Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best completes each of the following exchanges.

Question 1: Nancy and James are talking about their school days.

-  Nancy: "I think school days are the best time of our lives."

-  James: "______. We had sweet memories together then."

A. I'm afraid so 

B. Absolutely 

C. That's nonsense 

D. I doubt it 

 

Question 2: John and Mike are talking about Mike's new car

-  John: "______"

-  Mike: "Thanks. I'm glad to hear that."

A. Where did you buy your car?

B. What a nice car!

C. Your car is new, isn't it?

D. My car is very expensive.

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.

Question 3: 

A. apartment            

B. benefit                   

C. argument             

D. vacancy

 

Question 4: 

A. explain                    

B. involve                  

C. borrow                    

D. discuss

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Question 5:

A. great

B. cheap

C. clean

D. mean

 

Question 6:

A. improves

B. destroys

C. suggests

D. reminds

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

Question 7: The research findings were reliable since modern technology was used to increase the precision of the sampling procedure.

A. exactness                  

B. inaccuracy               

C. insecurity                   

D. flexibility

 

Question 8: Despite the traffic hold-ups, we were able to arrive at the airport in the nick of time just before the check-in counter closed.

A. with all our luggage                                                 

B. in a terrible condition

C. at the very last moment                                        

D. with much time to spare

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

Question 9: There is an increase in the prevalence of electronic books as more people are turning to digitalised reading materials.

A. scarcity                        

B. deficiency                 

C. popularity                  

D. intensity

 

Question 10: Heavily contaminated with wastes from nearby factories, the water in this river is not suitable for daily use.

A. polluted                       

B. pure                                

C. cleaned                        

D. deadly

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

Question 11: If he didn't have to work today, he ______ his children to the zoo.

A. will take 

B. takes 

C. would take 

D. has taken 

 

Question 12: Only after the bus ______ for a few miles did Jane realise she was on the wrong route.

A. was running            

B. had run                        

C. has run                         

D. runs

 

Question 13: Many people head for the countryside where the flat ______ of fields helps them escape from the hectic city life.

A. extension                   

B. expansion                 

C. extent                            

D. expanse

 

Question 14: It is believed that travelling is a good way to expand our ______ of the world.

A. knowledgeable     

B. knowledgeably     

C. knowledge                

D. know

 

Question 15: Maria decided ______ her education after a gap year.

A. to continue               

B. to continuing          

C. continue                      

D. continuing

 

Question 16: We know that we are at fault for our third consecutive defeat, so there is no need to ______ salt into the wound.

A. spread                          

B. rub                                   

C. apply                              

D. put

 

Question 17: Despacito, ______ over four billion times on YouTube, is one of the most favourite songs among teenagers worldwide.

A. is viewed                    

B. which viewed         

C. viewing                        

D. viewed

 

Question 18: The school drama club is ______ a play for the school's anniversary, which is due to take place next month.

A. turning up                  

B. making off                 

C. putting on                  

D. bringing down

 

Question 19: The students' plan for a musical show to raise money for charity received ______ support from the school administrators.

A. light-hearted            

B. warm-hearted        

C. big-hearted               

D. whole-hearted

 

Question 20: Parents often advise their children to study hard in the hope that they will ______ success in the future.

A. gather                            

B. collect                           

C. master                           

D. achieve

 

Question 21: Adrian got surprisingly high grades in the final exam. He ______ his lessons very carefully.

A. would have revised                                    

B. needn't have revised  

C. can't have revised      

D. must have revised

 

Question 22: Sue rarely misses a chance to do voluntary work, ______?

A. doesn't she              

B. does she                    

C. is she                             

D. isn't she

 

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 23 to 27.

The knock-on effect of volunteering on the lives of individuals can be profound. Voluntary work helps foster independence and imparts the ability to deal with different situations, often simultaneously, thus teaching people how to (23)______ their way through different systems. It therefore brings people into touch with the real world; and, hence, equips them for the future.

Initially, young adults in their late teens might not seem to have the expertise or knowledge to impart to others that say a teacher or an agriculturalist or a nurse would have, (24)______ they do have many skills that can help others. And in the absence of any particular talent, their energy and enthusiasm can be harnessed for the benefit (25)______ their fellow human beings, and ultimately themselves. From all this, the gain to any community no matter how many volunteers are involved is (26)______.

Employers will generally look favorably on people (27)______ have shown an ability to work as part of a team. It demonstrates a willingness to learn and an independent spirit, which would be desirable qualities in any employee.

