 Opposite

1. Viet Nam and Laos will closely cooperate to strengthen the solidarity of ASEAN and enhance the vital
role of the group in regional security structure.
A. agreement B. cooperation C. separation D. fellowship
2. Despite facing initial challenges, the new technology began to gain ground in the market as more
users recognized its efficiency and benefits.
A. become successful B. decline popularity C. make progress D. remain balance
 Closest
1. All the students of that faculty are disaffected with their professor’s unfair behavior.
A. discouraged B. discontented C. disqualified D. disabled
2. The factory down the road unfortunately continues to give off harmful emissions despite efforts to
reduce its environmental impact
A. emit B. absorb C. reduce D. increase

* Communicative function

1. Two students are talking in an art workshop.

- Mary: "Your artwork is stunning! The way you blend colors is so fascinating."
- Peter: "Thank you so much! ______.”
A. I really appreciate your kind words
B. I couldn’t agree with you more
C. You’re welcome.
D. I’ll be more careful next time.
2. Two members of the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program are talking about the new project proposal.
- Mary: "Do you think the new project proposal will be well-received by the team?"
- Peter: "______. It's a bit different from what we've done before, so there might be some mixed
reactions.
A. I didn’t know that.
B. I'm not entirely sure.
C. There is no doubt about that.
D. Thanks for helping me.
 The cities of the future will see a large number of intelligent homes that can communicate with
their owners. (26) ______, things that were earlier considered science fiction are already coming to life in
smart cities such as Masdar in the United Arab Emirates, where an automated underground transport
network fully by solar power is already running circuits.
With smart technology , the possibility of having huge savings on electricity and power is (27)
______. Sensors are being developed so that street lights of the future will switch on only when you are
close by. The smart technology in self-driven cars will enable you to save on gas and other non-
renewable energy sources. In fact, smart cities will aim to (28) ______ the use of fossil fuels completely.
The cities of the future will have to adapt quickly to rapid technological advancements in IT and
engineering. The gap between technological leaps is going to decrease over time. Technology will help
(29) ______ the current gap between the government and public in the cities of the future, given that IT
and digitization will make these cities more open and social.
(30) ______ thing that we can all agree on is that the cost of building in these smart cities is going
to be considerable. An estimate can be derived based on the latest smart city developments in India. With
the booming population, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing to attract investments to
fuel rapid development projects in the country.
1. A. In fact B. Therefore C. In contrast D. As a result
2. A. within our reach B. out of work C. beyond our repair D. outside our control
3. A. neutralize B. neutral C. neutralization D. neutrally
4. A. close B. fill C. widen D. leave
5. A. Another B. Other C. Most D. Almost

VII. Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.
The Rise of Robots
As kids, our grandparents frequently scared us by talking about how difficult life was when they
were growing up. They mentioned walking miles to school in the snow, or doing hours of manual labour
for little pay. Life has changed greatly since then, and it seems to get easier year by year. In fact, with the
help of robots we soon might have to do much at all. But is this a good thing?
By 2030, it's estimated that robotics will be a $10 billion business worldwide. Companies are
already starting to integrate them into the workforce. The electronics manufacturer Foxconn is drawing
up plans to launch a factory within the next 10 years that's completely staffed by robot workers.
Meanwhile, an American company, Briggo has invented a robot that serves gourmet-quality coffee to
customers. With the push of a button it will crush coffee beans, measure exact quantities of water, and
even wave a steam wand to ensure customers get the perfect cream on top. Unlike human baristas, it can
serve multiple drinks at once and work all day and night without a break.
Robots are also invading our homes. The Rooma is a mini-robot that vacuums rooms
automatically according to a schedule. The Robomow is a device that will cut the grass for you while you
sit in the shade. Then there's the Nanda clocky, an alarm clock that makes sure that even the deepest
sleepers get up on time. The clock is attached to a pair of wheels, and it will randomly move around the
room. Once you finally catch it, you're probably too awake to hit the snooze button. Although these early
home robots are somewhat basic, they will likely become more capable as times goes on.
Although robots certainly help us to eliminate tedious tasks, many people are concerned about a
future filled with robots. Some fear that humanity will start to decline if machines do everything for us.
Others have even warned about the robot rebellion, in which robots become so smart that they may
decide to turn on their masters. These ideas may seem a bit far-fetched, but there are certainly lots of
questions that need to be answered before everyone opens up to the idea of a robotic future.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The challenges faced by previous generations in comparison to modern life
B. The potential impacts of robotics on various aspects of society
C. The technological advancements in household appliances
D. The economic growth projections of robotics companies
2. The word "tedious" in the last paragraph mostly means ______.
A. boring B. difficult C. intelligent D. expensive
3. According to the first paragraph, how is the life changed since our parents’ time?
A. The education system has got much worse
B. Things aren't as hard as they once were
C. Children have to walk longer distance to school
D. It hasn't changed much at all
4. The word “it” in the third paragraph refers to ______.
A. the Rooma B. the Robomow C. the Nanda D. the Briggo
5. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. present domestic robots can work without any programs
B. the communication will decline with the use of robots
C. a robot rebellion can happen on a daily basis
D. robotics will have been a major business by 2030
Which of the following best summarizes the main concern expressed in the passage
about the rise of robots?

