Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences...

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.

        With smokers flicking an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts – or discarded cigarette ends – into the environment each year, it is time to take a firmer stand against this toxin-laden form of litter. These butts are essentially small toxic waste sites containing harmful chemicals and heavy metals, according to researchers. Especially problematic are the plastic filters found on many cigarettes, (18) ____________. In fact, the filters accumulate toxins and can release chemicals for a decade. As millions of tons of butts end up on sidewalks, roadsides, and beaches, tobacco waste carries a high potential for contamination. (19) ____________ during coastal cleanups, accounting for 19 percent to 38 percent of the global total.

        (20) ____________. This is because discarded cigarette ends are not usually classified in the same way as other forms of toxic waste. Thus, reducing the threat will require new environmental measures and closer cooperation between anti-smoking and environmental groups. Gentler approaches could include (21) ____________ their cigarette butts into waste bins. At the same time, more far-reaching regulation should also be considered. Governments could ban filtered cigarettes, for instance, or require tobacco companies to take back their waste and pay the cost of cleanups. (22) ____________.

(Adapted from Conservation Magazine)

Question 18: 

A. these have long been falsely claimed by manufacturers making smoking safer

B. which manufacturers have long falsely claimed make smoking safer

C. which manufacturers have long falsely claimed making smoking safer

D. manufacturers have long falsely claimed them to make smoking safer

Question 19: 

A. In contrast, the largest single collected category of trash is cigarette litter

B. In other words, the single largest category of trash to collect is cigarette litter

C. Otherwise, cigarette litter is the largest single category of trash to be collected

D. Indeed, cigarette litter is the single largest category of trash collected

Question 20: 

A. Although the issue is worrying, it has always not been prioritized for environmental treatment

B. Despite being worrying, the issue has always not been treated as an environmental priority

C. While worrying, not always has the issue been prioritized for environmental treatment

D. Worrying though the issue is, it has not always been treated as an environmental priority

Question 21: 

A. using both advertisements to educate smokers about the risks and persuading them into putting

B. both using advertisements to educate smokers about the risks and to persuade them to put

C. using advertisements to both educate smokers about the risks and to persuade them to put

D. using advertisements both to educate smokers about the risks and to persuade them into putting

Question 22: 

A. Even environmental groups sue for ecological damages

B. Even ecological damages will be sued by environmental groups

C. Environmental groups even might sue for ecological damages

D. Environmental groups could even sue for ecological damages

Read the following 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.

        Many extinct species – from passenger pigeons to woolly mammoths – may now be reclassified as “bodily, but not genetically, extinct”, since their DNA can still be recovered from fossil specimens up to 200,000 years old. Developments in genetic technology may one day help bring such animals back to life. Only species whose DNA is too old to recover, such as dinosaurs, should be regarded as truly extinct.

        The attempt to bring vanished creatures back to life will be expensive, technically difficult, and time-consuming, with no guarantee of success, so what makes it worthwhile? That something as final as extinction might be reversed, so that mammoths and passenger pigeons could be seen alive again, evokes the awe and wonder that drive all conservation at its deepest level.

        Furthermore, the same logic underlying initiatives to protect endangered species applies to de-extinction plans: to restore and preserve biodiversity, advance scientific knowledge, and undo previous destruction. In this sense, resurrected species could become beacons of hope. While close examination of extinct species’ genomes can speak volumes about what made them vulnerable in the first place, living specimens would reveal even more. De-extinction techniques would also be directly applicable to critically endangered species, helping restore their genetic diversity. Lastly, as some extinct species once played vital roles in their ecosystems, bringing them back could also revive ecological richness and inspire wider conservation.

        If de-extinction succeeds, today’s young people will have a chance to experience the return of some remarkable creatures in their lifetime – an experience that may define their generation’s attitude to the natural world and conservation. Given the number of species that have died out over the last 10,000 years due to manmade destruction, some resurrection and a measure of redemption are in order.

(Adapted from www.nationalgeographic.com)

Question 23: The phrase “such animals” in paragraph 1 refers to ____________.

A. genetically, but not bodily, extinct species
B. all extinct species

C. bodily, but not genetically, extinct species
D. truly extinct species

Question 24: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 as a difficulty facing de-extinction efforts?

