VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HO CHI MINH CITY Student’s Full Name: _______________________________

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Student ID: ______________________________ No.: _____
FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND Class Code: ______________________________________

LANGUAGE TEACHING
Second-Degree Program Instructor: _______________________________________

FINAL EXAMINATION
Course: LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY C1 – READING
Time Allotted: 40 minutes Exam Date: __________
Approved by Proctors Score
Examiner(s)
(CBCT) (not rounded)

1. 1. In figures:

2. 2. In words:

Notes: Materials and dictionaries of all kinds are NOT allowed.

Students write their answers on the answer sheet.
ANSWER SHEET
PASSAGE 1 PASSAGE 2

1. ___________________ 14. ___________________

2. ___________________ 15. ___________________

3. ___________________ 16. ___________________

4. ___________________ 17. ___________________

5. ___________________ 18. ___________________

6. ___________________ 19. ___________________

7. ___________________ 20. ___________________

8. ___________________ 21. ___________________

9. ___________________ 22. ___________________

10. ___________________ 23. ___________________

11. ___________________ 24. ___________________

12. ___________________ 25. ___________________

13. ___________________

(not rounded) TOTAL: ________ x 0.4 = _________/10

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Full Name: ______________________________ Class Code: ________ Student ID: ____________
TEST PAPER: LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY C1
READING – __________
Notes: Materials and dictionaries of all kinds are NOT allowed.
Students write their answers on the answer sheet.
PASSAGE 1

USING NEUROSCIENCE TO MANAGE YOUR TIME

In the face of pressure, our instinct is to study or work as much as we can for as long as we can. So why do
we still feel as if we have not accomplished enough at the end of the day?
A. Neuroscientist and professor at the Manhattan NeuroLeadership Institute, Josh Davis, suggests that, rather
than focusing on what is urgent, people should decide what matters most and pinpoint the best time to do
it. “It’s really about being highly effective as far as it’s reasonable for a human being,” Davis says. He
believes that, rather than making a to-do list and working through each item, people should decide on the
main aim for the day and work out when they are most likely to achieve peak productivity. Then this time
can be devoted to the task with the highest priority, such as writing an essay or revising.
B. It is obviously impossible to work intensively all the time, so simple tasks not requiring much attention –
emails or paperwork – can be done in any ‘downtime’. However, there are times where the extent to
which small tasks can tax our brains is underestimated. Sending an email, for example, may appear simple
on the surface but can involve a decision which, although trivial, can cause mental exhaustion. In this
case, it is better to reorder the day and deal with less pressing concerns only after the work target has been
achieved.
C. The time of day when people are most alert varies from person to person but as a general rule the first
two hours after waking up are not conducive to serious study. Research measuring attention, verbal
reasoning and reaction times has also shown that when our body temperature falls below 37 degrees C,
the brain is not at its full potential so the worst time to do anything involving thinking is between midnight
and 6am. This is almost as bad as the afternoon slump between 2pm and 4pm, which is more to do with
feeling cold than a heavy lunch.
D. Rather than being afraid of getting distracted, just be careful how you do it. “These days, when people
decide to take a break, they tend to go on social media,” says Davis, “and then they spend too much time
there.” Instead, they should go back to day-dreaming, where it is possible to stop thinking about work
without really focusing on anything else. This allows for creative thinking and the integration between
different parts of the brain, which cannot occur when the mind is required to focus on something specific.
E. Neuroscience has revealed much about the mind-body connection and how exercise can be used as a tool.
“It’s a different way of seeing exercise,” says Davis. “Usually we think about how in the long term it will
make us healthy and look better but this is focused on the short term.” A short session – 20 minutes or so
– of moderate exercise will be sufficient. It does not need to be a lengthy gym visit; just running up and
down stairs or jogging on the spot can be an effective method of lessening tension and boosting positive
emotions.
F. Food that keeps blood-sugar levels stable will also help people to work most effectively, says Davis. If
people snack during the day, they should choose foods that contain fats such as nuts and cheese rather
than carbohydrates, to avoid blood-sugar spikes. Starting the day with high-protein food such as eggs and
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 toast will have a high impact on the neurotransmitters in the brain. The amino acid tyrosine, which is
found in proteins, will stimulate the transmitters responsible for alertness and the calming protein
tryptophan will relax the brain. On meal breaks, people should eat only to 80 percent capacity: people’s
best work will be done when they are slightly hungry but not starving. Keep hydrated and improve your
mood by sipping water. Just remember not to overdo caffeine; it may improve your alertness but also
minimizes concentration.
G. Ensure you have a well-lit study space and that your desk space is clear: clutter is a distraction and not a
good one, as it reminds you of uncompleted work. A clear desk also gives you room for increased
movement, whether sitting with your arms behind your head or your feet up. You could alternate between
standing and sitting.
H. Finally, try to get eight hours sleep a night. While we sleep, our brains process and retain information,
consolidating facts and reinforcing how to perform tasks. It also reinvigorates us both physically and
mentally.
Questions 1-7
Choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph, A-H, from the list of headings below. Write the correct
number, i-xii, on your answer sheet. Paragraph H has been done as an example.

