ASSORTED TEST

Part 1. Multiple Choice

1. Sandy stole my ___________ when she announced that she was pregnant two days before I'd
planned to tell people about my pregnancy.
A. thunder​ ​ B. limelight ​ ​ C. stage ​ ​ D. mind
steal sb’s limelight: cướp mất sự chú ý của ai
2. Dressed in a bright red suit for the wedding, Jack apparently was making a ___________ of himself.
A. mess​ ​ B. light ​ ​ C. spectacle ​ ​ D. spot
make a spectacle of sth: cố tình làm gì đó lố bịch để thu hút đám đông
make a mess of sth: phá hỏng điều gì
make a light of sth: làm sáng tỏ điều gì
3. You don’t have the sound business ___________ that is necessary for success so I would advise
you to find another career.
A. starkness ​ ​ B. acumen ​ ​ C. punditry ​ ​ D. wit
business acumen: sự nhạy bén trong kinh doanh
punditry (n): nhà học giả uyên thâm
starkness (n): sự bình dị
wit (n): mưu kế
4. More than 500 ___________ were involved in the coronation scene of Puyi in “The last Emperor”.
A. adjuncts ​ ​ B. appendages ​ C. extras ​ ​ D. additives
extra (n): diễn viên quần chúng
appendage (n): phần tử phụ
adjunct (n): vật phụ thuộc/ bổ ngữ
additive (n): sự thêm vào
5. Entering the National Competition for the gifted ___________ tremendous concentration and effort.
A. stipulates ​ ​ B. extracts ​ ​ C. exacts​ D. inquires
exact (v): đòi hỏi phải có điều gì
extract (v): xuất ra
inquire (v): yêu cầu
stipulate (v): đặt điều khoản
6. Despite their disagreement, the representatives of the two nations managed to reach a(n)
___________ settlement, bringing temporary peace for both sides.
A. affable ​ ​ B. fraternal ​ ​ C. amiable ​ ​ D. amicable
amicable settlement: sự hoà hoãn trong yên bình
amiable: đáng yêu
affable: lịch sự, nhã nhặn
fraternal: tình hữu nghị
7. The first successful flight in human history completed by the Wright brothers ___________ the law of
gravity and stunned everybody.
A. refuted ​ ​ B. defied ​ ​ C. quelled ​ ​ D. disproved
defy sth: không tuân thủ
disprove: không đồng thuận
refute: bác bỏ điều gì
quell: đàn áp, chế ngự
8. The concert ended and the crowd quickly ___________, returning the quietness to the small town.
A. disassembled ​ B. dissembled ​ C. dismantled ​ D. disgorged
disassemble: đi tản ra (nhóm người) nhiều hướng khác nhau
dissemble: che đậy
dismantle: tháo dỡ, triệt để
disgorge: trả lại/ nhè ra
9. After winning the lottery, they moved into a more ___________ house in a high-class residential area
and had a more comfortable life.
A. well-attended ​ B. well-built ​ ​ C. well-appointed ​ D. well-disposed
well-appointed: đầy đủ trang thiết bị
well-disposed: có thiện cảm
10. Tony, you are trying to make her believe your lies so just keep it simple, do not over-egg the
___________.
A. brulee ​ ​ B. pudding​ C. sponge ​ ​ D. madeleines
over-egg the pudding: làm việc gì đó trở nên tồi tệ hơn
11. My school always forces students to follow the rules to the ___________ without caring about their
feelings.
A. book ​ ​ B. letter ​ ​ C. lines ​ ​ D. dots
follow sth to the letter: làm việc gì đó theo sự sai bảo
12. Although my new house is fine, I still prefer the old one which ___________ a river.
A. backs onto​ B. faces off ​ ​ C. stands by ​ ​ D. sides with
back onto: nằm quay mặt về phía khác
13. We are required to ___________ empirical data and evidence from reliable sources to support our
argument.
A. adduce ​ ​ B. attest ​ ​ C. elicit ​ ​ D. accost
adduce: dẫn chứng
attest: chứng thực
elicit: khơi ra
accost: mồi chài
14. Since John is the bee’s ___________ in terms of English, it is no wonder so many friends ask him
for support in this subject.
A. wings ​ ​ B. knees ​ ​ C. antenna ​ ​ D. spiracle
the bee’s knee: người xuất chúng
15. There is no need to ___________ over the cracks, I know you are having problems, just tell me and
I will help you.
A. carpet ​ ​ B. paper ​ ​ C. lay ​ ​ D. curtain
paper over the cracks: giấu diếm, che đậy khó khăn
16. We are _____________ in paperwork and don't have a bit of free time for entertainment these
days.
A. hot-headed B. at arm’s length C. up to our necks D. in turmoil
hot-headed: dễ nổi nóng
(keep sb) at arm’s length: giữ khoảng cách
up to sb’s neck(s): bận rộn, có nhiều việc phải giải quyết
in turmoil: trong sự hỗn độn
17. In the divorce settlement, she___________ him for every last cent
A. pumped ​ ​ B. doctored​ ​ C. appealed ​ ​ D. bled
bleed: đổ máu, hi sinh
doctor: chữa bệnh
appeal: yêu cầu thành khẩn
pump: tuôn ra, bơm
18. The landlord had to___________ the tenant for not paying rent
A. flee ​​ B. evict​ ​ C. escape​ ​ D. evacuate
flee: chạy trốn
evict: đuổi ai đó
Part 2.
1. The charity is facing great financial difficulties so its manager wants to turn it into a
PROFIT-ORIENTED company. (PROFIT)
profit-oriented (a): chỉ nhằm mục đích tạo lợi nhuận
2. I recall being UPBRAIDED by the authorities of the hospital for being careless and inexperienced
during my first years as a doctor. (BRAID)
upbraid (v): bị mắng nhiếc
3. He had years of experience as a legal PRACTITIONER before he became a teacher. (PRACTICE)
practitioner (n): người hành nghề có kinh nghiệm cao
4. The booming economy has attracted a(n) INFLOW of funds from both domestic and foreign
investors. (FLOW)
inflow: dòng (tiền, nguồn, vốn,..)
5. Boys and girls used to be taught separately before a nationwide movement for CO-EDUCATION
grew. (EDUCATE):
co-education: giáo dục hợp nhất có nam lẫn nữ

1. From our tent, we could see the delightful ___________ of lake Lukedeer.
A. scene ​ ​ B. prospect ​ ​ C. background ​ ​ D. layout
prospect of sth: cảnh vật
2. In Australia, the government controls the maintenance of war __________, post-war
commemorations and battle exploit memorials.
A. graves ​ ​ B. tombs ​ ​ C. grounds ​ ​ D. catacombs
grave: mộ (thường là nơi yên nghỉ trang trọng)
tomb: mồ mả
catacomb: hầm mộ
3. Perhaps tomorrow’s event will mark the ___________ of my life, I cannot wait any longer!
A. bright buff ​ ​ B. full spark ​ ​ C. high spot ​ ​ D. full bloom
mark the high spot of sb: đánh dấu cột mốc, sự kiện nổi bật
4. An unusual noise from the back of the class during the exam __________ the teacher’s attention.
A. held ​ ​ B. sustained ​ ​ C. arrested ​ ​ D. upheld
sustain: bền bỉ
arrest one’s attention: thu hút sự chú ý của ai
uphold: chống đỡ
5. The new employee failed to realize the importance of obedience in this company and refused to toe
the ___________ line.
A. party ​ ​ B. camp ​ ​ C. function ​ ​ D. union
toe the (party) lie: tuân thủ theo luật lệ, điều lệ của ai
6. Bao is a ___________ off the old block of his father while his sister is more like the mother.
A. tip ​ ​ ​ B. chip ​ ​ C. piece ​ ​ D. copy
chip off the old block of sb: con cái giống cha mẹ
7. He regarded this second prize just as a ___________ in order to prevent him from suing the judges
for corruption.
A. factoid ​ ​ B. sob ​​ ​ C. whizz ​ ​ D. sop
sop: vật xoa dịu
factoid: thông tin không đáng tin cậy
whizz: rít, vèo vèo (tiếng súng đạn)
sob (out): nức nở
8. Although his presidential campaign won ___________ from several celebrities, it failed to
compensate for his incompetence in dealing with last year’s economic crisis.
A. involvement ​ B. warrant ​ ​ C. endorsement ​ D. patronage
warrant: chứng nhận
endorsement: sự công nhận
patronage: sự bảo trợ, sự đỡ đầu
9. Cinderella wore a beautiful dress to the party and was the ___________ of the ball.
A. beauty ​ ​ B. belle ​ ​ C. center ​ ​ D. charmer
the belle of the ball: người phụ nữ xinh đẹp, nổi bật nhất trong đám đông
10. Much as I like Literature, I cannot stand my teacher’s voice-slow, emotionless and without
___________.
A. inflation ​ ​ B. reflection ​ ​ C. inflection (sự nhấn nhá)​ ​ D. infliction
11. I couldn’t come to your party as the date ___________ with my holiday.
A. clashed​ ​ B. struck ​ ​ C. opposed ​ ​ D. occurred
12. At the start of the course every student is assigned a(n) ___________ of studies.
A. advisor ​ B. consultant ​​ C. counsellor ​ ​ D. curator
13. You should prioritize the public interest over a group’s ___________ interests.
A. personal ​ ​ B. sectional ​ sự yêu thích cục bộ​C. segregated ​ ​ D. exclusive
14. I hardly want to participate in extracurricular activities but this volunteer job is so interesting that I
accepted the offer with ___________.
A. solace ​ ​ B. consternation ​ C. chastisement ​ D. alacrity sự vui vẻ
15. The couple divorced after the husband was found ___________ an affair with a neighbor.
A. making ​ ​ B. having​ ​ C. performing ​ D. doing
Part 2.
1. The LAYPERSON cannot really understand these medical documents. (PERSON)
layperson: người không có kinh nghiệm
2. I need to get away from the hectic city for a while so I am planning to travel UP-COUNTRY this
weekend. (COUNTRY)
up-country: nông thôn, ngoại thành
3. I worked late last night because I was BEHINDHAND with my project. (HAND)
behindhand: bị chậm trễ
4. Despite its historical inaccuracies, the film was one of the TOP-GROSSING films of the year, making
the second highest profits. (GROSS)
top-
5. I did not lie to you, by ALMIGHTY God I swear. (MIGHT)

