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 1: Fiona has been typing the report for an hour. 

A. Fiona will finish typing the report in an hour. 

B. Fiona finished the report an hour ago. 

C. It is an hour since Fiona started typing the report. 

D. It took Fiona an hour to type the report. 

Question 2: Walking on the grass in the park is not permitted.

A. We must not walk on the grass in the park. 

B. You can walk on the grass in the park if you want to. 

C. People like walking on the grass in the park. 

D. We do not have to walk on the grass in the park. 

Question 3: Soil erosion is a result of forests being cut down carelessly. 

A. Soil erosion results in forests being cut down carelessly. 

B. That forests are being cut down carelessly leads to soil erosion. 

C. Soil erosion contributes to forests being cut down carelessly. 

D. That forests are being cut down carelessly results from soil erosion. 

Question 4: “I will not leave until I see the manager,” said the customer. 

A. The customer said he would leave before he saw the manager. 

B. The customer decided to leave because he did not see the manager. 

C. The customer refused to leave until he saw the manager. 

D. The customer was persuaded to see the manager before leaving. 

Question 5: She prefers going to the library to staying at home. 

A. She would rather go to the library than stay at home. 

B. She does not like either going to the library or staying at home. 

C. She likes nothing better than going to the library. 

D. She stays at home instead of going to the library. 

Question 6: No matter how hard Fred tried to lose weight, he did not succeed. 

A. Fred tried very hard to lose weight and succeeded. 

B. It was hard for Fred to lose weight because he never succeeded. 

C. However hard Fred tried, he could not lose weight. 

D. It did not matter whether Fred could lose weight. 

Question 7: “Please accept my apology for arriving late,” said Janet to her employer. 

A. Janet quickly made an apology and the employer accepted it. 

B. Janet apologised to her employer for her late arrival. 

C. Janet thought she would apologise to her employer for arriving late. 

D. Janet had to make an apology because her employer demanded it. 

Question 8: She did not study hard enough to win the scholarship. 

A. Winning the scholarship did not make her study harder. 

B. It was very hard for her to win the scholarship. 

C. She studied hard but she could not win the scholarship. 

D. She could have won the scholarship if she had studied harder.

Question 9: To my surprise, the stranger knew my name. 

A. I was surprised that the stranger knew my name. 

B. It surprised the stranger that I knew his name. 

C. My name was the only thing the stranger knew. 

D. What surprised me most was the stranger’s name. 

Question 10: The situation was so embarrassing that she did not know what to do. 

A. It was such an embarrassing situation; however, she did not know what to do. 

B. She did not know what to do, though it was not an embarrassing situation. 

C. So embarrassing was the situation that she did not know what to do. 

D. So embarrassing the situation was that she did not know what to do. 

Read the following passage on transport, and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to

indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 11 to 20. 

Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by road. Some of these are made on public transport 

but most are by private car. 

In Britain many people rely on their cars for daily local activities, e.g. getting to work, doing the 

shopping, and visiting friends. People living in urban areas may use buses, trains or, in London, the 

Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find 

anywhere to park a car. Some places in the country may have a bus only two or three times a week so

people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars. 

In the US large cities have good public transportation systems. The El railroad in Chicago and the 

underground systems of New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, DC are heavily used. 

Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars. Families often have two cars and, outside major 

cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc. Many college and even 

high-school students have their own cars. 

Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though railways link most towns and cities. 

Most places are linked by motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their

own convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam. Longdistance coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may 

be less comfortable. Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may 

be by air. There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London. A lot of 

freight is also distributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail. 

In the US much long-distance travel is by air. America has two main long-distance bus companies, 

Greyhound and Trailways. Amtrak, the national network, provides rail services for passengers. 

Private railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of 

freight goes by road. 

The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion 

and pollution. It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a

few years, making both these problems worse. The British government would like more people to use 

public transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to 

share rides with neighbours. Most people say  that public transport is simply not good enough. 

Americans too have resisted government requests  to share cars because it is less convenient and 

restricts their freedom. Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities

public transport is bad, so they see no reason to use their cars less. 

                                           (Extracted from Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Oxford University Press, 2000)  

Question 11: In Britain and the US most people travel by ______. 

A. road  B. rail  C. air  D. sea 

Question 12: According to the passage, people in London may prefer the Underground to their own 

cars due to ______. 

A. long distances  B. heavy traffic C. air pollution  D. cheap tickets 

Question 13: It is mentioned in paragraph 3 that the public transportation systems in the US are good 

in ______. 

