VI. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
A MORE COMMERCIAL TUNE
  Roger Press, 40, has changed his career. After spending five years (26)                a concert pianist he has gone into business, recently (27)                up his own company. "After leaving university, I decided to (28)                myself to a career in music. I loved performing but it was very hard (29)                I played at concerts in Europe and America, made recordings got good reviews. But after a while, I felt I had gone as (30)                as I could. Unless you are one of the world's top pianists, it's difficult to earn a good (31)                and I wasn't one of the greatest.
   When I gave up my performing career, people around me were more sad and disappointed than I was. But I felt free and (32)                I knew I was getting serious about life. After getting a (33)                in business administration I joined the recording company EMI and started their classical video division, producing programs about famous artists. A year ago I left EMI and formed a new company, New Media System, which (34)                in multimedia programs.
   Now that I run my own business, I'm in control of my life and I feel proud of my achievements. Although the stress is high and I work (35)                hours, the stress involved in piano playing was much worse. It took physical, emotional and mental skills. I prefer the pressures I live with now.
(32) 
A.lastly                       
B.at last 
C.at the end         
D.lately

Some political parties have such similar manifestos that they are difficult to ____________
 
A.tell apart 
B.say apart 
C.speak apart 
D.differ

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

A.competitor              
B.illegal                      
C.epidemic                 
D.education

________, we tried our best to complete it.  
A.Despite the homework was difficult
B.Difficult as the homework was
C.Thanks to the difficult homework
D.As though the homework was difficult

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 from 31 to 35.
            Urban development is having a direct impact on the weather in many cities worldwide. It has been noticed that the difference (31)______ temperature is usually greater at night and the phenomenon occurs in both winter and summer. Experts agree that this is due to urban development, when open green spaces are replaced with asphalt roads and tall brick or concrete buildings. These materials retain heat generated by the Sun and release it through the night. In Atlanta, in the US, this has even led to thunderstorms (32)______ occur in the morning rather than, as is more common, in the afternoon.
            Large cities around the world are adopting strategies to combat this issue (33)______ it is not uncommon to find plants growing on top of roofs or down the walls of large buildings. In Singapore, the government has (34)______ to transform it into a "city within a garden" and, in 2006, they held an international competition calling for entries to develop a master plan to help bring this about. One outcome was the creation of 18 "Supertrees" – metal constructions resembling very tall trees. Each one is a vertical freestanding garden and is (35)  ______ to exotic plants and ferns. They also contain solar panels used to light the trees at night and also containers to collect rainwater, making them truly self-sufficient.
(Adapted from "The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS" by Pauline Cullen, Amanda French and Vanessa Jakeman)

(34)
A.pledged                    
B.committed              
C.confessed               
D.required

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
My daughter often says that she won’t get married until she _____ 25 years old.
A.will be
B.is
C.has been
D.will have been

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to show the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.
The clerks (A)who are happy to wait for (B)their customers (C)will get promoted (D) soon.
A.A
B.B
C.C
D.D

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following questions.
My brother (A) is (B) enough young to get a scholarship (C) from (D) the government.
A.is
B.enough young
C.from
D.the government

After they ______ their breakfast, they ______ shopping yesterday
A.have / go
B.had/ had
C.had / had gone
D.had had / went

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking _____ accepting opinions without questioning them.
A.in addition             
B.for instance    
C.instead of              
D.because of