1. The boss made no ___________ to their gender, all the female workers were forced to do the heavy
work as their male counterparts.
A. concession ​ B. compromise ​ C. allowance ​ ​ D. regression
make concession: nhượng bộ
2. Without discipline, students may think that they have the ___________ to do whatever they want.
A. licence ​ ​ B. autocracy ​ ​ C. prerogative ​ ​ D. dispensation
3. It's a good film, but the ___________ near the ending scene is a bit complex and demands watchers
to be extremely analytic to understand.
A. flummery ​ ​ B. delineation ​​ C. aberration ​ ​ D. convolution
flummery: sự nịnh hót/ sự vớ vẩn
delineation: sự mô tả chuẩn xác
aberration: sự lầm lạc
convolution: a thing that is complex and difficult to follow
4. It was very childish of you to ___________ over your opponent’s failure immediately on the stage
when the result was announced.
A. jolly ​ ​ B. relish ​ ​ C. gloat ​ ​ D. brag
gloat over: cười hả hê
5. After 11 years in the ___________, Johnson made an unexpected comeback in the movie Bear.
A. damp ​ ​ B. wilderness (nơi hoang vu) ​​ C. badlands (vùng đất xấu)​ ​ D.
wasteland (cuộc sống không tạo được sáng tạo văn hoá, tinh thần)
in the wilderness: không còn địa vị, ảnh hưởng, không còn vị thế quan trọng
6. It is often hard for parents to take the opinions of their children on ___________ due to the
generation gap.
A. board ​ ​ B. mind ​ ​ C. check ​ ​ D. self
take sth on board: to fully consider a situation
7. Luckily, our research is supported by a(n) ___________ from the National Science Foundation.
A. grant ​ (tiền tổ chức chính phủ)​ B. bursary (phòng tài vụ của trường học) ​ ​ C. aid ​
​ ​ D. endowment
8. Your father was only 17 when he ___________ at Harvard, now look at your school report.
A. matriculated (trúng tuyển vào trường đại học)​ B. registered ​​ C. postulated ​ ​
D. imparted
9. Elen has stayed in bed for a whole week, take him out for a walk, that will surely put the
___________ back into his cheeks.
A. colours ​ ​ B. roses ​ ​ C. daisy ​ ​ D. pinky mallow
10. Before going back to school, you have to ___________ for at least a week after the operation.
A. rejuvenate ​ ​ B. recuperate (phục hồi sau bệnh tật)​ ​ C. overhaul ​ ​ D.
reinvigorate
11. This naughty class always ___________with their new teachers, which usually greatly discourages
them from teaching.
A. hits it out ​ ​ B. tries it on ​ (cố tình chọc tức)​ C. kicks it up ​ ​ D. rubs it in
12. He won't be able to stand the pressure here for long, I will ___________ him 5 months and let's see
if I am right.
A. put ​ ​ ​ B. give ​ ​ ​ C. tell ​ ​ ​ D. save
13. The event was not really well-attended, there were about 50 people ___________ the outside.
A. on ​ ​ ​ B. near​​ ​ C. round ​ ​ D. at
14 The paper was divided into three parts to ___________ on and analyse the diplomatic strategy of
Vietnam during the 1990-2000 period.
A. expunge​ ​ B. expurgate ​​ C. expatiate (lải nhải quá nhiều về một vấn đề)​ ​
D. expound
15. That team always sweeps the ___________ in the annual league, leaving very few medals for the
others.
A. top ​ ​ ​ B. prizes ​ ​ C. table ​ ​ D. board (vơ hết giải, giành thắng
hết giair)
1. Because the flight is expected to last longer than 12 hours, we will be provided a(n)
__inflight_________ meal. (FLY)
2. My father tried to make a clear ____delinenation_______ between his work and his private time as a
way to treat his depression. (LINE)
3. The king was always afraid of making mistakes because he cared about how __posterity_________
would judge him. (POST)
4. In this poor region of the country, hospital beds were scarce and medicines were practically
______non-existent_____ during the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak . (EXIST)
5. The role in The Duke of Mount Deer is regarded as Tony Leung’s __career-defining_________ role,
bring him fame and success. (CAREER)

