TI LIU HNG DN N TP

KHO ST NNG LC TING ANH MC LC

PHN 1: LISTENING .......................................................................................................... 1 PHN 2: NG PHP & T VNG .................................................................................. 10 PHN 3: C HIU .......................................................................................................... 18 PHN 4: WRITING (LETTERS) ....................................................................................... 30 PHN 4: WRITING (ESSAYS).......................................................................................... 42 PHN 5: SPEAKING ......................................................................................................... 46 LU I VI TH SINH KHI LM BI THI TRC NGHIM ................................... 48

PHN 1: LISTENING
1. QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES In this part of the test, you will hear a question asked by one speaker, choose one correct response among the three responses. Here are some tips: 1.1. Focus on the purpose of the question In English, as in many other languages, the response to a question does not necessarily have the same grammatical structure as the question E.g. Whos going to be in charge of processing paychecks now? A. Yes, I have a credit card B. The assistant accountant C. Its a complicated process Based on the grammar of the question, you might expect the answer to contain is going to be in charge. But the answer here is ???? 1.2. Listen for question words Listen for question words and think about the word order. They usually indicate what type of response is expected. E.g. How are we going to a party? were taking a taxi. When is the party? Thursday, at 7p.m Where is the party? In the directors lounge Are we going to the party? Yes, we are 1.3. Pay attention to words that sound alike Some of the choices require you to hear the difference between similar sounds E.g. What is the fare to the airport? Incorrect: Thats a fair price. Correct: About twelve dollars - Pay attention to teen and ty/ eight and H Eighteen / eighty Fifteen/fifty 2. SHORT CONVERSATIONS 2.1. Read the question first Try to read each question before listening. Read quickly the four choices. Reading the question first can help you to focus your listening and may give you some idea of what the conversation is about Q: Where are the speakers? Example Man1: Are you ready to order, sir? Man 2: I just need a few more minutes to read the menu Man 1: No problem. Ill be back in a moment to tell you the daily specials A. At a library B. At a supermarket C. At a restaurant D. At a movie When listening for clues, you might pick out the following words and expressions 1

ready to order; menu; daily specials Certain clues about where the speakers are help you eliminate choices A, B, D. 2.2. Try to imagine the setting of the conversation and who is speaking As you listen, ask yourself - Where are the speakers? - What are they doing? - Who are they? - What is their relationship? The question itself also can help you determine the setting. For example, from the question Who mailed the report? , you might guess the speaker works in an office. Certain words in the conversation can also help you figure out the setting. For example, Assembly line plant supervisor shift production line technicians You might guess the setting is a factory or production facility If you hear : Patient X-ray doctor medicine examine hospital/medical clinic. 2.3. Look at four choices carefully before answering Words spoken in conversation often appear in the four choices. You need to determine if these repeated words provide an answer to the question or not. Man: Brenda, can you give me a hand with this marketing project? Woman: Well, I need to finish this product proposal today, then Im going to catch a train at 5.15 Man: OK. Could we start on it first thing tomorrow morning? Q: What does the man want Brenda to do? A. Postpone the proposal B. Hand him some papers C. Tell him what time the train leaves D. Help him with a project A mentions the womans proposal. Its true that she is working on a proposal. However, the man does not ask her to delay it. In choice B the man asks for a hand, which means to ask for help. However, the man does not ask her to hand him anything. C mentions what time the train leaves. The woman does not mention the time of the train, but this is not what the man wants to do. D is correct because he wants help, or a hand, with the project. 3. SHORT TALKS 3.1. Read the questions first. Try to read the questions before you listen, help you to focus your listening and may give you some ideas of what the talk may be about Let you know if you need to listen for specific details or general information General: What is the purpose of this talk? Where is this talk being given? Who is the speaker? 2

 concentrate on the main idea of the short talk Details: What is the final destination of the flight? How long is the flight? Where will the plane stop first? pay attention to special facts, times, and dates that are given in the short talk. 3.2. Inference questions The information that you need to answer the question may not be stated directly. You may need to make inferences or draw conclusion. These may be general or special. Good afternoon and welcome aboard Global air flight 876 from Copenhagen to Bangkok, with immediate stops in Dubai and Calcutta. We are preparing to depart in a few minutes. At this item your seat back should be returned to its full upright position and your seat belt should be fastened. Our anticipated flying time is six hours and we hope you enjoy the flight. Who is the speaker? The question needs an inference. We infer from the passage that the speaker is a flight attendant A question about specific also require you to make an inference. For example, Where will the plane stop first? is not directly answered in the passage. However, we can infer the first stop is Dubai because the speaker states the flying time to that city 3.3. Listen to the whole talk before answering the question Dont try to answer the question until you have heard the entire talk. There may be important details at the end of the talk. You may also need to consider all the information presented to understand the main idea or to make reference The Eastern Gas Company has been given permission to increase the charges for natural gas service. The revised rate for natural gas service will not be effective until March first of next year. The overall increase will amount to 20 cents per cubic meter. Details of this change are available at the gas company billing office. Q: What will increase, according to the report? A. The area serviced by the company B. The number of company offices C. The length of the billing cycles D. The price of natural gas service The answer is D, line 1 and 2 of the talk contain the phrase increase the charges for natural gas service. If you miss hearing the detail, you might hear the revised rate and the overall increaseto 20 cents. All of these details will help you understand that the main idea is about an increase in the price of natural gas service.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST Subject: Listening Date: Full name: .... Instructions: Number of Questions: 50 You will hear a number of different recordings and you have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time (5 minutes) for you to read the instructions and questions. The recordings will be heard only ONCE. Record all your answers in your test book and at the end of the test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Place: Time: 45 Test code: 111 Reg. No.: .

PART ONE Questions 1 - 6 People are making small talk. What are they talking about? You have 20 seconds to look at the options. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 1. (A) clothes (B) school (C) work 4. (A) a school (B) work (C) a new boyfriend 5. (A) school (B) work (C) apartments 6. (A) work (B) family (C) school

2. (A) work (B) school (C) friends 3. (A) the weather (B) a vacation (C) health problems

Questions 7 12 You will hear Michael talking to Marina about a new sports centre. You have 30 seconds to look at the questions. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 7. Where is the new sports centre? (A) Long Road (B) Bridge Street (C) Station Road 8. What sport cant you do at the sports centre? (A) tennis (B) table-tennis (C) volleyball 9. How much must Marina pay? (A) 14 a year (B) 30 a year (C) 50 a year. 10. How many days a week is the sports centre open late? (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 11. Which bus goes to the sports centre? (A) number 10 (B) number 16 (C) number 60 12. When will Michael and Marina go to the sports centre? (A) Tuesday (B) Thursday (C) Friday

Questions 13 18 Listen to an interview with Joshua, a surfer, and choose the best response. You have 30 seconds to look at the questions. 13. When are his exams? (A) This year. (B) Next month. (C) Next year. 14. In summer, how often does Joshua go surfing on schooldays? (A) Usually once a day. (B) Usually twice a day. (C) He only surfs at weekends. 15. Why does Joshua do homework at lunch time? (A) Because he wants more time for surfing. (B) Because he works hard. (C) Because he cant go surfing at lunchtime. 5

16.

Why doesnt Joshua surf before breakfast in winter? (A) Because the waves are not very good. (B) Because its cold. (C) Because there isnt enough light. Who in Joshuas family surfs? (A) Just Joshua. (B) Joshua and his sister. (C) The whole family. When is the next competition for Joshua? (A) Next week. (B) Next month. (C) In two months time.

17.

18.

PART TWO Questions 19 28 Listen to the questions or statements and choose the best response. You have 45 seconds to look at the options. 19. (A) It costs 40 cents a minute. (B) Can you call back later? (C) You can find one on the corner. 20. (A) (B) (C) 21. (A) (B) (C) 22. (A) (B) (C) 23. No, to pick up a shirt. Its probably faster to take my car. He works on the second floor. Can you leave it by the door, please? Hold on. Ill ask Jeff to give you a hand. This box contains some personal things. Yes, he said he will be a little late. Late last night. Yes, at the back of the room.

(A) To borrow some books. (B) Its very close to here. (C) In about an hour. (A) The store around the corner. (B) The long one with the yellow tag. (C) You can store it in the other room. (A) Because of a few accidents. (B) Ill see if its safe first. (C) Yes, Ive read it thoroughly. Id like that very much. Lets talk over a cup of coffee. To discuss the upcoming project. Yes, but some of them said they will be a bit late. I gathered a couple of things for the occasion. No, theyve been working together for a while now. Yes, I will look at it when I have some time. My boss gave it to me this morning. No, I havent had a chance to read it yet. 6

24.

25.

26. (A) (B) (C) 27. (A) (B) (C) 28. (A) (B) (C)

Questions 29 31 You will hear a conversation between two people. You have 30 seconds to look at the questions. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 29. Why did the man make the call? (A) To make a sale (B) To borrow a book (C) To reserve a vehicle (D) To get some sample 30. What does the man say he has to take next Tuesday? (A) Some books (B) Sample products (C) Nametags (D) Sales report 31. What will the woman do next? (A) Reserve a van in the mans name (B) Take the van out for a drive (C) Meet with her client (D) Give the samples to the man Questions 32 34 You will hear a conversation between two people. You have 30 seconds to look at the questions. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 32. When will the meeting begin? (A) At 10:00 (B) At 10:30 (C) At 11:00 (D) At 11:30 33. Why was the meeting originally postponed? (A) Some staff members cant attend. (B) Jack and Ron are in Mexico. (C) The women have to meet a client. (D) There was another meeting scheduled. 34. Why does the woman say she will be late to the meeting? (A) She is expecting a call from Mexico. (B) She has to meet with a client. (C) She has to find Jack and Ron first. (D) She needs to take care of a problem. PART THREE Questions 35 40 You will hear Frank talking about looking for ships that sank at sea. You have 45 seconds to read the questions. Listen and circle the correct answer. 35. The first old ship which Frank found was (A) covered by rock. (B) older than he first thought. (C) easy to find.

