Choose the correct option A, B, c, or D for each gap in the passage.

Homelessness is a problem in many big cities in the world. It occurs when a part of the population does not have any (1)__________ place to call home. Hundreds of millions of people in the world spend at least some time of the year homeless. This is an issue that the authorities are trying to (2)__________. However, there are (3)__________ things that each person can do to help those people. One of the things that you can do to help the homeless is to volunteer your time. If you have a lot of free time, you might go on an extended trip to help (4)__________ homes or improve an impoverished area. Even with just a few hours a week, it is possible to make an impact in your own city. You can also sign up to help at a (5)__________ soup kitchen: most cities have a mission of some kind helping food to the homeless and offering temporary shelter.

Question 1

A. common

B. regular

C. unusual

D. fixed

Life in the past and Life in the present

Over the last century, there have been many significant changes in the way we live. Obviously, it is hard to compare the life of the ancient people and the life of the people of the twenty first century because so many changes have occured. However, even the changes that have taken place over the last ten years are amazing.

To start with, people were not able to travel such long distances in such short period of time. The planes were not that popular then because they used to be a very expensive means of transport. Nowadays, we have become very mobile. We have fast and comfortable cars and more and more people also travels by plane. Moreover, in the past people had to work much harder as they did not have tools which made their work easier. Today, most of the difficult and dangerous work is done by computers and other machines. In the past the conditions of living were not as comfortable as they are now. There were not bathrooms and running water in many houses, besides many people could not afford household appliances like fridge, TV set or vacuum cleaner because they used to be luxurious goods. Another difference between living now and in the past is the fact that nowadays the access to education is much easier. In the past, there were fewer schools and the quality of the education they provided was much poorer. Besides, nowadays it is much easier to find the educational materials that you need thanks to the Internet. Another difference is that in the past there were not that many sources of entertainment. Therefore people used to spend more time with their friends.

All things considering, it is an obvious conclusion that life has changed significantly in the last couple of years. It is definitely much easier now however, it is not easy to decide whether it is also better. The scientific achievements and technological progress are amazing. We still create new inventions which simplify our lives. On the other hand, however, life now is much faster and more busy than it used to be in the past. Moreover, it has also become more dangerous. The standard of living has definitely improved but it can be discussed whether the quality of our lives is also better.

* T/F:

1. Life nowadays is the same as life of our ancestors.

2. Technology has made our lives easier.

3. In the past, household appliances were very expensive.

4. Public schools allowed females and males to be educated in the same schools.

5. We can use the internet to communicate with people around the world.

* Answer Question:

1. Is life today faster or slower than life in the past?

2. What has happend to the standard of living?

3. What makes it easy to access information?

4. Who or what does some difficult jobs for us?

5. What makes our lives easier at home?

@Hoàng Minh Nguyệt, ...

London is a big city, but many of the people who live there ____(1) it as a number of small towns put together. Each district has its own indentity and atmosphere and some parts are even described by their inhabitants as "villages". Much of the center of the city consists (2)_____ shops and businesses and the majority of people live in the suburbs. A great (3) of them travel work in the city every day by train, bus, tube or car' this is called commuting. Commuters might spend as much as two hours every morning getting to work and another two hours getting home again. The cost of living in london is (4)____than in most other parts of Britain, and many people are paid extra money on tip of their salaries because of this Milluons of visitors come to London every year from all over the world to see the famous sights, such as Buckingham Palace, where the Queen lives, and many other historic buildings. London is also very famous for its theatres, red buses and black taxis. SOme poeple find it a noisy, dirty place (5) ____it has many large, pleasant parks where everyone can enjoy some peace and quiet. London has many attractions, both for people from overseas and for people from other parts of Britain.

1. A regard B. feel C. think D. see

2. A. in B. on C of D at

3. A . a lot B lot C much D many

4. A taller B higher C bigger D much

5. A but B although C because D since

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

In the old days, Vietnamese roads were seen with bicycles and a few trucks. Now they are full of a variety of vehicles. The Vietnamese carry a huge load of a variety of goods up to over one hundred kilograms, especially during the war.

Time has gone by and fewer bikes are visible in the street. In big cities, many people think that bicycles belong to the inferior classes and seem unfashionable. That is why people often find it hard - psychologically and physically - to park their bikes when going to a modern cafe or shopping malls.

