Đề luyện thi giữa kỳ 1 môn Tiếng Anh GS12 – Practice Test 1, 2, 3

[Audio – Alfred Nobel biography talk]

[Audio – Alfred Nobel biography talk]

Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born scientist and inventor (9) ______ was best known for inventing the first working telephone.

Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3, 1847. During his youth, Bell was strongly influenced by his family and his environment. Bell's hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, was known as (10) ______ “Athens of the North” for its rich culture of arts and science.

By the age of 16, Alexander had joined his father in his work with the deaf. In 1870, the family (11) ______ in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. There, Alexander set up a workshop to continue his study of the human voice. On July 11, 1877, Bell married Mabie Hubbard who had been deaf since her early childhood years.

On March 10, 1876, after many years of work, Bell perfected his most well-known (12) ______ , the telephone, and made his first telephone call. The Bell Telephone Company was organised on July 9, 1877. In 1880, Bell established the Volta Laboratory in Washington, D.C., an experimental facility devoted to (13) ______ discovery.

Throughout his life, Bell continued his family's work with the deaf. Bell died peacefully on August 2, 1922, at his home in Baddeck on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Building Friendships in a Multicultural World

Living in a multicultural world is an amazing experience for young people. They can explore different traditions, taste new foods, and learn new ways of thinking. (14) ______, it helps them become more open-minded and respectful. For example, a student from Vietnam may share stories (15) ______ Tet, while a friend from Japan talks about cherry blossom festivals.

Of course, it is necessary (16) ______ positive attitudes when meeting people from other cultures. Students should try (17) ______ cultural activities such as cooking classes, language clubs, or international fairs. These experiences give them the chance to wear traditional costumes, enjoy music, and practice foreign languages.

Sometimes cultural differences cause confusion. However, most problems can be solved if people listen carefully and respect each other. Another good idea is to (18) ______ compliments when someone introduces their traditions. This simple action shows appreciation and builds stronger relationships.

Living in a diverse world does not only provide knowledge but also creates opportunities for friendship and cooperation.

The pollution of our atmosphere arises from human activities, notably the emission of greenhouse gases through actions like agriculture, transportation, industry and household operations. Waste disposal also contributes significantly. Air pollution has a tremendous impact on human health and nature.

About 50 per cent of the world's waste is not managed properly. Unfortunately, a part of this mismanagement involves open dumping and burning. When waste is disposed of in this manner, it releases harmful substances into the air. This can significantly impact both our health and the environment, making it difficult to breathe, and worsening existing health problems. That's why we need to manage our waste properly by recycling, composting, and safely treating waste.

Informal workers in the waste management sector, including children, are sometimes hired to collect, sort or dispose of waste in unsafe conditions. When waste is managed in an unsafe manner, it can release toxic chemicals into the air and water, putting these workers and their communities at risk. When UNEP assists local waste management teams in improving their practices, it directly benefits these informal workers and their families and communities as well.

(I). When it comes to waste management, it's not only up to individuals. (II). Companies and governments also make a significant impact. Companies can use less packaging and create products with reduced waste. (III). They can design their products to be easily recycled, and support regulations for improved waste management. (IV). Governments also play a crucial role. They can establish strong regulations to prevent dumping and burning. By investing in better waste handling methods, they contribute to everyone breathing cleaner air and enjoying a safer environment.

As a practice, tipping has its origins in Europe of the Middle Ages (a period which lasted from about 500 to 1,500 A.D.) when the wealthy would give people in lower classes extra money for their services, according to Kerry Segrave's "Tipping: An American Social History of Gratuities."

In the 1800s, Americans who had seen tipping on travels abroad "thought this would be a wonderful thing to kind of mimic our brothers and sisters in Europe" and brought the practice to the U.S., says Stephen Zagor, a professor at Columbia Business School specialising in the restaurant industry. Though many Americans rebelled against it, the practice spread.

At the end of the Civil War, America's labour force "was flooded" with formerly enslaved people and immigrants. Employers took advantage of this class of "low-educated, low-income" workers and hired them for jobs that paid very little, encouraging people to tip as a supplement to wages. This shifted the responsibility of paying workers to customers and cut employers' costs.

Various businesses within the service industry adopted the practice. But the company that made tipping popular was the Pullman Company, which built and operated railroad cars.

In the 1860s, the company purposely hired "formerly enslaved people to achieve the high-quality customer service the Pullman cars were known for," according to the Library of Congress. Workers shined shoes, made beds, woke up passengers and so on. They worked long hours and relied heavily on tips for pay.

