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.

Marriage nowadays is a choice people make on their own, but this has not always been the case in society. Thousands of years ago, the average lifespan was shorter than it is today. A man usually lived until he was about 40 years old, while women died even sooner because of childbirth. There were many wars and illnesses, and people had to protect themselves by having more children while they were still young. The parents lived through their children.

Marriage was not so much a romantic love story but a business transaction, or deal. Most marriages were arranged between parents while their children were still very young. It was the custom that the fathers made the decision on whom their children were going to marry. The mothers had little say in it since they rarely made any decisions outside the household. The fathers would meet to arrange the wedding date and the money given for the bride on her wedding date. The more money and land a girl had, the more chances she had to marry well. Therefore, it was important that her father choose the bridegroom very well. Usually, it was someone who came from a good family or who was rich too. It was very unlikely that people married outside their social class. A few well-off and rich merchants got to marry poorer noblewomen and became King’s business advisors. In a way, poor peasants had an easier choice as it was less important whom they married.

The practice of arranged marriage is still common in some countries in the Middle East, such as India or Pakistan. Here, social classes are still strongly divided and very well-kept. Often, however, arranged marriages are a sign that people do not want to let go of the past, which gives them comfort and security in an ever-changing world.

The word "bridegroom" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to                                       .

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges.

Maria and Alex are talking about the environment. Maria: "Our environment is getting more and more polluted. Do you think so?" Alex: "      . It's really worrying.

Jack’s father bought him a(n)                                    _ bike as a birthday gift. 

The harder he studies,                                     . 

We                                      full advantage of the fine weather and had a day out.

The audience showed their                                      by giving the world-famous orchestra a big round of applause.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

Some of the tunnels in the cliff are totally natural; some others were carved out by soldiers for defensible purposes.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the most suitable response to complete each of the following exchanges.

Jolie and Tom are meeting at the supermarket. Jolie: "Hi, Tom. How are you doing?" Tom: "               . How about you?" 

As the clouds drifted away, the pattern of the fields was clearly                                             from a height. 

First our team should identify                                   _ specific need in the community and then carry out a project to address that need.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

Safety regulations have made it obligatory for all employees to wear protective clothing.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

His parents don’t allow him staying out late on weekdays.

My best friend, Lan,                                      to England 10 years ago.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the sentence that is closest in meaning to each of the following questions

"You got an A in Chemistry. Congratulations!" Peter said to his classmate.

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.

Each student have to write a paragraph about the benefits of learning English.

combines each pair of sentences in the following questions.

Henry tasted the pleasures of modern city life. Then he found life in his village hard and unattractive.