Chú ý: – Thí sinh làm bài vào PHIẾU TRẢ LỜI.

– Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.

– Cán bộ coi thi không giải thích gì thêm.

1. LISTENING (50 points)

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU

• Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 10 giây; mở đầu và kết thúc mỗi phần nghe có tín hiệu.

• Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có tín hiệu. 

• Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh đã có trong đề bài nghe.

PART 1: You will hear Dan Beagle, an author, talking about wild mushrooms. For questions 1-5, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F), or Not Given (NG). Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

1. Mushrooms grown in your neighbourhood should never be consumed. 
2. Colourful mushrooms are not always inedible. 
3. Mushrooms eaten by animals are safe for people. 
4. It is advisable to collect only a limited number of mushrooms. 
5. The mushroom habitats have been decimated by a rise in local building developments. 

PART 2: You will hear a talk on multichannel marketing. For questions 6-10, answer the following questions with NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

1. Besides divulging sensitive information, what do social perpetrators deceive users into doing?
2. To avoid forged messages, what should be ignored?
3. What kind of messages do reliable sites never send?
4. Where should users download softwares if they are requested to check a security issue?
5. What are the TWO characteristics that the letter ‘S’ in ‘HTTPS’ reveals about the connection?

PART 3: You will hear part of an interview with two British architects, Malcolm Fletcher and Alison Brooks, about the design of new low-cost housing. For questions 11-15, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

1. What view is expressed about the government’s plans to build houses on greenfield sites? 

1. Opposition groups are unlikely to have any real influence. 
2. It may be possible to create space by demolishing some existing buildings. 
3. There is a more important priority than preserving the countryside. 
4. New developments should show continuity with what has gone before. 

1. What does Malcolm regard as special about the Newhall housing development in Essex? 

1. The involvement of local people in the planning process 
2. The unusual attitude of the original landowners 
3. The good relationship between the builders and the architects 
4. The freedom given to the designers 

1. The aspect of Margaret Gibbs’s houses which both Alison and Malcolm appreciate is ______.

1. their visual appeal
2. their generous dimensions
3. their structural strength
4. their internal layout

1. When designing the space around the Essex houses, Margaret Gibbs ______.

1. attempted to integrate homes with recreational areas 
2. conceded to the general demand for a garden 
3. allowed a bigger external area than usual
4. aimed to safeguard the inhabitants’ privacy 

1. What do Malcolm and Alison agree about the aesthetic qualities of buildings? 

1. Architectural form may sometimes take precedence over function. 
2. Beauty is an intrinsic aspect of good architecture. 
3. There is little consensus concerning what constitutes good style. 
4. Popular notions of good taste inevitably change over time.

PART 4: You will hear a talk about human obsession with gold. For questions 16-25, complete the summary by filling the blanks with NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording. 

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (20 points)

Humans have long been (16) ______ due to its pre-eminence, evident in ancient pharaoh tombs, Olympic medals, monarchs’ crowns, and even (17) ______, emphasizing its universal appeal. Gold possesses unique properties: it never (18) ______, remaining resistant to heat, making it an excellent choice for electronics. Though no longer considered a currency, gold is always the most secure property which many countries still (19) ______ their power. Gold is precious, but our obsession with it has a dark side. During the reign of King Midas and the era of the Spanish Conquistadors terrorizing America for gold, valuable artwork and jewellery were destroyed. During the 19th century, California and southern Australia, the (20) ______, were prime locations for gold rushes, yet such a discovery as the 289-kilogram (21) ______ was a rare fortune. Gold wars and theft were also substantial concerns, contributing to conflicts and instability throughout history.  A prime example of such a robbery is Brink’s-Mat robbery of 1983, in which the gold stolen is believed to have been mixed with copper to (22) ______. Besides, gold mining, a (23) ______ deed, poses a significant environmental threat. What makes it worse is that during (24)______, milllions of lives are put into grave danger. Our obsession with this (25) ______ has led to numerous negative consequences, but by acknowledging its darker aspects, we can utilize it more responsibly.

1. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (50 points)

PART 1: For questions 26-45, choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D) to each of the following questions.

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

• It was ______ as to who would win the playoffs, but Denver’s determination helped them to beat a tough Washington team.

1. null and void B. nook and cranny C. nip and tuck D. high and low

• I can’t possibly tell you what my client said – it would be a(n) ______ of confidence.

