Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below
Hello, I’m Erik. If you asked me, I would say my neighborhood is the most beautiful place in my life. I live in __________ (6) apartment in a big city, __________ (7) my neighborhood is not a noisy place. There ____________ (8) lots of trees and flowers in a large park. My sister and I often ____________ (9) there after school. There is also a small supermarket to the right of the park. We shop there every weekend. It’s really convenient. The supermarket has everything we need. In our free time, my sister and I often go to the cinema ___________ (10) the supermarket to see a movie. It’s a lot of fun.

__________ (7) my neighborhood is not a noisy place. 

Read the passage below and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE?
Let me introduce you to Steven. He is a newcomer. He lives next-door to me in the same apartment building. He wants me to show him around the neighborhood. “There is everything in our area. Over there is a supermarket and a restaurant to the left of the building. There is a post office opposite the restaurant and there is a park between the supermarket and the parking lot. The supermarket sells a lot of things. If you want to look for a place of recreation, let’s go to the pub next to the park. Don’t worry about the price. It’s as comfortable as your home but only as cheap as a convenient store. There is a hospital only 3 kilometers from here.”

There is a cafeteria next to the supermarket.

Choose the best answer: 
According to legend, King Hung wanted to choose one son as a successor to his throne. He (1)________ all of his sons, and told them that whoever could bring him the most precious offering to the altar of the ancestors, would be awarded the throne.

All of the princes traveled throughout the country in search of the tastiest and most exotic foods to offer their father, (2)________ Lang Lieu, the 18th prince. Being the poorest prince, he could not afford such luxurious foods and had no idea where to begin looking. One night, he dreamed of a genie (3)________ told him “There is nothing greater than the sky or the earth. And the rice grain is the most precious thing (4)________ the world. Now, use glutinous rice to make Chung Cake, a green and square cake, (5)________ the earth*. Then use ground glutinous rice to make Day Cake, a white, (6)________ cake, symbolizing the sky.” When he awoke, Lang Lieu was very happy and prepared the two kinds of cakes described by the genie.

When the day of the contest came, Hung King was impressed by the favors and the meaning of Lang Lieu’s cakes. (7)________, he chose him as the successor to the throne. Since then, Chung Cake and Day Cake became the (8)________ food for the Tet holidays.
2.

Read the passage below and choose the correct answer:
My name is Peter. I’m at grade six. I live in a peaceful neighborhood in the countryside. Living in the countryside is less convenient but more peaceful than in the city. There are a lot of country houses here. There are many trees, too. People here are friendly and helpful. Every afternoon, we meet under the biggest tree in the village to chat. Children can play traditional games. Adults can talk about their long day of hard work. I love my life here.
There are many country houses and trees in his neighborhood.

Read the following passage and decide which options A, B, C, or D best fits each space

WHAT IS THE BEAUTY IN A PERSON?

   It is said that what one (1)_____ considers beautiful may not be beautiful to another.

(2) _____ beauty is something that (3) _____ not only to the eyes but also to the other senses. I think true beauty makes you see beyond the lovely sight. It will give you insight or realization of something (4) _____ beyond the appearance.

   When we talk about beauty in people, we often refer to their (5) _____ attractiveness. Of course, a beautiful or handsome face is pleasant to (6) _____. But I find that the most memorable

 “ beautiful people”  are those who have good personalities behind their pretty faces.

   (7) _____ kind of beauty in people that attracts us greatly is what is known as the inside beauty. People with this kind of beauty have attained inner peace. They usually care about their fellow man and try to right justice in this world. As you know, Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, and Mother Teresa are well-known for these personalities.

   In fact, around us, we know many people who are always ready to lend (8) _____ to people in trouble. Many people in our city provide (9) _____ of floods in Mekong Delta, the disabled or poor… with clothes, money, and food. Many young go to rural, mountainous, or island areas to help people there… We greatly admire the beauty of these people because they make the world better. This inner beauty gives a certain radiance to their looks.

   In short, everyone has (10) _____ idea of beauty, and we need to have things, people, and places of beauty in our everyday life. Do you think so?

3.........................

