Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that b...

Read the following announcement 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 20 to 25.

ANNOUNCEMENT: VOICE SCAM CALLS ARE GETTING SMARTER

Issued by Staffordshire Consumer Protection Agency

Local consumer agencies report a sharp rise in voice scam calls. These calls may sound professional and (20) ____________, yet their goal is simple: to make you act before you think.

(21) ____________ traditional scams that rely on obvious threats, these calls use polite scripts, often containing a request to "confirm" personal details. Messages posing as official updates among (22) ____________ tricks may lead you to fake websites. When the caller pressures you to decide immediately, remember to buy some (23) ____________ instead of rushing. You should also avoid sharing codes, even (24) ____________ someone claiming to be helping you.

If something feels wrong, hang up immediately, then file (25) ____________ report with your network provider, who will help investigate the scam. Don’t easily fall for such calls!

Stay safe and stay alert!

(Adapted from https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk)

Question 20. 

A. compromising
B. trusting
C. convincing
D. aspiring

Question 21.
A. In light of
B. In contrast to
C. In addition to
D. In spite of

Question 22.
A. others
B. another
C. the other
D. other

Question 23.
A. time
B. thought
C. calm
D. rest

Question 24.
A. at
B. on
C. with
D. to

Question 25.
A. a
B. the
C. an
D. Ø (no article)

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 26 to 35.

        New research suggests that the most effective way to fight climate change and protect wildlife is by using the “human footprint” to identify priority areas for nature restoration. Rather than spreading resources too thin, the method prioritises restoration zones with the highest environmental return relative to cost. (I) According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), human activity has already altered more than half of the Earth’s land. By leveraging this data-driven approach, governments and organizations can use their limited budgets more efficiently and achieve better long-term outcomes.

        The potential impact of such targeted action is enormous. A study published in the journal Nature reveals that restoring just 15% of land converted by humans could prevent 60% of expected species extinctions. It could also capture 299 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, equal to about 30% of the total increase since the Industrial Revolution. (II) Expanding restoration to 30% of degraded land would further protect over 70% of threatened mammals, birds, and amphibians while increasing carbon absorption. Many of these high-priority areas are found in tropical regions and developing countries across Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

        To identify these locations, scientists analysed 2.87 billion hectares of farmland, balancing three key objectives: preserving habitats, storing carbon, and maintaining agricultural productivity. Their findings show that different ecosystems offer distinct advantages. Restoring forests and wetlands provides the greatest combined gains for both climate protection and biodiversity, whereas restoring grasslands and arid regions is generally more cost-effective. (III) The researchers also stress that coordinating restoration across multiple ecosystem types, rather than focusing on just one, will produce the greatest overall impact.

         Despite these promising findings, several challenges remain. Restoration efforts should not come at the expense of food production, especially as the global population continues to grow. In addition, international cooperation is essential to share costs and implement effective programmes. Financial incentives for landowners, such as “payment for ecosystem services”, can encourage participation, but they depend on clear and consistent policies. (IV) Experts also emphasise that ecosystems must be treated as complex, real-world environments, meaning that successful restoration relies not only on scientific planning but also on local knowledge and practical conditions.

(Adapted from https://www.scidev.net/global/news)

Question 26. The word “leveraging” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____________.

A. utilising
B. allocating
C. prioritising
D. concentrating

Question 27. Which of the following is NOT STATED in paragraph 1?

A. The "human footprint" method helps pinpoint specific areas where restoration is most cost-effective.

B. The World Economic Forum was the first organization to propose the "human footprint" method.

C. This targeted method enables governments to make better use of their limited resources.

D. More than 50% of the Earth's land has been modified by human actions, according to WEF.

Question 28. Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 2?

A. The 30% restoration target is intended to protect mammals rather than other animal groups.

B. A targeted recovery of a small percentage of land can significantly mitigate biodiversity loss.

C. Most regions identified as high priority for restoration are situated in the world's wealthier nations.

D. Restoring 15% of human-altered land could offset most carbon increases since the industrial era.

Question 29. Which of the following best summarises the main idea of paragraph 3?

A. Grasslands and arid regions are emphasised as the most cost-effective areas, making them the primary focus of restoration strategies.

B. Restoring forests and wetlands delivers the greatest combined benefits for climate and biodiversity compared with other ecosystem types overall.

C. Coordinating restoration across different ecosystem types can maximise overall effectiveness because they provide distinct restoration advantages.

