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Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770. His childhood was unhappy. His father drank too much. Beethoven's musical talent was obvious from childhood. He quickly became a talented performer on the piano. In 1792, he moved to Vienna, Austria, to study with Austrian composer Joseph Haydn. Soon Beethoven was playing music that he wrote himself. Many people admired his powerful, dramatic music.

Beethoven was often ill or depressed. He was unable to find a woman who would marry him. Just as he was becoming very successful, he started to lose his hearing. Deafness is the worst fate for a musician. Beethoven's performing career was over.

Despite Beethoven's hearing loss, he still wrote music. The music he wrote became even better. His music was richly expressive and revealed feelings such as joy and sadness. He created one bold masterpiece after another. Besides piano music, Beethoven wrote string quartets (pieces for four stringed instruments) and other kinds of chamber music. Chamber music is written for small groups, and people can play it in their homes or in small halls. Beethoven also wrote songs, two masses, an opera, and nine outstanding symphonies.

Beethoven studied works by Haydn, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, and Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Then he broke their rules and made music that was like no one else's. It was emotional and challenging. Beethoven wanted his music to express ideas as well as emotions. He wanted it to praise freedom and equality and other high ideals.

Some of Beethoven's well-known achievements are the Moonlight Sonata for piano, the Fifth Symphony, and the Ninth Symphony. The Fifth Symphony has a famous four-note opening, da-da-da-dum. The Ninth Symphony ends with a triumphant chorus called "Ode to Joy." Beethoven's music set a standard that later composers measured their work by.

Crowds loved him and adored his music. Beethoven was famous, although not happy. In 1827, he got pneumonia and died in Vienna.

Which of the following best describes Beethoven's life according to the passage?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 46 to 50.

Broadcasting, perhaps the greatest invention of the last century, has come a long way; and the BBC is one of the most important and trusted broadcasters in the world today. The British Broadcasting Company was established in 1922. Four years later, it changed its name to the British Broadcasting Corporation, better known as the BBC. It was not the world's first radio station. There had already been public radio broadcasts in Britain before 1920. From the beginning the BBC was a public service radio, but also an independent operator. In the early days of BBC radio, there was not a lot of news on the radio. There were music, drama, discussions and children's programs; but news was not broadcast until after 7 p.m., to avoid competition with the newspapers! In 1936 the BBC began the world's first television service. Only a few thousand people in London could receive those first flickering images. Nevertheless, people liked what they saw, and as the number of transmitters increased, more and more people went out to buy new television sets. In 1937, tennis was broadcast from Wimbledon for the first time. Then in 1938, football's Cup Final could be seen, live, by hundreds of thousands of people for the first time ever. Since 1946, the BBC has become one of Britain's most famous institutions. Today it has several national television channels, lots of radio channels and a growing number of international services. (Adapted from https://linguapress.com)

What is the passage mainly about?

The environment is the natural world that surrounds us, consisting of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we live on, and the ecosystems that support life. It is essential for the well-being of all living beings on Earth.

One of the issues concerning the environment is climate change. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to the release of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and the change of ecosystems. Climate change has serious consequences, including extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and the loss of biodiversity. Another important aspect of the environment is pollution. Industrial activities, and the use of harmful chemicals contaminate the air, water, and soil. Pollution has negative effects on human health, wildlife, and the overall balance of ecosystems.

Preserving and protecting the environment requires collective actions. Conservation efforts, such as sustainable resource management and afforestation, play a crucial role in reducing environmental damage. Besides, individual actions, such as reducing waste, and adopting eco-friendly practices, contribute to a more sustainable future. It is essential to raise awareness and educate the public about environmental issues. By this way, individuals can make informed choices and take steps to minimize their ecological footprint.

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Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The cause of tooth decay is acid, which is produced by bacteria in the mouth. The acid removes minerals from tooth enamel, allowing tooth decay to begin; the saliva in your mouth encourages remineralization and neutralizes the acid. The rate at which bacteria in the mouth produce acid depends on the amount of plaque on the teeth, the composition of the microbial flora, and whether the bacteria of the plaque have been "primed" by frequent exposure to sugar. To keep your teeth healthy, a regular dental hygiene program should be followed.

