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 1 to 8.

The familiar sounds of urban sports centers have undergone a sudden and audible alteration. The deep, rhythmic thud of tennis balls is increasingly drowned out by a hollow, high-pitched clatter. Tennis courts, once the exclusive preserve of a specific sporting elite, are being aggressively partitioned to accommodate a frenzied influx of new players holding rectangular paddles. Pickleball has arrived with startling velocity, colonizing parks and residential zones with a zeal that rivals any major fitness craze of the past decade.

The sport's explosive popularity stems from its remarkably low barrier to entry. Unlike tennis, which demands months of practice to achieve even basic competence, pickleball allows a complete novice to sustain a rally within minutes. The gameplay is intuitive and less physically punishing than other racket sports, creating an unusually egalitarian playing field. Grandparents can competitively engage with teenagers, and corporate teams find it an accessible avenue for bonding. The court becomes a space of spirited amusement rather than rigorous athletic discipline.

A current of contentiousness, however, runs through the public discourse surrounding the game. Social media platforms are awash with derision directed at the sport's more performative participants. Critics argue the courts have degenerated into mere backdrops for sartorial display, where ostentatious sportswear takes precedence over athletic effort. The "check-in" culture associated with the trend has sparked a heated debate about propriety and the commercialization of public leisure spaces. Purists of traditional sports view the encroachment of pickleball with undisguised skepticism.

Regardless of the cynicism, the vitality on the courts is undeniable. Empty, underutilized concrete spaces are now teeming with activity until late at night. The game has successfully mobilized a sedentary segment of the population that previously found gym culture intimidating or boring. Whether the sport proves to be a durable addition to the national lifestyle or a passing fad remains to be seen, but for now, it has effectively reinvigorated the communal spirit of the city's recreational zones.

(Adapted from Cambridge English)

Question 1: The word startling in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. astonishing B. threatening C. increasing D. consistent

Question 2: The word awash in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ______.

A. devoid B. critical C. obsessed D. connected

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

A. The contention among detractors is that athletic arenas have regressed into simple stages for fashion exhibition, with flashy attire outweighing sporting exertion.

B. Athletic venues are said by commentators to have degraded into mere settings for style presentation, where expensive gear matters more than sporting endeavor.

C. In the eyes of some renowned observers, the courts have evolved into simple backgrounds for clothing showcases, favoring gaudy sportswear above athletic hard work.

D. What some are arguing is that venues have become simple platforms for displaying clothing, where showy gear overshadows player capability rather than effort.

Question 4: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a positive effect of the pickleball craze?

A. The activation of underutilized spaces
B. The mobilization of sedentary individuals
C. The reinvigoration of communal spirit
D. The improvement of cardiovascular health

Question 5: The word it in paragraph 4 refers to ______.

A. the sport B. the national lifestyle
C. a passing fad D. the communal spirit

Question 6: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The distinctive acoustic character of tennis courts is fading because elite players are increasingly adopting the use of rectangular paddles.

B. Pickleball's structural simplicity facilitates an inclusive environment where distinct age groups can engage in competitive play on equal terms.

C. Online ridicule directed at performative participants has resulted in the implementation of strict commercial regulations for public spaces.

D. The heated public debate regarding propriety is being driven by corporate sponsors aiming to maximize their commercial visibility.

Question 7: Which paragraph mentions a distinct shift in the noises heard at athletic venues?

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

Question 8: Which paragraph mentions the participation of a group that usually avoids exercise?

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

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 9 to 14.

The True Cost of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion has transformed the clothing industry, churning out affordable styles at unprecedented speeds. With new collections arriving every week, brands produce a huge (9) ________ of garments to meet consumer demand. The main (10) ________ of this model is the incredibly low price, which encourages shoppers to buy more than they need.

However, this convenience comes at a cost. The clothes, (11) ________ in overseas factories with poor safety standards, often rely on synthetic fabrics. This leads to massive amounts of textile waste, (12) ________ ends up in landfills or polluting the oceans.

Furthermore, the negative environmental impact is often (13) ________ by flashy advertising campaigns that promote a “green” image. As awareness grows, many conscious consumers are now being urged to (14) ________ from this harmful cycle of overconsumption.

(Adapted from Bridging The Gap)

Question 9:  A. volume B. amount C. level D. deal

Question 10:  A. attract B. attractive C. attraction D. attractively

Question 11: A. manufactured B. manufacturing C. are manufactured D. which manufacturing

Question 12: A. who B. which C. that D. what

Question 13: A. overwhelmed B. overcome C. overthrown D. overshadowed

Question 14: A. drive away B. pass away C. walk away D. fade away

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 15 to 19.

Question 15:

A. Stepping onto the stage, the bright lights blinded me, and I felt my heart pounding violently in my chest.

B. The terrifying reality was that my mind went completely blank, and the silence in the room felt deafening.

C. Although the speech was far from perfect, that moment proved to me that I could face my biggest fear and survive.

D. I had always been paralyzed by the thought of public speaking, avoiding it whenever possible throughout my school years.

e. Instead of running away, I took a deep shaky breath, focused on a friendly face in the front row, and forced myself to speak.

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

Question 16:

A. Sarah: Not entirely. I see AI more as a powerful tool that will automate boring tasks rather than taking our roles.

B. Tom: I hope so, but I'm still concerned that relying on it too much might eventually kill our own creativity.

C. Tom: Do you worry that artificial intelligence might eventually replace human workers in our industry?

D. Tom: Exactly, so the future is probably about learning to collaborate with technology, not competing against it.

e. Sarah: That's a valid point; we must ensure we use it to support our ideas, not generate them for us.

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

Question 17:

A. John: I agree. I'll make a real effort to be more patient and listen next time.

B. John: I'm sorry for snapping at you yesterday; I was just really stressed with the deadline.

C. Mary: I understand. Let's just make sure we communicate better when we're under pressure.

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

Question 18:

Dear Ms. Johnson,

A. During this six-month placement, you will be interning at a leading fashion house in central Paris.

B. To secure your spot, please sign and return the attached acceptance form by June 15th.

C. Additionally, accommodation has been arranged for you with a local host family to ensure full cultural immersion.

D. We are pleased to inform you that your application for the Global Cultural Exchange Program has been successful.

e. If you require any further information regarding the program, please feel free to email our coordination team.

Sincerely,
Program Director

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

Question 19:

A. These rituals transform a simple exchange into a profound gesture that strengthens social harmony and mutual respect.

B. Furthermore, the etiquette of receiving is equally important, often requiring the recipient to politely refuse initially to show modesty.

C. In Japan, for example, the presentation is paramount; the visual appearance is often viewed as part of the gift itself.

D. Therefore, items are meticulously wrapped in high-quality paper or traditional cloth, symbolizing deep respect for the receiver.

e. In many cultures, the act of giving a gift is governed by a complex set of unwritten social rules beyond just the value of the item.

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

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 20 to 29.

Residents in destinations ranging from Barcelona to Kyoto now express open animosity toward the annual summer influx. The saturation of historic districts with visitors has rendered daily logistics impractical for the permanent population. Public transport systems operate beyond capacity, while narrow streets become impassable bottlenecks due to the sheer density of human traffic. The dominant mood in these locations has mutated from hospitality into confrontation. [I] Local citizens organize protests and demand stringent limits, viewing the unending arrival of cruise ships and tour groups not as an economic boon, but as a direct threat to their daily livability.

A forced reconfiguration of the urban landscape is underway. Essential services like hardware stores and medical clinics are vanishing, replaced systematically by souvenir vendors and high-margin cafes. The functional utility of the neighborhood for its long-term inhabitants dissipates. Simultaneously, the conversion of residential apartments into short-term holiday rentals removes vast quantities of housing stock from the market. [II] Rents subsequently rise to prohibitive levels. Working-class families are compelled to migrate to the periphery, leaving the center populated largely by transients. The city core ceases to function as a community and becomes a zone dedicated exclusively to commerce.

Modern travel behavior frequently aggravates this friction. Visitors often engage with the destination in a perfunctory manner, prioritizing the acquisition of specific photographs over genuine cultural immersion. Such conduct results in extreme congestion at photogenic chokepoints while adjacent streets remain empty. [III] The interaction with the local populace is minimal and transactional. Residents report feeling treated as unpaid background actors in a visitor’s social media content. The civic reciprocity required to maintain a functioning urban environment is frequently absent, leading to persistent issues with noise, waste, and disorderly conduct.

