Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.
Picture a student replying to messages, skimming a news feed and drafting an essay simultaneously, convinced that she is maximising her time. This belief is remarkably widespread: multitasking, many assume, is simply a more efficient way to operate. The brain, however, cannot genuinely process two demanding tasks in parallel; instead, it alternates rapidly between them, and each transition carries a cost.
Research by Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine, exposes this cost in striking detail. In 2004, her team reported that office workers remained on a single screen for roughly two and a half minutes before shifting elsewhere. By 2012, that figure had dropped to 75 seconds, and in recent years it has averaged a mere 47 seconds, a finding that other researchers have replicated. Sustained focus, in other words, has shrunk to less than a third of its former length.
Why should a few seconds matter? According to Mark, every switch forces the mind to reorient itself, depleting a limited reservoir of mental energy. Once people are pulled away from a task, they may need around 25 minutes before they resume it. Constant alerts from phones and apps are deliberately engineered to capture our interest. They do not merely disrupt our work but gradually condition us to interrupt ourselves, so that even in complete silence we instinctively reach for a device. Multitasking may thus erode our energy rather than enhance our productivity.None of this implies that technology should be abandoned. Rather, focus is not an innate gift but a skill to be protected and cultivated, much like physical fitness. Disabling non-essential notifications, reserving time for deep work and taking brief screen-free breaks can all help considerably. In an environment designed to fragment our attention, the capacity to concentrate may prove more valuable than ever.
It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that _____.
The word "depleting" in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _____.
Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?
"They do not merely disrupt our work but gradually condition us to interrupt ourselves, so that even in complete silence we instinctively reach for a device."
Which of the following statements would the writer NOT agree with?
The word "cultivated" in paragraph 4 is CLOSEST in meaning to _____.
nurtured
neglected
evaluated
discovered
In which paragraph does the writer trace the historical decline of uninterrupted digital attention?
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
In which paragraph does the writer suggest steps to improve concentration skills?
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
The word "it" in paragraph 1 refers to _____.
the transition
multitasking
a demanding task
the brain
Read the following passage and choose the option that best fits each of the blanks.
With hundreds of online contacts and group chats that never fall silent, today's young adults might seem (1) _____. The data suggest otherwise. According to a 2023 report by the US Surgeon General, Americans aged 15 to 24 spent about 70 per cent less time with friends in person in 2020 than they had in 2003. (2) _____.
The problem is not simply how many hours young people spend on screens but what those hours replace. (3) _____, online exchanges tend to be brief and carefully edited, and they lack the eye contact and shared laughter through which trust gradually develops. (4) _____, a person can collect hundreds of online friends without having a single one to call in a crisis.
This matters because loneliness is more than a passing mood. The same report warned that its effect on health is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke and memory loss. (5) _____. A single friend who turns up in person may do more for our wellbeing than a thousand who simply click "like".
Choose the correct option for (1).
Choose the correct option for (2).
Lonely young people, if anything, now choose to see far fewer of their friends in person
Experts warn that such a sharp fall may soon leave young people lonely and short of friends
Not surprisingly, many young people now feel lonely despite having plenty of online friends
Indeed, young people are now the most lonely group in society, with no real friends at all
Choose the correct option for (3).
Choose the correct option for (4).
Choose the correct option for (5).
Only by leaving every online group chat can we keep the close friends we have
What we need, then, is not a longer list of online friends but a few close ones
Yet most friends made online, experts say, can never become truly close ones
The more friends we make online, the closer to other people we are likely to feel
Read the following announcement and choose the best answer for each blank.
The City Library is pleased to announce our updated policies. wishing to join the library needs to bring a valid ID and proof of address. Please approach the front desk and the registration form. We always aim to the best educational resources and services for our local community.
Regarding book renewals, members can now extend their borrowing period online through our mobile app. However, please remember that any books after the designated due date will automatically incur a late . We ask all members to respect these deadlines so that everyone has a fair chance to read popular titles.
If you happen to lose your current library card, you must request one at the front desk immediately to prevent unauthorized use of your account.
Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.
In the digital age, the concept of intellectual property is facing one of its most profound challenges due to the rapid advancement of algorithmic content generation. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of composing complex music by synthesizing existing audio works, it fundamentally disrupts the traditional boundaries of copyright and creative ownership. This technological leap has sparked an intense global debate about who truly owns a song when a machine is the composer.
Under conventional legal frameworks, a human musician who produces an original track is granted exclusive rights to its commercial exploitation and distribution. This system is designed to ensure that the time, effort, and economic sacrifice of the creator are adequately rewarded. Any secondary use or adaptation of this scarce human creativity historically demands explicit permission and financial compensation. Such protections have long maintained the financial incentive for artists to continue producing original work while strictly penalizing unauthorized use.
The rapid rise of AI music generators, however, has completely blurred these established lines of intellectual property. [I] These sophisticated algorithms are typically trained on vast datasets containing millions of copyrighted songs, almost always without the original artists' explicit permission. [II] By analyzing these massive audio libraries, the AI learns to identify and replicate complex musical patterns, from vocal nuances to intricate chord progressions. [III] Consequently, users can instantly generate high-quality tracks that sound indistinguishable from human-produced music. [IV]
Proving direct copyright infringement in these cases is notoriously difficult due to the opaque nature of machine learning. Because AI systems synthesize abstract structural rules rather than directly copying identifiable audio files, tech companies often defend their practices under the doctrine of "fair use." They argue that analyzing data to learn musical styles is fundamentally similar to a human musician drawing inspiration from listening to various artists. However, critics maintain that this massive, automated extraction of value strips independent musicians of their rightful compensation.
