Read the reading below carefully, and then complete it with the best option A, B, C or D given below:
Technology, general term for the processes by (1) _______ human beings fashion tools and machines to increase (2) _______ control and understanding of the material (3) _______. The term is derived from the Greek words tekhnē, which refers to an art or craft, and logia, (4) _______ an area of study; thus, technology means, literally, the study, or science, of crafting. Many historians of science argue not only that technology is an essential condition of advanced, industrial civilization (5) _______ also that the rate of technological change has developed its own momentum in recent centuries.

Rewrite sentences without changing the meaning
You needn’t have opened a bank account.

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 printed media begin to lose their dominance as a way to (1)__________ information to the world, electronic media have stepped up and taken their place. Many people no longer read newspapers or magazines in their traditional paper forms, but they still do read. The (2)____________ delivery system is what has happened; many people are reading newspapers or magazines off of their smartphones, tablets, or on their computer screens. Probably the greatest criticism of online newspapers andmmagazines is that there often isn’t very much invested in the stories as they (3)___________. Rather than serious investigative journalism, the main point of many online publications is merely to attract page views (4)____________ the advertisers on those pages must pay a small fee. In the age of information, finding the information (5)__________ learning becomes the hardest task of all.

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
The Greatest Light Show on the Earth
If you are a fan of amazing visual displays, planetariums around the world offer some entertaining laser-light shows that are often accompanied by popular music. Yet if you want to see the world’s greatest light show, you won’t be able to catch it indoors. Instead, you will have to head to one of the Poles. In certain spots, you will be treated to colourful streaks of light dancing across the sky. This incredible display is the aurora borealis, and every year people from all corners of the globe flock to witness its wonders firsthand. The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, got its official name in 1621. The name combines the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Roman god of the north wind, Boreas. In ancient times, the aurora completely baffled people’s minds, as science was far more primitive than it is today. Nevertheless, they created many myths to explain them. The Vikings believed the lights were the reflection of dead maidens. The Scots thought they were supernatural beings battling in heaven. Meanwhile, Eskimos thought that the lights were dead souls, and when the colours changed, it was their attempt to contact living friends and relatives. It was not until 2008 that a team of scientists from ULCA finally concluded with certainty what the true cause of these dancing light is. The process begins when solar winds carry charged particles from the Sun through space and into the Earth’s atmosphere. When these charged particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they are magnetically attracted to the Earth’s poles. During their journey to these points, they come in contact with nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the sky. These collisions are what cause the aurora. The heights at which the collisions occur determine the colours of the individual lights. For example, when the solar winds collide with nitrogen at least than 96 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, the lights will be blue. If the same collision occurs above 96 kilometres, however, the light will be purple. Or, if the solar wind particles collide with oxygen, the colours produced will be either red or green. However, merely understanding how the aurora works does not do this phenomena justice. To truly appreciate the full splendor of the aurora, you will have to see this Natural Wonder of the World in person.
8. What does the last sentence of the passage suggest?

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
The LED Lighting Revolution
If you have picked up any electronics magazines recently, you have probably heard about LEDs; yet chances are, you probably don’t realize why they are so special. The truth is that these tiny light bulbs are helping to improve watches, remote controls, televisions, and a host of other projects. Diodes are components that enable energy to flow in one direction, while simultaneously blocking the current from the opposite direction. This is similar to how a valve works on a faucet. If electronic manufacturers require currents to flow in several directions, then multiple diodes will be included in the circuit design. With LEDs, every time a current passes through them, a light is emitted. LED is short for light-emitting diode. Although they have only recently waves in the past decade or so, early models have been around since 1962. There are several benefits that LEDs offer when compared to incandescent or fluorescent lighting. For starters, they have extremely long-life spans in the range of l00,000 hours even in the toughest conditions. They also require far less energy than power sources, which can save users money over the long run. Since LEDs don’t contain moving parts like other bulbs, they can withstand heavy impacts without getting damaged. Finally, they don’t require any _warm-up time_ so they instantly light up when switched on. The only drawback is that they are still a more expensive to purchase at the moment. LEDs were first used on digital clocks, but they have come a long way since then. They have certainly done a lot to improve TV technology. LED TVs have been a hit because they can be built extremely thin, yet also offer power-saving benefits. LED TVs also provide a wider range of colour, which allows for more lifelike and vivid images. In the future, organic LEDs, or OLEDs, will bring additional benefits for viewers. OLEDs are even more flexible than LEDs, so manufacturers will be able to create bent display screens and lights. Therefore, you will be able to roll up your living room TV set and pack it in your suitcase. In other words, LED and OLED technology will likely be lighting up your life for years to come.
3. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

