TASK 41

SECTION A. LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1: You are going to hear a talk. As you listen, fill in the missing information. For questions 1-15,
write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER in the spaces provided.
Hi everyone, and thanks for listening to my talk about (1) ______. My name’s Thomas Booth and here are a
few of my top tips for furniture restoration.
Firstly, make sure you’ve got enough time to devote to your project. I learned in my first project that trying
to restore a beautiful old (2) ______ while doing my day job was a bit too much to take on. I spent days
cleaning up the decorations – these were cut deeply into the wood. (3) ______ like rusty metal legs can take
ages, too.
Find out the value of your piece before deciding whether it’s worth restoring it. Old items of furniture are
often covered in (4) ______, but do check your item for marks. What I mean by this is anything (5) _______
the wood that might identify whose workshop it originated from. This can give you an idea of a piece’s age.
If you think it’s worth something, seek advice from (6) ______.
If your piece does happen to be of value, you need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on its
restoration. I always (7) ______ before I do anything – then I can decide whether to progress or not. Think
about how much of a challenge it’s going to be as well. Be realistic.
Once you’ve decided to go for it, look at how the pieces has been constructed, and how you’ll put it back
together again. Take a photo of it from every angle before you take it apart to begin work. And don’t forget
to attach a label to the (8) _____– that’ll save time later.
If it’s your first attempt at restoration, you’re likely to have lots of questions. Keep yourself as well-
informed as possible. Why not borrow a DVD from the library to do a bit of research in advance? And (9)
______ to hand during the restoration process so you can quickly look up the answer to a query.
Safety is, of course, very important. Wear protective clothing, as some of the materials you’ll be working
with – such as chemicals used in (10) ______ – can be harmful to the skin. I always put on a long-sleeved T-
shirt and protect my eyes with a pair of safety glasses – and a mask helps me to avoid breathing in (11)
______.
The chances are if you’re having to restore the item, it won’t have been well looked after and will need a
good clean. Give larger surfaces a scrub with something like a cloth or sponge to remove the build-up of
dirt. To get into any (12) ______ I use a toothbrush. It works surprisingly well.
Next, you need to think about repairing or replacing any broken or missing parts. It’s always worth looking
in (13) ______ – I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I found a handle that was identical to one that
was lost from a drawer on a chest I was restoring. Otherwise, you might need an expert to make a substitute.
The final coat on a piece is called a finish. Finishing can be (14) ______work, so make sure you’re ready to
put in some muscle power! Old finishes can be what I call ‘stubborn’. What I mean is that they’re really
tough to remove. Be patient and don’t rush – you might end up having to do more repair work otherwise.
And last but not least – the tools you’ll need. Get some rough sandpaper, wood glue, and a screwdriver.
There’ll be nails to knock back into place as well. Work with a (15) ______ so you don’t harm the wood,
and invest in some plastic gloves for the finishing work, too, so the chemicals don’t cause problems for your
skin.
Well, now you’re ready to go! Good luck!
Your answers:
 1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.

Part 2. You will hear an interview. Then answer the questions numbered from 16 to 25. You will hear
it twice.
For questions 16-20, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
16. What is the main reason Seymour Powell is working on the new form of transport?
A. To make travel faster than current options
B. To provide a more comfortable and stylish travel experience
C. To reduce travel costs significantly
D. To create a more environmentally friendly aircraft
17. What type of vehicle is the Aircruise described as in the passage?
A. A small passenger jet B. A traditional airplane
C. A huge kite-shaped airship D. A hot air balloon
18. How is the Aircruise planned to be powered?
A. By hot air B. By hydrogen C. By solar energy D. By conventional jet fuel
19. What was one of the major safety concerns with early airships like the Zeppelins?
A. They were too slow
B. They were not comfortable
C. They were dangerous, especially after the Hindenburg disaster
D. They were too expensive to operate
20. What feature will the Aircruise have to enhance the passenger experience?
A. An unlimited supply of free Wi-Fi B. A bar, private apartments, and a glass floor
C. A rooftop observation deck D. Personal entertainment systems at every seat
For questions 21-25, decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
21. The Aircruise will have the capability to change its altitude based on the visibility of interesting
landmarks below.
22. Seymour Powell is focusing on developing the Aircruise as a low-cost alternative for budget travelers.
23. The Aircruise will offer a very high passenger-to-crew ratio, with one crew member for every five
passengers.
24. The airships are planned to be able to land far from urban centres.
25. Mark expects that the new airships will be affordable for everyone.
Your answers:
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24 25.