36.

Frank finds ships quickly because he (A) reads history books. (B) is a professional diver. (C) uses the latest equipment. What does Frank say about the ship called The Seabird? (A) It was built in 1859. (B) It sank in a storm. (C) It was badly made. Frank says his wedding ring (A) was made from gold he found himself. (B) is worth 88,000. (C) was found by a friend. Franks wife believes he should (A) stop diving. (B) give things to museums. (C) sell some of his collection. How did Frank learn to dive? (A) By joining a diving club. (B) By going on a diving holiday. (C) By teaching himself.

37.

38.

39.

40.

Questions 41 46 You will hear a woman called Sarah talking to a group of people about her painting. You have 45 seconds to look at the questions. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 41. How often does Sarah paint now? (A) Three days a week. (B) Five days a week. (C) Every evening. Sarah earns enough money from her painting to (A) give up her computing job. (B) pay for her flat and car. (C) pay for her artists materials. When she was at primary school, Sarah (A) painted pictures of people. (B) learnt to use chalk. (C) drew scenes in pencil. What pleased Sarah most about her painting holidays? (A) Meeting other artists. (B) Seeing beautiful scenery. (C) Receiving individual teaching. Which of these has Sarah done? (A) Painted people in Greece (B) Painted sunrises in Scotland (C) Watched birds in Spain After watching Sarahs video, the audience will (A) fill in a questionnaire about the talk. (B) look round an art exhibition. (C) have a break and a drink. 8

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

Questions 47 50 You will hear an interview with Jackie Torrence. You have 30 seconds to look at the questions. Then listen and circle the correct answer. 47. What is the main topic of the interview? (A) How to tell a story (B) How to enjoy reading (C) How to write a story According to Jackie Torrence, how many times should a person read a story before telling it? (A) One (B) Three (C) Five What is the interviewers attitude toward Jackie Torrence? (A) Worried (B) Interested (C) Doubtful

48.

49.

50. How does Torrence explain how to tell a story? (A) By naming good storytellers (B) By dividing the process into steps (C) By comparing good and bad strategies - The End You now have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

PHN 2: NG PHP & T VNG

1. INCOMPLETE SENTENCES 1.1. Decide if the question requires knowledge of vocabulary or grammar If all or some of the choices are the same part of speech, you must select the correct vocabulary item. On the other hand, if you are asked to choose between different forms of the same word, you must select the grammatical form. E.g 1. Everyone should have periodic eye examination to make sure any problems are quickly A. produced B. responded C. discovered D. prepared E.g 2. Everyone should have periodic eye examination to make sure any problems are quickly A. discovering B. discover C. discovered D. to discover In example 1 , you must choose the word that is appropriate in the context of the sentence. A medical problem must be discovered quickly so that it can be treated. In example 2, you must select the correct grammatical form of the word. The verb should be passive. The past participle discovered completes the passive construction- problems are quickly discovered. 1.2. Identify the missing part of speech to determine the correct grammatical form Identifying the missing part of speech (noun, adjective, adverb, preposition) can help you eliminate some of the choices. If the missing word is a verb, for example, you can rule out the choices that are not verbs. Example 1: Please..your face with a mask when using welding materials. A. protection B. protect C. protecting D. protective In this example, the sentence is grammatically correct when completed with a verb form that expresses a command- the imperative form of the verb. A & D are not verbs, so you can eliminate these choices immediately. Choices B & C are both verb forms. Choice C protecting is not an imperative, B is the correct answer. 1.3. Note that some words are often used together in set expressions Certain combinations of words typically occur in English. For example, the verb make can be used with an appointment, a date, or a mistake, while the verb do is frequently used with a job, homework, or an errand. For example, I made a mistake when I was doing my homework. While many of the choices in this section may seem to make sense, the question may be assessing your knowledge of English language usage. Example1: Mr. Dupre has asked me to send his. regards to you and your staff. A. warm B. firm C. close D. good The word regards is usually used with the words warm or best. While close and good might seem to make sense, they are not used to modify regards Example 2: He has ..a great deal of time on this project. A. passed B. spent C. cost D. paid The word time can be used with pass or spend , but the meaning of the two expressions are different. To pass time means to let the time go by while you are relaxing or waiting. This would not make sense in the above sentence. To spend a lot of time on something means you use the time for a specific purpose. 1.4. Look for grammatical relationships between parts of the sentence When you are choosing the correct grammatical form to complete the sentence, look at how the parts of the sentence fit together. Information from one phrase often affects choices elsewhere in the sentence. Example 1 : The notebook computer is the.. profitable of all the products that are presently on sale. 10

A. as B. so C. more D. most The phrase of all the products tells you that the notebook is being compared with more than one other product. A superlative is required. Choice D forms the superlative of the adjective. Example 2: Mrs. Hayar from her trip to Jakarta late yesterday evening. A. return B. returned C. returns D. be returned Here, the clue is the phrase late yesterday evening. This phrase indicates that the action took place in the past. Choice B is the simple past and is the correct answer. 2. SKILL BUILDING Read the following sentences and decide what part of speech is missing in each case. Choose one of the parts of speech listed below and write it in the blank. Noun preposition verb adverb conjunction adjective 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. In order for the conference to run smoothly, we will need hundredsvolunteers. The need for skilled workers in the manufacturing trade willdramatically over the next decade. West street has the citys..concentration of art galleries, museums, and restaurants. The RBI Corporation has maintained that its greatest growth potential lies overseas. The air industry announced yesterday that it had canceled a $ 3.5 billionsfor jet airplanes. The audience is reminded that neither cameras.recording equipment will be permitted in the auditorium. increase increasingly largest strongest of for always once or nor agreement agreeable

3. PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1. I don't know what was wrong with her this morning. She is usually quite ............... A. glad B. pleased C. cheerful D. satisfied 2. The air in the house felt cold and .................. after weeks of bad weather. A. wet C. damp D. watery B. moist 3. The building was badly ..in the fire. A. hurt B. wounded C. damaged D. injured 4. People who are unemployed can receive the .... A. pension B. dole C. scholarship D. allowance 5. My brother always .......... at cards. No wonder he won every game. A. cheated B. lied C. tricked D. deceived 6. Im angry because you didnt tell me the truth. I dont like A. being deceived B. deceiving C. to deceive D. having deceived 7. Hurry up! We dont have left. A. much time B. many times C. little time D. few time 8. The house still remains in ...... after the hurricane. A. good condition B. a good condition C. good conditions D. the good condition 9. In the legal profession, men . women by 5 to 1. A. outnumber B. supersede C. overcome D. outclass 10. the invention of the steam engine, most forms of transport were horse drawn. A. Thanks to B. Prior to C. In addition to D. With reference to 11. I dont like people who tend to other peoples kindness. 11

A. take advantage C. take advantage in

B. take advantages of D. take advantage of

12. Don't worry ! Our new product will keep your bathroom clean and ... A. odourless B. odour C. odourful D. odourlessly 13. Lets go ahead and do it now. Nothing . by waiting A. accomplishes B. accomplished C. has accomplished D. will be accomplished 14. When .? In 1928 A. penicillin was discovered B. did penicillin discovered C. was penicillin discovered D. did penicillin discover 15. In recent years, the government has imposed pollution controls on automobile manufacturers. Both domestic and imported automobiles must . anti-pollution A. equip with B. be equipped with C. equip by D. be equipped by 16. When can I have my car back? I think itll . late this afternoon A. finish B. be finished C. have finished D. be finish 17.Ill have my assistant . . . for an appointment. A. called B. calling C. will call D. call 18. The owner had the store . . ... for the holiday. A. close B. closing C. closed D. will close 19. Once the files are ready, please have them . . ... me. A. send B. send to C. sent to D. sent into 20.The pictures, . . by a professional photographer, are going to be on display. A. taken B. which taken C. were taken D. was taken 21. The owner of the hotel had the rooms . . A. redecorated B. redecorate C. redecorating D. to redecorate 22. I won't wake unless I . the alarm A. don't hear B. heard C. hear D. didn't hear 23. If I could speak Spanish, I . next year studying in Mexico A. will spend B. would spend C. had spent D. would have spent 24. I wish I . at you so loudly with no reason yesterday A. wouldn't shout B. don't shout C. hadn't shouted D. didn't shout 25. What would you have done if you . a lot of money? A. had B. will C. had had D. have had 26. Many people would be out of work if that factory . down A. closes B. closed C. had closed D. would close 27. Your picture are beautiful. We . more if we had not run out of film A. would take B. had taken C. will have taken D. would have taken 28. The blackmailer denied . the photographs to the actress A. send B. to send C. sent D. having sent 29. This book was written by a well-known writer. It is worth . A. to read B. reading C. read D. having read 30. Who actually saw the accident . ? A. to happen B. happen C. happened D. has happened 31. We are not used to . in a cold climate A. lived B. live C. living D. be lived 32. If you want to develop inner tranquility, you have to stop . by every little thing that happens. 12

