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 leaflet 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 27 to 32.

Smart Strategies for Career Success

        Plan your approach carefully. Instead of applying to (27) ____________ jobs randomly, focus on quality, tailored applications. Prepare your CV and cover letter in advance so you can respond quickly and professionally.

        Manage your time effectively, (28) ____________ you should set clear periods for job searching, networking, and improving skills. Build a strong online presence (29) ____________ visibility with employers. Use networking - many opportunities arise through personal connections rather than public listings.

        (30) ____________ informed about trends to identify valuable potential opportunities in the market. Be realistic; it is essential to be realistic about expectations and demands.

        These strategies can help you make progress in a (31) ____________. With discipline and persistence, adopt a more (32) ____________ approach to achieving career success. Stay adaptable, learn continuously, and seek feedback to strengthen your profile and long-term prospects.

(Adapted from Navigating the Job Market: Essential Career Advice and Job Search Strategies)

Question 27.
A. amount of
B. many
C. plenty
D. much

Question 28.
A. so
B. but
C. because
D. although

Question 29.
A. to increasing
B. increasing
C. increase
D. to increase

Question 30.
A. Stay
B. Have
C. Pay
D. Make

Question 31. 

A. competitive fast-paced environment
B. fast-paced environment competitive

C. fast-paced competitive environment
D. environment fast-paced competitive

Question 32.
A. temporary
B. systematic
C. strategic
D. efficient

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 1 to 6.

Songkran Festival – Thailand’s Traditional New Year Celebration

        Songkran is set to take place across Thailand as a nationwide cultural celebration next month. Each year, this festival attracts millions of international visitors (1) ____________ seek to experience its blend of tradition and festivity. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has confirmed that all planned activities will proceed as scheduled, reflecting a (2) ____________ commitment to preserving cultural heritage while promoting tourism development.

        Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Songkran allows communities to (3) ____________ ancient rituals such as water-pouring ceremonies for elders and merit-making at temples, which remain deeply rooted in Thai society. In Bangkok, large-scale events are expected to attract thousands of participants, offering (4) ____________ unique chance to experience Thailand’s traditional New Year atmosphere firsthand. Organizers also provide (5) ____________ services to ensure smooth coordination and public safety throughout the festival period. Visitors are encouraged to (6) ____________ the festive spirit and take part in the nationwide celebration of renewal, unity, and joy.

(Adapted from https://www.tatnews.org/2026/03/songkran-festival/)

Question 1.
A. who
B. which
C. whom
D. whose

Question 2.
A. individual
B. superficial
C. shared
D. separate

Question 3.
A. bring about
B. carry out
C. take over
D. turn into

Question 4.
A. Ø
B. an
C. a
D. the

Question 5.
A. reliably
B. reliance
C. reliable
D. rely

Question 6.
A. make
B. keep
C. seize
D. handle

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 7 to 11.

Question 7. 

A. I often had to work late shifts and deal with demanding customers, which occasionally left me feeling quite overwhelmed and stressed.

B. What initially seemed like a manageable job gradually turned out to be far more demanding and challenging than I had expected.

C. Looking back, this experience played a significant role in helping me become more responsible and improving my communication skills.

D. Working in a small café as a part-time employee provided me with valuable insights into the practical realities of working life.

e. Rather than giving up, I learned to manage my time more effectively and handle difficult situations with greater patience and resilience.

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

Question 8. 

A.  Tom: Thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback.

B.  Anna: I really enjoyed your presentation - it was clear, engaging, and very informative.

C.  Anna: You're welcome. I especially liked the way you explained the key points so clearly.

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

Question 9. 

A.  Lan: I usually volunteer at a local shelter at weekends. What about you?

B.  Lan: That sounds really meaningful. I believe volunteering is a great way to support others and gain valuable experience.

C.  Minh: I'm involved in organizing charity events and raising funds for children in need.

D.  Minh: You seem to be very active in community work. What kind of volunteer activities do you usually take part in?

e. Minh: I totally agree. It also helps us develop important life skills.

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

Question 10. 

A. Taken as a whole, these developments illustrate how mass media has evolved into a highly networked system characterized by immediacy, personalization, and global reach.

B. A key driver of this transformation was the expansion of broadband internet, which enabled the rapid distribution of digital content across multiple platforms.

C. Between 2010 and 2025, the mass media ecosystem underwent a structural shift that redefined how information was produced, distributed, and consumed.