SECTION B. LEXICO – GRAMMAR (20 points)

Part 1: Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences. Write A, B, C, or D
in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. The CEO emphasized ______ we need to innovate in order to stay competitive in the market.
A. what B. which C. that D. how
2. The committee's decision was based on ______ evidence presented during the trial.
A. scant B. ample C. redundant D. minute
3. Despite his thorough preparation, the speaker was still ______ by unexpected questions from the
audience.
A. carried away B. taken up C. held back D. thrown off
4. She finds it challenging to balance her workload, ______ manage a full-time job and a part-time
course.
A. much less B. together with C. despite D. whereas
5. "I regret not taking the extra training; I ______ a better performance in the competition."
A. might have achieved B. should achieve C. would achieve D. could achieve
6. "Her comments about the project were taken with a grain of ______."
A. salt B. sugar C. pepper D. spice
7. The researcher was determined to ______ the complex theories to make them accessible to the
general public.
A. obscure B. elucidate C. complicate D. exacerbate
[Link] team’s performance in the last quarter was ______ impressive, setting a new record for the
company.
A. markedly B. subtly C. loosely D. barely
9. The company’s decision to relocate its headquarters was met with ______ from the local
community.
A. enthusiasm B. indifference C. resistance D. complacency
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in the following question.
10. Despite the misleading data, she managed to get to the heart of the matter and find the real
issue.
A. trivial B. essence C. complexity D. ambiguity
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in the following question.
11. His barking up the wrong tree led to a waste of time and resources.
A. making a correct assumption B. pursuing a false lead
C. focusing on the right issue D. asking the right questions
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that best completes the
following exchange.
12. David and Emma are discussing a recent work assignment.
David: “I’ve put in extra hours to make sure the project is perfect.”
Emma: “______ . I’m sure it will be a great success.”
A. That’s commendable B. It’s about time C. I doubt it D. That’s irrelevant
Your answers:
 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Part 2. Read the passage below, which contains 8 mistakes. For questions 13-20, identify the
mistakes and write the corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes.
Line
1 Làng Sen, located in Nam Đàn District, Nghệ An Province, Vietnam, is a village of profound
2 historical and cultural significance. Celebrated like the birthplace of Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam's revered
3 revolutionary leader, Làng Sen offers an unique glimpse into the formative years of one of the
4 nation's more influential figures. The village's traditional architecture, characterised by its thatched-
5 roof houses and lush rice paddies, provides an authentic representation of early 20th-century rural
6 life.
7 A notably attraction in Làng Sen is Hồ Chí Minh's preserved childhood home, now a museum
8 dedicated to his legacy. This museum not only serves as a site of tribute but also functions as an
9 educational resource, offering visitors insights into Hồ Chí Minh’s early life and the socio-political
10 conditions of his time. The exhibits highlight the values and experiences that shaped his revolutionary
11 path.
12 Beyond its historical allure, Làng Sen is celebrated for its vibrant local culture. The village’s annual
13 festivals, that feature traditional music, dance, and crafts, provide an immersive experience of
14 Vietnamese cultural practices. The village's cuisine, included specialities like bánh khoai (sweet
15 potato pancakes) and bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls), provides a taste of regional flavour. The warm
16 hospitality of Làng Sen’s residents enhances the experience, making them a captivating destination
17 for those interested in Vietnam’s rich heritage.

Your answers:
Line Mistake Correction Line Mistake Correction
13. 17.
14. 18.
15. 19.
16. 20.

