READING TEST

Thời gian làm bài: 45 phút

Ghi chú: - Sinh viên làm bài vào giấy thi.

- Sinh viên KHÔNG được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.

READING PASSAGE 1
The History of Pencil
The beginning of pencils started with a lightning strike in 1564 in Borrowdale, England. When lightning hit a tree, people
found a black substance — graphite —near its roots. It was soft, thus leaving marks everywhere. Since chemistry was still
in its infancy, many mistakenly believed it to be lead, which was also black but heavier. Locals soon used it to mark their
sheep for ownership and counting.
Britain turns out to be a major country where mines of graphite can be detected and developed. However, the first pencil
was invented elsewhere. As graphite is soft, it needs to be wrapped. In Italy, graphite sticks were initially wrapped in string
or sheepskin for stability, becoming perhaps the very first pencil in the world. A couple from Italy invented the first wooden
pencil around 1560, and the Germans improved upon it in 1662. These early pencils soon became popular with artists around
the world.
Pencil cores are made from a mixture of finely ground graphite and clay. The amount of clay affects the pencil's hardness,
while how much the mixture is ground impacts the quality. More clay means a harder core. Most pencils, especially in
Europe, use the European grading system, which uses "B" for black (softer) and "H" for hard. Pencils are graded with letters
like BB or BBB for softer cores and HH or HHH for harder ones, with the standard writing pencil being graded as HB.
In England, pencils continue to be made from solid pieces of graphite. However, with mass production, pencils have become
much more popular in many countries over the years. As demand increases, so does the need for graphite. According to the
United States Geological Survey (USGS), world production of natural graphite in 2012 was 1,100,000 tons, with major
exporters being China, India, Brazil, North Korea, and Canada. Besides pencils, graphite was also vital in the military.
The idea that the United States did not use pencils in space until spending $1,000 to create a special pencil for zero gravity
is a myth. It’s well-known that Russian astronauts utilized grease pencils, which do not break easily. But it is also a fact that
American astronauts used pencils in space before the zero-gravity pencil was invented. They preferred mechanical pencils,
which made clearer lines than the smudgy grease pencils used by the Russians, but the lead tips of these mechanical pencils
often broke. Floating bits of graphite could harm someone's eye or damage machinery, causing electrical issues.
In today’s digital world, pencils may seem less important, but that’s not the case. Pencils are still widely used in many
places, like classrooms, meeting rooms, and art studios. Various users are likely to keep using them in the future: students
for math, artists for drawing, waiters or waitresses for taking orders, makeup artists for applying makeup, and architects for
creating blueprints. The possibilities seem limitless.
Questions 1 - 7
Complete the sentences below with words taken from the passage. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
• Graphite was found under a 1. _____________ in Borrowdale, it was dirty to use because it was 2. _____________
• Ancient people used graphite to sign their 3. _____________
• People found graphite 4. _____________ in Britain.
• The first pencil was graphite wrapped in 5. _____________ or animal skin.
• Since graphite was too smooth, 6. _____________ was added to make it harder.
• Russian astronauts preferred 7. _____________ pencils to write in the outer space.

1
Questions 8 - 13
Decide whether the following statements agree with the information given in Reading passage 1. Write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
8. Italy is probably the first country of the whole world to produce pencils.
9. Germany used various kinds of wood to make pencils.
10. Graphite makes a pencil harder and sharper.
11. In Britain, pencils are not produced any more.
12. American astronauts did not use pencils in outer space.
13. Pencils are unlikely to be used in the future.
READING PASSAGE 2
Depression
A. It is often harder for outsiders and non-sufferers to understand mental illness compared to physical illness. While we can
easily empathize with physical health issues, mental illness often carries stigma and is sometimes seen as a weakness. The
stress of modern life has increased emotional problems, leading many governments to promote awareness and empathy for
those facing mental health challenges.
B. Clinical depression, or major depressive disorder, is a severe form of sadness that impacts nearly 20% of people under
40 at some point in their lives. It is the leading cause of disability in North America, and about 3 million people in the UK
are diagnosed with depression at any time, and experts believe there could be an additional 9 million undiagnosed cases.
The World Health Organization warned that clinical depression might become the second leading cause of disability globally
by 2020. However, some experts disagree, saying the diagnosis criteria may be too unclear, leading to mislabeling of other
types of depression.
C. Many people experience low moods and sadness in response to tough life events like losing a loved one, losing a job, or
a breakup. Some may feel depressed and unmotivated for no clear reason. Clinical depression is a persistent state of
negativity with no specific cause, resulting in constant negative thoughts, irritability, fatigue, and low energy. Those with
clinical depression are at a higher risk of drug abuse or suicide compared to other people in society.
D. Clinical depression is typically diagnosed when a person has a very low mood and/or anhedonia—unable to enjoy
activities—for two weeks or more, along with at least five other symptoms. These may include intense sadness, sleep issues,
guilt, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, thoughts of death, or significant changes in eating habits and
weight.
E. Clinical depression was previously believed to be caused solely by a chemical imbalance in the brain. While
antidepressants that increase "feel-good" chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine are still prescribed, experts now
recognize that depression can arise from various physiological and psychological factors. Treatment often combines
medication and therapy, with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) used in extreme cases. If someone poses a risk to themselves,
psychiatric hospitalization may be necessary for intensive care.
F. Recent studies, including those from the Archives of General Psychiatry, suggest that about a quarter of diagnosed clinical
depression cases may actually be normal sadness, indicating that psychotherapy might be more appropriate than drug
treatment. Although recovery through therapy is often slower, it generally leads to longer-lasting improvements by helping
individuals enhance their personal and social functioning.
G. It is clear that depression can run in families, but it is uncertain if this is due to genetics or shared biological and
environmental factors. Sometimes, people with depression need to change harmful behaviors and attitudes they have learned
2
and develop new coping strategies to handle their problems. This involves breaking patterns of negative behavior they may
have picked up from role models.
Questions 14 - 18
Reading Passage 2 has seven sections. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letters A-G
for questions 14 - 18 on your answer sheet. There will be unused letters.
14. Treatment methods for worst case scenario depression.
15. Information regarding cases where drug treatment is inappropriate.
16. People with clinical depression are more vulnerable than others in society.
17. Differences in society’s attitudes towards mental illnesses and physical illnesses.
18. Experts doubt the accuracy of depression statistics.
Questions 19 - 21
Which THREE of the following statements are true of depression? Choose THREE letters A-G. Write your answers for
questions 19 - 21 on your answer sheet. Your answers may be given in any order.
A. Governments have generally failed to take action to educate the public about the condition.
B. The highest reported number of cases are in the USA.
C. There are probably more people living with the condition without seeing a doctor than those who are getting
treatment.
D. Loss of interest or pleasure may be one of the symptoms of depression.
E. Prescribed medications have changed dramatically in recent years.
F. Treatment typically involves a mix of pharmaceuticals and therapeutic interventions.
19. ____________
20. ____________
21. ____________
Questions 22 – 25
Complete the summary of paragraphs F and G with the list of words from the box below. Write the correct words for
questions 22 – 25 on your answer sheet. There will be unused words.
longevity optimistic difficult gradual

ambition pessimistic unconfirmed immediate

While recovery through therapy rather than medicine may be 22. ___________________, results once achieved may have
more 23. ___________________ with some patients.
Therapy sessions aim to help people improve their relationship with others and how they feel about themselves, encouraging
those with depression to have a more 24. _____________________ outlook.
The extent to which genetics and sociological factors influence mental state is 25. _____________. Many people go to
therapy to help them stop negative behaviors and reactions.

--------------------------------------Hết--------------------------------------

3
 ANSWER KEYS

Ghi chú: 0.4đ/câu

READING PASSAGE 1 READING PASSAGE 2
Questions 1 – 7 (lỗi thừa hoặc thiếu “s” trừ nửa số Questions 14 – 18
điểm của câu)
14. E
1. tree
15. F
2. soft
16. C
3. sheep
17. A
4. mines
18. B
5. string
6. clay
Questions 19 – 21 (in any order)
7. grease
19 – 20 – 21: C + D + F

Questions 8 – 13
Questions 22 – 25
8. TRUE
22. gradual
9. NOT GIVEN
23. longevity
10. FALSE
24. optimistic
11. FALSE
25. unconfirmed
12. FALSE
13. FALSE