Motorbikes are the main mode of transport in Viet Nam, with 24 million of them in a country of 87 million people in 2009, one of the highest ratios in the world. More motorbikes of all brands have dominated the road. The mobility which motorbikes provide is so crucial to workers in big cities. Some youths try to show off with expensive motorbikes of famous brands. Almost anything can be transported on a motorcycle. The loads include baskets of fruits, tree trunks, live pigs, flocks of live ducks and stacked crates of raw eggs. Two thirds of Viet Nam's population of 85 million arc under 30, and the motorcycle has become the center of youth culture.

Nowadays, bicycles ………….

A. become more visible in the streets

B. are looked down on by some people

C. are used in the war

D. can’t be parked outside a modern café

Read the text and decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F)

          Hoi An, once known as Faifo, with more than 2,000 years history, was the principal port of the Cham Kingdom. While the serious shipping business has long been moved to Da Nang, the heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shop-houses. Although almost all shops now cater to the tourist trade, the architecture has been largely preserved, which is unusual in Vietnam, and renovation has proceeded slowly and carefully. 

          However, the culture & heritage that this UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) was trying to preserve has faded away. Since 1999, when UNESCO WHS status was awarded, there has been a massive increase in tourism - with the result that most houses have been sold by the community to speculators and shop owners to be used for commercial purposes. The former community, and with it their culture and heritage, has gone and in their place are endless indistinguishable shops, restaurants, art galleries, etc. There are literally hundreds of tailor shops in Hoi An.

Question: Da Nang has replaced Hoi An as a hub for shipping business

A. True

B. False

Read the text and decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F)

Hoi An, once known as Faifo, with more than 2,000 years history, was the principal port of the Cham Kingdom. While the serious shipping business has long been moved to Da Nang, the heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shop-houses. Although almost all shops now cater to the tourist trade, the architecture has been largely preserved, which is unusual in Vietnam, and renovation has proceeded slowly and carefully. 

However, the culture & heritage that this UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) was trying to preserve has faded away. Since 1999, when UNESCO WHS status was awarded, there has been a massive increase in tourism - with the result that most houses have been sold by the community to speculators and shop owners to be used for commercial purposes. The former community, and with it their culture and heritage, has gone and in their place are endless indistinguishable shops, restaurants, art galleries, etc. There are literally hundreds of tailor shops in Hoi An.

Da Nang has replaced Hoi An as a hub for shipping business.

Use the words given to fill in the blanks. There is one extra word that you do not need to use.

    We all are destroying the Earth. The seas and rivers are too (1).......................... to swim in. There is so much smoke in the (2) ................................ that it is unhealthy to live in many of the world's cities. In one well-known city, for example, poisonous gases from car (3) ............................. the air so much that policemen have to wear oxygen masks. We have cut (4)......................... so many trees that there are now vast areas of wasteland all over the world. As a result, farmers in parts of Africa cannot (5) ......................... enough to eat. In certain countries in Asia there is so little rice. Moreover, we do not take enough care of the countryside. Wild animals are (6) ............................. disappearing. For instance, tigers are rare in India now. Because we have killed too many for them to survive. However, it is not so simple to talk (7) .............................. the problem. We must act now before it is too late to do anything about it. Join us now. (8) ..................the Earth.

Question 8:

Use the words given to fill in the blanks. There is one extra word that you do not need to use.

We all are destroying the Earth. The seas and rivers are too (1).......................... to swim in. There is so much smoke in the (2) ................................ that it is unhealthy to live in many of the world's cities. In one well-known city, for example, poisonous gases from car (3) ............................. the air so much that policemen have to wear oxygen masks. We have cut (4)......................... so many trees that there are now vast areas of wasteland all over the world. As a result, farmers in parts of Africa cannot (5) ......................... enough to eat. In certain countries in Asia there is so little rice. Moreover, we do not take enough care of the countryside. Wild animals are (6) ............................. disappearing. For instance, tigers are rare in India now. Because we have killed too many for them to survive. However, it is not so simple to talk (7) .............................. the problem. We must act now before it is too late to do anything about it. Join us now. (8) ..................the Earth.

Question 8: