PROGRESS TEST

Time allowed: 70 minutes

Student’s name…………………………..Student’s code…………………………

I. READING
Time permitted: 40 minutes
Number of questions: 20

PASSAGE 1 - Questions 1-10

A new study, conducted by scientists from Oxford University, the Chinese Academy of
Medical Sciences and the Chinese Center for Disease Control, has warned that a third of
all men currently under the age of 20 in China will eventually die prematurely if they do
not give up smoking.
The research, published in The Lancet medical journal, says two-thirds of men in China
now start to smoke before 20.Around half of those men will die from the habit, it
concludes.
In 2010, around one million people in China died from tobacco usage. But researchers
say that if current trends continue, that will double to two million people - mostly men -
dying every year by 2030, making it a "growing epidemic of premature death".
But co-author Richard Peto said there was hope - if people can be persuaded to quit."The
key to avoid this huge wave of deaths is cessation, and if you are a young man, don't
start," he said.
In many parts of China, meals often fit a comfortable pattern. After putting down their
chopsticks, men commonly push their chairs back from the table and light cigarettes. No
wonder China has struggled to impose a smoking ban in public places. Here,
relationships are often built amid clouds of smoke.
Expensive brands of cigarettes, often decorated with gold detailing on the cartons, are
given as gifts. And ordinary brands are affordable to all but the very poor, costing just 2.5
yuan ($0.4; £0.25) a pack.
In a country where smoking is so ingrained in daily life, few understand the harmful
effects of tobacco use. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 25% of
Chinese adults can list the specific health hazards of smoking, from lung cancer to heart
disease.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that only 10% of Chinese smokers quit by
choice. Instead, most are forced to give up their cigarettes because they're too sick to
continue.
While smoking rates have fallen in developed countries - to less than one in five in the
US - they have risen in China, as cigarettes have become more available and consumers
richer.
Authorities have shown concern over the rise, with Beijing even introducing a public
smoking ban. But efforts have been hampered by the habit's popularity, and its
usefulness as a source of tax - the government collects about 428 billion yuan (£44billion,
$67billion) in tobacco taxes each year.
Globally, tobacco kills up to half of its users, according to the World Health Organization.
1. How many Chinese men start to smoke before the age of 20?
A. one-third
B. two-thirds
C. half
D. all of them
2. What does the word “those men” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Men who smoke under the age of 20
B. Men who smoke above the age of 20
C. Men who give up smoking
D. Men who smoke in public
3. By 2030, how many men in China may die from smoking every year?
A. one million
B. two million
C. three million
D. four million
4. In many areas of China, when do men usually smoke?
A. Before a meal
B. After a meal
C. Before they go to sleep
D. When they get up
5. According to WHO, only_______ of Chinese adults can list bad effects of
smoking.
A. one-third
B. one-fourth
C. one-fifth
D. a half
 6. “Beijing” refers to
A. China
B. The city of Beijing
C. The Chinese government
D. People who live in Beijing
7. What is Richard Peto’s attitude toward smoking in China?
A. He doesn’t believe that people will give up smoking
B. He is disappointed with the Chinese government.
C. He thinks that people possibly stop smoking if they see reasons.
D. He is sure about the rise of future deaths in China.
8. Which of the following words does the word “hamper” have closest meaning
to?
A. basket
B. assist
C. prohibit
D. restrict

9. What is the writer’s purpose?

A. To argue over smoking policy in China
B. To support smoking in China
C. To warn and prevent smoking in China
D. To report the result of a research paper
10. What does the writer imply about Chinese government?
A. They do not want to stop people from smoking.
B. They have tried to stop people from smoking in public but with little
success.
C. They have tried to close tobacco companies.
D. They do not care about smoking.

