Question 3: A. It is the unspoken economic privilege required for such a choice that critics often cite as the lifestyle's central flaw B. T...

Question 16:

A. Mark: Good idea. I'll go check out that model this afternoon.

B. Mark: My old laptop is getting painfully slow. I think it's finally time for an upgrade.

C. Lisa: I've heard really good reviews about that new lightweight one that just came out. Have you considered it?

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

Question 17:

Dear Mr. Evans,

A. We were particularly impressed with your comprehensive portfolio and the thoughtful insights you shared during the interview.

B. We will, however, retain your application in our talent pool for six months and encourage you to apply for future roles.

C. While your profile is certainly strong, the hiring committee has decided to move forward with another candidate whose experience in B2B marketing more closely aligns with our immediate needs.

D. Thank you for your interest in the Marketing Coordinator position at our company and for taking the time to speak with our team.

e. We wish you the very best of luck in your current job search and future professional endeavors

Sincerely, Human Resources Department

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 18:

A. E-sports is now recognized as a legitimate, highly profitable professional industry, far from its hobbyist roots.

B. These vital initiatives have helped create a much healthier and more sustainable environment for the athletes.

C. To address the physical decline, professional teams began hiring full-time nutritionists and physical therapists.

D. Simultaneously, to combat social isolation, organizations started investing heavily in team housing and mandatory group activities.

e. As competitive gaming evolved into a global phenomenon, it faced two critical challenges: the declining physical health of its players and their profound isolation.

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

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 19 to 28.

The daily act of purchasing food has become a source of considerable apprehension for many urban consumers. At bustling local markets, produce is piled high, appearing vibrant and unblemished. Yet, a pervasive skepticism lingers. [I] Shoppers meticulously examine items, questioning the unnatural sheen on a tomato or the uniformity of a batch of fruit. A deep-seated public anxiety has developed, rooted in the widespread concern over what is not visible. The fear pertains to the prolific and often unregulated application of chemicals in modern agriculture.

Economic pressures on small-scale farmers often incentivize practices that prioritize high yields over consumer safety. The quest for a rapid, visually perfect harvest can lead to the excessive use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, often applied improperly or too close to the harvest date. [II] Reports frequently surface of illicit chemical agents being used to accelerate ripening or artificially enhance the color of produce. Regulatory oversight for such a vast, fragmented agricultural system remains exceedingly difficult to enforce. Produce with high chemical residues, therefore, often enters the consumer market undetected, posing a significant public health risk.

In response, a parallel market for "organic" or "safe" vegetables has proliferated, with specialty stores charging a substantial premium for their products. Establishments of this kind promise transparency and traceability, appealing to a growing demographic of health-conscious, affluent shoppers. [III] However, a deep vein of cynicism persists among the general populace. The high cost of such goods makes them inaccessible to the average family. Furthermore, the opaque nature of "organic" certification itself is often called into question, leaving consumers dubious as to whether the expensive produce is genuinely safer or merely aspirational branding.

A corrosive lack of confidence in the national food supply chain has begun to permeate society. Families must navigate a daily, stressful gauntlet of decisions, attempting to mitigate invisible dangers in their own kitchens. The simple, communal joy of a shared meal is often overshadowed by discussions of potential contamination and safety concerns. [IV] The situation fosters a sense of helplessness, where the average citizen feels they lack the agency to guarantee the well-being of their own family, even with the most fastidious preparation.

(Adapted from ScienceDirect)

Question 19: According to paragraph 1, the anxiety shoppers experience at local markets is often caused by a disconnect between ________.

A. the act of carefully inspecting produce and the shoppers' underlying skepticism
B. the high volume of available produce and the rising cost of fresh ingredients
C. an item's pristine external condition and the fear of its invisible chemical treatments
D. the unregulated use of farm chemicals and the resulting health repercussion

Question 20: What actions do shoppers take in response to their skepticism at markets?

A. The purchase of premium-priced goods from specialty "safe" food stores.
B. The careful inspection of produce for unnatural visual characteristics.
C. The daily, stressful navigation of decisions to mitigate invisible dangers.
D. The improper application of chemicals too close to the harvest date.

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

A. Economic strains often compel farmers to use excessive or illegal chemicals to maximize yields, but enforcement challenges in a disjointed system mean this hazardous produce frequently reaches consumers.

B. The conflict stems from unethical farmers who knowingly use illicit chemicals to maximize profits, a practice that highlights the complete failure of the nation's fragmented regulatory oversight system.

C. Economic pressures on farmers, combined with their lack of technical knowledge on chemical application, lead to the overuse of pesticides, creating a situation where unsafe produce easily enters the market.

D. The difficulty in enforcing regulations in a fragmented system is a key driver of the conflict, as this situation allows illicit ripening agents to be widely used by farmers facing significant economic hardship.

Question 22: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a dangerous farming technique that farmers are driven to use due to financial hardship?

A. Applying pesticides improperly B. Using agents to accelerate ripening
C. Using chemicals to enhance color D. Using genetically modified seeds

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 1 to 5.

The contemporary interest in minimalism is a conscious rejection of modern consumerism. Adopting this lifestyle often requires downsizing personal possessions, learning to distinguish "need" from "want", an internal dialogue that is often the most difficult part of the process, and (1) ________, actions that proponents claim are essential for reclaiming mental clarity.

While this philosophy promises freedom, a goal that is highly appealing in a chaotic world, the actual practice can become its own form of obsession, (2) ________. The focus can shift from "being more" to "owning less" in a competitive way.

Critics also point out that minimalism is often a luxury afforded only to those who have already accumulated significant wealth. (3) ________. An affluent individual choosing to own only three shirts makes a different statement than a person who can only afford three. (4) ________. This distinction is often lost in glossy social media portrayals of the lifestyle.

A truly mindful life, the intended outcome of the philosophy, is one where the pursuit of material goods ceases to be a measure of success, which is a radical departure from the modern norm, and (5) ________, a state of being that enables a focus on community and personal growth.

(Adapted from ResearchGate)

Question 1:

A. the deep meaning of material acquisitions rather than the mere prioritization of experiences

B. prioritizing deeply meaningful experiences over the mere acquisition of material goods

C. is materially acquisitive of deeply meaningful goods rather than prioritizing mere experiences

D. acquire material goods with deep meaning over merely experiencing or prioritizing them

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 14 to 18.

Question 14:

A. I found a tiny studio apartment online and packed everything I owned into my small car for the long drive.

B. The first few weeks were incredibly lonely; I struggled with navigating the subway and the constant city noise.

C. That experience taught me that "home" isn't just a place, but something you have to actively build through community.

D. After graduating from university, I decided to move to a big city for better job prospects, even though I knew no one there.

e. Instead of just staying isolated in my flat, I joined a local sports club and started volunteering on weekends.

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 15:

A. Anna: Yes, it's a daily battle. They insist they need their tablets for 'homework', but I always find them watching videos.

B. Ben: I know, but I also worry that if we ban them completely, they'll fall behind their friends who are all so tech-savvy.

C. Ben: Do you find it difficult to manage how much time our kids spend on their devices?

D. Ben: That sounds like a fair compromise. It's about teaching them balance, not just restriction.

e. Anna: That's a good point. Maybe the solution is not a total ban, but a strict "no-screen" rule during dinner and one hour before bed.

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