This e-mail serves as a receipt for your registration---139--- confirms your participation in the Seventeenth Annual Polton County Farm Fair from July 14 to July 16. As a returning exhibitor, Swanton Farm Feed will be offered ---140--- space at a discounted rate.
Please be aware of a new requirement when preparing your space. This year, all booths must be completely ready by 8 P.M. on July 13. 141---.Tables will be provided by the organizer,  as in past years. Thank you once again for your participation in our---142---.

141..............

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Inside the Mind of a Sushi Legend
During our lives, it is likely we will have not one, but several careers. People change jobs due to boredom, to earn more money, or because they want to experience more from life. Although this certainly brings variety to life, it also prevents workers from achieving mastery in their craft. This is what makes Sukiyabashi Jiro so incredible. For the past 75 years, he was dedicated his life to one goal: perfecting his technique so that he can make the world’s best sushi. In the documentary Jiro: Dreams of Sushi, viewers get a peek inside the life of this genius. For Jiro, who owns a three-star Michelin restaurant, sushi is not simply taking raw fish, vinegar, and rice, and arranging them together. He insists that every detail must be perfect. Watching him at work is similar to seeing an artist in action. Yet, the true key to his success is not creative imagination: it’s his dedication and repetition. Jiro has kept the same daily schedule for decades. As he goes about his tasks, he always searches for small ways to improve his craft. Jiro won’t accept anything less than the best. He has committed to using only the freshest ingredients, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get them. This means heading down to the local fish market daily to purchase fish which has just been caught that day. Jiro only deals with the top fish dealer, who is also a master of his trade. This seller reserves only the best of the best for Jiro, which Jiro inspects closely before making his choices. Back at the shop, the sushi rice is also prepared with delicate care. If he senses something is not up to standards, he will have his employees trash it and start all over again. At the age of 85, Jiro is aware that he won’t be able to continue making sushi forever. Therefore, he has been training his two middle-aged sons for many years to learn his techniques and philosophies. His eldest son, Yamamoto, works side-by-side with Jiro to this day. His younger son, Takashi, has opened his own sushi restaurant elsewhere in Tokyo. In the film, both sons discuss how difficult it is to live up to their famous father’s expectations and match his rigorous work ethic. To learn more about Jiro and his methods, be sure to catch this fascinating film.
4. The word “_rigorous_” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________

Choose the best answer:
Which …………. is Britain in? – Europe.

 Choose the best answer:
By the end of last summer, Alexander _______ his Ph.D.

Kentron's own Groovato Gelato was founded in 2010 when Luciano Algieri, an Italian immigrant to the United States, bought a ---143--- on Coverby Avenue. The building had previously housed the Hopscotch Ice Cream Company, and Algieri was able to hire many former Hopscotch employees. Teaching ---144--- ice-cream crafters to make gelato proved to be an easy task.---145--- his product, Algieri started with an old family recipe. He then enhanced the flavor with secret ingredients plus unusual combinations of fruits and nuts. ---146---.

146.......................

Choose the best answer:
She glanced briefly ________ his lapel badge.

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 :
Earthquakes are one of the scariest natural phenomena because they are so unpredictable. Scientists have tried to come up with a method to predict them but they have always failed. Unlike other destructive phenomena such as hurricanes or even solar storms, earthquakes come without any (1)_________ whatever. Some people believe that animals are able to (2)________ when earthquakes are coming. There are many anecdotes about dogs barking before an earthquake happens. In some cases, strange phenomena have been observed in creatures like toads, where a few days before a major earthquake hit, they left their breeding ground. The toads did not reappear (3)_________ the quake had happened.Another strange creature that some believe may hold the key (4)________ quakes is the oarfish. These strange fish normally live in very deep water. (5)_________ of these fish are very rare, but in 2013, oarfish were found to beach themselves in San Francisco, and this caused some to believe that a major earthquake was coming. What was the reason for this?

Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C, D):
Teaching English as a foreign language can be a great way to travel the world and earn money at the same time. However, some graduates actually like idea of (1) _______  a career in teaching English, and there are numerous courses at various levels, from the basic certificate to the Diploma or even the master’s. To find the right course, a good place to start is TEFL.com – an internet site with lots of relevant information and helpful (2)_______  including a full list of places in the UK offering courses. The site also offers assistance to qualified graduates (3)_______  finding work. When deciding a full list of places, what to do is to look at what your needs are. If you want a career in leaching English, then definitely find one designed for that (4) _______  , such as an MA or diploma; but if you want to travel around the world, then do a shorter course that will supply you with teaching skills. Some countries will employ people without a teaching qualification as long as the teacher is a (5) _______ speaker of English. However, most countries now expect a qualification. It is advisable to make sure that the course that you want to do is recognized and that it includes a period of teaching practice. This is important in preparing people to be English language teachers

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Hooray for Hip Hop
It is amazing how far hip hop music has come in its relatively short history. You can trace the roots of this urban art form to New York City in the 1970s. Hip hop began as a spontaneous way of entertaining crowds. DJs discovered that people loved dancing to the drum breaks in popular funk and soul records. These breaks were typically brief, so DJs would move or “scratch” records back to extend them. In addition, a master of ceremonies (MC) would sometimes grab the microphone and say a few words to get the crowd more excited. At first, the words of MCs were simple chants but they later became a more complex form of poetry. Still, for several years rap remained an underground art. Then, in the early 1980s, artists like LL Cool J, KRS-One, and Run DMC helped it reach a wider audience. Nevertheless, hip hop didn’t have an easy road to mainstream success. Many people dismissed rap music because no “real musicians” were involved in creating it. Critics blamed the beats were repetitive and stolen from other artists. Others claimed the lyrics were too negative and violent. Yet they were overlooking several things. The lyrics were often from the perspective of underprivileged youths growing up in the big city. Although these words were often dark, they painted a clear picture that allowed outsiders to understand their joys and pain. Not all hip hop songs had a heavy message, though. Others were quite humorous and showed a lighter side of street life. The influence of hip hop would spread far beyond music itself. In fact, a collection of other art forms, would develop out of it. Since hip hop music had a beat like no other music before it, new dance styles had to emerge. B-boying, more commonly called break dancing, was one of these styles. Break dancers featured lots of spinning and fancy moves that took speed, agility, and lots practice to perfect. Hip hop also helped to inspire waves of modern street graffiti. Urban artists would spray-paint their names on walls and subway cars a rebellious way of expressing themselves. After nearly three decades of popularity, hip hop has spread from New York to every continent on the earth and it is still going strong as it continues to evolve.
2. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that _________

After a_____ hesitation, she began to speak with such a convincing voice.

(210)______

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Don’t Handle with Care
People always go shopping for the latest and greatest gadgets. Speed, performance, and the latest functions are always key factors before making a purchase. Yet the most important factor of all, which often isn’t considered, is a product’s durability. After all, if a product breaks easily and can’t be repaired, the buyer will have wasted their investment. In other cases, weakly-designed product can cost someone their life. Thankfully, today’s inventors and engineers coming up with some incredible ways to ensure that many products can survive the most difficult situations. One area where durability is absolutely essential is in designing weaponry. In the industry, lapses in quality can lead to death. Designers of military vehicles have recently made great strides in creating some extra tough bulletproof vehicles. Researchers were inspired by the advances made with a similar technology, bulletproof vests. This equipment, which keeps police officers and soldiers protected from gunfire, has been continually upgraded as time has gone on. In order to get tougher, these vests have got lighter, so officers and soldiers can move more freely while working. Beautiful screens, a fast computer processor, and the latest software are probably the biggest concerns for most people shopping for new smartphones. Yet, since most mobiles will be subject to their fair share of bumps and bruises during their life cycle, durability should also be a major concern. A major breakthrough in recent years was the invention of Gorilla Glass. This technology not only prevents devices from breaking when dropped on hard surfaces, but it also makes them scratch-resistant as well. Gorilla Glass screens are given molten alkaline salt baths that produce a hard, compressed layer at the surface. Before a screen can crack, it will have to penetrate this rugged surface, which takes a large degree of force. Recently, another new technique called electrospinning was developed that could make future products even tougher to break. The process involves applying high voltage to a polymer to create a strand of nanofiber. Products designed with the material will be able to absorb more energy without breaking. Researchers are aiming to lighten up aircraft and potentially decrease the damage planes suffer in crashes. Hopefully, these advances are just the beginning. Although science has come a long way in helping manufacturers to create more durable products, the next century should surely bring some even more incredible improvements.
8. Which of the following can provide the better durability with the technique called electrospinning?

Choose the best answer:
The local government suggested ……. a road through the Nam Cat Tien National Park.

Choose the best answer:
We are planning on spending the weekend in the country as long as the weather stays fine.

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 GENERATION GAP
People talk about the generation gap as a kind of division between young people and their parents. It is something which is generally a problem when children enter their teenage years, and results (1)........ complaints on both side. Parents, for example, can often be heard to say that young people are (2)............and disobedient and in addition tend to be irresponsible when spending because they don’t appreciate the (3).............. of money. Adolescents, on the other hand, complain that their parents don’t understand them.
What has gone wrong? One explanation lies in (4)............ society has changed. In the past, children would typically continue the way of life of their parents. In today’s world, parents are very (5)........... for their children because they want them to achieve more than they did. The problem is that the children often don’t agree with their parents’ plans. Teenagers also reach maturity at an earlier age than they used to and want their independence sooner. The resulting conflict is painful to both sides.

(4)...............................

On July 28, 1995, Vietnam became ______ seventh member of ASEAN.

(496)______

Read the passage below carefully, and then choose the best answer:
Flying Drones into Danger Zones
A plane is sent deep into the enemy territory with a deadly mission. It is assigned to eliminate several key targets with a precision bombing campaign. This mission won’t be easy, however, as to be successful, the plane will have to avoid enemy rockets and tank fire. There will be no risk to the life of the “pilot” of the plane because he will not be able to aboard the vessel. Instead, he will be thousands of miles away inside a control tower, as he is operating a drone. Drones, which are also called UVAs or unmanned aerial vehicles, marked a major step forward in technology. Inventors have been working on them since the early 1900s. Although some devices were designed back then, they weren’t able to do much more than a standard model airplane. In fact, it was not until a US plane was shot down in 1959 during the Cold War that the US military really got serious about drones. The aim was to save pilots’ lives while flying over hazardous territories. Drones usually fall into two categories. The first type of drones relies on human control from a remote location. The second type of drones is pre­programmed with computer instructions, and it then completes its mission operating autonomously. In addition to protecting pilots’ lives, drones also have several other advantages. They can stay in the air for longer periods of time because there is no concern for eating, sleeping, or rest breaks that pilots typically require. Drones can also be produced cheaper since manufacturers don’t need to value safety precautions as they would for aircraft flown by humans. Despite their usefulness, military drones have been the cause of great criticism over the past decade. There have been cases of British and American drones missing their targets and killing innocent civilians instead. The Brookings Institution released a statistic that for every military leader who is killed by a drone strike, ten civilians die. Some suggest that if human pilots were flying these planes, they wouldn’t have made these errors. Drones don’t always have targets that they must eliminate. The military also employs special surveillance drones that use long-range cameras to gather information about buildings, enemy soldier formations, and other vital information from the ground. In the end, whether people are for or against the use of drones, it appears that they are certain here to stay.
6. Why are some people against drones?