Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 6

A PLACE IN THE SUN

To think that there are places where the sky is always blue and the flowers bloom in January! …

Goodness me! Is that the time! And I’ve such a lot to do. I seem to have no (1) ____________ these days. I think perhaps it’s the weather… If only I could get away from it all!

Yes, we are all children (2) ____________ circumstances, and life today moves faster than it did. In the effort to keep pace, we burn up precious energy more freely than we should. (3) ____________ if at times the daily strain becomes too heavy! Then it is that Milo can be a great help and benefit. It helps (4) ____________ the balance between energy spent and energy gained. Day by day, each day a little, it supplements the intake of those (5) ____________ and energy-giving elements which are now known to be most beneficial in helping to restore and sustain nervous and physical energy.

Milo is easily digested, and readily assimilated. It (6) ____________ a soothing, sustaining and most delicious drink at any time.

Milo cup of health to strengthen the young and comfort the old.

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

Question 1.
A. feeling
B. energy
C. health
D. spirit

Question 2.
A. under
B. of
C. with
D. in

Question 3.
A. A sense of wonder
B. Great wonder        

C. In wonder
D. Little wonder

Question 4.
A. sustaining
B. to sustaining
C. sustained
D. to sustain

Question 5.
A. nutritional
B. nutrient
C. nutritious
D. nutrition

Question 6.
A. has
B. makes
C. proves
D. takes

Read the following leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 7 to 12.

CAN YOU HELP SAVE OUR PLANET?

What’s wrong with burning waste?

The burning of rubbish and organic waste in open fires is very bad for the environment. It produces nearly a third of global black carbon emissions. Soot from open waste burning has (7) ____________ strong warming effect on the earth. It warms the earth by trapping sunlight and releasing it as heat. It is one of the main causes of global warming.

Ban open waste burning!

How dangerous is using solid fuels at home?

Many people still use solid fuels like coal and wood for heating and cooking. (8) ____________, when burnt at home, they produce black carbon and (9) ____________ pollutants. The tiny pieces of indoor carbon (10) ____________ from indoor stoves can enter the human body and cause serious health problems. Research shows that household air (11) ____________ kills millions of people every year.

Renewable energy is the future!

Renewable energy is clean and free of black carbon and greenhouse gases, so it does not pollute the environment. Renewable energy can replace fossil fuels because it is convenient and reliable. Fossil fuels will be (12) ____________ in this century while renewable energy will never run out because it comes from the Earth’s natural resources.

Power the planet with renewable energy!

(Adapted from Global Success)

Question 7.
A. an
B. the
C. a
D. no article

Question 8.
A. Moreover
B. Meanwhile
C. However
D. Whereas

Question 9.
A. the others
B. others
C. another
D. other

Question 10.
A. release
B. releases
C. released
D. releasing

Question 11.
A. component
B. substance
C. pollutant
D. pollution

Question 12.
A. used up
B. built up
C. burnt down
D. made up

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances orsentences to make a meaningful exchange or text in each of the following questions from 13 to 17.

Question 13.

A.  Mai: You’re right. But I’m sure I can.

B.  Mum: Besides medical knowledge, a surgeon must have physical and mental strength. Most surgeons are also men…

C.  Mum: I’m afraid I disagree. It’s not easy to be a surgeon.

D.  Mai: Absolutely. That’s why we need more women surgeons. We can be as good as men.

e. Mum: Mai, Dad and I would like you to be a shop assistant.

f. Mai: I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. I want to go to medical school and become a surgeon.

(Adapted from Global Success)

A. e – d– c – a – f – b
B. e – f – c – a – b – d
C. c– a – b – d – e – f
D. d – c– a – b – f – e

Question 14.