A. some states  B. large cities  C. all cities D. large states 

Question 14: Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? 

A. Few college students in the US have their own cars. 

B. Families in the US often have more than one car. 

C. Most Americans prefer to drive their cars outside large cities. 

D. The underground systems are popular in some major US cities. 

Question 15: The phrase “at their own convenience” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______. 

A. at the latest time and nearest place  B. at the fastest time and nearest place 

C. at an appropriate time and place  D. at an early time and nearby place 

Question 16: Which of the following is true about transport in Britain? 

A. Trains are usually cheaper than long-distance coach services. 

B. There are no regular flights between regional airports. 

C. Heavier items and raw materials are often transported by train. 

D. Long-distance travel in Britain is only by road. 

Question 17: According to the information in paragraph 5, long-distance travellers in the US can 

choose from ______ mode(s) of transport. 

A. four B. three C. two  D. one 

Question 18: It is stated in the passage that the major problems of road transport in Britain and 

the US are ______. 

A. accidents and pollution  B. speeding and bad roads 

C. drink-driving and traffic jams D. traffic jams and pollution 

Question 19: According to the passage, people in Britain refuse public transport because ______. 

A. they see no reason to use their cars less B. petrol is relatively cheap in Britain

C. they like to share rides with neighbours  D. they think it is not good enough 

Question 20: The word “they” in the last sentence of the passage can best be replaced by ______. 

A. neighbours  B. major cities  C. the government  D. Americans 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE 

in meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions. 

Question 21: The consequences of the typhoon were  disastrous due to the lack of precautionary

measures. 

A. severe  B. physical  C. damaging  D. beneficial 

Question 22: Vietnam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has  promoted its trade 

relations with other countries. 

A. restricted B. boosted  C. balanced  D. expanded 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is CLOSEST 

in meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions. 

Question 23: Although they hold similar political views, their religious beliefs present a striking contrast. 

A. minor comparison  B. significant difference 

C. complete coincidence D. interesting resemblance 

Question 24: Within a week on display at the exhibition, the painting was hailed as a masterpiece. 

A. a down-to-earth work of art  B. a large work of art 

C. an excellent work of art  D. an expensive work of art 

Question 25: These were the people who advocated using force to stop school violence. 

A. publicly said B. strongly condemned 

C. openly criticised  D. publicly supported

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the rest in 

the position of the main stress in each of the following questions. 

Question 26: A. tradition  B. memory C. socialise  D. animal 

Question 27: A. interactive  B. ability C. inaccurate  D. biology 

Question 28: A. similar B. calculate  C. chemical  D. attractive

Question 29: A. actor  B. rubbish  C. career  D. cocktail 

Question 30: A. release B. believe  C. amaze  D. offer 

Read the following passage on social issues in American schools, and mark the letter A, B, C, or D 

on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blanks from 31 to 40. 

In addition to the challenge to be excellent, American schools have been facing novel problems. They 

must (31)______ with an influx of immigrant children, many of whom speak little or no English. 

They must respond to demands (32)______ the curriculum reflect the various cultures of all children. 

Schools must make sure that students develop (33)______ skills for the job market, and they must 

consider the needs of nontraditional students, such as teenage mothers.  

Schools are (34)______ these problems in ways that reflect the diversity of the US educational 

system. They are hiring or training large numbers of teachers of  English (35)______ a second 

language and, in some communities, setting up bilingual schools. They are opening (36)______ the 

traditional European-centered curriculum to embrace material from African, Asian, and other

cultures.  

Schools are also teaching cognitive skills to the (37)______ 40 percent of American students who 

do not go on to higher education. In the (38)______ of a recent report  by the Commission on 

Achieving Necessary Skills, “A strong back, the willingness to work, and a high school diploma were

once all that was necessary to (39)______ a start in America. They are no longer. A well-developed 

mind, a continued willingness to learn and the ability to put knowledge to work are the new keys

(40)______ the future of our young people, the success of our business, and the economic well-being 

of the nation.”  

                                                                                                                                       (Extracted  from InfoUSA – CD Version)  

Question 31: A. stay B. cope  C. fight  D. do 

Question 32: A. that  B. what  C. whether  D. who 

Question 33: A. basis  B. base  C. basic  D. basics 

Question 34: A. discharging  B. distributing  C. delivering  D. addressing 

Question 35: A. as  B. with  C. like D. from

Question 36: A. into B. for C. up  D. on 

Question 37: A. slightly B. mostly  C. fairly  D. nearly 

Question 38: A. ways  B. minds  C. directions D. words 

Question 39: A. take  B. get  C. make D. bring 

Question 40: A. at  B. for C. in  D. to 

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

following questions. 

