UNIT 1: LIFE STORIES

I. PHONETICS
Exercise 1: Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of
primary stress in each of the following questions.
1. A. admire B. present C. waver D. decide
2. A. talent B. impact C. power D. respect
3. A. copy B. emerge C. reveal D. award
4. A. effect B. guitar C. idea D. police
5. A. respectful B. generous C. fortunate D. outstanding
6. A. perseverance B. experience C. dedication D. influential
7. A. generosity B. hospitality C. encyclopedia D. creativity
8. A. celebrity B. charitable C. anonymous D. respectable
9. A. overcome B. incident C. dedicate D. currently
Exercise 2: Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined.
10. A. diagnose B. achievement C. talented D. anonymous
11. A. prosthetic B. reputation C. dedication D. respectable
12. A. distinguished B. support C. generosity D. respectable
13. A. waver B. reputation C. creativity D. character
14. A. perseverance B. generosity C. talented D. judgement
15. A. congestion B. ambition C. influential D. reputation
II. VOCABULARY
Exercise 1: Fill in each blank in the sentences with the correct word from the box.
achievement reputation distinguished historical figure
generosity strategy dedication politician talented
1. Dang Tien Dong was General Muu, who won the famous __________ battle of Dong Da.
2. Marie is an extremely __________ piano player.
3. What I admire most about him is his __________ to the poor and the deprived.
4. to be successful takes hard work and __________.
5. the awarded her a gold medal for her __________ in sport.
6. Ly Thuong Kiet had the __________ of attacking first to dominate enemies, and employing the swift
attacking to break the enemies’ plan at the beginning.
7. In 1980, on the occasion of his 600th birthday, Nguyen Trai was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural
Celebrity, and a talented __________.
8. Bui Thi Xuan, the first female general in Vietnam history, became a historical __________ in the Tay Son
Dynasty.
9. There is a Vietnamese proverb that states that of a dead tiger we keep the skin, of man his__________.
10. Clive has had a fantastic and __________ career so we listen to what he says.
Exercise 2: Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple or the past continuous.
STEVE JOBS
1. Steve Jobs is famous for being a businessman, designer and inventor. He
(be) __________ the co-founder and chief executive at Apple.
2. He (be) __________ born on 24th February 1955 in California, USA.
3. He was adopted because his parents (be) __________ students and
couldn't look after him.
4. As a child, he (love) ___________ electronics and making things with his
hands.
5. While he (study) __________ at high school, he met Steve Wozniak, who also loved electronics.
6. He (start) __________ university in 1972, but he (not finish) _________ the course.
7. While he (travel) ________ around India, he (become) ________ a Buddhist. He was 24 then.
8. After that, he (get) __________ a job at Atari as a computer technician, with Wozniak.
9. In 1976. Jobs and Wozniak (start) __________ their own company called the Apple Computer Company.
10. He (die) __________ in 2011, aged 56.
Exercise 3: Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple or past continuous.
1. This afternoon I (see) _________Dingo, the boxing champion, at the airport. When I (leave) _________the
airport at 5 p.m., he (still, talk) _________to the customs officer. He (look) _________realty womed. Then while
I (wait) _________for a taxi, I (hear) _________that he (have) _________problems with his luggage.
2. Sue: (you, hear) _______________ the news about Tim?
Ken: You mean the famous film star? What (happen) _________?
Sue: He (fall) _________from the sixth floor when they (film) _________a scene of a burning building. He
(play) _________a fireman trying to save a child.
Ken: What a shock! Is he all right?
Sue: I don't know. I just (read) _________the news on social media. They (say) ____________ doctors (still,
operate) ____________on him.
Exercise 4: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
1. Martin Luther King devoted his life to the ____ of voting right for black people.
A. effort B. realization C. achievement D. performance
2. His father used to be a ____ professor at the university. Many students worshipped him..
A. distinct B. distinctive C. distinguishing D. distinguished
3. Mark Zuckerberg's enormous success has taken a lot of hardwork and ____.
A. indifference B. dedication C. loyalty D. reputation
4. Before passing away, President Ho Chi Minh left the Vietnamese people with the ________ Testament.
A. important B. essential C. historic D. historical
5. In spite of having a peasant ________, Nguyen Hue had proved that he was really an excellent general, only