(Adapted from "IELTS Testbuilder 2" by Sam McCarter)

Question 23: 

A. take

B. work

C. put

D. give

 

Question 24: 

A. but

B. so

C. or

D. for

 

Question 25:

A. under

B. of

C. on

D. out

 

Question 26:

A. impassable

B. unattainable

C. undetectable

D. immeasurable

 

Question 27:

A. which

B. what

C. whose

D. who

 

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 28 to 34.

There are many African tribes but, for many people, the Masai are the most well-known. They are famous for their bright red clothing and their ceremonies with lots of music and dancing. Probably, one of the most colorful ceremonies is the festival of "Eunoto," when the teenage boys of the Masai become men.

 Eunoto lasts for many days and Masai people travel across the region to get to a special place near the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The teenage boys who travel with them are called "warriors." This is a traditional name from the past when young men fought with other tribes.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the teenagers paint their bodies while their mothers start to build a place called the "Osingira," a sacred room in the middle of the celebrations. Later, the senior elders from different tribes will sit inside this place and, at different times, the boys go inside to meet them. Later in the day, the boys run around the Osingira, going faster and faster each time.

The teenagers also have to alter their appearance at Eunoto. Masai boys' hair is very long before the ritual but they have to cut it off. In Masai culture, hair is an important symbol. For example, when a baby grows into an infant, the mother cuts the child's hair and gives the child a name. At a Masai wedding, the hair of the bride is also cut off as she becomes a woman. And so, at Eunoto, the teenage boy's mother cuts his hair off at sunrise.

 On the final day, the teenagers meet the senior elders one more time. They get this advice: "Now you are men, use your heads and knowledge." Then, people start to travel back to their homes and lands. The teenagers are no longer warriors. They are adult men and now they will get married and have children. Later in life, they will be the leaders of their communities.

(Adapted from "Life" by John Hughes, Helen Stephenson and Paul Dummett)

Question 28: What is the passage mainly about?

A. The ceremony that marks the beginning of Masai boys' adulthood

B. The journey by Masai teenage boys to the festival of Eunoto

C. The importance of Eunoto in African people's lives

D. The reasons for the Masai's popularity over other African tribes

 

Question 29: The word "warriors" in paragraph 2 mostly means ______.

A. dancers

B. fighters

C. musicians

D. travellers

 

Question 30: The word "them" in paragraph 3 refers to ______.

A. different tribes

B. their mothers

C. the boys

D. the senior elders

 

Question 31: According to paragraph 3, the Osingira is built by ______.

A. the Masai senior elders

B. Masai teenagers

C. the Masai teenage boys' mothers

D. Masai men

 

Question 32: The word "alter" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______

A. differ

B. change

C. maintain

D. distinguish

 

Question 33: According to the passage, what do the teenage boys do at Eunoto?

A. Painting their bodie

B. Receiving new names

C. Changing their clothes

D. Fighting with other tribes

 

Question 34: According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. The Masai teenage boys are given advice from senior elders before attending Eunoto.

B. The Masai teenage boys will become adults and get married after attending Eunoto.

C. Eunoto lasts for a day across the region between Kenya and Tanzania.

D. Eunoto is the ceremony for both Masai teenage boys and girls.

 

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 35 to 42.

In this modern world where closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are everywhere and smartphones in every pocket, the routine filming of everyday life is becoming pervasive. A number of countries are rolling out body cams for police officers; other public-facing agencies such as schools, councils and hospitals are also experimenting with cameras for their employees. Private citizens are getting in on the act too: cyclists increasingly wear headcams as a deterrent to aggressive drivers. As camera technology gets smaller and cheaper, it isn't hard to envisage a future where we're all filming everything all the time, in every direction.

Would that be a good thing? There are some obvious potential upsides. If people know they are on camera, especially when at work or using public services, they are surely less likely to misbehave. The available evidence suggests that it discourages behaviours such as vandalism. Another upside is that it would be harder to get away with crimes or to evade blame for accidents.

But a world on camera could have subtle negative effects. The deluge of data we pour into the hands of Google, Facebook and others has already proved a mixed blessing. Those companies would no doubt be willing to upload and curate our body-cam data for free, but at what cost to privacy and freedom of choice?

Body-cam data could also create a legal minefield. Disputes over the veracity and interpretation of police footage have already surfaced. Eventually, events not caught on camera could be treated as if they didn't happen. Alternatively, footage could be faked or doctored to dodge blame or incriminate others.

Of course, there's always the argument that if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear. But most people have done something embarrassing, or even illegal, that they regret and would prefer they hadn't been caught on film. People already censor their social media feeds – or avoid doing anything incriminating in public – for fear of damaging their reputation. Would ubiquitous body cams have a further chilling effect on our freedom?