A. bothering B. being bothered C. to bother D. to be bothered 33. I dont remember . of the change in plans for the holiday A. to be told B. to have told C. telling D. being told 34. Im sorry I never graduated. Ive always regretted not . college A. to finish B. finished C. finish D. having finished 35. A good teacher makes her students . the world from new perspectives A. to view B. view C. viewing D. to be viewed 36. Please remember . your hand during the test if you have a question A. raising B. to raise C. having raised D. to have raised 37. I advised my niece not .at an early age A. marrying B. to marry C. being married D. to have been married 38. Shhh. I hear someone . in the distance. Do you hear it, too? A. shout B. shouted C. to shout D. shouting 39. Children should be encouraged . their individual interests A. develop B. to be developed C. to develop D. developing 40. Could you please come over? I need you . the refrigerator A. help me moving B. helping me to move C. help me to move D. to help me move 41. We considered . after work A. to go shop B. going shopping C. going to shop D. to go to shop 42. All I want is for him . . . . . . . safe A. returning B. to return C. return D. having returned 43. Yesterday, I met a woman grandfather was Swedish. A. who B. whos C. whose D. which 44. She put her prize in a place everyone would notice it A. where B. which C. in what D. to that 45. Why did you buy all this sugar and chocolate? I .a delicious dessert for dinner tonight. A. make B. will make C. am going to make D. will have made 46. Fish were among the earliest forms of life. Fish .on earth for ages and ages. A. existed B. are existing C. exist D. have existed 47. Today there are weather satellites that beam down information about the earths atmosphere. In the last two decades, space exploration . great contributions to weather forecasting. A. is making B. has made C. made D. makes 48. On July 20, 1969, Astronaut Neil Armstrong . down onto the moon, the first person ever to set foot on another celestial body. A. was stepping B. stepped C. has stepped D. was step 49. The planes departure was delayed because of mechanical difficulties. When the weary passengers finally boarded the aircraft, many were annoyed and irritable because they . in the airport for three and a half hours. A. are waiting B. were waiting C. have been waiting D. had been waiting 50. My family loves this house. It . the family home ever since my grandmother built it 60 years ago. A. was B. has been C. is D. will be 51. Here 's an interesting statistic: On a typical day, the average person. about 48,000 words. How many words did you speak today? A. spoke B. was speaking C. speaks D. will be 13

52. Al painted his bedroom black. It looks dark and dreary. He . a different color. A. has to choose B. should have chosen C. must have chosen D. could have been choosing 53. Tom is sitting at his desk. Hes reading his chemistry text because he has a test tomorrow. He .. A. could study B. should be studying C. will study D. must be studying 54. When Mr. Lee was younger, hework in the garden for hours, but now he has to take frequent rests because he has emphysema. A. has got to B. can C. should be able D. could 55. The swift current . to cross the stream. A. made impossible B. made it impossible C. made the possibility D. made possibly 56. . with the size of the whole earth, the highest mountains do not seem high at all. A. When compared B. Compare them C. If you compare D. A comparison 57. One of the most obvious characteristics of the moon is the way in which it continuously changes . A. in appearing B. its appearance C. are appearing D. for appearance 58. . a wrong number, it is important to apologize before hanging up. A. You dial B. Dialing C. If you dial D. If it is dialed 59. . the lion is a member of the cat family. A. Like the tiger B. Alike the tiger C. Liking the tiger D. It is like the tiger 60. . the seeds of the Kentucky coffee plant are poisonous. A. Until they have been cooked B. Cooking them C. They have been cooked D. Having been cooked until 61. Natural silk is still high prized .similar artificial fabrics. A. although is available B. despite there are available C. in spite of the availability of D. even though an availability of 62. A vacuum will neither conduct heat nor ........................... . A. transmit sound waves B. transmitting sound waves C. sound waves are transmitted D. the transmission of sound waves 63. The FDA was set up in 1940............................... that maintain standards for the sale of food and drugs. A. to enforce the laws B. to enforcing laws C. enforcing laws D. enforced the laws 64. I have to go to the meeting... I want to or not. A. because B. whether C. as soon as D. while 65. Youd better take an umbrella it begins to rain. A. as soon as B. despite C. in case D. although

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ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST Subject: Use of English Date: Full name: .... Place: Time: 25 Test code: 121 Reg. No.: .

Questions 1-20: Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Mark your choice on the answer sheet. Example: He __________ on business yesterday A. went B. goes C. go D. going Answer: A 1. While he__________ the piano, she was reading a magazine. A. plays B. played C. was playing 2. I have never had my portrait _______________ . A. to paint B. painted C. paint

D. had played D. painting

3. She can remember the time ________ cars were rarely seen in the village. A. which B. that C. where D. when 4. That is the dog________ owner is a famous doctor. A. whose B. who C. that D. which

5. Our brother ____________ in this room since yesterday morning. A. is staying B. stayed C. has stayed D. have stayed 6. I have been saving money because I _______________ buy a computer. A. shall B. will C. would D. am going to 7. The first indoor mall which__________ in 1965 in the United States is in Minnesota. A. built B. had built C. was built D. were built 8. Dont invite Rob to your party _______________you really want him to be there. A. unless B. when C. as long as D. if 9. Plenty of milk____________ consumed every day. A. are B. were C. is 10. The dentist advised him__________ sweets. A. to stop eat B. stopping eating C. stop eating D. was D. to stop eating D. wants

11. My brother is intelligent but he___________ common sense. A. fails B. lacks C. misses

12. We usually recommend that couples ___________ their investments in order to plan for their retirement. A. elevate B. schedule C. coordinate D. delineate 13. Please ring to make an early ___________at the dentist. A. assignment B. order C. date D. appointment

14. Mrs. Smith always likes someone to __________ her to the bus stop at night. A. go B. company C. join D. accompany 15. There is construction going on outside today, so please _______ the windows closed. A. stay B. remain C. let D. keep

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16. One of the requirements of this position is that you show up every day ___ of the weather. A. despite B. nonetheless C. regardless D. although 17. The house Mr. Eno is thinking about buying is located _________ Heritage Street. A. to B. on C. from D. of 18. The manager hinted that Janet Tate _________ for a promotion. A. considers B. has been considering C. has considered D. is being considered

19. If you do not find the accommodations here ______, be sure to let us know when you fill out your customer comment card. A. satisfactory B. satisfied C. satisfaction D. satisfactorily 20. Please inform Ms. Anne Hedoni that we suggest she_________ her appointment for at least a week. A. postpone B. is postponing C. postpones D. will postpone Questions 21-30: Choose the underlined word or phrase in each sentence that needs correcting. Mark your choice on the answer sheet. Example: There was an interesting news on the radio this morning about the earthquake in Italy. A B C D Answer: B 21. New laws should be writing to accommodate changes in our society. A B C D 22. My brother attends an university in the Midwest which specializes in astrology. A B C D 23. Because of the light, the city seemed differently from the way I had remembered it. A B C D 24. She wishes that we didnt send her the candy yesterday because shes on a diet. A B C D 25. Modern farms are much larger than that of former times. A B C D 26. For they, the most rewarding shipwreck found was the HMS Associated. A B C D 27. Usually, the climate in mountainous areas becomes much windy at higher altitudes. A B C D 28. Nobody would have attended the lecture if you told the truth about the guest speaker. A B C D 29. When there are low sales, companies often decide developing new products. A B C D 30. Mr. Cruise used to think of hisself as the only president of the company. A B C D Questions 31-40: Choose the correct sentence which has the same meaning as the given one. Mark your choice on the answer sheet. Example: Mrs. Edwards is the owner of that car. Answer: That car belongs to Mrs. Edwards. 31. Ive warned you not to leave the door unlocked. A. You shouldnt unlock the door. B. Leaving the door unlocked was no good. C. Ive warned you about leaving the door unlocked. D. I told you not to lock the door. 16

32. Who do these skis belong to? A. To whom do these skis belong? B. Who buys these skis? C. Whose skis are these? D. A and C are correct. 33. Murder is the most serious of all crimes. A. Murder is very serious. B. Everyone is afraid of murder. C. No crime is more serious than murder. D. Murder is the dangerous crime. 34. The snow makes driving dangerous. A. The snow makes it possible to drive. B. The snow makes it dangerous to drive. C. Driving is not easy in snowy weather. D. It is dangerous to go skiing. 35. I owe ten pounds to the brother of a friend of mine. A. My friends brother lent me ten pounds. B. My brothers friend lent ten pounds to me. C. I owe the brother of a friend of mine ten pounds. D. I owe ten pounds to the friend of a brother of mine. 36. Please dont use the shower after midnight. A. Would you rather not use the shower? B. Would you like to use the shower before midnight? C. I dont want you to use the shower. D. Would you mind not using the shower after midnight? 37. I agree hes a good worker but I still dont think he should get the job. A. He cant get the job though he is a good worker. B. Despite the fact that he is a good worker, I dont think he should get the job. C. He is such a good worker that he can get the job. D. He is too bad to get the job. 38. He tried to explain the problem to his wife. A. He tried explaining his wife the problem. B. He tried to explain his wife the problem. C. He attempted to explain his wife the problem. D. He attempted to explain to his wife the problem. 39. John shouldnt have behaved so badly, said Janet. A. Janet doesnt like Johns behaviour. B. Janet objected to Johns bad behaviour. C. Janet dislikes John. D. Janet was angry with John. 40. Anna failed to understand how serious her illness was until she spoke to the doctor. A. Anna doesnt understand how serious her illness is. B. Not until she spoke to the doctor did Anna understand how serious her illness is. C. The doctor said that Annas illness was very serious. D. Anna went to see the doctor because she knew that her illness was serious. - The End -

