4 Đề luyện thi THPT Quốc gia môn Tiếng Anh năm 2020

Nội dung text: 4 Đề luyện thi THPT Quốc gia môn Tiếng Anh năm 2020

1. ĐỀ THAM KHẢO LUYỆN THI TNPT 2020 - 04 Thời gian: 60 phút Mã Đề 383 Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions. 01.A. souvenirB. south C. aroundD. thousand 02.A. increaseB. rose C. diseaseD. impose Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions. 03.A. computerB. commuter C. complianceD. competent 04.A. territoryB. terminal C. tertiaryD. terrific Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions. 05. (A) During our conversation he couldn’t help (B) asking me if my sister (C) has already given (D) birth to the baby. A. has alreadyB. DuringC. birth toD. asking me if 06. (A) Because it was faster, John (B) insisted in (C) my taking the plane to Miami (D) instead of the train. A. instead of the trainB. Because it was fasterC. my takingD. insisted in 07. Although he is (A) so young, he has (B) few problems (C) understanding philosophy, (D) hasn’t he? A. understandingB. soC. fewD. hasn’t he? 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 08 to 14. ELEPHANTS AND MEMORY Among the many advanced cognitive abilities that elephants exhibit, their exceptional memory is what they are most known for. Elephant memory is an area of study that many researchers have sought to understand and explain, and recent findings reveal that much has yet to be discovered. Elephants travel in herds typically guided by the oldest female - the matriarch - and her memory is imperative to their survival. She can remember the location of watering holes and feeding points and is the one in charge of leading the herd to safety when disaster strikes. Researchers have found that in periods of drought, for instance, herds with younger matriarchs are less likely to survive. The older matriarch is able to recollect information from decades back. While humans might experience memory loss as they grow older, the exact opposite occurs with elephants. Another study exhibited how herds with older female leaders huddled together in the face of a predator, whereas those with younger matriarchs didn’t. Older matriarchs seemed to remember encountering dangerous strangers in the past and knew when to take a defensive position to ward them off. Elephants form strong social ties with each other and build a complex network of relationships throughout life which depends on genetic, social and circumstantial factors. Their strong memory helps maintain these through time and space. It is believed that they can keep track of the location of about 30 other elephants at any given time when travelling; an impressive figure considering that they don’t always roam in a fixed order and the groups are frequently changing. At first glance, an elephant’s memory seems to be purely utilitarian in nature, serving survival purposes and family identification needs, but the story of two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, poses new issues. Having spent only a few months together in a circus, the two elephants not only recognised each other when they were reunited over 20 years later, but also displayed gestures of affection and friendship. Could this prove that elephants experience and ‘remember’ feelings of fondness from the past? To this day, even researchers can only guess. 08. What is suggested about elephants and their predators? A. Young matriarchs perceive danger ahead of time. B. Older matriarchs know when to attack approaching predators C. Predators tend to attack herds with young matriarchs. D. Herds with young matriarchs aren’t as well defended. 09. Why is the story of Shirley and Jenny mentioned? A. to emphasise the use of memory for necessary survival information B. to demonstrate the use of memory in recognising long-lost relatives C. to give an example of how elephants that are related to each other act D. to show the likelihood of elephants forming emotional connections 10. What does the word ‘these’ (line 13) refer to? A. memoriesB. elephantsC. factorsD. social ties 11. What can be implied from the last sentence? A. the writer is ironic about researchers’ work on elephants’ memory B. elephants’ memory of feelings needs more proof C. elephants’ memory is an imaginary thing D. scientists are still not sure about elephants’ memory
2. 12. What can be inferred about elephants and droughts? A. In periods of drought, the oldest female takes charge. B. Their survival is a matter of luck. C. Periods of drought are the elephants’ worst fear. D. Their survival depends on their leader. 13. What is the text about? A. how memory skills skills benefit elephants B. a recent research project on elephants’ memory C. elephants’ cognitive abilities in comparison to other animals D. how elephants’ memory is affected by external elements 14. The word ‘utilitarian’ is closest in meaning to A. for everyoneB. instrumentalC. useful and practicalD. seen everywhere Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions. 15. John was not here yesterday. Perhaps he was ill. A. John needn't be here yesterday because he was ill. B. John must have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. C. Because of his illness, John shouldn't have been here yesterday. D. John might have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. 16. Grandad is 80. He can read and mend things without glasses. A. Though Grandad comes to the age of 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. B. So old at 80 as Grandad is, he can read and mend things without glasses. C. Old as Grandad is 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. D. Despite his age of 80, Grandad can read and mend things without glasses. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning tothe underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 17. Tom was green with envy when he saw that I got a new car for my birthday. A. filled with admirationB. willing to have itC. scared to deathD. greatly envious 18. A lot of money went down the drain by misuse of funds. A. was completely wastedB. was thrown to the sewage C. lost in investmentD. spent for no purpose Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 19. It's time to hit the books. A. do accountingB. keep the recordsC. begin readingD. be free and easy 20. She felt so on edge before the interview. A. terrifiedB. scaredC. relaxedD. self-confident 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 21 to 25. Today, people all over the world take time out to celebrate and appreciate the Earth that we all share. Some will partake in environmental movements. Others will volunteer in cleaning their towns or (21) water and electricity at home. Maybe you even have some idea of (22) you can help to make our environment better. The idea for Earth Day (April 22) came from a former US politician, Gaylord Nelson, who was worried about pollution and the health of plants and animals. In 1969, he decided that there (23) be a special day to teach people about what we could do to (24) our environment better. This idea quickly caught on and in 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since then, environmentalists have used Earth Day to educate people about their role in protecting our planet. Earth Day eventually became a global celebration around the world. People gather on this day to talk about (25) matters as global warming, protecting endangered animals, or preserving our energy resources. 21.A. retainingB. keeping C. conservingD. controlling 22.A. whenB. where C. whomD. how 23.A. shouldB. will C. have toD. can 24.A. setB. leave C. helpD. make 25.A. thoseB. so C. suchD. these 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 26 to 33. In the 1930s, when radio was still in its infancy, broadcasting stations in the USA wondered what type of programmes they should put on during the daytime. They came up with the idea of producing serials that would be on the radio every afternoon telling a continuous story. To keep the listeners' interest, there would be far more crises occurring than in real life. Knowing that