The always-on-camera world could even threaten some of the attributes that make us human. We are natural gossips and backbiters, and while those might not be desirable behaviours, they oil the wheels of our social interactions. Once people assume they are being filmed, they are likely to clam up.

The argument in relation to body-cam ownership is a bit like that for guns: once you go past a critical threshold, almost everyone will feel they need one as an insurance policy. We are nowhere near that point yet – but we should think hard about whether we really want to say "lights, body cam, action."

(Adapted from https://www.newscientist.com)

Question 35: What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. The current public obsession with modern technology

B. The ubiquity of cameras and ensuing problems

C. Legal disputes fuelled by body-cam data

D. Data overload experienced by social network users

 

Question 36: The word "envisage" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. embrace 

B. fantasise 

C. reject 

D. visualise 

 

Question 37: As mentioned in paragraph 2, misbehaviour can be discouraged if potential offenders ______.

A. are aware of being filmed at the time 

B. know that they may be subjected to criticism 

C. realise that they may be publicly punished 

D. are employed in the public sector

 

Question 38: The phrase "a mixed blessing" in paragraph 3 probably means ______.

A. something that is neither good nor bad

B. something that produces unexpected results

C. something that has both advantages and disadvantages 

D. something either negative or positive in nature

 

Question 39: What does the author imply in paragraph 3?

A. Body-cam ownership could eventually give rise to information overload, which, in turn, raises public concern.

B. Social networks provide their users with greater freedom of choice while depriving them of their privacy and anonymity.

C. Companies like Facebook may have their own intentions behind their willingness to take care of their users' body-cam data.

D. Google and similar enterprises tend to refrain from harvesting their customers' data for illicit purposes.

 

Question 40: It is stated in paragraph 4 that unrecorded events ______.

A. may go unnoticed or be ignored completely

B. could be manipulated to charge innocent people 

C. should be kept open to interpretation

D. could provoke legal disputes among media companies

 

Question 41: According to paragraph 5, why do social media users already act more carefully online? 

A. Because they regret doing something illegal.

B. Because they disapprove of uncensored social media feeds.

C. Because they want to avoid being recognised in public.

D. Because they wish to protect their image.

 

Question 42: The word "they" in paragraph 6 refers to ______.

A. wheels

B. social interactions

C. desirable behaviours

D. people

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

Question 43: Laura practised playing the instrument a lot. She could hardly improve her performance.

A. Hardly had Laura practised playing the instrument a lot when she could improve her performance.

B. Had Laura practised playing the instrument a lot, she could have performed much better.

C. However much Laura practised playing the instrument, she could hardly perform any better.

D. As soon as Laura practised playing the instrument a lot, she could perform much better.

 

Question 44: Lucy paid a visit to the local orphanage. She then decided to donate part of her savings to the children there.

A. Lucy had hardly decided to donate part of her savings to the children when she paid a visit to the local orphanage.

B. It was only when Lucy had decided to donate part of her savings to the children that she paid a visit to the local orphanage.

C. Before she paid a visit to the local orphanage, Lucy had decided to donate part of her savings to the children there.

D. Having paid a visit to the local orphanage, Lucy decided to donate part of her savings to the children there.

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions.

Question 45: My friend has stopped eating fast food.

A. My friend sometimes eats fast food.

C. My friend no longer eats fast food.

B. My friend doesn't like eating fast food.

D. My friend has never eaten fast food.

 

Question 46: "You should take better care of your health," said Tom's mother.

A. Tom's mother promised to take better care of his health.

B. Tom's mother ordered him to take better care of his health.

C. Tom's mother required him to take better care of his health.

D. Tom's mother advised him to take better care of his health.

 

Question 47: They report that soil pollution has seriously threatened the livelihood of many local farmers.

A. The livelihood of many local farmers was reported to be seriously endangered by soil pollution.

B. It is reported that the livelihood of many local farmers has led to serious soil pollution.

C. Soil pollution is reported to have posed a serious threat to the livelihood of many local farmers.

D. It has been reported that soil pollution has actually put many local farmers' lives at risk.

 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

Question 48: The keynote speaker started with some complementary remarks about the organisers of the conference, and then proceeded with her speech.

A. The keynote speaker

B. complementary remarks

C. organisers

D. proceeded

 

Question 49: It was the year 2003 that Vietnam hosted the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) for the first time.

A. the year 2003

B. hosted

C. for

D. time

 

Question 50: My classmates is going on a trip to Cuc Phuong National Park this weekend.

A. My

B. is

C. a

D. this weekend

 

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