Although 80% of Australians live near cities, the cities are not as large as those in some other countries. Most people live in houses in suburbs - not in apartments. The suburbs usually have their own churches, schools, and shopping centers. They also have recreational facilities. In large cities, like Sydney, the suburbs are often far from the center of town. Because many people commute to work, traffic is slow and there are many traffic jams.

The cities in Australia _______.

Read the passage and decide which word or phrase (A or B, C, D) best fits each space. 

The principle of first aid is immediate action, but quick action mustn't cause panic. Any action taken needs to be careful and the first aider must remain calm at all times. It is equally important to understand the situation quickly, to appreciate the limitations of your own actions, and to seek expert assistance such as calling for an ambulance, fire brigade, or police as soon as possible. The priority is to yourself and others – protect the scene after understanding risk, and think before you act (there may be gas – the risk of explosion; electricity- the pool of water around the faulty washing machine may be live; fire – opening a hot door may be the last thing you do; assault –  the assailant with knife or gun may be behind the door awaiting their next victim or a hostage; blood- avoid unnecessary contact with fluids by wearing gloves).

The first – aider should be careful with the pool of water around the faulty washing machine because__________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. 

Although some groups of people have always lived in tents, camping as we know it today only began to be (1) ______ about 50 years ago. The increase in the use of cars and improvement in camping equipment have (2) ______ more people to travel longer (3) ____ into the countryside and to stay there in greater comfort.

Many campers like to be (4) ____ themselves in quiet areas, so they (5) ____  their tent and food, and walk or cycle into the forests or the mountains. Others, preferring to be near people, drive to a public or privately-owned campsite (6) ____ has up-to-date facilities, (7) ____ hot showers and swimming pools.

Whether campers are (8) ____in the mountains or in a busy site, they should remember to (9) ____ the area clean and tidy. In the forests, they must put out any fires and keep food hidden to avoid attracting (10) ____ animals.

10....................

Read the text and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each of the gaps.

A collection has to be cared for and stored, and those tasks train a child to be (23) _______ and orderly. The entertainment value of a growing collection (24) _______immeasurable because sorting and admiring a collection is a source (25) _______ great pleasure for a child. One day he arranges them (26) _______ color; another day he sorts them by type.

Labeling or arranging the items in a collection requires research and critical thinking. Once a collection reaches (27) _______ certain size, jumbling all of the items in a shoe box is not practical. A true collection should be showcased in some way – album, display boxes, or card files. Choosing (28) _______to arrange a collection is good for a child’s (29) _______skills.

Collections (30) _______ actually foster healthy relationships. When your child knows how (31) _______ collect a certain object, family and friends help the collection along by bringing back small gifts (32) _______ their own travels. The new item in his collection them becomes a reminder of that special friend or family member who was so thoughtful towards him.

Question 26..................

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. 
THE NEWS MEDIA

            News media are the means or method by which people learn what is happening in the city, in the country and in the world. The news media can be classified into two general categories: the categories of print media and electronic media.  Print media use the written material to communicate news to readers. Electronic media use air waves to send news into homes, offices and public places. Print media are divided into magazines and newspapers. Most newspapers print news daily. The electronic media are generally divided into radio and television. Radio news is the one that you listened to. In the United States, many radio stations broadcast five minutes of news every hour. Television news is the one that you not only listen but also watch. In Canada and the United States, for example, many people watch an hour of news on TV at six o’clock in the evening. In the future new categories of news media will develop. Even today computers are beginning to influence the transmission and reception of news.

Which of the following is not true?

Read the passage below and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE?

Light pollution is the excessive, misdirected or invasive use of artificial outdoor lighting. Mismanaged lighting affects the environment, energy resources, wildlife, humans and astronomy research.

Light pollution is not a new phenomenon. Over the last 50 years, as countries became affluent and urbanized, demand for outdoor lighting increased and light pollution sprawled beyond the city limits and into suburban and rural areas. This form pollution is now prevalent in Asia, Europe, and North America, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C. In 2008, National Geographic magazine named Chicago the most light-polluted city in the United States.

