The official residence of the president of the United States is the White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington, D.C. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia held a meeting in 1792 and decided to hold a contest for the best design for the Presidential House. James Hoban, an architect born in Ireland, was the winner. His bid for the construction of the mansion asked for $200,000, but the final cost of the building came to twice that amount. The work on the project began during the same year, and the grounds of approximately one and a half miles west of the Capitol Hill were chosen by Major Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, who was in charge of city planning. However, the construction continued for several more years, and George Washington had stepped down as president before the building was habitable. When John Adams, the second president of the United States and his wife Abigail moved in 1800, only six rooms had been completed.

 The grey sandstone walls of the house were painted white during construction, and the color of the paint gave the building its name. The building was burned on August 24, 1814, and James Hoban reconstructed the house for President James Monroe and his family, who moved there in 1817. The north portico was added to the building in 1829, water pipes were installed in 1833, gas lighting in 1848, and electricity in 1891. In 1948, inspectors announced that the building was so dilapidated that it was beyond repair and suggested that it was cheaper to construct a new one than repair the existing dwelling. However, the national sentiment was to keep the original form intact, and Congress appropriated $5million dollars for repairs. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy launched a pro.4 gram to redecorate the rooms and appointed a Fine Arts Committee to make choices of furnishing and colors.

 The house of the president accords its residents a great deal of space. The living quarters contain 107 rooms, 40 corridors, and 19 baths. The White House contains a doctor’s suite, a dentist’s office, a large solarium, a broadcasting room, and a two-floor basement for storage and service rooms. The office in which the president works is not located in the White House, but in a separate building called the West Wing. The White House stands on 16 acres of park like land and overlooks a broad lawn, flower gardens, and wood groves.

The word “contest” is closest in meaning to

B

Bài đọc ám chỉ gì về chi phí của việc xây dựng Nhà Trắng?

A. Nó được đề xuất tại cuộc họp của các ủy viên.

B. Nó không tuân theo ước tính ban đầu.

C. Nó không bao gồm trong thiết kế kiến trúc.

D. Nó được xem là vượt quá mức cho nhà của tổng thống.

Dẫn chứng: His bid for the construction of the mansion asked for $200,000, but the final cost of the building came to twice that amount.

=>Chọn B

C

Từ “ grounds” [ đất] gần nghĩa nhất với

A. vùng đất cao

B. một só lô đất

C. địa điểm

D. đồi

Dẫn chứng: The work on the project began during the same year, and the grounds of approximately one and a half miles west of the Capitol Hill were chosen by Major Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, who was in charge of city planning.

=>Chọn C

. C

Có thể suy ra từ bài đọc rằng

A. George Washington thường sử dụng các bậc thang của Nhà Trắng.

B. George Washington đóng góp vào thiết kế Nhà Trắng.

C. George Washington chưa bao giờ sống trong Nhà Trắng.

D. Nhà Trắng không được bao gồm trong kế hoạch của thành phố.

Dẫn chứng: However, the construction continued for several more years, and George Washington had stepped down as president before the building was habitable.

=>Chọn C

B

Tác giả của bài đọc ngụ ý rằng việc xây dựng công trình chính của Nhà Trắng tiếp tục

A. đến năm 1800

B. sau năm 1800

C. cho đến năm 1814

D. cho đến năm 1792

Dẫn chứng: When John Adams, the second president of the United States and his wife Abigail moved in 1800, only six rooms had been completed.

The grey sandstone walls of the house were painted white during construction, and the color of the paint gave the building its name. The building was burned on August 24, 1814, and James Hoban reconstructed the house for President James Monroe and his family, who moved there in 1817. The north portico was added to the building in 1829, water pipes were installed in 1833, gas lighting in 1848, and electricity in 1891.

=>Chọn B

A

Có thể suy ra gì về Nhà Trắng từ thông tin ở đoạn 2?

A. Một vài sự thay đổi trong cấu trúc ở nửa đầu thế kỷ 20.

B. Tòa nhà đã được hiện đại hóa trên diện rộng trong suốt một thập kỷ.

C. Nước chảy được lắp vào nửa cuối thế kỷ 19.

D. Mỗi tổng thống thêm vào một số đặc trưng mới cho những tiện nghi của tòa nhà.

Dẫn chứng: . However, the national sentiment was to keep the original form intact, and Congress appropriated $5million dollars for repairs. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy launched a pro.4 gram to redecorate the rooms and appointed a Fine Arts Committee to make choices of furnishing and colors.

=>Chọn A

B

Bài đọc đề cập tất cả những cái nào sau đây trong cơ sở vật chất của Nhà Trắng NGOẠI TRỪ

A. hành lang

B. nhà bếp

C. văn phòng y tế

D. phòng lưu trữ

Dẫn chứng: The living quarters contain 107 rooms, 40 corridors, and 19 baths. The White House contains a doctor’s suite, a dentist’s office, a large solarium, a broadcasting room, and a two-floor basement for storage and service rooms.

=>Chọn B