1. I was supposed to complete my research paper that night, but I got ______ by a gripping novel and
could not meet the deadline.​
A. swayed​ ​ B. sidetracked​​ C. emulated​ ​ D. prevailed
2. After he had spent many years studying, an honorary doctorate was ______ on him by a famous
university.​
A. reflected​ ​ B. reckoned​ ​ C. descended​ ​ D. conferred
3. Anyone who engages in any defined ______ act, for political reasons, will be under arrest.​
A. substandard​ B. subordinate​​ C. subversive​(sự lật đổ)​ D. subliminal
4. Crazed with thirst, the children ______ wildly over the rocks to get to the river.​
A. scrambled​​ B. stalked​ ​ C. strolled​ ​ D. strode
5. Abstract art is a(n) ______; no one is born knowing that Michelangelo is wonderful.​
A. acquired taste​ B. increasing liking​ C. growing taste​ D. improving flavour
6. Our kids are excited about our upcoming vacation with great ______.​
A. valour​ ​ B. conduct​ ​ C. virtue​ ​ D. ardour
7. David has totally ______ himself into his work; I’ve never known anyone to be so immersed in what
they do like him.​
A. thrown​ ​ B. pursued​ ​ C. devoted​ ​ D. engrossed
8. Years of fiscal ______ have left the company deeply in debt.​
A. abundance​ ​ B. profligacy​ sự trác táng​ C. profundity​ sự thông thái​ D. redundancy
9. That local computer company mainly ______ voice-recognition software.​
A. wrestles with vật lộn gay gắt​ B. dabs at​ ​ C. deals in​ ​ D. buys into chấp
thuận, tin tưởng, đầu tư vào
10. I think the laser printer will work well eventually, but it still needs a few ______.​
A. twists​ ​ B. tweaks​ ​ C. twirls​ ​ D. twitches
 The police are making a(n) ______ effort to tackle football hooliganism.​
A. emaciated​ ​ B. exasperated​ ​ C. compact​ ​ D. concerted
 Could I have a sip of your water just to ______ my thirst?​
A. mitigate​ ​ B. quench​ ​ C. diminish​ ​ D. exacerbate
 When the coffee shop in my neighbourhood tripled its prices, customers ______ and stopped going
there.​
A. stuck their neck out​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ B. washed their hands of​
C. voted with their feet​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ D. looked down their nose
vote with sb feet: indicate an opinion by being absent
stick one’s neck out: take a risk
 The forest authority just ______ allowed for deforestation and let all those forests burn to ashes.​
A. vehemently​mạnh mẽ, quyết liệt (thường là phản đối)​ B. immaculately không lổ hổng, không tì vết​
C. commendably đáng khen ngợi​ D. flagrantly (sai trái, ác độc)
 My husband had gambled and won on many occasions, but one of these days he’s ______ and lost
everything, which places a large financial burden on me.​
A. turned the corner vượt qua và ptrien ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ B. jumped the gun​ ​
C. come a cropper thất bại nặng nề​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ D. dropped a clanger nói hớ

Part 2 : Reading (file reading cpe)

You are going to read an extract from a textbook. For questions 31–36, mark the appropriate
answer (A, B, C or D) that you think fits best according to the text.
Is Objective Reality a Myth?
 It’s easy to think that our visual experience or the fundamental concepts within society are
objectively true, and there is good cause for this way of thinking to be desirable. It helps us to realise
that we are not alone and have a shared experience, and it aids us in organising the abundance
of information we receive as human beings. However, the idea of one objective reality is more
debatable than you may think. Throughout history, shared beliefs have been disproved, and that we
can perceive images moving on a television screen, when reality is a series of dots changing
colour, indicates that visual perception can be decei-ving.
Our shared realities, certainly in the modern Western world, are centred on material things that
we can touch, the objectivity of science and humans, and our individual growth. Historian Greg
Anderson claims that these principles are essentially an exception in the history of civilization.
Before the Industrial Revolution, almost all western societies saw reality as quite a different set
of concepts. Their worlds depended on things that today we might consider ‘unreal’, such as
entities that control nature, and humans’ lives were dictated by this. It was considered in the
same way that we regard science today. In addition, many societies held little belief in ‘the individual’,
as the individual was deemed inseparable from the family unit, which worked together as a whole to
survive. And as these civilisations, in some form or other, continued in this way for several centuries,
we should be sceptical that we, with our modern perception of life, know better.
However, reality is deeper than just a set of shared beliefs – reality is also a set of truths. The
idea that there are ‘known facts’ and ‘unknown facts’ is something with which we all should probably
reconcile ourselves in the modern world. Take the internet, for instance. While it is useful for looking
up undisputed knowledge, for example that Paris is the capital of France, or that the Sun is our nearest
star, there is also much more dubious information out there. This is evidenced in doctored photos or
misrepresented figures that are placed online, and some people take this misinformation as fact, simply
because they have blindly trusted it to be true, or because it has confirmed a belief that they already
held.
Even our senses do not escape from this controversy surrounding an objective reality. One key
example of this is the placebo effect, which not only occurs in medical or clinical trials, but in
everyday situations too. Placebos – in other words medicines that appear to be real but in reality
aren’t – are often used in clinical trials as a way to measure drug effects, yet sometimes patients’
symptoms appear to improve when taking placebos and not the real drugs. Even our vision, as
cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman explains, often misrepresents the truth to us because our brains
have to make sense of the received visual data. He uses the example of a train to show how this
works. We think we all know what a train is exactly, but physicists would tell you a train is merely a
collection of moving particles, particles that we have given a label in order to attach shared, and
indispensable, meanings to the object. Optical illusions provide yet further evidence of how our brains
organise visuals to offer some kind of meaning that is essentially false. Such illusions include the
Ponzo depth-perception illusion, in which two identical lines appear to be different sizes when
viewed in conjunction with converging track lines going into the distance.
So, whatever our experience of the world, the signs are that it is filled with subjectivity in a way
that perhaps we didn’t quite imagine before. Science moves on and theories that once were taken as
fact are disproved, our beliefs are subject to the modern world we live in and its values, the
internet is littered with untruths, and our minds can play tricks on us. Therefore, to be as bold as
to say ‘our way is best’ is perhaps a little conceited. We know as much as our brains allow and
our physical context tells us.
31 In the first paragraph, what does the writer suggest about the human relationship with objective
truth?​
A. It is something we subconsciously know is largely inaccurate.​
B. It helps us to construct common meaning from what we experience.​
C. It is a tool for bonding with other humans around us.​
D. It is hard for us to tell whether something is objectively real.
32 What does the article tell us about past views of common realities in paragraph 2?​
A. They were inaccurate.​
B. They slowly evolved.​
C. They had longevity.​
D. They became illogical.
33 In the third paragraph, how does the writer feel about information on the internet?​
A. We should attempt to establish the accuracy of information.​
B. We believe only what we choose to believe.​
C. We need to be less trusting of what we read.​
D. We should live with the varied quality of information.
34 The writer uses the placebo effect to show us:​
A. the limits of our senses.​
B. the benefits of thinking positively.​
C. the drawbacks of medical trials.​
D. the power of pure belief.
35 What does Donald Hoffman think about the way we interpret reality?​
A. It serves a purpose.​
B. It aids communication.​
C. It is a brain deficiency.​
D. It impedes our understanding.
36 How does the writer summarise their attitude to what we think is real?​
A. We need to try to understand the environment around us.​
B. We aren’t as all-knowing as we deem ourselves to be.​
C. We still have a lot to learn about objective reality.​
D. We should give ourselves up to life’s ambiguities.

