READING PRACTICES
I. Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct answers.
The latest addiction to trap thousands of people is the Internet, which has been blamed for broken
relationships, job losses, financial ruin, and even suicide. Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction
Syndrome (IAS) as a new illness that could cause serious problems and ruin many lives. IAS is similar to other
problems like gambling, smoking and drinking: addicts have dreams about the Internet; they need to use it
first thing in the morning; they lie to their parents and partners about how much time they spent online;
they wish they could cut down, but are unable to do so. A recent study found that many users spend up to
40 hours a week on the Internet.
Almost anyone can be at risk. Some of the addicts are teenagers who are already hooked on
computer games and who find it very difficult to resist the games on the Internet. Surprisingly, however,
psychologists say that most victims are middle-aged housewives who have never used a computer before.
1. The passage mainly talks about _____________.
a. the advantage of the Internet b. the Internet addiction
c. the impact of the Internet on teens d. the Internet revolution
2. According to the writer, internet addiction _____________.
a. is not the same as gambling b. is most common among young people
c. can lead to financial problems d. causes no harm to life
3. Internet addicts find it impossible _____________.
a. to surf the Internet in the morning
b. to lie about the time they use the Internet
c. to be hooked on the Internet
d. to cut down on their time spent online
4. The idiom ‘at risk’ in paragraph 2 means _____________.
a. in danger b. in advance c. in common d. for certain
5. Which of the followings is NOT true?
a. IAS is recognised as a new illness.
b. Internet addiction can cause suicide behaviours.
c. Many internet addicts spend more than 40 hours a week online.
d. Teenagers who are hooked on computer games can suffer from IAS.
II. Choose the word which best fits each gap.
Although the city seems to have a lot of great things, the country can offer as (1) ___________
satisfaction as well. The country is a marvelous place to live in. It offers a very relaxing feeling, and it is filled
(2) ___________ magnificent views and scenery. Rural towns offer more open space than cities and aren’t
overcrowded. The country can also maybe help you become a more independent and (3) ___________
person. You can buy a small piece of land, plough it and put some (4) ___________ in order to grow your
own vegetables. This way you (5) ___________ your own crops, and eat and live in a very healthy way. (6)
___________, being in the countryside makes you more of an outdoor person who often enjoy the voices
and wild places of nature. Not everyone is (7) ___________ to the city life and not everyone has the desire
to live permanently in the countryside. It is a matter of perspective and personal point of (8) ___________.
1. a. most b. more c. much d. many
2. a. in b. out c. up d. with
3. a. active b. idle c. passive d. quiet
4. a. weeds b. seeds c. breeds d. branches
5. a. collect b. damage c. complete d. rotate
6. a. By contrast b. However c. Therefore d. In addition
7. a. interested b. bored c. suited d. excited
8. a. care b. view c. contact d. way
III. Read the text carefully, then choose the correct answers.
My name is Jane and I live in a small town called Snow Owl. It took its name from the fact that there
are a lot of snow owls on the mountain and forest.
Snow Owl is located on the northern part of the country, established on the base of Sky Mountain
and surrounded by the Dark Forest. Even though the name sounds scary, it is actually very beautiful and nice.
A wonderful river comes down from the mountain and passes through the town, splitting it into two. If you
ever visit my hometown, beware of the wolves; especially if you are in the part that is near the mountain.
People are really kind and care about each other. We always try to find ways to help each other.
However, on the downside everybody knows everything about everybody and if you want to hide, it is
extremely difficult.
The town itself doesn’t have a lot of sights to visit. A big historic library from the 1800’s, still
functional, is standing in the middle of the village, next to the Town Hall. There are also two bridges that
connect the town. The one on the south is the oldest and most beautiful. I sometimes go and sit by the river
just to admire it. For entertainment we have the old theatre, some coffee shops and restaurants. Younger
people prefer to visit neighboring towns and cities since it gives them more choices of entertainment.
My hometown is one of the greatest in the world and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
([Link] [Link]/myhometown)
1. The town is called Snow Owl because ___________.
a. it is covered in snow for most of the year
b. there are a lot of owls living on the mountain
c. it is surrounded by snowy mountains
d. many snow owls can be found in the town
2. Snow Owl is ___________ Sky Mountain and surrounded by the Dark Forest.
a. on b. between c. next to d. under
3. Jane describes people of the town as ___________.
a. kind and helpful b. nice and hospitable
c. friendly and careful d. generous and kind
4. What is one of the disadvantages living in Snow Owl?
a. That everyone comes together when the community needs help.
b. That everybody knows each other, so it is hard to find a place to hide.
c. That everyone is very supportive and it is easy to build relationships.
d. That everybody knows everybody and it is no easy to have privacy.
5. What is the oldest sight the town has?
a. The Town Hall b. The two bridges c. The library d. The village
6. Which of the followings is NOT true?
a. A river comes from the mountain and divides the town into two.
b. There are dangerous animals near the town.
c. Young people like the entertainment the town provides.
d. Jane thinks that her hometown is the greatest place to live in the world.
IV. Read the text carefully, then do the tasks below.
Are teens and social media platforms a good mix, or does social media use lower teen well-being?
This has become one of the most controversial questions regarding social media’s effects on teens, with
studies showing varied results.
According to a recent report released by Common Sense Media on social media’s effects on teens,
about half of the 1,500 young people surveyed said social media is very important for them in order to get
support and advice, feel less alone, and express themselves creatively, as well as for staying in touch with
friends and family members. And 43 percent said that using social media makes them feel better when they
are depressed, stressed, or anxious.
On the other hand, the report also showed a strong association between social media and teens
feeling depressed. Youth with moderate to severe depressive symptoms were nearly twice as likely to say
they used social media almost constantly. One-third of teens with depression reported constant social media
use, as compared to 18 percent of young people who did not have depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the
more severe their symptoms were, the more anxious, lonely and depressed they felt after using social media.
Clearly, social media does not help teens who are already feeling depressed and seems to contribute to their
negative outlook.
A. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. ____ Social media has both good and bad effects on teens.
2. ____ Only 50% of the teen surveyed use social media.
3. ____ Teens only use social media when they feel depressed or anxious.
4. ____ The report didn’t mention the negative sides of social media use.
5. ____ Teens with depression tend to use social media more than teens who don’t have depressive
symptoms.
6. ____ Social media can make it worse for teens who are already feeling depressed.
B. Choose the correct answer.
1. According to the passage, teens don’t use social media to ____________.
a. express themselves b. ask for advice
c. connect with friends d. treat their severe depression
2. Which of the following statements is true about social media?
a. Social media helps teens communicate with their friends.
b. Teens with severe depression find it hard to use social media constantly.
c. Social media can make all teens feel better after using it.
d. Studies on social media’s effects on teens show the same results.
V. Choose the word which best fits each gap.
YouTube is the second most (1) ________________ website in the world and each day more than
720,000 hours of videos are uploaded to it. This video streaming app is also one of the most popular
platforms (2) ________________ children, from elementary school kids all the way to teens. YouTube makes
money by keeping people on the platform (3) ________________ video after video, so it’s in their interest
to capture (4) ________________ with shocking and engaging videos, even if it’s not good for young users.
Despite its potential for harmful (5) ________________, YouTube’s educational and wholesome
entertainment possibilities are immense - (6) ________________ for young people. From changing a bike
tire to making a Halloween costume out of things lying around the house, functional and creative videos
about (7) ________________ to solve problems are incredibly common. In addition to super-useful how-to
videos, there are also documentaries, language tutorials, exercise, yoga, stretching videos, (8)
________________ more. Almost anything teens are studying at school is bound to have a corresponding
video to help make the lesson more clear — and possibly even fun!
1. a. watched b. visited c. checked d. connected
2. a. to b. for c. in d. with
3. a. to watch b. watching c. watch d. watched
4. a. concentration b. notice c. attention d. notification
5. a. subject b. content c. thought d. idea
6. a. special b. specially c. especially d. especial
7. a. what b. where c. who d. how
8. a. and b. but c. or d. so
VI. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.
Communal House (Rong House)
The Rong House can only be 1 ___________ in villages to the north of the Central Highlands, especially in Gia
Lai and Kon Turn provinces. It is a large, imposing, decorated stilt house built 2 ___________ the middle of
the village. It is where community activities 3___________, meetings, wedding ceremonies, or praying
ceremonies. It is also the place for reception of guests. The Rong House of each ethnic group has its own
architectural style, design, and decor. Yet there are shared 4 ___________. In the village, it is often 5
___________ house roofed with yellow-dried thatch leaves and having 8 big wood columns. The rafters are
decorated with patterns of bright colours, depicting religious scenes, legendary stories about ancient heroes,
stylized animals, and other familiar things of the village life. The most distinction of the decor of the Rong
House is the 6 ___________ of the brilliant God of Sun. The Rong House is a 7 ___________ of the culture of
Central Highlanders, an age-old and stable culture. The bigger the house, the wealthier the village is. It is a 8
___________ of the whole village.
1. A. find B. found C. to find D. finding
2. A. on B. at C. in D. under
3. A. take place B. take on C. happens D. occurs
4. A. designs B. cultures C. customs D. features
5. A. a big B. a bigger C. the biggest D. biggest
6. A. painting B. photo C. image D. portrait
7. A. signal B. symbol C. sign D. scene
8. A. design B. respect C. proud D. pride
VII. Read the text, and choose the correct answer for each gap.
Treehouses - Not Just For Kids
Have you ever wanted to hide away from the rest of your family and get a little 1 ___________ and quiet?
Do you think houses in trees are just for children? Well, think again. Here at Arborbuild we can help you 2
___________ the perfect treehouse.
David Arbor started “Arborbuild” in the late 1980s. He needed an office to work 3 ___________ so he built a
treehouse in his garden. He enjoyed the project so much that he gave 4 ___________ his job as an accountant
and started his own company, building treehouses full-time. Twelve people work for him now and he 5
___________ treehouses in fifteen countries.
6 ___________ you need an office, a storeroom, a playroom for the kids, or just somewhere to relax and
read a book, “Arborbuild” can help you. Our planners will help you create the perfect space. Our workers
will then build your dream - a dream that 7 ___________ a lifetime.
1. A. silence B. peace C. sleep
2. A. map B. describe C. design
3. A. in B. for C. with
4. A. up B. over C. in
5. A. built B. has built C. build
6. A. Where B. As C. If
7. A. last B. will last C. needs to last
VIII. Read the following passage, and answer the questions below.
Duong Lam: An Ancient Vietnamese Village
Duong Lam Village is located in Duong Lam Commune at a 45 km distance from Ha Noi. It is the birthplace
of two kings in the history of Viet Nam, Phung Hung (or Bo Cai Dai Vuong) and Ngo Quyen, who opened up
the long-term self-control and independence period of Viet Nam after Bach Dang Victory in the year 938.
All houses, gates, village gates and wells are built of laterite creating an architectural complex, a unique
village that is typical for villages in the midlands in the North of Viet Nam.
At present, there are still nearly old 200 houses and many other historical monuments such as Phung Hung
Temple, Ngo Quyen Royal Tomb, Mong Phu Communal House, Ho Gam Hill at which Phung Hung killed tigers
to rescue villagers and the temple at which the diplomat Giang Van Minh is worshiped.
1. Where is Duong Lam Village?
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Who were the two kings whose birthplace is Duong Lam Village?
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is Duong Lam typical for?
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. How many old houses are there in Duong Lam?
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. What are the famous historical monuments there?
__________________________________________________________________________________