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PHN 3: C HIU
1. DEALING WITH UNFAMILIAR WORDS - Ignore them - Look for the meaning given somewhere in the sentence or in the previous and following sentences - Guess their meaning from the context 1.1. Ignoring the unfamiliar words For example, look at this exercise. Read the paragraph about obesity and answer the questions. Obesity is a medical disorder that affects approximately 20-30% of the population of the United States of America. It is an excessive accumulation of body fat that results from the storage of excess food energy calories in the bodys fat cells. 1. Most American people suffer from obesity. True, False, or Not Given? 2. This paragraph presents A. some examples of obesity. C. a definition of obesity B. the different types of obesity. D. the treatment of obesity. When reading this passage, a student may find many unknown words and underline them. However, both questions can be answered without knowing the meaning of the italic words. It is even unnecessary to know the meaning of the word obesity! 1.2. Looking for the meaning of unfamiliar words given somewhere in the sentence Sometimes a sentence gives a definition of a new vocabulary item or information about it. This information may be in parentheses ( ), after a dash (-), or after a comma (,). Example: There were sixty-one identical cats in the classroom, each one exactly like the one on the board. (What does identical mean? It means exactly alike). Sometimes the meaning or a clue to the meaning of a new vocabulary item is in another sentence or sentence part. Example: A teacher from a Western country recently visited an elementary school in an Asian country. In one class, she watched sixty young children. (What is an elementary school? Its a school for young children). 1.3. Guessing the meaning of unknown words from the context If it seems necessary to understand the meaning of a particular unfamiliar word, you will have to guess. You cannot look up every word you dont know in a dictionary since it is boring and time-consuming, especially when you read long passages and more importantly, it is forbidden when you take a test! Now, lets focus on how to use context to guess the meaning of a word. In ordinary reading, there are a number of clues that can help you to determine the meaning of an unknown word. * Synonyms: The first state to institute compulsory education was Massachusetts, which made it mandatory for students to attend school twelve weeks a year The word mandatory is a synonym of the word compulsory * Examples: Many gardeners use some kind of mulch, such as chopped leaves, peat moss, grass clippings, pine needles, or wood chips, in order to stop the growth of weeds and hold in moisture. From the examples given, it is clear that mulch is a plant matter. * Contrast: 18

In the 1820s, the Southern states supported improvements in the national transportation system, but the Northern states balked. Since the Southern states supported the improvements, and since a word signalling contrast (but) is used, it is clear that the Northern states disagreed with the idea, and that the word balked must mean objected or refused. * General context: In a desert, vegetation is so scanty as to be incapable of supporting any large human population. As is generally known, deserts contain little vegetation, so clearly scanty must mean scare or barely sufficient. 2. SKIMMING THE PASSAGE Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to find out what the text is about. When you are skimming a passage for a general understanding, dont try to understand every word. Jump from paragraph to paragraph, finding the main point in each paragraph before moving on to the next paragraph, like jumping across stepping-stones in a river. The main point of each paragraph is often, though certainly not always, the first sentence in each paragraph. When you are looking at sentences to understand the main points, try to find the main words in the sentence, namely the subject, the verb and the object of the main clause. Try to ignore the other words, particularly the relative clauses and adverbial clauses. Example Tea plants are grown on tea plantations, called gardens or estates, in areas that have a great amount of rainfall and rich loamy oil. It is enough to understand that tea plants are grown on/in somewhere/somehow. If you later find a question that relates to this sentence, you can come back and read it more intensively. When you have finished skimming the passage, skim the questions. You need to know how many questions there are and approximately what the questions are about. You can now practise skimming. To encourage you to skim as quickly as possible, there is a suggested time limit. Exercise 1 : Skim the passage quickly. Read only the title, the first paragraph, the first sentence of the middle paragraphs, and the last paragraph. Dont worry about the words you dont know. Then complete the sentence below. The main idea of this reading is ___________ 1. the high cost of a university education. 2. how to pay for a university education. 3. living on a student budget. Time limit: 4 minutes A STUDENT BUDGET College gives people the chance to learn and make friendships that will last a lifetime. Many people in North America begin college at the age of eighteen. Many students go to school and work part-time to help pay for their education. In the United States, the cost of a college education can be quite expensive. Undergraduate tuition at a public university can cost between $2,000 and $10,000 a year. That amount rises to between $14,000 and $24,000 a year at a private university. Students must also pay for textbooks and stationery. These can cost $500 to $800 per year. Students who live in campus housing pay between $3,500 and $9,000 per year for room and board. Add money for clothes, travel, and other personal expenses, and one year at a university can cost as much as $35,000! 19

Students need to spend their money carefully. At Eastern Michigan University, advisors help students to plan and stick to a budget. They suggest this: At the start of a school semester, write down your income, for example, money you will get from your family or a part-time job. Then, list all of your expenses. Put your expenses into two groups: those that change (food, phone, books, travel), and those that will stay the same (tuition, room and board). Add together all of your expenses. Then, subtract these from your income. Do you have enough money, or do you need more? Learning to stick to a budget is not always easy. But for many, it is easier than borrowing money from family or friends in the middle of a semester. 3. GETTING THE MAIN IDEAS

UNDERSTANDING THE MAIN IDEAS In each paragraph of a passage there is often a summary sentence which contains the main idea of the paragraph. The other sentences in the paragraph expand, illustrate, and/ or explain the main idea. The summary sentence is frequently thought not always the first or the second sentence of the paragraph. If your purpose is to understand the main points of a passage you should locate and underline this sentence in each paragraph.

Exercise 1: Skim the following passage as quickly as possible and underline the sentence that gives the main point of each paragraph . Time limit: 2 minutes LIBRARIES Libraries are quite difficult to define. If you ask most people to define a library, they will probably say that it is a building with a lot of books. Strictly speaking, a library does not have to be a building: it can be a room, or indeed any area where material is kept. Equally, a library is not merely a collection of books: there are journals, newspapers, CD-ROMs, microfilm, audio-visual materials and so on. So, to be more accurate we can say that a library is a collection of information or material. Libraries are organized in three ways. Most libraries will use one or more of the three main classification systems that have been developed to detail the material in the collection. They are referred to as the Dewey Decimal System, the Universal Decimal Classification and the Library of Congress System. Nowadays libraries are under threat for a number of reasons. The primary challenge, as never before, is funding. Hardware and personnel costs increase each time technology expands. Equally, there are challenges in the skills needed by users and resource professionals. It is difficult to predict the future of libraries. Our basic concept of libraries will almost certainly, it would appear, change dramatically in that we will not think of them (and access them) as physical places, which is the prevailing concept at the moment. But beyond that, it is difficult to predict both usage patterns and preferred systems of data recording and retrieval. 20

4. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

TACTICS FOR DOING SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS Read the instructions carefully. Underline or highlight the key words in each question and decide what kind of information you need to look for. Start with the first question and read the passage quickly to see if you can find words that are the same as the key words or have a similar meaning. Read around these words to find the answer. Decide exactly which words/or numbers you should write as the answer.

Exercise 1: Read the questions below. Then scan (dont read) the following paragraph to find the answers. QUESTIONS 1. What city is this paragraph about? _____ 2. What is the population of the city? _____ 3. Is there information about the food in this country? YES NO 4. Is there information about the schools in this country? YES NO Time limit: 1 minute TAIPEI Taipei is a lively and expensive city, and it lets you know it. About 6,000,000 people live in and around the capital of Taiwan and it is a hotbed of renao, or liveliness. Apartments are almost impossible to buy in Taipei and the government is encouraging businesses to locate in other parts of the country. Taipei may not be a relaxing place but the food is excellent, the people are friendly, and there are some wonderful things to see, like the Grand Hotel. Exercise 2: Scan the passage about libraries. Which sentence contains the information you need to answer the questions below? Write the number of the sentence from the passage next to each question. Time limit: 2 minutes (1) Libraries are quite difficult to define. (2) If you ask most people to define a library, they will probably say that it is a building with a lot of books. (3) Strictly speaking, a library does not have to be a building: it can be a room, or indeed any area where material is kept. (4) Equally, a library is not merely a collection of books: there are journals, newspapers, CD-ROMs, microfilm, audio-visual materials and so on. (5) So, to be more accurate we can say that a library is a collection of information or material. (6) Libraries are organized in three ways. (7) Most libraries will use one or more of the three main classification systems that have been developed to detail the material in the collection. (8) They are referred to as the Dewey Decimal System, the Universal Decimal Classification and the Library of Congress System. (9) Nowadays libraries are under threat for a number of reasons. (10) The primary challenge, as never before, is funding. (11) Hardware and personnel costs increase each time technology expands. (12) Equally, there are challenges in the skills needed by users and resource professionals. 21

(13) It is difficult to predict the future of libraries. (14) Our basic concept of libraries will almost certainly, it would appear, change dramatically in that we will not think of them (and access them) as physical places, which is the prevailing concept at the moment. (15) But beyond that, it is difficult to predict both usage patterns and preferred systems of data recording and retrieval. 1. What kinds of materials does a library collect? __________ 2. What is the most accurate way to define library? __________ 3. What is the main problem that libraries are facing? _________ 4. What aspect of libraries is sure to change? _________ 5. MULTIPLE CHOICE

TACTICS FOR MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS Underline or highlight the key words in the question and the four questions. Quickly read the sentences that contain the main ideas in each paragraph of the passage. Rule out any options in the questions that you think are definitely wrong. Decide which option is correct.

Exercise 1: Look through the questions below, scan the passage and then choose the best answers. Time limit: 3 minutes The first black literature in America was not written but was preserved in an oral tradition, in a rich body of folklore, songs and stories, many from African origins. There are humorous tales, Biblical stories, animal stories, and stories of natural phenomena, of good and bad people, and of the wise and foolish. Many reflect how African Americans viewed themselves and their lives. The lyrics of blues, spirituals, and work songs speak of suffering and hope, joy and pain, loved ones, and religious faith, and are an integral part of the early literature of black people in America. The earliest existing written black literature was Lucy Terrys poem Bars Fight, written in 1746. Other eighteenth-century black poets include Jupiter Hammon and George Moses Horton. The first African American to publish a book in American was Phillis Wheatley. Black poetry also flourished in the nineteenth-century, during which the writings of almost forty poets were printed, the most notable of whom was Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first black American to achieve national acclaim for his work. Dunbar published eight volumes of poetry and eight novels and collections of stories. More than three dozen novels were written by blacks between 1853 and 1899, but autobiography dominated African-American literature in the nineteenth-century, as it had in the eighteenth. In the twentieth century, however, fiction has presided, with Charles W. Chestnutt, Americas first black man of letters, successfully bridging the two centuries. He began publishing short fiction in the mid-1880s, wrote two books that appeared in 1899, and had three books published between 1900 and 1905. He was a pioneer of the new literature of the early 1900s, which aimed to persuade readers of the worth and equality of African Americans.

