Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 6. ⇱
Maximize Your Lunch Break!
Why Your Break Matters
During a busy workday, a (1) _______ is very important. It is a time to relax and enjoy some food. My break, (2) _______ at 12:30, allows me to step away from my tasks for a while.
Quick and Easy Meal Choices
I am often fond (3) _______ sandwiches or salads because they are easy to eat.
Make the Most of Your Time
Sometimes, I need to hurry (4) _______ where to go for lunch. I usually have only 30 minutes, so I have to (5) _______ a decision quickly. Whether I eat at my desk or go to a nearby café, this short break helps me feel (6) _______ and more focused for the rest of the day.
Read the following leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 7 to 12. ⇱
Planning the Perfect Event
Venue Capacity
When planning an event, it is important to consider the (7) _______ of the venue. A venue should have enough room for a large (8) _______ of people to feel comfortable. If the place is too small, it can become crowded and unpleasant. Additionally, some items, like decorations and furniture, can (9) _______ space that could otherwise be used for guests to move around.
Overcoming Challenges
(10) _______ these challenges, event organizers work hard to make sure that (11) _______ person has a good experience. They think about the needs of their (12) _______, such as seating, food, and entertainment, to ensure that everyone enjoys the event.
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct arrangement of the sentences to make a meaningful paragraph/letter in each of the following questions. ⇱
a. Mia: That's amazing, Jake! I could tell you really liked her.
b. Jake: Thanks! I'm excited to see where this goes.
c. Jake: I finally asked her out, and she said yes!
a. Lan: Great! We can rent bikes and ride around the lake.
b. Duy: Sounds fun! I'll bring some snacks for us to enjoy.
c. Lan: Perfect! I can't wait for a relaxing day out.
d. Lan: Are we still on for our trip to Western Lake this Saturday?
e. Duy: Absolutely! I'm really looking forward to it.
Dear Hanh,
a. This is a wonderful opportunity not only to give back to the community but also to make a positive difference in the lives of these animals.
b. They are looking for volunteers to help with various tasks, including cleaning the facilities, feeding the animals, and spending some quality playtime with the pets.
c. Additionally, I believe we will have the chance to meet new people who share our passion for animals and enjoy some great conversations.
d. I recently discovered a volunteering event that is being organized at the local animal shelter this Saturday, and I genuinely think it would be a fantastic experience for us to participate!
e. Please let me know if you're interested in this volunteering opportunity, and I can sign us up and gather more information for us!
Best,
Quang
a. Smartphones also serve as powerful tools for learning, offering access to a wealth of information and educational resources at our fingertips, which can be particularly valuable for students and professionals alike.
b. While smartphones are often criticized for their potential negative impacts, they also provide numerous benefits that can greatly enhance our daily lives.
c. One of the primary advantages of having a smartphone is the ability to stay connected with friends and family through instant messaging and social media platforms, regardless of geographical distance.
d. Additionally, many apps can help users manage their time more effectively, track their fitness goals, and even assist with budgeting, making them versatile devices that support various aspects of life.
e. In summary, although it's essential to be aware of the potential downsides of smartphone use, the advantages they offer in communication, education, and personal management cannot be overlooked.
a. This surge in tourism has not only boosted the local economy but has also prompted significant investments in infrastructure, enhancing the overall experience for both domestic and international travelers.
b. Over the past few years, Nha Trang has emerged as a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year with its stunning beaches and vibrant culture.
c. Furthermore, the local government is actively promoting eco-friendly tourism initiatives to ensure that Nha Trang remains an attractive and sustainable destination for future generations.
d. In summary, Nha Trang’s ability to attract a diverse array of tourists is essential for its continued growth, ensuring that the city thrives while preserving its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
e. Known for its picturesque coastline and rich marine life, the city offers a variety of activities such as snorkeling, diving, and exploring nearby islands, making it a favorite among adventure seekers.
