this is useful for whom want to take VSTEP

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1. PASSAGE 1
Almost every 16-year old has thought about leaving home. Many teens dream about leaving home:
but the reality can often be much harder than they imagine. Many have been thinking about It, off
and on, for years; some have been dreaming of independence since they were twelve, or even
younger. Leaving home is part of the teenage dream.
Recently, a survey of "Young People's Social Attitudes” asked British teenagers for their opinions
about leaving home. Forty-nine per cent of 12-15 year olds thought that teenagers should be
allowed to leave home at the age of 16; another 12% said 17, and 8% said "when they want”. Only
23% of young teenagers thought that they should be obliged to live at home until they were 18!
Yet the teenage dream seems to conflict with the experience of real life; when the same question
was put to 18 and 19-year olds, almost half replied that teenagers should not leave home before
the age of 18.
Nevertheless, leaving home is part of the process of growing up. Many teenagers leave to go and
study or train or look for a job in a different town or city, returning home when the money runs
out. Others leave because they just want to get out. Most, especially younger ones, are happy to
go home again later; for a small number, leaving home is a definitive break.
1 The phrase 'off and on' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
A. always B. often C. sometimes D. seldom
2 The word 'conflict' in paragraph 3 is closest In meaning to
A. Agree B. Argue C. Contrast D. Struggle
3 The phrase ‘runs out’ in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. Finishes B. Wastes C. Saves D. Stops
4 The word ‘ones' in the passage refers to
A. Cities B. Jobs C. Towns D. Teenagers
2. PASSAGE 2
Often in Britain, it is parents who send their children to make a new home, away from home. At
school.
For hundreds of years, "boarding schools" have played an important part in British life.
Not for everyone, of course; far from it. But boarding schools are part of middle class culture,
especially in the south of England, where almost 30% of all 17-year olds in secondary schools are
in fee-paying independent schools. In 2017, over 70,000 pupils in in Britain were boarders.
Many parents (and grandparents) save money for years, in order to be able to send their children
to boarding school.
"My dad worked as a flying instructor in Saudi Arabia for ten years," explains Nikki. "He saved as
much as he could, to send me and my sister to a good school. He could have spent it on other
things; for instance, he could have bought a big BMW, but we've had the same car for five years, a
VW, and it was second-hand when we bought it."
According to classic images, boarding schools are spartan places, with cold dormitories and strict
rules; but the image is no longer true.

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"I started boarding when I was 14," says William; "The worst thing about it was the first few weeks,
when it was all new and strange. But now I feel much more independent.
I like coming home for holiday, but I like it at school; too. It's not like it used to be, with big cold
dorms and corporal punishment! You've got to obey the rules, of course; but that's part of life!"
For young people who cannot go away" to school, university offers the chance of breaking free.
While in many parts of Europe students tend to study at universities and colleges close to home,
the British tradition is very different.
I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to go to college in my home town," says Tom. "One of the great
things about going to university is that you get away from home! Universities recruit nationally,
and when you apply, you usually apply to several different universities. You choose your
universities for the courses they offer, not because they're near your home.
I go home to see my parents in the holidays, but that’s all. As far as I’m concerned, I've left home
now. I certainly wouldn't want to go back home at weekends! That's v/hen everything happens!"
1 The phrase 'boarding schools' in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. private schools B. public schools
C. schools where students live and study D. schools for excellent students
2 The word 'it’ in the passage refers to
A. a big BMW B. a VW C. a car D. money
3 The word 'spartan' in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. beautiful B. luxurious C. crowded D. uncomfortable
4 The word 'they' in the passage refers to
A. things B. courses C. universities D. parents
3. PASSAGE 3
Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game. What the world now calls
football or soccer in the U.S, began as far back as 2500B.C.E, with the Chinese game of tsuchu.
The sport we know today originated in Britain. By the 1840s, Englsand’s Football Association
established a set of rules, and the modern game was born. Today, more than 120 million 10 players
all over the globe participate in the game, truly making soccer the world's sport.
So, why is soccer so popular? Maybe it’s the game’s camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the
field is your team: their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat. Or maybe it’s the game's
international quality. In countries like France, England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have
players from many different nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world. Or perhaps
it’s the promise of great wealth. A number of professional soccer players, including Cameroon's
Samuel Eto’o and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, come from poor families. Today, both of these
players make millions of euros every year.

