Read the following passage about the harmful impact of keeping elephants in zoos and mark the letter A, B, C,...

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 1 to 10.

China is quietly easing regulations on private education companies as the government aims to support a slowing economy. (I) Government officials have not announced a policy change. (II) Industry experts say the new efforts aim to support job creation. (III) Reuters News Agency recently spoke with people in the industry, parents in China, and others. (IV) Here is what Reuters reported: Starting in 2021, the government prohibited for-profit tutoring in main school subjects such as Math and English.

The reported aim was to reduce financial pressure on families. It was also meant to create equal educational chances for both rich and poor families and to eliminate poor-quality tutoring services. The policy was known as the “double reduction”. The crackdown cost the industry billions of dollars. It affected companies like New Oriental Education & Technology Group and TAL Education Group. It also led to tens of thousands of job losses.

Before the policy change, China’s for-profit tutoring industry was valued at about $100 billion. The three biggest companies employed over 170,000 people. During the crackdown, the industry did not disappear as parents continued to seek tutoring services for their children. Many Chinese parents consider after-school tutoring services as a way for their children to gain an advantage in China’s competitive education system. Michelle Lee is a parent based in southern China. Lee spends about $420 a month on after-school classes for her son and daughter. These classes include mathematics tutoring and online lessons in English. She told Reuters that in recent months tutoring schools had been operating more openly. After the government crackdown in 2021, the number of tutoring centers and the number of teachers employed by them fell. The industry is now coming back as policies ease.

The research company Plenum China said that active licenses for for-profit tutoring centers rose 11.4 percent between January and June. Liu Xiya is a delegate to China’s legislature and president of an education group based in the southwestern city of Chongqing. Liu told local media at a press conference in March that the government was dealing with problems in education policy. Lynn Song is an economist at ING. He said China was unlikely to admit that the crackdown "was a little too forceful" but that regulations would be loosened. He said, "The overall policy environment has changed from restrictive to supportive as the main goal now is stabilization."

Question 1. Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 3?

A. The 2021 crackdown in China caused the tutoring industry to close entirely, with no demand from parents although it was valued at nearly $100 billion.

B. China's tutoring industry, though reduced by the 2021 crackdown, is now rebounding as demand remains high and policies ease.

C. China's tutoring industry, valued at about $100 billion, decreased due to a drop in parental interest, but policies now encourage its return.

D. In spite of the crackdown, China’s tutoring industry has been wholly unaffected by government policies and remains at $100 billion.

Question 2. The phrase "crackdown" in paragraph 2 could be best replaced by ____________.

A. governmental restriction
B. economic burden

C. national assistance
D. public backing

Question 3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT a result of China’s policy banning for-profit tutoring?

A. lessening financial pressure on families
B. fostering high-standard tutoring services

C. giving rise to thousands of job losses
D. allocating balanced educational opportunities

Question 4. The word "forceful" in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. trivial
B. profound
C. passionate
D. vigorous

Question 5. Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit?

But news reports say policymakers are now permitting the tutoring industry to grow.

A. (III)
B. (II)
C. (IV)
D. (I)

Question 6. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

He said, "The overall policy environment has changed from restrictive to supportive as the main goal now is stabilization."

A. Having shifted from restrictive, the policy environment aims at stabilization, which was not the main objective before.

B. Although the policy environment has become more supportive, its main goal is still to impose restrictions on the industry without stabilization.

C. He stated that from being restrictive, the policy environment has shifted to a more supportive one, with the primary objective now focused on achieving stabilization.

D. It is clear that the policy environment has changed from restrictive to supportive, with its primary aim now to stabilize economic growth.

Question 7. Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. The Chinese government has gradually relaxed its restrictions on private tutoring, recognizing the growing demand for educational services and aiming to balance economic and social needs.

B. The government's policy change reflects an effort to expand the private tutoring industry, which was severely limited during the crackdown.

C. The easing of regulations is intended to help the tutoring industry regain its former size, without addressing the long-term effects of previous restrictions.

D. Irrespective of initial policy measures to reduce tutoring services, the government's current focus on economic stability has led to the industry's rapid recovery.

Question 8. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. China's government openly announced a change in policy to ease restrictions on for-profit tutoring.