SECTION C – READING (70 pts)

Part 1: Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap.
People love to complain. Moaning to friends can be a source of relief from the (1)_____ and strains
of work, study or relationships. But when it comes to protesting to a retailer about (2)_____ good or
services, many of us find we don’t have the nerve and choose to (3) _____ in silence.
By the time we do (4) _____ summon up the courage to make our (5) _____, we have generally
already allowed the problem to get to us, and we are angry. In this (6) _____, we can all too (7) _____
become aggressive, gearing up for battle and turning what should be a rational discussion into a conflict.
To complain effectively you need to be specific about your problem and communicate it clearly
using words which are objective and fair. (8) _____ over the top with emotional language and unreasonable
claims will get you nowhere. Good negotiators tend to calm and logical. They start by explaining the
situation and stating their requirements clearly, without threat. Most complaints prompt a defensive (9)
______ from the other person, but by being reasonable yourself, you (10) _____ more chance of achieving
the positive outcome you want.
1. A. pressures B. pains C. stresses D. struggles
2. A. faulty B. inexpert C. improper D. scruffy
3. A. stick B. suffer C. stay D. suppress
4. A. essentially B. especially C. exceptionally D. eventually
5. A. turn B. mark C. point D. say
6. A. state B. form C. manner D. mode
7. A. casually B. happily C. simply D. easily
8. A. Being B. Going C. Getting D. Feeling
9. A. regard B. respect C. revenge D. response
10. A. stand B. attract C. spend D. establish
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: Fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and write your answers in
the corresponding numbered boxes.
WHY DO WE SMILE?
Every human being is born with the (11) _____to smile. We know this because even children who
are unable to see can still grin. A smile is a natural (12)_____ to a positive moment, like a friendly face or a
clever joke. But this isn’t the first (13)_____ we smile. Most babies first smile when they reach the age of
six to eight weeks. It’s usually an accident: an expression (14)_____ when exercising their facial muscles (or
passing wind!). But once they realise a smile gets them a lot of attention- huge smiles and happy noises in
return- they learn to try it again. And it doesn’t take too much effort (15)_____ - we need 43 muscles to
frown but only 17 smile.
But not (16)_____creature can smile. Although your pet dog may sometimes look like it’s smiling
back at you, it’s not. Animals do experience some of the (17)_____ emotions as us, but they don’t smile. A
dog’s cheerful face is more likely to be a sign of confusion, (18)_____dolphins lack the muscles for facial
expressions (their mouths are permanently turned upwards which makes them appear to be smiling).
Animals express their joy through other movements, like a waging (19)_____ or a backwards flip. Some,
such as chimpanzees and rats, can (20)_____ laugh.