Removing plaque with a toothbrush and dental floss temporarily reduces the numbers of bacteria in the mouth and thus reduces tooth decay. It also makes the surfaces of the teeth more accessible, enabling saliva to neutralize acid and remineralize lesions. If fluoride is present in drinking water when teeth are forming, some fluoride is incorporated into the enamel of the teeth, making them more resistant to attack by acid. Fluoride toothpaste seems to act in another way, by promoting the remineralization of early carious lesions.

In addition to a regular dental hygiene program, a good way to keep your teeth healthy is to reduce your intake of sweet food. The least cavity-causing way to eat sweets is to have them with meals and not between. The number of times you eat sweets rather than the total amount determines how much harmful acid the bacteria in your saliva produce. But the amount of sweets influences the quality of your saliva. Avoid, if you can, sticky sweets that stay in your mouth a long time. Also try to brush and floss your teeth after eating sugary foods. Even rinsing your mouth with water is effective.

Whenever possible, eat foods with fiber, such as raw carrot sticks, apples, celery sticks, etc., that scrape off plaque, acting as a toothbrush. Cavities can be greatly reduced if these rules are followed when eating sweets.

What does this passage mainly discuss?

Read the passage and choose the best answers.

The education system of the 21st century has changed radically with the integration of technology in every sector. At the same time, the students are more mature than the previous time. Now, in the twenty-first century education depends on Thinking Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Information Media, Technological Skills as well as Life Skills. Especially, the education of the present time emphasizes life and career skills. Now there has no value for rote learning. In general, it needs to meet the industry's needs. To clarify, the teaching will be effective when a student can use the lesson outside of the classroom.

For changing the globalizing world, the role of the teachers is essential to improve sustainable education. At the same time, inspiring and guiding the students in increasing employability skills with digital tools is the prerequisite for a teacher. Thus a teacher in the twenty-first century will be a digital teacher. Teachers are not the facilitator for the learning of the students only, and now they are responsible for training the students for increasing employability skills, expanding the mind, growing digital citizenship, critical thinking, and creativity as well as sustainable learning. Thus, the winning of the students is the win of the teachers.

With the passage of time and the integration of technology in every sector, the teacher’s role has changed a lot. They need to enrich some skills to develop their students. Otherwise, the students will not get the lesson, and it will increase the rate of educated unemployed in the digital era.

What is the topic of the passage?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Vietnam takes pride in its extensive cultural heritage that has evolved over thousands of years, influenced by its indigenous origins, neighboring nations, and colonial past. Nonetheless, the present state of preserving this heritage in Vietnam raises concerns. The rapid pace of urbanization, economic progress, and modernization presents significant obstacles to safeguarding and upholding Vietnam's cultural treasures.

One challenge encountered by Vietnam is the encroachment of urban development upon historical sites and traditional communities. As cities continuously expand and contemporary infrastructure emerges, historical edifices and neighborhoods often confront the risk of demolition or modification. Consequently, this jeopardizes the physical integrity and genuine essence of Vietnam's rich heritage. In response, endeavors are underway to strike a delicate equilibrium between development and preservation. Initiatives have been launched to renovate and repurpose historic structures in a manner that retains their cultural significance and prevents its loss.

Preserving intangible heritage, including traditional crafts, music, and rituals, presents an additional hurdle. The phenomenon of globalized culture and evolving societal dynamics increases the likelihood of these cherished traditions gradually disappearing. Acknowledging this risk, the Vietnamese government and local communities have taken proactive measures to promote and protect intangible heritage. They have organized cultural festivals, craft workshops, and educational initiatives to generate awareness and actively involve younger generations in recognizing the significance of safeguarding their cultural heritage.

Moreover, the impact of tourism on heritage preservation in Vietnam encompasses both favorable and adverse consequences. On the one hand, tourism brings about economic prospects and aids in the conservation of heritage. On the other hand, it can result in excessive commercialization and the commodification of culture. Achieving a harmonious equilibrium between sustainable tourism development and the safeguarding of heritage is of paramount importance. To this end, the Vietnamese government has introduced regulations to regulate tourism activities and encourage responsible travel practices. These measures aim to ensure that heritage sites are treated with respect and preserved for the benefit of future generations.