D. As user engagement increased on social platforms, traditional advertising gradually lost effectiveness, prompting firms to adopt data-driven targeting strategies.

e. This digital acceleration also contributed to the decline of traditional print media, as audiences increasingly shifted toward real-time online updates.

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

Question 11. 

Dear Mr. Hoang,

A. I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide further details regarding any initial responsibilities or expectations associated with this position.

B. I am writing to formally express my sincere appreciation for offering me the position at GHI Group.

C. I am fully committed to leveraging my professional experience and skills to make a meaningful contribution to the organization.

D. I look forward to the prospect of working alongside a team of highly skilled professionals and contributing to common objectives.

e. This opportunity represents a significant milestone in my career, and I am truly honored to have been selected.

Yours sincerely,

Thuy Nguyen

A. b – e – c – d – a
B. b – c – d – e – a
C. c – b – e – d – a
D. c – e – b – d – 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 17 to 26.

Why we crave dessert even when we are full

        Even after eating a large meal, most people can still find room for sweets. Now, research in mice shows that the neurons behind feeling full also trigger sugar cravings. In other words, there seems to be a neurological basis for our love of dessert. (I)

        Previous studies have shown that naturally occurring opioids in the brain play a crucial role in sugar cravings. The main producers of these opioids are neurons located in a brain region that regulates appetite, metabolism and hormones. Known as pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, they also control feelings of satiety after eating.

        To understand whether these cells have a role in sugar cravings, Henning Fenselau at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Germany and his colleagues traced the opioid signals that POMC cells send in the brain. They did so by bathing brain slices from three mice in a fluorescent solution that binds to receptors of these opioids. (II) The brain region with the highest density of these receptors was the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), known to regulate feeding. That suggested sugar cravings were related to communication between these two brain regions. This observation provided a clearer map of the neural circuitry involved, allowing the researchers to focus on specific pathways rather than general brain activity. It also helped establish a functional link between receptor density and behavioural outcomes related to food intake, thereby strengthening the overall reliability of their experimental approach. (III)

        Subsequently, the researchers monitored the activity of neurons in these regions as mice ate their usual food. When the animals seemed to be full, the team gave them a dessert of sugary chow. (IV) On average, neuronal activity between the brain regions roughly quadrupled while mice ate dessert compared with their regular meal. The spike began prior to eating the sweets, suggesting the pathway dictates sugar cravings. When the team inhibited signals from POMC neurons to the PVT, the mice consumed 40 percent less dessert. “The cell types, which are extremely well-known for driving satiety, also release signals that cause the appetite for sugar, and they do so particularly in the state of satiety,” says Fenselau. “This would explain why animals – humans – over-consume sugar when they’re actually full.” The pathway may have evolved because sugar is more easily turned into energy than other sources like fats or proteins.

(Adapted from New Scientist, issue dated March 22, 2025)

Question 17. The phrase “these opioids” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. Naturally produced compounds in the brain involved in regulating cravings

B. External dietary sugars that stimulate neural activity

C. Chemical substances artificially introduced in experimental conditions

D. Hormonal secretions responsible for digestion and metabolism

Question 18. The word “satiety” in paragraph 2 is CLOSEST in meaning to ____________.

A. desire
B. digestion
C. hunger
D. fullness

Question 19. The word “traced” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. ignored
B. eliminated
C. followed
D. concealed

Question 20. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a function of POMC neurons?

A. Influencing satiety
B. Regulating appetite        

C. Controlling metabolism
D. Producing insulin

Question 21. Where in the passage would the following sentence best fit?

This may help explain why people often continue to crave sweets even after they feel full.

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

Question 22. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Neuronal activity increased significantly when mice consumed sweets.

B. The PVT region has no role in regulating feeding behavior.

C. Mice ate less dessert when neuronal signals were enhanced properly.

D. Sugar cravings disappear completely after a large meal each day.

Question 23. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. The act of consuming sugary foods leads to lasting structural changes in the brain, which in turn reinforce future eating behavior.

B. Neuronal activity increases only after sugar has been consumed, indicating that the desire for sweets is purely a consequence of eating rather than a cause of it.

C. Sugar cravings are mainly triggered by external environmental influences, such as the sight or smell of food, rather than by internal neurological processes.

D. The neural pathway becomes active before any sweets are eaten, indicating that it plays a causal role in generating the desire for sugar.