Your answers:
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Part 3: Read the following passage and choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
Write your answers in corresponding numbered boxes.
The tide means the rising and falling of ocean levels that are affected by the moon, the sun, and the
earth’s own rotation. Although the sun gives about 200 times the gravitational force on the earth as the moon
does, the moon exerts more than twice the tidal force. As the closer astronomical body, the moon has greater
influence on the earth’s tides. Although other factors do affect the tide, the positions of these two bodies
have by far the greatest determinant roles.
It is easy to imagine that the ocean level closest to the moon bulges upward. However, a bulge occurs
on the opposite side of the earth as well. [A] As the moon’s tidal force counteracts the earth’s gravitational
force, water bulges on both sides. Because there are two major oceanic bulges, there are two high tides in a
daily cycle. [B] A lunar day, not a solar day, must be used in this calculation. It takes the earth 24 hours and
48 minutes to make one rotation. As with a solar day, the earth rotates once in 24 hours. [C] Thus, high tides
generally occur every 12 hours and 24 minutes, an interval of half a lunar day. [D] Exact intervals will vary
depending on local land features.
The sun has a similar but less visible effect on water levels. Oceanic bulges occur on the sides of the
earth. While these bulges resulting from the sun’s tidal forces are smaller than the greatest swells caused by
the moon, they can amplify the moon’s effect. Furthermore, the bulges in water levels caused by the sun can
make predicting the tides tricky, since both the sun and the moon must be taken into consideration.
When the moon and the sun are aligned – that is, when both are on the same side of the earth or on opposite
sides of the earth – the oceanic bulges are at their greatest size. Known as spring tide, this powerful
phenomenon results in abnormally high tides, abnormally low tides, and abnormally strong tidal currents.
In general, seven days after the spring tide comes, the neap tide comes. The results are weaker tidal
currents and less variation in water levels between high tide and low tide.
Because the moon and the sun are major factors in tide formation, researchers have tried to investigate
these factors under assumptions of the earth with no land masses, smooth ocean floors, constant distances
from the moon and the sun, and an unchanging environment. Even under these simplified imaginary
conditions, it has been difficult to construct complete and conclusive models of tidal phenomena. With the
additional factors of huge land masses, wildly variable underwater terrain, the elliptical orbits of the moon
and the earth, and climate change, tidal analysis become increasingly more complex.
Land masses block tidal ebbs and flows, affecting the timing, volume, and strength of the tides.
Submarine terrain also has great effects on tides and their movements and variation. As for the principal
astronomical bodies, one must remember that the moon’s orbit around the earth and the earth’s orbit around
the sun are elliptical. Therefore, tidal forces vary with changing relative distances between the earth and the
moon and between the earth and the sun. Finally, weather and climate change always pose challenges to
tidal prediction. Now, with global warming, rising ocean levels, and weather phenomena, study of the tides
is becoming more challenging than ever before.
21. According to the passage, all of the following are true of tides EXCEPT ______
A. The earth’s rotation affects water depth.
B. Solar gravitational force is the biggest influence on tidal flow.
C. The moon is a more important factor than the sun.
D. Tidal force is related to distance from the earth.
22. The word “counteracts” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. stops B. intensifies C. offsets D. resists
23. Look at the four squares [A], [B], [C], [D] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to
the passage.
However, the moon is constantly moving around the earth, so an additional 48 minutes is required for the
moon to complete the rotation.
Where would the sentence best fit? Choose the square where the sentence should be added to the passage.
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
24. The word “they” in paragraph 3 refers to ______.
A. bulges B. forces C. swells D. bodies
25. The word “abnormally” has been repeated three times in order to ______.
A. emphasize the power of spring tides B. accentuate unpredictability of tidal movement
C. note how infrequently spring tides occur D. highlight the complexities of tidal formation
26. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the bold sentence in paragraph 4?
A. Neap tide features weaker water currents and less difference between high and low tide levels.
B. Lower current speeds result in little change in water levels between high tide and low tide.
C. As a result, neap tide is difficult to detect due to little tidal variation and slow-moving tidal currents.
D. The effects of these tidal bulges are less water movement between tides.
27. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as something that complicates study of the
tides?
A. Land formations change the way tidal waters move.
B. Underwater land formations affect changes in tidal levels.
C. The orbit between the sun and the earth affects tidal phenomena.
D. Increasing water depths may be causing unusual weather.
Your answers:
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