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1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as part of the oral tradition of African Americans? A. Humorous tales B. Tales of adventure C. Biblical stories D. Animal stories 2. According to the passage, the lyrics of blues and spirituals are often concerned with A. the pain and joy in life B. loved ones and animals C. religion and nature D. wise and foolish people 3. According to the passage, an important part of early African-American literature was A. Novels B. short fiction stories C. Biographies D. songs 4. According to the passage, when did the first written African-American literature appear? A. In the 1600s B. In the 1700s C. In the 1800s D. In the 1900s 5. According to the passage, who was the first African American to receive national recognition for his writing? A. Paul Dunbar B. George Horton C. Lucy Terry D. Phillis Wheatley 6. REFERENCE Successful reading means being able to see the relationship between different words, that is, being able to match information rather than understand isolated words. The most typical example of matching information is matching reference, that is, how one word refers to other words. If you cannot understand all the references, you cannot understand the passage. There are many types of reference. 6.1. Pronouns: (e.g. he, she, it, they, himself, herself, this, that, these, what, who, where) Many people wrote to complain. They particularly objected to We received about twenty calls a day. These range from requests for The hospital receives insufficient funding. This is a major problem. He asked if I could lend him a torch. Unfortunately, I didnt have one. 6.2. Auxiliary verbs: (e.g. do/did, have/had, can/could, will/would) We all tell white lies occasionally. Life would be difficult if we didnt. You need to pay the fee now. If you cant, please let us know. They asked me to help. I said I would. 6.3. there, then, so, such.. At the beginning of the 19th century Thing were very different then. You may experience symptoms of nausea Such symptoms are not uncommon. 6.4. Parallel expressions His follow mathematicians his colleagues Feelings of anger and betrayal strong emotions 6.5. Articles A survey (first reference) the survey . (later reference) How can you find the references? Reference words are in many cases pronouns such as it, them, they, or this. When the reference word is a pronoun, look for a previous noun that might match the pronoun. Make sure that they match in gender (male or female), number (singular and plural), and case (is the word a subject, an object or a possessive?). Replace the pronoun with this noun and check to see if the meaning is possible. For example, in the sentences above, when her is replaced with Sandra the sentence makes sense. Therefore her refers to Sandra. Sandras closest friends are Amy and Lee. They study with her at the university

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Sometimes to understand a reading passage we need to work out the link between the ideas correctly. This link is not always expressed by reference words but by elliptical devices. Lets have a look at the following example. The main purpose of a resume is to convince an employer to grant you an interview. There are two kinds. In this sentence, two kinds means two kinds of resume

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ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST Subject: Reading Date: Full name: .... Place: Time: 55 Test code: 131 Reg. No.: .

PART I: Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space. For each question, mark your choice (A, B, C or D) on your answer sheet. Questions 1-10: New Opportunities with an Open University Degree Like any other university, the Open University can give you a degree. However, you don't have to . (1) . working to study. It can also open up a whole variety . (2) . interests. If you have . (3) studied before, you will enjo y the special, new pleasure of . (4) . your knowledge. You will make friends of . (5) .kinds. You may also . (6) . that your qualification provides new career opportunities. You don't actually . (7) . to the Open University for lectures, but study at home, using television, radio and computer software. You can . (8) . one class a month if you wish at an Open University centre. Of course, there are exams to take, as in . (9) . university. If you . (10) . like to know more, all you have to do is to complete the form below. It could be the start of a wonderful new period in your life. 1. A. stop B. end C. break D. leave 2. A. from B. of C. in D. for 3. A. ever B. never C. often D. always 4. A. growing B. changing C. adding D. increasing 5. A. all B. each C. both D. every 6. A. suggest B. find C. wish D. want 7. A. join B. enter C. arrive D. go 8. A. give B. attend C. learn D. study 9. A. any B. some C. many D. most 10. A. did B. will C. would D. can Questions 11-20: Living in the Country Living in the country is something . (11) . people from the city often dream about. However, in reality, it has both advantages and . (12) .. There are certainly many advantages to living in the country. First of all, you can enjoy . (13) . and quiet. Moreover, people tend to be friendlier. A further advantage is that there is less . (14) ., so it is safer for young children. However, there are certain drawbacks to life outside the city. Firstly, because there are. (15) . people, you are . (16) . to have few friends. In addition, entertainment is difficult to find . (17) . in the evening. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services means that it is hard to find . (18) ..

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In conclusion, it can be seen that the country is . (19) . suitable for some people than others. On the whole, it is often the best place for those who are retired or who have young children. In . (20) ., young people who have a career are better provided for in the city. 11. A. which B. who C. whom D. that 12. A. benefit B. difficulty C. hardship D. disadvantages 13. A. peace B. peaceful C. silent D. still 14. A. cars B. motors C. traffic D. vehicles 15. A. more B. fewer C. less D. little 16. A. like B. likely C. likelihood D. possibly 17. A. early B. particularly C. specially D. usually 18. A. career B. job C. place D. work 19. A. many B. more C. most D. much 20. A. contrary B. contrast C. convert D. conversion Questions 21-30: People have tried for over 2000 years to find a relationship (21). peoples physical features and their character, and even though there is a complete (22).. of evidence for such an idea, it is still popular. The Ancient Greeks were interested in the idea of human personality although they did not link it with outward appearance. Later, during the Renaissance, some writers (23) that there was a direct connection between a persons character and their face, and they said this new science would (24) you know a great deal about a person simply by analyzing their face. Kings and princes were interested in the science, as they thought it might (25). them to be better judges of character, and they believed that these new skills would (26) it more difficult for dishonest courtiers to (27). them in. Despite the fact that nobody takes these theories seriously nowadays, scientists are still interested in the basic idea. They have shown that there is a link between a person character and their build. Extroverts and other confident, outgoing people are usually short and thick set, and in contrast, people who are (28). and reserved tend to be (29).. and thin. There is some scientific basis to this theory because glands have such an important effect on both a persons build and their moods, so it is not (30).. to find a link between them. 21. A. between B. among C. from D. with 22. A. lack B. shortage C. failure D. need 23. A. claimed B. told C. pretended D. related 24. A. allow B. permit C. let D. enable 25. A. make B. allow C. let D. learn 26. A. change B. make C. let D. turn 27. A. take B. put C. set D. bring 28. A. conceited B. arrogant C. proud D. shy 29. A. long B. surprised C. tall D. great 30. A. surprising B. surprised C. interested D. interesting PART II: Read the texts and questions below. For each question, mark your choice (A, B, C or D) on your answer sheet. Questions 31-35: Italy enjoyed a highly developed and specialized civilization from about 264 B.C. until the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. Important contributions were made in art, science, education, religion, and 26

architecture. Remains of Roman aqueducts and amphitheatres can still be seen in various parts of Africa and Europe today. Probably the most lasting of the Roman heritage to the world can be found in laws based on Roman legal principles as found in England, Latin America, and the United States, as well as the Roman alphabet which forms the basis of many languages among which are English, Spanish, and German. 31. During how many centuries did Italy enjoy an advanced civilization? A. 3 B. 4 C. 6 D. 8 32. Which of the following is considered to be the most enduring heritage of the Romans? A. art B. science C. law D. education 33. Where can we still find evidence of Roman architecture today? A. Latin America B. Africa C. India D. United States 34. All of the following are true except: A. Roman law was so advanced that other nations adopted Roman legal principles. B. Some Roman-built structures are still standing. C. Roman superiority began to decline in the fourth century A.D. D. The ancient Romans were talented in many areas. 35. Which of the following languages is not given as using the Roman alphabet? A. English B. German C. Russian D. Spanish Questions 36-40: Now that I've extracted your tooth, I want to give you some words of advice. Remember that this is surgery. You need to go home and rest for the rest of the day. You shouldn't do your regular work. Since you're an adult, it might take you longer to heal than if you were a child. The numbness will wear off after a few hours, and if it's painful after that, you should take two aspirins. Now, the most important thing to remember is to apply ice to your cheek immediately when you get home. This will keep the swelling down. You can use an ice bag or put chopped ice in a towel. Hold it on your cheek over the extraction area for twenty minutes, and then take it off for twenty minutes. Keep this up for four or five hours. Secondly, don't rinse your mouth today. Tomorrow you should do it gently every three or four hours with salt water. Continue this rinsing for several days. Don't be alarmed if there is some bleeding this morning. A little bleeding is normal following an extraction. I've put gauze pads over the extraction, and I will give you some to take home. Change the pads about a half hour after you get home. That's all you need to do. Call me any time if you have a lot of bleeding or pain. And remember to apply ice right away. 36. Who is probably speaking? A. A nurse B. A dentist C. A doctor D. An assistant 37. How long will the patient's mouth be numb? A. For a few hours B. For a half hour C. Until tomorrow D. Until the swelling goes down 38. What does the speaker say is the most important thing to do? A. Rinse the patient's mouth. B. Take two aspirins. C. Sleep. D. Put ice on the patient's cheek. 39. When does he say to rinse with salt water? A. Tonight. B. In a half hour. C. Tomorrow. D. In four or five hours. 40. What kind of person does the speaker seem to be? A. Angry B. Worried C. Helpful D. Excited 27

