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 recent accolade for director Tran Anh Hung at the Venice Film Festival has cast a renewed spotlight on one of the most singular voices in contemporary cinema. His Best Director award for “The Taste of Things” was not just a personal victory, but a poignant validation of a career built on patience and an uncompromising aesthetic vision. The win has re-ignited conversations about his unique status as a Vietnamese-born filmmaker who has achieved international renown through a quiet, deeply sensory style of storytelling.

His cinematic language was forged early in his career with films like “The Scent of Green Papaya.” Viewers immediately recognized a distinctive sensibility, one that privileges texture, light, and sound over conventional narrative structures. “He composes his films like a painter or a musician,” notes Minh Quan, a Hanoi-based film critic. “The narrative is carried by the visual details—the preparation of a meal, the quality of light through a window, the sound of rain. He trusts the audience to feel the story rather than just follow it.”

A defining characteristic of his work is a nuanced exploration of Vietnamese identity, even when the setting is not Vietnam. He has lived in France for most of his life. However, his films are pervaded by a specific cultural sensibility, a focus on domestic rituals, memory, and a profound reverence for the quiet beauty of everyday life. “Hung’s films gave a generation of overseas Vietnamese artists the courage to tell intimate stories,” says a young independent filmmaker in California. “He showed that cultural identity isn’t about grand statements; it’s in the unadorned, authentic details of how people live.”

In an era of loud, fast-paced blockbuster entertainment, Tran Anh Hung’s success is a testament to the enduring power of a singular artistic focus. He has never acquiesced to commercial pressures, choosing instead to hone his craft and explore his personal themes with meticulous care. His career affirms that a quiet, patient, and deeply personal approach to filmmaking can still resonate on a global stage, creating works that are not just seen, but are viscerally experienced.

(Adapted from Vietnamnet.vn)

Question 1: The word poignant in paragraph 1 can be best replaced by ______.

A. touching B. deserved C. unexpected D. satisfying

Question 2: The word it in paragraph 2 refers to ______.

A. the audience B. the sound of rain C. the narrative D. the story

Question 3: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 as a key element that Tran Anh Hung’s cinematic language prioritizes over conventional narrative?

A. Texture B. Light C. Memory D. Sound

Question 4: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A. His movies are nevertheless saturated with a distinct cultural feeling, characterized by a focus on home life, memory, and deep respect for ordinary beauty.

B. A particular cultural sensibility permeates his films, causing them to focus on domestic routines, the theme of memory, and the profound beauty found in daily life.

C. His films are pervaded by a unique cultural feeling that focuses on domestic rituals and memory, which in turn fosters a deep reverence for everyday beauty.

D. However, his films are pervaded by a specific culture, which possesses a sensibility focused on domestic rituals, memory, and a deep respect for everyday life.

Question 5: The word acquiesced in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ______.

A. ignored B. resisted C. criticized D. followed

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

A. The international renown of Tran Anh Hung’s films is a result of his choice to avoid conventional narrative structures in his early career.

B. The recent award at the Venice Film Festival has given a new generation of overseas Vietnamese artists the courage to tell intimate stories.

C. Throughout his career, Mr. Hung prioritized perfecting artistic methods and exploring personal subjects over yielding to commercial demands.

D. Living in France for most of his life has allowed Tran Anh Hung to develop an aesthetic vision that merges two distinct cultural perspectives.

Question 7: Which paragraph mentions a filmmaking style that requires active interpretation from the viewer?

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

Question 8: Which paragraph mentions finding a culture’s essence in the ordinary aspects of life?

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

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.

CAN AI REPLACE THE ARTIST?

What springs to (9) ________ when we think of the arts? (10) ________ a painting by Monet, a novel by Jane Austen, or even a Beatles album – all created by humans. But today, artificial intelligence is stepping into this space, and many artists feel threatened. Although AI can’t paint on canvas, it can generate impressive images (11) ________ closely resemble real artworks. As a result, many people are now questioning what the future holds for art (12) ________ by human hands. Airbrush artists, for example, worry that AI might replace them or (13) ________ their style. If a machine can create something that looks like a Picasso, why would someone buy the (14) ________?