A. the high costs
B. the uncertainty of success

C. the lengthy research process
D. the emotional commitment

Question 25: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. The thought of undoing extinction stirs up a profound emotional response that lies at the heart of conservation.

B. The likelihood of bringing vanished species back to life is a powerfully emotional one for many conservationists.

C. The idea that extinct species could be revived and observed again comes from awe-inspiring conservation.

D. The prospect of reviving extinct species is motivated by conservationists’ feelings of amazement and admiration.

Question 26: The phrase “speak volumes” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. indicate
B. show
C. conceal
D. demonstrate

Question 27: Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 3?

A. Revived extinct specimens could provide fewer genetic insights than could their fossil specimens.

B. The aims of wildlife conservationists and of those seeking to revive extinct species are similar.

C. Reviving ecologically important extinct species would have little impact on regional conservation.

D. The usefulness of de-extinction technology remains limited to critically endangered species.

Question 28: The phrase “in order” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ____________.

A. typical
B. hopeful
C. corrective
D. fitting

Question 29: Which paragraph explains the basis for redefining certain extinct species?

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

Question 30: Which paragraph links many past extinctions to human activity?

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

Read the following 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.

        The secret of economic success is innovation. What, then, is the secret of innovation? A look at the red-hot market for grey cells is revealing. Success seems increasingly dependent not on firms but on the brilliance, creativity, and drive of a small cadre of exceptional individuals – for whom companies and institutions worldwide must compete if they want to lead in such fields as technology, finance, and science.

        Across sectors, the rewards for the new superstars are growing, too. Many programmers and recording artists in their 20s now command seven-, eight- or even nine-figure salaries. Similarly, in the legal profession, earnings that were once distributed more evenly among lawyers now increasingly flow to the top ones at elite firms, who massively outperform their counterparts at second-tier firms. The rising premium on talent is due chiefly to recent technologies: vast computing resources help investors transform their skills into greater profits, while ultra-cheap digital distribution expands markets for individual creators. [I] And from a corporate perspective, the potential rewards for winning the race are so enormous that they turn even the most extravagant individual salary into a rounding error.

        That technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), will further extend the dominance of top performers, enabling them to do even better, is a boon to them. But it is also good news for everyone else, because ageing societies will struggle to grow economically unless productivity and innovation remain strong. [II] However, the real irony is that, even as many countries are pouring money into economy-boosting schemes, much of the brainpower essential for national prosperity remains untapped. Despite the world’s vast reservoir of talent, too few people are achieving their potential, owing perhaps to financial hardships, limited access to higher education, and the absence of support networks needed to turn promise into performance. When this is the case, the result is a tragic waste of human gifts in both developed and developing countries. [III]

        Fortunately, the remedy is well within sight. To attract talent from abroad, countries need to remove the immigration barriers that keep bright students, researchers, and skilled workers out. Domestically, policymakers should be more systematic about supporting talent-spotting programmes and giving those who show early promise the education, funding, and support they need to flourish. [IV]

(Adapted from The Economist)

Question 31: The phrase “red-hot market for grey cells” in paragraph 1 serves to ____________.

A. highlight the extent of talented people’s influence on the world economy

B. explain the secretive nature of successful economic innovation

C. stress the high demand and value placed on human brainpower

D. emphasize the increasing competitiveness of the intellectual world

Question 32: Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 1?

A. Organizations across the globe have increasingly recognized the potential of a limited number of remarkably talented people for successful innovation.

B. A select few highly gifted individuals appear to be increasingly central to innovation and to the commercial and economic success of firms worldwide.

C. Increasingly, companies have to compete to attract exceptionally gifted individuals, who are the secret ingredient for simultaneously succeeding in multiple fields.

D. As economic survival becomes increasingly challenging across many fields, exceptional talent has become highly sought after by organizations globally.

Question 33: The word “ones” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. elite firms
B. earnings
C. lawyers
D. second-tier firms

Question 34: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Companies can offset the lavish individual pay of talented workers by beating the competition and securing massive rewards.

B. From a business perspective, the huge rewards of winning the competition outweigh the largest pay package given some individuals.

C. For firms, the substantial gains from coming out on top make even the highest salary paid to star performers seem negligible.

D. The vast financial benefits that corporations gain from outpacing rivals justify mistakenly offering talented employees extremely high salaries.

Question 35: The word “reservoir” in paragraph 3 can be best replaced by ____________.