A) The convenience and efficiency of robots in performing tasks previously done by

humans.

B) The potential risks and uncertainties associated with an over-reliance on robots.

C) The future profitability of robotics as a global business.

D) The various types of robots being developed for domestic use.

A) The challenges faced by previous generations in comparison to modern life

B) The potential impacts of robotics on various aspects of society
C) The technological advancements in household appliances
D) The economic growth projections of robotics companies

the evolving role of robots and the implications they might have on society in the
future.

A) The historical challenges faced by previous generations B) The impact and

integration of robots in various aspects of life C) The evolution of household
appliances in modern homes D) The potential dangers of overdependence on
technology

PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE

Cities are built to (1) ____ and prosper. Over the years, we have learned to transform our surroundings
according to our needs. We have (2) ____ through mountains to make more land and created artificial
islands to make skyscrapers. City planning, as an organized profession, has existed for less than a
century. (3) ____, a considerable (4) ____ of evidence (both archaeological and historical) proves the
existence of fully planned cities in ancient times. Over the years, humans have made some mistakes in
terms of using an excessive amount of resources for cities. This gives rise to the question of (5) ____
sustainable the cities of the future would be.
We might be (6) ____ at smart cities in which street lights would only switch on when you are
close (7) ____ traffic light would be eliminated by smart driving. The cities of the future would try to
save our resources (8) ____ than deplete them.
An example of an advanced city is Kansas. Plans are in place to make Kansas a smart futuristic
city in the future. Planners are considering introducing sensors to monitor the water mains. Warning
would be issued to city officials when the (9) ____ requires repair or replacement. In this way, the city
would never be at risk of having broken pipes.
While the idea sounds fantastic, a large amount of rational critique has called this plan an oversold
dream. Amy Glasmier is an urban planning professor at MIT. She is a smart city skeptic who believes
that all the research and talk is great but gravely (10) ____.
1. A. find B. act C. survive D. celebrate
2. A. experience B. cut C. decrease D. pollute
3. A. But B. Therefore C. Although D. However
4. A. number B. amount C. percent D. static
5. A. what B. how C. when D. which
6. A. looked B. look C. looking D. looks
7. A. at B. by C. of D. from
8. A. rather B. more C. would D. less
9. A. requests B. research C. infrastructure D. dependence
10. A. consider B. future C. urban D. oversold

Global warming is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, (1) ____
acts as a blanket, trapping heat and the planet. (2) ____, the average surface temperature has increases
more than one degree Fahrenheit since the late 1800s. Most of that increase has occurred over the past
three decades.
We are overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide, which traps heat and steadily drives up
the planet's temperature. Carbon dioxide comes from the fossil fuels we burn for energy, such as coal,
natural gas, and oil, and the loss of forests due to (3) ____, especially in the tropics.
Within the scientific community, there is no debate. (4) ____ scientists agree that global (5) ____
is happening and that human activity is the primary cause.
Global warming is already having significant and costly effects- and these consequences will only
intensify as the planet's temperature continues to rise. Global warming is accelerating the (6) ____ of sea
level rise and dramatically increasing coastal flooding risk. Climate change has significant effects for our
health, including increased air pollution and a longer and (7) ____ intense allergy season.
We must significantly reduce the heat-trapping (8) ____ we are putting into the atmosphere. As
individuals, we can help by taking action to reduce our carbon footprint. Tropical deforestation accounts
for about 10 percent of the world's heat trapping emissions. Reducing tropical deforestation can
significantly lower global warming emissions and plays an integral role in a long-term solution to global
warming.
Sometimes it is difficult to achieve meaningful (9) ____ to global warming because
misinformation about the truth of global warming misleads and confuses the public and makes it more
difficult to carry (10) ____ effective solutions.
1. A. that B. which C. who D. when
2. A. Global B. Globaliness C. Globally D. Globe
3. A. deforestation B. culture C. relation D. afforestation
4. A. Most of B. Mostly C. Most D. Almost
5. A. wrapping B. proving C. offering D. warming
6. A. number B. rate C. amount D. part
7. A. more B. few C. less D. little
8. A. inclusions B. ceremony C. emissions D. creations
9. A. factor B. stories C. problems D. solutions
10. A. out B. in C. on D. away

Silicon Valley is (1) ___home____ to hundreds of technology companies, so it comes as no

surprise that San Jose has partnered with technological giant Intel to transform itself (2) ____into___ a
smart city. San Jose and Intel will work (3) __together___ to further the city's Green Vision initiative - a
15-year plan for economic growth, and improve (4) ___quality____ of life - which it launched in 2007.
Intel expects to help San Jose create 25,000 clean-tech jobs, drive economic growth, and improve
the city's environmental (5) ___sustainability___. To achieve this (6) ___goal___ Intel will work with
the city to track real-time data on air quality, noise pollution, traffic flow, and other environmental and
(7) ___urban____ concerns which it will then use to encourage (8) __inhabitants___ to reduce
emissions by using public transportation or bicycles to get to work or school.
Smart cities may sound like something of the distant future (9) __as (or but)___ many people
thought the same thing about smartphones and smart homes. Up to now, over 70 percent of American
adults have owned a smartphone and 1.9 billion smart home devices have been installed. If smart cities
are (10) ___anything___ like these other smart innovations, we will see them appear in our communities
sooner rather than later.

Today's urban cities are practically bursting at the seams. According to research from the United
Nations, 54 percent of the world's population lives in urban cities areas, a percentage that is expected to
increase to over 66 percent by 2050. In fact, India alone is projected to add 404 million urban dwellers to
its population by 2050.
This rapid growth of the urban population has caused daunting problems for city planners, such as
overcrowded roads, excessive energy consumption and unemployment. Therefore, to build more
sustainable cities and accommodate the growing number of residents, many city leaders are turning to the
Internet of things (IoT).
The IoT has forever changed the way urban cities operate. Cities that were once detached and
inaccessible are now intelligent and highly connected. From Amsterdam to Seoul, cities are launching
smart city projects to help improve quality of life residents and better support the environment. According
to research from IHS Technology, there will be at least 88 smart cities globally by 2025, up from 21 in
2013.
San Francisco, for example, provides more than 100 charging stations in various locations to
promote the use of hybrid and electric cars to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Copenhagen is
also taking advantage of the lot to improve environmental protection and reduce road traffic by
developing smart bikes equipped with sensors that generate date on air contamination and traffic
congestion.
 The possibilities afforded by the IoT are endless; however, designing smart cities quires
comprehensive technology infrastructure that is capable of capturing and processing large amounts of
data quickly and securely - which is where 4G LTE comes into play.
The future looks bright for urban cities. Soon they will be able to do things that only sci-fi
enthusiasts could dream of before, like monitoring bridge conditions using intelligent sensors and
conserving energy by automatically dimming street lights when no one is around.
1. Some cities which follow this trend of the new technology ____.
A. introduce smart bikes to escape air contamination and traffic congestion
B. provide charging stations in various locations for cars and bikes
C. make transportation more eco-friendly and more convenient
D. only allow the use of hybrid and electric cars to reduce pollution
2. All of the following are the advantages of the IoT EXCEPT that ____
A. the Internet of Things will be applied in several cities around the world
B. the number of smart cities decreases but the quality is much better
C. cities around the world become more intelligent and connected
D. we may improve quality of life and better support the environment
3. Today's urban cities ____.
A. are in fact extremely crowded
B. are bursting around the world
C. account for 66 percent of the world's population
D. have more 404 million dwellers by 2050
4. The potential of the IoT includes all of the following EXCEPT that ____.
A. intelligent sensors can help watch and check bridge conditions carefully
B. energy conservation can be done by automatically controlling street lights
C. things that only sci-fi enthusiasts could dream of before come true
D. comprehensive technology infrastructure to support the IoT is endless
5. The Internet of Things allows the city planners and leaders ____.
A. to develop the broadband Internet connectivity in urban cities
B. to forget daunting problems, such as overcrowded roads, and unemployment
C. to stop the rapid growth of the urban population in most cities
D. to make cities more sustainable and provide enough accommodation
WHAT WILL LIFE BE IN 2050?
I find it (1) ____ fascinating thinking about the future, as technology is rapidly advancing and in
40 years' time, who knows what we'll be able to do with it. Scientists have recently predicted that (2)
____ 2050 the population of the world will be over ten billion and technology will have advanced so
greatly (3) ____ we will have far more information about all known diseases and possibly cures), we will
all be living in eco houses and will no longer face high electricity bills and we may even be able to make
a holiday to Mars.
Our daily lives will definitely be filled with all kinds of new technologies that help us do the
things we hate nowadays. House Robo's will be a likely feature in all homes and will help run the family
home, take out the rubbish, prepare food and hoover the house from top to bottom. Our kitchen gadgets
(such as your fridge, cooker, microwave and dishwasher) will also be 'robotic' and will email or text us,
the users, when a food item has gone out of date or has been used up. (4) ____, the fridge has a built-in
camera so that when you are at the supermarket, you can log in to your fridge and (5) ____ what you need
to stock up on.
It is predicted that by 2050 we will all have 'weekly digital health checks' in our homes, which run
sensors over our bodies to check for signs of ill (6) ____ and any abnormalities. Conditions can instantly
be (7) ____ by the ‘virtual doctor’ inside the health machine and treated immediately, and if you need a
prescription - it will be ordered and sent out automatically. If the digital health check picks up on a person
being overweight, they will send a signal to the (8) ____ house computer to (9) ____ their diet and book
in for gym sessions. Because of all this immediate treatment, people will live far longer and won't be (10)
____ out by disease or forms of cancer. Medical conditions that are considered rare today will be far
more known about and will be able to be cured quickly and efficiently.
1. A. absolutely B. extinctively C. disappeared D. absolute
2. A. in B. at C. by D. since
3. A. that B. what C. which D. when
4. A. Finally B. Contrarily C. Differently D. Similarly
5. A. give B. find C. check D. connect
6. A. disease B. health C. ruin D. tiredness
7. A. recognizing B. recognized C. recognition D. recognize
8. A. national B. town C. domestic D. international
9. A. modify B. recycle C. conclude D. make
10. A. blown B. wiped C. broke D. went
Which of the following best summarizes the primary concern raised in the passage
regarding the increasing presence of robots?

A) The potential financial growth of the robotics industry by 2030. B) The innovative
capabilities of robots in performing tasks at workplaces and homes. C) The
apprehension and uncertainties related to an extensive reliance on robots. D) The
evolving nature of early home robots and their expected future advancements.
Which statement best summarizes the central concern expressed in the passage
about the increasing presence of robots?

A) The potential advancements in technology for household robots like Rooma and
Robomow. B) The growing business prospects in the robotics industry, estimated to
reach $10 billion by 2030. C) The apprehension regarding a future where robots
dominate tasks, raising concerns about humanity's role. D) The efficiency of robots
in performing diverse tasks, such as coffee-making or house chores.

Which statement encapsulates the primary concern highlighted in the passage

discussing the proliferation of robots?

A) The potential advancements in household robotics like Rooma and Robomow. B)

The projected financial growth of the robotics industry, estimated to reach $10
billion by 2030. C) The anxiety surrounding a future dominated by robots, raising
doubts about humanity's role. D) The efficiency of robots in performing various
tasks, from coffee-making to household chores.

The correct answer is: C) The anxiety surrounding a future dominated by robots,
raising doubts about humanity's role.
Which of the following best summarizes the primary concern expressed in the
passage about the increasing prevalence of robots?

A) The potential for robots to alleviate mundane tasks both at work and at home. B)
The economic prospects of the robotics industry, projected to reach $10 billion by
2030. C) The apprehension surrounding a future heavily reliant on robots, raising
questions about humanity's role. D) The efficiency and adaptability of early home
robots like Rooma and Robomow.

Answer: C) The apprehension surrounding a future heavily reliant on robots, raising

questions about humanity's role.

What is the primary concern raised in the passage about the increasing presence of
robots?

A) The potential profitability of the robotics industry by 2030. B) The innovative

capabilities of robots in performing various tasks. C) The apprehension and
uncertainties related to excessive reliance on robots. D) The efficiency of robots in
eliminating tedious tasks and improving productivity.

Answer: C) The apprehension and uncertainties related to excessive

reliance on robots.

What is the primary concern raised regarding the increasing presence of robots
according to the passage?

A) The potential decline in human effort due to reliance on robots for tasks. B) The
anticipated advancements in the capabilities of home robots like Rooma and
Robomow. C) The projected financial growth of the robotics industry reaching $10
billion by 2030. D) The efficiency of robots in performing tasks, exemplified by
Briggo's coffee-serving robot.

The answer to this question is: A) The potential decline in human effort due to
reliance on robots for tasks.