D. Analysis of 2.87 billion hectares of farmland highlights how ecosystem advantages depend mainly on agricultural productivity considerations.

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

A. an arid region
B. a forest benefit
C. a key objective
D. an ecosystem type

Question 31. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. While ecological recovery is important, it should not compromise food production, particularly as population pressures increase.

B. As global population growth continues to increase pressure on food systems, restoration efforts may need to be more carefully prioritised.

C. Continued population growth and food demand could make it difficult to pursue large-scale restoration programmes effectively.

D. Expanding environmental restoration depends on improving coordination between agricultural policies and population planning.

Question 32. According to paragraph 4, what is a necessary condition for "payment for ecosystem services" to work?

A. Policies must be sufficiently clear and consistently applied to support effective implementation.

B. Ecosystem restoration programmes are most effective when limited to a single ecosystem type.

C. Landowners are generally willing to participate in restoration programmes without legal enforcement.

D. International cooperation must fully eliminate financial inequalities between participating countries.

Question 33. It can be inferred from the passage that a successful restoration strategy ____________.

A. integrates scientific planning with practical understanding of local conditions

B. ensures food production is not affected when farmland is restored to natural ecosystems

C. involves choosing between protecting threatened species and increasing carbon absorption

D. yields the best outcomes when efforts target the most cost-effective ecosystems

Question 34. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

This finding highlights how relatively small, well-targeted efforts can produce disproportionately large environmental gains.

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

Question 35. Which of the following best summarises the text?

A. International organisations are encouraging governments to invest more heavily in restoration programmes to address the growing threats of species extinction and global climate change.

B. The targeted ecosystem restoration approach uses human-impact data to optimise environmental benefits while balancing practical concerns such as agriculture and implementation factors.

C. The primary objective of ecosystem restoration involves significantly increasing carbon storage through the strategic expansion of recovery projects across a diverse range of ecological habitats.

D. Scientists have specifically identified tropical and developing regions as the primary targets for large-scale restoration projects due to their immense ecological significance in global ecosystems.

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 36 to 40.

Question 36.

A. While AI has improved organizational efficiency and streamlined many routine processes, it also raises concerns about job displacement, especially among low-skilled workers in vulnerable sectors.

B. To adapt to these changes, workers must develop new competencies such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and the ability to work with emerging technologies.

C. In addition, governments and organizations need policies that support innovation while also protecting workers and ensuring long-term employment stability.

D. At the same time, AI has also created new opportunities by increasing demand for advanced technical skills and contributing to the emergence of entirely new professions.

e. Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping employment patterns across industries worldwide, affecting both the nature and distribution of jobs.

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

Question 37.

A.  Man: That sounds perfect. I’ll take this one along with a spare memory card.

B.  Man: Excuse me, I’m looking for a professional camera for landscape photography.

C.  Man: It looks great, but does it have a long-life battery for outdoor trips?

D.  Sales assistant: Yes, it’s designed for durability and will easily last a full day of shooting.

e. Sales assistant: Certainly! I recommend this mirrorless model; it's very lightweight and has excellent resolution.

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

Question 38.

A. This phenomenon involves the use of online tools to ridicule and intimidate others, often resulting in significant emotional distress.

B. Ultimately, such collective efforts could help reduce cyberbullying and create a safer digital environment for all users.

C. It is essential for educational institutions and families to raise awareness of appropriate online conduct as well as the importance of empathy in communication.

D. The prevalence of cyberbullying has increased alongside the expansion of social networking platforms and digital communication channels.

e. Those affected frequently experience a sense of isolation and psychological pressure, which may in turn impact both their well-being and learning outcomes.

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

Question 39.

A.  Laura: Yes, I will, but I might be a little late after school.

B.  Ann: Hi, are you coming to the study group at the library this afternoon?

C.  Ann: Great, I will save you a seat near the window so you can see clearly. See you there.

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

Question 40.

Dear Mr Adam Smith,

A. I would be grateful if you could outline the programme’s duration, tuition fees, admission criteria for overseas applicants, and required enrolment documents.

B. Could you please clarify whether the programme leads to a recognised qualification, includes practical placements, or provides career support upon completion?

C. I am writing to enquire about your vocational training programme in hospitality management advertised on LinkedIn last week.

D. I would also appreciate further details on the timetable, venue, and remote learning options.

e. Thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely,

Tony Blair

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

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 6 to 11.

FABRIC SHAVER – LINT REMOVER RECHARGEABLE

Tired of pills (6) ____________ your sweaters, blankets, and more? Discover the Portable Fabric Shaver – compact and portable, perfect to keep your garments looking pristine.

Innovative Blades

Compared to the 4-blade cutter head, this razor with upgraded blades offers (7) ____________. It moves smoothly across the fabric surface, causing no unnecessary (8) ____________ to your clothes.

Battery & Speed Monitoring

You can easily set speed and monitor battery level. Long-lasting battery gives you 5 hours of (9) ____________ use.

Multi-protection & Easy Clean

If the grid becomes loose, the safety switch will promptly (10) ____________ the device to protect your hand. The lint collection container is easy to (11) ____________ and keep clean.

Get yours today – and say goodbye to pilling forever!

(Adapted from https://www.amazon.com)

Question 6.
A. ruined
B. that ruins
C. ruining
D. to ruin

Question 7. 

A. superior efficiency cleaning
B. superior cleaning efficiency

C. cleaning superior efficiency
D. cleaning efficiency superior

Question 8.
A. damage
B. fracture
C. decline
D. defect

Question 9.
A. continue
B. continuity
C. continuously
D. continuous

Question 10.
A. deactivate
B. destabilize
C. uninstall
D. interrupt

Question 11.
A. turn out
B. break down
C. take apart
D. give away

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 12 to 19.

How Modern Parenting Created a Generation of Picky Eaters

        In 1915, when a Maine mother asked the U.S. Children’s Bureau why her son rejected certain foods, officials dismissed the idea of "preference", suggesting a medical cause instead. At the time, voluntary food rejection was virtually unheard of; children were expected to eat whatever was served with enthusiasm. Picky eating, as a recognized behavioral trait, simply did not exist in the American cultural landscape.

        Today, however, American children are often labeled the "pickiest in history". In her recent research, historian Helen Zoe Veit argues that a century of shifting adult attitudes has fundamentally reshaped childhood. She contends that modern parenting has inadvertently normalized selective eating. Before the 20th century, there was no "children’s food"; youngsters shared adult meals and developed robust appetites, partly because snacking was nonexistent.

        The mid-20th century brought pivotal changes in child psychology and autonomy. Influential parenting guides, such as those by Dr. Benjamin Spock, began encouraging parents to grant children more control over their diets. This was bolstered by studies suggesting that, left to their own devices, children could naturally regulate their nutritional needs. Meanwhile, the rise of Freudian theory warned that pressuring children to eat could cause lasting psychological trauma, further softening parental authority at the dinner table.

        Simultaneously, the explosion of processed foods and aggressive marketing transformed family dynamics. By the 1960s, supermarkets offered unprecedented variety, and advertisers began targeting impressionable children directly, granting them immense influence over household purchases. Veit criticizes this modern exceptionalism, noting that while parents enforce hygiene and safety, they often treat nutrition as negotiable. She advocates for consistent family meals and repeated exposure to new foods, viewing picky eating as a misguided outcome of otherwise good intentions.

(Adapted from https://www.economist.com/culture)

Question 12. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a reason for the rise of picky eating?

A. processed foods
B. genetic factors
C. advertising influences
D. parental attitudes

Question 13. The word “trait” in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by ____________.

A. characteristic
B. disorder
C. reaction
D. symptom

Question 14. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Young people tended to prefer adult-style meals but gradually lost their appetites because they were in the habit of snacking between meals.

B. Young people ate with adults and maintained strong appetites when snacks were a regular part of their daily diets and meal routines.

C. Young people ate meals similar to those of adults and kept relatively strong appetites despite occasionally having snacks during the day.

D. Young people consumed the same meals as adults and developed stronger appetites to some extent due to the absence of snacking.

Question 15. The word “bolstered” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. reinforced
B. undermined
C. abandoned
D. overlooked

Question 16. The word “them” in paragraph 4 refers to ____________.

A. processed foods
B. impressionable children
C. advertisers
D. supermarkets

Question 17. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. U.S. officials in 1915 believed that children rejected certain foods due to personal preference.

B. Modern advertisers mainly influence parents when promoting food products to households today.

C. Veit emphasizes the importance of regular family meals and repeated exposure to unfamiliar foods.

D. Dr. Benjamin Spock advised parents to maintain strict control over children’s eating habits.

Question 18. In which paragraph does the writer discuss the role of psychology in shaping parenting practices?

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

Question 19. In which paragraph does the writer discuss how the growth of the food industry and marketing strategies changed family food preferences?

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