The hours we spend scrolling through our smartphones appear to be changing the shape of our skulls. This may be the reason why some people — especially the younger crowd — are developing a weird, bony spike just above their necks. This spike, known as an external occipital protuberance, appears at the lower end of the skull, and is sometimes so large, you can feel it by pressing your fingers on the base of your skull.

A study published in the Journal of Anatomy found that the spike was becoming more frequent — especially among 18 to 30-year-olds. David Shahar, the Australian health scientists who conducted the research, believes the development was triggered by prolonged use of smartphones or tablets. As people tilt their head forward to look at the screen, they put pressure on where the neck muscles meet the skull, so the body then develops more bone layers to be able to withstand it, said Shahar.

In the study, Shahar and a colleague looked at the radiographs of 218 young patients, aged 18 to 30, to determine how many had these spikes. In all, 41% of the group had an enlarged spike and 10% had an especially large spike measuring at least 0.7 inches (20 mm), the doctors found. In general, enlarged spikes were more common in males than in females. The largest spike belonged to a man, sticking out at 1.4 inches (35.7 mm).

Shahar believes that the spikes will continue to grow in size as people keep hunching over their handheld devices, but adds that they should not be very harmful and rarely cause serious medical issues. “But if you are experiencing discomfort, maybe you should try improving your posture,” he said.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the answer to each of the question.

Question 39. What is the passage mainly about?

A. A spike in the brain that can be extremely harmful.

B. A change in our skull shape due to smartphone use.

C. Serious medical issues caused by using smartphones.

D. How to avoid discomfort when using smartphones.

👉 Đáp án đúng: B. A change in our skull shape due to smartphone use.

👉 Giải thích: Bài báo nói về việc sử dụng smartphone kéo dài có thể gây ra một "cái gai" trên xương sọ của người trẻ, tập trung vào sự thay đổi hình dáng.

Question 40. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about the results of David Shahar’s study?

A. The spike is more common in women than men.

B. The spike can grow to a size of more than 30mm.

C. The spike is becoming increasingly common.

D. The spike is the result of using smartphones and tablets.

👉 Đáp án đúng: A. The spike is more common in women than men.

👉 Giải thích: Câu cuối của đoạn 3 cho biết: "In general, enlarged spikes were more common in males than in females" (Nhìn chung gai xương phát triển nhiều hơn ở nam giới)

Question 41. The word “triggered” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to _______.

A. encouraged

B. developed

C. fired

D. caused

👉 Đáp án đúng: D. caused

👉 Giải thích: "Triggered" được dùng để nói việc sử dụng điện thoại là nguyên nhân dẫn đến (caused) sự thay đổi này.

Question 42. According to Shahar, the spikes _______.

A. usually lead to illness

B. are very dangerous

C. will shrink in the future

D. are generally harmless

👉 Đáp án đúng: D. are generally harmless

👉 Giải thích: Shahar nói rằng gai xương nhìn chung thường không gây hại "should not be very harmful and rarely cause serious medical issues"

Question 43. The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to _______.

A. skull

B. screen

C. head

D. pressure

👉 Đáp án đúng: D. pressure

👉 Giải thích: "it" ở đây đại diện cho "pressure" (áp lực), được nhắc đến trong câu trước: "As people tilt their head forward to look at the screen, they put pressure on where the neck muscles meet the skull..."

He last has his eyes tested ten months ago

A. He had tested his eyes ten months before

B. He didn’t have any test on his eyes ten months before

C. He had not tested his eyes for ten months then

D. He hasn’t had his eyes tested for ten months

👉 Đáp án đúng trong trường hợp này là D. He hasn't had his eyes tested for ten months.

One way of training for your future occupation in Germany is by pursuing a dual vocational training programme. Such programmes offer plenty of opportunities for on-the-job training and work experience. Programmes usually last between two and three and a half years and comprise theoretical as well as practical elements. You will spend one or two days a week, or several weeks at once, at a vocational school where you will acquire the theoretical knowledge that you will need in your future occupation. The rest of the time will be spent at a company. There you get to apply your newly acquired knowledge in practice, for example by learning to operate machinery. You will get to know what your company does, learn how it operates and find out if you can see yourself working there after completing your training.

This combination of theory and practice gives you a real head start into your job: by the time you have completed your training, you will not only have the required technical knowledge, but you will also have hands-on experience in your job. There are around 350 officially recognized training programmes in Germany, so chances are good that one of them will suit your interests and talents. You can find out which one that might be by visiting one of the jobs vocational training fairs which are organised in many German cities at different times in the year.

Employment prospects for students who have completed a dual vocational training programme are very good. This is one of the reasons why this kind of training is very popular with young Germans: around two thirds of all students leaving school go on to start a vocational training programme.

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

Question 28: How many German school leavers choose this vocational training programme?

A. Around one out of five

B. Well over 75%

C. About 66%

D. Less than a third

👉 Đáp án đúng: C. About 66%

👉 Giải thích: Thông tin này nằm ở câu cuối cùng của đoạn văn: "This kind of training is very popular with young Germans: around two thirds of all students leaving school go on tostart a vocational training programme."

Question 29: The word "it" in the first paragraph refers to ______.

A. organization

B. company

C. knowledge

D. machinery

👉 Đáp án đúng: B. company

👉 Giải thích: Đại từ "it" trong câu "The rest of the time will be spent at a company. There you get to..." đại diện cho "a company" ở câu trước. Đoạn này nói về việc ngoài thời gian học lý thuyết ở trường nghề, học viên sẽ làm việc tại một công ty để áp dụng kiến thức.

Question 30: Which of the following statements best describes the dual vocational training programmes?

A. These programmes provide you with both theoretical knowledge and practical working experience.

B. These programmes consist of an intensive theoretical course of two and a half years at a vocational school.

C. These programmes require you to have only practical working time at a certain company.

D. These programmes offer you some necessary technical skills to do your future job.

👉 Đáp án đúng: A. These programmes provide you with both theoretical knowledge and practical working experience.

👉 Giải thích: Đây là mô tả chính xác nhất, được phản ánh qua các câu như: "Programmes usually last between two and three and a half years and comprise theoretical as well as practical elements..." và "This combination of theory and practice gives you a real head start into your job..."

Question 31: The word "hands-on" in the second paragraph is CLOSEST in meaning to ______.

A. technical

B. theoretical

C. practical

D. integral

👉 Đáp án đúng: C. practical

👉 Giải thích: "hands-on" nghĩa là thực hành, nhấn mạnh việc thực hành tại chỗ và áp dụng kiến thức
Các lựa chọn khác đều có tính chuyên môn cao, không phù hợp:

• Technical: mang tính kỹ thuật
• Theoretical: mang tính lý thuyết
• Integral: không thể thiếu

Question 32: Which of the following is probably the best title of the passage?

A. Combination of Theory and Practice in Studying in Germany.

B. Dual Vocational Training System in Germany.

C. Higher Education System in Germany.

D. Employment Opportunities and Prospects in Germany.

👉 Đáp án đúng: B. Dual Vocational Training System in Germany.

👉 Giải thích: "Tựa đề này nhấn mạnh trọng tâm của toàn bộ đoạn văn - nói về mô hình đào tạo nghề kép ở Đức. Các tựa đề khác:

• A: Quá rộng, đoạn văn chỉ đề cập một khía cạnh trong giáo dục Đức
• C: Đoạn văn không đề cập đến giáo dục bậc đại học
• D: Mặc dù có nhắc đến triển vọng việc làm, nhưng đây không phải trọng tâm

     The Chinese government has removed pangolin scales from its 2020 list of approved ingredients used in traditional Chinese medicine, a move campaigners describe as a “critical step” towards saving the world’s most trafficked mammal.

     Pangolins are highly valued in Asia for scales, which many people believe can improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation. Last year alone, authorities confiscated more than 130 tons of illegal pangolin related products. There are eight species of pangolin found in Asia and Africa. To date, three species are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, while the remaining five are listed as either vulnerable or endangered.

     According to Chinese media, the latest edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia - an official government list of drugs covering approved traditional Chinese and Western medicines - no longer includes pangolin scales. The decision to remove the pangolin from the official list comes just days after China’s State Forestry and Grassland Bureau announced that the Chinese pangolin would be upgraded to a “first-level protected wild animal,” the highest possible protection status alongside pandas and tigers.

     While conservationists from China and other countries have praised the actions of Chinese authorities, some still felt that they came a bit too late. “Many years have passed. How many pangolins have already been hunted and killed?” said Sophia Zhang, director of the Pangolin Working Group at the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation.

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

Câu 39: What is the best title for this passage?

A. What We Can All Do To Protect Pangolins                                

B. Why Are Chinese Pangolins Under Threat?

C. Pangolin Scales: How Valuable Are They?

D. A Big Step In The Protection Of Pangolins

Câu 40: The word “confiscated” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ___________.

A. robbed                        

B. detained                    

C. arrested                

D. seized
 

Câu 41: How have conservationists in China and in other countries react to the Chinese government’s actions

A. They are pleased but some felt that actions should have been taken sooner.

B. They believe these actions are useless, given the number of pangolins killed.

C. They doubt whether these actions will prevent people from hunting pangolins.

D. They are all glad that Chinese authorities have taken measures at the right time.
 

Câu 42: Which of the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?

A. It is widely believed that pangolin scales have medicinal powers.

B. The Chinese government has a list of approved medicines.

C. There are five species of pangolins that are not endangered.    

D. Pandas and tigers are first-level protected wild animals in China.
 

Câu 43: The word “they” in paragraph 4 refers to __________.

A. conservationists

B. countries               

C. actions                  

D. authorities
 

Câu 1: In the past, many women were not allowed _____ to college.

A. to

B. to go

C. going

D. gone

Câu 2: In India, a baby's gender _____ to be very important to the family.

A. considers

B. can consider

C. can be considered

D. has considered

Câu 3: 2015 marked the first year when women were more likely to have a university degree than men, and thi trend is _____ the rise.

A. in

B. at

C. on

D. for

Câu 4: In some ways, women _____ to stick to outdated gender norms.

A. could still pressure

B. could pressure still

C. could still be pressure

D. could be still pressured

Câu 5: Most women try _____ work and fumily, but that balance is seldom equal.

A. balancing

B. fo balance

C. being balanced

D. to be balanced