EXERCISE 39: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the answer to each of the question.

During the past half-century, our species has embarked on a remarkable social experiment. For the first time in human history, great numbers of people - at all ages, in all places, of every political persuasion - have begun settling down as singletons. Until the second half of the last century, most of us married young and parted only at death. If death came early, we remarried quickly; if late, we moved in with family, or they with us. Now we marry later. We divorce, and stay single for years or decades.

The rise of living alone has produced significant social benefits, too. Young and middle-aged solos have helped to revitalise cities, because they are more likely to spend money, socialise and participate in public life. Contemporary solo dwellers in the US are primarily women: about 18 million, compared with 14 million men. The majority, more than 16 million, are middle-aged adults between the ages of 3S and 64. The elderly account for about 11 million of the total. Young adults between 18 and 34 number increased more than 5 million, compared with 500,000 in 1950, making them the fastest-growing segment of the solo-dwelling population.

Despite fears that living alone may be environmentally unsustainable, solos tend to live in apartments rather than in big houses, and in relatively green cities rather than in car-dependent suburbs. There's good reason to believe that people who live alone in cities consume less energy than if they coupled up and decamped to pursue a single-family home.

Question 248: The best title for this passage could be                   .

A. the rise in solo living                                            B. figures about solo dwellers in the US

C. the increase in divorce                                          D. solos have tendency to live in small houses

Question 249: Which statement is probably TRUE according to the information in paragraph 1?

1. From the beginning of the last century, people married at young age and only death separated them.
2. Until the second half of the last century, a large number of people married young and parted only at death.
3. From the beginning of last century, people have begun settling down as singletons.
4. Until the second half of the last century, people divorce, and stay single for years or decades

Question 250: The word “them” in paragraph 2 refers to                   ?

A. singletons               B. the elderly                 C. predecessors                      D. young adults

Question 251: In the 2rd paragraph, the writer suggests that                   .

1. The elderly take up for a large number of the total solo dwellers
2. In the US, more male choose to live alone than female
3. Solos dwellers have helped to renew cities as they seem to spend money, socialize and take part in public life
4. There are fewer middle-aged solos than the elderly who live alone

Question 252: The word "decamped" in paragraph 3 means                   .

A. coupled up             B. quit                           C. lived separately                  D. lived together

40 BÀI TẬP ĐỌC HIỂU (260 CÂU) TỪ ĐỀ CÔ TRANG ANH TẬP 2