gained victories.
A. situation B. experience C. condition D. background
6. That disable boy's victory in the race set the ____ example to all students in the school.
A. finest B. first-class C. rarest D. most convenient
7. When his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability, Vujicic realized
he wasn't ________ in his struggles.
A. unique B. lonely C. alone D. only
8. IPhone 17 is the latest ____ in the field of smartphone design of Apple.
A. creator B. create C. creativity D. creation
9. Einstein ____ a great impact on modern physics.
A. feels B. does C. a D. has
10. He seems like a ________ businessman, but he has caused some personal scandals.
A. respecting B. respectful C. respectably D. respectable
11. She has a wonderful voice but unfortunately, she never gets the ____ to sing in public.
A. event B. occasion C. ability D. chance
12. Bill Gates’ ________ in donating large sums of money towards welfare activities is remarkable.
A. generosity B. politeness C. wealth D. talent
13. The queen is not really nice. She seems to enjoy the ____ of others.
A. unfortunately B. misfortune C. unfortunate D. fortunate
14. We ____ the kittens carefully and sold them for a good profit.
A. brought up B. grew up C . rose D. aroused
15. Bill Gates has made large donations to numerous ____ organizations.
A. charitable B. charitably C. charity D. charities
Exercise 5: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions.
1. The speaker paused. He hesitated to answer the direct question raised by the audience.
 A. decided B. continued C. determined D. wavered
2. Her courage not only inspired her followers but moved her rivals as well.
A. depressed B. motivated C. overlooked D. rejected
3. The government's plans to cut taxes really stimulated the economy.
A. discouraged B. started C. weakened D. improved
Exercise 6: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions.
1. She comes from an admirable and respectable family.
A. good B. respected C. unworthy D. dignified
2. They are going to have to amputate his left leg which was badly injured in the accident.
A. remove B. separate C. cut off D. mend
3. Her identity will never be revealed in order to protect her children from being judged.
A. uncovered B. proclaimed C. leaked D. hid
4. There are several interesting things emerging from the report.
A. fading B. rising C. coming up D. developing
III. GRAMMAR
Exercise 1. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
6. I ____ out last night but at the last minute I ____ that I had a quiz this morning.
A. was going to go – realized B. went – realized
C. had gone – would realize D. would go - have realized
7. She hasn't paid as much attention to her children as she ____ since she ____ working.
A. does – starts B. did - started
C. was doing - was starting D. has done - would start
8. My brother ____ at the road when he ____ into a hole.
A. wasn't looking - was falling B. didn't look - has fallen
C. wasn't looking – fell D. won't look - fall
9. Magellan ____ the first European who ____ through the strait.
A. was - was sailing B. was being - was sailing
C. had been – sailed D. was - sailed
10. The first self-sufficient village in Britain ____ the Norman's idea. They were some strange invaders who ____
to change the country in a better way.
A. was – hoped B. is - have hoped
C. have been - were hoping D. was being - had hoped
11. Who is ____ girl over there with Jimmy?
A. the B. a C. an D. Ø
12. The boss needs an assistant with ____ good knowledge of foreign trade.
A. a B. the C. any D. Ø
13. We are having ____ terrible weather which is quite strange. Usually ____ weather in UK is not this bad.
A. the – the B. a – the C. Ø - the D. the - a
14. Could you please close ____ window? I don't think it is necessary to open all the four.
A. a B. the C. some D. Ø
15. ____ Gordons is a very interesting family. They like to travel around ____ world.
A. A – the B . The - the C. A – a D. A-Ø
16. To absorb more oil from spring rolls, we can use materials like ____ newspaper to wrap them after frying.
A. the B. any C. Ø D. a
17. After a hard-working day, I went to ____ bed and had ____ most beautiful dream ever.
A. the - the B. a – the C. a – a D. Ø - the
18. I have visited ____ Portugal but I have never been to ____ Netherlands.
A. the – the B . Ø - the C. a – the D. a - a
19. Every week, his mother goes to ____ university to visit him while my mother has never come to visit me since
I went to ____ university.
A. the - Ø B. the - the C. Ø - Ø D. a - the
20. He left on ____10 o'clock train yesterday to see his father who was taken to ____ hospital last week when he
broke ____ right leg.
A. the - the - the B. the - a - a C. a - a - the D. the - Ø - Ø
PART V. READING
Exercise 1: Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