Addressing this unprecedented imbalance requires urgently updating regulatory frameworks to protect the fundamental rights of human creators. Policymakers now face the daunting task of tracing the origins of algorithmic outputs to ensure that original contributors are fairly compensated. Ultimately, society must find a way to reconcile the incredible potential of generative technologies with the necessity of sustaining a vibrant ecosystem for human expression.
The word "profound" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _____.
According to paragraph 2, under standard legal frameworks, a creator of an original track _____.
receives exclusive rights to control its commercial use
must split royalties equally with artists who inspired them
is required to register the work globally before releasing it
loses all legal protection against unauthorized secondary versions
The word "it" in paragraph 1 refers to _____.
intellectual property
algorithmic content generation
artificial intelligence
complex music
Where does the sentence best fit in paragraph 3?
"This creates a highly uneven playing field where human musicians must compete against machines trained on their own uncompensated labor."
According to paragraph 3, AI music generators learn to create songs by ______.
obtaining explicit permissions from original musicians
directly copying identifiable audio files into new tracks
analyzing musical patterns in large copyrighted datasets
employing human artists to write complex chord progressions
Which sentence best summarizes the main idea of paragraph 4?
What conclusion can best be drawn from paragraph 5?
Legal frameworks need to adapt so that creators receive fair compensation without slowing down innovation.
Musicians should independently build their own AI systems to directly compete with technology companies.
It is pointless to attempt any reform because regulations always lag behind new technology.
All of the following are TRUE according to the passage EXCEPT _____.
tech companies often cite the "fair use" doctrine to justify their AI training methods.
traditional copyright law grants human creators exclusive rights over commercial use of their work.
international copyright law was officially updated just last year specifically to regulate AI-generated music.
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each blank.
JOIN THE LIGHTBOX PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB!
Ever seen a photo that looks pure magic and wondered how it was taken? The Lightbox Photography Club is now recruiting new members, and everyone, from total beginners to seasoned shutterbugs, is welcome to join!
Members get to borrow professional equipment and learn to edit their own photos , without needing outside help. Our senior members are always happy to a hand whenever a beginner gets stuck on a tricky edit.
Thanks to word-of-mouth from happy members, our club has grown three times this year as it did last year, giving everyone opportunities to their work in local exhibitions.
, don't wait too long to sign up — spaces are limited and fill up fast every term!
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. Mai: I'd love to! However, we should check the weather forecast first because it might rain.
b. Nam: Hey Mai, are you free this weekend to go on a day trip to Ba Vi National Park?
c. Nam: That sounds like a plan! Let's book the tickets tonight.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation.
a. Ms. Hoa: Good morning, Professor. I am struggling to find reliable academic sources for my research on AI in education.
b. Prof. Smith: Yes, absolutely. Please send it to my email before Friday.
c. Prof. Smith: Come in, Hoa. What can I do to help you with your term paper?
d. Ms. Hoa: That sounds like a great solution! Besides that, do I need your approval for my outline first?
e. Prof. Smith: I understand your difficulty. For instance, you can access the university library database, which offers thousands of peer-reviewed journals.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful letter.
Dear Mom and Dad,
a. As a result, I truly believe taking this step will help us bridge the gap and strengthen our family bond.
b. It seems we often hold completely different views on my future career choices and personal lifestyle.
c. I am writing this letter to share my honest feelings about the generation gap we have been experiencing lately.
d. However, these differences frequently lead to unnecessary arguments and hurt feelings.
e. Therefore, I would like to suggest that we establish a weekly family meeting to listen to each other openly without judgment.
Love,
Nam
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful text.
a. Furthermore, the integration of these smart technologies into public transit systems allows commuters to track buses and trains in real time, drastically cutting down waiting hours.
b. To address this pressing issue, city planners are increasingly turning to data-driven solutions such as AI-powered traffic lights that dynamically adjust their timing based on actual road conditions.
c. In recent years, rapid urbanization has led to severe traffic congestion in major cities worldwide, degrading air quality and causing daily frustration for millions of residents.
d. As a result, cities that have embraced these sustainable infrastructures report not only a noticeable reduction in carbon emissions but also a higher quality of life for their citizens.
e. For example, recent pilot projects in cities like Singapore and Amsterdam have demonstrated that adaptive traffic signals can reduce commute times by up to 20 percent.
Choose the best way to rearrange the following sentences in order to make a meaningful text.
a. Condensing content to fit social media formats, however, risks stripping away the depth and completeness traditionally associated with established journalism.
b. Mainstream media outlets, journalists argue, should therefore maintain a presence on social platforms while preserving rigorous standards through their official channels.
c. This shift has allowed accurate information to spread more rapidly and compete more effectively against unverified sources circulating online.
d. An increasing number of mainstream news organisations have expanded their operations onto social media platforms in order to reach younger audiences.
e. Several newsrooms have, in fact, reported a sharp rise in readers who engage only with headlines on social media without ever accessing the original article.