Question 41: I can’t find my dictionary at the moment. I hope it will ______ up soon. 

A. turn  B. come C. clear  D. look 

Question 42: Tom: “Can I have another cup of tea?” 

                  Christy: “______.” 

A. Allow yourself B. Help yourself C. Be yourself  D. Do it yourself 

Question 43: I ______ with my aunt when I am on holiday in Ho Chi Minh City next month. 

A. will have been staying  B. will be staying 

C. will have stayed D. stay

Question 44: He died ______ lung cancer last month, leaving his wife in great shock. 

A. for B. of  C. in  D. by 

Question 45: Geometry is a branch of mathematics ______ the properties of lines, curves, shapes, and 

surfaces. 

A. that it is concerned with  B. that concerned with 

C. that concerning with  D. concerned with 

Question 46: Although we have a large number of students, each one receives ______ attention. 

A. only  B. alone  C. separate  D. individual 

Question 47: The language centre offers courses of various levels, such as elementary, intermediate

and ______. 

A. advanced  B. advancing  C. advance  D. advancement 

Question 48: She passed the National High School Graduation Exam with ______ colours. 

A. true  B. red  C. bright  D. flying 

Question 49: They live on a busy road. ______ a lot of noise from traffic. 

A. There must have  B. There must be  C. It must have been  D. It must be 

Question 50: Due to ever more spreading poaching, there ______ a dramatic decline in the number 

of elephants over the last decade. 

A. has been  B. had been  C. was  D. is 

Question 51: I ______ work last week, but I changed my mind. 

A. have started  B. was going to start  C. had started  D. would start 

Question 52: The Principal usually has his pupils ______ waste paper for their mini-project. 

A. collect B. having collected  C. collected D. to collect 

Question 53: ______ make a good impression on her. 

A. Only so doing can I  B. Only by so doing I can 

C. Only by doing so I can  D. Only by doing so can I 

Question 54: People don’t like the way he shows off, ______?

A. do they  B. does he  C. don’t they  D. doesn’t he 

Question 55: He is a very intelligent boy; ______, he sometimes gets bad marks. 

A. however  B. otherwise  C. thus  D. so 

Question 56: Anna is holding her shopping bag with one hand and turning the door handle with ______. 

A. another  B. the other  C. other  D. others 

Question 57: ______ that Columbus discovered America. 

A. It was in 1492  B. There was in 1492  C. In 1492  D. That was in 1492 

Question 58: Nowadays, with the help of the computer, teachers have developed a ______ approach 

to teaching. 

A. multilingual  B. multimedia C. multilateral  D. multiple-choice 

Question 59: She started the course two months ago but dropped ______ after only a month. 

A. off  B. in  C. back  D. out 

Question 60: Lora: “Do you mind if I turn on the fan?” 

                Maria: “______.” 

A. Not for me B. Never mind  C. Not enough  D. Not at all 

Question 61: The use of vitamin ______ and herbs has become increasingly popular among Americans. 

A. materials  B. supplements  C. components  D. ingredients 

Question 62: No matter how angry he was, he would never ______ to violence. 

A. refuse  B. resist  C. resort  D. resolve 

Question 63: He came ______ a lot of criticism for the remarks he made in a television interview. 

A. in for  B. out of  C. off  D. over 

Question 64: The children made ______ a funny story and wrote it on the card. 

A. for B. up  C. off  D. out

Question 65: Ann: “Do you need any help?”   

                  Kate: “______.” 

A. That’s fine by me B. That’s all for now 

C. No, thanks. I can manage  D. I haven’t got a clue 

Read the following passage on architecture by Lawrence B. Anderson, and mark the letter A, B, C, 

or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 66 to 75. 

Architecture is the practice of building design and its resulting products; customary usage refers only 

to those designs and structures that are culturally significant. Architecture is to building as literature 

is to the printed word. Vitruvius, a 1

-century BC Roman, wrote encyclopedically about architecture, 

and the English poet Sir Henry Wotton was quoting him in his charmingly phrased dictum: “Well 

building hath three conditions: Commoditie, Firmenes, and Delight.” More prosaically, one would 

say today that architecture must satisfy its intended uses, must be technically sound, and must convey 

aesthetic meaning. But the best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original 

use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of the history of cultures, 

achievements in architecture that testify to the nature of the society that produced them. These

achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art. 

Architectural form is inevitably influenced by the technologies applied, but building technology is 

conservative and knowledge about it is cumulative. Precast concrete, for instance, has not rendered

brick  obsolete. Although design and construction have become highly sophisticated and are often 

computer directed, this complex apparatus rests on preindustrial traditions inherited from millennia 

during which most structures were lived in by the people who erected them. The technical demands 

on building remain the elemental ones – to exclude enemies, to circumvent gravity, and to avoid 

discomforts caused by an excess of heat or cold or by the intrusion of rain, wind, or vermin. This is 

no trivial assignment even with the best modern technology. 

The availability of suitable materials fostered the crafts to exploit them and influenced the shapes

of buildings. Large areas of the world were once forested, and their inhabitants developed carpentry. 

Although it has become relatively scarce, timber remains an important building material. 

Many kinds of stone lend themselves to building. Stone and marble were chosen for important 

monuments because they are incombustible and can be expected to endure. Stone is also a sculptural 

material; stone architecture was often integral with stone sculpture. The use of stone has declined, 

however, because a number of other materials are more amenable to industrial use and assembly. 

Some regions lack both timber and stone;  their peoples used the earth  itself, tamping certain 

mixtures into walls or forming them into bricks to be dried in the sun. Later they baked these 

substances in kilns, producing a range of bricks and tiles with greater durability.  

(Extracted from Microsoft

 Encarta

 2009 Encyclopedia – DVD Version)  

Question 66:_According to the passage, the term “architecture” is normally used to refer to the 

designs and structures that have ______. 

A. religious significance  B. cultural significance

C. technical importance  D. social importance 

Question 67:_Which of the following is NOT considered an essential characteristic of architecture 

according to the passage? 

A. Beauty  B. Utility C. Economy D. Strength 

Question 68: When well-constructed buildings exist longer than their original use, they serve as ______. 

A. museums and exhibition galleries  B. monuments to ancient time heroes 

C. witnesses to their historical times  D. witnesses to major ancient wars 

Question 69: The author uses the phrase “social art” in the first paragraph to emphasise that architecture 

is an ______.

A. achievement of many people  B. art that belongs to a society 

C. achievement of many sociologists  D. art that is very much socialised

Question 70: According to the passage, knowledge about building technology ______. 

A. is always influenced by a wide range of technological applications 

B. includes the experience gained from generation to generation 

C. is based on modern technologies rather than traditions 

D. has experienced complete changes for generations 

Question 71: The word “obsolete” in paragraph 2 mostly means ______. 

A. out of hand  B. out of place  C. out of date  D. out of order 

Question 72: Which of the following factors must be taken into account in both ancient and modern

architecture according to the information in paragraph 2?

A. Basic safety rules in the building industry  B. Basic needs and the availability of materials 

C. Sophisticated building technologies  D. Fundamental technical demands on building 

Question 73:_According to the passage, stone and marble were used for buildings of historical 

importance because they ______. 

A. make structures look more attractive  B. give warmth and comfort to their owners 

C. are non-flammable and last long  D. are inflammable and endurable 

Question 74:_According to the passage, today stone has been used less as a building material 

because ______.

A. it has less influence on the shapes of buildings and sculptures 

B. stone architecture is essential to the number of stone sculptures 

C. there have been other more suitable materials for industrial use 

D. it has become relatively scarce and more difficult to exploit 

Question 75: The word “their” in the last paragraph refers to ______. 

A. timber and stone  B. mixtures  C. regions  D. walls and bricks 

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to show the underlined part that needs 

correction in each of the following questions. 

Question 76: A novel is a story long enough to fill a complete book, in that the characters and events  

                                                      A                             B                       C                                                

are usually imaginary. 

      D

Question 77: He has hardly never given a more impressive performance than this. 

                             A                                  B                               C                   D

Question 78: Not until he got home he realised he had forgotten to give her the present. 

                                       A                   B                                                 C        D

Question 79: A lot of people stop smoking because they are afraid their health will be affected and  

                       A                              B                              C                                                                   

early death.

       D 

Question 80: The student must have her assessment form fill in by the examiner during the oral exam.

                                         A                                            B                                 C                 D