Humans have always been searching for quicker and easier ways to get around. About 10,000 years ago, we
built canoes made from logs of wood, while on land we started riding horses around 4.000 BC. Roughly 500 years
later, we invented the wheel, which led to carts and wagons, and at almost the same time, the Egyptians invented
the sailing boat.
Up until the 18th century most people travelled by sailing boat, horse or stagecoach, but in 1769, there was a
major breakthrough when the Scottish inventor James Watt invented the steam engine. In 1783, the French inventor
Claude de Jouffroy used this to build the first steamboat, and in 1804 the Englishman Richard Trevithick
constructed the first steam-powered train. Railways helped carry coal around Britain and were an important part
of the Industrial Revolution.
Another major breakthrough came when Karl Benz built the first working car in 1885. Then, in 1903, Orville
and Wilbur Wright built the first aeroplane. These two inventions shaped the 20th century. Over time, cars and
plane travel became cheaper so that by the 70s a lot of families owned a car and many were holidaying abroad.
Nowadays, companies are developing self-driving cars and we will soon be able to take trips into space. The
fascinating story of transportation continues and who knows how we'll be getting around in the future.
(Adapted from On Screen Bl by Jenny Dooley and Virginia Evans)
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Development Trends of Transportation B. Positive Changes to Transportation
C. Key Inventors in Transportation D. Impacts of Transportation over Time
2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as early means of transport?
A. wagons B. canoes C. horses D. trains
3. The word "this” in paragraph 2 refers to __________
A. steamboat B. steam engine C. breakthrough D. inventor
4. The word “holidaying“ in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ___________
A. travelling B. studying C. working D. exercising
5. According to the passage, most of the breakthroughs in transportation came _____________
A. after the 20th century
B. more than 10,000 years ago
C. before the 19th century
D. from the 18th century onwards
Exercise 2: Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each
of the numbered blanks from 1 to 5.
The benefits of regular exercise are widely recognized and well-documented. Physical activity not only helps
in maintaining a healthy weight but also reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and
cancer. Regular exercise can improve mental health by reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhancing
mood, and promoting better sleep.
 One innovative approach to promoting physical activity is (1) ______. This method encourages people to
incorporate exercise into their daily routines in fun and engaging ways. For instance, some programs use
gamification techniques, where participants earn points or rewards for completing physical activities. This can
make exercise feel more like a game and less like a chore.
However, despite the known benefits, many people struggle to maintain a consistent exercise routine. Barriers
such as lack of time, access to facilities, and motivation are common. To address these challenges, it's important
to (2) ______. Community support, whether through social media groups, local clubs, or fitness classes, can also
play a crucial role in keeping individuals motivated.
(3) ______, research indicates that even small amounts of regular physical activity can lead to significant
health improvements. This means that even people with busy schedules can benefit from incorporating short bouts
of exercise into their day. Additionally, (4) ______. For example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking
or biking to work, and standing while working can all contribute to overall physical activity levels.
On balance, while there are obstacles to reducing plastic waste, (5) ______. Efforts to promote sustainable
practices should focus on making them accessible, cost-effective, and integrated into everyday life.
(Adapted from https://www.faypedlerclinic.co.uk/)
1. A. using advanced technology to track fitness progress and goals
B. incorporating physical activity into school curriculums
C. creating community challenges that involve physical activity
D. developing apps that turn exercise into a competitive game
2. A. provide access to affordable fitness facilities
B. encourage setting realistic fitness goals
C. educate people on the benefits of regular exercise
D. create a supportive environment that fosters motivation
3. A. Despite the challenges B. Contrary to popular belief
C. To a surprising extent D. On the other hand
4. A. these small changes can make a significant difference
B. integrating physical activity into daily routines is key
C. prioritizing physical activity throughout the day is essential
D. making time for physical activity is not as difficult as it seems
5. A. the advantages it offers make it a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle
B. the barriers are often too significant to overcome
C. the benefits are limited to physical health
D. it is not always necessary for maintaining good health
Exercise 3: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the
correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 1 to 5.
It’s very important to encourage your child (1) ______ from an early age, but sometimes it is quite hard to
find the right books for them. Those that are too easy can make reading time boring, while those that are too
difficult can cause your child to become (2) ______. This is where the five finger rule can help you.
To apply this rule, ask your child to read a random page in the book. For every word that they (3) ______,
they should raise a finger. If they do not raise any finger or only one finger, the book is most like too simple.
Raising two fingers means that the book is a reasonable choice while three fingers (4) ______that the book is a
bit challenging but is still fine if your child doesn’t mind. Meanwhile, if they hold up four or five fingers, the
book is probably too advanced for them to read.
One important thing to remember about the five finger rule is that it is only a guideline (5) ______ which
you can help your child find books that are just right.
(Adapted from readingeggs.com)
1. A. to read B. read C. reading D. to reading
2. A. upset B. angry C. frustrated D. unsatisfied
3. A. doesn’t know B. didn’t know C. don’t know D. hadn’t known
4. A. indicate B. indicative C. indication D. indicated
5. A. turned on B. based on C.depended on D. taken on
Exercise 4: Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option that best fits each
of the numbered blanks from 1 to 5.
Catherine II was a very important queen in Russian history. (1) ______ and her real name was Sophie Friederike
Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg. (2) ______, she went to Russia to marry Peter III, who was the grandson
of Peter the Great. They got married in 1745 and Catherine became a Grand Duchess. Later than, Peter III
became the Tsar of Russia in 1762, but he was not a good leader. He made many people angry and (3) ______.
She was very smart and she worked hard to gain the support of the Russian army. In 1762, she led a coup against
Peter III and she became the Empress of Russia.
Catherine II was a very powerful leader and she ruled Russia for 34 years. She was known as Catherine the
Great because of all the good things she did for Russia. She made many important changes to the country. She
built schools, hospitals, and libraries. She also started a museum, (4) ______ in Saint Petersburg. Moreover,
Catherine II was also very interested in art and culture. She invited many famous artists and writers to come to
Russia. She was a good friend of Voltaire, who was a famous French philosopher. They wrote many letters
to each other, and Voltaire even dedicated some of his works to Catherine II. (5) ______. She was a very
important leader and she made many positive changes to Russia. She will always be remembered as one of the
greatest rulers in Russian history.
(Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org.)
Question 1:
A. She was born in Germany in 1729. B. In 1729, her parents were giving birth to her.
C. Catherine II born in Germany in 1729. D. In Germany, 1729, Catherine II born.
Question 2:
A. When she was being 15 years old B. While she was being 15 years old
C. While she was 15 years old D. When she was 15 years old
Question 3:
A. Catherine was knowing that something had to be done.
B. Something had known to be done by Catherine.
C. Catherine knew that something had to be done.
D. Something were known to be done by Catherine.
Question 4:
A. which was now the famous Hermitage Museum
B. which is now the famous Hermitage Museum
C. that was being the famous Hermitage Museum
D. that is now the famous Hermitage Museum
Question 5:
A. Unluckily, Catherine II died in 1796 at the age of 67
B. Luckily, Catherine II died in 1796 at the age of 67
C. Unluckily, Catherine II was dying in 1796 at the age of 67
D. Fortunately, Catherine II was dying in 1796 at the age of 67
Exercise 5: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions from 31 to 40.
[I] The authors noted that while other forms of pollution are decreasing, noise pollution has been increasing.
[II] This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that there has been an increase in the number of people who have been