3. the majority of the audience would be women, the broadcasters decided that the women in the serials would be strong characters and the men weak. The serials were an instant success with listeners. As the radio stations were paid for by advertising, these programmes always carried advertisements and, since one of the most frequently advertised products was soap, the programmes became known as Soaps or Soap Operas. It was really by chance that the soap opera appeared in Britain. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) had no interest in producing this type of programme but during the Second World War it was thought that the Americans should be shown how well the British people were standing up to the war. For this reason, a soap opera was written for the North American service of the BBC; it was called Front Line Family and showed how a typical English family, the Robinsons, were living during the war. Some people in Britain managed to hear the programme and asked for it to be broadcast for the British audience. The BBC were unwilling to do this but finally agreed and broadcast the programnne in Britain, but changed the name to The Robinsons. The programme ran for six years. Other soaps were introduced later, one telling the life of a doctor's family and another, The Archers, about life in a country village. The original aim of The Archers was to inform farmers of new developments in agriculture. The serial began in 1951 and is still to be heard on five evenings every week. Some attempts at soap opera began to appear on television in Britain in the mid-1950s but it was not until 1961 that the first real soap opera appeared. This was shown, not by the BBC, but by commercial television. The serial, called Coronation Street, was about the lives of people living in a working-class street near Manchester. Although the serial was planned to run for only thirteen weeks, it is still to be seen several nights every week and almost every week has more viewers than any other programme on British television. The BBC never managed to produce a really successful soap opera until 1984, when it introduced Eastenders. This programme is about life in an area of the east end of London. For a time it had more viewers than Coronation Street and still rivals it as the most popular programme on British television. There is a major difference between the two programmes in that Eastenders concentrates on often rather depressing realism whilst Coronation Street, although having serious storylines, always contains a strong element of comedy. [Source: HOW TO PASS FCE, Brian Orpet, page 22] 26. What problem did broadcasting stations in America have in the early days of radio? A. how to reflect real lifeB. what type of serial to produce C. what to broadcast during the dayD. how to entertain women 27. Why did the radio stations make women have the strongest characters in soap operas? A. Because women deal better with crises.B. Because no men would be listening. C. Because the audience would be mainly femaleD. Because men usually have weak characters. 28. The phrase “stand up to” is closest in meaning to A. enlist intoB. supportC. welcomeD. refuse to accept 29. Why did the BBC begin to broadcast Front Line Family in Britain? A. Because people in America liked it.B. Because the BBC thought it would run for six years. C. Because the BBC changed its name.D. Because people asked to hear it. 30. Why was the programme Front Line Family made? A. to tell the Americans why the British were at war B. to tell the Americans why the British stood to win the war C. to tell the Americans how the British were living during the war D. to tell the Americans how the British were winning the war 31. What do we learn about The Archers in this passage? A. lt could be heard every evening of the week.B. lt was first broadcast before 1951. C. The aim of the programme was to educate farmers.D. The programme was about a country doctor. 32. How is Coronation Streef different from Eastenders? A. lt has a stronger storyline.B. lt is more like real life C. lt is funnier.D. lt is more serious. 33. What do we learn about Coronation Street? A. lt has always been the most popular programme on television. B. lt has lasted longer than expected. C. lt was the first real soap on to be shown on BBC television. D. lt takes place in central Manchester. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 00 to 00. 34. After a day of housework I am totally A. weakB. strainedC. exhaustedD. dull 35. There has not been a great response to the sale, ? A. does thereB. hasn’t itC. has thereD. hasn’t there 36. We forward to watching this documentary for ages. A. lookB. ‘ve been lookingC. ’re lookingD. will be looking 37. It was from the new minister to introduce more changes in the foreign policy. A. believedB. expectedC. awaitedD. hoped
4. 38. By next year, my son will have his education at Cambridge University. A. terminatedB. completedC. realizedD. graduated 39. Most people have experienced a disastrous holiday at time or another. A. anyB. aC. theD. one 40. Having been asked to speak at the convention, . A. some notes were prepared by Dr. Baker B. some notes were prepared for Dr. Baker C. the convention members were pleased to hear Dr. Baker D. Dr. Baker prepared some notes 41. My noisy neighbours were to for the fact that I could not sleep last night. A. faultB. criticiseC. blameD. accuse 42. We’re spending our holidays on the this summer. A. bankB. beachC. shoreD. coast 43. My sister is studying to be a chemical engineer but she uncertain about which field to follow. A. appearsB. is appearingC. has been appearingD. has appeared 44. The van driver said he couldn’t us a lift home as there were no free seats in his vehicle. A. takeB. driveC. giveD. make 45. Could you please me to the nearest post office? A. pointB. directC. indicateD. explain Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges. 46. Tim is talking to his father. ~ Dad: "Why are you always tuning in to this channel all time, Pop?" ~ Tim: “ ” A. We should save electricity.B. I need to buy a car. C. I’m crazy about soccer.D. Commercials are so boring! 47. Mrs. Green is cooking in the kitchen. ~ Mr. Green: “ ?” ~ Mrs. Green: “Not for you! It’s for our dog.” A. Delicious. I’ve never tasted it for ages.B. Is there something to eat now? C. Need some help with the cooking, my dear?D. What are you eating? It smells so good Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions. 48. We should really be starting our work. A. It's high time we were starting our work.B. I'd rather we are starting our work. C. It's time for us to have started our work.D. It's about time we be starting our work. 49. This traing course is suitable for students of eighteen years and up. A. Students of eighteen years and over can use traing course. B. The traing course may be suitable for students of over eighteen years of age. C. Only 18-year-old students will find this traing course suitable. D. The traing course is suitable for students who are over eighteen. 50. I had only just turned off the light when the robber jumped in. A. I turned off the light when the robber jumped in. B. Hardly had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. C. Scarcely had I turned off the light than robber jumped in. D. No sooner had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. The End
