Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 12 to 16.
Among the many paradoxes surrounding money, one deserves particular attention: the wealth that truly counts is precisely the wealth you cannot observe. When a sleek Lamborghini glides past, it is normal (1) . Closer inspection often tells a different story. A large number of those who drive luxury vehicles are, in fact, only modest earners (2) to the privilege of being seen in such a car. It is uncertain to say whether someone driving a car worth one hundred thousand pounds is affluent. Yet the certain thing is that they have one hundred thousand pounds less than they did before they got the car, or one hundred thousand pounds more in debt. (3) .
We tend to judge wealth by what we see as visible details are the only evidence we have access to. Nobody walks around displaying a printout of their savings, (4) – handbags, holiday villas, posts on social networks – to decide who is prospering. Contemporary marketing has fed this habit, packaging the illusion of success as a saleable product. (5) . It hides in the upgrade declined, the jewellery left in the display case, the watch never bought, the wardrobe never expanded and the business-class seat politely waved away.
In short, wealth is whatever money has not yet been swapped for tangible goods. That is why distinguishing wealthy from rich deserves careful thought; mistaking one for the other has quietly ruined many a budget.
(Adapted from Psychology of Money)
(1)
for concluding that the person must be doing well behind the wheel
a good conclusion about whoever sits behind the wheel must be
a good conclusion about the wheel behind which the person must sit
to conclude that whoever sits behind the wheel must be doing well
Cấu trúc it is normal + to V: khi thấy một chiếc Lamborghini, người ta dễ kết luận rằng người lái hẳn là giàu có. Chọn D.
(2)
whose monthly pay is disproportionately committed to sharing
a disproportionate share of whose monthly pay is committed
who are committed to sharing their monthly pay disproportionately
who have committed a disproportionate share of their monthly pay
Cần mệnh đề quan hệ bổ nghĩa cho modest earners: những người dành một phần lương lớn bất hợp lí to the privilege of being seen in such a car (cụm commit something to something). Chọn D.
(3)
Beyond that, nothing is unknown to you
You know that it is beyond nothing at all
Beyond that, you know nothing at all
Beyond your knowledge, that is nothing
Ngoài điều chắc chắn là họ đã mất đi hoặc nợ thêm một trăm nghìn bảng, ta không biết gì thêm: Beyond that, you know nothing at all. Chọn C.
(4)
so we instead rely on their outward appearances
instead of their reliable outward appearances
yet they appear reliable on the outside instead
instead they rely on the appearances on the outside
Không ai mang theo bản sao kê tiết kiệm, nên chúng ta dựa vào vẻ bề ngoài (túi xách, biệt thự…) để đánh giá ai giàu có. Chủ ngữ we thống nhất với câu đầu đoạn. Chọn A.
(5)
Real wealth itself, in reality, is advertised to refuse to be authentic
Authentic advertisements are, therefore, the refusal of real wealth itself
Indeed, wealth in reality is advertised as the refusal of authenticity itself
However, the reality is that authentic wealth refuses to advertise itself
Câu sau nói sự giàu có thật ẩn trong những thứ không mua: giàu có thật không phô trương bản thân, đối lập với the illusion of success ở câu trước, nên dùng However. Chọn D.
Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 27 to 32.
SUMMER PART-TIME JOBS FOR UNDERGRADUATES
Techworld Magazine is delighted to announce two IT assistant vacancies up for (6) this summer. The better understanding of STEM you have, (7) likely you are to be selected! Successful applicants will get plenty of hands-on experience, good pay, and access to the local STEM community.
(8) , we offer flexible working hours and remote options for those living far away. On top of that, (9) position requires previous experience as new recruits are provided with in-service training sessions.
Applications (10) be submitted to us at [email protected] by 30 June.
Never before has there been such a(n) (11) opportunity to kick-start your career in STEM. Don’t let this chance slip through your fingers – apply today!
(6)
grips
grasp
gift
grabs
Thành ngữ up for grabs nghĩa là đang có sẵn cho ai muốn giành lấy. Chọn D.