(Adapted from Harvard Gazette)

Question 9:

A. blow B. taste C. mind D. soul

Question 10:

A. Presumable B. Presumably C. Presuming D. Presumption

Question 11:

A. that B. whose C. whom D. who

Question 12:

A. is creating B. created C. creating D. creates

Question 13:

A. put off B. turn off C. get off D. take off

Question 14:

A. originate B. originally C. original D. originality

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct arrangement of the sentences to make a meaningful exchange or text in each of the following questions from 15 to 19.

Question 15:

A. Today, however, anyone can post content online without verifying the facts, leading to a flood of unreliable information.

B. Misinformation can cause panic during emergencies, influence political decisions, and damage people’s trust in science and authorities.

C. Misinformation is not a new problem, but modern technology has made it much harder to control.

D. It can also contribute to the spread of conspiracy theories, which are often difficult to correct once they become popular.

e. In the past, people received news from newspapers, radio, or television, where professional journalists usually checked information.

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

Question 16:

A. Tom: I think it’s a mix. It helps people stay connected, but it can also lead to misinformation and mental health issues.

B. Emily: Do you think social media has a positive or negative impact on society?

C. Tom: Yes, and people need to be more mindful of how much time they spend online.

D. Emily: It’s important to find a healthy balance between online and offline life.

e. Emily: I agree. There needs to be more responsibility from users and platforms.

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

Question 17:

A. John: I think with the right guidance and self-awareness, even those without natural emotional intelligence can cultivate it over time.

B. Olivia: True, but some argue that it’s hard to teach someone to be emotionally intelligent if they don’t already possess those traits.

C. John: Emotional intelligence is often overlooked, but it’s essential for leadership and creating harmonious work environments.

A. a–c–b B. c–a–b C. b–c–a D. c–b–a

Question 18:

Hey Sarah,

A. I am writing to formally request time off from work for personal reasons.

B. I would like to take two days off, from December 5th to December 7th.

C. I hope you are doing well.

D. During this time, I will make sure to complete any pending tasks and ensure that my duties are covered.

e. Please let me know if this request is possible. I appreciate your understanding and support.

Best regards,
John Mitchell

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

Question 19:

A. The Allied occupation, led by the United States, played a pivotal role in rebuilding the nation.

B. By the 1970s, Japan had transformed into the world’s second-largest economy, a testament to its resilience and adaptability.

C. Following its surrender in 1945, Japan faced immense challenges: cities lay in ruins, the economy was in a shambles, and millions of people were left homeless.

D. Japan’s recovery after World War II stands as one of the most remarkable stories of resilience and transformation in modern history.

e. Today, Japan continues to be a symbol of recovery and progress, inspiring nations with its ability to overcome adversity and build a prosperous future.

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

Climate change deniers often propagate the argument that rising CO2 levels are beneficial, fostering plant growth and a “greener” Earth that will absorb more emissions. Their reasoning cites an observable, if incomplete, fact: for many decades, the Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems have indeed been flourishing. [I] Forests and grasslands have acted as a vast carbon sink, sequestering prodigious quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere and ameliorating the full brunt of fossil fuel use.

The discovery of this net carbon absorption in the 1960s came as a profound surprise to ecologists. Standard models had long presumed a state of equilibrium, theorizing that any CO2 uptake from growth would be rapidly nullified by decomposition and burning. [II] “There shouldn’t be sinks. Everything that grows, dies,” explains atmospheric scientist Scott Denning. Yet, this unexpected planetary boon has proven indispensable. It has historically removed between a quarter and a third of all human-generated CO2 emissions annually, providing a crucial climate buffer that has effectively slowed the pace of global warming.

The critical flaw in the denialist reasoning is the fallacious assumption that the land sink’s capacity is permanent. Scientists have long warned that ecological shocks from climate change, combined with Earth’s physical limits, would eventually cause the sink to saturate sometime this century. [III] Worryingly, new data indicate the saturation point may be arriving far sooner than any model anticipated. Alarming measurements from 2023 and 2024 reveal that the land carbon sink has, for this period, almost completely dissipated, failing to absorb its usual share of emissions.

