9. The word " unique" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to: 

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My parents often help me ………… my homework.

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Learning to Dig Jazz Music
It has been said that jazz is America’s greatest contribution to music. It mixes the powerful rhythm of African traditions with elements of European classical music. The beginnings of jazz music are a bit unclear, but many people believe it originated in New Orleans during the late 1800s. New Orleans was a melting pot where local tribes mixed with immigrants who came from Africa and Europe to form a new, unique culture. Jazz has several elements which set it apart from other styles of music. Compared to rock music, jazz is more complex and versatile. Whereas rock bands typically consists of a drummer, some guitarists, and a singer, jazz bands can be big or small and they are made up from a wide variety of instruments. Another thing which sets jazz apart from other forms of music is improvisation. Musicians start with a basic structure, perhaps a few chords, and then they decide what to play in the moment. Therefore, even if the same songs are repeated, you can be certain that no two jazz concerts are the same. Over the years, many sub-genres of jazz came about. Ragtime is one of the first styles that came about, and it consists mainly of upbeat piano compositions. Dixieland Jazz started in the 1920s and it incorporated blue music and brass bands. Next came the Big Band era, which showcased groups with 10 or more musicians playing different instruments. In the Bebop era of the 1940s, jazz musicians returned to smaller groups of four to six musicians, but they started playing far more complex melodies.  If you are just becoming interested in jazz, you should start by listening to the works of some of its masters. Louis Armstrong is considered one of the grandfathers of jazz, as he helped to spread jazz to the masses in the 1920s. Armstrong is perhaps best-known today for singing the classic song “What a Wonderful World”, but in his prime, he was a talented bandleader and an incredible trumpet player. Charlie Parker was all the rage during the bebop age, as every saxophone player was trying to imitate him. Miles Davis is another pioneering jazzman who everyone should check out, as he was always changing his style. During his long career, Davis won nine Grammy awards. Although jazz music is an acquired taste, once you begin to appreciate it, it is like a fine wine that gets better with age.
5. The word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to ___________

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
The fictitious androids written about in the mid-1900s are becoming a reality with advances in the field of robotics. Japan and Korea have been pioneers in this field. They regularly compete to be the first. The focus on most reseachers is in (1)............. life-like, attractive female androids. A Japanese research group led by Hiroshi Ishiguro created ther world’s first female android, which is called Actroid in 2003. The early model was limited so upgrades were made and the dramatic entertainment model was released in 2006. Actroids are covered with a silicone skin and have built-in sensors making them (2)................ of reacting  to  humans,  and  they  can  also  mimic  many  human behaviors. (3)................... , they can be programmed to speak in any language. The Korean android, EveR-2, released in 2006, was designed by a team from Kitech. They claim that she is more life-like than Actroids, and she can mimic emtions. She can also speak and move her lips to match  her (4)..................... . Future models are expected to have higher mobility and even be proficient in dancing. Research teams have also created male androids. One in particular is the Germinoid HI-I.
Regardless of the competition, it’s clear that this technology will one day present us (5)..................the dilemma of determining human from machine.

(2)........................................

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D):
Television has transformed politics in the United States by changing the way in which information is disseminated, by altering political campaigns, and by changing citizen's patterns of response to politics. By giving citizens independent access to the candidates, television diminished the role of the political party in the selection of the major party candidates. By centering politics on the person of the candidates, television accelerated the citizen's focus on character rather than issues. Television has altered the forms of political communication as well. The messages on which most of US reply are briefer than they once were. The stump speech, a political speech given by travelling politicians and lasting 1/2 to 2 hours, which characterized nineteenth-century political discourse, has given way to the 30-second advertisement and the 10 second "sound bite" in broadcast news. Increasingly the audience for speeches is not that standing in front of the politician but rather the viewing audience tvho will hear and see a snippet of the speech on the news. In these abbreviated forms, much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost. In 15 or 30 seconds, a peaker cannot establish the historical context that shaped the issue in question, cannot detail the probable causes of the problem, and cannot examine alternative proposals to argue that one is preferable to others. In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue. Because television is an intimate medium, speaking through it require a changed political style that was more conversational, personal, and visual than that of the old-style stump speech. Reliance on television means that increasingly our political world contains memorable pictures rather than memorable words. Schools teach US to analyze words and print. However, in a word in which politics is increasingly visual, informed citizenship requires a new set of skills. Recognizing the power of television's pictures, politicians craft televisual, staged events, called pseudo-event, designed to attract media coverage. Much of the political activity we see on television news has been crafted by politicians, their speechwriters, and their public relations advisers for televised consumption. Sound bites in news and answers to questions in debates increasingly sound like advertisements.
2. The word "disseminated" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to: 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
                          VIRTUAL DOCTORS
 Clare Harrison rarely falls ill and hates going to the doctor’s when she does. So when she recently(1)........... out in a painful rash down one side of her body she emailed her symptoms, (2)..................  also  included a (3)...................... fever, to e–doc, the internet medical service. Two hours later she was diagnosed as having shingles (Herpes Zoster) by her online doctor, who prescribed a special cleansing solution for the rash and analgesics to help relieve the pain.
Health advice is now the second most popular topic that people search for on the internet, and online medical consultation is big business. Sites vary enormously in what they offer, with services ranging from the equivalent of a medical agony aunt to a live chat with a doctor via email. They are clearly (4)....................... a demand from people who are too busy or, in some cases, too embarrassed to discuss their medical (5)..................... with their GP.

(3).........................

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I turned down the job,________ the attractive salary.