5. ĐỀ THAM KHẢO LUYỆN THI TNPT 2020 - 04 Thời gian: 60 phút Mã Đề 791 Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions. 01.A. diseaseB. impose C. increaseD. rose 02.A. thousandB. around C. souvenirD. south Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 00 to 00. 03. We’re spending our holidays on the this summer. A. beachB. bankC. coastD. shore 04. Most people have experienced a disastrous holiday at time or another. A. oneB. theC. aD. any 05. After a day of housework I am totally A. strainedB. weakC. dullD. exhausted 06. There has not been a great response to the sale, ? A. hasn’t itB. does thereC. has thereD. hasn’t there 07. My sister is studying to be a chemical engineer but she uncertain about which field to follow. A. has been appearingB. is appearingC. appearsD. has appeared 08. We forward to watching this documentary for ages. A. ‘ve been lookingB. ’re lookingC. will be lookingD. look 09. My noisy neighbours were to for the fact that I could not sleep last night. A. criticiseB. faultC. accuseD. blame 10. It was from the new minister to introduce more changes in the foreign policy. A. believedB. hopedC. awaitedD. expected 11. The van driver said he couldn’t us a lift home as there were no free seats in his vehicle. A. takeB. makeC. driveD. give 12. By next year, my son will have his education at Cambridge University. A. terminatedB. graduatedC. realizedD. completed 13. Having been asked to speak at the convention, . A. the convention members were pleased to hear Dr. Baker B. some notes were prepared for Dr. Baker C. Dr. Baker prepared some notes D. some notes were prepared by Dr. Baker 14. Could you please me to the nearest post office? A. directB. pointC. indicateD. explain 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 15 to 19. Today, people all over the world take time out to celebrate and appreciate the Earth that we all share. Some will partake in environmental movements. Others will volunteer in cleaning their towns or (15) water and electricity at home. Maybe you even have some idea of (16) you can help to make our environment better. The idea for Earth Day (April 22) came from a former US politician, Gaylord Nelson, who was worried about pollution and the health of plants and animals. In 1969, he decided that there (17) be a special day to teach people about what we could do to (18) our environment better. This idea quickly caught on and in 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since then, environmentalists have used Earth Day to educate people about their role in protecting our planet. Earth Day eventually became a global celebration around the world. People gather on this day to talk about (19) matters as global warming, protecting endangered animals, or preserving our energy resources. 15.A. retainingB. controlling C. keepingD. conserving 16.A. whomB. how C. whenD. where 17.A. canB. will C. shouldD. have to 18.A. setB. help C. leaveD. make 19.A. theseB. those C. suchD. so 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 20 to 27. In the 1930s, when radio was still in its infancy, broadcasting stations in the USA wondered what type of programmes they should put on during the daytime. They came up with the idea of producing serials that would be on the radio every afternoon telling a continuous story. To keep the listeners' interest, there would be far more crises occurring than in real life. Knowing that the majority of the audience would be women, the broadcasters decided that the women in the serials would be strong characters and the men weak. The serials were an instant success with listeners. As the radio stations were paid for by advertising, these programmes always carried advertisements and, since one of the most frequently advertised products was soap, the programmes became known as Soaps or Soap Operas. It was really by chance that the
6. soap opera appeared in Britain. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) had no interest in producing this type of programme but during the Second World War it was thought that the Americans should be shown how well the British people were standing up to the war. For this reason, a soap opera was written for the North American service of the BBC; it was called Front Line Family and showed how a typical English family, the Robinsons, were living during the war. Some people in Britain managed to hear the programme and asked for it to be broadcast for the British audience. The BBC were unwilling to do this but finally agreed and broadcast the programnne in Britain, but changed the name to The Robinsons. The programme ran for six years. Other soaps were introduced later, one telling the life of a doctor's family and another, The Archers, about life in a country village. The original aim of The Archers was to inform farmers of new developments in agriculture. The serial began in 1951 and is still to be heard on five evenings every week. Some attempts at soap opera began to appear on television in Britain in the mid-1950s but it was not until 1961 that the first real soap opera appeared. This was shown, not by the BBC, but by commercial television. The serial, called Coronation Street, was about the lives of people living in a working-class street near Manchester. Although the serial was planned to run for only thirteen weeks, it is still to be seen several nights every week and almost every week has more viewers than any other programme on British television. The BBC never managed to produce a really successful soap opera until 1984, when it introduced Eastenders. This programme is about life in an area of the east end of London. For a time it had more viewers than Coronation Street and still rivals it as the most popular programme on British television. There is a major difference between the two programmes in that Eastenders concentrates on often rather depressing realism whilst Coronation Street, although having serious storylines, always contains a strong element of comedy. [Source: HOW TO PASS FCE, Brian Orpet, page 22] 20. Why was the programme Front Line Family made? A. to tell the Americans why the British were at war B. to tell the Americans how the British were living during the war C. to tell the Americans how the British were winning the war D. to tell the Americans why the British stood to win the war 21. What do we learn about Coronation Street? A. lt takes place in central Manchester. B. lt has lasted longer than expected. C. lt has always been the most popular programme on television. D. lt was the first real soap on to be shown on BBC television. 22. What problem did broadcasting stations in America have in the early days of radio? A. how to entertain womenB. what to broadcast during the day C. how to reflect real lifeD. what type of serial to produce 23. The phrase “stand up to” is closest in meaning to A. enlist intoB. supportC. welcomeD. refuse to accept 24. Why did the BBC begin to broadcast Front Line Family in Britain? A. Because the BBC thought it would run for six years.B. Because people in America liked it. C. Because the BBC changed its name.D. Because people asked to hear it. 25. What do we learn about The Archers in this passage? A. lt was first broadcast before 1951.B. The aim of the programme was to educate farmers. C. lt could be heard every evening of the week.D. The programme was about a country doctor. 26. Why did the radio stations make women have the strongest characters in soap operas? A. Because the audience would be mainly femaleB. Because women deal better with crises. C. Because men usually have weak characters.D. Because no men would be listening. 27. How is Coronation Streef different from Eastenders? A. lt is more like real lifeB. lt has a stronger storyline. C. lt is more serious.D. lt is funnier. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges. 28. Mrs. Green is cooking in the kitchen. ~ Mr. Green: “ ?” ~ Mrs. Green: “Not for you! It’s for our dog.” A. What are you eating? It smells so goodB. Need some help with the cooking, my dear? C. Is there something to eat now?D. Delicious. I’ve never tasted it for ages. 29. Tim is talking to his father. ~ Dad: "Why are you always tuning in to this channel all time, Pop?" ~ Tim: “ ” A. I’m crazy about soccer.B. We should save electricity. C. I need to buy a car.D. Commercials are so boring! Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning tothe underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 30. A lot of money went down the drain by misuse of funds.