B. Active licenses for for-profit tutoring centers decreased between January and June due to policy restrictions.

C. Parents in China continued to seek tutoring for their children even during the crackdown on the industry.

D. The primary aim of the "double reduction" policy was to encourage the growth of private tutoring companies.

Question 9. The word "It" in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. financial pressure
B. government
C. reported aim
D. policy

Question 10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The government's easing of restrictions on the tutoring industry is solely motivated by the desire to boost the economy, regardless of educational equity.

B. Despite the government's previous efforts to limit tutoring, the policy change indicates a shift toward recognizing the continued demand for educational support services.

C. The Chinese government is now prioritizing the expansion of the private tutoring industry above all other educational reforms.

D. The primary goal of the "double reduction" policy was to reduce financial pressure on families while leaving the long-term effects on the tutoring industry behind.

Read the following announcement and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 11 to 16

Grow Your Business with a Virtual Office!

Are you starting a new business? (11) ____________ worrying about office costs, choose a smarter solution! Rebus Virtual Office World helps (12) ____________ your virtual office quickly so you can focus on growing your business.

What We Offer:

• A professional business address to (13) ____________ trust

• A local phone number to stay connected with your (14) ____________

• Mail-handling services for better organization

Our polite and friendly staff will take care of your calls and give your business a strong professional image. Unlike (15) ____________ services, we provide a fast and reliable setup. For a more personal service, such as mail and message forwarding, ask about our Premier Office Deals.

Why spend so (16) ____________ money when you can save more and grow faster? Contact us today!

(Adapted from https://www.examenglish.com/TOEIC/toeicreading7.htm)

Question 11.
A. In case of
B. Instead of
C. As long as
D. Owing to

Question 12.
A. set up
B. take up
C. bring up
D. make up

Question 13.
A. build
B. retain
C. bring
D. conclude

Question 14.
A. clients
B. colleagues
C. suppliers
D. workers

Question 15.
A. others
B. other
C. the other
D. another

Question 16.
A. little
B. much
C. many
D. few

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 17 to 22.

🎉🎉 TEEN TRIPS WILL BE GIVING AWAY LOADS OF FREE HOLIDAYS 🎉🎉

Because next year is our tenth anniversary! By the end of the year, we'll have been organising (17) ____________ holidays for a whole decade! We'll have sent thousands of young people (18) ____________ more than twenty countries on four continents. To celebrate our special birthday, we're adding some (19) ____________, including Sapa, Seoul and Florence! All our trips (20) ____________ to be informative and fun cater to whatever you're into, so there's a trip that's ideal for you. If you've registered online, you'll have (21) ____________ a look at our newsletter by now, so we hope you'll already be reading about all our fantastic trips. Don't forget (22) ____________ the prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a free holiday!

(Adapted from Friends Global 12 Student's book)

Question 17.
A. education
B. educational
C. educate
D. educationally

Question 18.
A. for
B. to
C. on
D. with

Question 19.                        

A. new exciting destinations
B. exciting destinations new

C. destinations new exciting
D. exciting new destinations

Question 20.
A. designed
B. are designed
C. designing
D. which designed

Question 21.
A. made
B. taken
C. put
D. done

Question 22.
A. enter
B. to entering
C. entering
D. to enter

Read the following passage about What Each Generation Refuses to Learn from the Last 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 28 to 35.

Many people enjoy diets that are rich in meat and dairy products. But experts warn that we cannot continue in this trend for long. The current demand for food products that come from animals is not sustainable, and future generations are going to have to change their eating habits.

One major reason why this trend is unsustainable is the amount of water required. It takes a lot more water to feed animals than it does to grow grains. For example, fifteen cubic meters of water is needed to produce a kilogram of beef, whereas a kilo of cereals needs less than three cubic meters. It also takes more water to process the meat and to refrigerate it. The meat industry consumes over half of all water used for all purposes in the United States, and most of this water is used to irrigate cattle feedlots.

Not only does meat production use up a lot of water, it also causes water pollution and affects land. Waste from livestock contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These chemicals pollute the groundwater and waterways. The percentage of U.S. agricultural land used to produce meat is 56%. The strains on land include topsoil erosion and depletion of forested areas.