All in all, the present condition of preserving heritage in Vietnam presents a multifaceted and ever-changing obstacle. As the recognition of cultural heritage's significance grows, endeavors are underway to safeguard and advocate for Vietnam's abundant heritage. Nonetheless, achieving this goal necessitates a careful equilibrium between development and preservation, alongside active community engagement and responsible tourism approaches. These elements are crucial to ensure that Vietnam's cultural treasures not only endure but also flourish, leaving a lasting impact on future generations.

Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. 

          Successful students often do the followings while studying. First they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “ fix-up” mistakes in comprehension.

          Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role in learning and rely on others (e.g, teachers, parents) to monitor their studying. For example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content, they may not be aware of the purpose of studying, and their show little evidence of looking back, or employing “fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality off their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good student who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of skills. They can not explain why good study strategies are important for learning, and they tend to use the same, often ineffective, study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure of difficulty.

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Cell phones are an integrated part of our society at this point, and their main use is communication. They keep students in touch with the rest of the world by giving them the power to interact with it. In my day, if you forgot your lunch you were at the mercy of the office calling home for you. Now, students have the ability to solve their own problems and handle certain "emergencies" on their own.

Cell phones also allow students the ability when the time is right, to keep in touch with students at other schools or friends that don't go to school. While not an educational benefit directly, better relationships can lead to higher self-esteem and reduce isolation, which is good for everybody. In the same way, camera phones allow students to capture the kinds of memories that help build a solid school culture, and, in some cases, can act as documentation of misbehavior in the same way that store cameras provide evidence and deter bad behavior.

Academically, the cell phone can act as to record video of a procedure of explanation that may need to be reviewed later. It could be used to record audio of a lecture, as well, for later review. And just imagine if class could be easily "taped" for students who are absent? What if they could even be streamed and seen from home instantly?

The iPod is a little trickier, because its function varies greatly by model. At its heart, it is a media player, and I know for a fact that many students work better while listening to music. For this reason, they can have a good effect by keeping students from getting too distracted while working (ironic, because we mostly think of them AS distractions!). If it is a WIFI compatible model, and wireless internet is available, the iPod can be a great tool for looking up information or digging into things more deeply. Depending on the model, it may be able to act as a camera and video recorder as well (with the same benefits as the cell phone).

Devices like the Kindle could, conceivably, make learning a lot easier. Imagine carrying all your textbooks in the palm of your hand, rather than strapped to your back! Though expensive, compared to buying new textbooks, the Kindle is a bargain. Many of the books used in high school English classes are actually FREE on the Kindle.

The passage mainly discusses ____.

Choose the best answer

Notebooks, tablets and cellphones are all technology  _____  students are accustomed to and can use as learning aids.

Lack of sanitation in restaurants are a major cause of disease in some areas of the country.

Read the text and answer the questions below.

Package holidays, covering a two weeks' stay in an attractive location are increasingly popular, because they offer an inclusive price with few extras. Once you get to the airport, it is up to the tour operator to see that you get safely to your destination. Excursions, local entertainment, swimming, sunbathing, skiing - you name it - it's all laid on for you. There is, in fact, no reason for you to bother anything yourselves. You make friends and have a good time, but there is very little chance that you will really get to know the local people. This is even less likely on a coach tour, when you spend almost your entire time travelling. Of course, there are carefully scheduled stops for you to visit historic buildings and monuments, but you will probably be allowed only a brief stay overnight in some famous city, with a polite reminder to be up and breakfasted early in time for the coach next morning. You may visit the beautiful, the historic, the ancient, but time is always at your elbow.

There is also the added disadvantage of being obliged to spend your holiday with a group of people you have never met before, may not like and have no reasonable excuse for getting away from. As against this, it can be argued that for many people, particularly the lonely or elderly, the feeling of belonging to a group, although for a short period on holiday, is an added bonus. They can sit safely back in their seat and watch the world go by.

When you go on a package holiday, you don't have to _______.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each numbered blank.

Scientist used to believe that our 24-hour cycle of sleeping and walking was governed entirely external factors. The most notable of these, they thought, were the rising and (23)_______ of the sun. But they have now assured that there is a daily rhythm to a wide range of biological functions - including temperature, digestion and mental activity

Can I borrow one of your tablets? 

 Can you lend me a ____________________?  (OF)

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

The invention of the airplane, like many great inventions, was initially met with ridicule and disbelief.

Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on December 17, 1903, were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Although Orville and Wilbur Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, were called impulsive fools, the Wrights continued their experiments in aviation.

Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brother's interest in flight grew into a compulsion.

Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers' inability to obtain enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.

After studying and experimenting with model wings in a wind tunnel, the Wright brothers designed their first airplane in 1903 for less than one thousand dollars. They even designed and built their own lightweight gasoline engine. On December 17, they successfully flew the plane for twelve seconds and 120 feet, despite a turbulent start.

By 1905 the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons or in hang gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of aviation.

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Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the answer to each of the question.

There are many mistakes that people make when writing their resume (CV) or completing a job application. Here are some of the most common and most serious.

The biggest problem is perhaps listing the duties for which you were responsible in a past position: all this tells your potential employers is what you were supposed to do. They do not necessarily know the specific skills you used in executing them, nor do they know what results you achieved - both of which are essential. In short, they won’t know if you were the best, the worst or just average in your position.

The more concrete information you can include, the better. As far as possible, provide measurements of what you accomplished. If any innovations you introduced saved the organization money, how much did they save? If you found a way of increasing productivity, by what percentage did you increase it?

Writing what you are trying to achieve in life - your objective - is a waste of space. It tells the employer what you are interested in. Do you really think that employers care what you want? No, they are interested in what they want! Instead, use that space for a career summary. A good one is brief - three to four sentences long. A good one will make the person reviewing your application want to read further.

Many resumes list ‘hard’ job-specific skills, almost to the exclusion of transferable, or ‘soft’, skills. However, your ability to negotiate effectively, for example, can be just as important as your technical skills.

All information you give should be relevant, so carefully consider the job for which you are applying. If you are applying for a job that is somewhat different than your current job, it is up to you to draw a connection for the resume reviewer, so that they will understand how your skills will fit in their organization. The person who reviews your paperwork will not be a mind reader.

If you are modest about the skills you can offer, or the results you have achieved, a resume reader may take what you write literally, and be left with a low opinion of your ability: you need to say exactly how good you are. On the other hand, of course, never stretch the truth or lie

According to the passage, what information should candidates include in their resume?

Read the text and choose the correct answer for each question below: 

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is a group of offshore islands that is the best example of marine invaded limestone region in the world.  The Bay holds over 1,600 islands and islets. There are caves and grottoes, with stalactites and stalagmites. Its limestone pillars are a unique natural feature of great scenic beauty and biological interest. The great extent and the richness of its forms set it apart from many other sites.

Ha Long Bay is an extremely popular destination both for foreigners and Vietnamese: already in the early 1990s it saw over 1 million visitors a year. It is unlikely that the number has decreased over the years - so there will always be about 3,000 other people in the Bay at the same time as you!

The natural beauty of the Bay lay hidden today under a very common fog. As I had already seen the similar karst landscape in China a couple of years before, I certainly said that I was blown away by the beauty of Ha Long Bay. We went onto one of the islands to visit the Surprising Cave - an indeed surprisingly big and beautiful cave with three hollow chambers. We saw some monkeys here too, just outside the cave exit.

Part of the tour was half an hour of kayaking - enough to paddle a full circle around the main area. The views from the kayak I found much more impressive than from the larger boat: you're so tiny then and the peaks rise sharply in front of you. I had a better look at the water too, and cannot say that I saw pollution by plastic or other junk floating around.  There is a thin layer of oil on the water in some parts though.

And then it's time to get back in the bus to Ha Noi, another 3.5 hours. The tour was carried out well with good seafood for lunch and I had a satisfying day.

 Question: The attraction that Ha Long Bay offer to tourists is _______