The abrupt collapse of one of the planet’s most vital climate regulators has sent shockwaves through the scientific community. Researchers are now intensively scrutinizing data from disparate environments, from Arctic tundra to tropical rainforests. The goal is to understand the intricate mechanisms governing this precarious equilibrium. [IV] The exigent questions are whether the recent collapse is a transient anomaly or the harbinger of a permanent, irreversible shift. The scientific community must now race to determine if this is the end of Earth’s land carbon sink, and what, if anything, can be done to bolster it.

Question 20: According to paragraph 1, the observed flourishing of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems has had the effect of ______.

A. fostering the growth of a “greener” Earth that will absorb more emissions
B. proving that rising CO2 levels are beneficial for fostering plant growth
C. citing an observable, if incomplete, fact to support a popular argument
D. lessening the total atmospheric harm caused by human fossil fuel consumption

Question 21: The word propagate in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. disseminate B. invent C. distort D. refute

Question 22: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 2?

A. Ecologists' surprise in the 1960s at net carbon uptake indicated decomposition was less efficient than thought, explaining how land sinks could effectively moderate atmospheric CO2 levels from human industrial activity.

B. The 1960s discovery of a carbon sink revealed a helpful planetary function, a natural ‘gift’ overlooked by early ecological models but essential in slowing the rate of global warming caused by decades of human CO2 emissions.

C. Defying older equilibrium models, the 1960s carbon sink finding showed growth exceeded decay rates, forming a key climate buffer that historically absorbed a large fraction of yearly human CO2 output from fossil fuel burning.

D. The unexpected finding in the 1960s that land systems take up net carbon, defying equilibrium theories, showed a crucial natural service that has substantially curbed yearly human CO2 impacts by acting as a buffer.

Question 23: The word It in paragraph 2 refers to ______.

A. CO2 uptake B. the boon C. a climate buffer D. global warming

Question 24: What logic underpinned the earlier scientific belief in a stable carbon cycle?

A. The crucial climate buffer provided annually by Earth's forests and grasslands.
B. The concept that carbon release from decay counteracts absorption during growth.
C. The discovery that terrestrial ecosystems were unexpectedly absorbing net carbon.
D. The argument that increased CO2 levels are beneficial for overall plant health.

Question 25: What alarming implication arises from the new data concerning the land sink's limits?

A. The long-held scientific warning about saturation possibly occurring this century.
B. The near-complete failure to absorb its typical share of emissions recently.
C. The suggestion that its breakdown is happening much faster than anticipated.
D. The possibility that the recent system collapse represents a temporary anomaly.

Question 26: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. The current decline is being viewed as both a temporary abnormality and also the precursor to an enduring, unchangeable transformation.

B. The recent collapse is the most urgent issue because it is a fleeting abnormality that could eventually signal a permanent, unchangeable transformation.

C. The main question is how the recent collapse, a temporary abnormality, can be the harbinger of a permanent, unchangeable transformation.

D. Whether the current downturn is a fleeting irregularity or the precursor to a lasting, unchangeable transformation is now the pressing uncertainty.

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

A. The persuasive power of the climate denialist argument hinges on misrepresenting a temporary natural buffer as a stable, long-term fixture.

B. The early scientific view of carbon equilibrium arose from incomplete modelling of global plant decomposition and combustion rates.

C. Recent climate shocks have now demonstrably crippled the land's ongoing capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2 at its historical rate.

D. The climate denialist position is flawed for failing to grasp how CO2's greening effect leads directly to the carbon sink's eventual saturation.

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

What was once a distant concern has become an immediate one.

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

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

A. The idea that rising CO2 is beneficial ignores the impermanence of the land carbon sink; its recent, sharp decline represents a dangerous weakening of Earth's climate regulation, signaling a potential breakdown in planetary stability due to human impacts.

B. The denialist claim favoring CO2 overlooks the fact that Earth's vital land carbon sink, an unexpected buffer against emissions, appears to be rapidly weakening much earlier than predicted, causing significant scientific concern about its future stability.

C. Although land systems once absorbed considerable human CO2, this effect is fading; the sink's recent near-disappearance is attributed to the mounting ecological shocks from climate change, confirming earlier scientific predictions about its eventual saturation.

D. The unexpected land carbon sink that buffered emissions is diminishing faster than models suggested, according to new data, a worrying trend implying that Earth's natural buffering capacities against human impact are weaker than previously estimated.

Read the leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 30 to 35.

How to Find the Cheapest Flights

Book at the right time

Airlines often release their cheapest tickets around 6 to 8 weeks before departure, especially (30) ______ domestic travel. Try booking on mid-week days like Tuesday or Wednesday (31) ______ demand is lower and fares tend to drop. Avoid peak seasons such as major holidays, school breaks, and weekends, when prices usually surge, (32) ______ flexible travelers find better deals simply by adjusting their dates slightly. Set fare alerts to monitor drops over time.

Use the right tools

Flight comparison sites like Google Flights, Momondo, and Skyscanner can help you scan (33) ______ of airlines instantly for the lowest fares. Use private browsing or incognito mode to avoid (34) ______ from repeated searches.

Be flexible with airports and routes

Flexibility can lead to (35) ______ savings. Consider flying to nearby airports instead of only focusing on the main hub – smaller terminals often have lower landing fees and cheaper flights.

(Adapted from Investopedia)

Question 30:
A. with   B. of   C. for   D. over

Question 31:
A. when   B. lest   C. after   D. but

Question 32:
A. Much   B. Little   C. Few   D. Many

Question 33:
A. lots   B. dozens   C. amounts   D. deals

Question 34:
A. increases price sudden B. sudden price increases

C. price sudden increases D. sudden increases price

Question 35:
A. significant   B. elegant   C. magnificent   D. efficient

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.

In recent years, urban planning has seen a significant push towards sustainability through the creation of urban green spaces like parks and community gardens, (36) ______. These developments, however, which are often backed by significant public and private investment, (37) ______ in the surrounding neighborhoods. This economic shift frequently results in the displacement of long-term, lower-income residents who can no longer afford the rising cost of living.

(38) ______, where the pursuit of environmental good leads to unintended negative social consequences. This issue presents urban planners and policymakers with a difficult question. (39) ______. Finding this delicate balance is crucial for the future of sustainable urban development. (40) ______.

(Adapted from ScienceDirect)

Question 36:
A. the benefits of which are all cited for resident well-being and local ecosystems
B. all of which cite benefits for the well-being of residents and local ecosystems
C. where cited benefits are for the well-being of all residents and local ecosystems
D. the citation of them has benefits for all residents and their local ecosystem’s well-being

Question 37:
A. triggers an inadvertent and sharp increase in property values and rental costs
B. being an inadvertent sharp trigger for an increase in property values and rental costs
C. can inadvertently trigger a sharp increase in property values and rental costs
D. a sharp and inadvertent increase in property values and rental costs is triggered

Question 38:

A. This phenomenon, known as ‘green gentrification’, highlights a complex urban paradox.

B.  ‘Green gentrification’ is a complex phenomenon known as a paradox highlighted by this.

C. The highlight of this complex phenomenon is a paradox that is known as ‘green gentrification’.

D. This complex paradox is highlighted by a phenomenon that is known as ‘green gentrification’.

Question 39:

A. How to pursue the displacement of residents without causing involuntary urban greening is the question.

B. The pursuit of urban greening is a question of how to cause involuntary resident displacement.

C. Involuntary resident displacement is caused by the question of how to pursue urban greening.

D. The question is how to pursue urban greening without causing involuntary resident displacement.

Question 40:

A. The sacrifice of equitable goals for the sake of urban development must be made under no circumstances.

B. Under no circumstances the goal of equity must be sacrificed for the sake of urban development.

C. A sacrificial goal for urban making must be developed under no circumstances for the sake of equity.

D. Under no circumstances must the goal of equity be sacrificed for the sake of urban development.