This industry is also subsidized by the government. Therefore, the price paid for meat doesn’t reflect the environmental hazards involved in the process. As a result, most people are unaware of the negative impact the production of meat has on the environment, as well as how much it depletes the resources so badly needed for the future. Because it is not reflected in the cost, many people remain unaware of these facts. Furthermore, many producers tend to ignore these facts in order to continue making a profit.

(Adapted from Mastering skills for TOEFL iBT)

Question 28. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a negative effect of meat production?

A. air pollution
B. forest loss

C. topsoil erosion
D. water contamination

Question 29. The word “sustainable” in paragraph 1 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. temporary
B. maintainable
C. promising
D. limited

Question 30. The word “it” in paragraph 3 refers to ____________.

A. chemical pollutant
B. water pollution

C. meat production
D. livestock waste

Question 31. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Processing meat with water can improve its quality.

B. A lot more water is needed to prepare and store meat.

C. Water is mainly used to clean meat before selling it.

D. Water is required for refrigeration during meat storage.

Question 32. In which paragraph does the writer make a comparison related to water usage?

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

Question 33. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Meat production harms the environment and impoverish valuable natural resources.

B. Farmers in the U.S. are not allowed to use water to grow food for their livestock.

C. The cost of meat fully covers the environmental damage caused by its production.

D. Producing cereals takes far more water than producing the same amount of beef.

Question 34. In which paragraph does the writer mention the public’s unawareness of the impact of meat

production on the environment?

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

Question 35. The word “hazards” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ____________.

A. threats
B. outcomes
C. profits
D. impacts

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a meaningful exchange or text in each of the following questions from 36 to 40.

Question 36. 

A.  Binh: I'm pretty much ready, just waiting for the family to arrive. I'm really looking forward to all the festive food and, of course, the Christmas movies!

B.  Binh: I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner! Are you ready for the holidays?

C.  Mark: Almost! I've done most of my shopping, but I still need to decorate the tree. How about you?

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

Question 37.

A.  Jane: That's good advice. Thanks!

B.  Rose: My advice is not to take souvenirs, like pieces of stone, from the castle.

C.  Rose: Well, you should wear flat shoes with soft soles when you visit it, so you won't damage the stones.

D.  Jane: I'm visiting an ancient castle this weekend. What should I do to avoid damaging it during my visit?

e. Jane: Good point. Anything else?

(Adapted from Bright 10)

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

Question 38. 

Dear Lucy,

A. I highly recommend that you explore the multicultural world around you, as there is so much to discover and appreciate.

B. I hope this letter finds you well. I'm excited to share with you some insights into the diverse cultures that make up our world.

C. Finally, embracing multiculturalism benefits us all. It exposes us to new ideas, expands our perspectives, and fosters a more inclusive society.

D. Secondly, understanding different cultures helps us become more open-minded and tolerant.

e. Whether it's trying international foods, attending cultural events, or simply having meaningful dialogues, engaging with diversity can truly enhance our lives.

f. Firstly, diversity is a beautiful thing that enriches our global community. Each culture has its own unique traditions, practices, and ways of life that are worth learning about and appreciating.

Best regards,

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

Question 39. 

A. It often starts with the excitement of being in a new place, followed by feelings of confusion and frustration as differences become more apparent.

B. As time passes, adapting becomes easier, and many even learn to appreciate or blend the new culture

with their own.

C. Culture shock is a common experience when moving to a different country or culture, as it involves adjusting to unfamiliar norms and practices.

D. For instance, language barriers, customs, and different social norms can make even everyday tasks challenging.

e. Eventually, a sense of balance is found as people grow more accustomed to their surroundings, resulting in personal growth and a broader perspective.

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

Question 40. 

A. This includes reducing waste by recycling, conserving water through careful usage, and switching to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, all of which help to protect the planet for future generations.

B. Green living emphasizes a lifestyle focused on sustainability, encouraging people to make environmentally conscious choices that minimize harm to the Earth.

C. Small everyday actions, such as using reusable bags, turning off lights when not in use, and choosing energy-efficient appliances, can have a big impact on reducing your carbon footprint.

D. Many individuals are now embracing green practices in their daily routines, such as reducing plastic use, supporting eco-friendly businesses, and conserving energy at home.

e. By incorporating these habits into daily life, people can collectively help reduce pollution and conserve

natural resources, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

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