Exercise 2: You are going to read an extract from an article. Seven paragraphs have been
removed. Select from the paragraphs (A–H) the one that fits each gap (37–43).​
There is one extra paragraph that you do not need to use.
The Reinvention of a Brand
Almost everyone knows what Lego is and has probably played with it at some point in their
lives. Since the company’s foundation in 1932, millions have been delighted by the interlocking bricks
that can unleash the creative ideas lurking inside us, adults and children alike. Part of the attraction is in
the attention to detail, which of course the customer is largely unaware of. The Danish creator, Ole Kirk
Christiansen, was meticulous about ‘doing things right’, which is one of the reasons why this popular
toy has stood the test of time.
37 F
What led to this unfortunate state was a series of bad decisions based on advice given by
external business consultants. At this time, product diversity and business expansion were very
much in fashion in all sorts of different industries and so The Lego Group had started to move into
various sectors that lay well outside its expertise. It had created theme parks, and clothes and jewellery
for girls, none of which were creating significant revenues so it was clearly time to get back to basics
and rethink their product strategy.
38 C
This renewed focus chimed well with the company’s motto, created by the founder,
Christiansen, and which is carved into a plaque at the Lego Museum in Billund in Denmark:
‘Only the best is good enough’. This idea of focusing on strengths and not expanding into unknown
areas is a key feature of the thinking in Danish business culture, and the mentality of The Lego
Group is that the company is about engineering good-quality products for play and that they
should not stray from this focus.
39 D
The change in the company’s fortunes has been analysed extensively by business
experts fascinated by such a momentous financial turnaround ever since. Countless books have
been written about it and many other large brands have analysed The Lego Group’s approach to
see how it can help their businesses.

40 G
One of the fundamental approaches taken by the Danish company is based on forging
partnerships that allow collaboration on innovative projects while at the same time remaining
true to their principles of doing what they do best.
41 H
One of the most successful of these was with NASA, the American space agency. The
two organisations participated in a robotics competition during the 1990s, which was a big hit
among the participants and the organisations’ relationship has remained strong ever since. This
is partly because The Lego Group is deeply interested in how children play and learn, and also
because NASA has a long history of being involved in educational projects for young people.
Both want to encourage children to develop an interest in science and engineering through fun.
42 A
The Lego Group has never targeted its products on just one gender. However, historically,
its popularity has been overwhelmingly enjoyed by boys. They love the mini figures of people and don’t
much care how realistic they are. Girls, on the other hand, need to be able to identify with model
people. Apparently, this does not happen with the traditional figures, which is why, after several
years of market research, a set of figures aimed at girls was developed.
43 B
Focusing on what customers like and want has proven to be useful in a variety of ways.
In what could be called one of the first attempts at crowdsourcing, The Lego Group got its fans and
customers to vote on designs and even suggest ideas for new products. Ideas that went on to be
commissioned earned 1% of sales for the people that had suggested them – a great way to build
customer engagement.
Missing paragraph
A
A team from The Lego Group travels extensively and engages with children and parents
to develop a better understanding of what kinds of toys children like and dislike. By observing
children interacting with toys and each other, the company can target its products more
effectively, which is how the team learned more about marketing to girls, a sector that had
previously eluded them.
B
Innovation has been key to maintaining customers’ interest, too, as can be seen in the
Lego movies and the adult architecture range, and also in the new kids’ social media platform,
which allows children too young to partake in other social networking platforms to share their
designs safely online. These extensions into cinema, adult play and technology seem to
represent the final pieces of a huge jigsaw puzzle for a complete learning and creativity system
by one company.
C
In order to do this, the newly appointed CEO set about rebuilding the organisation.
Business operations were streamlined, and many things were scaled back such as staff and the
product ranges. In addition, the company sold all the extras that were not a core part of the
business, which meant that it was able to return to its roots.
D
By returning to the original ethos, the company was able to put emphasis on renewed
energy in the brand and become financially stable. Over a decade later the results were clear to
see, and they were extremely positive. In 2017 the company was voted the number one toy
brand in many countries. It reported sales of over £600 million that year, and the turnaround was
seen as amazing, one of the most impressive success stories in commercial history.

E
This rethink led to moving the company’s factories to alternative locations. Many large
corporations outsource their production operations to parts of the world offering lower labour
costs, but The Lego Group has factories in Europe, South America and Asia so that a wide
range of products can be quickly shipped to their key markets to keep their customers, both
adults and children, happy.
F
However, this hasn’t always been the case. Despite its huge success during the 1970s
and 80s, by the beginning of the twenty-first century, the company’s fortunes were looking
decidedly precarious. It was in debt to the tune of $800 million, and sales were in fast decline.
What had seemed inconceivable throughout the company’s history, a total and utter collapse
was beginning to look like reality.
G
 The company became extremely successful and sales skyrocketed in a short space of time.
This attention to detail shows how serious The Lego Group is about understanding play. In fact, the
company thinks that it is important enough to have set up a sister company to study child development
as well as partnering with the children’s charity UNICEF and financing the first Professor of Play at
Cambridge University in the UK.
H
In recent years The Lego Group has worked with quite a diverse set of companies in
order to innovate, and an example of this is the collaboration with Lucasfilm, the production
company behind the Star Wars films. In 1999 the Lego Star Wars franchise was launched at a toy
fair in New York and it became instantly popular. The partnership worked well for both
companies and paved the way for further innovative Lego Group partnerships.

Exercise 3:
Journal of a Reluctant Traveller
The journey to Santa Cruz was uneventful, which I was grateful for. I'd really not wanted to
get stranded halfway up a mountain in the dark like what happened a couple of weeks ago, coming
across the border from Chile into Bolivia. Even then I knew that choosing the most inexpensive bus
company was risky, but their bus was scheduled to depart immediately and I'd been impatient
yet again. A few hours later, when the bus started belching out smoke and shuddered to a halt, I
was furious with myself. Of course, by then it was too late and so I spent an uncomfortable night
wondering whether I’d be stranded there forever.

Anyway, I’d learned that lesson the hard way and decided that this time I’d treat myself to one
of the modern tour buses with reclining seats, which was obviously well worth the investment of
an extra twenty dollars. Also, I was determined not to allow that horrific journey to get to me too
much since travel was supposed to be an adventure, after all, and not everything could go
smoothly. That was the reason for this trip in the first place. I was supposed to be growing as a
person and apparently the freedom of traveling in unknown places would allow me to discover
things about myself that had lain hidden in my overly stressful London lifestyle.

Initially, I’d been suspicious of this as my self-image was strongly aligned with the
discipline needed for a high-flying career as a tax advisor to multinational corporations, not
some wandering hippie with dreams of rescuing dolphins. Why I imagined that disconnecting
from the relentless pressures of my life wouldn’t be positive I have no idea, but in the weeks
leading up to my holiday I’d told anyone willing to listen that I disputed the fact that travel could
be transformational.

A glance through my journal, however, would quickly demonstrate my ignorance of the power of
travel. As the weeks passed, my entries began to take on a different vibe, from the first ones itemising
facts like they were a list of groceries to more descriptive pieces with observations and a gradual
emergence of emotive responses to the world around me. It was like a role reversal because, while
previously the world had existed to serve my needs, I now felt a responsibility to be connected to my
surroundings. And that morning, as I hopped off the luxury bus, it occurred to me that I felt rested and
calm in a way in which I hadn’t really understood before.
I spotted a café in the corner of the square, sat down at a shady table outside and, while sipping
my coffee, noticed the server as she happily bustled around, greeting all the customers, chatting
and laughing as she went, and it occurred to me that I couldn’t recall the last time I’d had fun at
work. Anyway, when returning from the bathroom, a sign with ‘Help!’ scrawled in large letters
next to the tourist leaflets caught my eye and I leaned over to inspect the typed information
underneath. ‘Manager needed for 6 months. Must have English and Spanish. Speak to Sofia.’