Municipal authorities are responding with exclusionary administrative measures. Cities like Venice have implemented entry fees, effectively monetizing access to public spaces. Other destinations are erecting physical barriers or rigidly restricting access to streets. Such policies explicitly prioritize high-spending travelers while deterring budget tourists. [IV] The risk lies in altering the status of historic cities from living communities into enclosed, paid venues accessible only to the affluent. A fundamental query faces these municipalities: can they remain functioning cities for their citizens, or are they destined to serve merely as scenic backdrops for global consumption?

(Adapted from Travel News)

Question 20: According to paragraph 1, the transition of local sentiment toward the seasonal tourist surge from acceptance to active resistance is rooted in ______.

A. the organized demands for strict limitations on the arrival of cruise ships
B. the erosion of residential livability caused by the overwhelming volume of outsiders
C. an open display of hostility that replaces the former culture of hospitality
D. the restrictions preventing local residents from accessing public transport systems

Question 21: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 2?

A. Transforming centers into commercial zones replaces old services, a modernization process that requires working-class families to relocate to more affordable peripheral areas located outside the city core.

B. The loss of essential services significantly reduces the center’s appeal for locals, a decline which in turn allows landlords to convert increasing numbers of apartments into short-term holiday rentals.

C. Commercial shifts are displacing local amenities while vacation rentals deplete housing stock, creating prohibitively high costs that compel long-term residents to effectively migrate out of the city center.

D. The landscape’s reconfiguration is motivated by a lack of zoning laws, allowing rentals to monopolize the housing stock and leaving the city center functionally uninhabitable for its original residents.

Question 22: The word its in paragraph 2 refers to ______.

A. functional utility B. urban landscape C. the neighborhood D. reconfiguration

Question 23: What factor compels working-class families to leave the city centers?

A. The overwhelming congestion found on narrow streets and public transit lines.
B. The skyrocketing expense of living caused by a reduced supply of homes.
C. The introduction of new restrictions limiting access to certain city zones.
D. The lack of mutual respect shown by the temporary visitor population.

Question 24: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A. Engagement with the location is often superficial, as travelers prioritize the technical quality of their photos over authentic cultural immersion.

B. The destination is approached in a selective manner by visitors, who have a preference for getting specific snapshots over genuine cultural absorption.

C. Tourists frequently treat locations with superficial regard, valuing the capture of particular images more than the experience of true cultural depth.

D. Prioritizing the capture of specific snapshots leads visitors to interact with local residents shallowly, instead of seeking genuine cultural immersion.

Question 25: What complaint do residents voice regarding their interaction with modern tourists?

A. The systematic replacement of essential services with high-margin souvenir vendors.
B. The perception of being utilized as mere background props for online content.
C. The overwhelming saturation of public transport systems beyond their designed capacity.
D. The extreme congestion occurring at specific photogenic chokepoints in the city.

Question 26: The word destined in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. fated B. forced C. designed D. willing

Question 27: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The transition to high-margin cafes is a strategic pivot by local business owners aiming to target the lucrative tourist demographic.

B. The severe overcrowding of public transport has forced the local workforce to adopt private commuting methods for their daily routine.

C. The strategy of monetizing access functions as a financial filter that effectively restricts entry to a specific economic class of visitors.

D. The congestion at specific photogenic sites results from zoning measures designed to channel visitors away from adjacent residential streets.

Question 28: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

The ensuing scarcity ignites fierce competition for the remaining accommodation.

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

Question 29: Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Residents in historic cities are now engaging in open conflict with tourists due to logistical failures, a situation that has forced municipal authorities to prioritize the economic benefits of high-spending visitors over the daily needs of the local population.

B. Mass tourism has generated deep community resentment and physical displacement, a situation worsened by shallow visitor engagement and leading to restrictive policies that threaten to reduce living cities into hollowed-out attractions.

C. The saturation of historic districts is driven by housing conversions, a profitable trend that is supposedly fueled by the superficial behavior of visitors who prioritize creating social media content over genuine cultural engagement with the destination.