However, the most light-polluted spot in the world is Hong Kong, China. In March 2013, the University of Hong Kong named the city the most light polluted in the world. A study by the university found the night sky in Tsim Sha Tsui, an urban neighborhood in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong, to be 1,200 times brighter than a normal urban city sky. Luminous pollution of this magnitude is on the rise worldwide. In a 2010 article from the Ecology and Society Journal, Hölker and others stated the use of artificial lighting increases by 20% each year, depending on the region, and noted there is an urgent need for light pollution policies that surpass energy efficiency to include humans, animals and the environment.

Chicago is the most light-polluted city in the world.

Read the text and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each of the gaps.

Native American Indian groups in North America lived (31) ___________ different cultural regions, each of which developed its own customs and traditions. A custom is the specific way in which (32) ___________ group of people does something. This can include how foods are prepared, what clothing is worn, the kinds of celebrations and much more. The set of customs developed and (33) ___________ by a culture over time is a tradition.

A culture’s customs are often determined by the natural resources found in their environment. In the Desert Southwest region, cloth weaving develop (34) ___________ a custom. The area has fewer large animals whose skins can be used for making clothing or blankets. Cloth weaving was a way (35) ___________ meeting the need for clothing without using animal skins. In the Eastern Woodlands area, however, hunting and fishing were daily activities. Since it was easy to get animal skins, developing skills like weaving were less important.

Question 33....................

Read the passage, then do the task below

If you want to take the whole family on holiday and keep everybody happy, then I have found just the place for you. I recently went with a group of friends to stay at the Greenwood Holiday Village, which is open from May until October.

Built in the center of a forest, Greenwood is a great place to stay whatever the weather. Its main attraction for the families is the indoor World of Water, where young and old can have fun in the different pools. Some of these, however, are for serious swimmers only.

For sporty people, the Country Club offers tennis, squash, and badminton. If your children are too young to join in these sports, there are activity clubs. Greenwood is a good place for families as it is traffic-free – you explore on foot or by bike. Some people complained that this was inconvenient, but I was pleased to be out in the fresh air. For evening entertainment, there are shows and cinemas.

Accommodation is in a variety of apartments of different sizes. These have up to four bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, as well as a dining area. Before going, I thought the apartments might not be big enough for all of us, but I was pleasantly surprised it was not too crowded at all.

I’ll definitely go back to Greenwood next year. Why don’t you give it a try? Visit their website for further information now!

From the text, the reader can find out___________

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below

Viet is a student and he lives in a bed-sit on the suburb of Hanoi. It’s a part ________ (6) an old house. He ________ (7) one room and a kitchen and share a bathroom with three other people. In his room, there is a bed on the left hand side. There is ________ (8) armchair beside the bed. The desk is opposite the bed and there is a closet on the right side of the room. Above the desk, there is a bookshelf ________ (9) above the bed there is a clock. He has a TV and a Wi-Fi, too. In the kitchen, there is a cooker on the right hand side. The sink is ________ (10) the cooker. There’s a small table and two chairs in the center. The kitchen is small, but it’s ok. Viet like his room very much.

Above the desk, there is a bookshelf ________ (9) above the bed there is a clock. 

Japan’s cities also have a mix of traditional and modern characteristics. There are tall office and apartment buildings as well as traditional wooden houses. Many people prefer to live near the center of cities, but because houses there are expensive, they often commute from suburbs. Traffic, pollution, and crowds are problems.

However, there is little crime, and even very crowded cities have many parks and gardens.

What are the bad things about Japan’s cities?

Choose the best answer: 
According to Irish folklore a man named Jack, well known for his drunkenness and quick temper, got very drunk at a local pub on All Hallows

Eve. He met the Devil outside the pub because the Devil wanted his soul. Jack asked him one more drink but he didn’t have the money to pay. So he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin and Jack put it into his wallet that had a silver cross that catched the Devil. Jack agreed to free the Devil under one condition: he should let him live for another year. The Devil accepted.