Questions 41-45: Winter Driving Winter driving is dangerous because it's so difficult to know what is going to happen and accidents take place so easily. Fog can be waiting to meet you over the top of the hill. Ice might be hiding beneath the melting snow, waiting to send you off the road. The car coming towards you may suddenly slide across the road. Rule Number One for driving in icy roads is to drive smoothly. Uneven movements can make a car suddenly very difficult to control. So every time you turn the wheel, touch the brakes or increase your speed, you must be as gentle and as slow as possible. Imagine you are driving with a cup of hot coffee on the seat next to you. Drive so that you wouldn't spill it. Rule Number Two is to pay attention to what might happen. The more ice there is, the further down the road you have to look. Test how long it takes to stop by gently braking. Remember that you may be driving more quickly than you think. In general, allow double your normal stopping distance when the road is wet, three times this distance in snow, and even more on ice. Try to stay in control of your car at all times and you will avoid trouble. 41. What is the writer trying to do in this text? A. To complain about bad winter driving. B. To give information about winter weather. C. To warn people against driving in winter. D. To advise people about safe driving in winter. 42. Why would somebody read this text? A. To find out about the weather. B. To get information on driving lessons. C. To learn about better driving. D. To decide when to travel. 43. What does the writer think? A. People should avoid driving in the snow. B. Drivers should expect problems in winter. C. People drive too fast in winter. D. Winter drivers should use their brakes less. 44. Why does the writer talk about a cup of coffee? A. To explain the importance of smooth movements. B. Because he thinks refreshments are important for drivers. C. Because he wants drivers to be more relaxed. D. To show how it can be spilt. 45. Which traffic sign shows the main idea of the text? A. Drive Carefully - Ice On Road Ahead B. Reduce Speed Now - Fog Ahead C. Drive Carefully - Road Repairs Ahead D. Slow Down - Accident Ahead Question 46-50: There have been three periods in the history of post-war broadcast interviewing. The first, the age of deference, when it was an honour to have you, the interviewee, on the programme, lasted until the middle 50s. The second, the age of ascendancy , when politicians in particular looked upon the interviewers as agenda-setting rivals who made them feel uncomfortable by their knowledge and rigour of questioning, 28

came to an end at the beginning of this decade. Now we are in the age of evasion when most prominent interviewees have acquired the art of seeming to answer a question whilst by passing its essential thrust. Why should this be? From the complexity of causes responsible for the present mediocrity of the interview form, a few are worth singling out, such as the revolt against rationality and the enthronement of feeling in its place. To the young of the 60s, the painstaking search for understanding of a given political problem may have appeared less fruitful and satisfying than the unfettered ventilation of emotion which the same problem generated. Sooner or later, broadcasting was bound to reflect this. This bias against understanding has continued. To this we must add the professional causes that have played their part. The convention of the broadcast interview has undergone little change of radical development since its rise in the 50s. When a broadcasting form ceases to develop, its practitioners tend to take it for granted and are likely to say how rather than ask why. Furthermore, these partly psychological, partly professional tendencies were greatly accelerated by the huge expansion of news and current affairs output over the last 15 years. When you had many additional hours of current affairs broadcasting, interviewing turned out to be a far cheaper convention than straight reporting which is costly in terms of permanent reporters and time preparation. The temptation to combine an expanded news and current affairs service with a relatively small additional financial outlay by making the interview proved overwhelming. To be fair, there are compensating virtues in interviewing, such as immediacy and authority, yet in all honesty I must say that the spread of the interviewing format has led to a corresponding diminution of quality broadcasting. 46. According to the author, in the past politicians thought that television interviewers A. knew more about politics than they did. B. should be honoured to meet them. C. really aspired to be politicians too. D. gave them a difficult time in interviews. 47. In the 60s young people A. talked about problems instead of solving them. B. found political problems too difficult to understand. C. preferred the expression of feeling to logical argument. D. were dissatisfied with the standard of interviewing. 48. From a professional standpoint, one reason for the decline in the quality of the interview is that A. people are not so interested in politics. B. interviewing techniques have remained much the same. C. people are not so radical as in the 60s. D. broadcasters consider the interview format outmoded. 49. Compared with other forms of current affairs programmes, interviews are A. shorter and more efficient. B. more carefully prepared. C. fairer in their approach. D. more authentic and direct. 50. The writer believes that because of the increasing use of interviews A. there are too many current affairs programmes. B. standards in broadcasting have declined. C. the cost of broadcasting has increased. D. broadcasters have become less popular. - THE END 29

PHN 4: WRITING (LETTERS)

1. OUTLINE MODEL

It is important to use the correct layout for formal letters as shown below.

YOUR ADDRESS (BUT NOT YOUR NAME ) house number, street, the town, postcode, (if included) the country (if necessary) e.g. 48 George Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. THE DATE OF WRITING day month, year e.g. 23rd June,2012 YOUR CORRESPONDENTS ADDRESS Your correspondents name, e.g. Mr. Robert Smith Or simply title or position (if you do not know the name) e.g. The Sales Manager the companys name the companys address THE SALUTATION Dear Sir, Dear Madam, (if you do not know the recipients name) Dear Sir/ Madam (if you do not know the recipients name and sex) Dear title + family name e.g. Dear Mr. / Mrs. / Miss / Ms / Dr Smith, Dear Professor Kennedy,

THE CONTENT OF THE LETTER Use new paragraphs where appropriate

THE SUBSCRIPTION Yours faithfully, (if you have written Dear Sir/ Madam ) or Yours sincerely, (if you have written the persons name, e.g. Dear Mr. Smith) YOUR SIGNATURE

YOUR NAME LEGIBLY WRITTEN, WITH YOUR TITLE AND POSITION e.g. Miss Amanda White The Sales Manager

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2. LETTERS OF REQUEST 2.1. Request for information

Calle Mallona 34, OSOGI Valencia March 20 1989 The Director of Courses, Camford Polytechnic Camford CM2 8JT

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you with reference to your advertisement in the ELT Monthly for one month courses in English at the Polytechnic this summer. I would be grateful if you would send me further information on these courses, indicating the dates on which they will start, the timetable and the fees. I am particularly interested in Business English and would like to know how much time is spent on this option every day. Could you also give me details of accommodation? Are the students lodged at the Polytechnic or with families outside? I would also like to know whether groups of students with the same first language are lodged together or whether it is possible to meet others from different language backgrounds. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully, Juan Martinez JUAN MARTINEZ

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2.2. Request for good or services 46, Manor Way Warwick, Warwickshire CV14 5BS 28th October, 2013 The Sales Manager, Transatlantic Plastics Ltd, Ventnor, Isle of Wight Dear Sir, Thank you for the new Autumn catalogue received the other day. I would now like to order the following items from it: 100 A4-size Mini- grip plastic bags 4 large size pieces of plastic sheeting I enclose a cheque for the sum of 11.80 to cover the cost of the items and postage and packing. I would also be very grateful if you would send me a new catalogue every year. Yours faithfully, Robin Hopwood Robin Hopwood

2.3. Language notes 2.3.1. Common structure of a formal letter of request

BEGINNING STATE THE REASON FOR THE LETTER

BODY

Are you writing the letter in reply to an advertisement to ask for further information about a course, goods, services or anything else? How, when and where do you know about the advertisement?
WHAT ARE YOUR REQUESTS?

The first request? The second request? The third request? ........................ ?

Do you need to enclose anything, for example a cheque, a postage order or a deposit if you want to order goods or services?
CLOSING

- Make some reference to hearing from the recipient 32

2.3.2. Useful language

REQUEST LETTERS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES

BEGINNING I am writing because I am interested in your advertisement for the new models of computers sold in your company. I am writing on account of .................................................................................. I am writing to ...................................................................................................... FIRST REQUEST Could you possibly send me ................................................................. as soon as possible? I would like you to ............................................................................................... I would be grateful if you could / would ...................................................... without delay. Would it be possible for you to send / sell .......................................................... I would like to order ...................................................... from your company. We would appreciate if you could .................................................................... immediately. SECOND REQUEST Could you also please send me / deliver ............................................................ to me? REFERENCE TO PAYMENT

I enclose / include a cheque for ......................................................................... Enclosed is my money order for .........................................................................
Please find enclosed a postal order for ..............................................................
CLOSING

Please call me at .......................... if you require further information. If you wish to confirm the above with me, I can be reached at 324 5865. If you have any requires, please give me a call at .......................... . I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please do not hesitate to call me at .............. if you wish to raise any questions. I hope to receive your prompt reply. Should you have any questions, I could be reached at ..................................................
REQUEST LETTERS FOR INFORMATION

BEGINNING A letter of request usually begins with a paragraph stating the reason for the letter. The following are some ways for you to start the first paragraph or the beginning of the letter.

With reference to your advertisement for the course of English for Business Communication in the
Educational Journal Supplement of 8th September, 2003, I am writing to ask for further information about the course. I am writing in response to your advertisement for ...................................... in ................... I wish to ask for further details of ............................ as advertised in ................................
FIRST REQUEST

Could you please tell me how long the course lasts / the length of the course? Would you please explain ..................................................................................? Would you kindly ..............................................................................................? I would appreciate information about ................................................................. 33

 I would appreciate if you could send me further information about the job you advertised on TV yesterday. Would it be possible for you to clarify ( what is meant by...)...............................................? I would be very grateful if you could send me information / directions / instructions ......... I wonder if you would kindly send us some information about your English courses. SECOND REQUEST Another matter I need information on is ............................................................ Another point I am not certain about is ............................................................... I would also like some help / information / clarification on ................................................ GROUPS OF REQUESTS If you have many requests to make, you had better group some requests of the same kind in one sentence instead of stating each in one separate sentence, as shown in the following example.

I would like to know when exactly the course starts and finishes and how much it costs. I would also be grateful for information about school fee, accommodation, timetable and leisure
activities . I would be grateful if you would send me further information on these courses, indicating the dates on which they will start, the timetable and the fees. You can also use listing and adding signals: first(ly), second(ly), next, last(ly) or finally. For example: Firstly, I would like to know when exactly the course starts and finishes and how much it costs. Secondly, I would like to know about the contents of the lessons such as how big the classes are, how many hours a day they last and which sports are included. Finally, I would be very grateful if you could tell me whether I could study with students of mixed nationalities, the same age as mine and the same level of my English.