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 18 to 22. ⇱
Many parents encourage their children to study hard and take on many subjects. This pressure (18) _______. They might feel overwhelmed by the number of assignments and exams they have to prepare for each week. While parents want their children to succeed, this approach can lead to stress and anxiety. (19) _______
Some students, (20) _______, find it difficult to balance their studies with other activities. These children often have little time for hobbies or spending time with friends. This lack of balance can affect their mental health, leading to burnout. Parents may not realize the impact of their expectations on their children’s well-being. (21) _______.
To help reduce this pressure, students should be given time to relax and explore their interests. Given the chance to take breaks, (22) _______. It is important for parents to communicate with their children about their feelings regarding school. By listening and understanding, parents can support their children's education in a healthier way. Creating a balance between studying and personal time can lead to happier and more successful students.
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30. ⇱
If you've ever spent hour after hour, day after day staring at your computer or smartphone screen, it is very likely that you have or will suffer from a condition known as "tech neck". This is a term that refers to the pain, stiffness, and even injury that can result from bending your head to look at an electronic device for too long.
When you look straight ahead, the weight of the human head is between 4.5 to 5.5 kilograms. However, even when you only bend your neck forward 15 degrees to look at your phone, the weight that your head puts on your upper body can reach over 12 kilograms. This added weight places even more strain on the neck and shoulders. Now, imagine bending your neck at 45 degrees — that’s almost 50 pounds of weight that your neck muscles, upper back and shoulders have to support for minutes or hours every single day.
Such tension on your spine, neck, and shoulders will eventually cause problems. The most common symptoms of “tech neck” includes feeling a sharp neck pain that can last for days or even weeks. On top of that, your shoulders may also hurt and you could also experience headaches, either from having your head forward over your shoulders too far or from tilting it down too much.
Moreover, there are also chronic issues associated with “text neck”. When your muscles have to tighten in order to hold up your head, the discs in your spine will become weaker over a long period of time, which means they can move out of their position or even break apart, causing extreme pain which may take you months of intense treatment or even surgery to fully recover from.
(Adapted from easytechseniors.com)
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40. ⇱
[I] Some people say great ideas come when we do not expect them, and many psychologists agree: creative insights can occur more often after a period of "incubation" – in which you focus on something entirely different from the task or problem that you need to find unique ideas or solutions for. [II]
There are many reasons why a period of incubation could lead to new and inventive insights. [III] According to one popular theory, it depends on the power of the subconscious mind: when we leave our task, the brain continues to work and connect separate ideas in the background without us knowing, until a good solution pops out. [IV] Also, it allows us to gain some psychological distance from our task. When you spend a long time focusing on one problem, you can become stuck on certain obvious solutions, so incubating should help widen your mental focus so you can come back with a fresh perspective.
In 2012, the psychologist Benjamin Baird tried to test these ideas with an experiment in which participants were first asked to find as many surprising uses as possible for common objects like a brick. After some minutes of brainstorming, there was a short incubation period in which some students were allowed to rest completely while others were either given a simple mental task, which requires focus but still allow the mind to wander, or a difficult task that demands full concentration. The benefits of performing the undemanding task during the incubation were striking, with these participants showing a 40% rise in the creativity of their ideas when returning to the task. More importantly, there were no benefits for the participants who rested or had to fully focus on a task during the incubation.
It may seem surprising that the rest period had not boosted creativity, but Baird suspects that we still need to distract our focus with something to provoke the optimum amount of mind wandering. This is good news for procrastinators, since many of our ‘time-wasting’ activities may offer the best level of distraction for greater creativity. The key is to find moderation, as evidenced by a study from professors Jihae Shin and Adam Grant, who asked participants to brainstorm the best ways someone could spend $10,000 and also gave them links to funny YouTube videos that they could access during the exercise. In the end, those who took a few short breaks to watch the videos tended to generate more creative ideas than those who did not take breaks or delayed too much.
Facing an impending deadline, we may fear taking any time away from the task at hand. But there should be no guilt about spending a few moments of pleasant distraction or leaving the task altogether as we allow an innovative solution to slowly appear while our mind wanders from time to time.
(Adapted from bbc.com)