swarthy
wreathe
apothecary
feather
Choose the word which has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others.
regime
territory
dominion
jurisdiction
Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.
Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.
Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.
Choose the word that differs from the rest in the position of the main stress.
Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
We oppose this war, as we would do to any other war which created an environmental catastrophe.
Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
Hue is the ideal place to enjoy life; it’s a beautiful and hospitable city with its famous cultural heritage.
Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).
She started going off on a tangent about what happened to her last summer.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
His career in the illicit drug trade ended with the police raid this morning.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
The Arctic fox‘s brownish-gray coat blends in with the barren tundra landscape in the months without snow.
Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).
The clubs meet on the last Thursday of every month in a dilapidated palace.
During the Perfume Pagoda festival, a large number of ________ flock to the pagoda to pray for happiness and prosperity in the coming year.
The eyewitness said that she had seen _____ the scene of the crime.
Unfortunately, my trip to France _____ because I couldn't save enough money.
Read the text and choose the best answer to fill in the blanks.
There can be no that online shopping is of huge benefit to consumers. Far from becoming , online shoppers are very demanding. Overpriced merchants with poor services should beware. Gone are the days when stores could charge what they liked for goods and get away with it. The same, too, for shady manufacturers: smarter consumers know which products have a good and which do not, because online they now read not only the sales but also reviews from previous purchasers. And if customers are disappointed, a few clicks of the mouse will take them to places where they can let the world know. Nowadays there is nothing more damning than a flood of negative comments on the internet.
However, the big boys, as always, are ahead of the game. Some companies are already adjusting their business models to take account of these trends. The stores run by Sony and Apple for instance are more like brand showrooms than shops. They are there for people to try out and to ask questions to knowledgeable staff. Whether the products are ultimately bought online or offline is of secondary importance.
Online traders must also adjust. Amazon, for one, is turning from being primarily a bookseller to becoming a mass retailer by letting other companies sell products on its site, rather like a marketplace. During America's Thanksgiving weekend last November, Amazon's sales of consumer electronics in the United States its book sales for the first time in its history. Other transformations in the retail business are to follow.
Read the passage then answer the questions.
HERBS AND DRUGS
Herbs are different kinds of plants and plant parts that can be used for medicinal purposes. This can include the leaves, stems, roots, or seeds of the plant. Herbs have been important in traditional medicine for centuries, in both of the East and the West. In Western medicine, they have largely been replaced by drugs. Herbal treatments are, however, still an integral part of Eastern medicine. In recent years, interest in traditional medicine has increased in the West. Many people are either using modern methods combined with traditional treatments or are turning to these treatments entirely. While traditional medicine can be helpful, they are not without their share of problems.
The main difference between herbs and drugs is that, while herbs are simply parts of plants, drugs are specific chemicals in a pure form. Many modern drugs are derived from chemicals found in plants. One example is aspirin, which is made from a chemical extracted from the back of the willow tree. Other drugs are entirely synthetic. Even those drugs that are derived from natural sources are heavily processed in order to purify and concentrate them. This allows drugs to be administered in precise amounts. Different kinds and degrees of illnesses often require dosages that differ only slightly. A little too much or not enough a certain drug can have negative effects on the patient. Many drugs also produce negative effects even when taken in the recommended dosage. These undesired negative effects are called "side-effects".
The possibility of dangerous and unexpected side-effects from drugs has led many people back to traditional medicine. Herbal treatments seem more natural than modern drugs. Many feel that traditional medicine is more concerned with treating the underlying causes of disease instead of just the symptoms, through the truth of this claim is not yet clear. In any case, there is a certain comfort in taking natural herbal treatments instead of the processed, synthetic chemicals derived from them.
There are, however, disadvantages to herbal treatments, some of them are serious. Few herbal treatments have been scientifically studied. While the active chemicals in the herb may be known, it may not be clear what they really do, or if they are really effective at all. Because the active chemicals are not used alone it is very difficult to determine the proper amount for treatment, since the levels of the chemical are not constant throughout the plant. Therefore, the risk of under and overdose is higher than with drugs. A more serious problem is that certain herbal treatments may have no real medicinal effect, thus giving the patient a false sense of security. This is particularly harmful when the patient refuses treatment with modern drugs that could be effective.
There are even certain herbs that can cause side-effects, just like a drug. One of these is ma-huang, also called ephedra, which is taken to increase energy. It has been known to cause damage to the heart and nervous system. Garlic and ginger are common elements in food that are also taken as herbal treatments, but they can be dangerous for people with diabetes. In general, herbs are most dangerous when they are taken along with common drugs. This may happen in two ways: a patient decides to supplement his or her regular treatment with herbs, or a dishonest manufacturer adds modern drugs to an herbal treatment. In both cases, the results can be very serious. The herb St. John's wort is often used to treat depression, but if it is used along with conventional antidepressants, such as Zoloft, the combination can cause confusion, headaches, allergic reactions and other problems.
Finally, because production of herbal treatments is seldom regulated, harmful substances can be present in herbal preparations. Herbs grown in polluted soil may contain lead, arsenic, or mercury. They may also be tainted with pesticides. It is for these reasons that herbs should not be treated as the perfect substitute for drugs. Although herbs appear to be quite distinct from modern drugs, it is important to use them with the same sort of care.
(Đề đề nghị - THPT Chuyên Lê Quý Đôn - Đà Nẵng)
Why does the author mention that drugs are heavily processed?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
The word "this" in paragraph 4 refers to ______.
According to the passage, who should not take ginger or garlic as herbal treatments?
According to the passage, when are herbs most dangerous?
It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
Which of the following is closest in meaning to "tainted" in paragraph 6?
Which of the following best states the topic of the passage?
Mary: “You stepped on my toes!”
James: “_____.”
Tom and Mary are talking after school.
Tom: “I’m awfully sorry I can’t go with you.”
Mary: “_____? Haven’t you agreed?”
John: “Don’t fail to send your parents my regard.”
Mary: “_____.”
Tom: “Do you have a minute, please?”
Tony: “_____.”
Julie and Ann are talking about their classmate.
Julie: “_____”
Ann: “Yeah, not bad, I suppose.”
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. I don’t know. The tag is missing.
b. Oh, look. Here’s another shirt just like it.
c. You’d better try them on first.
d. How much is that shirt?
e. I think I’ll buy both of them.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. Oh, of course. Now I remember her.
b. Guess who I saw yesterday!
c. Kathy Wilson? I don't think I remember her.
d. Kathy Wilson!
e. Who?
f. Sure you do! She's the one who saved my life when I almost drowned at the beach last year.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. That should be lots of fun and lots of food.
b. I want to cruise to Hawaii.
c. Where do you want to go?
d. But I have no idea how much it will cost.
e. I want to go on a cruise trip.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. As a matter of fact, I have. I heard from her just the other day.
b. Fine. She's getting straight A's in school.
c. Have you heard from your granddaughter lately?
d. How's she doing?
e. I will.
f. That's fantastic! Next time you see her, please give her my regards.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. The cat doesn’t care about homework.
b. Did you feed the cat?
c. I’m doing my homework.
d. Well, the cat doesn’t care about anything.
e. I’ll do that in a minute.
f. He’s hungry. You shouldn’t make him wait.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
Even though it had been snowing all day, a great many people managed to get to the end-of-term concert.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
You're not obliged to sign the contract now, but a delay may mean losing the position.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
You could have been more tactful to her when you broke the news of her dismissal from work.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
Whole populations of Australia's natives were wiped out in order that civilization could advance.
Choose the sentence CLOSEST in meaning to the sentence given.
The level of unemployment in this district is said to be far higher than anywhere else in the country.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
The fire must have been started on purpose. Otherwise, it couldn't have caused so much damage.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
Graham arrived in Paris. He phoned his wife immediately.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
With many individuals, personal ethics are rooted in religious beliefs. However, this is not true for everyone.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
Her aquatic undertakings captured the public imagination. Then it brought her unexpected fame.
Choose the sentence that best combines this pair of sentences.
The scene is set in Normandy. Most of the characters in this novel are Londoners.
Read the passage and choose the correct answer.
(1)__________. No new business start-up is without risk, but the benefits can be immeasurable. Inventions such as the automobile, the internet and the iPad were all initially met with a high degree of criticism, (2)__________. Travelling into space used to be possible only for governments or large aerospace companies. This is no longer the case, (3)__________, and several private companies have planned tourist missions into space which are going to take place in the next few years. Consulting firm Futron Corporation predicts that the space tourism industry will be worth $1.3 billion and have more than 25,000 customers in the next five to ten years. Space tourism pioneer Peter Diamandis (4)_________, with companies from around the world already working on such projects. (5)__________. Jeffrey Jones, a member of the Center for Space Medicine at Baylor College, warns that even a short journey into space could cause serious health problems for tourists of average or poor health.
Choose the correct answer for (1)
Choose the correct answer for (2)
Choose the correct answer for (3)
Choose the correct answer for (4)
Choose the correct answer for (5)
Write an academic essay of about 250 words on the following topic.
Some people think that it is more beneficial to take part in sports which are played in teams, like football, while other people think that taking part in individual sports, like tennis or swimming, is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.