[Audio – Speaker 1: megacity traffic in Los Angeles; Speaker 2: waste management in mega cities]

[Audio – Talk on evolution and future of urbanisation]

Green Living

Green living is becoming increasingly popular as people recognise the importance of protecting the environment. It involves making daily choices that reduce pollution and save natural resources. People (9) ______ choose to live sustainably often use reusable bags, cycle to work, and avoid single-use plastics.

One simple way to adopt a greener lifestyle is to save energy at home. Turning off lights when they are not needed and using energy-efficient appliances can make (10) ______ significant difference. In addition, people can reduce waste by separating rubbish for recycling. Over the past few years, many communities (11) ______ more environmentally friendly habits through local campaigns and educational programmes.

Green living also encourages people to make (12) ______ shopping decisions. Buying local products can reduce transportation emissions and support small businesses. More importantly, environmental awareness helps individuals understand how their actions affect the planet. If everyone makes small changes, these efforts can have a positive impact on the environment and contribute to a more (13) ______ future.

Vincent van Gogh was a well-known painter whose work is famous (14) _________ its beauty, emotion and colour. Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands. At age 15, Van Gogh's family was struggling financially, and he was forced to (15) _________ school and go to work. He got a job at his Uncle Cornells' art dealership, Goupil & cie. By this time, Van Gogh was fluent in French, German and English, as well as his native Dutch.

In June of 1873, Van Gogh was transferred to the Groupil Gallery in London. There, he fell in love with English culture. He visited art galleries in his spare time. He also fell in love with his landlady's daughter, Eugenie Loyer. When she refused his marriage proposal, Van Gogh suffered a breakdown. He threw away all his books except for the Bible, and devoted his life to God.

In the fall of 1880, van Gogh decided (16) _________ to Brussels and become an artist. Although he had no formal art training, his brother Theo offered to support van Gogh financially. In 1885, he began work on what is considered to be his first masterpiece, "Potato Eaters".

Vincent van Gogh completed more than 2,100 works, (17) _________ of 860 oil paintings and more than 1,300 watercolors, drawings and sketches. Several of his paintings now rank among the most expensive in the world. A few of van Gogh's most well-known artworks include: Starry Night and Sunflowers. Van Gogh painted the Starry Night in the asylum where he was staying in Saint-Rémy, France, in 1889, the year before his death. On July 29, 1890, Vincent van Gogh died in the arms of his brother Theo. He was only 37 years old.

Today, Vincent van Gogh is considered one of the greatest artists in human history, (18) _________ he struggled with mental illness and remained poor and virtually unknown throughout his life.

Green Living: Small Changes, Big Differences

Green living means making choices that help protect the environment and reduce the use of natural resources. Although environmental problems may seem too big for individuals to solve, our daily habits can make a significant difference when many people take action together.

One effective way to live more sustainably is to reduce waste. Instead of buying bottled water every day, people can carry reusable bottles. They can also bring their own shopping bags and choose products with less packaging. Furthermore, repairing old items rather than replacing them can save both money and resources.

Energy conservation is another important part of green living. Turning off unnecessary lights, using energy-efficient appliances, and walking or cycling for short journeys can reduce energy consumption and air pollution. Although these changes may appear small, they can have a positive effect on the environment over time.

However, green living is not only about individual behaviour. Schools, businesses, and local authorities should work together to create greener communities. For example, schools can organise recycling programmes, while local authorities can improve public transport and provide more green spaces. By making environmentally friendly choices and encouraging others to do the same, we can build a healthier and more sustainable future.

The world today is becoming more multicultural than ever before. People from different countries and backgrounds are living, studying, and working together in the same communities. This diversity brings both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, living in a multicultural society allows people to learn about new traditions, languages, and ways of thinking. It can also encourage creativity and innovation, as individuals share unique ideas and experiences.

However, cultural differences can sometimes lead to misunderstanding or conflict. For example, people may have different ways of greeting, eating, or expressing emotions. If they do not respect or try to understand one another, these differences may cause tension. Education plays a vital role in promoting tolerance and open-mindedness. Schools that teach students about global cultures help them become more empathetic and respectful citizens.

In the end, being part of a multicultural world is not just about living side by side, but about learning to appreciate and celebrate our differences. When people work together with mutual respect, diversity becomes a strength rather than a barrier.

[Audio – Cultural facts talk, same as Task 1]

Vo Thi Sau was born in Ba Ria- Vung Tau province in 1933. She was just a schoolgirl when she became involved in revolutionary activities. When Ho Chi Minh (9) _______ independence against the French in 1945, she was only 12 years old. A few years later, she joined the Viet Minh and became a guerrilla fighter.