The following year the Devil reappeared and asked Jack to accompany him. Jack told the Devil to take an apple from a tree; when the Devil climbed up, Jack carved a cross on the tree and the Devil was trapped again. This time Jack asked the Devil ten more years of life in exchange for his freedom; again the Devil had to accept.

Soon after, Jack died. God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil kept his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”

The Irish used to carve turnips or beets as Jack’s lanterns and place them into windows or near doors to frighten away evil spirits on Halloween night. When they emigrated to the USA, they brought their traditions with them. They couldn’t find turnips in America but they found a lot of pumpkins which were suitable substitutes to make a JackO’Lantern; since then, pumpkins are an essential part of Halloween celebrations.
6. Which of the following statements is true?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Living in the country is something (1)………….  people from the city often dream about. However, in reality, it has both advantages and (2)……………..  .

There are certainly many advantages to living in the country. First of all, you can enjoy (3)…………. and quiet. Moreover, people tend to be friendlier. A further advantage is that there is less (4)…………., so it is safer for young children.

However, there are certain drawbacks to life outside the city. Firstly, because there are (5)……… people, you are (6)…………… to have few friends. In addition, entertainment is difficult to find, (7)…………….. in the evening. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services means that it is hard to find (8)……………… .

In conclusion, it can be seen that the country is (9)…………… suitable for some people than others. On the whole, it is often the best place for those who are retired or who have young children. In (10)……………., young people who have a career are better provided for in the city.

8. .....................

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the passage below
Hello, I’m Erik. If you asked me, I would say my neighborhood is the most beautiful place in my life. I live in __________ (6) apartment in a big city, __________ (7) my neighborhood is not a noisy place. There ____________ (8) lots of trees and flowers in a large park. My sister and I often ____________ (9) there after school. There is also a small supermarket to the right of the park. We shop there every weekend. It’s really convenient. The supermarket has everything we need. In our free time, my sister and I often go to the cinema ___________ (10) the supermarket to see a movie. It’s a lot of fun.

There ____________ (8) lots of trees and flowers in a large park.

Although 80% of Australians live near cities, the cities are not as large as those in some other countries. Most people live in houses in suburbs - not in apartments. The suburbs usually have their own churches, schools, and shopping centers. They also have recreational facilities. In large cities, like Sydney, the suburbs are often far from the center of town. Because many people commute to work, traffic is slow and there are many traffic jams.

Why are there many traffic jams?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Living in the country is something (1)………….  people from the city often dream about. However, in reality, it has both advantages and (2)……………..  .

There are certainly many advantages to living in the country. First of all, you can enjoy (3)…………. and quiet. Moreover, people tend to be friendlier. A further advantage is that there is less (4)…………., so it is safer for young children.

However, there are certain drawbacks to life outside the city. Firstly, because there are (5)……… people, you are (6)…………… to have few friends. In addition, entertainment is difficult to find, (7)…………….. in the evening. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services means that it is hard to find (8)……………….

In conclusion, it can be seen that the country is (9)…………… suitable for some people than others. On the whole, it is often the best place for those who are retired or who have young children. In (10)……………., young people who have a career are better provided for in the city.

2.....................

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 five o’clock in the evening when Mrs. Jackson comes home from work. She walks into the living room and looks at her three children. They are 14, 13 and 9 years old. They are watching TV. The living room is a mess. There are dirty socks on the floor and cookies on the sofa. Games and toys are every where. Jackson is angry, “This place is a mess” she tells her children, “I can’t work all day and then do housework all evening. I’m not going to do housework!” Jackson doesn’t do housework. She doesn’t clean or wash dishes. She doesn’t wash clothes, either. Every evening she sits on the sofa and watches TV.

            After two weeks, every plate, fork and glass in the house is dirty. All the children’s clothes are dirty. Every garbage basket is full. The house is a mess.

            Then, one day Mrs. Jackson comes home from work and gets a big surprise. The kitchen is clean. The children clean the kitchen!

            The next day, the living room is clean, and the children are washing their clothes. Jackson tells the children “OK, I’ll do the housework again. But you have to help me.”

            Now Jackson and her three children do the housework together. Then they all sit on the sofa and watch TV!

Some days later, the house was clean again because ……………………..