Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase  that best fits each of the numbered blanks.

Set in the red desert of central Australia is the mining town of Coober Pedy. At first sight, the town looks similar to many other such communities, but Coober Pedy is different. Sixty per cent of its population of 4,000 people lives underground. There are today about 800 underground houses as well as shops, hotels and even churches in the town and the surrounding hills. Once a site has been chosen, special tunneling machines are (51) ________ in to ceate passage and rooms in the sandstone. Rock pillars are left to support the roof, and door and windows are cut into the front. Houses are of all shapes and (52) ________, the largest having twenty rooms, and some even have their own swimming poll.

          Living underground may sound strange but in fact it has a number of advantages. In summer, the temperature outside the houses it remains a steady 25C all year round. Many people say that living underground makes they fell very secure. There is no problem with noise from the neighbours and the houses are not affected. By the fierce dust storms that regularly sweep (54) ________ the area. And of course, if your family (55) ________ or lots of friends come to stay, you can always dig another room.

Once a site has been chosen, special tunneling machines are (51) ________ in to ceate passage and rooms in the sandstone.

Đáp án A

Tạm dịch: Houses are of all shapes and ________, the largest having twenty rooms, and some even their own swimming poll: Nhà có nhiều hình dạng và ________, lớn nhất có 20 phòng, và một số thậm chí có bể bơi của riêng họ.

A. sizes: kích thước

B. areas: vùng miền, lĩnh vực

C. volumes: quyển, tập sách, bộ sách; dung tích, thể tích

D. numbers: số, số lượng

Vậy đáp án đúng là A. sizes.

 Cụm từ: (to come in) all shapes and size: đủ hình dáng, kích thước.

Ex: Chinese toys are very diverse. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Đáp án C

Tạm dịch: In summer, the temperature outside can reach an astonishing 47⁰C, and in winter the nights can be ________ cold: Vào mùa hè, nhiệt độ bên ngoài có thể đạt tới mức đáng kinh ngạc là 47⁰C, và vào mùa đông, đêm có thể là ________ lạnh.

          A. strongly: một cách mạnh mẽ. Ex: strongly agree, be strongly criticized by.

          B. heavily: một cách nặng nề. Ex: to drink.smoke heavily, a heavily pregnant woman.

          C. extremely + adj: cực kỳ

Ex: Don’t go outside at noon. It’s extremely hot!

      Their new CD is selling extremely well.

D. sharply: một cách sắc bén, nhanh. Ex: increase/ escalate sharply

Đáp án A.

Tạm dịch: By the fierce dust storms that regularly sweep ________ the area: Bằng những cơn bão bụi dai dẳn thường xuyên quét qua khu vực.

- (storm) to sweep through: (bão) quét qua

Đáp án A.

Tạm dịch: And of course, if your family ________ or lots of friends come to stay, you can always dig another room: Và dĩ nhiên, nếu gia đình bạn ________ hoặc rất nhiều bạn bè ở lại, bạn luôn có thể đào một căn phòng khác.

     A. grows = to increase in size, number, strength or quality: tăng lên về kích thước, số lượng, sức mạnh, chất lượng.

Ex: - The family has grown in size recently

       - Shortage of water is a growing problem.

     B. rises: tăng lên về mức độ, mọc lên (mặt trời, mặt trăng), tăng lên (giá cả)

Ex: Air pollution has risen above an acceptable level.

     C. stretches: kéo căng, nới rộng, trải dài

Ex: - Is there any way of stretching shoes?

       - Beyond the mountains stretches a vast desert.

D. explodes: nổ, bùng nổ