(7)
more
the most
most
the more
So sánh kép: The + so sánh hơn…, the + so sánh hơn… (the better…, the more likely…). Chọn D.
(8)
Finally
Additionally
Subsequently
Consequently
Câu bổ sung thêm quyền lợi nên dùng Additionally (ngoài ra). Chọn B.
(9)
either
none
neither
both
Người mới được đào tạo tại chỗ, nên không vị trí nào yêu cầu kinh nghiệm: neither position requires (động từ số ít, phù hợp với hai vị trí đã nêu). Chọn C.
(10)
ought
should
should not
ought not
Yêu cầu nộp hồ sơ trước 30/6: should be submitted. Ought cần đi với to. Chọn B.
(11)
lively
golden
active
private
Cụm a golden opportunity nghĩa là cơ hội vàng. Chọn B.
Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 17 to 26.
It is important to stress that environmental services have costs, even when they are produced without any human input. All costs ought to be measured as opportunity costs. The opportunity cost for environmental services is the net benefit forgone because the resources providing the service can no longer be used in the next most beneficial way. Resources are not free if they can be put to alternative uses.
Consider a stretch of river that can be used either for white-water canoeing or for electric power generation. Because the dam that generates the power would flood the rapids, the two uses are incompatible. The opportunity cost of saving the river for white-water canoeing is the net benefit taken out – after accounting for the cost of generation and distribution – for electricity. Conversely, the opportunity cost of building the dam is everything the unspoiled river would have produced: the recreation, the wildlife, the scenery, and whatever value future generations might place upon experiencing the rapids themselves.
This insight has far-reaching implications for development policy. [I] Many decisions that appear at first to be costless choices in favour of growth turn out, on closer inspection, to be choices against something else. [II] Cutting down a forest for cropland is not free; it is paid for in carbon storage, biodiversity, and the regulating services the forest performed silently. [III] Diverting a river to irrigate fields is not free; the price is whatever the river was doing before the diversion. [IV] Even leaving land untouched is not free, for the income that intensive use might have generated is traded off as well.
Economic development, in this view, is never simply a question of whether a project yields a positive return. It is a question of whether the return exceeds the value of what must be relinquished. Policies that recognise this – by attaching prices to scarce environmental services, or by requiring decision-makers to weigh both sides of the account – do not stand against development. They insist that the development chosen be worth what it truly costs. The danger lies not in counting too much, but in counting too little.
(Adapted from Environmental Economics and Policy)
The word forgone in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.
filled up
given up
ended up
made up
Forgone (bị bỏ qua, từ bỏ) gần nghĩa nhất với given up. Chọn B.
According to paragraph 1, the costs of environmental services are ______.
present whether or not human effort is involved in creating these services
determined by the market value of the natural resources themselves
insignificant as these services require almost no human labour to produce
calculated based on the direct financial input provided for natural resources
Đoạn 1: environmental services have costs, even when they are produced without any human input nghĩa là chi phí tồn tại dù có hay không có công sức con người. Chọn A.
Which of the following is NOT implied in paragraph 2?
The intrinsic value attached to the river may extend beyond its potential use for hydroelectric generation.
Hydroelectric generation and white-water canoeing cannot coexist on the same stretch of river.
The opportunity cost of the dam construction includes intangible benefits that are sacrificed.
Recreational activities and power generation impose equal environmental burdens on the river.
Đoạn 2 chỉ nói hai mục đích sử dụng loại trừ nhau và chi phí cơ hội của mỗi lựa chọn, không hề nói chúng gây gánh nặng môi trường ngang nhau. Chọn D.
Where in paragraph 3 does the following sentence best fit?
Such hidden costs become apparent only when one pauses to consider what nature was quietly doing on its own.
[III]
[II]
[IV]
[I]
Câu cần chèn (Such hidden costs…) đứng sau câu nêu các quyết định tưởng như không tốn kém thực ra là lựa chọn chống lại thứ khác, và trước các ví dụ về chặt rừng, chuyển dòng sông. Đó là vị trí [II]. Chọn B.
Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3?
Economic growth schemes should be halted once ecological disruption is detected.
Long-term ecological balance usually takes precedence over immediate financial gain.
Initiatives that are perceived as harmless may actually involve underlying sacrifices.
Policymakers should take the management of natural resources into consideration.
Đoạn 3 cho thấy những quyết định tưởng như không tốn kém (chặt rừng, chuyển dòng sông, giữ nguyên đất) đều phải trả giá ngầm. Chọn C.
The word They in paragraph 4 refers to ______.
sides
services
prices
policies
They thay cho Policies that recognise this… ở câu trước. Chọn D.
What conclusion can be drawn from paragraph 4?
Deducting the hidden costs is obligatory after a project claims to have a positive return.
Considering opportunity costs ensures that development is truly justified.
Regulations pricing natural resources are inherently harmful to growth.
Damage caused by intentional ignorance regarding environmental costs is permanent.
Đoạn 4: phát triển cần lợi ích vượt quá giá trị của những gì phải từ bỏ; tính đến chi phí cơ hội giúp bảo đảm dự án thật sự đáng giá. Chọn B.
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
Preserving land in its natural state is economically sound as it consumes no resources.
Financial gain is the primary criterion for evaluating development projects.
Opportunity costs are determined by the going rate for environmental services.
The true value of a project is measured not merely by its economic benefits.
Bài viết khẳng định giá trị một dự án không chỉ đo bằng lợi nhuận mà còn phải so với giá trị bị từ bỏ. Chọn D.
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
Projects are forced to compensate for the economic losses in return for environmental preservation.
The net gains produced by development projects overlooking opportunity costs tend to be overestimated.
The benefits of industrial development generally exceed the value of preserved environmental services.
Policies that price environmental services are intended to restrict the scope of economic development.
Câu cuối bài, The danger lies… in counting too little, ngụ ý rằng nếu bỏ qua chi phí cơ hội, lợi ích ròng của dự án sẽ bị đánh giá quá cao. Chọn B.
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
Natural Preservation: Ushering in a New Era
Economic Development on the Line
Development: Factoring in Sacrifices
Environmental Policies in the Firing Line
Bài viết bàn về việc phát triển phải tính đến những thứ phải hi sinh (chi phí cơ hội): Development: Factoring in Sacrifices. Chọn C.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions from 7 to 11.
Dear Mr Tran,
a. To accept this scholarship, please sign the attached agreement and submit it before 15 July.
b. Your performance during the selection process reflects dedication and potential.
c. The grant covers full tuition for the programme and a monthly allowance of $500.
d. It is our great pleasure to inform you that you have been selected as a recipient of the Pinnacle Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year.
e. Should you have questions regarding the terms or conditions, please contact our admissions office.
Yours sincerely,
d – c – e – a – b
d – b – c – a – e
d – e – b – c – a
d – a – e – b – c
Thư mở đầu bằng thông báo được chọn nhận học bổng (d), khen ngợi thành tích (b), nêu nội dung học bổng (c), hướng dẫn nhận học bổng (a), cuối cùng là thông tin liên hệ khi có thắc mắc (e). Thứ tự d – b – c – a – e. Chọn B.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions from 7 to 11.
a. Customer: Here you are. Thanks for your help.
b. Customer: I’ve booked an online ticket for the concert this weekend, but haven’t got the confirmation email.
c. Assistant: Please show me the receipt and I’ll check it immediately.
a – c – b
b – a – c
a – b – c
b – c – a
Khách nêu vấn đề chưa nhận được email xác nhận (b), nhân viên đề nghị xem biên lai để kiểm tra (c), khách đưa biên lai và cảm ơn (a). Thứ tự b – c – a. Chọn D.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions from 7 to 11.
a. The convenience, however, carries inherent risks, because every connected device is a potential entry point for hackers to steal sensitive data.
b. Smart homes have become essential features of modern life, transforming how individuals manage their domestic environments efficiently.