A. Each day brings new challenges that require me to think logically to write different codes.

B. After all, my job is highly demanding, but it’s fulfilling to create something practically functional.

C. As a software developer, my job involves solving complex problems and even unexpected ones.

D. My job requires collaboration, so I often work with other developers to brainstorm solutions.

e. Therefore, there’s a real sense of satisfaction in completing a project in a team.

f. Some friends of mine think I often stay up late, working on my laptop alone, but it’s not true at all.

(Adapted from Bright)

A. e – a – f – d – c – b
B. c – a – f– d – e – b
C. c – d – a – b – e – f
D. e – b – f – a – c – d

Question 15.

A.  Hoa: Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.

B.  Hoa: I’m glad you like it, Linda. I worked really hard to prepare for it.

C.  Linda: It was also well organised. And I noticed that your English has improved a lot. It’s excellent!

D.  Linda: I was at the workshop at the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Conference. You gave the best presentation!

(Adapted from Global Success)

A. b – d – a – c
B. c – b – d – a
C. a – b – c – d
D. d – b – c – a

Question 16.

Dear Sir or Madam,

A. I believe I am perfectly suited for this role. I have a bachelor’s degree in IT from the University of Leeds, and I have recently completed a master’s in IT management.

B. I am very adaptable, reliable and excellent at multitasking, and I have strong communication skills and natural problem-solving abilities.

C. I would be very grateful if you would consider me for the position of IT support technician.

D. I am available for an interview at any time. I have attached a copy of my CV to this letter for your review. If you have any questions about me, please let me know.

e. Last year, I gained valuable experience working part-time at a local computer repair centre, and I also spent six months as a tech support trainee at a major IT firm.

f. I am writing to apply for the IT support technician position advertised in the local newspaper on Tuesday 5th July.

g. I can work independently or as a part of a team as I have experience working in a collaborative environment. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully, Ben Watts

(Adapted from Bright)

A. f – c– a – b – e – g – d
B. f – a – e – b – g – c – d

C. f – b – a – d – e – c – g
D. f – g – d– c – a – e – b

Question 17.

A. To give an effective presentation, start by preparing your speech carefully and practising beforehand.

B. Making a presentation is very common but challenging for some students.

C. With regular practice and preparation, you can carry out better presentations soon.

D. Second, focus on speaking clearly and interestingly, so everyone can understand you.

e. At the beginning of the presentation, make your eye contact with your audience first to keep them engaged.

f. Finally, if you get nervous, breathe deeply and slowly several times to feel relieved.

(Adapted from Bright)

A. b – a – e – d – f – c
B. d – c – f – e – b – a
C. a – b – f – c – e – d
D. c – e – d – a – b – f

(Adapted from Friends Global)

Read the following passage about the rise of Airbnb and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 18 to 25.

In 2007, design graduates, Joe Gebbie and Brian Chesky, were struggling to pay the rent for their San Francisco apartment. Hearing that there was a conference coming to town and there were no hotel rooms available, they created the website airbedandbreakfast.com where they advertised three airbeds in their home at $80 each a night, breakfast included. Only six days later, they had three guests sleeping on their floor. They knew immediately that this was the start of something big.

         Being budding entrepreneurs, the pair decided to take their idea further. They enlisted Gebbie's former flatmate, Nathan Blecharczyk, a computer science graduate, to develop their website. Their idea was to target conferences and festivals across the USA, getting local people to list their rooms and travelers to book them. The new website was completed just in time for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, at which Barack Obama was due to speak in front of 80,000 people. Within a week, they had 800 listings, an achievement which dealt in part with the shortage of hotel rooms, but did not solve their financial problems, as the site was not making any money.

The team decided that they would have to handle payment for the bookings. They began to charge three per cent to the host and between six and twelve per cent to the traveler, depending on the price of the booking. Meanwhile, investors had started showing interest in the company. By April 2009, when larger investments began to arrive, they moved the company out of their flat into a new state-of-the-art office and hired more staff.

Since then Airbnb has gone from strength to strength. The company now has over 1.5 million listings in 34,000 cities in 190 countries, and is rumoured to be worth around $20 billion.

Question 18. The word “state-of-the-art” in paragraph 3 OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. unconventional
B. modern
C. old-fashioned
D. cutting-edge

Question 19. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for the creation of the website airbedandbreakfast.com?

A. Joe Gebbie and Brian Chesky were trying very hard to cover the rent for their San Francisco apartment.

B. There were no hotel rooms available at that time.

C. They heard that a conference was coming to San Francisco.

D. They were looking for bed and breakfast accommodations in private homes.

Question 20. The word “handle” in paragraph 3 could be best replaced by ____________.

A. refuse
B. operate
C. receive
D. manage

Question 21. In which paragraph does the writer imply that there was a temporary need for accommodation in the city, which led to Gebbie and Chesky’s decision?

A. Paragraph 3
B. paragraph 2
C. Paragraph 1
D. Paragraph 4

Question 22. The word “their” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. conferences
B. festivals
C. local people
D. entrepreneurs

Question 23. In which paragraph does the writer mention the method of payment for booking on Airbnb?

A. Paragraph 3
B. Paragraph 1
C. Paragraph 4
D. paragraph 2

Question 24. Which of the following is TRUE about the new website designed by Nathan Blecharczyk?

A. It helped Gebbie and Chesky to make a huge profit as soon as it was launched.

B. It aided Gebbie and Chesky to rent out properties nationally.

C. It enabled Gebbie and Chesky to accommodate the guests at a Denver convention.

D. It made it easier to put travelers in touch with hosts abroad.

Question 25. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Airbnb has built up more strength in the present economic climate.

B. Since that time Airbnb has been out of the frying pan into the fire.

C. Airbnb has become more and more successful ever since.

D. From that moment on Airbnb has been supposed to be smooth sailing.

Read the following passage about power of connection and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

Technology can exert its power on almost every aspect of our lives, and personal relationships are no exception. We are now becoming more attached to technological devices and (26) ____________.

We work longer hours on computers, meet fewer friends, text more often, and watch more videos than have a true conversation with friends or family members. (27) ____________. Social media link us all together, but we mistake them for a perfect replacement for relationships. It is time we realised that the power of connections is built from our own efforts. (28) ____________, we have to spend a considerable amount of time doing activities together, listening, understanding, and sharing feelings. This helps strengthen our mind and body, keeping us away from isolation and loneliness.

It is not difficult to balance between connections through technology and those through real interactions. (29) ____________. We should spend more time visiting our parents and siblings, besides keeping in touch with them on social media. We should learn to cherish the moments we spend with them. It is never too late to strengthen the bonds with school friends and teachers. Don’t hesitate to participate in sports clubs or a hiking trip where we can build up true friendships. And above all, remember that time commitment counts in relationships, (30) ____________.

(Adapted from Friends Global)

Question 26.

A. staying more connected to people around us or even our loved ones

B. less connected to the people around us or even our loved ones

C. directly connected to the people around us or even our loved ones

D. having people around us or even our loved ones connected closely

Question 27.

A. Technology gives rise to a number of conflicts within the family

B. Relationships at home and at work are not dependent on technology

C. People don’t appreciate both technology and relationships at home and at work

D. Technology enhances relationships at home and at work

Question 28.

A. Whether we choose to stay technologically or socially connected

B. Because we choose to stay technologically or socially connected

C. Although we choose to stay technologically or socially connected

D. While we choose to stay technologically or socially connected

Question 29.

A. We established a relationship of trust within our family

B. Building strong relationships was essential within our family

C. We tried everything to make the relationships work within our family

D. We can start by nurturing the relationships within our family

Question 30.

A. and there is a danger that we will run out of time for connections

B. but it is possible for us not to have enough time for connections

C. so running short of time for connections is impossible

D. or connections is likely to be established in the long run

Read the following passage about powering the future and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 31 to 40.