MAKING REFERENCE TO HEARING FROM THE RECIPIENT

I look forward to receiving your reply. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
I am looking forward to hearing from you at any time which is convenient to you. 2.4. Practice
Mark is thinking about renting a holiday farmhouse. He is interested in the following advertisement and has decided to write to Mrs. Sorrento. Unfortunately, he has made a number of grammatical mistakes in his letter. Read the letter and correct any grammatical mistake that you can find in it.

Charming farmhouse between Rome and Naples. Most dates available. Sleep 5. Pool. Contact Mrs. Caroline Sorrento, Box 140.

Available July? No. of bedrooms? Pool private? Where exactly? Prices & extras? Anything for children to do? Local airport &car hire? Rome or Naples easier?

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Dear Mrs. Sorrento, I reply to your advertisement in The Times on March 11 for the farmhouse, and there are a number of things I would like to ask. I am interested in renting the farmhouse for the first two weeks of July for myself, my wife and two children aged 17 and 9. Could you let me know it would be free then, how much would it cost, and what does the price include? Could you also send me some more informations about the farmhouse itself? It would be useful to know exactly where is it, how many bedrooms does it have, and whether the pool private. I would also be grateful you could give me an idea of what sort of activities could we organize for the children? Finally, I would be grateful if you could tell me know if there is a local airport and it is possible to hire a car there. If not, could you tell me whether it would be easier for us to fly to Rome or to Naples? I look forward to hear from you. Your sincerely, 3. LETTERS OF APPLICATION 3.1. Model
APPLYING FOR A JOB

59 River Street, Cardiff , CFT IJM. 12th February 1997 The Editor, The Swansea Gazette, 27 New Hall Road, Swansea. 3rd IDR Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to apply for the post of trainee reporter which was advertised in yesterday's edition of the Swansea Gazette. I am seventeen years old and will be leaving school at the end of this academic year. I have six O levels and I am studying English and Economics at A level. I have been involved in the production of my school's news letters for the last two years and I have a keen interest in local affairs. I am also a member of the football and athletics teams. I enclose the names and addresses of two referees who can testify to my conduct and character. I could come for an interview at any time which is convenient to you. Yours faithfully, MARK MORRISON 35

3.2. Language notes 3.2.1. Common structure of an application letter for a job
BEGINNING WHY ARE YOU WRITING ?

Why are you writing the letter? What is the post you desire to be considered for? When and where did you hear or learn about the vacancy?
ARE YOU THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB ?

BODY

Arrange your points in paragraphs, each of which will deal with one point.

How old are you and what is your marital status? (if you are required to specify this) What is your educational background? What relevant qualifications have you got? Have you got any experiences relevant to the job? If yes, what are they? Have you got any interest or hobby that is necessary for the job? Why have you decided to change your job if you are currently employed? Do you enclose any references? Have you got any resolution to make in order to convince the employer of your strong desire to be considered for the job and your contribution in case you are accepted for the vacancy?

CLOSING

- Make some reference to hearing from the employer. Note: You can also mention enclosure and your resolution before you make some reference to hearing from the employer in this part.

3.2.2. Common structure of a letter for a course, a cultural exchange ...

BEGINNING WHY ARE YOU WRITING ?

BODY

Why are you writing the letter ? What is the course you are applying for ? When and where do you know about the course?
ARE YOU THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE COURSE ?

Arrange your points in paragraphs, each of which will deal with one point.

How old are you? (if you are required to specify this) What are your educational background and qualifications? Have you got any experiences relevant to the course? If yes, what are they? What are the reasons for your application? Do you think you are the right person for the course? Are you required to enclose any papers requested for the course? Make some reference to hearing from the employer.

CLOSING

3.3. Useful language BEGINNING With reference to your advertisement in the Morning Post issued on 24th October, 2003 for the post of tourist guide, I would like to apply for the job. I wish to apply for the post of Housekeeping Supervisor I saw advertised in yesterdays Saigon Times. I am interested in applying for the job of bilingual secretary, which was advertised in the Daily Herald on 30th May. I am writing in reply / in response to your advertisement in the Daily News of 19th May, 2003 for the post of general office clerk. I am writing for the position of ......................... I saw advertised in ................................... I wish to be considered for the course of ................................. informed in ........................ I am writing to apply for the scholarship of ................... offered by ................................... 36

EXPLAIN YOUR EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

I feel that my qualifications match your requirements as I will show you briefly as follows. My qualifications are as follows. I feel I am the right person for the post because my qualifications and experiences are extremely appropriate I feel I would be suitable for this post/ course because .......................................................

EXPLAIN YOUR EXPERIENCE I wish to gain experience of ................................................................................. Having already worked as ....................... for ............ I wish to extend my experience. I feel I could be useful to you.

RECENT EXPERIENCE

I have been working as tourist guide for the last three years. I have worked as secretary since I left college in 1990. GENERAL EXPERIENCE I have had experience of .................................................................................... I have done .................................before ............................................................... I have never done ............................................but .............................................. PAST EXPERIENCE In 1979 I worked ................................................................................................. ......................................... before I worked .......................................................... EXPLAIN YOUR INTEREST I am very interested in .............................................................. especially I am very keen on ................................................................................................ I have a keen interest in ....................................................................................... EXPLAIN YOUR REASON FOR THE APPLICATION One of the reasons I am applying ......................................is that ......................................... One of the reasons for applying is ...................................................................... MENTION ENCLOSURE Please find enclosed my curriculum vitae and two references as requested. I enclose my qualifications and the names and addresses of two referees who can testify to my conduct and character. Enclosed is my resume giving more details about my qualifications and experiences. My full curriculum vitae and two references are attached as requested. I have attached a resume outlining my qualifications and experiences.
MAKING SOME REFERENCE TO HEARING FROM THE EMPLOYER

I could come for an interview at any time which would suit you. I am available for an interview at any time convenient to you. I should be glad to attend an interview at any time which would suit you. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. I shall do my best to please my officers with honest and hard work, if selected for the post. Should you please call me for an interview, I shall be glad to give you any further information you may require. 37

4. LETTERS OF COMPLAINT 4.1. Model Read the following letter of complaint. Isokaari 38B 00200 Helsinki Finland

26 June 2002 The Manager Windermere Wildside Adventure Holidays Ambleside Cumbria

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the adventure holiday I have just had with your organization, from the 12th to the 25th of this month. The holiday, for which I paid 380, failed significantly to live up to the promise made in your advertisement. First, although the holiday was advertised as being based at Wildside Hall, I found myself instead at a youth hostel seven miles away. This means that, with no car or buses available, I had no access to the Hall's facilities ( pool, sauna, etc ); at the hostel, the only leisure facilities were a table tennis table and a pack of cards. Furthermore, at the hostel there were neither "comfortable double rooms" nor "talented" kitchen staff: there were four people in a room, and the food was very ordinary indeed. Finally, the choice of activities was not as advertised. Whereas you claimed that every day we would be able to choose from "a wide range" of activities, in reality there was only ever a choice of two. I had planned to spend the whole fortnight sailing and windsurfing, but for eight days of the holiday neither of these was on offer. In view of the many ways in which the holiday failed to live up to your advertisement, which can only be described as extremely misleading, I feel that a refund of at least 190 would be appropriate. Should this refund not be forthcoming, I shall be obliged to refer the matter to the British Tourist Board. Yours faithfully,

Samanta Brunoni

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4.2. Language notes 4.2.1. Common structure of a formal letter of complaint

COMPLAINT ABOUT A DEFECTIVE, DAMAGED OR INCOMPLETE PRODUCT COMPLAINT ABOUT POOR OR INADEQUATE SERVICE

STATE THE REASON FOR YOUR LETTER

BEGINNING

Why are you writing the letter? Note: You can also mention the date, the place and the cost of the purchase or service in here. - When and where did the purchase or the service in question take place? - How much did you have to pay for the goods or the service?
INTRODUCE THE PROBLEM

BODY

Arrange your points in paragraph! ( This may not be necessary in a very short letter)

Note: Mention the date, the place and the cost of the purchase or service in here if this has not been done in the beginning. When and where did the purchase or the service in question take place? How much did you have to pay for the goods or the service?
PRESENT CLEARLY THE DETAILS OF THE INCONVENIENCE

When the details are about a chronological sequence of events How did you discover the problem? What did you do after you discovered the problem? Did you try to do anything to make those responsible know about the problem? What were their reactions?

When the details fall into groups of different inconvenience What was the first inconvenience? What was the second inconvenience?
CLOSING

How do you feel about the situation? What do you think you should get in compensation for the inconvenience you had to suffer? Do you need to enclose anything, for example, the receipt? Do you intend to take any further action if your demands are not fulfilled?

4.2.2. Useful language BEGINNING I am writing to complain about a hair-dryer which I bought in your shop last Saturday and about the treatment I received when I tried to return it a few days later. I am writing because I am not really pleased / satisfied with the quality as well as the service in the students restaurant at your college in recent months. I am writing to complain about the problem of noise caused by motorcycles in our area. I am writing to you in connection with a pair of shoes from your Sunny Wave range, which I purchased in May from Cloggs, High Street, Leatherhead.