7. A. spent for no purposeB. was completely wasted C. lost in investmentD. was thrown to the sewage 31. Tom was green with envy when he saw that I got a new car for my birthday. A. greatly enviousB. filled with admirationC. willing to have itD. scared to death Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 32. She felt so on edge before the interview. A. self-confidentB. scaredC. relaxedD. terrified 33. It's time to hit the books. A. keep the recordsB. be free and easyC. do accountingD. begin reading  Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions. 34. Grandad is 80. He can read and mend things without glasses. A. Old as Grandad is 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. B. Despite his age of 80, Grandad can read and mend things without glasses. C. So old at 80 as Grandad is, he can read and mend things without glasses. D. Though Grandad comes to the age of 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. 35. John was not here yesterday. Perhaps he was ill. A. John must have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. B. Because of his illness, John shouldn't have been here yesterday. C. John might have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. D. John needn't be here yesterday because he was ill. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions. 36.A. complianceB. computer C. competentD. commuter 37.A. territoryB. tertiary C. terrificD. terminal Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions. 38. (A) During our conversation he couldn’t help (B) asking me if my sister (C) has already given (D) birth to the baby. A. DuringB. has alreadyC. birth toD. asking me if 39. Although he is (A) so young, he has (B) few problems (C) understanding philosophy, (D) hasn’t he? A. hasn’t he?B. soC. understandingD. few 40. (A) Because it was faster, John (B) insisted in (C) my taking the plane to Miami (D) instead of the train. A. my takingB. instead of the trainC. Because it was fasterD. insisted in Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions. 41. This traing course is suitable for students of eighteen years and up. A. Only 18-year-old students will find this traing course suitable. B. The traing course may be suitable for students of over eighteen years of age. C. Students of eighteen years and over can use traing course. D. The traing course is suitable for students who are over eighteen. 42. We should really be starting our work. A. It's high time we were starting our work.B. It's about time we be starting our work. C. It's time for us to have started our work.D. I'd rather we are starting our work. 43. I had only just turned off the light when the robber jumped in. A. No sooner had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. B. I turned off the light when the robber jumped in. C. Scarcely had I turned off the light than robber jumped in. D. Hardly had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. 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 44 to 50. ELEPHANTS AND MEMORY Among the many advanced cognitive abilities that elephants exhibit, their exceptional memory is what they are most known for. Elephant memory is an area of study that many researchers have sought to understand and explain, and recent findings reveal that much has yet to be discovered. Elephants travel in herds typically guided by the oldest female - the matriarch - and her memory is imperative to their survival. She can remember the location of watering holes and feeding points and is the one in charge of leading the herd to safety when disaster strikes. Researchers have found that in periods of drought, for instance, herds with younger matriarchs are less likely to survive. The older matriarch is able to recollect information from decades back. While humans might experience memory loss as
8. they grow older, the exact opposite occurs with elephants. Another study exhibited how herds with older female leaders huddled together in the face of a predator, whereas those with younger matriarchs didn’t. Older matriarchs seemed to remember encountering dangerous strangers in the past and knew when to take a defensive position to ward them off. Elephants form strong social ties with each other and build a complex network of relationships throughout life which depends on genetic, social and circumstantial factors. Their strong memory helps maintain these through time and space. It is believed that they can keep track of the location of about 30 other elephants at any given time when travelling; an impressive figure considering that they don’t always roam in a fixed order and the groups are frequently changing. At first glance, an elephant’s memory seems to be purely utilitarian in nature, serving survival purposes and family identification needs, but the story of two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, poses new issues. Having spent only a few months together in a circus, the two elephants not only recognised each other when they were reunited over 20 years later, but also displayed gestures of affection and friendship. Could this prove that elephants experience and ‘remember’ feelings of fondness from the past? To this day, even researchers can only guess. 44. The word ‘utilitarian’ is closest in meaning to A. for everyoneB. instrumentalC. seen everywhereD. useful and practical 45. What can be inferred about elephants and droughts? A. Periods of drought are the elephants’ worst fear. B. In periods of drought, the oldest female takes charge. C. Their survival depends on their leader. D. Their survival is a matter of luck. 46. What is suggested about elephants and their predators? A. Young matriarchs perceive danger ahead of time. B. Predators tend to attack herds with young matriarchs. C. Older matriarchs know when to attack approaching predators D. Herds with young matriarchs aren’t as well defended. 47. Why is the story of Shirley and Jenny mentioned? A. to show the likelihood of elephants forming emotional connections B. to give an example of how elephants that are related to each other act C. to emphasise the use of memory for necessary survival information D. to demonstrate the use of memory in recognising long-lost relatives 48. What is the text about? A. how elephants’ memory is affected by external elements B. a recent research project on elephants’ memory C. elephants’ cognitive abilities in comparison to other animals D. how memory skills skills benefit elephants 49. What does the word ‘these’ (line 13) refer to? A. factorsB. social tiesC. elephantsD. memories 50. What can be implied from the last sentence? A. elephants’ memory is an imaginary thing B. the writer is ironic about researchers’ work on elephants’ memory C. elephants’ memory of feelings needs more proof D. scientists are still not sure about elephants’ memory The End
