SỞ GD&ĐT BẮC NINH TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN BẮC NINH

Read the following advertisement and 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 6.

Accelerated English Programme
Location: Riverdale Academy, Kingswood School, Elmbridge College
Dates: 15th July - 10th September 2024
Ages: 8 - 17 years old
Overview:
Elevate your English skills with our Accelerated English Programme, (1) ____________ to help students improve quickly through 10 additional hours of weekly (2) ____________. Small class sizes ensure personalised attention and focused learning, (3) ____________ this an ideal choice for those looking to advance their English in a short time.
Programme Highlights:
• On-campus accommodation for a (4) ____________
• 10 hours of intensive English instruction (5) ____________ small, tailored groups
• Engaging indoor and outdoor activities to reinforce learning
• Exciting weekly field trips and cultural excursions
Don't miss this opportunity (6) ____________ your English proficiency in a fun and supportive environment.
Sign up today!

Read the following leaflet and 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 7 to 12.

Vietnam to recruit 22,000 teachers to make English a second language in schools

The draft proposal, unveiled at a consultation (7) ____________ on Sept. 22, outlines a long-term roadmap through 2045 that aims to embed English across (8) ____________ levels of education. By that time, officials envision English being widely used in 50,000 schools, serving nearly 30 million students and one million teachers and lecturers.
The plan will be (9) ____________ in three phases: five years from 2025 to 2030, 10 years from 2030 to 2040, and a final five-year stretch to 2045. Its key priorities include overhauling teacher training programs, (10) ____________ exams and assessments, developing new curricula and learning materials and deploying digital technology and artificial intelligence in classrooms.
To (11) ____________ immediate needs, the ministry says 12,000 new English teachers must be recruited for preschools and 10,000 for primary schools, (12) ____________ at least 200,000 existing teachers will be retrained to teach in English by 2030. Vietnam currently has more than 1.05 million preschool and general education teachers, of whom only around 30,000 specialize in English.

Read the following passage about nanotechnology and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 13 to 22.

The zero-waste lifestyle, which promotes eliminating all personal waste, has become a symbol of environmental responsibility in recent years. From reusable containers to bulk shopping and composting, the movement encourages individuals to radically change their consumption habits. While the intention behind it is commendable, the practicality of achieving a truly zero-waste lifestyle remains questionable for most people.
Waste is part and parcel of today's consumer society. Supermarkets package goods in layers of plastic; online shopping generates cardboard, tape, and protective fillers; even medical care often involves single-use items for hygiene. Expecting individuals to entirely avoid these realities requires a level of privilege, time, and access that many do not have. For example, not every city offers bulk stores or composting services, and not everyone can afford the often higher costs of sustainable products.
Moreover, the pressure to be “zero-waste” can lead to guilt rather than change. When a person who tries their best still ends up discarding a food wrapper or a broken appliance, they may feel that their efforts are meaningless. This absolute mindset can be counterproductive, discouraging broader participation in sustainable practices.

[I] Rather than total elimination, choosing to reuse whenever possible, refusing unnecessary packaging, and supporting circular economy initiatives can collectively shift demand away from disposability. [II] small, consistent efforts across a population can significantly reduce environmental harm. [III] Rather than viewing zero-waste as an endpoint, it may be more useful to treat it as an aspiration, a guiding principle rather than a strict rule. [IV] Progress lies not in perfection, but in the widespread willingness to reduce where we can and when we can.

Read the following passage and 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 28 to 32.
Culture shock is the loss of emotional balance, disorientation, or confusion that a person feels when moving from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar one. (28) ____________. Individual personality, previous cross- cultural experience, and language proficiency all affect a person's ability to interact socially in the new culture. The basic cause of culture shock is the abrupt loss of all that is familiar, (29) ____________.

When an individual enters a strange culture, all or most of those familiar signs and hints are removed. He or she is like a fish out of water. No matter how broad-minded or good-willed he may be, a series of properties have been knocked from under him. (30) ____________. People react to the frustration in much the same way.
First, they reject the environment that causes the discomfort: "The ways of the host country are bad because they make us feel bad."

Another aspect of culture shock is regression. (31) ____________, and everything becomes irrationally glorified. All difficulties and problems are forgotten, and only the good things back home are remembered. It usually takes a trip home to bring one back to reality. Common symptoms of culture shock include the following extremes. These are excessive concerns, over delays and other minor frustrations: fear of being cheated, robbed or injured; (32) ____________; and a great longing to go home. Underlying all these is the uncomfortable feeling of not really belonging, of being an outsider.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 33 to 40.

A letter of application is a sales letter in which you are both salesperson and product, for the purpose of an application is to attract an employer’s attention and persuade him or her to grant you an interview. To do this, the letter presents what you can offer the employer, rather than what you want from the job. Like a résumé, the letter of application is a sample of your work and an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and personality. If it is written with flair and understanding and prepared with professional care, it is likely to be very effective. While the résumé must be factual, objective, and brief, the letter is your chance to interpret and expand. It should state explicitly how your background relates to the specific job, and it should emphasise your strongest and most relevant characteristics. The letter should demonstrate that you know both yourself and the company.
The letter of application must communicate your ambition and enthusiasm. Yet it must be modest. It should be neither aggressive nor compliant: neither pat yourself on the back nor ask for sympathy. It should never express dissatisfaction with the present or former job or employer. And you should avoid discussing your reasons for leaving your last job.
Finally, it is best that you do not broach the subject on salary. Indeed, even if a job advertisement requires that you mention your salary requirements, it is advisable simply to call them “negotiable”. However, when you go on an interview, you should be prepared to mention a salary range. For this reason, you should investigate both your field and, if possible, the particular company. You don't want to ask for less than you deserve or more than is reasonable.