There is a common expression in English language referring to a blue moon.

When people say that

something happens "only once in blue moon,” they mean that it happens only very rarely, once in a
great while. This expression has been around for at least a century and a half; there are references to
this expression that date from the second half of the nineteenth century.
The expression " a blue moon" has come to refer to the second full moon occurring in any given
calendar month. A second full moon is not called a blue moon because it is particularly blue or is any
different in hue from the first full moon of the month. Instead, it is called a blue moon because it is
so rare- The moon needs a little more than 29 days to complete the cycle from full moon to full
moon. Because every month except Febmary has more than 29 days, every month will have at least
one full moon (except February, which will have a full moon unless there is a full moon at the very
end of January and another full moon at the very beginning of March). It is or the occasion when a
given calendar month has a second full moon that a blue moon occurs. This does not happen very
often, only three or four times in a decade.
The blue moons of today are called blue moons because of their rarity and not because of their color
however, the expression “blue moon” may have come into existence in reference to unusual
circumstances in which the moon actually appeared blue. Certain natural phenomena of gigantic
proportions can actually change the appearance of the moon from Earth. The eruption of the
Krakatao volcano in 1883 left dust particles in the atmosphere, which clouded the sun and gave the
moon a bluish tint. This particular occurrence of the blue moon may have given rise to the expression
that we use today. Another example occurred more than a century later. When Mount Pinatubo
erupted in the Philippines in 1991, the moon again took on a blue tint.

Which of the following might be the date of a “blue moon"?

a. April 15
Câu trả lời không đúng
b. December 31
c. February 28
d. January 1

How long has the expression “once in a blue moon" been around?
For less than 100 years
b. For 200 years
c. For more than 100 years
d. For around 50 years

How many blue moons would there most likely be in a century

a. 35
35
b. 70
c. 4 Câu trả lời không đúng
d. 100

The expression "given rise to” in paragraph 3 could best be replaced by

created a need for
b. spurred the creation of
c. elevated the level of
Câu trả lời không đúng
d. brightened the color of

A blue moon could best be described as

a new moon that is blue in color
b. a new moon that is not blue in color
c. a full moon that is blue in color
Câu trả lời không đúng
d. a full moon that is not blue in color

The word “hue" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

Chọn một câu trả lời:
a. color Câu trả lời đúng
b. shape
c. size
d. date

The passage is about

Chọn một câu trả lời:
a. an unusual color Câu trả lời không đúng
b. a month on the calendar
c. an idiomatic expression
d. a phase of the moon

According to the passage, the moon actually looked blue

Chọn một câu trả lời:
a. during the month of February
b. after large volcanic eruptions
Câu trả lời đúng
c. several times a year
d. when it occurred late in the month

An intellectual breakthrough, brilliant though it may be, does not automatically ensure that the
transition is made from theory to practice. Despite the fact that rockets had been used sporadically
for several hundred years, they remained a relatively minor artefact of civilisation until the
twentieth century. Prodigious efforts, accelerated during two world wars, were required before the
technology of primitive rocketry could be translated into the reality of sophisticated astronauts. It is
strange that the rocket was generally ignored by writers of fiction to transport their heroes to
mysterious realms beyond the Earth, even though it had been commonly used in fireworks displays
in China since the thirteenth century. The reason is that nobody associated the reaction principle
with the idea of travelling through space to a neighbouring world.
Chọn một câu trả lời:
a. The first use of steam
b. The impact of the reaction principle
c. How the reaction principle
d. Writers’ theories of the reaction principle Câu trả lời không đúng

The concept of the rocket, or rather the mechanism behind the idea of propelling an object into the
air, has been around for well over two thousand years. However, it wasn’t until the discovery of the
reaction principle, which was the key to space travel and so represents one of the great milestones in
the history of scientific thought, that rocket technology was able to develop. Not only did it solve a
problem that had intrigued man for ages, but, more importantly, it literally opened the door to
exploration of the universe.
Chọn một câu trả lời:
a. Writers’ theories of the reaction principle
b. The impact of the reaction principle Câu trả lời đúng
c. How the reaction principle
d. The first use of steam

These stories of killer bees in the news in recent years have attracted a lot of attention as bees have
made their way from South America to North America. Killer bees are reputed to be extremely
aggressive in nature, although experts say that their aggression may have been somewhat inflated.
The killer bee is a hybrid—or combination- of the very mild European strain of honeybee and the
considerably more aggressive African bee, which was created when African strain was imported
into Brazil in 1955. The African bees were brought into Brazil because their aggression was
considered an advantage: they were far more productive than their European counterparts in that
they spent a higher percentage of their time working and continued working longer in inclement
weather than did the European bees.
These killer bees have been known to attack humans and animals, and some fatalities have
occurred. Experts point out, however, that the mixed breed known as the killer bee is actually not
at all as aggressive as the pure African bee. They also point out that the attacks have a chemical
cause. A killer bee stings only when it has been disturbed; it is not aggressive by nature. However,
after a disturbed bee stings and flies away, it leaves its stinger embedded in the victim. In the vicera
attached to the embedded stinger is the chemical isoamyl acetate, which has an odor that attracts
other bees. As other bees approach the victim of the original sting, the victim tends to panic, thus
disturbing other bees and causing them to sting. The new sting create more of the chemical isoamyl
acetate, which attracts more bees and increases the panic level of the victim. Killer bees tend to
travel in large cluster or swarms and thus respond in large numbers to the production of isoamyl
acetate.

The main idea of this passage is that killer bees

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. have been in the news a lot recently
b. are a hybrid rather than a pure breed
c. have been moving unexpectedly rapidly through the Americas
d. are not as aggressive as their reputation suggests
Câu trả lời đúng
The subject of the preceding paragraph was most likely

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. the chemical nature of killer bee attacks
Câu trả lời không đúng
b. ways of producing honey
c. stories in the media about killer bees
d. the creation of the killer bee

It is stated in the passage that killer bees

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. are less aggressive than African bees
Câu trả lời đúng
b. are more deadly than African bees
c. always attack African bees
d. never attack animals

The word “inflated” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. aired
b. blown
c. burst
d. exaggerated
Câu trả lời đúng

The pronoun "They" in paragraph 3 refers to

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. humans and animals
b. fatalities
c. killer bees
d. experts
Câu trả lời đúng

Why were African bees considered beneficial?

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. They spent their time traveling.
b. They hid from inclement weather.
Câu trả lời không đúng
c. They were very aggressive.
d. They produced an unusual type of honey.

It can be inferred from the passage that the killer bee

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. was carried from Africa to Brazil in 1955
b. did not exist early in the twentieth century
c. was a predecessor of the African bee
Câu trả lời không đúng
d. traveled from Brazil to Africa in 1955

A “hybrid" in paragraph 2 is

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. an enemy
b. a relative
c. a predecessor
d. a mixture Câu trả lời đúng

When you think about it, it's amazing that anyone gets away with a carefree holiday. It seems there
is limitless potential for things to go wrong, from flight delays and lost luggage to poor
accommodation.
A recent questionnaire showed that a third of people who replied had a complaint about their
holiday last year. And when these unhappy holidaymakers discussed the problem with their tour
company nearly half said it involved time and effort on their part to resolve things.
When asked exactly what the reasons were for their dissatisfaction top of the list was flight delays
and 20 per cent of holiday-makers to Europe said they had to wait up to an hour.
More worrying is the fact that almost a third of holiday-makers who had complained said it was
about the apartment or hotel room they had been allocated. There is an enormous variety of
holiday accommodation and we recommend that consumers look for places that have been
inspected by the Tourist Boards; this way they can have the confidence that they will get the type of
accommodation they are looking for. It seems that tour companies now offer more honest accurate
brochures though. Eight-five per cent of holiday-makers who responded to our questionnaire said
the description offered by the company matched the place they visited and the facilities provided.
This is good news for the industry and for holiday-makers. A holiday is a major purchase - yet it's
one we can't try before we pay. All we have to go on is the brochure and it's a credit to tour
operators that they now contain more detail.
OUR ADVICE
DO be realistic. No one should be palmed off with a poor standard of service, food or
accommodation even if you paid a rock- bottom price for a last- minute break. However, be
reasonable - you won't get a room with the best view in town if you've paid a budget price.
DO complain to the right person. Moaning to the waiter about a week's worth of appalling food,
then writing an indignant letter when you get back home won't have the same impact as airing your
grievances at the time.
DO get evidence for a serious problem such as having a building site instead of the promised
swimming pool below your window. Take a photo to back up your case.
DON'T write and complain for the sake of it. Letters can be powerful as long as they're about
something you have a good reason to complain about.
DON'T lose your temper. Easier said than done, but you're more likely to get results if you state
your case firmly, explain why you think there's a problem then suggest a reasonable solution.

A low-cost holiday should still offer some high-quality services.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE
b. NOT GIVEN
c. FALSE Câu trả lời không đúng

Tour companies provide a satisfactory level of information to holiday-makers.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE
b. FALSE
c. NOT GIVEN Câu trả lời không đúng

The most common problem for holiday-makers is crowded airports.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. FALSE
b. TRUE Câu trả lời không đúng
c. NOT GIVEN

If you are not good at writing letters, find someone to help you.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE
b. NOT GIVEN Câu trả lời đúng
c. FALSE

Overall, holiday accommodation poses few problems.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. FALSE
b. TRUE Câu trả lời không đúng
c. NOT GIVEN
Hotel staff can advise you on who you should complain to.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE
b. NOT GIVEN Câu trả lời đúng
c. FALSE

Solving problems can be hard work for the holiday-maker.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE Câu trả lời đúng
b. NOT GIVEN
c. FALSE

Photographs may help to support an argument about a holiday problem.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. TRUE
b. NOT GIVEN Câu trả lời không đúng
c. FALSE

Hiring a Car Online

Online car hire promises to be cheap, quick and convenient. But is it? Neil McDougall revs up his
mouse
Cash.com.uk
One to consider if you’re going to the States, although, after I'd worked through half the booking
process, it returned an error message without telling me which element of the procedure needed
adjusting. I got there in the end. There is an inspirational section with detailed directions for some of
the great drives of America.
Expeed.org.uk
Book a flight with Expeed and when you continue on to the car-hire section, the software already
knows where you are going and when. However, you seem to be restricted to cities with airports for
your car hire, and additional taxes are presented in travel- agent speak.
Cutprice.com
Is currently offering an aggressive lowest rates guarantee, an extra discount for former Holtravel
clients and a package of free gifts to sweeten the deal. It also commits to no insurance excess on any
of their rentals anywhere.
Hot.org
Straightforward to navigate, with plenty of information on rental requirements and rules of operation.
There are photographs of the types of vehicles available, leaving no doubt what a 'premium' or
'compact' car is. It took me just seconds to start reserving a car but then the whole thing ground to a
halt and refused all attempts to access the reservation system.

It is possible to see what the cars look like.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Expeed.org.uk
b. Cash.com.uk
Câu trả lời không đúng
c. Cutprice.com
d. Hot.org

Assistance is provided with some holiday routes.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cutprice.com
b. Expeed.org.uk Câu trả lời không đúng
c. Hot.org
d. Cash.com.uk

You will get cheaper car hire if you have used the company before.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cash.com.uk
b. Hot.org
c. Cutprice.com Câu trả lời đúng
d. Expeed.org.uk

Attempts made by the writer to book a car were unsuccessful.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Hot.org
Câu trả lời đúng
b. Cutprice.com
c. Expeed.org.uk
d. Cash.com.uk
The site is suited to people with up-to-date hardware.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cheapandcheerful.net.uk
Câu trả lời đúng
b. Cutprice.com
c. Hot.org
d. Expeed.org.uk

You can only hire a car in certain locations.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cash.com.uk
b. Cutprice.com
c. Expeed.org.uk Câu trả lời đúng
d. Hot.org

Essays, whether written as part of a secondary school programme or further education course, are
designed to test your thinking, writing and study skills. Creative essays offer you the freedom to
demonstrate your abilities to communicate effectively. Analytical essays, on the other hand, will
require you to show that you have researched the topic and drawn on the work of others to come to
your conclusion.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Open-ended essays Câu trả lời không đúng
b. Gathering source material
c. The importance of focusing on the task
d. Types of essay and their purpose

You will get cheaper car hire if you have used the company before.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cash.com.uk
b. Hot.org
c. Cutprice.com Câu trả lời đúng
d. Expeed.org.uk

Attempts made by the writer to book a car were unsuccessful.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Hot.org
Câu trả lời đúng
b. Cutprice.com
c. Expeed.org.uk
d. Cash.com.uk

The site is suited to people with up-to-date hardware.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cheapandcheerful.net.uk
Câu trả lời đúng
b. Cutprice.com
c. Hot.org
d. Expeed.org.uk

You can only hire a car in certain locations.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Cash.com.uk
b. Cutprice.com
c. Expeed.org.uk Câu trả lời đúng
d. Hot.org

Essays, whether written as part of a secondary school programme or further education course, are
designed to test your thinking, writing and study skills. Creative essays offer you the freedom to
demonstrate your abilities to communicate effectively. Analytical essays, on the other hand, will
require you to show that you have researched the topic and drawn on the work of others to come to
your conclusion.

Chọn một câu trả lời:

a. Open-ended essays Câu trả lời không đúng
b. Gathering source material
c. The importance of focusing on the task
d. Types of essay and their purpose