Part 4. For questions 28-40, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Mystery in Easter Island!
A. One of the world’s most famous yet least visited archaeological sites, Easter Island is a small, hilly, now
treeless island of volcanic origin. Located in the Pacific Ocean at 27 degrees south of the equator and some
2200 miles (3600 kilometers) off the coast of Chile, it is considered to be the world’s most remote inhabited
island. The island is, technically speaking, a single massive volcano rising over ten thousand feet from the
Pacific Ocean floor. The island received its most well-known current name, Easter Island, from the Dutch sea
captain Jacob Roggeveen who became the first European to visit Easter Sunday, April 5, 1722.
B. In the early 1950s, the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl popularized the idea that the island had been
originally settled by advanced societies of Indians from the coast of South America. Extensive
archaeological, ethnographic and linguistic research has conclusively shown this hypothesis to be inaccurate.
It is now recognized that the original inhabitants of Easter Island are of Polynesian stock (DNA extracts
from skeletons have confirmed this), that they most probably came from the Marquesas or Society islands,
and that they arrived as early as 318 AD (carbon dating of reeds from a grave confirms this). At the time of
their arrival, much of the island was forested, was teeming with land birds, and was perhaps the most
productive breeding site for seabirds in the Polynesia region. Because of the plentiful bird, fish and plant
food sources, the human population grew and gave rise to a rich religious and artistic culture.
C. That culture’s most famous features are its enormous stone statues called moai, at least 288 of which
once stood upon massive stone platforms called ahu. There are some 250 of these ahu platforms spaced
approximately one-half mile apart and creating an almost unbroken line around the perimeter of the island.
Another 600 moai statues, in various stages of completion, are scattered around the island, either in quarries
or along ancient roads between the quarries and the coastal areas where the statues were most often erected.
Nearly all the moai are carved from the tough stone of the Rano Raraku volcano. The average statue is 14
feet and 6 inches tall and weighs 14 tons. Some moai were as large as 33 feet and weighed more than 80
tons. Depending upon the size of the statues, it has been estimated that between 50 and 150 people were
needed to drag them across the countryside on sledges and rollers made from the island’s trees.
D. Scholars are unable to definitively explain the function and use of the moai statues. It is assumed that
their carving and erection derived from an idea rooted in similar practices found elsewhere in Polynesia but
which evolved in a unique way on Easter Island. Archaeological and iconographic analysis indicates that the
statue cult was based on an ideology of male, lineage-based authority incorporating anthropomorphic
symbolism. The statues were thus symbols of authority and power, both religious and political. But they
were not only symbols. To the people who erected and used them, they were actual repositories of sacred
spirit. Carved stone and wooden objects in ancient Polynesian religions, when properly fashioned and
ritually prepared, were believed to be charged by a magical spiritual essence called mana. The ahu platforms
of Easter Island were the sanctuaries of the people, and the moai statues were the ritually charged sacred
objects of those sanctuaries.
E. Besides its more well-known name, Easter Island is also known as Te-Pito-O-Te-Henuab, meaning ‘The
Navel of the World’, and as Mata-Ki-Te-Rani, meaning ‘Eyes Looking at Heaven’. These ancient name and
a host of mythological details ignored by mainstream archaeologists point to the possibility that the remote
island may once have been a geodetic marker and the site of an astronomical observatory of a long-forgotten
civilization. In his book, Heaven’s Mirror, Graham Hancock suggests that Easter Island may once have been
a significant scientific outpost of this antediluvian civilization and that its location had extreme importance
in a planet-spanning, mathematically precise grid of sacred sites. Two other alternative scholars, Christopher
Knight and Robert Lomas, have extensively studied the location and possible function of these geodetic
markers. In their fascinating book, Uriel’s Machine, they suggest that one purpose of the geodetic markers
was as part of a global network of sophisticated astronomical observatories dedicated to predicting and
preparing for future commentary impacts and crystal displacement cataclysms.
F. In the latter years of the 20th century and the first years of the 21st century, various writers and scientists
have advanced theories regarding the rapid decline of Easter Island’s magnificent civilization around the
time of the first European contact. Principal among these theories, and now shown to be inaccurate, is that
postulated by Jared Diamond in his book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive. Basically,
these theories state that a few centuries after Easter Island’s initial colonization the resource needs of the
growing population had begun to outpace the island’s capacity to renew itself ecologically. By the 1400s the
forests had been entirely cut, the rich ground cover had eroded away, the springs had dried up, and the vast
flocks of birds coming to roost on the island had disappeared. With no logs to build canoes for offshore
fishing, with depleted bird and wildlife food sources, and with declining crop yields because of the erosion
of good soil, the nutritional intake of the people plummeted. First famine, then cannibalism, set in. Because
the island could no longer feed the chiefs, bureaucrats and priests who kept the complex society running, the
resulting chaos triggered a social and cultural collapse. By 1700 the population dropped to between one-
quarter and one-tenth of its former number, and many of the statues were toppled during supposed “clan
wars” of the 1600 and 1700s.
G. The faulty notions presented in these theories began with the racist assumptions of Thor Heyerdahl and have
been perpetuated by writers, such as Jared Diamond, who do not have sufficient archaeological and historical
understanding of the actual events which occurred on Easter Island. The real truth regarding the tremendous
social devastation which occurred on Easter Island is that it was a direct consequence of the inhumane behavior
of many of the first European visitors, particularly the slavers who raped and murdered the islanders, introduced
smallpox and other diseases, and brutally removed the natives to mainland South America.

The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G. For questions 28-33, choose the correct heading for
paragraphs A-G from the list below. Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 28- 33.

NB: There are more headings than paragraphs

List of headings:
i. The famous moai
ii. The status represented symbols of combined purposes
iii. The ancient spots which indicate the scientific application
iv. The story of the name
v. Early immigrants, rise and prosperity
vi. The geology of Easter Island
vii. The begin of Thor Heyerdahl’s discovery
viii. The countering explanation to the misconceptions politically manipulated
ix. Symbols of authority and power
x. The Navel of the World
xi. The Norwegian Invaders’ legacy

28. Paragraph A ___

29. Paragraph B___
30. Paragraph C___
31. Paragraph D___
32. Paragraph E___
33. Paragraph G___

Questions 34 - 36: Do the following statements agree with the information given in reading passage?
Write your answers in boxes 34 - 36.

TRUE if the statement is true

FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

34. Most archaeologists recognised the religious and astronomical functions for an ancient society.
35. The structures of Easter Island work as an astronomical outpost for extraterrestrial visitors.
36. The theory that depleted natural resources leading to the fail of Easter Island actual have a distorted
perspective.
Questions 37-40: Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of reading passage. Using NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the reading passage for each answer.

Many theories speculated that Easter Island’s fall around the era of the initial European contact.
Some say the resources are depleted by a (37)_______. The erroneous theories began with a root of
the (38) _______ advanced by some scholars. Early writers did not have adequate (39) ______
understandings to comprehend the true nature of events on the island. The social devastation was,
in fact, a direct result of (40) _________ of the first European settlers.

Your answers:
28. 29. 30. 31. 42.
33. 34. 35. 36. 37.
38. 39. 40.

Part 5. You are going to read an article about electronic books and reading. For questions 41 - 50,
choose from the sections (A - D). The sections may be chosen more than once. Write your answers in
the corresponding boxes provided below the passage
HOW ARE WE AFFECTED BY TECHNOLOGY?
A. Alan

As an entrepreneur, I don't know where I'd be without technology. In the late nineties, while I was trying to
get my business off the ground, I would spend the best part of the year travelling for work, missing my home
and family, often physically tired and frustrated at feeling obliged to be in two places at the same time.
Factor in the financial drain and the whole thing seemed close to insane. Recent technology, however, has
made physical location irrelevant and has speeded up processes no end. I can have an a.m. video conference
with Russia followed by a p.m. one with the US, saving days of travel and thousands of pounds on travel
expenses. I'm also particularly thankful that I have the option of working from home and not missing my
kids' important school functions. Although I seem to be waxing lyrical about technology, I am not blind to
the potential pitfalls. You need to know when to be there. Nothing can replace a firm shake of the hand or a
good dinner to seal that deal. As with everything, moderation is the key to preventing technology from
backfiring on you.
B. Evelyn

Whatever benefits we derive from the use of technology in our daily lives are very dearly paid for, in my
opinion. It really bugs me to see kids binging on social networking sites at the expense of connecting with
one another in real space and time in a meaningful way. It hit me how transfixed by technology mine are the
other day at dinner when I realised that I was the only one not eating in silence with a smartphone attached
to one of my upper extremities. On the one hand, I'm fully aware that it would be rather unrealistic to place
bans on the use of technology around the house, as it is so intertwined with many different aspects of our
lives that I would be risking placing my kids at a disadvantage. But on the other, I strongly believe that
teenagers especially need to be weaned off streamed online entertainment and to reconnect with the real
world where no one has 756 friends and no one feels obliged to inform the whole wide world of what they're
up to every five minutes.
 C. Charles

It's curious how some of the most intelligent people are duped by mobile technology. All they see in front of
them is the carrot of easy and cheap communication, especially when it's over the Internet. What they fail to
see is that by subscribing to it they waive their right to privacy. Businesses have devised cookies to collect
data from the sites we visit on our smartphones and use them to decide which adverts to feed us next time
we go online. Anyone with the right equipment can tell our exact location at any time of the day, courtesy of
the IMEI number on our phone which can be traced anywhere in the world. It's one thing to see it happen in
our crime series of choice on TV, but another to be on the receiving end. Personally, I am very much aware
of the significance of all this. We might, for now, be revelling in the novelty of technological advancement,
but at the same time, we are ushering in a new, more sinister era. For all our cleverness, we might end up
living in the dystopian future so bleakly portrayed in blockbuster Hollywood films. Only in real life, there
won't be any end credits.
D. Alexa

Technology is supposed to be helping us move forward and achieve greater things, not holding us back.
Overdependence can leave us feeling distressed and unable to function when we don't have access to it, with
some people going so far as to consider losing their Internet connection, for example, tantamount to being
shut in solitary confinement. While it is reasonable to delegate more complicated and time-consuming tasks
to machines, we cannot allow them to dominate our lives. 24/7 availability, for example, is not something to
boast about but to fear, as we never learn how to be alone with our thoughts. Our addiction to technology
perpetually staves off the dreaded spectre of boredom instead of letting us use it to fire up our dormant
creativity. Technology dictates even the way we manage stressful situations, like breaking up by text, for
example. It's the easy way out; we don't have to deal with the reality or rawness of it. Such regression in
human capabilities, I'm afraid, is bound to affect both our physical and emotional health.

Which person do you associate with the following opinions about technology? Your answers:

We unwittingly leave ourselves exposed to predators 41 ___________

Some people would view life without technology as a form of punishment. 42. ___________
We should make careful use of it so that we only reap the benefits 43. ___________
It distorts our perception of reality 44. ___________
We use it to avoid confronting real emotions. 45. ___________
It is essential for many things we do. 46. ___________
It might lead us to experience unpleasant situations. 47. ___________
It hinders our personal development. 48. ___________
It has freed us from certain constraints 49. ___________
It prevents us from forming real life relationships. 50. ___________

Your answers:
41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
 SECTION D. WRITING (60 points)
Part 1. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible in
meaning to the sentence printed before it.
1. The new policy has been widely criticized for its ineffectiveness in addressing the issues it was meant
to solve.
Far from ________________________________________________________________________.
2. The company’s profits increased significantly after they implemented the new marketing strategy.
Only after _______________________________________________________________________.
Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first one. Use the word given in
capital letters and the word mustn’t be altered in any way.
3. Her promotion was a result of her exceptional performance over the last year.
MERIT
Her promotion ___________________________________________________________________.
4. The new policy has had a positive impact on employee productivity.
RESULTED
The new policy __________________________________________________________________.
5. The manager was impressed with the report that the team submitted.
PRAISE
The report ____________________________________________________________the manager.

Part 2. Write a letter of about 120-150 words.

You recently participated in the school’s Youth Fair but found several aspects of the event unsatisfactory.
Write a letter to the principal. In your letter, you should:
- Outline the issues you encountered during the event.
- Propose suggestions for improving future events.
Use your name and address as Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc – 68 Minh Khai Street, Vinh City, Nghe An Province.
Part 3: Write an essay of about 350 words on the following topic.
Some parents believe that children should have ample time to enjoy themselves and have a memorable
childhood, while others think that children should focus on studying diligently to secure a successful
future.
Discuss both views and give your own opinions.
Give reasons and relevant examples to support your answer.
_____ THE END ______