PASSAGE 2 - Questions 11-20

The evidence that humans are causing global warming is strong, but the question of what
to do about it remains controversial. Economics, sociology, and politics are all important
factors in planning for the future.
Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm
by another degree Fahrenheit or so. But what we do from today forward makes a big
difference. Depending on our choices, scientists predict that the Earth could eventually
warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
A commonly cited goal is to stabilize GHG concentrations around 450-550 parts per
million (ppm), or about twice pre-industrial levels. This is the point at which many
believe the most damaging impacts of climate change can be avoided. Current
concentrations are about 380 ppm, which means there isn't much time to lose. According
to the IPCC, we'd have to reduce GHG emissions by 50% to 80% of what they're on track
to be in the next century to reach this level.
Is this possible?
Many people and governments are already working hard to cut greenhouse gases, and
everyone can help.
Researchers Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow at Princeton University have suggested
one approach that they call "stabilization wedges." This means reducing GHG emissions
from a variety of sources with technologies available in the next few decades, rather than
relying on an enormous change in a single area. They suggest 7 wedges that could each
reduce emissions, and all of them together could hold emissions at approximately current
levels for the next 50 years, putting us on a potential path to stabilize around 500 ppm.
There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and
vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), and increases in wind and solar
power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops),
natural gas, and nuclear power. There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide
emitted from fossil fuels and store it underground—a process called "carbon
sequestration."
In addition to reducing the gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can also increase the
amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere. Plants and trees absorb CO2 as they
grow, "sequestering" carbon naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the
way we farm could increase the amount of carbon we're storing.
Some of these technologies have drawbacks, and different communities will make
different decisions about how to power their lives, but the good news is that there are a
variety of options to put us on a path toward a stable climate.
11. The word “we” in paragraph 2refers to
A. humans
B. economists, sociologists, and politicians
C. animals
D. scientists
12. According to paragraph 2, how many degrees could the Earth warm up?
A. 2.5
B. 2.5 or 10
C. 10
 D. from 2.5 to 10

13. According to paragraph 3, why should we stabilize GHG concentrations

around 450-550 parts per million?
A. to avoid the most serious effects of climate change
B. to avoid all damaging impacts of climate change
C. to mend the most damaging impacts of climate change
D. to stop climate change
14.What does “which” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. current concentrations
B. that current concentrations are about 380 ppm
C. 380 ppm
D. ppm
15.Why does the author mention Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow?
A. To introduce two researchers in the field
B. To proves that researchers are working to reduce GHG emission
C. To introduce one way to reduce GHG emission
D. To introduce Princeton University
16. What stabilization wedges are NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. create environment-friendly materials
B. capture and store carbon dioxide underground
C. increase the use of renewable energy
D. grow more trees
17. What does “them” refer to?
A. researchers
B. humans
C. renewable resources
D. wedges

18.What is the best title for this passage?

A. Arguments over Global Warming
B. Global Warming and its Causes
C. Global Warming Solutions
D. Global Warming’s Effect on Earth
19.“Sequestering” has closest meaning to
A. absorb
B. isolate
C. release
D. emit
 20.Why does the writer mention “drawbacks” in the last paragraph?
A. To introduce the disadvantages of solutions in the following
paragraph
B. To emphasize the disadvantages of the solutions in the previous
paragraph
C. To recommend readers not to use the solutions
D. To emphasize the advantages of the solutions in different contexts

II. WRITING
Time permitted: 30 minutes
Number of tasks: 01

Writing task: Write an opinion essay to answer the question.

“We should diagnose and treat ourselves at home before going to the doctor. To what
extend do you agree or disagree?
Your essay should be 200 to 250 words long.

In recent years, the accessibility of medical information online and the popularity of
home remedies have encouraged many people to diagnose and treat themselves before
seeking professional help. While this practice can be convenient in certain minor
situations, I believe that relying solely on self-diagnosis and treatment is risky and
should not replace professional medical advice.

On the one hand, self-care for minor health issues like colds, headaches, or small cuts is
practical and efficient. Many people possess basic knowledge of common symptoms and
can manage these problems with over-the-counter medicines or home remedies. This
approach saves time and reduces pressure on healthcare systems, especially in areas
where hospitals are overcrowded or medical costs are high. And when there are
moments that you can not find or call any professional doctors or the disease that need
immediate treatment, you should learn to know how to cure or at least

However, serious risks arise when individuals attempt to diagnose complex conditions
without proper medical training. Symptoms of different diseases often overlap, and
incorrect self-diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatments, delayed care, or even
worsening of the condition. For example, chest pain might be mistaken for indigestion
when it could indicate a heart problem. Furthermore, online medical information is not
always reliable, and people may be influenced by misinformation. Some information can
be out of date, and there are some severe illnesses that can not be cured without doctors.

In conclusion, while it is reasonable to treat minor ailments at home, professional medical

consultation is essential for serious, unclear, or persistent symptoms. Therefore, I
disagree with the idea of fully replacing doctor visits with self-diagnosis and treatment.