Sofia, the server from earlier, had seen me looking at the notice and rushed over. Not long after
this, the whole story about how her mother had just undergone major surgery and so she was going to
have to return home and nurse her through the recovery came out. Apparently, home was some
distance away, on the other side of the country, and she hadn’t yet found anyone to manage the café in
her absence. “The problem is that I do everything so I need someone trustworthy, someone who
understands figures and can manage the business, not just serve coffee to tourists,” she said. And at
that moment, right there in the café, I realised that the proposition was too tempting to resist.

Sofia spent the evening explaining how the payment machine and bookkeeping software
worked, and it all seemed fairly straightforward. The next morning, she handed me the keys and her
phone number on a scrap of paper, hugged me and disappeared. As I somewhat nervously stepped
into the sunshine to greet my first customers, I tried to picture my office and flat back in London
and noticed that the images seemed to be fading just a little around the edges.

Questions
31. What does the writer say about the bus journeys on her trip?​
A) Any adverse experiences were due to her own decision-making.​
B) The overnight trips were more draining than she expected.​
C) She was annoyed that the buses were in such a neglected state.​
D) They kept to the scheduled departure times surprisingly well.
32. On the subject of traveling, the writer suggests that she:​
A) is a veteran, constantly in search of adventures.​
B) only enjoys traveling when there are no incidents.​
C) prefers to splash out on luxury holidays closer to home.​
D) feels that she should broaden her horizons.
33. Before setting off on her trip, the writer:​
A) was convinced of the healing powers of travel.​
B) hoped that it would live up to her expectations.​
C) was sceptical of its life-changing potential.​
D) believed that it would be the key to all her troubles.
34. How does the writer’s account of her travels change over time?​
A) She starts to record her experiences more accurately.​
B) Her journal becomes more reflective and thoughtful.​
C) The more she travels, the less she feels compelled to write.​
D) It better reflects her understanding of the local cultures.
35. The writer implies that she accepted the job in the café because:​
A) she suspected it might benefit her mental health.​
B) her linguistic abilities matched the requirements.​
C) she felt sorry for Sofia’s plight and wanted to help.​
D) her employment experience was identical.
36. What is the overall effect that travelling has had on the writer?​
A) Her personality has become more outgoing.​
B) It has enhanced her practical life-skills.​
C) It has made her reconsider her life goals.​
D) She regrets her previous life.
Exercise 4:
You are going to read an extract from an article. Seven paragraphs have been removed. Select from
the paragraphs (A–H) the one that fits each gap (37–43).​
There is one extra paragraph that you do not need to use.
A Clothing Revolution
If you’re bored with your wardrobe and are looking for a new style, you might want to think about
one of the latest trends in fashion, and that is digital clothing. Unlike all other fashion trends in the past,
digital fashion is unique insofar as it does not actually exist. In this brave new world, clothes are
made from pixels rather than fabric and customers can be far more imaginative; in fact, the sky
is the limit when it comes to designs in the digital arena.
37 G
However, it is worth bearing in mind that this type of online image manipulation is not a
new idea. People have always paid attention to their profile pictures on a variety of online platforms
that they use in both their private and professional lives. In the same way that appearance can be
influential in real life, our digital appearance plays an important role in how we are perceived by
others, which means people pay attention to it. What is new, though, is the growing number of
advantages of digital over physical fashion.
38 F
By only producing a digital version of an item of clothing at first, the costs that are
associated with making samples, having face-to-face meetings and other logistical concerns
can be drastically reduced. The designers can work on each item of clothing using technology rather
than having to produce countless physical items during the design process. Improvements in
technology have meant that seeing a physical garment is not as essential as it used to be.
39 D
This is likely to become more important in the near future as companies rush to meet
consumers’ needs. Already it is clear that fashion brands are adapting their collections to meet
the demands of new lifestyles, many of which are becoming more flexible in terms of working
arrangements. As more people work from home and attitudes towards formal office attire shift, the
fashion industry will need to continue to respond and create new types of clothing that allow for
more comfort and ease of movement as opposed to stiff formal wear.
40 A
They could also start asking for a garment to be copied using different material as a way
of developing a unique personal wardrobe. Many designers are already way ahead of consumers in
this regard and are experimenting with new materials or new ways of using existing materials. Some
current suggestions include clothing that is made entirely from small lights or metal, or even from
plants and flowers. The possibilities for creativity are endless and customers could end up with
the clothes that they have always dreamed of owning yet could never find.
41 H
Despite this being a huge step in the right direction, it is unlikely that attitudes to fashion and
gender will change overnight as the technology is not quite as ‘advanced’ as people might think. While
many brands have an online fitting room for customers to try out clothes before they buy them,
the body shapes used by this kind of software are fairly generic and still based on traditional
views of male and female bodies that rarely conform to reality.
42 E
As a result, digital clothing remains quite expensive, but this will change as the
technology improves, and the video game sector can shed some light on customer engagement
with digital fashion. For years, video game enthusiasts have been changing the appearance of
their avatars through outfits and weapons, and are clearly happy to pay for this service, which
has caused the costs of avatar clothing to fall as demand has increased.
43 C

