Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Clean, Convenient, and Cheap
Big cities like New York and London have a lot of great things. They have museums, parks, shopping centres, and a huge variety of restaurants. However, there are a lot of annoying things in big cities. The most common problems are air pollution and noise. Traffic is the main cause of air pollution and noise. For example, drivers in New York are famous for honking their horns and shouting. That noise drives many visitors crazy – it even drives a lot of the locals crazy, too. Other big cities have similar problems with their traffic. City governments have a lot of pressure to solve these problems. The most common solution is public transportation. Public transportation is a form of travel provided by the government. For example, New York’s biggest form of public transportation is the subway. Public transportation helps reduce these problems, but it is not enough. Another solution is bicycle sharing. This is a system that provides cheap bicycles. In cities that have bicycle sharing programmes, there are spots that have parked public bikes. People borrow the bikes and use them. They can _drop off_ the bike at the same spot where they borrowed it, or they can drop it off at another spot. Bicycle sharing programmes are different in each city. In some cities, the bikes are completely free. They are not even locked. In other cities, you have to pay a small deposit. You get the deposit back when you return the bike. In still other cities, you need to have a membership with the bicycle sharing programme. Once you have a membership with the bicycle sharing programme, you can use a bike at any time you want. Bicycle sharing is hugely popular all over the world. People love this system because it is cheap, clean, and easy to use. There are bicycle sharing systems in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities. In total, there are more than 530 bicycle sharing systems around the world, and that number is going up all the time.
2. What does the passage say about bicycle sharing?

Read‌ ‌the‌ ‌following‌ ‌passage‌ ‌and‌ ‌mark‌ ‌the‌ ‌letter‌ ‌A,‌ ‌B,‌ ‌C,‌ ‌or‌ ‌D‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌answer‌ ‌sheet‌ ‌to‌ ‌indicate‌ ‌the‌ ‌correct‌ ‌answer‌ ‌to‌ ‌each‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌questions‌ ‌from‌ ‌43‌ ‌to‌ ‌50.‌ ‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌two‌ ‌basic‌ ‌types‌ ‌of‌ ‌glaciers,‌ ‌those‌ ‌that‌ ‌flow‌ ‌outward‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ 
directions‌ ‌with‌ ‌little‌ ‌regard‌ ‌for‌ ‌any‌ ‌underlying‌ ‌‌terrain‌ ‌‌and‌ ‌those‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌confined‌ ‌by‌ ‌terrain‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌particular‌ ‌path.‌ ‌The‌ ‌first‌ ‌category‌ ‌of‌ ‌glaciers‌ ‌includes‌ ‌those‌ ‌massive‌ ‌blankets‌ ‌that‌ ‌cover‌ ‌whole‌ ‌continents,‌ ‌appropriately‌ ‌called‌ ‌ice‌ ‌sheets.‌ ‌There‌ ‌must‌ ‌be‌ ‌over‌ ‌50,000‌ ‌square‌ ‌kilometers‌ ‌of‌ ‌land‌ ‌covered‌ ‌with‌ ‌ice‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌glacier‌ ‌to‌ ‌
qualify‌ ‌as‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌sheet,‌ ‌when‌ ‌portions‌ ‌of‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌sheet‌ ‌spread‌ ‌out‌ ‌over‌ ‌the‌ ‌ocean,‌ ‌they‌ ‌form‌ ‌ice‌ ‌shelves.‌ ‌
About‌ ‌20,000‌ ‌years‌ ‌ago‌ ‌the‌ ‌Cordilleran‌ ‌Ice‌ ‌sheet‌ ‌covered‌ ‌nearly‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌mountains‌ ‌in‌ ‌southern‌ ‌Alaska,‌ ‌western‌ ‌Canada,‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌western‌ ‌United‌ ‌States.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌ ‌about‌ ‌3‌ ‌kilometers‌ ‌deep‌ ‌at‌ ‌its‌ ‌thickest‌ ‌point‌ ‌in‌ ‌
northern‌ ‌Alberta.‌ ‌Now‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌only‌ ‌two‌ ‌sheets‌ ‌left‌ ‌on‌ ‌Earth,‌ ‌those‌ ‌covering‌ ‌Greenland‌ ‌and‌ ‌Antarctica.‌ ‌Any‌ ‌domelike‌ ‌body‌ ‌of‌ ‌ice‌ ‌that‌ ‌also‌ ‌flows‌ ‌out‌ ‌in‌ ‌all‌ ‌directions‌ ‌but‌ ‌covers‌ ‌less‌ ‌than‌ ‌50,000‌ ‌square‌ ‌kilometers‌ ‌is‌ ‌called‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌cap.‌ ‌Although‌ ‌ice‌ ‌caps‌ ‌are‌ ‌rare‌ ‌nowadays,‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌a‌ ‌number‌ ‌in‌ ‌northeastern‌ ‌Canada,‌ ‌on‌ ‌
Baffin‌ ‌Island,‌ ‌and‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌Queen‌ ‌Elizabeth‌ ‌Islands.‌ ‌The‌ ‌second‌ ‌category‌ ‌of‌ ‌glaciers‌ ‌includes‌ ‌those‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌variety‌ ‌of‌ ‌shapes‌ ‌and‌ ‌sizes‌ ‌generally‌ ‌called‌ ‌mountain‌ ‌or‌ ‌alpine‌ ‌glaciers.‌ ‌Mountain‌ ‌glaciers‌ ‌are‌ ‌typically‌ ‌identified‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌landform‌ ‌that‌ ‌controls‌ ‌their‌ ‌flow.‌ ‌One‌ ‌form‌ ‌of‌ ‌mountain‌ ‌glacier‌ ‌that‌ ‌resembles‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌cap‌ ‌in‌ ‌that‌ ‌it‌ ‌flows‌ ‌outward‌ ‌in‌ ‌several‌ ‌directions‌ ‌is‌ ‌called‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌field.‌ ‌The‌ ‌difference‌ ‌between‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌field‌ ‌and‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌cap‌ ‌is‌ ‌‌subtle‌.‌ ‌Essentially,‌ ‌the‌ ‌flow‌ ‌of‌ ‌an‌ ‌ice‌ ‌field‌ ‌is‌ ‌somewhat‌ ‌controlled‌ ‌by‌ ‌surrounding‌ ‌terrain‌ ‌and‌ ‌thus‌ ‌does‌ ‌not‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌domelike‌ ‌shape‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌cap.‌ ‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌several‌ ‌ice‌ ‌fields‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Wrangell.‌ ‌St.‌ ‌Elias,‌ ‌and‌ ‌Chugach‌ ‌mountains‌ ‌of‌ ‌Alaska‌ ‌and‌ ‌northern‌ ‌British‌ ‌Columbia.‌ ‌Less‌ ‌spectacular‌ ‌than‌ ‌large‌ ‌ice‌ ‌fields‌ ‌are‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌common‌ ‌types‌ ‌of‌ ‌mountain‌ ‌glaciers:‌ ‌the‌ ‌cirque‌ ‌and‌ ‌valley‌ ‌glaciers.‌ ‌Cirque‌ ‌glaciers‌ ‌are‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌ ‌depressions‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌surface‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌land‌ ‌and‌ ‌have‌ ‌a‌ ‌characteristic‌ ‌circular‌ ‌shape.‌ ‌The‌ ‌ice‌ ‌of‌ ‌valley‌ ‌glaciers,‌ ‌bound‌ ‌by‌ ‌terrain,‌ ‌flows‌ ‌down‌ ‌valleys,‌ ‌curves‌ ‌around‌ ‌‌their‌ ‌‌corners,‌ ‌
and‌ ‌falls‌ ‌over‌ ‌cliffs.‌ ‌

‌The‌ ‌word‌ ‌“subtle”‌ ‌in‌ ‌paragraph‌ ‌5‌ ‌could‌ ‌best‌ ‌be‌ ‌replaced‌ ‌by____________.‌ ‌

Choose the best answer:
I often ……….. my homework …………. school.

Choose the best answer:
_______ for a long time before you got a job?

Choose the best answer: 

She ..................... shyly at him and then lowered her eyes. 

A ____ is a landscape or region that receives very little precipitation.

(332)_______

Choose the best answer:

______in that company?

Choose the best answer:
We have never gone to any orphanage ____________.

Read a text about some young people who write for a TV show and decide if the following statements are True, False or Not Given.

Teen writers on TV hit Catch

Dan Finelli is a normal teenager from North London; he goes to school, enjoys hanging out with his mates and only occasionally misses his classes. But Dan also happens to be a writer for the popular teen drama, Catch. The second series starts this week and the one-hour episode that Dan wrote, his very first for the show, will be on screen later in the year. This will make him one of the youngest writers of a peak-time drama ever.

'What's great about Catch is that the characters are exactly like the people around you,' says Dan, who also plays the part of Computer Chris in the show. 'When I'm at school and one of my friend says something funny, I write it down in my notebook and use it later in the script. I never tell them I'm doing it. I just want it to sound as real as possible,' Dan adds.

Catch is about the lives of a group of 16-18-year-olds in a sixth-form college. The school doesn't really exist, but the whole show does feel very true to life. There's an episode every week and each one concentrates on an individual member of the group and tells his or her story.

The idea for the programme came from an unusual source, a father-and-son pair of writers, Ken Thomas and his son, Callum. They took their idea to a TV company and were very surprised when the company said they were keen to make it. Now, Ken and Callum are central members of the writing team but in order to build that team, Ken had to go to theatre companies and writing groups all over London to find both writers and teens to advise on the stories.

Catch is about a group of teenagers at a real college.

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:
Of all modern instruments, the violin is apparently one of the simplest. It consists in essence of a hollow, varnished wooden sound box, or resonator, and a long neck covered with a fingerboard, along which four strings are stretched at high tension. The beauty of design, shape, and decoration is no accident. The proportions of the instrument are determined almost entirely by acoustical; considerations. Its simplicity of appearance is deceptive. About 70 parts are involved in the construction of a violin. Its tone and its outstanding range of expressiveness make it an ideal solo instrument. No less important, however, is its role as an orchestral and chamber instrument. In combination with the larger and deeper-sounding members of the same family, the violins form the nucleus of the modern symphony orchestra.
The violin has been in existence since about 1550. Its importance as an instrument in its own right dates from the early 1600’s, when it first became standard in Italian opera orchestras. Its stature as an orchestral instrument was raised further when in 1626 Louis XIII of France established at his court the orchestra known as Les vinq-quatre violons du Roy (The King’s 24 Violins), which was to become widely famous later in the century.
In its early history, the violin had a dull and rather quiet tone resulting from the fact that the strings were thick and were attached to the body of the instrument very loosely. During the eighteenth and nineteenth century, exciting technical changes were inspired by such composer- violinists as Vivaldi and Tartini. Their instrumental compositions demanded a fuller, clearer, and more brilliant tone that was produced by using thinner strings and a far higher string tension. Small changes had to be made to the violin’s internal structure and to the fingerboard so that they could withstand the extra strain. Accordingly, a higher standard of performance was achieved, in terms of both facility and interpretation. Left-hand technique was considerably elaborated, and new fingering patterns on the fingerboard were developed for very high notes.

According to the passage which of the following contributes to a dull sound being produced by a violin?

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D):
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.
1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

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:
All men should study, we have to study to (1)_____ our knowledge and develop our intelligence.An educated man can only utilize his bodily strength to work and live. An educated man, (2)_____this strength, still has the faculty of his intelligent brain and good reflection. This intelligence and thought (3)_____ him to help his physical strength to act more quickly and cleverly.In a same profession or work, the educated man differs (4)______ the uneducated considerably. Therefore, intellectual workers have to study, this is a matter of course but manual workers must also again an education. In civilized countries compulsory education has been applied. Everyone must spend seven or eight years to study. From ploughmen to laborers in these (5)_____, no one is unable to read a book or a paper fluently.

At the 23rd SEA Games, Viet Nam proved its position in the region by ______ third behind the host - the Philippines and second-ranked Thailand.

(441)________

Choose the best answer:
If you choose sewing as your hobby, you will …… you own clothes.

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D):
Any change in one part of an ecosystem can cause changes in other parts. Droughts, storms and fires can change ecosystems. Some changes (1) _______ ecosystems. If there is too (2) _______ rainfall, plants will not have enough water to live. If a kind of plant dies off, the animals that feed on it may also die or move away. Some changes are good for ecosystems. Some pine forests need fires for he pine trees to reproduce. The seeds are sealed inside pinecones. Heat from a forest fire melts the seal and lets the seeds (3) _______. Polluting the air, soil, and water can harm ecosystems. Building (4) _______ on rivers for electric power and irrigation can harm ecosystems around the rivers. Bulldozing wetlands and cutting down forests destroy ecosystems. Ecologists are working with companies and governments to find better ways of (5) _______ fish, cutting down trees, and building dams. They are looking for ways to get food, lumber, and other products for people without causing harm to ecosystems

Choose the best answer:
I _______ home once a week to tell my parents I'm okay.

Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined

Read the reading below carefully, and then complete it with the best option A, B, C or D given below:
A long time ago, this part of the town used to be a place where people came to relax and get away from their stress. Although this was ….(1)... a shelter for people to escape, it has now become a chaotic and noisy market area. Up until a few years ago, it wasn't as bad as it is now. Although it is true that some people in the neighborhood supported the expansion of the market a few years ago, now most of them….(2)… that it has gotten out of control and created many serious problems for the area. .…(3)…., it might have already gotten too far out of control. What we really need right now is not a mere intervention by civilians but strong action from the mayor's office

Choose the best answer:
She will work for a travel ___________ after graduation.

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 ‌from‌ ‌26‌ ‌to‌ ‌30.‌ ‌
Christ‌ ‌the‌ ‌Redeemer‌ ‌is‌ ‌an‌ ‌Art‌ ‌Deco‌ ‌statue‌ ‌of‌ ‌Jesus‌ ‌Christ‌ ‌in‌ ‌Rio‌ ‌de‌ ‌Janeiro,‌ ‌Brazil,‌ ‌created‌ ‌by‌ ‌Polish-French‌ ‌sculptor‌ ‌Paul‌ ‌Landowski‌ ‌and‌ ‌built‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌Brazilian‌ ‌engineer‌ ‌Heitor‌ ‌da‌ ‌Silva‌ ‌Costa,‌ ‌in‌ collaboration‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌French‌ ‌engineer‌ ‌Albert‌ ‌Caquot.‌ ‌The‌ ‌face‌ ‌was‌ ‌created‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌Romanian‌ ‌(26)‌ ‌______‌ ‌Gheorghe‌ ‌Leonida.‌ ‌The‌ ‌statue‌ ‌is‌ ‌30‌ ‌metres‌ ‌tall,‌ ‌not‌ ‌including‌ ‌its‌ ‌8-metre‌ ‌pedestal,‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌ ‌arms‌ ‌stretch‌ ‌28‌ ‌metres‌ ‌wide.‌ ‌By‌ ‌(27)‌ ‌______‌ ‌,‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌approximately‌ ‌two-thirds‌ ‌the‌ ‌height‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Statue‌ ‌of‌ ‌Liberty’s‌ ‌height‌ ‌from‌ ‌base‌ ‌to‌ ‌torch.‌ ‌The‌ ‌statue‌ ‌weighs‌ ‌635‌ ‌metric‌ ‌tons‌ ‌(625‌ ‌long,‌ ‌700‌ ‌short‌ ‌tons),‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌ ‌(28)‌ ‌______‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌peak‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌700-metre‌ ‌Corcovado‌ ‌mountain‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Tijuca‌ ‌Forest‌ ‌National‌ ‌Park‌ ‌overlooking‌ ‌the‌ ‌city‌ ‌of‌ ‌Rio.‌ ‌A‌ ‌symbol‌ ‌of‌ ‌Christianity‌ ‌across‌ ‌the‌ ‌world,‌ ‌the‌ ‌statue‌ ‌has‌ ‌also‌ ‌become‌ ‌a‌ ‌cultural‌ ‌icon‌ ‌of‌ ‌both‌ ‌Rio‌ ‌de‌ ‌Janeiro‌ ‌and‌ ‌Brazil,‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌ ‌listed‌ ‌as‌ ‌(29)‌ ‌______‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌New‌ ‌Seven‌ ‌Wonders‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌World.‌ ‌The‌ ‌statue,‌ ‌(30)‌ ‌______‌ ‌was‌ ‌constructed‌ ‌between‌ ‌1922‌ ‌and‌ ‌1931,‌ ‌is‌ ‌made‌ ‌of‌ ‌reinforced‌ concrete‌ ‌and‌ ‌soapstone.‌ ‌

Question‌ ‌28:‌......................

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
The Advancing Development of Artificial Limbs
It wasn’t very long ago that losing a limb automatically meant a drastic drop in the quality of a person’s life. Thanks to the wonders of modern science, people now are recovering from all sorts of horrendous injuries that let them disabled. The reason they are able to do so is remarkable advances made in the field of artificial limbs. Doctors have been creating prosthetic limbs for their patients dating back to ancient Greece. For most of history, however, these replacements were mainly for cosmetic purposes. Pirates, knights, loot soldiers that lost their limbs in battle would get them, so they wouldn’t lose face when returning to society. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that doctors were able to perform surgeries to reliably attach limbs to people’s bodies and amputate limbs without causing serious infection. Modern artificial limbs represent a tremendous leap forward in terms of form and function. Today’s limbs are far more durable and can withstand a lot more wear and tear. An amazing example of how far artificial limbs have progressed is the Flex-Foot Cheetah. Made from carbon fiber, it is able to store energy as the person moves, which enables the wearer to run and jump. The technology is so good that approximately 90 percent of all Special Olympic amputees use them in competition. Meanwhile, the Bebionic3 has emerged as the most advanced prosthetic arm available. It has been nicknamed “The Terminator” because it is similar to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s mechanical limbs in the famous blockbuster film. The Bebionic3 can perform a multitude of tasks including writing, tying a shoelace, lifting heavy objects, and even pouring a beer. Wearers simply push a button on the base of the arm and the Bebionic3 will work its magic. In September 2013, scientists took another giant leap forward when they successfully fitted a patient with an artificial leg that can be controlled by thought. Two of the patient’s nerves were attached to his hamstring muscle. These nerves then interact with sensors inside the artificial leg. Sensors will then transmit these messages to a computer which will follow through on his instructions. Therefore, if the patient wants to stretch out his leg, the computer will understand this command and send a message to the limb and instruct it to do so. If artificial limb technology keeps advancing like this, losing a limb may not be such a big deal.
6. All of the following about modern artificial limbs are true EXCEPT that __________