Question 24. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The neural basis of sugar cravings is likely conserved across species, including humans.

B. Satiety signals completely override all forms of food-related desire across species.

C. Proteins and fats are processed more efficiently than sugar in all biological systems.

D. Sugar consumption is driven exclusively by cultural and environmental influences.

Question 25. Which of the following best captures the central idea of the passage as a whole?

A. Evolutionary factors have eliminated the biological drive to consume excess sugar in modern organisms.

B. Neural systems responsible for signaling fullness can simultaneously promote the consumption of sugar.

C. Sugar cravings are primarily the result of external environmental triggers rather than internal processes.

D. Scientific research has definitively separated appetite regulation from reward-based eating behaviors.

Question 26. Which of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward the research findings presented in the passage?

A. Objective and explanatory in presenting scientific evidence

B. Doubtful about the reliability of the findings on sugar cravings

C. Supportive of increasing daily sugar consumption

D. Critical of the experimental design and methodology

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 33 to 40.

        Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals, functioning as the essential structural foundation for skin, bones, and muscles. In recent years, the market for collagen supplements has expanded exponentially, with global consumers spending billions annually. Although promotional campaigns often advertise it as a definitive cure for aging, numerous scientists remain skeptical. They argue that the empirical evidence supporting these ambitious claims is still developing, despite the widespread popularity of these products among high-profile celebrities.

        After reaching the age of forty, humans typically lose approximately one percent of their body’s collagen each year. This gradual decline inevitably leads to sagging skin and joint discomfort. Moreover, specific detrimental factors can severely accelerate this process, such as chronic smoking or excessive sugar consumption. Consequently, many people attempt to find a magic pill to counteract this issue. However, preserving existing collagen through healthy lifestyle modifications remains the most effective strategy.

        Most contemporary supplements contain “collagen peptides,” which are formulated to be significantly easier for the body to absorb than whole proteins. Interestingly, these commercial products are not strictly regulated by the FDA for safety or therapeutic effectiveness before they are distributed to the market. While some clinical studies demonstrate modest improvements in skin hydration, the overall results are not always consistent. Researchers emphasize that far more rigorous evidence is needed to confirm whether these supplements can truly reverse the visible signs of aging.

        Beyond dermatological benefits, collagen may help alleviate joint inflammation, particularly in highly active athletes. One study indicated that active adults experienced a noticeable reduction in pain after taking daily supplements for six consecutive months. For those who prefer avoiding artificial supplements, this protein is naturally found in dietary sources like poultry and bone broth. Furthermore, consuming vitamin C is also vital, as it serves as a necessary component that helps the body produce its own collagen, thereby ensuring long-term vitality.

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

Question 33. The word “They” in paragraph 1 refers to ____________.

A. promotional campaigns
B. consumers        

C. scientists
D. supplements

Question 34. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 as a factor contributing to the loss of collagen?

A. reaching the age of forty
B. joint discomfort

C. chronic smoking
D. excessive sugar consumption

Question 35. The word “counteract” in paragraph 2 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. offset
B. encounter
C. exacerbate
D. overcome

Question 36. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A. Scientists believe that reversing the signs of aging is impossible, regardless of how much evidence is provided.

B. Researchers confirm that there is already enough rigorous evidence showing these supplements can completely reverse the aging process.

C. It is emphasized by researchers that no amount of evidence will ever be able to prove the anti-aging effects of these supplements.

D. Scientists stress that additional solid proof is required to determine if these products can actually undo the physical effects of growing older.

Question 37. The word “consecutive” in paragraph 4 is CLOSEST in meaning to ____________.

A. intermittent
B. successive
C. subsequent
D. concurrent

Question 38. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Despite their widespread popularity, collagen supplements must undergo stringent FDA evaluations for therapeutic effectiveness before reaching consumers.

B. Relying exclusively on synthetic collagen supplements is considered the most effective strategy to counteract the age-related deterioration of the skin.

C. The human body completely ceases its natural collagen production immediately after an individual reaches the age of forty.

D. While collagen supplements show potential in easing joint discomfort, their definitive anti-aging effects still require further scientific validation.

Question 39. In which paragraph does the writer mention a causal relationship between lifestyle habits and physical changes?

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

Question 40. In which paragraph does the writer discuss the lack of official regulatory control over supplement quality?

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