List of Headings
i. Daily patterns in alertness and their effect on thinking ability
ii. Managing stress by eliminating all interruptions during the day
iii. Deciding priorities according to personal performance levels
iv. Digital habits as the primary source of modern work pressure
v. How brief movement can quickly improve emotional state and focus
vi. Organising one’s surroundings to reduce mental interference
vii. Regulating energy levels through smarter eating and drinking habits
viii. Sleep as a key process in mental recovery and memory formation
ix. The role of long-term planning in achieving career success
x. Taking mental breaks that support, rather than disrupt, productivity
xi. When minor duties are more mentally exhausting than expected
xii. Why putting in more time does not always lead to better results

1. Paragraph A _______
2. Paragraph B _______
3. Paragraph C _______
4. Paragraph D _______
5. Paragraph E _______
6. Paragraph F _______
7. Paragraph G _______
Example: Paragraph H __viii__
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Questions 8-13
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY

• Focus on the main aim of the day and allocate time during your period of (8)
___________ to complete the most important work.
• After high-priority work is finished, you can deal with simple, less pressing concerns
like paperwork and emails.
• Avoid the period between midnight and (9) ___________ as the brain is not operating
at full capacity.
• Instead of using social media, engaging in (10) ___________ can stimulate the
integration of various brain areas.
• Moderate exercise lasting around (11) ___________ will quickly decrease stress and
enhance positive feelings.
• When snacking, people should opt for fats instead of (12) ___________ to ensure
blood-sugar stability.
• Keeping your desk (13) ___________ removes visual reminders of unfinished duties.

PASSAGE 2
SMART CITIES
A. Sustainable, smart cities are where entrepreneurs, government officials and academics come together,
using shared data and digital technology to improve urban living.
B. At a recent conference attended by experts from emerging smart cities across the UK, it was argued that
the need for cities to become smarter, more integrated and sustainable has never been greater. “Cities
drive economic growth and prosperity,” one speaker argued. “In 2010 more than half the world’s
population lived in cities. By 2050 that figure will have risen to 70 percent”. In numerical terms, it is
estimated that in 30 years, seven billion people will live in urban areas. It was also pointed out that 80
percent of global income is generated in cities, and as they grow, there is increasing pressure for them to
become more sustainable. This means that cities need to be smart in how they communicate, plan and
respond to the increasing demands on space and resources. Communication, energy, waste and transport
will all need to be sustainable, and technology will be the solution.
C. So what is a smart city? It is one that uses digital communication to enhance services and performance.
Key to this is the ability to collect, organise and share data in the public domain. That data, from public
and private organisations alike, allows businesses and governments to make better decisions, and allows
citizens to be better informed.
D. Some applications of smart technology will be vast city-wide initiatives, while others will be small and
localised. For example, smart metering means that domestic heating and lighting can be controlled
remotely, and only used when needed. Telemedicine will enable healthcare to be more readily available
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 and instantaneous. Solar-powered batteries will let communities generate and store electricity, to avoid
overloading the national grid during times of peak demand. Virtual barriers on roads will automatically
switch hybrid cars to electric power when air quality passes a pre-set, acceptable level.
E. It is the pooling of data that lies behind smart innovation. In Bristol, one of the UK’s leading emerging
smart cities, a new app matches satellite positioning data with planning data to identify routes around the
city which are suitable for wheelchair users, because they avoid steep hills and sharp kerbs. It is a small
but significant innovation, and it shows how strategic collaboration can be turned into a service that
enhances the lives of citizens. Many cities in the UK are running pilot projects like this, which will
eventually form the basis of a fully integrated, digital smart city.
F. Transport systems will be key to the development of smart cities. Using data, sensors and smart
technology, traffic flows, congestion and speed can all be controlled. The result will be faster movement
around highly populated areas, with citizens having the real-time information they need to reduce the cost
of a journey, the time it takes, and the impact that it will have on emissions. As one speaker at the
conference said, “We want to get to the point where the cars themselves know about traffic flow and how
to regulate it. The cars will be able to communicate with each other.” Automated cars are closer than
many think. London’s Heathrow airport already operates driverless, laser-guided pods to carry up to four
passengers and their luggage from the car park to Terminal 5.
G. Insurance companies also have a vested interest in smart-car technology. In the UK, insurers pay out
£27m every day in motor claims. However, more than 90 percent of all accidents on the road are caused
by human error, so cars without humans at the wheel should improve road safety.
H. However, some voices at the conference sounded a note of caution. The move towards smart city
infrastructures is not without its challenges. One of these is to ensure that citizens themselves approve
and actively participate in the changes. According to the head of business development for the telecoms
company that is working with many authorities to provide the networking grids for sharing data, it is
crucial that smart city projects have the end user in mind. “We will struggle to get user stakeholders unless
the projects are user-led,” she said.

Questions 14-18
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
On your answer sheet, write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
14. Figures show that in future a greater proportion of people will live in cities.
15. Rural areas are more economically productive than urban areas.
16. Smart technology will be used to facilitate some projects which have an impact on entire cities.
17. The cost of health care is likely to be reduced with the introduction of telemedicine.
18. All cars will be powered by hybrid engines by the middle of the century.

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Questions 19-25
The reading passage has eight paragraphs, A–H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–H, in spaces 19-25 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
19. a definition of what makes a city “smart” in terms of information use
20. a central concern about whether the public will approve of and take part in technological change
21. the target users for a digital navigation tool meant to bypass physically demanding routes
22. a current real-world example of vehicles operating without a human driver within the UK
23. a description of the specific environmental condition that will cause vehicles to alter power modes
24. a reference to the primary cause of road accidents that technology aims to eliminate
25. a statement identifying the core principle behind smart urban innovation

-------e END OF TEST f-------

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