Read the following announcement 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.

City Cab Taxi Service - Customer Information

        Dear Valued Customers,

        We are pleased to announce our new premium taxi service launching next month. To ensure the highest quality experience, we have (1) ______ several improvements to our fleet and booking system.

        Key Features:         

        1. All vehicles equipped with GPS tracking and air conditioning;

        2. Professional drivers with extensive training;

        3. Multiple payment options available.

        Customers can now book rides (2) ______ our mobile app or by calling our 24/7 hotline. We offer (3) ______ of service options including economy, premium, and luxury vehicles to suit your needs. Our (4) ______ seats and spacious interiors guarantee maximum comfort during your journey. Payment can be made (5) ______ cash, credit card, or digital wallet. We are committed to (6) ______ the trust you place in us by providing reliable, safe transportation throughout the city.

        For bookings, call: 1800-CITYCAB

Question 1. A. implemented         B. accomplished         C. established         D. performed

Question 2. A. neither                 B. whether                 C. either                 D. through

Question 3. A. a wide range         B. a great deal         C. a large amount         D. a huge number

Question 4. A. comfortable new leather                         B. new comfortable leather

         C. leather comfortable new                         D. new leather comfortable

Question 5. A. by                         B. with                 C. in                         D. through

Question 6. A. justifying                 B. vindicating         C. certifying                 D. validating

Read the following announcement 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.

The United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, officially adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, represents a groundbreaking multilateral legal instrument (7) ______ was established in response to the alarming rise in cybercrime worldwide. The Convention consists of nine chapters and 71 articles, drafted over four years with the participation of more than 200 countries and territories. 

The Convention will open for signature on October 25, 2025, at a signing ceremony (8) ______ in Hanoi, Vietnam, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until December 31, 2026. The Convention will enter into force ninety days after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of (9) ______.

The Convention provides a comprehensive approach (10) ______ prevent and combat the global problem of cybercrime while including human rights safeguards. It comprises important contents covering the definition of cyber offences, including illegal access, system interference, online child abuse, and laundering of criminal proceeds.

International Cooperation and Technical Support

The Convention aims to strengthen international cooperation in investigation, extradition, and sharing of electronic evidence, offering an extensive (11) ______ of measures from establishing 24/7 contact points to facilitating joint investigations among member states. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn emphasized that this initiative demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to international (12) ______ in combating transnational crime.

For more information, visit https://www.unodc.org/unodc/cybercrime/convention/home.html

(Adapted from https://www.unodc.org and https://vietnamnews.vn)

Question 7.        A. which                B. where                C. at which                D. whom

Question 8.        A. to be holding        B. having held        C. to be held                D. held

Question 9.        A. ratification                B. ratified                C. ratifying                D. ratify

Question 10.        A. being                B. having                C. to                        D. for

Question 11.        A. spectrum                B. assortment                C. array                D. collection

Question 12.        A. collaboration        B. collaborative        C. collaboratively        D. collaborator

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

Question 13. a. We are pleased to invite you to apply for our Nova Platinum Credit Card.

B. To proceed, present this letter and government ID at any Orchid Bank branch.

C. Upon verification, your application will be processed and the card issued within two days.

D. The introductory annual fee is waived; this exclusive offer ends on 31 December.

e. For questions, please email support@orchidbank.com or call 1900-1234 during business hours.

A.  a-b-c-d-e                B. a-c-b-d-e                                C. b-a-c-e-d                        D. a-b-d-c-e

Question 14. a. Huy: I’d love to, but I’ve already brought lunch from home today.

B. Duy: I’ll see you at the cafeteria around noon then.

C. Duy: Hey Huy, would you like to grab some lunch together at the new café downtown?

A.  c-a-b                B. a-c-b                                C. c-b-a                        D. b-c-a

Question 15. a. Digital payment systems were rolled out extensively, enabling cashless transactions in markets and public transport nationwide.

B. Between 2016 and 2023, Da Nang experienced a technological revolution, marking its transition toward becoming a modern smart city.

C. In parallel, environmental monitoring stations were established to track air quality and provide real-time data to residents.

D. The changes reflect Da Nang’s determination to balance economic growth with technological innovation and environmental sustainability.

e. Public services were significantly upgraded, with government offices introducing online platforms for administrative procedures and document submissions.

A.  b-e-c-a-d                B. b-e-a-c-d                                C. b-a-e-c-d                        D. b-d-e-a-c

Question 16. a. Emma: Do you still prefer reading printed books to e-books?  

B. James: Exactly, that nostalgia creates a special bond between the reader and the story.

C. James: Not really. I enjoy e-books more, but printed books feel more personal to me.

D. Emma: I guess both formats enrich our reading experience in their own ways.

e. Emma: True, e-books are practical, but printed pages have a nostalgic scent and texture.

A.  a-b-c-d-e                 B. a-b-d-c-e                                 C. a-c-e-b-d                         D. b-a-c-e-d

Question 17. a. This challenging period taught me that proper planning beats last-minute cramming every single time.

B. I stayed up late studying every subject, hoping to hit the books effectively and ace all my exams.

C. During my final exam season last year, I found myself under tremendous pressure to perform well academically.

D. Unfortunately, I burned out quickly and my grades reflected my poor time management rather than my abilities.

e. As a result, I created a detailed study schedule for the next semester to avoid such stress.

A.  c-b-d-e-a                        B. b-c-d-a-e                        C. a-c-b-e-d                        D. c-d-b-e-a

Read the following passage 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 22.

        Woodcut printing became popular in early 15th-century Europe, as paper became cheaper and more widely available. (18) _______. Often hand-coloured, they were eventually combined with movable type to illustrate text.

        The painter and printmaker Michael Wolgemut was instrumental in reinvigorating the woodcut after a decline in quality in the mid-15th century. (19) _______. As a young man, Dürer was Wolgemut’s apprentice, but his skill with the woodcut was to far surpass that of his master.

        Dürer did not invent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the scene comes from the Book of Revelation, a popular source for biblical illustrations in the Middle Ages. (20) _______. Many people believed that it prophesied the end times, and as the year 1500 approached, images of violent events grew increasingly common.

        Born in Nuremberg in 1471, Albrecht Dürer was the son of a goldsmith. (21) _______. As well as creating prints on religious themes, Dürer produced numerous drawings, watercolours, and prints of plants and animals. (22) _______. Dürer died in Nuremberg in 1528, the greatest figure of Renaissance art in northern Europe.

(Adapted from “The Art Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained”, DK)

Question 18. A. Images proliferated rapidly across Europe, with prints marketed both as discrete acquisitions and in curated portfolios

B.  Rapid dissemination of imagery occurred, enabling prints to achieve commercial penetration as standalone works or anthologized collections

C.  Prints circulated individually or as compilations, disseminating imagery with unprecedented velocity throughout European markets

D.  Individual compilations spread with rapidity, whereby prints functioned as marketable imagery across European territories

Question 19. A. Collaborating with Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, Wolgemut executed in excess of 600 woodcut illustrations for incunabula

B.  Wilhelm Pleydenwurff’s partnership yielded over 600 woodcuts, illustrating early printed books through Wolgemut’s technical facility

C.  Early printed volumes featured more than 600 woodcut illustrations, produced through the collaborative efforts of Wolgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff

D.  In conjunction with Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, Wolgemut generated upwards of 600 woodcuts destined for incunabular illustration

Question 20. A. The apocalypse’s vivid imagery in the New Testament captivated medieval artisans, who drew extensively from these descriptions

B.  Medieval artists found themselves drawn to the New Testament’s apocalyptic passages, rendered in arresting visual language

C.  The New Testament book delineates apocalyptic destruction through vivid imagery that proved irresistible to medieval artists

D.  Vivid New Testament apocalyptic descriptions attracted medieval artistic interpretation, describing cataclysmic events in compelling terms

Question 21. A. At fifteen, he commenced apprenticeship under Michael Wolgemut, acquiring mastery of woodcut methodology

B.  Michael Wolgemut received him as an apprentice at age fifteen, during which period woodcut techniques were assimilated

C.  Aged fifteen, apprenticeship under Michael Wolgemut commenced, through which woodcut technical proficiency was cultivated

D.  When fifteen years transpired, Michael Wolgemut accepted him as apprentice, facilitating woodcut technique acquisition

Question 22. A. In 1506, he executed an altarpiece in Venice, responding to Italian critics who had questioned northern artistic sophistication

B.  Venetian critical reception prompted him to paint an altarpiece there in 1506, demonstrating northern technical parity

C.  An altarpiece painted in Venice during 1506 served as his riposte to prevailing critical skepticism

D.  Critics in Venice received response through an altarpiece he created in 1506, validating northern artistic capabilities

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

        Carbon offsetting, broadly construed, enables firms to meet ambitious climate pledges while it galvanizes further abatement by attaching an explicit price to emissions. By purchasing independently verified carbon credits to counterbalance unavoidable releases, companies channel finance into projects that would otherwise struggle to be viable. In this way, offsetting does not trivialize decarbonization; rather, it creates near-term leverage that accelerates the global pivot toward a low-carbon economy and complements internal reductions already under way.

        Operationally, offsetting sits within a continuous cycle: measure the organizational footprint, design a decarbonization pathway, and compensate residual emissions. While offsets cannot single-handedly resolve climate change, they enable immediate action today even as deeper structural cuts are pursued over time. Used judiciously, the mechanism buys time for technology diffusion and behavioral change without displacing hard choices. Companies that embed offsets in strategy signal accountability now, while sequencing investments that deliver absolute reductions later.

        Each carbon credit typically equals one tonne of CO₂-equivalent avoided or removed and is validated to international standards. A stringent regime of third-party audit checks that credits are real, measurable, additional, permanent, verified, and unique. They are listed transparently and retired to prevent double counting. Beyond climate metrics, many programs deliver ancillary gains – cleaner air, enhanced livelihoods, or richer biodiversity – aligning with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening local resilience.

        Project types range from forest protection and land restoration to renewable energy and clean-cooking initiatives, with performance tracked against a baseline and issued as credits in tCO₂e once verified. For organizations, the practical sequence is clear: define and quantify emissions, set reduction targets, cut what can be cut internally, procure high-quality credits under recognized standards, document the retired tonnage, communicate progress to stakeholders, and continue driving down operational and value-chain emissions year on year.

(Adapted from Climate Impact Partners: “Carbon offsetting enables business to meet ambitious climate goals…”)

Question 23. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as a function of carbon offsetting?
A. Meeting ambitious corporate climate commitments.

B.  Putting a price on carbon to drive action.

C.  Directing finance into otherwise unviable projects.

D.  Eliminating the need for internal decarbonization.

Question 24. The word galvanizes in paragraph 1 can be best replaced by ______?

A.  stimulates                B. pacifies                        C. disorganizes                D. isolates

Question 25. The word stringent in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ______.

A.  lax                        B. exacting                        C. rigorous                        D. demanding

Question 26. The word They in paragraph 3 refers to ______.

A.  international standards                                B. project auditors

C.  carbon credits                                        D. emissions inventories

Question 27. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A.  Offsets provide immediate climate benefits that complement, rather than substitute for, gradual systemic decarbonization efforts.

B.  Although offsets are not a total remedy, they permit near-term mitigation while longer-term reductions are developed.

C.  While offsets offer transitional solutions, their effectiveness depends on concurrent progress toward permanent emission reductions.

D.  Offsets facilitate current action without displacing the necessity for comprehensive structural transformation over time.

Question 28. Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 4?

A.  After buying credits, organizations should pause further measures until next year’s reporting cycle begins.

B.  Verified projects receive credits before establishing baselines to accelerate early-stage financing.

C.  Firms are expected to keep cutting internal emissions while reporting retired credits to stakeholders.

D.  Communicating progress is discouraged because credit retirement records are confidential by default.

Question 29. Which paragraph mentions co-benefits for communities and biodiversity alongside climate outcomes?

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

Question 30. Which paragraph mentions practical steps an organization follows to offset its footprint?

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

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.

        A conspicuous shift is underway in corporate sustainability: not so much in deeds as in declarations. This decade’s surveys suggest that while 87% of firms sustain or expand ESG spending, nearly a third speak less about it; likewise, the “Financial Times” notes 71% of America’s fifty largest companies keep climate goals yet scrub “ESG” from public pages, Alphabet included. [I] That ambivalence is often glossed as this quiet confidence – a poise born of action without anthem – though detractors call it opacity masquerading as prudence.

        So what is greenhushing? It is the deliberate soft-pedalling – or outright avoidance – of outward claims about sustainability work. Unlike greenwashing, which over-claims impact, greenhushing understates it even when progress is real. [II] On the surface, such restraint looks like a detox from performative messaging. In practice, it signals a sector wrestling with authenticity under scrutiny: companies fear mischaracterising complex, provisional data while stakeholders, increasingly exacting, expect plain, durable truth over sloganised triumphalism.

        Why the surge? In some markets, ESG has been politicised; public-affairs crossfire and litigation risks nudge executives toward silence. Meanwhile, rules are tightening: the EU’s CSRD, California’s SB 253, and Australia’s nascent sustainability standards elevate disclosure stakes and auditability. [III] Companies treat silence as risk management, yet that tactic incubates other, subtler risks. Internally, shaky emissions baselines, outdated dashboards, and misaligned teams make communicators unsure what can be shared without later retraction or technical caveats.