As we continue to face the impacts of climate change, having a green environment has become increasingly important to the future of our society. To achieve this, the world is shifting towards green energy, and two particular types of energy at the centre of this movement are solar power and wind power.

[I] This highly efficient form of energy produces zero emissions, so it can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. [II] Moreover, solar panels are perfect for installation on a small scale, such as in private homes, since they require very little maintenance and have a long lifespan. [III] However, the ability to generate solar power depends on the time of day and weather conditions. This means that solar panels are often less useful if they are installed in places where sunny weather is not typical. [IV]

Wind power, on the other hand, involves converting the energy of the wind into electricity using large turbines. Wind power doesn't produce any greenhouse gases, but it is not ideal for private use since turbines require consistent care. However, wind farms can be installed on a large scale and are able to produce electricity continuously regardless of the time of day. This means that if there were more investments in wind power, it could be a viable way to provide energy for major cities and even for whole regions.

Wind and solar power contribute significantly to a green environment by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, helping us cut down on pollution and slow climate change. Additionally, using renewable energy sources helps promote spending on sustainable development by creating new career opportunities in the green energy sector.

For now, the biggest challenge of adopting green energy is the costs associated with installation and infrastructure, but the benefits unquestionably outweigh the downsides. If we want to stop the climate crisis and create a better and more sustainable future, green energy sources will undoubtedly be the key.

(Adapted from Bright)

Question 31. Where in paragraph 2 does the following sentence best fit?

Solar power is all about harnessing the energy of the sun by using solar panels to convert sunlight into usable electricity.

A. [II]
B. [I]
C. [IV]
D. [III]

Question 32. The word “they” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. weather conditions
B. private homes
C. zero emissions
D. solar panels

Question 33. According to paragraph 2, what is TRUE about solar panels?

A. They contribute to our carbon footprint.
B. They can be used for long periods.

C. They aren't well suited to personal use.
D. They create fewer emissions.

Question 34. The word “viable” in paragraph 3 OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. possible
B. practicable
C. unworkable
D. feasible

Question 35. According to paragraph 4, what is NOT mentioned regarding wind and solar power?

A. They encourage investment in green energy.
B. They make us reliant on green energy.

C. They help combat climate change.
D. They create new jobs for people.

Question 36. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 4?

A. Wind and solar power make a considerable contribution to a green environment, and switching to green energy sources promotes investment in sustainable development.

B. Using renewable energy sources can boost sustainable development and create ecosystem resiliency.

C. Switching to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power can enhance energy independence and mitigate climate change.

D. Wind and solar energy have an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

Question 37. The word “outweigh” in paragraph 5 could be best replaced by ____________.

A. decrease
B. surpass
C. defeat
D. captivate

Question 38. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 5?

A. Should we want to halt global warming and foster more sustainable development, renewable energy sources will, without doubt, be the most important determining factor.

B. Green energy stands as a positive example for a sustainable future, offering many benefits, from stopping the climate crisis and creating a better and more sustainable future.

C. Green energy is another important step in stopping the climate crisis and creating a better and sustainable future.

D. The key to tackling the climate crisis is to end our reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels and take advantage of renewable energy.

Question 39. What can be inferred from the last paragraph of the text?

A. There exists little infrastructure for renewable energy at present.

B. Green energy costs are rising.

C. The downsides of green energy could soon outweigh the benefits.

D. Green energy will enhance green living.

Question 40. Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. In response to the challenges of climate change, the growing use of renewable energy sources is the cornerstone of the energy transition, and no type of energy is better than solar and wind power.

B. In the context of climate change, the energy transition with two particular types of energy at the centre of this movement, namely solar power and wind power, will definitely address the need for a better and more sustainable future.

C. In response to climate change, the green transition is adopted to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change, as well as preserve and improve the state of the environment.

D. The critical importance of and the strong commitment to energy transition in climate change response are highlighted.