Read the following piece of news and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option...

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 7 to 14.

        The global trade in plastic waste has become a significant environmental and ethical concern. UK plastic waste exports have soared this year, rising by 84% in the first half of 2025 compared with 2024, according to UN Comtrade analysis compiled by The Last Beach Cleanup. The surge has been concentrated in Malaysia and Indonesia, with shipments jumping to 28,667 tonnes and 24,006 tonnes respectively. While aggregate volumes remained above 317,000 tonnes, the portion routed directly to non-OECD destinations climbed from 11% to 20%.

        Historically, developed nations have exported vast quantities of plastic scrap to developing countries, often under the guise of recycling. However, this practice frequently leads to environmental degradation and social injustice in the recipient nations, which may lack the infrastructure or regulatory capacity to manage the influx. This pattern has been labeled "waste imperialism," as it effectively externalizes the costs and burdens of waste management on nations with weaker environmental enforcement.

        In response to these growing concerns, some major economic blocs, such as the European Union, have implemented stringent regulations, including prohibiting the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries. The rationale behind such bans is to encourage domestic recycling and ensure that the responsibility for waste management remains with the originating countries. However, other nations continue to export substantial volumes, often resulting in a complex and mercurial global trade network. When one destination tightens import rules, waste is frequently re-routed to others, creating a "shadow geography" of disposal.

        These shifting trade flows highlight a critical issue: the economic incentive often makes exporting plastic waste cheaper than processing it domestically. This financial disparity can obscure accountability along the transboundary chain, making it difficult to track and manage the environmental impact effectively. Critics argue that nations producing plastic packaging should internalize the true costs of its disposal and invest more heavily in domestic recycling infrastructure. Ultimately, addressing this global challenge requires international cooperation, stricter regulations, and a fundamental shift towards a circular economy where waste is minimized and resources are reused.

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

Question 7. The word “soared” in paragraph 1 can be best replaced by ____________.

A. dwindled
B. rocketed
C. stabilized
D. decreased

Question 8. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 as a reality of exporting plastic scrap to developing countries?

A. It frequently harms the environment of the recipient countries.

B. It rapidly promotes the domestic recycling infrastructure.

C. It brings about social inequality in the recipient nations.

D. It pushes the burden of waste management on nations with weak laws.

Question 9. The word “stringent” in paragraph 4 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. lenient
B. strict
C. rigorous
D. demanding

Question 10. The word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to ______.

A. transboundary chain
B. economic incentive

C. plastic waste
D. environmental impact

Question 11. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Opponents suggest that countries manufacturing plastic packaging must bear the actual expenses of treating it and fund their own recycling systems.

B. Critics believe that nations creating plastic packaging should lower the disposal costs by heavily relying on international recycling infrastructure.

C. It is argued that countries importing plastic packaging ought to pay the true costs of throwing it away and improve domestic recycling.

D. People claim that countries producing plastic packaging should internalize the disposal costs so that they can export more waste to other nations.

Question 12. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The global trade in plastic waste has decreased significantly in recent years.

B. The economic incentive primarily encourages domestic processing of plastic waste.

C. The European Union has forbidden the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries.

D. Developed nations always have sufficient infrastructure to manage imported plastic waste.

Question 13. Which paragraph mentions the practice of disguising waste exports as recycling?

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

Question 14. Which paragraph provides information about three key elements to address the global challenge of plastic waste trade?

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

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 15 to 19.

Question 15. 

A. This enclosed environment creates stable conditions that help plants grow consistently, even in regions facing harsh climates or poor soil quality.

B. Container farming is an innovative method of growing crops inside repurposed shipping containers, allowing farmers to control light, temperature, and nutrients with remarkable precision.

C. The compact design also enables year-round cultivation, giving small businesses a reliable supply of produce regardless of seasonal changes.

D. As a result, many urban growers view it as a practical way to produce fresh vegetables closer to consumers, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact.

e. With these advantages, container farming is steadily becoming a promising solution for communities seeking sustainable and efficient food production.

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

Question 16. 

A.  Mia: That'd be awesome. We could get some professional advice and figure out our strengths.

B.  Mia: Yeah, I've been considering a few options, especially marketing. It's a lot more competitive than I thought!

C.  Mark: Perfect! Let's meet outside the counseling office after our afternoon classes.

D.  Mark: Hey, have you made up your mind about which university major to apply for?

e. Mark: Tell me about it! I'm in two minds about economics and IT. Want to see the career counselor together this Friday?

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

Question 17. 

A.  Tom: Yeah, small changes like that can make a real difference.

B.  Tom: I started recycling old items from my room, and it feels good to give things a new purpose.

C.  Sarah: Nice! I’ve been turning old jars into mini plant pots, and it’s actually fun.

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

Question 18. 