        Going quiet carries costs: trust erodes when achievements stay invisible; momentum stalls when teams’ toil goes unrecognised; opportunities with investors and partners slip by; and collective learning slows because methods aren’t shared. [IV] Thoughtful transparency, by contrast, is data-backed, plainspoken, candid about obstacles, focused on progress, consistent in cadence, and cross-functional so external words match internal work. The counsel is simple: don’t await perfection – state where you are and how you are moving, then evidence the movement over time.

(Adapted from https://www.zevero.earth/blog/what-is-greenhushing)

Question 31. According to paragraph 1, companies are investing in ESG but ______.

A.  they increasingly overstate outcomes to secure awards and favourable press coverage

B.  they increasingly avoid saying “ESG” to sidestep politicised, distracting controversies

C.  they increasingly outsource disclosures to consultants to evade direct accountability

D.  they increasingly bundle climate targets with marketing campaigns for wider reach

Question 32. The word politicised in paragraph 3 mostly means ______.

A.  highly partisan                                        B. loosely technical

C.  mildly administrative                                D. vaguely ceremonial

Question 33. Which of the following best summarises paragraph 2?

A.  Greenhushing mostly occurs in small firms lacking communication teams and rarely affects multinational corporations that rely on sophisticated communications infrastructure.

B.  Greenhushing and greenwashing are identical practices; both distort impact and should be censured by regulators across international jurisdictions immediately.

C.  Greenhushing, unlike greenwashing, understates progress; restraint can look virtuous but often reflects confusion under scrutiny and fear of misrepresenting complex data.

D.  Greenhushing is primarily a consumer-level problem, arising from misinterpretation of eco-labels and insufficient environmental literacy among retail audiences worldwide.

Question 34. What does the passage say thoughtful transparency should prioritise?

A.  Evidence-based updates, candid hurdle-mapping, steady cadence, and alignment between external promises and internal execution.

B.  Annual press conferences, maximalist claims, polished slogans, and emphasising awards from industry associations.

C.  Outsourcing analytics, generic dashboards, legalese-heavy disclosures, and temporary campaigns during climate summits.

D.  Selective case studies, upbeat anecdotes, influencer partnerships, and embargoed metrics until audits conclude.

Question 35. What is greenhushing?

A.  Overclaiming environmental gains                B. Downplaying bona fide progress        

C.  Pausing all sustainability work                        D. Rebranding emissions as offsets

Question 36. The phrase this quiet confidence in paragraph 1 refers to ______.

A.  scientific certainty                                        B. market dominance

C.  executive hubris                                        D. muted messaging        

Question 37. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A.  Withholding communications appears protective yet paradoxically cultivates latent vulnerabilities, eroding institutional memory and constraining future strategic maneuverability for the organization.

B.  Strategic reticence successfully insulates organizations from scrutiny while fortifying legitimacy, as markets interpret restraint as operational maturity and disciplined governance.

C.  Muted disclosure strategies generate volatility initially but consistently outperform transparency by preserving leverage and enabling adaptive narrative recalibration over time.

D.  Comprehensive communications blackouts allow regulators latitude to overlook deficiencies, neutralizing compliance risks while affording discretionary timelines for metric refinement.

Question 38. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A.  Firms that build transparent habits early will adapt more smoothly as auditing standards harden, reducing disruption when disclosure becomes mandatory across jurisdictions.

B.  Investor appetite for ESG is waning rapidly, so greenhushing primarily reflects shrinking capital markets rather than strategic communication trade-offs by management.

C.  Regulators now discourage data transparency because messy, imperfect baselines cause confusion among consumers and heighten litigation against global enterprises.

D.  The passage implies that robust sustainability metrics are unnecessary provided companies keep communications consistent, plainspoken, and limited to quarterly updates.

Question 39. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

Some executives therefore postpone external statements until metrics are refreshed and internal sign-offs converge.

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

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

A.  Greenhushing reflects a communication shift driven by scrutiny, regulation, and data doubts; silence carries costs, while consistent, honest, evidence-based transparency builds durable credibility.

B.  Greenhushing shows companies abandoning sustainability; communications have no strategic role because investors now discount ESG claims across major markets.

C.  Greenhushing proves marketing is obsolete; only legal teams should manage disclosures as climate reporting becomes purely compliance-driven in every jurisdiction.

D.  Greenhushing validates secrecy as the safest course; organisations should under-report until perfect data emerges and external expectations finally stabilise.