London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, is situated on the River Thames, which meanders through the city. It is renowned for its numerous bridges. Among the bridges, the oldest one is London Bridge, which was originally built of wood but reconstructed in stone in 1217. However, the most unique bridge is Tower Bridge, which was designed to blend in with the nearby Tower of London.

London is a thriving commercial and cultural centre with many significant financial organisations such as the Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange. They are located in the area called the City. Docklands, the former port in east London, has been redeveloped as a business centre. The West End boasts theatres, cinemas, museums, and stores. Due to the high cost of housing near the city centre, many people working in London prefer to live in the suburbs and commute to work by train or bus. London's transportation system is well-connected, with various modes of transportation available, including the red London buses, black taxi cabs, and the London Underground, commonly known as 'the Tube'.

London is now a cosmopolitan, multicultural city which has attracted people from around the globe. Although some people from other parts of Britain view it as very noisy and dirty, many others visit London only for the 'bright lights' - the theatres round Shaftesbury Avenue or the shops of Oxford Street. People also take their children to visit Buckingham Palace, where the royal family lives, and the clock tower, from which Big Ben tolls the hour. Young people, on the other hand, are lured to the pubs and comedy clubs of Covent Garden, live music concerts, and the stalls of Camden market.

Câu 6:

What was designed to blend in with the nearby Tower of London?

A. London Bridge.

B. Bank of England.

C. Tower Bridge.

D. Big Ben.

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Câu 7:

Which area of London is known for its many important financial institutions?

A. Docklands.

B. West End.

C. The City.

D. Covent Garden.

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Câu 8:

What is the main reason why many people who work in London commute from the suburbs?

A. Better housing options in the city centre.

B. Better schools for their children in the suburbs.

C. Cheaper cost of living in the city centre.

D. Expensive property prices near the city centre.

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Câu 9:

What does the pronoun "it" in paragraph 3 refer to?

A. the globe

B. the Tube

C. London

D. the theatre

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Câu 10:

Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. London is a thriving commercial and cultural centre.

B. The Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange are in the West End.

C. The West End is home to many theatres, cinemas, museums, and shops.

D. Young people are attracted to the pubs and comedy clubs of Covent Garden.

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Đoạn văn 3

Read the passage and complete each gap in the sentences below with no more than THREE words

Twenty years ago, people tried to leave the suburbs for cities but nowadays many people are reluctant to make such a move. They say that compared to suburban areas, city life has many drawbacks.

The high cost of living is the first disadvantage. The bigger the city is, the higher the living cost is. Accommodation and petrol are expensive. Food and drinks are also pricey. Apart from that, city people seem to suffer from more noise and air pollution. The densely populated neighbourhoods, busy traffic, and big construction sites make cities noisy and dusty. These are harmful to people's health, such as increasing their stress levels, disturbing their sleep and making them suffer from breathing problems.

Lack of space is another drawback of city life. House prices are high in the city, so people tend to live in smaller houses or in apartment blocks. Many cities lack spaces for outdoor activities; therefore, teenagers often hang out at shopping malls or in entertainment complexes instead of doing sports outdoors.

The cities' authorities are trying to overcome these problems. However, they still have a long way to go before they can reduce living costs and pollution, and increase green space to make all cities in the world more liveable places.

Câu 11: