APTIS GENERAL : Reading Practice Test

(35 minutes)
Part 1: Choose the word (A,B,C) that fits in the gap. The answer to
question 0 is an example.

Hey Jennifer,
I (0) _____ a work meeting tonight.

(1.1) _____ it finishes early, I won’t get home until 8:00pm.

Can we reschedule (1.2) _____ dinner plans?

I am sorry (1.3) _____ cancel last minute.

Are you free (1.4) _____ Friday instead?

Let (1.5) ________ know!

0. A. have B. go C. take
1.1 A. B. If C. When
Unless
1.2 A. the B. your C. our
1.3 A. I B. for C. to
1.4 A. in B. on C. at
1.5 A. me B. I C. you
Part 2: The sentences below are from a history textbook. Order the
sentences (B-F) to make a story. The first sentence (A) is an example.

Ancient Civilizations

A When people think of ancient civilizations, they think of the Egyptians.

B However, they are not the oldest group of people to live on Earth.
C In fact, they began farming 5000 years before other people.
D It is true that these people were quite famous for their pyramids and
pharaohs.
E For example, the Mesopotamian civilization existed before the
Egyptians.
F That is probably because they settled between rivers.

0. A.
2.1 ___D__
2.2 _____B__
2.3 ______E__
2.4 ______C__
2.5 _____F___

The sentences below are from a writing lesson. Order the sentences
(B-F) to make a story. The first sentence (B) is an example.

How to write a good body paragraph

A These could be statistics or a quotation to support your idea.
B First, you need a topic sentence.
C This introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
D Finally, make sure you link your paragraph to the main idea of your
essay.
E In order to do this effectively, you should also give examples.
F Next, you should explain your ideas in more detail.

0. B.
3.1 __C______
3.2 _______F_
3.3 ________E
3.4 _____A___
3.5 _____D___

Part 3: Read the four opinions posted on a teacher’s forum. Then,

answer the questions.
Person A: I think it is important to get with the times (Tôi nghĩ điều quan
trọng là phải bắt kịp thời đại). Nowadays, students are totally addicted to
their smartphones. Instead of fighting them on it, I asked them how I could
engage (thu hút) them better. Students answered a few questions about
how they wanted to use social media more productively. So, I started a
class hashtag. Students can contribute to discussions using it and add links
to justify their points (Học sinh có thể đóng góp vào các cuộc thảo luận
bằng cách sử dụng nó và thêm các liên kết để chứng minh quan điểm của
mình). I monitor it and I see them engaging with it to ask questions about
homework as well. I also encourage students to use it to tell me what they
like and dislike about the lessons.

Person B: I’ll admit, I doubted technology’s effectiveness in the class. I

thought that because I learned without it, it was an unnecessary feature. In
fact, I used to make students switch off their phones before entering the
room. However, I changed my mind when a fellow teacher ( Đồng nghiệp )
showed me a website that she used in class. It allows students to log in
with their smartphones in order to play a game as a class. My students love
it and it works so well for review lessons and to break up mundane tasks.

Person C: I am a younger teacher, so there is a lot of expectations of me

from the senior staff members and management. While they prefer more
traditional methods, I have found the greatest success when I use
technology in my lesson whether that be showing a video clip, using a
slideshow, etc. I don’t think I would be able to teach a lesson without it!
After my lesson observation, the principal asked me to lead a staff meeting
on how to engage students using multimedia in class. It was an honour to
be asked. I know it will be a lot of work, but I would love to help my
colleagues out in order to make the students’ learning experience better.

Person D: When I began teaching teens, I found I was unable to capture

their attention. They were constantly texting, or scrolling through social
media during lessons and it was hard to establish rules with them. Even
when I forbid them from using their mobile phones in class, I would catch
them sneakily using them under their desks. I understand that it is
important for teens to keep in touch. Thus, if we are able to get through all
the material (xem hết các tài liệu) , I permit them to have a 5-minute break
on their devices. I have found this to be quite effective.

Which person …
4.1. incorporates social media in their lessons? ___D__A__
4.2 was hesitant to use smartphones in class? ______D _B
4.3 learned more about technology from a colleague? ___C_B___
4.4 uses technology as a reward? ______A__D
4.5 relies on technolog
(0) While everyone experiences stress at different rates or intensity levels,
we are no stranger to it. Generally speaking, stress is any physical or
emotional reaction to something that frustrates, angers or makes us
nervous. Nowadays, people are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted due to
long periods of stress as a result of increasing demands in personal and
work life. As you read this, you are probably nodding your head in
agreement. This well-known phenomenon of prolonged periods of stress is
also known as burnout. A
(5.1) Although burnout exists in every job, the education sector has
notoriously high levels of it plaguing its workers. Several studies show that
teachers often experience high levels of stress in their day-to-day duties
and these are carried over into their personal life. It is important to consider
that delivering lessons is only one aspect of the job description. Teachers
spend hours and hours of their downtime planning lessons, grading
assignments and thinking about how to best help their students. As a
result, they often neglect their own needs. E

(5.2) By not placing a priority on their own wellbeing, there are countless
consequences. For starters, educators enduring burnout can be faced with
a ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction. The former presents a scenario where the human
body physically responds to stress, by increasing adrenaline and energy to
tackle what is causing the irritation. The same response occurs in the latter,
yet the body decides to flee instead of deal with the stress head-on.
Regardless of the choice that a teacher makes in response to their
stressors, they become more vulnerable to common sicknesses, like colds
and the flu, as well as more serious ones such as depression or anxiety. I

(5.3) Thankfully, there are numerous coping mechanisms to aid in the

battle against burnout. A proactive approach including managing time and
setting goals may be key in alleviating stressful situations altogether. In a
busy schedule, it is essential to set aside time for oneself. What’s more is
the activities that you participate in during this reserved break. Regular
exercise has been proven to do wonders for burnout and you do not even
have to go to the gym to reap the rewards. A brisk thirty-minute walk,
particularly in nature, has aided many people’s symptoms of stress.
Furthermore, yoga and its meditative components are also useful in stress
relief. H

(5.4) Of course, these methods of coping with stress are all easier said
than done. Many would argue that it is nearly impossible to disconnect from
today’s technological devices and the seemingly never-ending influx of
work-related emails and text messages. With that being said, the saying,
‘There’s an app for that’, also extends to solving the problem of burnout.
These days, you can find several free apps on your mobile devices or
tablets to guide you through mediation. You can watch endless videos on
the Internet that play soothing music and give you step-by-step instructions
on how to disconnect. Ironic, isn’t it? C

(5.5) Nevertheless, the pros of decreasing burnout are endless. Lowering

your stress levels will help your body achieve an internal balance. By
reducing the amount of energy that goes into stressful situations, you will
feel more energized. Moreover, regular exercise helps the human body
release endorphins which boost one’s mood. A side effect of this includes
becoming physically and mentally stronger. G

(5.6) Additionally, there are several things a teacher could do during the
work day to prevent burnout. On break, doing little exercises at your desk
can provide some relief to a stressful day. Similarly, distracting yourself
with a creative activity, such as an adult colouring book, can help to refocus
tension or negative energy. Or, why not extend these activities to your
students? Pacing your lessons with less-rigorous and more fun activities
can increase a student’s learning by giving them a break from a hectic
timetable. After all, some students also experience burnout. F

(5.7) Having learned about how to identify and combat burnout, what is left
to do? It is important to not beat yourself up if you become stressed.
Though uncomfortable, stress is a natural and unavoidable part of human
life, unlike burnout. Changing your mindset and practicing gratitude will
help you feel more positive in the face of adversity, and allow you to make
better decisions on how to cope. B

A. A New Problem
B. Going Forward
C. A 20th Century Approach
D. A Familiar Feeling
E. Burnout in Education
F. Tips for the Classroom Environment
G. Personal Benefits
H. How to Relieve Stress
I. Negative Impacts

0. D

KEY:

1. A 2. D 3.1 C 4.1 A 5. E
1 1 1

1. C 2. B 3.2 F 4.2 B 5. I
2 2 2

1. C 2. E 3.3 E 4.3 B 5. H
3 3 3

1. B 2. C 3.4 A 4.4 D 5. C
4 4 4

1. A 2. F 3.5 D 4.5 C 5. G
5 5 5

4.6 C 5. F
 6

4.7 A 5. B
7