9. ĐỀ THAM KHẢO LUYỆN THI TNPT 2020 - 04 Thời gian: 60 phút Mã Đề 937 Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions. 01.A. southB. thousand C. souvenirD. around 02.A. increaseB. impose C. diseaseD. rose 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 03 to 07. Today, people all over the world take time out to celebrate and appreciate the Earth that we all share. Some will partake in environmental movements. Others will volunteer in cleaning their towns or (3) water and electricity at home. Maybe you even have some idea of (4) you can help to make our environment better. The idea for Earth Day (April 22) came from a former US politician, Gaylord Nelson, who was worried about pollution and the health of plants and animals. In 1969, he decided that there (5) be a special day to teach people about what we could do to (6) our environment better. This idea quickly caught on and in 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since then, environmentalists have used Earth Day to educate people about their role in protecting our planet. Earth Day eventually became a global celebration around the world. People gather on this day to talk about (7) matters as global warming, protecting endangered animals, or preserving our energy resources. 03.A. retainingB. keeping C. controllingD. conserving 04.A. whomB. how C. whereD. when 05.A. shouldB. can C. willD. have to 06.A. setB. make C. helpD. leave 07.A. soB. those C. suchD. these Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges. 08. Tim is talking to his father. ~ Dad: "Why are you always tuning in to this channel all time, Pop?" ~ Tim: “ ” A. Commercials are so boring!B. We should save electricity. C. I’m crazy about soccer.D. I need to buy a car. 09. Mrs. Green is cooking in the kitchen. ~ Mr. Green: “ ?” ~ Mrs. Green: “Not for you! It’s for our dog.” A. Need some help with the cooking, my dear?B. Is there something to eat now? C. What are you eating? It smells so goodD. Delicious. I’ve never tasted it for ages. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning tothe underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 10. A lot of money went down the drain by misuse of funds. A. was completely wastedB. spent for no purpose C. was thrown to the sewageD. lost in investment 11. Tom was green with envy when he saw that I got a new car for my birthday. A. scared to deathB. willing to have itC. filled with admirationD. greatly envious 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 12 to 19. In the 1930s, when radio was still in its infancy, broadcasting stations in the USA wondered what type of programmes they should put on during the daytime. They came up with the idea of producing serials that would be on the radio every afternoon telling a continuous story. To keep the listeners' interest, there would be far more crises occurring than in real life. Knowing that the majority of the audience would be women, the broadcasters decided that the women in the serials would be strong characters and the men weak. The serials were an instant success with listeners. As the radio stations were paid for by advertising, these programmes always carried advertisements and, since one of the most frequently advertised products was soap, the programmes became known as Soaps or Soap Operas. It was really by chance that the soap opera appeared in Britain. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) had no interest in producing this type of programme but during the Second World War it was thought that the Americans should be shown how well the British people were standing up to the war. For this reason, a soap opera was written for the North American service of the BBC; it was called Front Line Family and showed how a typical English family, the Robinsons, were living during the war. Some people in Britain managed to hear the programme and asked for it to be broadcast for the British audience. The BBC were unwilling to do this but finally agreed and broadcast the programnne in Britain, but changed the name to The Robinsons. The programme ran for six years. Other soaps were introduced later, one telling the life of a doctor's family and another, The Archers, about life in a country village. The original aim of The Archers was to inform farmers of new developments in agriculture. The serial began in 1951 and is still to be heard on five evenings every week.
10. Some attempts at soap opera began to appear on television in Britain in the mid-1950s but it was not until 1961 that the first real soap opera appeared. This was shown, not by the BBC, but by commercial television. The serial, called Coronation Street, was about the lives of people living in a working-class street near Manchester. Although the serial was planned to run for only thirteen weeks, it is still to be seen several nights every week and almost every week has more viewers than any other programme on British television. The BBC never managed to produce a really successful soap opera until 1984, when it introduced Eastenders. This programme is about life in an area of the east end of London. For a time it had more viewers than Coronation Street and still rivals it as the most popular programme on British television. There is a major difference between the two programmes in that Eastenders concentrates on often rather depressing realism whilst Coronation Street, although having serious storylines, always contains a strong element of comedy. [Source: HOW TO PASS FCE, Brian Orpet, page 22] 12. Why did the BBC begin to broadcast Front Line Family in Britain? A. Because the BBC thought it would run for six years.B. Because people asked to hear it. C. Because people in America liked it.D. Because the BBC changed its name. 13. What do we learn about Coronation Street? A. lt was the first real soap on to be shown on BBC television. B. lt takes place in central Manchester. C. lt has lasted longer than expected. D. lt has always been the most popular programme on television. 14. How is Coronation Streef different from Eastenders? A. lt has a stronger storyline.B. lt is funnier. C. lt is more like real lifeD. lt is more serious. 15. Why was the programme Front Line Family made? A. to tell the Americans how the British were winning the war B. to tell the Americans why the British were at war C. to tell the Americans how the British were living during the war D. to tell the Americans why the British stood to win the war 16. What problem did broadcasting stations in America have in the early days of radio? A. how to entertain womenB. how to reflect real life C. what type of serial to produceD. what to broadcast during the day 17. The phrase “stand up to” is closest in meaning to A. enlist intoB. supportC. welcomeD. refuse to accept 18. Why did the radio stations make women have the strongest characters in soap operas? A. Because no men would be listening.B. Because the audience would be mainly female C. Because men usually have weak characters.D. Because women deal better with crises. 19. What do we learn about The Archers in this passage? A. lt could be heard every evening of the week.B. lt was first broadcast before 1951. C. The programme was about a country doctor.D. The aim of the programme was to educate farmers. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions. 20. (A) During our conversation he couldn’t help (B) asking me if my sister (C) has already given (D) birth to the baby. A. has alreadyB. DuringC. asking me ifD. birth to 21. (A) Because it was faster, John (B) insisted in (C) my taking the plane to Miami (D) instead of the train. A. insisted inB. instead of the trainC. Because it was fasterD. my taking 22. Although he is (A) so young, he has (B) few problems (C) understanding philosophy, (D) hasn’t he? A. soB. understandingC. hasn’t he?D. few Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions. 23.A. tertiaryB. terrific C. territoryD. terminal 24.A. competentB. commuter C. complianceD. computer Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions. 25. John was not here yesterday. Perhaps he was ill. A. John needn't be here yesterday because he was ill. B. Because of his illness, John shouldn't have been here yesterday. C. John must have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. D. John might have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. 26. Grandad is 80. He can read and mend things without glasses. A. So old at 80 as Grandad is, he can read and mend things without glasses. B. Though Grandad comes to the age of 80, he can read and mend things without glasses.
11. C. Old as Grandad is 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. D. Despite his age of 80, Grandad can read and mend things without glasses. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 27. She felt so on edge before the interview. A. relaxedB. terrifiedC. self-confidentD. scared 28. It's time to hit the books. A. be free and easyB. do accountingC. begin readingD. keep the records  Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 00 to 00. 29. There has not been a great response to the sale, ? A. has thereB. hasn’t itC. hasn’t thereD. does there 30. It was from the new minister to introduce more changes in the foreign policy. A. hopedB. believedC. expectedD. awaited 31. We forward to watching this documentary for ages. A. lookB. will be lookingC. ‘ve been lookingD. ’re looking 32. We’re spending our holidays on the this summer. A. coastB. bankC. beachD. shore 33. The van driver said he couldn’t us a lift home as there were no free seats in his vehicle. A. makeB. takeC. driveD. give 34. Most people have experienced a disastrous holiday at time or another. A. theB. oneC. anyD. a 35. Having been asked to speak at the convention, . A. some notes were prepared by Dr. BakerB. the convention members were pleased to hear Dr. Baker C. some notes were prepared for Dr. BakerD. Dr. Baker prepared some notes 36. My noisy neighbours were to for the fact that I could not sleep last night. A. criticiseB. faultC. blameD. accuse 37. My sister is studying to be a chemical engineer but she uncertain about which field to follow. A. is appearingB. has been appearingC. appearsD. has appeared 38. By next year, my son will have his education at Cambridge University. A. terminatedB. realizedC. graduatedD. completed 39. After a day of housework I am totally A. weakB. dullC. strainedD. exhausted 40. Could you please me to the nearest post office? A. pointB. directC. indicateD. explain 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 41 to 47. ELEPHANTS AND MEMORY Among the many advanced cognitive abilities that elephants exhibit, their exceptional memory is what they are most known for. Elephant memory is an area of study that many researchers have sought to understand and explain, and recent findings reveal that much has yet to be discovered. Elephants travel in herds typically guided by the oldest female - the matriarch - and her memory is imperative to their survival. She can remember the location of watering holes and feeding points and is the one in charge of leading the herd to safety when disaster strikes. Researchers have found that in periods of drought, for instance, herds with younger matriarchs are less likely to survive. The older matriarch is able to recollect information from decades back. While humans might experience memory loss as they grow older, the exact opposite occurs with elephants. Another study exhibited how herds with older female leaders huddled together in the face of a predator, whereas those with younger matriarchs didn’t. Older matriarchs seemed to remember encountering dangerous strangers in the past and knew when to take a defensive position to ward them off. Elephants form strong social ties with each other and build a complex network of relationships throughout life which depends on genetic, social and circumstantial factors. Their strong memory helps maintain these through time and space. It is believed that they can keep track of the location of about 30 other elephants at any given time when travelling; an impressive figure considering that they don’t always roam in a fixed order and the groups are frequently changing. At first glance, an elephant’s memory seems to be purely utilitarian in nature, serving survival purposes and family identification needs, but the story of two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, poses new issues. Having spent only a few months together in a circus, the two elephants not only recognised each other when they were reunited over 20 years later, but also displayed gestures of affection and friendship. Could this prove that elephants experience and ‘remember’ feelings of fondness from the past? To this day, even researchers can only guess. 41. What is the text about? A. a recent research project on elephants’ memory B. elephants’ cognitive abilities in comparison to other animals
12. C. how elephants’ memory is affected by external elements D. how memory skills skills benefit elephants 42. What is suggested about elephants and their predators? A. Young matriarchs perceive danger ahead of time. B. Predators tend to attack herds with young matriarchs. C. Older matriarchs know when to attack approaching predators D. Herds with young matriarchs aren’t as well defended. 43. What can be implied from the last sentence? A. the writer is ironic about researchers’ work on elephants’ memory B. scientists are still not sure about elephants’ memory C. elephants’ memory is an imaginary thing D. elephants’ memory of feelings needs more proof 44. What does the word ‘these’ (line 13) refer to? A. elephantsB. social tiesC. memoriesD. factors 45. What can be inferred about elephants and droughts? A. In periods of drought, the oldest female takes charge. B. Their survival is a matter of luck. C. Periods of drought are the elephants’ worst fear. D. Their survival depends on their leader. 46. The word ‘utilitarian’ is closest in meaning to A. useful and practicalB. for everyoneC. instrumentalD. seen everywhere 47. Why is the story of Shirley and Jenny mentioned? A. to show the likelihood of elephants forming emotional connections B. to give an example of how elephants that are related to each other act C. to demonstrate the use of memory in recognising long-lost relatives D. to emphasise the use of memory for necessary survival information Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions. 48. This traing course is suitable for students of eighteen years and up. A. The traing course is suitable for students who are over eighteen. B. Students of eighteen years and over can use traing course. C. The traing course may be suitable for students of over eighteen years of age. D. Only 18-year-old students will find this traing course suitable. 49. We should really be starting our work. A. It's high time we were starting our work.B. It's about time we be starting our work. C. I'd rather we are starting our work. D. It's time for us to have started our work. 50. I had only just turned off the light when the robber jumped in. A. Hardly had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. B. Scarcely had I turned off the light than robber jumped in. C. I turned off the light when the robber jumped in. D. No sooner had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. The End