At the age of 14 while in (10) _______ busy market, she threw a grenade at a group of French soldiers. She managed to kill one officer and injured several others. She was able to escape unnoticed. At 16, she planned another grenade attack, however, the grenade failed to explode and she was arrested by the French authorities. She was then shipped off to three different prisons, the final being Con Son prison on the Con Dao archipelago. She was executed by firing squad in 1952 (11) _______ she was only 19-years-old. It's said she refused to be blindfolded and stared into the eyes of the soldiers while singing until she was killed.

Today, she is considered a national hero and a symbol of the (12) _______ spirit. Her grave is frequently visited by Vietnamese citizens, especially at night. To honour her (13) _______, many streets, parks, and schools are named after her across Viet Nam.

Marie Curie was born on 7th November, 1867. Her father and mother were teachers. She was the youngest of the five children. She was ten years old and began (14) _________ the boarding school of J. Sikosra. Then she (15) _________ a gymnasium for girls from which she graduated on 12 June 1883 with a gold medal. She started her practical scientific training at the chemical laboratory. In 1891, she moved to France and enrolled herself at the Sorbonne University. In 1893, she was awarded a master's degree in Physics. She returned to Paris to pursue a PhD. In 1894, Marie met Pierre Curie. Like Marie, he was a scientist and the two of them fell in love. They married on July 26th 1895 and they had two daughters. Marie became fascinated by rays that were recently discovered by scientists Wilhelm Roentgen and Henri Becquerel. Roentgen discovered X-rays and Becquerel had found rays given off by an element called uranium. Marie and her husband began to do experiments. They eventually discovered two new elements for the periodic table. Marie named one of the elements polonium after her homeland, Poland and named the other radium (16) _________ it gave off such strong rays. In 1903, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Marie and Pierre Curie as well as Henri Becquerel for their work in radiation. In 1911, Marie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering the two elements polonium and radium. She was the first person (17) _________ awarded two Nobel Prizes. Scientists came (18) _________ around the world to study radioactivity with Marie. Soon doctors found that radiology could help with curing cancer. When World War I started, Marie learned that doctors could use x-rays to help determine what was wrong with an injured soldier that time. She died in Pasi Haute Savoie, France on 4 July 1934 at the age of 66.

The pandemic and the lockdown have ruined businesses worldwide. Businesses will want to make commitments to the environment as they try to recover, especially as some governments reduce requirements for environmental protection.

(I). This is short-sighted: Businesses do not have to sacrifice their environmental goals for protecting their growth. (II). Green ideas like offering green products or services, introducing green processes and hiring employees to promote sustainable practices can actually help businesses. (III). Using data on 9,236 businesses in 35 countries across Europe and the US, our research suggests that on average, businesses benefit from going green. (IV). Although the type of greening that gives the most significant benefit may differ between businesses.

By offering new green products or services, a business is more likely to serve an emerging trend or niche market, which can make it more competitive. Frugalpac, a UK-based company that makes paper-based packaging for liquids that cut carbon footprints, received a £2 million investment during the pandemic - a time when most other companies were facing financial problems. Already seeing success for their recycled paper coffee cup, Frugalpac's innovative paper wine bottle, also made from 94% recycled paper, has led to new opportunities and partnerships.

Job seekers are increasingly attracted to companies that care for the environment. The employees of companies that promote sustainability are more likely to believe that their employer will care for them, and are more satisfied with their jobs. Such companies create a higher sense of purpose that makes work meaningful. By some estimates, companies that follow green practices have a 16% increase in employee productivity. Some of the greenest companies, such as Cisco, Tarmac or Stantec, are also considered the greatest companies by employees.

Greening processes can increase efficiency by reducing energy costs, allowing businesses to secure green tax credits and improving operational efficiency. As many as 75% of UK businesses that invested in green technologies enjoyed commercial benefits, even if financial concerns are barriers to making these green investments in the first place. For large companies such as Procter & Gamble, these gains can run into billions of pounds. In contrast, in cases where businesses harm the environment, they have to be prepared to pay for huge costs.

One of the most obvious effects of globalisation on local cultures is the spread of popular culture. With the rise of global media and the internet, cultural products such as music, films, and television shows are now easily accessible in even the most remote corners of the world. This has led to the erosion of traditional cultural practices and music. For example, many traditional music styles and instruments are being replaced by Western pop music and electric instruments, and traditional dress is being replaced by Western-style clothing. This can lead to a loss of cultural identity and a sense of disconnection from one's own heritage.

Another effect of globalisation on local cultures is the erosion of traditional languages. As people become more exposed to global media and travel more, they are more likely to adopt the language of the dominant global culture, often at the expense of their own traditional languages. This can lead to a loss of linguistic diversity. In some cases, it can also lead to the extinction of languages that are not passed down to future generations.