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Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal
may be this: It's a simple game. It can be played anywhere with anything - a ball, a can or even
some bags tied together. And anyone can play it. "You don’t need to be rich ... to play soccer." says
historian Peter Alegi. "You just need a flat space and a ball.” It is this unique simplicity that makes
soccer the most popular sport in Africa. Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and
big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with handmade balls.
The story of soccer in Africa is a long one. In the mid-1800s, European colonists brought the game
to Africa. Early matches were first played In the South African cities of Cape Town and Port
Elizabeth in 1862, and in time, the sport spread across the continent. In the past century, as
countries in Africa urbanized and became independent, they joined the International Federation
of Association Football (FIFA). Today, some of the game's best players come from African nations,
including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria, and all over the continent, thousands of
soccer academies now recruit boys from poorer cities and towns to play the game. Many learn to
play in their bare feet, and they are tough, creative competitors. Their dream is to join a national
team or one of the big clubs in Europe someday. For some, the dream comes true, but for most,
it doesn't.
But joining a professional team and making a lot of money isn't the main reason that soccer is so
popular all over Africa, says Abubakar! Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth clubs in
Tamale, Ghana. "Soccer is the passion of everyone here,” he says. "It unifies US.” In fact, more
than once, the game has helped to bring people together.
In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims faced discrimination for years. Yet many
of the country's best soccer players are from Muslim and immigrant families. As a result, the
national team has become a symbol of unity and has: helped to promote peace throughout the
country. All over Africa, soccer is popular with parents and teachers for another reason: It keeps
young people - especially boys - in school and out of trouble. "Most clubs in Tamale. Ghana, don't
allow boys to play if they don’t go to school," explains Abubakari. "We’re trying our best to help
young people and to make them responsible in society. Soccer helps us do this. For us, soccer is
also a tool for hope."
1 Where did the modern soccer originate in the world?
A. in the US B. in China C. in England D. in Brazil
2 What is the main reason for the popularity of soccer in the world?
A. The feeling of victory B. The easy game to play
C. The international standard D. The hope of being rich
3 The word 'defeat in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. failure B. success C. attention D. participation

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4 The word ’universal' in paragraph 3 Is closest In meaning to
A. General B. Global C. Uncommon D. Special
5 Where did soccer originate in Africa?
A. Ivory Coast B. Ghana C. South Africa D. Cameroon
6 The word ‘some’ In paragraph 4 refers to
A. poor boys B. soccer academies
C. national teams D. cities and towns
7 Which of these statements about the Ivory Coast national team is NOT true?
A. Many of its best players are from Immigrant families.
B. There are Muslim players on the team.
C. One of Its players Is Abubakar! Abdul-Ganiyu.
D. It has helped to encourage peace in the country.
8 What’s the main reason for the popularity of soccer in Africa
A. It helps players coming from poor families to earn a lot of m y.
B. It unifies people.
C. It helps players to join famous teams in Europe.
D. Boys can't go to school if they don’t play soccer.
4. PASSAGE 4
The search for beauty spans centuries and continents. Paintings of Egyptians dating back over
4,000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing makeup. On the other side
of the globe, the ancient Maya of Central America considered crossed eyes' beautiful and hung
little balls between children’s eyes to develop this look. In 18th - century France, wealthy
noblemen wore large wigs of long white hair to make themselves attractive In cultures throughout
the world, people have gone to extreme lengths to achieve the goal of beauty.
Today, people continue to devote a lot of time and money to their appearance. According to a
recent report, one out of three consumers globally say they are spending more money today on
beauty and health care products than ever before. Worldwide, sales of makeup, dieting, half- and
skin-care products, as well as gym memberships and cosmetic surgery, generate billions of dollars
every year.
And there is at least one good reason for the desire to be attractive: Beauty is power. Studies
suggest that good-looking people make more money, get called on more often in class, and are
perceived as friendlier. But what exactly is beauty? Trying to define it is difficult, and yet we know
it when we see it or so we think. "Beauty is health,’’ says one psychologist. "It’s a billboard saying
Tm healthy. I can pass on your genes."’ And our awareness of it may start at a very early age. In

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one set of studies, six-month-old babies were shown a series of photographs. The faces in the
pictures had been rated for attractiveness by a group of college students. In the studies, the babies
spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.
The idea that even babies judge appearance makes perfect sense to many researchers. In studies
done by psychologists such as Victor Johnston at New Mexico state University and David Perrett
at the University of st. Andrews in Scotland, men regularly showed a preference for women with
certain features: larger eyes, clear skin, fuller lips, and a smaller nose chin. Another study
suggests that women prefer men with large shoulders and a narrow waist. According to scientists,
the mind unconsciously tells men and women that these traits- the full lips, clear skin, strong
shoulders- equal health and genetic well-being. In other words, it’s a fundamental part of human
nature to look for these qualities in a mate.
Not everyone agrees with this notion, however. “our hardwiredness can be altered by all sorts of
expectations- predominantly cultural,” says C.Loring Brace, an anthropologist at the University
of Michigan. What is considered attractive in one culture might not be in another. Look in most
Western fashion magazines, for example, and the women on the pages are thin. But is this the
‘perfect’ body type for women worldwide? Douyglas Yu, a biologist from Great Britain and Glenn
Shepard, an anthropologist at the University of California at Berkeley, say no; what is considered
beautiful is subjective and varies around the world. Yu and Shepard found in one study , for
example, that native peoples in southeast Peru preferred shapes regarded as overweighr in
Western cultures.
Take another example’. In every culture, one's hairstyle sends a clear message. In the Hull culture
of Papua New Guinea, men grow their hair long as a symbol of health and strength. Teenage boys
in this culture learn from a young age to style and decorate their hair - a behavior more commonly
associated with the opposite gender in many cultures. It is also the men in this culture who are
the objects of beauty. For certain festivals and celebrations, men dress up and paint their faces.
The more colorful a man is, the more masculine and attractive he is considered.
For better or worse, beauty plays a role in our lives. But it is extremely difficult to define exactly
what makes one person attractive to another. Although there do seem to be certain physical traits
that are considered universally appealing. It is also true that beauty does not always conform to
a single, uniform standard. A person’s cultural background, for example, may influence what he
or she finds attractive in others. In the end, beauty really is, as the saying goes, in the eye of the
beholder.
1. Why did the ancient Maya hang balls between childrens’ eyes?
A. because they hoped it would improve their eyesight.
B. to differentiate boys from girls
C. because they thought crossed eyes were beautiful.
D. to add an attractive ‘third’ eye.

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2 The word 'perceived' in paragraph 3 can be best replaced with
A. known B. seen C. treated D. compared
3 The word 'ones’ in paragraph 3 refers to
A. Studies B. Babies C. College students D. Faces
4 What is NOT mentioned as a benefit of beauty?
A. Good-looking people are considered to be friendlier.
B. Good-looking people get more attention in class
C. Good-looking people earn more money
D. Good-looking people are more famous.
5 According to paragraph 3, the babies in the study
A. were shown photos of college students
B. were entered in a beauty contest
C were rated for their beauty
D. were able to tell attractive from unattractive faces
6 According to paragraph 4, what trait demonstrates good health?
A. larger eyes B. a smaller nose
C . strong shoulders D. a smaller chin
7 The word 'altered ' in paragraph 5 is closet in meaning to
A. changed B. remained C developed D. reformed
8. According to paragraph 5, what influence people’s perception of beauty?
A. culture B. weight C. height D hairstyle
9. What determines the beauty of a Huli man in Papua New Guines?
A. how young he is B. how colorful he is C. how strong he is D. how big his mask is
10. According to the writer, what is true about the perceptions of beauty?
A. change over time B. are the same for every person
C. have little influence on a person’s success D. can be easily defined
5. PASSAGE 5
Why do we love sugar so much?
Many scientists believe our love of sugar may actually be an addiction. When we eat or drink sugary
foods, the sugar enters our blood and affects parts of our brain that make us feel good. Then the

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good feeling goes away, leaving us wanting more. All tasty foods do this but sugar has a
particularly strong effect. In this way, it is in fact an addictive drug, one that doctors recommend
we all cut down on.
"It seems like every time I study an illness and trace a path to the first cause, I find my way back
to sugar” says . ys scientist Richard Johnson. One-third of adults worldwide have high blood
pressure and up to 347 million have diabetes. Why? "Sugar, we believe, is one of the culprits, if not
the major culprit,” says Johnson.
Our bodies are designed to survive on very little sugar. Early humans often had very little food,
so our bodies learned to be very efficient in storing sugar as fat. In this way, we had energy stored
for when there was no food. But today, most people have more than enough. So the very thing that
once saved us may now be killing us.
So what is the solution? It's obvious that we need to eat less sugar. The trouble is, in todays world,
its extremely difficult to avoid. From breakfast cereals to after-dinner desserts, our foods are
increasingly filled with it. Some manufacturers even use sugar to replace taste in foods that are
advertised as low in fat.
But there are those who are fighting back against sugar. Many schools are replacing sugary
desserts with healthier options like fruit. Other schools are growing their own food in gardens, or
building facilities like walking tracks so students and others in the community can exercise. The
battle has not yet been lost.
What is the main idea of paragraphs 1-5?
1 Paragraph 1
A. Sugar is addictive. B. All tasty foods contain sugar.
2 Paragraph 2
A Sugar can cause illnesses.
B. The number of people with diabetes and high blood pressure is rising.
3 Paragraph 3
A. Sugar gives US energy when we don't eat for a long time.
B. Our bodies need very little sugar to survive, but we now eat too much of it.
4 Paragraph 4
A. Advertisers are being dishonest.
B. It is very difficult to avoid sugar these days.
5 Paragraph 5
A. Some schools now grow their own food-
B. Some are fighting back against sug
6 What is this passage mainly about?
A. our addiction to sugar B. illnesses caused by sugar
C. good sugar vs. bad sugar D. ways to avoid sugar

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7 What would be a good title for the fourth paragraph?
A. Too Much Sugar B. How to Avoid Sugar
C. A Solution: Low in Fat D. No Easy Answers
6. PASSAGE 6
Protection and Color
If you took off your skin and laid it flat, it would cover an area of about 1.9 square meters (21
square feet), making it by far the body's largest organ. Covering almost the entire body, skin
protects US from a variety of external forces, such as extremes of temperature, damaging
sunlight, harmful chemicals, and dangerous infections. Skin is also packed with nerves,which keeps
the brain in touch with the outside world.
The health of our skin and its ability to perform its protective functions are crucial to ow well-
being. However, the appearance of our skin is equally - if not more - important to mani people on
this planet.
Take skin color, for example. Your genes determine your skin’s color, but for centuries humans
have tried to lighten or darken their skin in an attempt to be more attractive. In the 1800s, white
skin was desirable for many Europeans. Skin this color meant that its owner was a member of the
upper class and did not have to work in the sun. Among darker-skinned people in some parts of
the world, products used to lighten skin are still popular today. In other cultures during the 20th
century, as cities grew and work moved indoors, attitudes toward light skin in the opposite
direction. Tanned skin began to indicate leisure time and health. In many places today, suntanning
on the beach or in a salon remains popular, even though people see more aware of the dangers of
UV rays.
Identity and Status
Just as people have altered their skin's color to denote wealth and beauty, so too have cultures
around the globe marked their skin to indicate cultural identity or community status. Tattooing,
for example, has been carried out for thousands of years. Leaders in places including ancient
Egypt, Britain, and Peru wore tattoos to mark their status, or their bravery. Today, among the
Maori people of New Zealand as well as in cultures in Samoa, Tahiti, and Borneo, full-facial tattoos
are still used to identify the wearer as a member of a certain family and to symbolize the person’s
achievements in life.
In Japan, tattooing has been practiced since around the fifth century B.C. The government made
tattooing illegal in 1870, and though there are no laws against it today, tattoos are still strongly
associated with criminals - particularly the yakuza, or the Japanese mafia, who are known for their
full-body tattoos. The complex design of a yakuza member's tattoo usually includes symbols of
character traits that the wearer wants to have. The process of getting a full-body tattoo is both
slow and painful and can take up to two years to complete.