Missing Paragraphs.
A
While some of the new trends have started to emerge, such as the rise in demand for
leisurewear, it is still unclear how the digital fashion market will develop. However, what is
obvious is that it allows for self-expression in a far more nuanced way. For example, a customer
only needs to buy one digital t-shirt, but they could change the image or slogan on that one
t-shirt for many different versions.
B
No one knows whether the cost of digital clothing will come down in a few years’ time. At
present, the market appears to be growing, but some designers have suggested that it is just a passing
phase and its popularity could disappear in a flash. As such they are cautious about investing time or
money in something that may be around for just a few years.
C
Personalisation and creating an individual look contribute to being a key part of the
modern approach to identity, and we can do this by wearing original clothing in both the real
and unreal worlds. The fact that people already do this with imaginary online characters means
that it should come as no surprise that there is a growing desire to do the same with our online
selves too.
D
Costs can be decreased further through the reduction in the time to transport the
products to both bricks-and-mortar stores and online shopping platforms. This will enable
companies to become more agile, to respond to consumers’ needs and potentially to create
more collections that will start to address individual lifestyle needs instead of being based
around the four seasons.
E
In contrast, the process of having clothing fitted to a specific body shape in a customer’s
photo is much more involved. Currently, this work is done by people and it is still quite a
time-consuming process. Typically, clients upload a photograph and then this image is digitally
dressed by using 3D-modelling software. From start to finish this process can take up to a
whole working day.
F
The most obvious of these is its sustainability. Given that the fashion industry is
responsible for around 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions, there is a clear case for the
sustainability of digital fashion. It can reduce waste considerably, both in terms of making the
physical product, but also by reducing the carbon footprint of the design process, something
that people generally think about far less.
G
Fashion designers have much more freedom with digital garments and can play around
in more creative ways to make clothing more customisable and individual. All this has become
possible because people have been prepared for digital fashion by a social-media-driven,
modern society that is obsessed with photos and online images.
H
By putting the individual at the heart of digital fashion, there is also the opportunity for a
less prescriptive approach to clothing for men and women. For many years the fashion industry
has been criticised for using thin models and causing body-image issues among young people.
Because digital fashion can be so unique, it challenges these ideas.

Part 3: Word Form

Exercise 1 (file về đích t1)
Almost without exception, when a little boy starts to cry, he’s told to put a brave face on it. “Boys
don’t cry!” is the familiar 1. EXCLAIM exclamation ______, and with this, we exert enormous pressure
on our sons to hide their emotions. Girls are almost 2. VARY invariably________ expected to express
their feelings, but it would be 3. ERROR _erroneous_______ to believe that they are born weaker,
more sensitive or with a greater natural 4. INCLINE inclination________ to cry. Boys have feelings too.
According to several leading psychiastrists, boys are more vulnerable to psychological and other
problems later in life. Social pressures on them to be “tough” can 5. EFFECTIVE ____affect____ their
academic performance, and even lead to 6. SOCIETY __anti-social______ behaviour. This, in turn, can
manifest itself in 7. ACTION _____acts___ of violence and recklessness. It is even suspected that the
8. SIGNIFICANCE ___significantly_____ higher rate of suicide among young men is a result of boys
being 9. ABILITY ___unable_____ to “get it off their chest”, as compared to girls and women, who 10.
CONFIDENCE __confide______ more readily in others and are more likely to seek professional help if
they are emotionally distressed.
Exercise 2:
Historically, Mars was thought to be the most likely planet to habour life. There is a range of
such (1.believe) ___BELIEFS___ in popular culture as expressed in literature, radio and films. Public
fascination with Martians began in the late 19th century when astronomer Giovanni reported
(2.observe) ___OBSERVATION___ of large channels on Mars in 1887. In 1897, Well’s War of the
World was the first major work to explore the (3.conceive) __PRECONCEPTION____ of the
“extraterrestrial invader” and exerted a substantial influence on the public psyche. A few years later,
even (4.knowledge) __ACKNOWLEDGED____ astronomers such as Lowell seriously advocated the
(5.possible) __POSSIBILITY_____of life forms as described in his book Mars as the Adobe life.
Consequently, Mars began to take a special place in popular culture around the turn of the 20th century,
continuing until today. However, this does not (6.little) _BELITTLE_____ the unique role of Mars in the
history of science. Specifically, the (7.document) ___DOCUMENTATION___ of the movement of Mars
by Kepler led to the formation of his three laws of (8.planet) __PLANETARY____ motion which
shattered notions of astronomy and laid the foundations for the (9.dicover) DISCOVERIES
______ of Newton. Like no other planets, Mars has left (10.replace) __IRREPLACABLE____
marks on human imagination and thought.