Dear Sir or Madam,

A. I am writing to apply for the position of part-time shop assistant advertised on your company’s website.

B. I am confident that my strong communication skills and ability to work under pressure make me a suitable candidate for this role.

C. As a school leaver seeking to enter the workforce, I am highly adaptable and eager to gain practical work experience.

D. I would welcome the opportunity to attend an interview if I am shortlisted for this position.

e. I have attached my CV outlining my relevant qualifications, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

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

Question 19. 

A. Following this, the percentage of urban residents climbed steadily to 45% in 2020, and it is expected to surpass the rural figure, reaching 60% by the end of the period.

B. The line graph illustrates the demographic shift between urban and rural populations in a developing country over a period of 50 years, starting from 2000.

C. On the other hand, the urban population started at exactly 30% in 2000, representing a minority of the country's total population at that time.

D. Overall, there is a clear upward trend in the proportion of city dwellers, whereas the percentage of people living in the countryside shows a steady decline.

e. In 2000, the rural population was dominant, standing at 70%, but this figure gradually fell to 55% in 2020 and is projected to drop further to 40% by 2050.

A. b – a – d – c – e
B. b – e – d – a – c
C. b – d – e – c – a
D. b – c – d – a – 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 20 to 29.

        Digital media have dramatically changed how we consume information, largely due to the effects of social media. These digital sites provide users with highly personalized news feeds, carefully curated to align with their past interactions such as what they have liked, followed, commented on, etc. This algorithmic tailoring often leads to the formation of “echo chambers”, situations where individuals are mainly exposed to information that reinforces their existing beliefs. Such selective exposure not only limits intellectual growth but also cultivates a fragmented understanding of complex issues, where diverse perspectives are systematically sidelined. Because of this lack of variety, a shared reality can become elusive, replaced by separate, one-sided versions.

        [I] The root cause of these echo chambers lies in confirmation bias, a human cognitive tendency. It drives individuals to seek out, interpret, and favor information that supports their pre-existing beliefs, while simultaneously downplaying or rejecting information that contradicts those views. Every social media platform, in pursuit of maximizing user engagement and, consequently, advertising revenue, unintentionally amplifies this natural tendency. By prioritizing content that resonates with a user's current belief system, its algorithms create a feedback loop, making it less likely for individuals to encounter challenging or differing viewpoints. This continuous validation, while psychologically comforting, significantly impedes the development of critical thinking skills and open-mindedness. [II]

        The impact of echo chambers on society is also concerning. Social media sites that restrict users' access to opposing viewpoints and reinforce their existing viewpoints could potentially exacerbate societal division. For instance, on the issue of climate change, one user might only see posts downplaying environmental risks, while another is exposed exclusively to catastrophic warnings. Since each group relies on completely disparate bodies of fact, there is little basis for them to share any kind of mutual understanding. [III]

        Breaking free from these echo chambers requires a conscious effort. Doing so involves cultivating digital literacy, actively seeking out diverse and credible sources of information, and critically evaluating content rather than passively consuming what algorithms present to us. Only through such proactive measures can individuals cultivate a more comprehensive understanding of the world, thereby fostering a more inclusive exchange of ideas across the increasingly fractured digital landscape. [IV]

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

Question 20. According to paragraph 1, what is a primary characteristic of news feeds on social media platforms?

A. They are carefully tailored to individuals based on their previous online behavior.

B. They are carefully curated to systematically sideline the user's past interactions.

C. They aim to create a shared reality by reinforcing existing beliefs through diverse perspectives.

D. They are designed to challenge users' existing beliefs and broaden their perspectives.

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

A. Social media algorithms are designed to challenge users' existing beliefs and foster intellectual growth.

B. Social media platforms try to reduce confirmation bias in order to maximize their advertising revenue.

C. Social media algorithms exploit confirmation bias, creating feedback loops that hinder intellectual growth.

D. The feedback loop created by algorithms provides psychological comfort, which helps users improve their critical thinking.

Question 22. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an impact of echo chambers?

A. They exacerbate societal division among different groups.

B. They encourage the development of critical thinking skills.

C. They contribute to a fragmented understanding of complex issues.

D. They make a shared reality become elusive.

Question 23. The word “elusive” in paragraph 1 mostly means ____________.

A. simple to reach
B. clear to everyone

C. commonly known
D. difficult to achieve

Question 24. The word “its” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. current belief system’s
B. this natural tendency’s

C. social media platform’s
D. confirmation bias’s

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

A. Psychological comfort derived from constant validation is proportional to the development of critical thinking and open-mindedness.

B. Although constant validation provides a sense of psychological ease, it substantially hampers the growth of critical thinking and open-mindedness.

C. The development of critical thinking and open-mindedness is only possible when psychological comfort is continuously challenged.

D. While continuous validation is psychologically beneficial, it unintentionally supports the development of critical thinking and open-mindedness.

Question 26. The example of climate change in paragraph 3 serves primarily to ____________.

A. highlight the universal agreement needed for cooperation on global problems.

B. illustrate how shared reality can become elusive due to differing factual bases.

C. emphasize the global consensus on environmental risks and catastrophic warnings.

D. demonstrate the effectiveness of algorithms in presenting balanced information.

Question 27. What can be inferred about the algorithms used by social media platforms from the passage?

A. They prioritize content that maintains user comfort and engagement, even at the expense of intellectual diversity.

B. They are mainly designed to offer users a wide variety of challenging and different viewpoints from many sources.

C. Their ability to personalize content becomes much less effective as people learn more about how to use technology.

D. They are designed to intentionally create societal division by keeping people inside their own small and narrow groups.

Question 28. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

Ultimately, this lack of shared understanding can contribute to impeding cooperation needed to resolve shared global problems.

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

Question 29. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?

A. While echo chambers pose some challenges to individual intellectual growth, their overall impact on global problem-solving remains negligible.

B. The digital age has highlighted the inherent human tendency of confirmation bias, an issue that social media platforms are actively working to mitigate.

C. Personalized digital feeds create echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs and causing societal division, but individuals can overcome this through active digital literacy.

D. Social media algorithms primarily aim to foster intellectual growth among users by exposing them to a wide range of digital content.

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 30 to 34.

        The Cambridge Dictionary has recently named "parasocial" as its word of the year, defining it as a one-sided connection that people feel with individuals they do not know, or even with artificial intelligence. This phenomenon, (30) ____________, involves a sense of intimacy that is not reciprocated by the other party. A common example is the emotional attachment fans develop towards celebrities like Taylor Swift, despite never having met them.

        Generally, most parasocial relationships are healthy, serving as a normal way to explore thoughts and emotions about others. They allow individuals (31) ____________, and to find inspiration from accomplishments, even from long-dead writers. (32) ____________, these connections are a fundamentally healthy expression of emotional and social desires, provided they do not interfere with mutual relationships in the physical world.

        However, these relationships become problematic if they dominate a person's thoughts or impede independent decision-making. This concern is particularly relevant with AI chatbots (33) ____________. Such highly customized interactions, often designed to flatter or agree, pose a real risk. (34) ____________. This dependency can hinder the development of crucial social and empathetic skills necessary for genuine human connection.

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

Question 30.        

A. a one-sided bond typically formed subconsciously

B. defining as a one-sided bond formed subconsciously

C. which a one-sided bond is typically formed subconsciously

D. is a one-sided bond typically formed subconsciously

Question 31.        

A. to evaluate their interpersonal skills in competitive environments

B. to align their personal values with expectations of their social circle

C. to bypass the need for any real-world social interaction

D. to understand their own place within the broader social landscape

Question 32.        

A. Despite the potential for social withdrawal in extremely isolated individuals

B. Given these beneficial psychological and emotional outlets they provide

C. Rather than the replacement of the necessary social bonds in our daily lives

D. Regardless of the involvement of either living or deceased figures

Question 33.        

A. whose algorithms meticulously tailor every response to align with a user’s specific personality and moods

B. the primary function of which is to optimize digital engagement through advanced natural language processing

C. as they are perceived as being capable of mirroring a user’s unique emotional state and preferences

D. which excel at mimicking subtle aspects of human empathy while remaining entirely devoid of any genuine emotional depth

Question 34.        

A. This signifies a fundamental shift in how individuals seek and maintain emotional support

B. The potential for misuse of personal data in such advanced AI systems is also significant

C. People might use chatbots for emotional soothing instead of developing necessary social skills

D. It is important to acknowledge that these digital interactions can be misleading

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 35 to 40.

FUTURE-PROOF YOUR CAREER PATH IN THE AI ERA

        When choosing your future career, you may find the rapid growth of AI to be a major concern. However, by cultivating unique human-centric skills, you can turn this challenge into a great opportunity. To stay competitive, you should:

         Commit yourself (35) ____________ honing your creative thinking and emotional intelligence.

        Choose a major that requires human depth, (36) ____________ these fields are the least likely to be fully automated by machines.

        During your university years, strive to gain (37) ____________ through internships or exchange programs.

        Don't study in isolation; try to collaborate with (38) ____________ ambitious peers to learn how to use technology effectively.

        Instead of viewing AI as a threat, try (39) ____________ its potential to assist your research and learning process.

        Ultimately, your early dedication to self-improvement and adaptability will (40) ____________ throughout your professional life.

Question 35.
A. in
B. to
C. with
D. for

Question 36.
A. and
B. but
C. for
D. so

Question 37.
A. industry practical insights
B. insights practical industry

C. practical insights industry
D. practical industry insights

Question 38.
A. other
B. the other
C. others
D. the others

Question 39.
A. ignoring
B. embracing
C. imitating
D. measuring

Question 40.
A. mark time
B. pay dividends
C. take root
D. gain ground