1. rift B. breach C. abuse D. rupture

• Jack said he was going to do the parachute jump, but just at the last moment, he ______.

1. chickened out B. rabbited on C. monkeyed around D. lambed off

• The inspector reported that the office staff were rather ______ in their attitude to security.

1. lenient B. limp C. loose D. lax

• Margaret doesn’t take ______ to having her orders questioned in public. 

1. gently B. nicely C. kindly D. gracefully

• This job should be right up your ______, Bill. You’ll be working with all those little electronic gadgets you like. 

1. passage B. lane C. alley D. pathway

• Sandy, you can’t go out wearing something like that! You’d be a _______.

1. laughing matter B. laughing stock C. laughing face D. laughing gas

• His mother’s ______ him about his neglecting the housework really bothered him.

1. talking down to B. speaking out against C. getting in with D. keeping on at

• Some of the kids were ______ fun at Judy because of the way she behaved.

1. poking B. making C. joking D. sticking

• After the team’s latest disastrous defeat, the future of the manager hangs in the ______.

1. balance B. thread C. scale D. yarn

• Liam ______ the job interview due to his curt replies to the questions.

1. bungled B. jumbled C. stumbled D. bumbled

• Let’s hope that the new year will ______ in a period of prosperity for everyone.

1. trigger B. compel C. usher D. invoke

• I’m sorry to leave you in the ______, but I can’t help you with your presentation this afternoon.

1. lurch B. swerve C. toss D. pitch

• After about ten minutes in their first date, they no longer had much to say to each other and their conversation began to ______ out.

1. peter B. phase C. fade D. trickle

• Before your children start spending most of their free time in front of the television or computer, ______. 

1. clip it in the bloom B. slit it at the root C. snip it from the branch D. nip it in the bud                                                                                                   

• The landlady was upset about his appearance here, ______ because she felt it was invading her privacy.

1. not least B. not less C. no less D. not last

• It made no sense to me why he bought that piece of furniture, as it was too expensive, and out-of-date ______.

1. at that B. as such C. per se D. in all  

• Ted is ______ as intelligent as his brother.

1. rather B. fairly much C. somewhat D. every bit

• As often as ______, they find themselves the target of persecution rather than praise.

1. never B. not C. rarely D. none

• They had ______ that the examiner and the examinee are not physically separated by a desk.

1. so arranged the furniture B. arranged the furniture to be
2. arranged the furniture such as D. arranged the furniture like

PART 2: For questions 46-55, read the following passage and choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best fits each of the blanks. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

There can be no question that online shopping is of huge benefit to the consumer. Far from becoming (46) ______, online shoppers are very demanding. Overpriced merchants with poor services should beware. Gone (47) ______ the days when stores could charge what they liked for goods and get away with it. It’s the same for shady manufacturers: smarter consumers know which products have a good reputation and which do not, because online they now read not only the sales (48) ______ but also reviews from previous purchasers. And if customers are disappointed, a few clicks of the mouse will take them to places (49) ______ they can let the world know. Nowadays, there is nothing more damning than a (50)______ of negative comments on the Internet.

However, the big boys, as always, are ahead of the game. Some companies are already adjusting their business models to (51) ______ these trends. The stores run by Sony and Apple, for instance, are more like brand showrooms than shops. They are there for people to try out devices and to ask questions to knowledgeable staff. (52) ______ the products are ultimately bought online or offline is of secondary importance.

Online traders must also adjust. Amazon, for one, is rapidly turning from being primarily a bookseller to becoming a (53)______ retailer by letting other companies sell products on its site, rather (54) ______ a marketplace. During America’s Thanksgiving weekend last November, Amazon’s sales of consumer electronics in the United States (55) ______ its book sales for the first time in its history. Other transformations in the retail business are bound to follow.

• A. complacent B. dissatisfied C. neglectful D. ungratified

• A. being B. been C. are D. was

• A. pitches B. messages C. slips D. blurbs

• A. that B. where C. which D. what

• A. flood B. tide C. swarm D. spate

• A. gain access to B. put stress on C. give rise to D. take account of

• A. If B. Whether C. When D. Either

• A. mass B. block C. lump D. chunk

• A. as B. than C. like D. such

• A. receded B. excluded C. repressed D. exceeded

PART 3: For questions 56-65, give the correct form of the words in brackets to complete each of the following sentences. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

1. The company uses email to (FACE) ______ with its customers. 
2. It is advisable for the obese to make changes in their diet (INCREMENT) ______. 
3. After a long working day, Laura left her office, feeling utterly (SPIRIT) ______ and weary. 
4. Jackson was (NERVE) ______ by the way Sylvia kept staring at him. 
5. Mr. Dawson arrived home with his knees (CRUST) ______ with mud. 
6. Many people were drinking in the streets, in flagrant (DEFY) ______ of the total ban on alcohol. 
7. The management guaranteed that (SOURCE) ______ wouldn’t mean job losses. 
8. The visitors are looking for some nearby shops selling antiques and (COLLECT) ______. 
9. The President’s speech was hailed as a (CONCILIATE) ______ gesture toward business. 
10. Steering a yacht is (INTUIT) ______ – you push the tiller the opposite way to the way you want to go. 

PART 4:  For questions 66-75, complete each sentence with one idiom created from a word or phrase in column A with that in column B. Give the correct tense/form of the verb(s) in the idiom(s) if necessary.

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

• We’d almost signed the contract when our business partner ______ and asked for more money.

• The band are riding ______ with the worldwide success of their number one selling single.

• Starting early and working long hours is ______ in this job.

• Owens ______ in his first professional game with the Cowboys.

• Mr. Potter was talking so much that nobody else could ______.

• The previous proposals for the new service ______ through lack of public support.

• If you want to be treated like an adult, you need to start behaving like one. It ______.

• I don’t know how often I’ve told you not to leave the door open! It’s like ______!

• With only half an hour to get everything ready, it was ______.

• Thousands of victims of the Yagi typhoon are now faced with the task of ______ of their lives.

PART 5: For questions 76-85, identify 10 errors in the following passage and get them right. 

Write your answers on the answer sheet. 0 is an example. (10 points)

1. Line 1: of 🡪 for

III. READING (50 points)

PART 1: Read the text below and think of ONE word which best fits each space from 86 to 95. 

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points) 

Some people believe that the ability to fulfil the long-held human desire to live forever, or at least for a lot longer than we currently do, is now very likely (86) ______ our reach. But should we even be considering trying to extend our life expectancy in a world whose resources are already overstretched?

It is said that there are people in existence today (87) ______ lives could potentially span a thousand years, or even be prolonged for eternity. Personally, I do not subscribe to this claim and I think that the idea should remain where it belongs – firmly in the (88) ______ of fantasy. Otherwise, I fear that we will suffer damaging consequences.

It is blatantly obvious that our planet is already struggling to bear (89) ______ current burden of human existence. So, is it right then – ethically, morally or ecologically – that while so many people around the world struggle to live from day to day, (90) ______ are pouring resources into their quest to prolong their lives indefinitely? (91) ______ creatures, whether man or beast, face the certainty of death, and this is not a battle mankind should choose to fight. (92) ______, we should be focusing our energies on tackling existing problems like global poverty and global warming, and be trying to (93) ______ the standard of living for everyone, rather than trying to change the course of nature.

In conclusion, whilst death is a fact that some people are (94) ______ to accept, it is nevertheless an inevitable consequence of life. In short, we are born to die, and we should be looking to preserve our fragile planet – (95) ______ pressurizing it to breaking point.

PART 2: For questions 96-108, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. 

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (13 points)

THE THYLACINE

The extinct thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger, was a marsupial* that bore a superficial resemblance to a dog. Its most distinguishing feature was the 13 – 19 dark brown stripes over its back, beginning at the rear of the body and extending onto the tail. The thylacine’s average nose-to-tail length for adult males was 162.6 cm, compared to 153.7 cm for females.

The thylacine appeared to occupy most types of terrain except dense rainforest, with open eucalyptus forest thought to be its prime habitat. In terms of feeding, it was exclusively carnivorous, and its stomach was muscular with an ability to distend so that it could eat large amounts of food at one time, probably an adaptation to compensate for long periods when hunting was unsuccessful and food was scarce. The thylacine was not a fast runner and probably caught its prey by exhausting it during a long pursuit. During long-distance chases, thylacines were likely to have relied more on scent than any other sense. They emerged to hunt during the evening, night and early morning and tended to retreat to the hills and forest for shelter during the day. Despite the common name “tiger”, the thylacine had a shy, nervous temperament. Although mainly nocturnal, it was sighted moving during the day and some individuals were even recorded basking in the sun.

The thylacine had an extended breeding season from winter to spring, with indications that some breeding took place throughout the year. The thylacine, like all marsupials, was tiny and hairless when born. New borns crawled into the pouch on the belly of their mother, and attached themselves to one of the four teats, remaining there for up to three months. When old enough to leave the pouch, the young stayed in a lair such as a deep rocky cave, well-hidden nest, or hollow log, whilst the mother hunted.

Approximately 4,000 years ago, the thylacine was widespread throughout New Guinea and most of mainland Australia, as well as the island of Tasmania. The most recent, well-dated occurrence of a thylacine on the mainland is a carbon-dated fossil from Murray Cave in Western Australia, which is around 3,100 years old. Its extinction coincided closely with the arrival of wild dogs called dingoes in Australia and a similar predator in New Guinea. Dingoes never reached Tasmania, and most scientists see this as the main reason for the thylacine’s survival there.

The dramatic decline of the thylacine in Tasmania, which began in the 1830s and continued for a century, is generally attributed to the relentless efforts of sheep farmers and bounty hunters** with shotguns. While this determined campaign undoubtedly played a large part, it is likely that various other factors also contributed to the decline and eventual extinction of the species. These include competition with wild dogs introduced by European settlers, loss of habitat along with the disappearance of prey species, and a distemper-like disease which may also have affected the thylacine.

There was only one successful attempt to breed a thylacine in captivity, at Melbourne Zoo in 1899. This was despite the large numbers that went through some zoos, particularly London Zoo and Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo. The famous naturalist John Gould foresaw the thylacine’s demise when he published his Mammals of Australia between 1848 and 1863, writing, “The numbers of this singular animal will speedily diminish, extermination will have its full sway, and it will then, like the wolf of England and Scotland, be recorded as an animal of the past.”

However, there seems to have been little public pressure to preserve the thylacine, nor was much concern expressed by scientists at the decline of this species in the decades that followed. A notable exception was T.T. Flynn, Professor of Biology at the University of Tasmania. In 1914, he was sufficiently concerned about the scarcity of the thylacine to suggest that some should be captured and placed on a small island. But it was not until 1929, with the species on the very edge of extinction, that Tasmania’s Animals and Birds Protection Board passed a motion protecting thylacines only for the month of December, which was thought to be their prime breeding season. The last known wild thylacine to be killed was shot by a farmer in the north-east of Tasmania in 1930, leaving just captive specimens. Official protection of the species by the Tasmanian government was introduced in July 1936, 59 days before the last known individual died in Hobart Zoo on 7th September, 1936.

There have been numerous expeditions and searches for the thylacine over the years, none of which has produced definitive evidence that thylacines still exist. The species was declared extinct by the Tasmanian government in 1986.

* marsupial: a mammal, such as a kangaroo, whose young are born incompletely developed and are typically carried and suckled in a pouch on the mother’s belly

** bounty hunters: people who are paid a reward for killing a wild animal

Questions 96-100

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

THE THYLACINE

Appearance and behaviour

• looked rather like a dog
• had a series of stripes along its body and tail
• ate an entirely (96) ______ diet
• probably depended mainly on (97) ______ when hunting
• young spent first months of life inside its mother’s (98) ______ 

Decline and extinction

• last evidence in mainland Australia is a 3,100-year-old (99) ______
• probably went extinct in mainland Australia due to animals known as dingoes
• reduction in (100) ______ and available sources of food were partly responsible for decline in Tasmania

Questions 101-108

Do the following statements agree with the information in the given text?

In boxes 101-108 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE (T) if the statements agree with the information

FALSE (F) if the statements contradict the information

NOT GIVEN (NG) if there is no information on this

1. Significant numbers of thylacines were killed by humans from the 1830s onwards.
2. Several thylacines were born in zoos during the late 1800s.
3. John Gould’s predictions about the thylacine surprised some biologists.
4. In the early 1900s, many scientists became worried about the possible extinction of the thylacine.
5. T. T. Flynn’s proposal to rehome captive thylacines on an island proved to be impractical.
6. There were still reasonable numbers of thylacines in existence when a piece of legislation protecting the species during their breeding season was passed.
7. From 1930 to 1936, the only known living thylacines were all in captivity.
8. Searches for living thylacines have obtained Tasmanian government’s grant.

PART 3: You are going to read an article. Seven paragraphs have been removed from the article. For questions 109-115, choose from the paragraphs, A-H, the one which best fits each gap. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (7 points)

HUNTER-GATHERER BLUES

These days, you can be sure that, whenever a scientist discovers a new wrinkle in the way the human mind works, some sort of Darwinian exploration will not be far behind. Research has shown that, while people find it easy to remember the direction of objects moving towards them or away from them, they have little recall for the spin direction of rotating objects. The reason for this is that natural selection has never had cause to equip us with such a memory mechanism.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not ideologically opposed to such pat evolutionary answers, unlike many social scientists who regard culture as all-powerful in determining how we think and behave. I just wonder whether these Darwinian explanations help or hinder further scientific investigation. Indeed, as a practising psychiatrist, I find myself wondering this more and more as I watch evolutionary thinking being repeatedly used to explain the existence of mental illnesses and personality disorders.

Thus, paranoia could be helpful because suspiciousness might be beneficial in environments that are not as safe as they seem. Some forms of depression might exist because withdrawing from the social fray might actually be a good thing when you’re competing with people who could injure or kill you if you tried to assert yourself. And even severe postnatal depression could have hidden Darwinian benefits, according to some anthropologists.

Are such explanations useful or harmful? Paradoxically, I think they are both, for reasons that can be explained by looking at that other all-embracing approach to understanding behaviour, Freudianism. Freud, of course, proposed that sexuality was the driving force of human behaviour. This finds more than an echo in the evolutionary psychologists’ view that we are trapped by sexual strategies to maximise the replication of genes. Freud had us in thrall to repressed sexual memories and psychic energies spilling out of the unconscious; evolutionary psychology has us in thrall to genes and innate neural mechanisms adapted to suit the needs of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Darwinian attempts to explain depression bear this out. Evolutionary psychology predicts, for example, that older mothers giving birth for the first time should be less prone to postnatal depression than younger first-time mothers, as their current infant could be their only chance to reproduce. In fact, older first-time mothers are even more prone to postnatal depression.

This suggests that you don’t have to be depressed to realise that asserting yourself isn’t worth it: although their depression had apparently after, the treated rats still didn’t bother, presumably because they thought they would fail. Depressed people give up trying even when victory is clearly possible – that is precisely why depression is so puzzling.

Harmful, because, like theorising about the unconscious, evolutionary psychology might discourage scientists from looking for more productive explanations for mental illnesses. Useful, because we already know that many psychiatric patients can benefit greatly from being given a comprehensible account of their otherwise frightening and confusing symptoms. For this purpose, why shouldn’t Darwin be at least as effective as Freud? 

The beauty of evolutionary psychology for patients is that it could help them to stop endlessly asking why. For scientists, that is precisely its danger. 

Missing paragraphs

1. Despite these shortcomings, evolutionary psychology, like psychoanalysis, is undeniably attractive because of the apparent coherence and simplicity of the explanations it offers. And it’s this appeal that I think is both potentially useful and potentially harmful.
2. There is a second echo: Freud produced ingenious explanations for behaviour, but backed away from generating testable predictions that could confirm or falsify his hypotheses. He famously argued that, when a patient vociferously rejected an analyst’s interpretation, this was good evidence that it was right, and if the patient agreed with the doctor’s exposition, this also was evidence it was right. Well, evolutionary psychology suffers from a related, albeit less extreme, form of the problem. It might seem to generate testable predictions, but on close inspection, you usually find some sort of circularity in the argument, or that the predictions either offer no more insights than common sense or are plainly wrong. The evolution of the human mind, alas, has left no fossils.
3. The aggressive personality would have been the ideal choice as protector of the primitive community and not marginalised as he – or indeed she – is at present. Many “unacceptable” behaviours would have been of the utmost value in the evolution of the human psyche. Regardless of how we view acts of aggression today, the fact remains that they once played a vital role in our life-and-death struggle for survival.
4. Think about it. Since largely abandoning Freud, all therapists have had to offer patients seeking explanations is a hodge podge of one-off theories and speculations, some based on brain chemistry, some on behaviour, and each specific to just a single condition or even symptom. At a stroke, evolutionary psychology can provide patients and therapists with a unifying framework for thinking about all symptoms and all mental illnesses. A woman suffering from postnatal depression might feel hugely relieved to be told that her condition has an evolutionary explanation. Why should we deny her that relief?
5. Our ancestors would obviously have needed to know whether an animal they were hunting was approaching or retreating, but rotating objects would have been largely absent from the rough and tumble of their lives. Ergo, we don’t remember enough about rotation from past experiences to be able to intuitively, say, pull a car out of a spin. We have to learn to do such things by role.
6. And if other forms of depression really are the result of a neural adaptation designed to make some of us keep our heads down when it would be dangerous to assert ourselves, you’d think antidepressants would reverse this. In fact, no evidence to this effect has been found among laboratory rats given antidepressants. If anything, the rats tried even less hard to pick fights with the dominant members of their group.
7. There is a suggestion that, since the mothers most likely to suffer are those in bad relationships or tough circumstances, postnatal depression is evolution’s way of telling mothers not to waste valuable reproductive effort investing in offspring who are unlikely to thrive. In other words, it’s no senseless accident that severely depressed mothers sometimes neglect or even kill their infants. They are doing it at the behest of genes whose silent command is “don’t bother with this one”. 
8. If these conditions are so bad for us, goes the well-rehearsed logic of the Darwinian approach, why didn’t natural selection weed out the genes that make us vulnerable? Answer: a tendency to depression or paranoia or whatever must have conferred some subtle survival benefit on our ancestors that kept the genes in the pool. Identify those benefits and, hey presto, you have a rationale for the condition.

PART 4: Read the passage and choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D).

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

HISTORY OF POTTERY AND CERAMICS

Pottery refers to dishes, plates, cups and cooking pots made out of clay. Chinese pottery was invented during the Neolithic period (5,000 – 2,200 BC) and it was molded by hand. Before this time, people had been nomadic, making it difficult to carry heavy, breakable pieces of pottery. At first, pottery was made by pushing a hole into a ball of clay or by taking a piece of clay and coiling it up into a pot shape. Many early pots were simple lumps of clay. However, people later discovered that clay, when placed in an open fire, hardened. This technique, known as firing, soon became common practice in pottery production.

People used pottery as a way of forming their social identity or showing who they were and how they were different from other people. Many of the designs that were used on pottery were usually borrowed from those already found on clothing and garments. The decoration of pottery began with simple incisions, which were later painted on. Gradually, plants, animals, and human figures were included on the vases. Mythological scenes were common as were dancers, musicians, and images from everyday life.

■ (A) Pottery also has roots in ancient China where, for centuries, people produced black, carved, and painted pieces from rough clay. It was in the Sui dynasty, however, that the aesthetics of pottery took a major leap forward. ■ (B) Potters began experimenting with porcelain and the effect was a stunning, shiny new look and feel for Chinese ceramics. ■ (C) This gleaming pottery became popular not only in China, but in West Asia as well. ■ (D) Inevitably, this led to a new market for cheap imitations.

After 1,200 AD, Chinese potters began using different colored glazes to create designs on their pots. Chinese pottery was still the best and most expensive. After thousands of years of advancements in technique and materials, painted porcelain such as blue and white, tri-color, and under-glazed became successfully produced.

The Chinese often used pottery as part of the burial ritual; bronze vessels were decorated with elaborate designs of plants and animals. In Chinese culture, jade symbolizes nobility, perfection, and immortality. Jade utensils were laid over the deceased and some were placed in the mouth or enclosed in the hand. Liquids were placed in the vessels to help the dead in their afterlife and also to aid in funerary ceremonies in which the living communicated with deceased ancestors and gods in an altered state of consciousness after drinking fermented beverages.

Such vessels containing liquids have been excavated at centers near the Yellow River, especially from burials of elite, eminent individuals. Many pottery fragments and figurines have also been discovered in the Chang Jiang drainage area.

Pottery can be divided into three groups: those designed for storage, those for preserving or holding liquids, and those for special uses. The Greeks made pottery for many purposes. The custom of burning their dead involved using vases to collect the ashes. Some pottery served as decorative pieces, while others were used for ceremonies or during religious festivals. Amphoras were larger vessels used to store liquids such as water or wine. Amphoras have occasionally been found in ancient shipwrecks; some held wine and others were shipped empty after selling their contents off to other countries. The Alabastron had special uses such as holding perfume or oil. The Skyphes, a flat-bottomed bowl, was used as a drinking cup.

Grecian soil had many deposits of clay near rivers. This abundance of raw material was not available to others, giving the Greeks a strategic advantage in manufacturing material. They made full use of clay. After its discovery, vessels were made in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Jugs, vases, fruit bowls, and feeding bottles were widely used in homes. Although some larger vessels were made of stone, glass, or metal, clay was by far the most prominent.  

The ancient Egyptians used pottery and ceramic art for burial purpose. Four vases were sometimes deposited with the mummied body. A large number of vases which have been recovered had been buried with the dead in tombs. Some vases are found hanging or standing upright in the tomb. They appear to have been valued by the deceased, hence leaving them for burial in the tomb.

• According to paragraph 1, which of the following statements is true of early pottery?

1. The first pots were made of hardened clay. 
2. The nomadic nature of man before the Neolithic period prevented the widespread use of pottery. 
3. Pottery was invented as a way of storing fresh fish and meats.
4. It was not possible to fashion clay into shapes for pottery.

• The word “incisions” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.

1. figures B. squares C. paintings D. cuts

• Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about pottery designs?

1. Designs helped the pot to stay together and not break.
2. The designs on pottery reflected the culture of those who made them.
3. Three basic techniques to produce pottery vessels have been used around the world.
4. Pot design was imaginative and unique in every example.

• The word “gleaming” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.

1. shiny B. dull C. delicate D. soft

• According to the passage, whose pottery was regarded as the most valuable?

1. Japanese B. Egyptian C. Chinese D. Greek

• The author mentions “jade” in paragraph 5 in order to ______.

1. demonstrate how stone could be carved into pottery
2. give an example of the use of expensive material in burials
3. show how different cultures value different materials
4. explain the difficulties in mining a stone for pottery

• The word “some” in paragraph 7 refers to ______.

1. liquids B. festivals C. amphoras D. shipwrecks

• Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the underlined sentence in paragraph 8? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. 

1. The use of substantial amounts of clay in Greece resulted in a culture rich in pottery.
2. The ancient Greeks had a more advanced way to construct pottery.
3. Pottery making was harder for the ancient Greeks, but pottery was important to them for storage.
4. Pottery was very convenient and useful because the raw material, clay, was abundant and simple to shape and fire in Greek.

• According to the passage, which of the following was NOT a use of pottery?

1. storing wine B. holding ashes C. ceremonial offerings D. cooking

• Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. 

However, it was very expensive there because it had to be carried from China on camels and donkeys.

Where would the sentence best fit?

1. (A) B. (B) C. (C) D. (D)

PART 5: You are going to read some extracts taken from an article. Choose from the sections (A-E) the correct answer to each of the questions from 126 to 135. The sections may be chosen more than once. 

Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

MY FAVOURITE SHAKESPEAREAN ROLE

Five actors who are very experienced at playing characters from the plays of Shakespeare explain their favourite role to play

A.  Sir Alan Wallace as Macbeth

As an experienced actor with a profound appreciation for the works of William Shakespeare, my favourite role to date has been Macbeth. Portraying the ambitious and troubled Scottish general allowed me to explore the complexities of human nature. I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth’s transformation from a brave and noble warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt. Shakespeare’s language provides some great material for an actor, and Macbeth’s speeches are particularly captivating. The famous “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” speech encompasses the despair and hopelessness that Macbeth experiences. It’s a moment where the character’s vulnerability is clear to everyone, and, as an actor, I strive to convey the raw emotions embedded within the words. The role continues to challenge and inspire me, allowing me to explore the depths of human nature through the lens of Shakespeare’s genius.

B.  Dame Julie Dear as Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth always has a special place in my heart. This powerful and extremely complex character has been a source of endless fascination throughout my career. Portraying her journey from a manipulative and ambitious woman to a tormented soul consumed by guilt is a true acting challenge. Lady Macbeth’s speech in Act 1, Scene 5, where she calls upon the spirits to fill her with cruelty, demonstrates her strong will and burning desire for power. Exploring the depths of her mind, I aim to convey her internal struggles and the tragic consequences of her actions. What I find most intriguing about Lady Macbeth is her status as a woman in a male-dominated world. Through her character, Shakespeare provides a fascinating exploration of femininity and the destructive forces that can arise when ambition is out of control.

C.  Ian Stewart as King Lear

In my award-winning career, one Shakespearean role stands out above all others, and that is the tragic figure of King Lear. This complex character exhibits the full range of human emotions. One of the most powerful scenes in the play occurs during the storm on the heath, where Lear confronts the harsh realities of his own stupidity. The raw vulnerability and emotional turmoil of this moment provide an immense challenge for any actor. It is a scene where the full force of Lear’s internal struggle becomes apparent, and I strive to convey his pain and anguish with utmost sincerity. King Lear offers a profound examination of human nature, exposing the fragility that can consume even the mightiest of individuals. The poetic richness of his speeches, particularly during the emotional moments of self-reflection, gives me the opportunity to connect with the audience on a deeper level. It is a great challenge, but also a privilege to bring such a complex character to life.

D.  Kevin Woods as Hamlet

Ah, the world-famous Prince of Denmark, Hamlet! It is with great enthusiasm that I declare this Shakespearean role to be my absolute favourite. The complexities of Hamlet’s character, his philosophical reflections and his quest for justice provide a treasure trove for any actor. Hamlet’s speech in Act III, Scene 1, where he considers the nature of existence with the iconic phrase “To be, or not to be”, remains one of the most renowned passages in all of literature. It is a moment of reflection that demonstrates the depth of Hamlet’s psyche. Bringing this extensive inner life to the stage is a challenge I really enjoy. What sets Hamlet apart is his multi-dimensionality. He is simultaneously a scholar, a philosopher, a son seeking revenge and a prince caught in the web of political intrigue. Examining all of these layers and portraying the intricate emotions of a character trying to come to terms with life’s most profound questions is an exhilarating journey for an actor.

E.  Dame Mary Small as Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing”

When it comes to Shakespearean roles, I am extremely fond of the quick-witted and spirited Beatrice from “Much Ado About Nothing”. Portraying this fiercely independent and fiery character has been a true delight throughout my career. Beatrice’s sharp wit and her ability to hold her own in a world dominated by men make her a timeless and empowering figure. She is a woman unafraid to speak her mind and challenge norms and expectations in society. It is a joy to bring her vibrant energy and dark humour to the stage. Shakespeare’s language in “Much Ado About Nothing” is particularly playful and filled with witty exchanges. The dialogue between Beatrice and Benedick is a delight to perform, as they shoot comments at each other, like two tennis players passing a ball. Portraying Beatrice also allows me to celebrate the strength and intelligence of women while also reminding audiences of the power of love and the importance of embracing vulnerability.

1. WRITING (50 points)

PART 1: (10 points) 

Summarise the following passage. You should write about 100-120 words.

The terms “productive vocabulary” and “receptive vocabulary” perhaps need explanation. The distinction between them is certainly essential for teaching purposes. Native speakers and foreign language learners alike recognize and understand more words than they actually use. The words they recognize but do not use are the items by which their receptive vocabularies exceed their productive ones. The native speaker normally hears and sees a word many times in many slightly different contexts and collocations before he begins to use it. It is recorded in his mind before it comes to the tip of his tongue or pen. In early life when the language is first being learnt, the incubation period is very lengthy. The eminent British foreign language teaching methodologist H. E. Palmer tells the story of a boy brought up by bilingual parents in Alsace who spoke French in the home; six months before the child began to speak, they moved into Germany and switched the home language to German. The baby’s first words six months afterwards were nonetheless French. 

As greater mastery of the language is achieved, words pass more rapidly and easily from receptive knowledge to productive use when the need arises, and in teaching English to native English-speakers, no sharp distinction between receptive and productive use is normally made. The foreign language learner, however, wishes to reach general fluency as rapidly as possible and if he can do so within a limited vocabulary which is nevertheless satisfactory for all general purposes, time will be saved. Moreover, if the active vocabulary is also a good foundation for reading unsimplified English, he will be able to go on learning new words for himself, and the natural process of movement at need from receptive to productive use can be allowed to take place unforced and, as far as the student is concerned, almost unperceived.

PART 2: (15 points)

The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

PART 3: (25 points)

Write an essay of about 300 words on the following topic. 

Some people say that individuals should change jobs during their working life often while others believe that doing the same job has advantages to individuals, companies and society.  

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

———– HẾT ———–

Họ và tên thí sinh:   Số báo danh

Cán bộ coi thi số 1:   Cán bộ coi thi số 2: