test 12
test 12
com
PRACTICE TEST 12
Part 1: For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about rich people and decide whether these
statements are True (T), False (F), or Not given (NG). Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. According to studies, drivers of expensive cars are more likely to stop for pedestrians in
crosswalks than people driving lower-priced cars.
2. A survey shows that lower-income people tend to donate a much bigger share of their
incomes than wealthier people do.
3. Leaders in hunter-gatherer society are more compassionate than leaders in modern society.
4. As people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people
decline.
5. Poor people are less motivated to improve their emotional intelligence than wealthy
people. Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2: For questions 6-10, listen to a talk about social engineering attacks and answer the
questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each
answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
6. Besides divulging sensitive information, what do perpetrators deceive users into doing?
7. To avoid forged messages, what should be ignored?
8. What kind of messages do reliable sites never send?
9. What might cybercriminals make a page’s URL resemble?
10. What are the TWO characteristics that the letter ‘S’ in ‘HTTPS’ reveals about the
connection?
Your answers:
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. For questions 11-15, listen to an interview with two authors called Simon Chirk
and Naomi Glenn, who are talking about getting started as a novelist and choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in
the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
11. Simon thinks that young would-be authors should
A. attempt to get known in another field first.
B. secure the support of a publisher from the outset.
C. devote themselves to the more lucrative types of writing.
D. have sufficient intrinsic motivation to meet the challenge.
13. Naomi agrees with Simon's point that a first novel should
A. explore an aspect of a glamorous lifestyle.
B. reflect the writer's own personal experience.
C. seek to replicate elements of recent bestsellers.
D. feature appealing characters in an everyday setting.
14. Naomi and Simon disagree about the extent to which young novelists should
A. do research into unfamiliar subject areas or periods.
B. aim for established genres with large readerships.
C. allow prospective publishers to suggest a theme.
D. concentrate on producing a strong narrative.
Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about the future of the metaverse and supply
the blanks with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken
from the recording for each answer in the spaces provided.
39
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Blockchain and Decentralization: make the space highly secure as no single entity has control
over the entire chain.
The technical infrastructure of the metaverse
Spatial computing: serves as the 21.____________ that enables digital systems to understand
and respond to the physical world, creating a more immersive and intuitive user experience.
Interoperability: ensures a seamless and unified experience by integrating 22.____________.
Artificial intelligence: enables virtual environments to adapt and respond to user behavior in
real-time by means of 23.____________.
User experience in the metaverse
The creation of individual avatar: is more than just making a 24.____________ but an
exploration and self-expression trip through a dynamic virtual world.
Engaging with the metaverse: includes exploring virtual landscapes, meeting other avatars or
even participating in a virtual economy.
Conclusion
The metaverse is not just a technological revolution but serves as a 25.____________ as well,
allowing people to interact with the world.
40
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Part 1. For questions 26-35, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the
following
questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. The interrogators gave the suspect ________ to get as much information as possible.
A. the cold shoulder B. the death stare C. the third degree D. the glad eye
27. The public was distraught after hearing the investigators’ failure to _________ the cause
of the wildfires in Hawaii.
A. lay down B. nail down C. tick down D. stick down
28. As globalization is the buzzword in this day and age, _________ is widely condemned
throughout the world.
A. obsequiousness B. capitulation C. insularity D. magnanimity
29. Although the party gained a clear majority in the election, its philosophy remained
_________, never achieving a clear and consistent form.
A. nebulous B. versatile C. appealing D. obstinate
30. We had planned a wonderful lawn party, but our hopes were _______ when it rained cats
and dogs.
A. spoiled B. dashed C. smashed D. hit
31. In order to meet the demands of the customers at short notice, the manufacturing team
resorted to _________ as many workers as possible.
A. copping out B. roping in C. whipping up D. pushing on
32. Selena is depressed because all her efforts in ___________ for a promotion have been
wasted.
A. going through hoops B. going round the house
C. going with the flow D. going with the territory
33. Getting back from the premier, my cousin _________ recommended the movie and even
gave me free tickets for it.
A. spectacularly B. specifically C. definitely D. thoroughly
34. It’s _________, Novak Djokovic’s spirit is indomitable in the tennis world, making him
one of the legends.
A. no contest B. no exam C. no test D. no competition
35. He was widely poured scorn on __________ his public endorsement of xenophobia.
A. in lieu of B. ahead of C. in advance of D. courtesy of
Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Part 2. For questions 36-40, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the
numbered boxes provided.
36. Even with the most damning evidence, the suspect still had the __________ to deny his
crimes. (FRONT)
41
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
37. To think that a __________ tennis player such as him would lose a match in the first
round is absurd. (SUM)
38. The teenaged _____ has taken the whole world by storm ever since his debut. (KIND)
39. After experiencing writer’s block for several months, Helen finally felt a wild idea
_________ in her head. (GERM)
40. Being afraid to wake his wife up, Jimmy opened the door ________. (GINGER)
Your answers
41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
Part 3. The passage below contains 05 mistakes. For questions 41-45, UNDERLINE the
mistakes and WRITE YOUR CORRECTIONS in the numbered space provided.
On social media, Stanley collectors show off shelves of Your Answers:
their rainbow-hue, stainless steel treasures or gush over 41.
stickers and silicone doohickies to accessorize their 42.
43.
favorite cups. Even those fortunate enough to avoid the
44.
hype have likely seen enough of these jumbo hydration 45.
totems in the wild to grasp the cultural moment that is
footed.
The Stanley 1913 brand has been around for more than
a century, so in recent years the company has expanded
its signature line of humble green workaday drink into a
limitless array of colors, designs and collaborations that
are so popular they incite near-violence.
42
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable
word and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Heat can be deadly. In the United States, heat causes more fatalities than any other natural
disaster, 46. ________ floods, tornados and hurricanes.
Our bodies normally have ways to handle the heat. As blood 47. ________ just below the
skin's surface, it releases heat. Evaporating sweat helps to cool our skin. But these methods
work only up to a certain 48. ________. And as temperatures and humidity climb ever higher
during heat waves - dampening our ability to cool down with dispersal or evaporation - we
become more 49. ________ to unrelenting heat.
Several body systems become stressed 50. ________ prolonged hot temperatures. Pushing
blood toward the skin in a(n) 51. ________ to cool the body can deprive vital organs like the
heart and lungs of oxygen. Excess sweating increases the risk of 52. ________, putting
additional pressure on the heart to pump blood thickened from lack of water. The kidneys,
which need water to regulate fluid levels and 53. ________ toxins from blood, also suffer.
Body temperatures that climb too high can lead to faintness, headache and dizziness,
hallmarks of heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke 54. ________the
body doesn't cool down, causing overheated, oxygen-deprived organs to fail. People with
heat stroke may become delirious or have seizures, suffer from permanent organ damage or
55. ________ die.
Your answers
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Gift-giving
Every day, millions of shoppers hit the stores in full force—both online and on foot—
searching frantically for the perfect gift. Last year, Americans spent over $30 billion at retail
stores in the month of December alone. Aside from purchasing holiday gifts, most people
regularly buy presents for other occasions throughout the year, including weddings,
birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and baby showers. This frequent experience of gift-
giving can engender ambivalent feelings in gift-givers. Many relish the opportunity to buy
presents because gift-giving offers a powerful means to build stronger bonds with one’s
closest peers. At the same time, many dread the thought of buying gifts; they worry that their
purchases will disappoint rather than delight the intended recipients.
Anthropologists describe gift-giving as a positive social process, serving various political,
religious, and psychological functions. Economists, however, offer a less favorable view.
According to Waldfogel (1993), gift-giving represents an objective waste of resources.
People buy gifts that recipients would not choose to buy on their own, or at least not spend as
much money to purchase (a phenomenon referred to as ‘‘the deadweight loss of Christmas”).
To wit, givers are likely to spend $100 to purchase a gift that receivers would spend only $80
43
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
to buy themselves. This ‘‘deadweight loss” suggests that gift-givers are not very good at
predicting what gifts others will appreciate. That in itself is not surprising to social
psychologists. Research has found that people often struggle to take account of others’
perspectives— their insights are subject to egocentrism, social projection, and multiple
attribution errors.
What is surprising is that gift-givers have considerable experience acting as both gift-givers
and gift-recipients, but nevertheless tend to overspend each time they set out to purchase a
meaningful gift. In the present research, we propose a unique psychological explanation for
this overspending problem—i.e., that gift-givers equate how much they spend with how
much recipients will appreciate the gift (the more expensive the gift, the stronger a gift-
recipient’s feelings of appreciation). Although a link between gift price and feelings of
appreciation might seem intuitive to gift-givers, such an assumption may be unfounded.
Indeed, we propose that gift-recipients will be less inclined to base their feelings of
appreciation on the magnitude of a gift than givers assume.
Why do gift-givers assume that gift price is closely linked to gift-recipients’ feelings of
appreciation? Perhaps givers believe that bigger (i.e., more expensive) gifts convey stronger
signals of thoughtfulness and consideration. According to Camerer (1988) and others, gift-
giving represents a symbolic ritual, whereby gift-givers attempt to signal their positive
attitudes toward the intended recipient and their willingness to invest resources in a future
relationship. In this sense, gift-givers may be motivated to spend more money on a gift in
order to send a “stronger signal” to their intended recipient. As for gift-recipients, they may
not construe smaller and larger gifts as representing smaller and larger signals of
thoughtfulness and consideration.
The notion of gift-givers and gift-recipients being unable to account for the other party’s
perspective seems puzzling because people slip in and out of these roles every day, and, in
some cases, multiple times in the course of the same day. Yet, despite the extensive
experience that people have as both givers and receivers, they often struggle to transfer
information gained from one role (e.g., as a giver) and apply it in another, complementary
role (e.g., as a receiver). In theoretical terms, people fail to utilize information about their
own preferences and experiences in order to produce more efficient outcomes in their
exchange relations. In practical terms, people spend hundreds of dollars each year on gifts,
but somehow never learn to calibrate their gift expenditures according to personal insight.
For questions 56-62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or
Not Given (NG). Write T, F, NG in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. Nearly $30 billion was expended on gift-giving during December of last year.
57. Individuals may be deterred from gift-giving due to the prospects of dissatisfying the
recipients.
58. The expenditure on a present often exceeds the expectations of the recipient.
59. Contrary to givers’ optimism, there is little to suggest that a costly present is
tantamount to pleasure.
44
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
60. Gifts of immense worth serve the sole purpose of demonstrating one’s commitment to
interpersonal bonds.
61. The frequency with which people give and take renders certain beliefs behind gift
exchange questionable.
62. Experience acquired from gift-receiving cannot be harnessed for the purpose of gift-
sharing.
For questions 63-68, read the summary and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN
THREE WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
Whilst gift-giving has become a staple in modern times, its prominence may also breed
63.________ among potential givers. Despite being heralded as a 64. __________ for its
multifarious merits, the practice is still considered a drain of valuable resources owing to
an anomaly called the 65. _______, where inaccurate presumptions of givers exist. This
lack of veracity is attributable to over-expenditure, though recipients may not entirely
cherish the gift merely on the grounds of its 66. _______. Receivers, indeed, may not
share the same view as gift-givers that more pricey presents act as a token of greater 67.
________. Consequently, not only will individuals try in vain to nurture more desirable
relationships, but they also fail to match 68. _________ with budgets dedicated to gift
exchange.
Your answers
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.
63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75,
read the passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There
is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Twenty people-specialists, experts, thinkers sit around a seminar table. They might be
discussing education, the stock market or one of a whole range of issues. Although people are
speaking, no one is saying anything. At least half of the participants have an original idea at
the front of their mind. But they do not share it because it is too valuable. They are afraid that
one of the others will steal the idea and use it, publish it or sell it before they do. Their
intellectual property is at risk.
69.
There has always been a reluctance to share new ideas in professions linked to the media, but
it's a phenomenon that seems to be spreading, especially into the world of policy. It is finding
45
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
its way into government departments and the think tanks, those groups of intellectuals and
academics whose job it is to inform and inspire government policy. On an individual level,
hoarding and hiding make good sense, but collectively it impoverishes conversation
potentially to the detriment of good policymaking.
70.
In other words, you cannot feel the quality of an idea before deciding whether to buy it or not.
This means that ideas make bad commodities. Pricing, in the usual economic sense, is
impossible because the value of the product is not physically captured at least, not
immediately. This is why intellectual property lawyers are licking their lips, and why one
academic has just taken out the first- ever patent on an idea.
71.
On the face of it, the argument that we are becoming intellectual misers flies in the face of
current developments. Isn't the Internet democratising knowledge? And what about the free
software at the heart of cyberspace? Far from living in monastic silence, aren't we being
bombarded with ideas and information?
72.
All this means that intellectual generosity is becoming rarer and much more precious. It also
elevates the role of trust. If my colleague gives me an idea, and I pass that idea on, either in
print or through conversation, it's critical that I "tag" it as hers, rather than succumbing to the
temptation to pass it off as my own.
73.
There are issues for employers here, too. When someone's ability to add value rests on their
skill at coming up with ideas, how do managers ensure that they are working as hard as they
should be? Maybe they are storing up the best stuff for the online consultancy they run from
home.
74.
46
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Moreover, educational institutions and organizations need to play a pivotal role in fostering
this culture of intellectual generosity. By emphasizing the importance of collaboration and
proper attribution early on, we cultivate a generation of thinkers who value sharing over
secrecy. Academic and professional environments should reward those who contribute to the
collective knowledge pool, ensuring that recognition aligns with the principles of trust and
openness.
75.
G. But legal and contractual approaches to the problem are of limited use. Many of the best
ideas come out of a conversation between two people. Who, then, do they belong to? And
the danger of legally based approaches is that they will make us more guarded, not less
so.
H. Well, yes. But most of the information we receive is of limited value. How many people
who have a truly innovative idea will broadcast it on the web? Some, hut 57 not many.
With so much guff all over the place, the value of an original idea is all the more worth
guarding.
Your answers
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an extract from an article and choose the answer A, B, C
or D that fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
Strange as it may seem, consumer watchdogs are convinced that burgeoning online shopping
numbers will not result in the death of the High Street. Instead, it will force an evolution in
terms of the shopping experience.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the under 40s rely on the existence and security of a
retail outlet if only for somewhere to check the item they want to buy. However, frequently,
their spot of research may ultimately lead to an online transaction when it comes to the actual
purchase. It is common practice for the consumer to enter a store to get a physical idea of
their intended purchase, use their phone to compare the store price of their prospective
purchase with those found online, and then opt for the best price available.
The phenomenon has been dubbed 'showrooming' and has led to many large supermarket
brands opening what's known as 'dark stores', which in turn are creating thousands of new
jobs. They're not designed for your typical shopper, in fact they're ugly purpose-built
warehouses that are never likely to see a real shopper. They are merely there for the growing
population of insatiable online shoppers. Imagine an enormous supermarket with fully
stocked shelves, no customers, no garish advertising and no busy tillpoints. That pretty much
sums them up. They are populated by busy 'personal shoppers' filling up trolleys with
customer's orders; and the only face these retailers have is the driver who delivers the
shopping.
Dotcom food shopping is still in its infancy but is predicted to double in value over the next
five years to an enormous 12 billion. In fact technology-driven consumer behaviour will
generate growth across at least twenty different retail sectors resulting in an estimated 1.5
trillion in future sales by 2016. Clearly there is money to be made in spite of the economic
downturn in Europe.
When it comes to food, the need to see what you buy is not quite as great, but especially
within the clothing sector, most shoppers would rather have a tangible idea of what they're
spending their money on. Because so many consumers are frequently connected to the
Internet to research and analyse their purchase either by price checking or through social
shopping, retailers are faced with the challenge of finding ways to make being connected part
48
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
of the shopping experience. Visualisation technologies are likely to feature much more
heavily, making it easier to actually see items. In the furniture sector, for example, people
will virtually place items in their homes and ensure that they suit as well as fit the
environment. Already it's possible to see mini videos of modelled clothing, and technology
packages will reflect this requirement by becoming faster and more efficient processes for
mobile devices.
Yet, if people want to go into bricks and mortar shops, technology does dictate that
'showrooming' is here to stay, which forces the high street retailer to reassess the role of the
store. For smaller stores it is likely to mean partnering up with larger outlets to allow a
greater flexibility in terms of pricing, but large flagship stores are going to become more like
brand cathedrals where, rather than being places for purchasing, they will evolve into
interesting areas for advertising the product while customers are free to purchase online.
In truth, many big name designer retailers have already started doing just this. With growing
competition to draw people to their sites, they are developing consumer concepts which go
far beyond the mere displaying of product. Architecture is key, as well as clever interior
designing often coupled with interesting design exhibits, so that the experience becomes
artistically stimulating while potentially encouraging a purchase. Rifling the racks is not
enough and any store has to offer something extra. This will be a key consideration for town
planners and developers if they want to keep the average high street bricks and mortar shops
open. Yes, their physical existence is reassuring, but they are most definitely going to have to
go that extra mile to get numbers through their doors. Shopping really isn't just about the
purchase anymore, it's about an entire experience involving recreational options and eating
choices in addition to the retail element. A clever marriage of shop, restaurant, museum,
salon -and art gallery is going to be key. If it was the over 40's only in the shops, the town
centre as we know it would be dead.
76. What claim have consumer watchdogs made about the High Street?
A. It has no future.
B. It has little appeal for the younger generation.
C. It will need to reinvent itself.
D. It offers much to the online shopper.
77. Why are some consumers choosing not to purchase in store?
A. Because they are dissatisfied once they actually view the items.
B. Because they find more favourable deals elsewhere.
C. Because there is no showroom.
D. Because they are dissatisfied with the service.
78. What is least likely to be driving the opening of 'dark stores'?
A. The dramatic rise in online shopping.
B. The need to cut supermarket running costs.
C. The potential for generating more revenue.
D. The need to meet customer demands.
79. The word "garish" in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. scant
B. shiny
C. colorful
D. showy
49
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
80. What is the projected impact of technology-driven consumer behavior on retail sectors,
including dotcom food shopping?
A. Online food shopping will expand to twice its current worth, contributing to an
aggregate growth of 1.5 trillion across various sectors by 2016.
B. Technology-driven consumer behavior will stabilize the value of online food
shopping while diminishing the impact on other retail sectors.
C. Economic downturn in Europe will obstruct the growth of online food shopping and
constrain technology-driven retail sales.
D. Online food shopping will witness minimal growth, but other retail sectors will
experience substantial increases, totaling 12 billion by 2016.
81. Why do shoppers particularly prefer to see what they are buying in the clothing sector?
A. Clothing is more costly than food.
B. Clothing necessitates a tactile assessment.
C. Limited online availability for clothes.
D. Less online investigation for food.
82. In what way might developments in visualisation technology hinder the survival of bricks
and mortar stores?
A. By reducing the need to visit stores.
B. By increasing high street rental costs.
C. By forcing more online transactions.
D. By introducing a more attractive element to the shopping experience.
83. What techniques have some retailers used to attract customers?
A. They have improved their advertising campaigns.
B. They have evolved their product range.
C. They have turned their stores into galleries.
D. They have found ingenious ways to create cutting edge retail spaces.
84. The word “this” in the last paragraph refers to
A. reassessing the role of the store
B. partnering up with other outlets
C. evolving into areas for advertising
D. being places for purchasing
85. An appropriate title for the passage could be
A. The decline of online shopping
B. High-street shopping unaffected by technology
C. The irrelevance of retail outlets in modern shopping
D. The changing face of shopping
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs marked A, B, C, D and E. For
questions 86-95, read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
My favourite Shakespearean role
50
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
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
51
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
feelings of euphoria may be somewhat misplaced. A study recently carried out by the New
York University Child Study Centre has concluded that one in three people of varying ages
suffer ‘holiday blues’ to varying extents, from a mild feeling of sadness to severe, sometimes
even suicidal, depression.
According to Dr Frank Pittman, a leading family psychiatrist, the most significant cause for
holiday depression actually stems from our concerns about our family. During the holiday
season, families meet, often for the first time since the last holiday season, and try to make
these reunions ‘perfect’. However, such good intentions are often thwarted by old family
arguments, feelings of not being appreciated or being used, all of which result in holiday
stress. It seems that the idyllic picture of our family we wish to build in our minds cannot be
sustained in reality.
Although Pittman holds family to be the source of much of the problem, others point to a
more general social context. Gift shopping, for example, does not help reduce tensions –
crowded shops, long queues, the pressure of choosing just the right present – all of these
things contribute to a feeling of stress and anxiety. On the other end of the scale, there are
those without family who experience a sense of extreme loneliness and isolation throughout
this period, often spending the long holidays alone. Any feelings of inadequacy they may
harbor throughout the year can often become unbearable at a time when friends are
unavailable and enjoying an apparently cozy break with their loved ones. In fact, such is the
extreme nature of this isolation that many organizations have been established to offer some
help and support to those who feel most alone over what should be the ‘festive’ season.
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
53
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
54
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Part 2. The chart below shows the percentage of government spending on roads and
transport in four countries from 1990 to 2005. Summarise the information by selecting and
reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write
about 150 words.
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
55
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
Some people think that schools should reward students who show the best academic
results, while others believe that it is more important to reward students who show
improvements. Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or
disagree with the claim.
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
56
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
......................................................................................................................................................
.
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................
57
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
58
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
challenge of creating a fictional world; one that wouldn't exist if you didn't put your particular
energy and talent into it - and that's got to be there in no small measure. (11) Otherwise
you're unlikely to have the resilience, patience and sheer willpower to get it finished, let
alone get it published in some form. Unless, of course, you're already in the public eye for
some other reason, in which case you'll have the commercial publishers falling over
themselves to sign you up.
lnt: Would you go along with that, Naomi?
N: I remember my first novel, getting up at six every morning to write before putting in a full
day at the office. It was gruesome but that's still the norm for a lot of young unpublished
writers. It's a real effort, you get drained of energy, but I look back on it with a certain pride.
Because if I got stuck, which everyone does at some point, I'd no choice but to keep at it -
that can be painful. (12) Suddenly the idea of tidying up your bedroom becomes
incredibly attractive but you've got to resist the urge - writers are past masters at
displacement activities! The other thing I'd say is avoid being beguiled into spending a
fortune on high-tech kit - you just need a basic software package to bash the stuff out –
getting to grips with anything else just wastes time.
lnt: So what's the ideal subject matter to start off with?
S: Well, there's a lot to be said for the old adage: write about what you know. But if what you
know 's a fairly uninspiring job, it'll hardly be the right context for massmarket readers.
They'll be hoping for something more aspirational, like the world of fashion or horseracing or
whatever. (13) I mean your characters can do those humdrum jobs but that shouldn't be
the background against which the whole story is set.
N: And another thing to avoid is jumping on the bandwagon. Just because last year's number
one blockbuster was a thriller set in the world of high finance, doesn't mean that the market
wants a whole raft of inferior imitations. It's an easy trap to fall into. So yes, it's best not to
stray from familiar ground.
S: But whatever genre you go for, you've got to be giving the reader some sort of added
value, some kind of insight into another world, as well as just a cracking good story. I mean,
the other thing to mention is that (14) if you don't have an inspirational idea buried
somewhere inside you, then research can take you there. If you explore another world in
depth, then inspiration can stem from that and you can share your new found
enthusiasm with your readers.
N: Well, there's something in that but again I'm rather inclined to think that that comes
later, when you've played out your own ideas and you need to go somewhere else - so
you don't just keep repeating the same old stuff. You're beginning to contradict yourself
actually, Simon.
S: Am I? Oh well - it was ever so!
Int: But you write for teenagers Naomi, which must have its own challenges.
N: Well it's a whole different ballgame. I mean fundamentally there's kids' literature on the
one hand and then there's mainstream adult stuff on the other - and because of that narrow
window, there's not actually a vast amount on the market that's specifically aimed at
60
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
teenagers because they quickly move on. (15) But whilst initial volume of sales can be a lot
lower than with the big adult genres, the shelf life of your work can extend over the
generations, meaning income stacks up. But, it's also difficult to hit the right note.
Teenagers are quick to let you know if anything you've written feels patronising or dumbed
down - yet they aren't quite ready for the complexities of adult fiction - so you're walking a
bit of a tightrope. I sometimes think there must be easier ways of earning a living!
Part 4
16. vast interconnected 0.14
17. transformative vision 0.46
18. computer-generated environment 1.01
19. tangible surroundings 1.21
20. digital thread 1.35
21. lynchpin/linchpin 2.21
22. standards and protocols 2.45
23. machine learning algorithms 3.03
24. static figure 3.47
25. new frontier 4.47
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 POINTS)
Part 1.
26. C
Give sb the third degree: to treat sb violently or badly to persuade them to confess or
give information
Give sb the cold shoulder: to intentionally ignore or show no interest in sb
Give sb the death stare: to give sb an angry look
Give sb the glad eye: to look at sb in a way that shows you are attracted by them
27. B
Nail down sth: to understand sth completely or make sth certain
Stick sth down: to write something somewhere
Lay sth down: to officially establish a rule/ to put away or stop using sth/ to record a piece of
music
28. C
Insularity (n): the quality of only being interested in your own country and not being willing
to accept foreign ideas
Obsequiousness (n): the fact of being servile and trying to please sb
Magnanimity (n): kindness and generosity, especially towards an enemy or an opponent
Capitulation (n): an unwilling acceptance of sth
29. A
Nebulous (adj): (of ideas) vague, lacking form
Obstinate (adj): (of a problem/ a situation) difficult to deal with,
(of sb) unreasonably stubborn
30. B
Dash one’s hopes: to destroy ones hopes
31. B
Rope in: to persuade sb to participate in sth
Cop out: to avoid doing sth that one ought to do
61
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Part 2.
56. F
- Dẫn chứng: Last year, Americans spent over $30 billion at retail stores in the month
of December alone. => ‘Nearly’ có nghĩa là ‘gần như’, tức là chưa đủ 30 tỷ đô-la,
trong khi đó văn bản cho ‘over’, tức là hơn con số đó.
- Dịch: Năm vừa rồi, người dân Hoa Kì tốn hơn 30 tỷ đô-la tại các cửa hàng bán lẻ nội
trong tháng 12.
57. T
- Dẫn chứng: At the same time, many dread the thought of buying gifts; they worry that
their purchases will disappoint rather than delight the intended recipients.
- Dịch: Đồng thời, nhiều người ngại nghĩ đến việc mua quà; họ lo lắng rằng quà họ tặng
sẽ gây thất vọng hơn là làm hài lòng người nhận.
62
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
58. NG
- Dẫn chứng: People buy gifts that recipients would not choose to buy on their own, or
at least not spend as much money to purchase => không đề cập tới sự mong đợi của
người nhận
- Dịch: Người ta mua quà mà người nhận không tự mình chọn mua, hoặc ít nhất là
không bỏ ra nhiều tiền để mua
59. T
- Dẫn chứng: Although a link between gift price and feelings of appreciation might
seem intuitive to gift-givers, such an assumption may be unfounded
- Dịch: Mặc dù mối liên hệ giữa giá quà tặng và cảm giác trân trọng có vẻ trực quan đối
với người tặng quà, nhưng giả định như vậy có thể không có cơ sở.
60. F
- Dẫn chứng: […] whereby gift-givers attempt to signal their positive attitudes toward
the intended recipient and their willingness to invest resources in a future relationship
=> large gifts serve a dual rather than sole purpose.
- Dịch: theo đó người tặng quà cố gắng thể hiện thái độ tích cực của họ đối với người
nhận và sự sẵn sàng đầu tư nguồn lực vào mối quan hệ trong tương lai.
61. T
- Dẫn chứng: The notion of gift-givers and gift-recipients being unable to account for
the other party’s perspective seems puzzling (=questionable) because people slip in
and out of these roles every day, and, in some cases, multiple times in the course
of the same day. (the bold part indicates the frequency with which people partake in
gift exchange)
- Dịch: Việc người tặng quà và người nhận quà không thể hiểu được quan điểm của
bên còn lại có vẻ khó hiểu bởi vì mọi người đảm nhận những vai trò này hàng ngày,
và trong một số trường hợp, nhiều lần trong cùng một ngày.
62. F
- Dẫn chứng: despite the extensive experience that people have as both givers and
receivers, they often struggle to transfer information gained from one role (e.g., as a
giver) and apply it in another, complementary role (e.g., as a receiver) => mọi người
thường không thực hiện được việc áp dụng kinh nghiệm từ việc tặng sang nhận quà,
mặc dù việc này có thể và rất được khuyến khích
- Dịch: mặc dù mọi người có kinh nghiệm sâu rộng với tư cách là người cho và người
nhận, nhưng họ thường gặp khó khăn trong việc chuyển thông tin thu được từ một vai
trò (ví dụ: với tư cách là người cho) và áp dụng nó trong một vai trò bổ sung khác (ví
dụ: với tư cách là người nhận).
63. Ambivalent feelings
- Dẫn chứng: This frequent experience of gift-giving can engender ambivalent
feelings in gift-givers.
- Dịch: Trải nghiệm tặng quà thường xuyên này có thể gây ra cảm giác mâu thuẫn ở
người tặng quà.
64. Positive social process
- Dẫn chứng: Anthropologists describe gift-giving as a positive social process, serving
various political, religious, and psychological functions.
- Dịch: Các nhà nhân chủng học mô tả việc tặng quà là một quá trình xã hội tích cực,
phục vụ nhiều chức năng chính trị, tôn giáo và tâm lý.
63
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
64
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
nó hay không’ trong đoạn tiếp sau E về cơ bản đang tổng kết ý tưởng ‘bạn không thể
biết giá trị của một mẩu thông tin, [...] trừ khi bạn biết nó là gì’ trong E.
71. G
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘intellectual property lawyers’ in the previous paragraph
corresponds with ‘legal and contractual approaches’ in G. ‘Intellectual misers’ in the
following paragraph is another nod to the fact that ‘we are becoming more
intellectually guarded’ in G.
- Dịch: Cụm từ ‘luật sư sở hữu trí tuệ’ trong đoạn trước tương ứng với ‘cách tiếp cận
mang tính pháp lý và hợp đồng’ trong G. ‘Những kẻ keo kiệt về trí tuệ’ trong đoạn
sau đó là một cách ám chỉ khác đến việc ‘chúng ta đang dần bảo vệ sản phẩm trí tuệ
nghiêm ngặt hơn’ trong G.
72. H
- Dẫn chứng: The most obvious indicator that H is the best fit for this space is the
‘Well, yes’ that responds to the questions posed previously. ‘the value of an original
idea is all the more worth guarding’ in H is also a direct cause for the fact that
‘intellectual generosity is becoming rarer’ stated in the following paragraph.
- Dịch: Dấu hiệu nhận biết H là câu đúng là câu ‘À, vâng’ trả lời lại các câu hỏi đã nêu
trước đó. ‘giá trị của một ý tưởng nguyên bản càng đáng được bảo vệ’ trong H cũng là
nguyên nhân trực tiếp cho việc ‘sự hào phóng trí tuệ đang trở nên hiếm hoi hơn’ được
nêu trong đoạn tiếp theo.
73. C
- Dẫn chứng: ‘Such a system of tagging’ in C encompasses the tagging process
mentioned in the previous paragraph.
- Dịch: ‘Một hệ thống nhắc tên như vậy’ trong C bao gồm quy trình nhắc tên được đề
cập trong đoạn trước đó.
74. D
- Dẫn chứng: It’s easy to see that D is expanding the idea of employees potentially
guarding their ideas mentioned in the previous paragraph. Further clues are
‘managers’ in D corresponding to ‘employers’ in the previous paragraph, ‘incentives’
in D paraphrasing ‘how can managers ensure that they are working as hard as they
should be?’ in the previous paragraph.
- Dịch: Dễ dàng nhận thấy rằng D đang mở rộng thêm việc nhân viên có thể bảo vệ ý
tưởng của họ được đề cập trong đoạn trước. Các clues phụ bao gồm ‘managers’ trong
D tương ứng với ‘employers’ trong đoạn trước, ‘incentives’ trong D diễn giải lại câu
‘how can managers ensure that they are working as hard as they should be?’ trong
đoạn trước.
75. B
65
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
- Dẫn chứng: The phrase ‘Ultimately’ in B signals that this paragraph sums up the ideas
mentioned throughout the passage. ‘True collaboration’ in B also corresponds with
‘an atmosphere of co-operation’ in the final paragraph of the text.
- Dịch: Cụm từ ‘Ultimately’ trong B báo hiệu rằng đoạn văn này tổng kết các ý tưởng
được đề cập xuyên suốt bài viết. ‘True collaboration’ trong B cũng tương ứng với ‘an
atmosphere of co-operation’ trong đoạn cuối của văn bản.
Part 4.
76. C
- Dẫn chứng: Strange as it may seem, consumer watchdogs are convinced that
burgeoning online shopping numbers will not result in the death of the High Street.
Instead, it will force an evolution [reinvention] in terms of the shopping
experience.
- Dịch: Dù có vẻ kỳ lạ, các cơ quan giám sát người tiêu dùng tin rằng số lượng đơn mua
sắm trực tuyến ngày càng tăng sẽ không dẫn đến sự biến mất của các cửa hàng trên
phố lớn. Thay vào đó, nó sẽ thúc đẩy sự phát triển về trải nghiệm mua sắm.
77. B
- Dẫn chứng: It is common practice for the consumer to enter a store to get a physical
idea of their intended purchase, use their phone to compare the store price of their
prospective purchase with those found online, and then opt for the best price
available [favourable deals].
- Dịch: Thông thường, người tiêu dùng sẽ vào cửa hàng để xem sản phẩm họ định mua
một cách trực quan, sau đó dùng điện thoại để so sánh giá của sản phẩm đó tại cửa
hàng với giá tìm thấy trên mạng, và cuối cùng chọn mức giá tốt nhất có thể.
78. B
- Dẫn chứng:
A. The dramatic rise in online shopping
The text explicitly states that "burgeoning online shopping numbers" are a significant factor.
This rise in online shopping is a primary reason for the creation of 'dark stores,' which cater
to the needs of online shoppers.
C. The potential for generating more revenue
The concept of 'dark stores' aligns with the goal of increasing revenue by efficiently serving
the growing number of online shoppers. By fulfilling online orders more effectively,
supermarkets can capture a larger share of the e-commerce market.
D. The need to meet customer demands
The text highlights the importance of catering to "the growing population of insatiable online
shoppers." This demand from consumers for online shopping options is a crucial factor
driving the creation of 'dark stores.'
⇨ This leaves B as the least likely reason, making it the correct answer.
- Dịch:
A. Văn bản rõ ràng đề cập rằng "số lượng mua sắm trực tuyến ngày càng tăng" là một yếu tố
quan trọng. Sự gia tăng này trong mua sắm trực tuyến là lý do chính cho việc tạo ra các 'cửa
hàng không người’, nhằm phục vụ nhu cầu của những người mua sắm trực tuyến.
C. Khái niệm 'cửa hàng không người’ phù hợp với mục tiêu tăng doanh thu bằng cách phục
vụ hiệu quả số lượng người mua sắm trực tuyến ngày càng tăng. Bằng cách hoàn thành các
đơn đặt hàng trực tuyến hiệu quả hơn, các siêu thị có thể chiếm một phần lớn hơn của thị
trường thương mại điện tử.
D. Văn bản nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của việc đáp ứng "dân số ngày càng tăng của những
người mua sắm trực tuyến không thể thoả mãn." Nhu cầu này từ người tiêu dùng đối với các
66
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
lựa chọn mua sắm trực tuyến là một yếu tố quan trọng thúc đẩy việc tạo ra các 'cửa hàng
không người.'
→ B là câu trả lời đúng.
79. D
- Dẫn chứng: They are merely there for the growing population of insatiable online
shoppers. Imagine an enormous supermarket with fully stocked shelves, no
customers, no garish advertising and no busy tillpoints. => ‘garish’ means ‘showy’, or
‘unpleasantly bright’
- Dịch: Chúng chỉ đơn thuần để phục vụ số lượng những người mua sắm trực tuyến khó
tính ngày càng tăng. Hãy tưởng tượng một siêu thị khổng lồ với các kệ hàng đầy đủ
nhưng không có khách hàng, không có quảng cáo lòe loẹt và không có quầy thu ngân
bận rộn. => 'garish' có nghĩa là 'lòe loẹt' hoặc 'sáng chói một cách khó chịu'.
80. A
- Dẫn chứng: The text states that "Dotcom food shopping is still in its infancy but is
predicted to double in value over the next five years to an enormous 12 billion."
Additionally, it mentions that "technology-driven consumer behaviour will generate
growth across at least twenty different retail sectors resulting in an estimated 1.5
trillion in future sales by 2016." Therefore, the correct answer – A – encapsulates
both the specific prediction for dotcom food shopping and the broader impact on
various retail sectors.
- Dịch: Văn bản cho biết rằng "Mua sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến vẫn chưa thực sự phát
triển, nhưng được dự đoán sẽ tăng gấp đôi giá trị trong năm năm tới, lên đến con số
khổng lồ 12 tỷ." Ngoài ra, nó đề cập rằng "Hành vi tiêu dùng được thúc đẩy bởi công
nghệ sẽ tạo ra tăng trưởng ở ít nhất hai mươi lĩnh vực bán lẻ khác nhau, dẫn đến
doanh số bán hàng ước tính 1,5 nghìn tỷ vào năm 2016." Do đó, câu trả lời đúng – A
– bao quát cả dự đoán cụ thể về mua sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến và tác động rộng hơn
đến các lĩnh vực bán lẻ khác nhau…
81. B
- Dẫn chứng: When it comes to food, the need to see what you buy is not quite as great,
but especially within the clothing sector, most shoppers would rather have a tangible
idea [tactile assessment] of what they're spending their money on.
- Dịch: Khi nói đến thực phẩm, thường mọi người sẽ không có nhu cầu xem trực tiếp
sản phẩm, nhưng đặc biệt trong lĩnh vực quần áo, hầu hết người mua sắm thích được
thử trước rồi mới chọn mua.
82. A
- Dẫn chứng: Visualisation technologies are likely to feature much more heavily,
making it easier to actually see items. In the furniture sector, for example, people will
virtually place items in their homes and ensure that they suit as well as fit the
environment. => Visualization technologies allow buyers to view items before
purchase, thus making it unnecessary to visit physical stores (or bricks and mortars
stores, in this case), thus hindering their development.
- Dịch: Các công nghệ hình ảnh hóa có khả năng được sử dụng nhiều, từ đó giúp việc
quan sát các mặt hàng trở nên dễ dàng hơn. Trong lĩnh vực nội thất chẳng hạn, mọi
người sẽ đặt các món đồ vào nhà của mình trên không gian ảo và đảm bảo rằng chúng
phù hợp cũng như vừa vặn với không gian. => Các công nghệ hình ảnh hóa cho phép
người mua xem các mặt hàng trước khi mua, do đó không cần phải đến các cửa hàng
vật lý (hoặc cửa hàng ‘bricks and mortars’ trong trường hợp này), từ đó cản trở sự
phát triển của chúng.
83. D
67
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
- Dẫn chứng: With growing competition to draw people to their sites, they are
developing consumer concepts which go far beyond the mere displaying of
product. Architecture is key, as well as clever interior designing often coupled with
interesting design exhibits, so that the experience becomes artistically stimulating
[cutting edged] while potentially encouraging a purchase.
- Dịch: Khi mà việc hút mọi người đến trang web ngày càng trở nên cạnh tranh, các cửa
hàng bán lẻ đang phát triển các ý tưởng tiêu dùng vượt xa việc chỉ trưng bày sản
phẩm. Kiến trúc là yếu tố then chốt, cũng như thiết kế nội thất thông minh kết hợp
cùng các triển lãm thiết kế thú vị, giúp cho trải nghiệm vừa tạo hứng thú về mặt nghệ
thuật lại vừa khuyến khích mua hàng.
84. C
- Dẫn chứng: For smaller stores it is likely to mean partnering up with larger outlets to
allow a greater flexibility in terms of pricing, but large flagship stores are going to
become more like brand cathedrals where, rather than being places for purchasing,
they will evolve into interesting areas for advertising the product […] In truth, many
big name designer retailers have already started doing just this. => ‘Large flagship
stores’ belong to the same group as ‘big name designer retailers’, therefore ‘this’ refer
to ‘evolving into areas for advertising’, making C the correct answer. (Readers should
pay attention to the cohesion between the two sentences)
- Dịch: Đối với các cửa hàng nhỏ, điều này thường đồng nghĩa với việc hợp tác với các
cửa hàng lớn hơn để cho phép sự linh hoạt về mặt giá cả, nhưng các cửa hàng cơ sở
lớn sẽ trở thành những "đền thờ thương hiệu" nơi, thay vì chỉ để mua sắm, sẽ phát
triển thành những khu vực quảng cáo sản phẩm [...] Trên thực tế, nhiều nhãn hàng
thời trang danh tiếng đã bắt đầu thực hiện chiến dịch này. => ‘Large flagship stores'
thuộc cùng một nhóm với ‘big name designer retailers’, do đó ‘this’ đề cập đến ‘phát
triển thành các khu vực quảng cáo', biến C thành câu trả lời đúng. (HS nên chú ý đến
sự liên kết giữa hai câu.)
85. D
- Dẫn chứng:
A. This title suggests that online shopping is decreasing, which contradicts the text's
emphasis on the growth and increasing significance of online shopping,
particularly the concept of 'showrooming' and the prediction that dotcom food
shopping will double in value.
B. This title incorrectly implies that technology has no impact on high street
shopping, whereas the text clearly discusses how technology is forcing high street
retailers to evolve and adapt to new consumer behaviors, including the rise of
'showrooming' and the integration of online and offline shopping experiences.
C. This title suggests that retail outlets are becoming irrelevant, which is misleading.
The text indicates that while the role of traditional retail outlets is changing, they
are still important for consumers who use them for research before making online
purchases. Additionally, it discusses how high street retailers are adapting by
transforming stores into brand experiences and integrating technology to stay
relevant.
⇨ Title D, meanwhile, encapsulates the main themes of the text, highlighting how
traditional high street retail is evolving in response to the rise of online shopping
and technology-driven consumer behavior, making it the correct one
- Dịch:
A. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng mua sắm trực tuyến đang giảm, điều này trái ngược với sự
tập trung của văn bản vào sự tăng trưởng và tầm quan trọng ngày càng tăng của
68
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
mua sắm trực tuyến, đặc biệt là khái niệm 'showrooming' và dự đoán rằng mua
sắm thực phẩm trực tuyến sẽ tăng gấp đôi giá trị.
B. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng công nghệ không ảnh hưởng đến việc mua sắm trên phố
lớn, trong khi văn bản rõ ràng đã thảo luận về cách công nghệ đang buộc các nhà
bán lẻ trên phố lớn phải tiến triển và thích nghi với hành vi tiêu dùng mới, bao
gồm sự gia tăng của 'showrooming' và tích hợp trải nghiệm mua sắm trực tuyến và
ngoại tuyến.
C. Tiêu đề này gợi ý rằng các cửa hàng bán lẻ mất đi tầm quan trọng. Văn bản chỉ ra
rằng trong khi vai trò của các cửa hàng bán lẻ truyền thống đang thay đổi, chúng
vẫn quan trọng đối với người tiêu dùng sử dụng chúng để nghiên cứu trước khi
thực hiện mua sắm trực tuyến. Ngoài ra, nó thảo luận về cách nhà bán lẻ trên phố
lớn đang thích nghi bằng cách biến các cửa hàng thành trải nghiệm thương hiệu và
tích hợp công nghệ để tận dụng chúng triệt để.
→ Trong khi đó, tiêu đề D tóm tắt các chủ đề chính của văn bản, nhấn mạnh cách bán lẻ
truyền thống trên phố lớn đang tiến triển để đáp ứng với sự gia tăng của mua sắm trực tuyến
và hành vi tiêu dùng được thúc đẩy bởi công nghệ, từ đó biến D thành đáp án đúng nhất.
Part 5.
86. C
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
- Dịch: Một trong những cảnh gây ảnh hưởng nhất trong vở kịch xảy ra trong cơn bão
trên vùng đất hoang, nơi Lear đối mặt với thực tế khắc nghiệt về sự ngu ngốc của
chính mình.
87. E
- Dẫn chứng: She is a woman unafraid to speak her mind and challenge norms and
expectations in society.
- Dịch: Cô ấy là một người phụ nữ không ngại nói lên suy nghĩ của mình và thách thức
những chuẩn mực cũng như kỳ vọng trong xã hội.
88. A
- Dẫn chứng: I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth's transformation from a
brave and noble warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt. […] The
role continues to challenge and inspire me [the speaker has portrayed this role
many times], allowing me to explore the depths of human nature through the lens of
Shakespeare's genius.
- Dịch: Tôi thích thú với thử thách nắm bắt quá trình biến đổi của Macbeth từ một
chiến binh dũng cảm và cao quý thành một bạo chúa tàn nhẫn đối mặt với cảm giác
tội lỗi. […] Vai diễn này tiếp tục thử thách và truyền cảm hứng cho tôi [diễn giả đã
thể hiện vai diễn này nhiều lần], cho phép tôi khám phá chiều sâu bản chất con người
qua lăng kính thiên tài của Shakespeare.
89. D
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
69
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
- Dịch: Điều làm nên sự khác biệt của Hamlet là tính đa chiều của anh ấy. Anh vừa là
một học giả, một triết gia, một người con trai đang tìm cách trả thù và một hoàng tử bị
vướng vào mạng lưới âm mưu chính trị. Xem xét tất cả các lớp này và khắc họa
những cảm xúc phức tạp của một nhân vật đang cố gắng giải quyết những dấu chấm
hỏi sâu sắc nhất của cuộc sống là một hành trình đầy phấn khích đối với một diễn
viên.
90. A
- Dẫn chứng: I relished the challenge of capturing Macbeth's transformation from a
brave and noble warrior to a ruthless tyrant dealing with feelings of guilt.
- Dịch: Tôi thích thú với thử thách nắm bắt quá trình biến đổi của Macbeth từ một
chiến binh dũng cảm và cao quý thành một bạo chúa tàn nhẫn đối mặt với cảm giác
tội lỗi.
91. E
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
- Dịch: Sự hóm hỉnh sắc bén của Beatrice và khả năng giữ vững lập trường của mình
trong một thế giới do đàn ông thống trị khiến cô trở thành một nhân vật có sức mạnh
vượt thời gian. Cô ấy là một người phụ nữ không ngại nói lên suy nghĩ của mình và
thách thức những chuẩn mực cũng như kỳ vọng trong xã hội.
92. D
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
[…] 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.
- Dịch: Đây là khoảnh khắc suy ngẫm thể hiện chiều sâu tâm hồn của Hamlet. Đưa đời
sống nội tâm phong phú này lên sân khấu là một thử thách mà tôi thực sự thích thú.
[…] Xem xét tất cả các lớp này và khắc họa những cảm xúc phức tạp của một nhân
vật đang cố gắng giải quyết những câu hỏi sâu sắc nhất của cuộc sống là một hành
trình đầy phấn khích đối với một diễn viên.
93. C
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
- Dịch: Sự giàu chất thơ trong các lời thoại của anh, đặc biệt là trong những khoảnh
khắc đầy cảm xúc khi tự suy ngẫm, cho tôi cơ hội kết nối với khán giả ở mức độ sâu
sắc hơn.
94. E
- Dẫn chứng: 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.
- Dịch: Thực hiện cuộc đối thoại giữa Beatrice và Benedick rất thú vị, khi họ đưa ra
những nhận xét về nhau, giống như hai vận động viên quần vợt chuyền bóng.
95. B
- Dẫn chứng: Portraying her journey from a manipulative and ambitious woman to a
tormented soul consumed by guilt is a true acting challenge. […] Exploring the
70
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
depths of her mind, I aim to convey her internal struggles and the tragic
consequences of her actions.
- Dịch: Miêu tả hành trình của cô từ một người phụ nữ hay thao túng và đầy tham vọng
đến một tâm hồn dày vò vì tội lỗi là một thử thách diễn xuất thực sự. […] Khám phá
chiều sâu tâm trí của cô ấy, tôi mong muốn truyền tải những đấu tranh nội tâm và hậu
quả bi thảm từ hành động của cô ấy.
IV. WRITING (60 POINTS)
Part 1.
The passage elucidates the phenomenon of holiday blues and explores its underlying culprits.
Paradoxically, according to the New York University Child Study Centre, amid the
traditionally joyous holiday season, 33% of people from various demographics suffer from
varying extents of “holiday blues”. Dr Frank Pittman, a prominent family psychiatrist,
attributes holiday depression to familial issues, claiming that gatherings can shatter the
fantasies of a blissful family reunion and cause distress by reigniting old conflicts or
provoking unpleasant feelings. Nevertheless, others have a more panoramic view, putting the
blame on the conundrum of gift shopping or the absence of loved ones including families and
friends during holidays, which causes extreme forlornness.
Part 2.
The bar chart compares the proportion of government expenditure on roads and transport in
Italy, Portugal, the UK, and the USA every five years from 1990 to 2005.
What is the most striking when looking at the data is that all countries experienced decreases
in their budgetary allocation for roads and transport during the studied period, with the largest
fall being observed in Portugal. Despite this, this country remained the nation subsidizing
roads and transport the most among the four surveyed, proportionally.
Throughout the given period, Portugal and Italy dedicated much higher portions of funds to
roads and transport than did the UK and US. Notably, the former started with the highest
figure on the whole chart, at about 26%. Thereafter, however, this figure had fallen fairly
steeply to 20% by 1995, after which it registered a steady decline of 2% every 5 years, ending
the period at around 16%. A roughly similar declining trend can be seen in Italy, where the
government had cut fund allocation for roads and transport from 20% to roughly 13%
between 1990 and 2000. Although towards the end of the period the proportion of spending
on this area rose, this recovery was rather negligible.
Turning to the UK, it was the only nation in the survey showing an increase in the share of
subsidies for roads and transport in the first two years given, from approximately 11% to
13%. Nevertheless, its outlay for this sector had halved by 2000, representing the most
pronounced change on the chart. Similar to Italy, the UK did see its figures recovering at the
end, yet this increase was far too insignificant compared to the previous fall.
71
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
Finally, there was generally little change in the USA category. Here, the proportion of
government expenditure on roads and transport hovered around 12% throughout the surveyed
period, with a peak of nearly 14% in 2000.
Part 3
The ongoing debate surrounding the allocation of rewards in schools constitutes a complex
and multifaceted issue. While it is commonly believed that these rewards should be
contingent on students' academic achievements, some claim otherwise, asserting that the key
factor should be the improvements made during the learning journey. Discussing these two
points of view, I vehemently agree that each approach holds its own merits, and the optimal
resolution lies in adopting a comprehensive strategy that facilitates the all-encompassing
development of students.
On the one hand, rewarding students for academic results can be seen as a way to foster a
cultural milieu towards excellence, and provide clear recognition for those who consistently
perform at a high scholastic level. By offering recognition and encouraging prowess in
academia, educational institutions can foster a merit-based approach that aligns with the
principles of meritocracy. Take a monthly academic achievement award as an example,
which recognizes and acknowledges students who demonstrate outstanding performance in
their studies. This methodology not only incentivizes students who may not initially rank
among the top performers but also provides assurance to high-achieving students that
consistent maintenance of their academic excellence will still earn them the awards. The
positive reinforcement creates a culture of healthy competition and a collective drive for
success. To reiterate, in some respects, rewarding outstanding academic achievements can be
a potent catalyst for fostering a culture of excellence and motivating students to constantly
strive for more knowledge.
On the other hand, grades should never be a sole criterion, because rewarding students for
improvements stands as a testament to the acknowledgment of the intrinsic value embedded
in diligence and commitment, irrespective of their initial academic standings. By adopting
this perspective, educational institutions not only applaud the end result of effort but support
the transformative journey itself, imparting a distinctive emphasis on the virtues of tenacity
and perseverance and a growth mindset in students. An outstanding facet of acknowledging
improvement lies in its inherent inclusivity. Unlike a rigid focus on absolute outcomes, this
approach takes into account the diverse starting points of students and celebrates the
individual progress made by every student, notwithstanding their level of competence.
Illustrative of this is the case that a student, who had initially struggled with mathematics,
demonstrated a noticeable upward trajectory after unwavering commitment and extensive
hours of dedicated study, though not achieving the top scores in class. If this student gets
recognized and commended for his/her progress, it not only boosts his/her confidence but
also serves as a motivating factor for other students facing academic challenges. Hence, this
inclusive ethos reinforces the idea that success is not solely defined by where one starts but
by the distance traveled and the hurdles overcome.
72
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
A balanced approach that appreciates both academic excellence and progress seems most
prudent. Such an approach can create a holistic learning environment, where students are
motivated to strive for continuous improvement while also acknowledging and celebrating
their unique strengths and accomplishments. Ultimately, an equitable and comprehensive
reward system in schools should inspire all students, regardless of their starting points, to
embrace the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth.
In conclusion, both paradigms have their own advantages. Striking a balance between the two
may create a more supportive and motivating learning environment that caters to the diverse
needs and strengths of students, considering both the destination and the journey.
Since its induction, the media has been expected to provide the public with useful, accurate,
up-to-date information about what’s going on in our world, and most importantly, it has to
stay loyal to the truth. Media platforms also play a vital role in spreading kind-hearted actions
like the charitable work that individuals undertake as those benevolent activists are the
driving force to consolidate the mutual sympathy of the whole community. Plus, the coverage
of those people can encourage others to participate in charity work, which, in turn, lays the
foundation for a better society.
That being said, the actual things the media has been doing is a whole different story. Rather
than fulfilling their noble functions, the media has easily been manipulated by organizations
and individuals to serve their malicious purposes. The nature of the media is that it craves
reputation and wants to grab the attention of the public through sensational headlines or
controversial stories. In other words, its top priority is to maximize profits from views and
shares. Thus, sometimes the moral factor is overlooked and media conspiracy comes into
play when bad people take advantage of it. For instance, politicians can exploit the media to
brainwash people by concealing the truth related to the political landscape of different
countries. In this case, celebrities use the media to showcase the impression of them doing
charitable work to gain profits or increase their social impact. As for media agencies, to uplift
their standing and quench their thirst for money, they often are more than willing to create a
false portrayal of what are fundamentally praiseworthy activities.
73
FANPAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO [email protected]
After all, with media conspiracy being all the rage these days, people are worried about the
dire implications it can have for all stakeholders, including the public themselves,
influencers, organizations, and media agencies. Regarding the public, as they are deprived of
the right to know the truth, they tend to accept what they have been given by the media, and
in the long run, they might lose faith in the media for fear of being unconsciously hoaxed by
misleading contents. Individuals and organizations that misuse the media to spread
unauthorized information will be damned if the public finds out, and that may even ruin their
whole career or push them out of their desirable spotlight. Finally, media agencies are to
blame harshly for bending the truth, which would cause them to lose considerable profits and
worse, make them suffer from a crisis of distrust from the public. With cases related to
charity work, media conspiracy sometimes leads to ignorance or even the denial of charity
work done by celebrities even if they do it out of good will. Instead of being appreciated for
their contribution, they may have to come in for harsh criticism as people believe that the
whole thing is fake, as with the case of Tran Thanh - a famous Vietnamese comedian, whose
helpful intentions were questioned seriously by his followers as he has a history of doing
some shoddy charitable work.
In conclusion, after scrutinizing the role, the reality and the consequences of media
conspiracy, I believe that this phenomenon may get out of hand unless governments and
authorities intervene with strict regulations about what is portrayed in the media. We, the
readers and viewers of information, also should be alert, mindful, and vigilant to all sources
of information that we take in through media platforms. That is the end of my speech. Thank
you!
74