II. Reading
Read the passage carefully and fill in each blank with the best option A,B,C or D
HOW TO IMPROVE ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS
Many students learn English grammar very well (11)_______cannot actually have a conversation with native speakers. Here are the few tips for improving English skills.
First of all, it is important to find native speakers to (12)_____with. Recording is also a great way to get the maximum benefit from a conversation with a native speaker. When you listen again, you can notice what you need to improve.
Another way is to watch movies or TV in English, with subtitles if you need them, and wacth the same programs over and over. (13)_______ people find that they understand more each time. Listening to music in English and singing (14)_______ can also help you a lot.
Reading out loud or talking to yourself is also a great way to practice speaking when there are no conversation partner available. Practicing alone is a low- pressure way to practice , since (15)________ will hear your mistakes.
(Adapted from http://effortleesenglishclub .com)
11. A. when B. but C. or D. so
12. A. practice B. practical C. practically D. practicality
13. A. Most the B. The most C. Most D. Almost
14. A. after B. along C. behind D. beside
15. anybody B. somebody C. everybody D. nobody
Read the passage below carefully and choose the best option A,B,C or D
The start of every New Year is when we make plan to change our life for the better over the fothcoming twelve months. Psychiatry professor Jayashri Kulkami says “ January 1st is a “ magical” date and a vow made on this day is more powerful than one made on June 1st, for example.” So, we make a list of things to quit, start or change. Unfortunately, most of these promises are, more often than not, broken by January 31st. They are usually the identical resolutions that were not fulfilled from the previous year, and the years prior to that.
Researchers show 45 percent of us make a new year resolution. The most common vows include losing weight, volunteering to help others, quiting smoking, saving money, and getting fit. Others include eating healthier food, drinking less alcohol, and going on overseas trips. However, researches also show that most of us are not so goood at sticking to these. A study from the University of Scranton reveals that 71 percent stick to our annual promises for the first two weeks; six months later, less than 50 percent are still on track to keep their resolutions. Most people who give up on their resolutions do so because of a lack of willpower and the use of the “ escape clause” that they will “ try again next year”
(Adapted from http://www.buffpost.com)
16. What is the main idea of the passase?
A. People make a list of things to change on New Year’s Eve.
B. People have the willpower to change their life for the better.
C. People give up their resolutiions due to the llack of time.
D. People break their New Year’s resolutions years after years.
17. What does the word “ resolutions” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. promises B. secrets C. lists D. activities
18. What does the word “ these” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. trips B. reseaches C. vows D. people
19. What does the word “ annual” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. daily B. weekly C. monthly D. yearly
20. According to paragraph 2, how many of us make a New Year’s resolutions?
A. Only a few of us B. About half of us C. Most of us D. All of us
21. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT a popular Vow?
A. Breaking bad haits B. Becoming healthier
C. Keeping a resolution D. Travelling abroad
EX1 :Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space. For each question 1 -10, mark the correct letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Robots can work in places humans can't easily get to. These include deep oceans on distant planets or on sites with bad pollution. Robots are also used in factories (1) ________ they can work more quickly and accurately than a human, and without needing to rest. Improvements in technology over the past 50 years have (2) _______ that scientists are now able to create very clever robots. The most complicated of these can make (3) _______ for themselves, learn new things, and deal with problems. However, while robots that look like people are very common in science fiction films, they are very (4) _______ in real life. Making a machine that can balance and move on two legs is a real challenge and is unnecessary for most of the jobs we need robots to do for us. However, a Japanese robot (5)_____ as Asimo does walk on two legs and can even climb up and down stairs.
1. A. unless B. because C. although D. despite
2. A. intended B. supposed C. said D. meant
3. A. results B. decisions C. thoughts D. options
4. A. rare B. thin C. little D. narrow
5.A. called B. known C. named D. said
EX2: Mark the letter A,B,C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSET in meaning to the underline word(s) in each of the following question.
Her father died after he had brought up all of his children.
A. was in the dust
B. was out of this world
C. was the apple of her eyes
D. called it a day