13. ĐỀ THAM KHẢO LUYỆN THI TNPT 2020 - 04 Thời gian: 60 phút Mã Đề 593 Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions. 01. I had only just turned off the light when the robber jumped in. A. Scarcely had I turned off the light than robber jumped in. B. I turned off the light when the robber jumped in. C. Hardly had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. D. No sooner had I turned off the light when robber jumped in. 02. This traing course is suitable for students of eighteen years and up. A. The traing course is suitable for students who are over eighteen. B. Students of eighteen years and over can use traing course. C. The traing course may be suitable for students of over eighteen years of age. D. Only 18-year-old students will find this traing course suitable. 03. We should really be starting our work. A. I'd rather we are starting our work. B. It's high time we were starting our work. C. It's time for us to have started our work.D. It's about time we be starting our work. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in the position of primary stress in each of the following questions. 04.A. computerB. competent C. complianceD. commuter 05.A. terminalB. tertiary C. terrificD. territory Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning tothe underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 06. A lot of money went down the drain by misuse of funds. A. lost in investmentB. spent for no purpose C. was thrown to the sewageD. was completely wasted 07. Tom was green with envy when he saw that I got a new car for my birthday. A. greatly enviousB. willing to have itC. filled with admirationD. scared to death Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions. 08. (A) Because it was faster, John (B) insisted in (C) my taking the plane to Miami (D) instead of the train. A. Because it was fasterB. insisted inC. my takingD. instead of the train 09. Although he is (A) so young, he has (B) few problems (C) understanding philosophy, (D) hasn’t he? A. hasn’t he?B. fewC. understandingD. so 10. (A) During our conversation he couldn’t help (B) asking me if my sister (C) has already given (D) birth to the baby. A. DuringB. birth toC. asking me ifD. has already Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions. 11.A. roseB. disease C. imposeD. increase 12.A. southB. thousand C. aroundD. souvenir Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 00 to 00. 13. After a day of housework I am totally A. dullB. weakC. strainedD. exhausted 14. It was from the new minister to introduce more changes in the foreign policy. A. hopedB. believedC. expectedD. awaited 15. There has not been a great response to the sale, ? A. has thereB. does thereC. hasn’t thereD. hasn’t it 16. Having been asked to speak at the convention, . A. Dr. Baker prepared some notesB. some notes were prepared for Dr. Baker C. some notes were prepared by Dr. BakerD. the convention members were pleased to hear Dr. Baker 17. My sister is studying to be a chemical engineer but she uncertain about which field to follow. A. is appearingB. has been appearingC. appearsD. has appeared 18. Most people have experienced a disastrous holiday at time or another. A. aB. oneC. anyD. the 19. We’re spending our holidays on the this summer. A. shoreB. bankC. coastD. beach 20. By next year, my son will have his education at Cambridge University.
14. A. realizedB. terminatedC. completedD. graduated 21. My noisy neighbours were to for the fact that I could not sleep last night. A. faultB. accuseC. criticiseD. blame 22. The van driver said he couldn’t us a lift home as there were no free seats in his vehicle. A. driveB. takeC. giveD. make 23. We forward to watching this documentary for ages. A. ‘ve been lookingB. will be lookingC. ’re lookingD. look 24. Could you please me to the nearest post office? A. indicateB. pointC. explainD. direct Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges. 25. Mrs. Green is cooking in the kitchen. ~ Mr. Green: “ ?” ~ Mrs. Green: “Not for you! It’s for our dog.” A. What are you eating? It smells so goodB. Need some help with the cooking, my dear? C. Delicious. I’ve never tasted it for ages.D. Is there something to eat now? 26. Tim is talking to his father. ~ Dad: "Why are you always tuning in to this channel all time, Pop?" ~ Tim: “ ” A. I’m crazy about soccer.B. Commercials are so boring! C. I need to buy a car.D. We should save electricity. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that best combines each pair of sentences in the following questions. 27. John was not here yesterday. Perhaps he was ill. A. Because of his illness, John shouldn't have been here yesterday. B. John might have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. C. John must have been ill yesterday, so he was not here. D. John needn't be here yesterday because he was ill. 28. Grandad is 80. He can read and mend things without glasses. A. So old at 80 as Grandad is, he can read and mend things without glasses. B. Despite his age of 80, Grandad can read and mend things without glasses. C. Old as Grandad is 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. D. Though Grandad comes to the age of 80, he can read and mend things without glasses. 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 29 to 36. In the 1930s, when radio was still in its infancy, broadcasting stations in the USA wondered what type of programmes they should put on during the daytime. They came up with the idea of producing serials that would be on the radio every afternoon telling a continuous story. To keep the listeners' interest, there would be far more crises occurring than in real life. Knowing that the majority of the audience would be women, the broadcasters decided that the women in the serials would be strong characters and the men weak. The serials were an instant success with listeners. As the radio stations were paid for by advertising, these programmes always carried advertisements and, since one of the most frequently advertised products was soap, the programmes became known as Soaps or Soap Operas. It was really by chance that the soap opera appeared in Britain. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) had no interest in producing this type of programme but during the Second World War it was thought that the Americans should be shown how well the British people were standing up to the war. For this reason, a soap opera was written for the North American service of the BBC; it was called Front Line Family and showed how a typical English family, the Robinsons, were living during the war. Some people in Britain managed to hear the programme and asked for it to be broadcast for the British audience. The BBC were unwilling to do this but finally agreed and broadcast the programnne in Britain, but changed the name to The Robinsons. The programme ran for six years. Other soaps were introduced later, one telling the life of a doctor's family and another, The Archers, about life in a country village. The original aim of The Archers was to inform farmers of new developments in agriculture. The serial began in 1951 and is still to be heard on five evenings every week. Some attempts at soap opera began to appear on television in Britain in the mid-1950s but it was not until 1961 that the first real soap opera appeared. This was shown, not by the BBC, but by commercial television. The serial, called Coronation Street, was about the lives of people living in a working-class street near Manchester. Although the serial was planned to run for only thirteen weeks, it is still to be seen several nights every week and almost every week has more viewers than any other programme on British television. The BBC never managed to produce a really successful soap opera until 1984, when it introduced Eastenders. This programme is about life in an area of the east end of London. For a time it had more viewers than Coronation Street and still rivals it as the most popular programme on British television. There is a major difference between the two programmes in that Eastenders concentrates on often rather depressing realism whilst Coronation Street, although having serious storylines, always contains a strong element of comedy. [Source: HOW TO PASS FCE, Brian Orpet, page 22]
15. 29. Why did the radio stations make women have the strongest characters in soap operas? A. Because men usually have weak characters.B. Because no men would be listening. C. Because women deal better with crises.D. Because the audience would be mainly female 30. Why did the BBC begin to broadcast Front Line Family in Britain? A. Because people asked to hear it.B. Because the BBC thought it would run for six years. C. Because the BBC changed its name.D. Because people in America liked it. 31. What do we learn about The Archers in this passage? A. The programme was about a country doctor.B. The aim of the programme was to educate farmers. C. lt was first broadcast before 1951.D. lt could be heard every evening of the week. 32. What do we learn about Coronation Street? A. lt takes place in central Manchester. B. lt was the first real soap on to be shown on BBC television. C. lt has lasted longer than expected. D. lt has always been the most popular programme on television. 33. Why was the programme Front Line Family made? A. to tell the Americans how the British were winning the war B. to tell the Americans why the British were at war C. to tell the Americans how the British were living during the war D. to tell the Americans why the British stood to win the war 34. What problem did broadcasting stations in America have in the early days of radio? A. how to entertain womenB. how to reflect real life C. what type of serial to produceD. what to broadcast during the day 35. The phrase “stand up to” is closest in meaning to A. enlist intoB. supportC. welcomeD. refuse to accept 36. How is Coronation Streef different from Eastenders? A. lt has a stronger storyline.B. lt is more serious. C. lt is more like real lifeD. lt is funnier. 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 37 to 40. Today, people all over the world take time out to celebrate and appreciate the Earth that we all share. Some will partake in environmental movements. Others will volunteer in cleaning their towns or (37) water and electricity at home. Maybe you even have some idea of (38) you can help to make our environment better. The idea for Earth Day (April 22) came from a former US politician, Gaylord Nelson, who was worried about pollution and the health of plants and animals. In 1969, he decided that there (39) be a special day to teach people about what we could do to (40) our environment better. This idea quickly caught on and in 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated. Since then, environmentalists have used Earth Day to educate people about their role in protecting our planet. Earth Day eventually became a global celebration around the world. People gather on this day to talk about (41) matters as global warming, protecting endangered animals, or preserving our energy resources. 37.A. controllingB. conserving C. keepingD. retaining 38.A. whenB. whom C. whereD. how 39.A. canB. have to C. shouldD. will 40.A. leaveB. make C. helpD. set 41.A. thoseB. so C. suchD. these 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 42 to 48. ELEPHANTS AND MEMORY Among the many advanced cognitive abilities that elephants exhibit, their exceptional memory is what they are most known for. Elephant memory is an area of study that many researchers have sought to understand and explain, and recent findings reveal that much has yet to be discovered. Elephants travel in herds typically guided by the oldest female - the matriarch - and her memory is imperative to their survival. She can remember the location of watering holes and feeding points and is the one in charge of leading the herd to safety when disaster strikes. Researchers have found that in periods of drought, for instance, herds with younger matriarchs are less likely to survive. The older matriarch is able to recollect information from decades back. While humans might experience memory loss as they grow older, the exact opposite occurs with elephants. Another study exhibited how herds with older female leaders huddled together in the face of a predator, whereas those with younger matriarchs didn’t. Older matriarchs seemed to remember encountering dangerous strangers in the past and knew when to take a defensive position to ward them off. Elephants form strong social ties with each other and build a complex network of relationships throughout life which depends on genetic, social and circumstantial factors. Their strong memory helps maintain these through time and space. It is believed that
16. they can keep track of the location of about 30 other elephants at any given time when travelling; an impressive figure considering that they don’t always roam in a fixed order and the groups are frequently changing. At first glance, an elephant’s memory seems to be purely utilitarian in nature, serving survival purposes and family identification needs, but the story of two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, poses new issues. Having spent only a few months together in a circus, the two elephants not only recognised each other when they were reunited over 20 years later, but also displayed gestures of affection and friendship. Could this prove that elephants experience and ‘remember’ feelings of fondness from the past? To this day, even researchers can only guess. 42. What is the text about? A. elephants’ cognitive abilities in comparison to other animals B. how memory skills skills benefit elephants C. how elephants’ memory is affected by external elements D. a recent research project on elephants’ memory 43. What can be inferred about elephants and droughts? A. In periods of drought, the oldest female takes charge. B. Their survival depends on their leader. C. Their survival is a matter of luck. D. Periods of drought are the elephants’ worst fear. 44. Why is the story of Shirley and Jenny mentioned? A. to give an example of how elephants that are related to each other act B. to show the likelihood of elephants forming emotional connections C. to demonstrate the use of memory in recognising long-lost relatives D. to emphasise the use of memory for necessary survival information 45. What is suggested about elephants and their predators? A. Predators tend to attack herds with young matriarchs. B. Older matriarchs know when to attack approaching predators C. Herds with young matriarchs aren’t as well defended. D. Young matriarchs perceive danger ahead of time. 46. The word ‘utilitarian’ is closest in meaning to A. useful and practicalB. seen everywhereC. for everyoneD. instrumental 47. What does the word ‘these’ (line 13) refer to? A. social tiesB. factorsC. memoriesD. elephants 48. What can be implied from the last sentence? A. elephants’ memory of feelings needs more proof B. scientists are still not sure about elephants’ memory C. elephants’ memory is an imaginary thing D. the writer is ironic about researchers’ work on elephants’ memory Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. 49. It's time to hit the books. A. do accountingB. begin readingC. keep the recordsD. be free and easy 50. She felt so on edge before the interview. A. self-confidentB. scaredC. terrifiedD. relaxed The End