D. Overtourism has rendered daily life impracticable for residents and displaced essential services, leading experts to conclude that banning large cruise ships and tour groups is a necessary step to restore the functional utility of historic urban centers.

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 30 to 35.

How to Survive a High-Rise Fire Emergency?

Living in high-rise apartments offers modern convenience, but it also comes with specific risks that require vigilance. (30) ______, many residents overlook safety protocols until disaster strikes. Being safe starts with not being indifferent (31) ______ the building’s regulations. Here are critical steps to ensure your survival:

• Familiarize yourself with the layout. In dense smoke, there is often (32) ______ visibility, so knowing your escape route by heart is vital.

• Equip your home with (33) ______. Do not block them with furniture or personal items.

• Panic is your worst enemy. Reacting impulsively can be (34) ______ to your chances of survival; stay calm and follow instructions.

• Never use the elevator during a fire. Taking such a risk is akin to throwing caution to the (35) ______ and gambling with your life.

(Adapted from WhatIfshow.com)

Question 30:
A. For example B. Similarly C. Nevertheless D. Consequently

Question 31:
A. with B. to C. from D. of

Question 32:
A. a few B. many C. little D. every

Question 33:
A. accessible emergency exits B. emergency accessible exits
C. exits accessible emergency D. accessible exits emergency

Question 34:
A. instrumental B. detrimental C. monumental D. fundamental

Question 35:
A. wind B. fire C. sky D. air

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 36 to 40.

The contemporary digital landscape has evolved into a perilous environment where the proliferation of remote work has exponentially expanded the attack surface. This exposure, compounded by a reliance on legacy systems that lack agility, subjects organizations to sophisticated cyber threats, (36) ______, necessitating a fundamental overhaul of defense mechanisms away from traditional perimeter-based models.

While robust encryption creates a formidable barrier against unauthorized intrusion, it remains a pervasive reality that employees lacking vigilance, even when provided with comprehensive policy guidelines regarding data privacy, (37) ______, thereby rendering technical defenses futile against social engineering. This human vulnerability underscores why security cannot be purely technological. (38) ______. Consequently, organizations must pivot towards a holistic strategy that integrates psychological resilience with technical fortification.

However, convincing stakeholders to allocate funds remains difficult, as returns are rarely immediate. (39) ______. Without this prioritization, companies risk not only monetary loss but irrevocable reputational damage. In a marketplace where consumer confidence is fragile, mere compliance is insufficient; rather, in an era defined by skepticism, (40) ______, a distinction that elevates resilient enterprises above negligent ones.

(Adapted from ResearchGate)

Question 36:

A. some of them are inherently specific targets of vulnerabilities in cloud computing environments

B. while they specifically target inherent cloud computing environments in vulnerabilities

C. many of which target specific vulnerabilities inherent in cloud computing environments

D. and targeting the environmental vulnerabilities specific to inherent cloud computing

Question 37:

A. can inadvertently compromise sensitive data through a single lapse in judgment

B. is inadvertent in their compromise of sensitive data through a single lapse in judgment

C. compromising judgment inadvertently through a single lapse in sensitive data

D. inadvertently compromising sensitive data will be a single lapse in judgment

Question 38:

A. A stark illustration of this precarious reality is the increasing prevalence of ransomware attacks

B. This precarious reality illustrates the stark increase in the prevalence of ransomware attacks

C. Illustrative of the increasing prevalence of ransomware attacks is the starkness of this precarious reality

D. An increasing prevalence of stark ransomware attacks illustrates the precariousness of this reality

Question 39:

A. Substantial as the required financial investment may be, the creation of long-term value is undeniable

B. The undeniable creation of financial value may require substantial investment, however long-term it may be

C. Creating substantial long-term value may be the undeniable requirement of financial investment, however

D. The financial requirement is undeniable, though substantially, the creation of long-term value is invested

Question 40:

A. only by safeguarding proprietary integrity can organizations truly substantiate their worth

B. it is by the safeguard of integrated properties that organizations truly substantiate their worthiness

C. organizations can give substance to their worth only by ensuring the safety of proprietary integrity

D. the safeguarding of proprietary integration is the only way organizations are truly substantially worthy