c. The integrated systems offer convenience, such as turning off the oven from afar or locking doors with a single smartphone tap.
d. Anyone investing in smart hardware should carefully weigh the appeal of automation against the time and care required to keep a home network secure.
e. A poorly updated router or a default password left unchanged has, in several recent reported cases, allowed strangers to listen in on private family conversations.
b – c – a – e – d
c – a – d – b – e
d – e – b – c – a
e – d – c – a – b
Câu chủ đề nêu nhà thông minh trở nên phổ biến (b), nêu lợi ích tiện lợi (c), chuyển ý bằng however sang rủi ro (a), dẫn ví dụ cụ thể về rủi ro (e), kết luận lời khuyên cân nhắc (d). Thứ tự b – c – a – e – d. Chọn A.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions from 7 to 11.
a. Early data from the first quarter revealed a fifteen percent reduction in peak-hour delays and noticeably cleaner air across central wards.
b. Motorists entering the central zone had to pay a fee, with the generated revenue allocated for cycle lanes and bus routes.
c. Years of unchecked expansion of private vehicle ownership had rendered the commute in Stoneville the slowest in the region.
d. The encouraging outcomes suggested that the scheme would be expanded to other districts.
e. The city authorities implemented a simple yet controversial intervention: charging a congestion fee.
a – e – d – c – b
c – e – b – a – d
b – a – d – e – c
e – b – d – c – a
Nêu bối cảnh ùn tắc ở Stoneville (c), biện pháp thu phí ùn tắc (e), cách thực hiện và sử dụng nguồn thu (b), kết quả ban đầu (a), dự kiến mở rộng (d). Thứ tự c – e – b – a – d. Chọn B.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions from 7 to 11.
a. Celine: Why do you say so?
b. Celine: I’ve been considering taking a gap year. What’s your view?
c. Celine: Thanks. I’ll think about it.
d. Steward: The thing is, your studies won’t be interrupted.
e. Steward: If I were you, I would go to university right after graduating from high school.
a – e – b – d – c
b – d – a – e – c
b – e – a – d – c
a – d – b – e – c
Celine hỏi ý kiến về năm nghỉ (b), Steward khuyên vào đại học ngay (e), Celine hỏi lí do (a), Steward giải thích (d), Celine cảm ơn (c). Thứ tự b – e – a – d – c. Chọn C.
Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 33 to 40.
For decades, students have been convinced that academic success is largely dependent upon meticulous notetaking. What has changed in recent years is not the importance of the practice but the tools used to perform it. The keyboard has subtly supplanted the pen, and with it, the nature of how information is recorded during a lecture has shifted unbeknownst to students.
Researchers in cognitive psychology have begun to examine what this change has cost learners. In a series of comparative studies, students taking notes by hand consistently outperformed those using laptops on questions that demanded conceptual understanding, even when both groups had access to the same material. The reason, according to the researchers, lies less in the technology itself than in what each method asks of the brain. Typing rewards speed; handwriting forces selection.
The act of writing by hand is slower, and that slowness appears to be its hidden virtue. Unable to capture every word, students are obliged to listen, decide what matters and condense ideas into their own phrasing. This continuous filtering, referred to as encoding by psychologists, turns out to be instrumental in aiding long-term recall. One lecturer summarised the striking contrast after reviewing her students’ work: the laptops, she said, had produced transcripts, while the notebooks had produced understanding.
It would be misleading, of course, to claim that handwriting is inherently superior or that all keyboards undermine learning. Hard-working typists can summarise, while indolent writers can drift. What the research highlights is not a conclusion on devices but a question about effort: which tool, in a given context, asks more of the learner. As a ban on students’ use of laptops in classrooms remains a bone of contention among tertiary institutions, the deeper challenge may be helping students recognise that what feels easier in the moment is not always what serves them best afterwards.
(Adapted from https://www.brookings.edu)
In paragraph 1, the writer is ______.
questioning the significance of notetaking in education
introducing a recent change in the way students take notes
challenging a long-held assumption about academic success
promoting the use of technology in recording lectures
Đoạn 1 giới thiệu sự thay đổi trong công cụ ghi chép: bàn phím dần thay thế bút. Chọn B.