complaining about excessive noise in the WHO region. [III] Populations that are exposed to high noise levels can

be afflicted by other symptoms such as: stress reactions, sleep-stage changes, and clinical symptoms like hypertension

and cardiovascular diseases. [IV] All these impacts can contribute to premature mortality.

It is important to note that these adverse health problems impact all age groups including children and

adolescents. In fact, it has been reported that children who live and or study in an area afflicted with noise pollution

tend to suffer from stress, impairments in memory and attention as well as difficulty reading. "In Western Europe,

the guidelines say, traffic noise results in an annual loss of at least one million healthy years". Traffic noise is

currently ranked second among environmental threats to public health.

The danger of noise pollution is more present to us when we are asleep. Because the human ear is so sensitive,

it never rests, it is always working, picking up and transmitting sounds for our brains to interpret. This always on

working process is where the danger lies, though you may be sleeping, sounds are still being picked up and processed.

The most common side effects of this phenomenon are sleep disturbance and tiredness, impaired memory,

judgment, and psychomotor skills. The other more serious outcomes of this can be the triggering of the body's acute

stress response, which raises blood pressure and heart rate as the body and brain go into a state of hyperarousal.

According to the European Environment Agency, at least 10,000 cases of premature deaths from noise exposure

occur each year, although incomplete data mean this number is significantly underestimated.

Question 31. Where in paragraph 1 does the following sentence best fit?
"Noise pollution is increasingly being recognized as a critical issue for public health."
А. [III] B. [II] C. [IV] D. [I]
Question 32. The word "afflicted" in paragraph 2 is OPPOSITE in meaning to .
A. suffering B. burdened
C. relieved D. affected
Question 33. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?
A. Public health is most affected by traffic noise, which ranks second among all environmental issues.
B. Traffic noise is considered one of the top environmental factors affecting human health.
C. Environmental threats to health are dominated by traffic noise, which is listed as number one.
D. Among all environmental risks, traffic noise is regarded as the second most dangerous for public health.
Question 34. Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 3?
A. Noise can disturb sleep and cause stress, which may lead to serious health problems.
B. The human ear remains active even during sleep, leading to significant health risks due to our brains' activities.
C. The European Environment Agency estimates that noise pollution causes a lot of premature deaths each year.
D. Noise pollution poses a greater threat to public health during the day compared to nighttime.
Question 35. The word "it" in paragraph 3 refers to .
A. the danger B. human ear
C. sound D. side effect
Question 36. The word "hyperarousal" in paragraph 4 could best be replaced by .
A. worry B. happiness
C. relaxation D. relief
Question 37. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a health problem caused by
noise pollution?
A. Sleep-stage changes B. Respiratory diseases
C. Hypertension D. Impairments in memory
Question 38. What can be inferred from the passage about noise pollution??
A. Premature deaths from noise pollution may be underreported.
B. Noise pollution primarily affects older adults.
C. Urbanization has eliminated all but noise pollution.
D. People living in rural areas are unaffected by traffic noise.
Question 39. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Data on noise pollution's health effects are complete and accurate.
B. Noise exposure during sleep can lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate.
C. The human ear becomes less sensitive while sleeping.
D. Noise pollution is the leading environmental threat to health in Western Europe.
Question 40. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Noise pollution is primarily caused by traffic and is limited to urban areas.
B. Noise pollution is particularly dangerous when people are asleep, as it can disrupt sleep patterns.
C. Noise pollution is the least recognized environmental threat but has severe impacts on health.
D. Noise pollution seriously impacts public health, causing stress, heart diseases, and premature deaths.