THE BODY

The body of the letter always contains a description or report of the inconvenience caused to the 39

writer. Exact details of the matter involved should be given in a clear and ordered way. It may involve explaining how the writer discovered the problem which is usually written in the past. Usually the writer uses the time expressions to report the problem, for example, at first, then, after that, two days later, finally, at the end, ... Also, we can use other kinds of linking words to link events together, for example, however, unfortunately, but,...... Dear Sir/ Madam. I feel I must complain to you about the service I have received from both your shop assistants and your office staff. I bought a pair of shoes from your Oxford Street branch on 17 September. They cost 34.99, which I do not think is cheap. For a pair of shoes at this price, one would expect them to last several years. However, after only two weeks I had to have them re - heeled. Not only that, but they began to leak in rainy weather. Naturally, I took them back to the shop. There I was told that I could have another pair of shoes, but that particular style was out of stock. I said that I did not want to choose another style, and that I wanted my money back. The shop assistant informed me that she could not do this, and that if I wanted a refund I had to write to your office. Since then I have written to you twice, and have tried to phone on several occasions, but I have had no reply. If I do not hear from you in the next two weeks, I will get in touch with the Consumer Advice Bureau. I hope to hear from you before I write to them. Yours faithfully, On some occasions, the matter of complaint does not occur in the order of time. Instead, the mater involves a number of inconveniences which should be arranged in some kind of logical order such as order of importance, level of frequency, or degree of seriousness. In these cases, you can use different kinds of linking words to present the problem in order, for example, first, second, furthermore, in addition, finally, most importantly, last but not least, even worse, what is worse, ... Depending on the length and complexity of the problem, several paragraphs may be required. Dear Sir, I am writing to express my concern at the large number of the so-called amusement arcades which have suddenly appeared in Loucester. There are several reasons why I object to these amusement arcades. Firstly, the people who run them take a lot of money away from young people in exchange for a certain relief from their boredom. Secondly, although I do not object to young boys and girls having fun, I feel that most of the machines are fixed so that you can very rarely win. Thirdly, I feel that it would be much better for these young people to be doing something in the open air instead of in a smoky atmosphere. I am sure they would enjoy it more, too. Lastly, the physical appearance of these places is most unattractive, and there is almost always a lot of noise around them, which is not at all in keeping with the traditionally quiet atmosphere of our little village. In conclusion, may I say that I feel it is our duty as parents to educate our children to amuse themselves in a healthy and constructive way, and also provide the facilities for them to do so. CLOSING After explaining the whole problem, the writer states clearly what action he expects. Requests for action can be strong or quite mild. The writer can also give a threat to report the person responsible or a recommendation as to what should have been done instead. 40

DEMANDS

I demand that you refund my money immediately. I enclose the record with a copy of my receipt and would be grateful if you could send me either a new record or my money back at your earliest convenience. I enclose the book with a copy of the original receipt. Could you send a replacement as soon as possible? I feel that at the very least you owe my guests and me an apology. We await an answer from you. I would be grateful to receive a cheque for the outstanding sum without further delay. I must insist that you deliver the piano with no further delay and at no additional expense to myself. 134 would be appropriate compensation for the inconvenience caused to my family. Under the circumstances, I feel that an apology should be offered. I should like to know what you intend / are going to do about it.

THREATS

If you do not refund my money immediately, I will contact my solicitor. I shall have no alternative but to put the matter in the hands of my solicitors should your cheque not be received by May 1st. Unless I hear from you within ten days, I shall have to take legal advice on the matter. If I do not hear from you before May 3 rd, I shall be obliged to take matters a step further. If this letter does not get any response, I intend to take up the matter with the Noise Control Board.

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PHN 4: WRITING (ESSAYS)

INTRODUCTION About 40 words

General statements about the topic

Writers position (optional)

What the writer is going to say

BODY About 180 words

First point in first paragraph

Topic sentence

Support

Second point in second paragraph

Topic sentence
CONCLUSION About 30 words

Support

Summary

Conclusion

Recommendation (optional: if asked for advice, suggestion)

1. THREE POPULAR TYPES OF ESSAY QUESTIONS 1.1. The Argument-type essay A question - It is opinion more than facts - Ask directly for the writers personal opinion - It usually has an additional question 1. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 2. What do you think about? 3. What is your opinion about.? 4. To what extent is technology always beneficial? 42

5. Is this a good idea to do.? 6. Which of the views do you agree with? 7. Should starting question. 8. Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree. 1.2. The Discussion- essay D question - It asks for both sides of the issue. - Have one or two additional questions 1. Discuss (an opinion or an idea), do you agree or disagree. 2. Discuss both of the views. Which do you agree with? 3. Discuss the arguments FOR and AGAINST something. 1.3. The Account-type essay Ac question - Wh- question - Advantages and disadvantages - Cause and effect - Facts, not opinion - Examples of What question: 1. Discuss challenges facing a developing country when integrating into the world economy. 2. Examine measures that can be taken to curb inflation 2. SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Television is harmful to children? Do you agree? 2. Because of the pressure of new subjects such as business studies, many schools have dropped sport of physical education (PE) from the curriculum. Many people think that physical education is not important in a young persons education. What is your opinion? 3. University education should be restricted to the very best academic students, rather than being available to a large proportion of young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 4. We live today in an electronic information age. It is easier to be connected by technology yet many people seem no closer feeling happy in their life. Discuss. 5. Modern lifestyles are completely different from the way people lived in the past. Some people think the changes have been very positive, while others believe they have been negative. Discuss both these points of view and give your own opinion. 6. People today move to new cities or new countries more than ever before. What challenges do they experience? What strategies are there to meet these challenges? 7. Every large city in the world has to face the problem of increasing traffic jams and the air pollution that they cause. Our health and environment are in danger from the growing numbers of cars or other private motor vehicles.
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3. Model process 3.1. Example 1:

Why is traffic such a problem today? How can this problem be educated?

Television is harmful to children? Do you agree?

Step1. Analyze the task Reading carefully to understand all the details Step2. Generate ideas Ask questions based on the key words If you agree with the opinion that television is harmful to children, brainstorm some following ideas Disadvantages of television to children

If you disagree with the opinion that television is harmful to children, brainstorm some following ideas. Advantages of television to children

Step 3. Think it through Put your ideas in order before you start to write Introduction Some background information about television and its development in our modern society. State your opinion about the topic. 1. Advantages of television or 2. Disadvantages of television Summaries / Recommendation

Paragraph topics Conclusion

Television is harmful to children? Do you agree?

Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching television has become a standard activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, many people feel that television may not be good for children. In fact, television may be a bad influence on children for three main reasons. First of all, some programs are not good for children to see. For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, knives, and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore, they can become frightened. In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see it so often on television. They may begin to act out the violence they see and hurt themselves or their playmates.

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Second, television can affect childrens reading ability. Reading requires skills and brain processes that watching television does not. If children watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Finally, television may affect childrens schoolwork in other ways. If they spend too much time watching television, they may get behind in their homework. Also, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school. In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the wrong programs, their personalities can be harmed and their progress at school can be affected. Therefore, parents should know what programs their children are watching. They should also turn off the television so that their children will study.

3.2. Example 2:

We live today in an electronic information age. It is easier to be connected by technology yet many people seem no closer feeling happy in their life. Discuss.
Introduction What is happiness? How is it related to being connected? The thesis statement 1. Advantages of technology Paragraph topics 2. Disadvantages of technology Summaries? Indicate your opinion Conclusion

The electronic information age that we live in today, certainly makes communicating very quick and easy. It is simple for many people to contact dozens of others everyday via computer or phone, but does this make them feel happier? Happiness is difficult to define, but in addition to basic needs like food, shelter or peace, it depends on such things as good health, a loving family and friends, and a satisfying occupation either job, study or pastime. Whether modern communication has increased peoples feelings of happiness is, however, debatable. There are many advantages to being connected electronically. Firstly, for the price of a local phone call we can stay in touch via email with family or friends around the world. In this way, isolation by distance or climate can be overcome. For example, Finland with its long winter has one of the highest rates of internet use. Secondly, information that would only be available to a small number of people without the use of computers is now at our fingertips. Similarly, thousands of people use chat rooms and internet dating sites everyday. On the other hand, it seems to be the case that depression and suicide rates are high and the divorce rate is increasing. Employees complain of longer working hours and increased stress levels. There is concern that people are in fact becoming more isolated, only communicating on-line. On this evidence, they seem unhappier today. In summary, happiness is hard to measure, as it it subjective and depends on the particular situation. Perhaps there is more awareness of current problems because so much information is available through technology and the media. Even so, it would seem that the quality of our relationships and therefore our level of happiness is related to modern technology, which is, after all, only a tool.

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PHN 5: SPEAKING

TOPIC CARD 1 Name a traditional festival for children in Vietnam. You should say what it is what children do on the occasion something special about the festival and explain why children like this festival in Vietnam.

TOPIC CARD 2 Describe a TV program that you like to watch recently. You should say what the program is what it is about why you like it and explain how you prefer it more than other TV programs.

TOPIC CARD 3 Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to. You should say where the restaurant was why you chose this restaurant what type of food you ate in this restaurant and explain why you enjoyed eating in this restaurant.

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ng Sai Sai Sai Sai

A A A

B B B B B

C C C C C

D D D D

A A

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LU I VI TH SINH KHI LM BI THI TRC NGHIM Khi lm tng cu trc nghim, th sinh cn c k ni dung cu trc nghim, chn phng n ng nht (A hoc B, C, D), t kn trn tng ng vi ch ci A hoc B, C, D trong Phiu tr li trc nghim. Cn ht sc ch lm ng nhng iu sau: - Khi nhn c Phiu tr li trc nghim, th sinh s dng bt mc hoc bt bi (khng c dng bt mc ) ghi y cc mc t 1-7 trong phiu. - Khi t cc trn, phi t m kn c my chm c th ghi nhn c. Tuyt i khng c gch cho, hoc nh du vo c chn. - ng vi mi cu trc nghim ch c t 1 trn; nu t 2 tr ln my s khng chm v cu khng c im. - Trong trng hp t nhm hoc mun thay i cu tr li, th sinh dng ty ty tht sch c v t kn khc (nu ty khng sch, my chm s xem nh c 2 en v cu s khng c chm im) - Th sinh phi gi cn thn phiu tr li trc nghim, khng phiu b rch, b gp, b nhu v my khng chm nhng phiu ny. - Th sinh s dng bt ch mm 2B, 6B t en vo trn c chn. Yu cu phi t kn u trn.

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