The word those in paragraph 2 refers to ______.
studies
researchers
students
notes
Those thay cho students (những sinh viên dùng laptop). Chọn C.
Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?
What explains the difference in student performance is the mental work that each method of notetaking demands, rather than the technology.
The modern device, along with the mental requirements of each method for the brain, is responsible for the difference in student performance.
Regardless of the method of notetaking, the effects on the brain exhibit little difference as long as technology is involved in student performance.
The difference in student performance is attributable to the modern technology instead of the mental work that each method of notetaking requires.
Câu gạch chân: nguyên nhân nằm ở việc mỗi phương pháp đòi hỏi gì ở não bộ nhiều hơn là ở công nghệ. Phương án A diễn đạt lại đúng ý này. Chọn A.
The word instrumental in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ______.
specific
dramatic
trivial
central
Instrumental (có vai trò quan trọng, then chốt) trái nghĩa với trivial (tầm thường, không quan trọng). Chọn C.
The word indolent in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.
active
serious
lazy
careful
Indolent nghĩa là lười biếng, gần nghĩa với lazy. Chọn C.
Which of the following statements would the writer NOT agree with?
Handwritten and typed notes led to varied degrees of conceptual understanding.
The slow speed of writing by hand turns out to be an advantage over typing.
Universities generally approve of prohibiting laptop use in classrooms.
Students are unaware of the change in notetaking methods in class.
Bài viết nói việc cấm laptop remains a bone of contention (vẫn còn gây tranh cãi) giữa các trường đại học, nên không thể nói các trường nhìn chung tán thành lệnh cấm. Chọn C.
In which paragraph does the writer mention a cognitive process?
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 3
Đoạn 3 mô tả quá trình encoding (mã hóa thông tin), một quá trình nhận thức. Chọn D.
In which paragraph does the writer warn against an overgeneralisation?
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 1
Đoạn 4 cảnh báo không nên khái quát rằng viết tay luôn tốt hơn hay mọi bàn phím đều cản trở việc học (It would be misleading…). Chọn C.
Read the following leaflet and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 6.
GREEN HANDS CAMPAIGN
The School Youth Union is officially launching the “Green Hands” eco-friendly campaign. We invite every student to participate in this vital project. If everyone (35) together, we will make a difference at our school.
The primary goal is to expand students’ (36) of plastic pollution. To achieve this, the school will have colour-coded bins (37) in the schoolyard. Also, waste-disposal workshops will be held to teach students to (38) out plastics properly. These sessions ensure resources are reused effectively.
We aim to (39) sustainable habits through consistent daily activities. We firmly believe that small individual efforts will turn into long-lasting changes.
Volunteers will help remove plastics from every corner of the schoolyard. Please sign up online. Your (40) is essential for success. Don’t miss out – join hands with us today!
(35)
have worked
work
worked
works
Câu điều kiện loại 1: If + S + V(hiện tại đơn), S + will + V. Chủ ngữ everyone là ngôi thứ ba số ít nên động từ là works. Chọn D.
(36)
emphasis
focus
knowledge
attention
Cụm expand one’s knowledge of (mở rộng hiểu biết về). Mục tiêu của chiến dịch là giúp học sinh hiểu thêm về ô nhiễm nhựa. Chọn C.
(37)
installed
install
installing
being installed
Cấu trúc nhờ/thuê làm: have + something + V3/ed (thùng rác được lắp đặt). Chọn A (installed).
(38)
sort
fill
catch
check
Sort out nghĩa là phân loại. Câu: dạy học sinh phân loại rác nhựa đúng cách. Chọn A.
(39)
protect
provide
produce
promote
Cụm promote habits (thúc đẩy, khuyến khích thói quen). Chọn D.
(40)
cooperative
cooperatively
cooperate
cooperation
Sau tính từ sở hữu Your cần một danh từ: cooperation (sự hợp tác). Chọn D.