A. mixture
B. store
C. composition
D. block

Question 36: Which of the following is mentioned in paragraph 4 as a way to attract or nurture talent?

A. offer financial rewards to talented youths
B. launch projects to identify talent promptly

C. reform existing educational policies
D. facilitate the entry of talented foreigners

Question 37: According to the passage, all of the following may directly hinder talented people from fulfilling their potential EXCEPT ____________.

A. difficulty pursuing advanced education
B. money problems

C. the overwhelming influence of top performers
D. the lack of institutional backing

Question 38: Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

Talent, thus, will become even more vital as the engine of progress.

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

Question 39: Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the passage?

A. The widening income gap in skilled professions results from a disproportionate reward system that intensifies competition and disadvantages certain workers.

B. Technological advances have amplified the reach of talent and are largely responsible for the current massive payoff that some successful gifted individuals receive.

C. The possibility of underusing talent or failing to harness it for national advancement is not limited to poor countries alone.

D. High rates of productivity and technological inventiveness are essential to the economic well-being of countries where the number of workers stops rising.

Question 40: Which of the following best summarizes the passage?

A. As talent assumes an increasingly instrumental role in the global economy, as evidenced by the financial rewards

accorded to those who possess it, it is in many countries’ best interests not to leave talent unexploited.

B. Given the centrality of talent in the global economy, many talented individuals across sectors utilize technology to generate more income, but these individuals should receive more recognition and support from policymakers.

C. Talented individuals, who are technologically adept and handsomely paid across many fields of human endeavor, are an integral yet underused component of successful innovation and global economic development.

D. In spite of the growing importance of talent as a driver of the global economy, many talented individuals remain undiscovered, unsupported, and inadequately compensated, problems which governments must address.

Read the following blog post 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.

Tales by Chapter: A memorable new restaurant opening

        Plant-based eating in Vietnam has long been connected to thuần chay – food rooted in religious (7) ____________, eaten on specific days, and prepared and presented simply. Tales by Chapter is the first restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City to challenge that idea directly – not by rejecting tradition, (8) ____________ by reimagining it entirely.

        Before sitting down at your table, you can already see the restaurant’s creative (9) ____________ in the entry hall, where food projects are displayed like artworks. Ingredients often (10) ____________ away, such as beet skins, tomato pulp, and vegetable offcuts, reappear transformed into edible leathers. At the heart of the restaurant is Chef Quoc Hung, (11) ____________ mission is to handle vegetables with such skill that their (12) ____________ flavors shine through.

        For more information about Tales by Chapter’s tasting menu and bookings, call 036815012588 or visit talessgn.com.

(Adapted from jovelchan.com)

Question 7:
A. practice
B. action
C. exercise
D. task

Question 8:
A. and
B. so
C. nor
D. but

Question 9:
A. vision
B. scenario
C. look
D. situation

Question 10:
A. threw
B. thrown
C. throw
D. throwing

Question 11:
A. who
B. which
C. whom
D. whose

Question 12:
A. correct
B. right
C. accurate
D. true

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.

Love English? Become a Tutor and Help Students Succeed!

The College of Education is looking for enthusiastic and capable tutors to support our students in (1) ____________ their English to the next level. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals who are passionate about teaching and eager to work in a (2) ____________.

Job responsibilities include leading small-group or one-to-one tutoring sessions; helping students improve their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills; and providing feedback (3) ____________ assignments and language use.

Applicants (4) ____________ have a strong grasp of English, good communication skills, and at least a bachelor’s degree in English, Education, Linguistics, or (5) ____________ related fields. Tutors may work up to 18 hours per week. Entry-level salary is $20 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience. (6) ____________ is given to those with prior tutoring or teaching experience.

Apply now: thecollegeofedtutoringservice@uao.edu

(Adapted from www.ohlone.edu/tutoring/beatutor)

Question 1:
A. turning
B. taking
C. changing
D. holding

Question 2: 

A. dynamic environment college
B. dynamic college environment

C. environment dynamic college
D. college dynamic environment

Question 3:
A. on
B. in
C. at
D. with

Question 4:
A. may
B. can
C. should
D. might

Question 5:
A. another
B. others
C. other
D. every

Question 6:
A. Preferable
B. Prefer
C. Preference
D. Preferably