Read the texts that follow. A word or phrase is missing in some of the sentences. Four answer choices are given below each of the sentences. Select the best answer to complete the text.

Questions 1 through 4 refer to the following news report.

Low prices fail to lure tourists
HA NOI – Domestic tourism figures …(1)… to drop despite tourism companies launching a number of sales promotions to mark the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday during a time of weak travel demand.
have continued
were continuing
are continuing
had been continuing
đáp án đúng là are continuing, hiện tại tiếp diễn diễn tả sự việc đang diễn ra xung quanh thời điểm nói
Vietravel, a well-known tourism company, reported that the number of travellers purchasing its tours for the upcoming holiday …(2)… against the corresponding period last year, serving only 2,000 domestic tourists and 2,500 foreign travellers.
had not increased
has not increased
have not increased
do not increase
đáp án đúng là had not increased, sự việc had not increased xảy ra trước reported nên ta dùng quá khứ hoàn thành
In an effort to attract more customers, the company has reduced the cost of many of its packages, including a tour of the northern provinces by VND2.7 milllion (US$129), a tour of the central region by VND2.5 million ($119), and a five-day tour of Nha Trang-Phu Yen by VND1.1 million ($52). Meanwhile, Saigontourist is offering discounts of up to 30 per cent for families wanting to visit Da Nang, Hue, Ha Noi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long and Sa Pa, while Travelink …(3)… the prices of many of its domestic and outbound tours by as much as 30 per cent recently.
have slashed
has slashed
slashed
had slashed
trạng từ chỉ thời gian recently, nên ta dùng thì hiện tại hoàn thành, chủ ngữ Travelink là số ít, đáp án đúng là has slashed
However, due to the current economic difficulties, customers …(4)… their belts, leading to a decrease of 20 to 30 per cent in tourist numbers compared to last year`s holiday figures, admitted director of the HCM City-based Lua Viet travel company Nguyen Van My.
had tightened
tighten
have tightened
tightened
ta cần dùng thì hiện tại hoàn thành diễn tả hành động xảy ra tại thời điểm không xác định nhưng kết quả vẫn liên quan tới hiện tại, đáp án đúng là have tightened

Questions 5 through 8 refer to the following news report.

Children attend ceremonies to greet new academic year
HA NOI — About 22 million students across the country …(5)… to schools yesterday morning to start the new academic year of 2012-13.
flocked
have flocked
were flocking
had flocked
trạng từ chỉ thời gian yesterday morning nên ta dùng thì quá khứ, đáp án đúng flocked
In Ha Noi, more than 1.5 million students and pupils showed up at the academic year ceremonies for their schools. This year, the capital city …(6)… lower school fees approved by the city authority last July.
apply
will apply
applies
has applied
đáp án đúng will apply, diễn tả một sự việc sẽ xảy ra trong tương lai
Specifically, the fees for State-owned pre-schools, secondary and high schools are VND40,000 (US$1.9) per student per month in urban areas and VND20,000 ($0.9) per student per month in rural areas. The fees for vocational training …(7)… VND40,000 for students in urban areas and VND20,000 in rural areas each year.
is
are
were
be
đáp án đúng là are, thì hiện tại thường diễn tả sự thực, chủ ngữ fees là số nhiều
According to the municipal People`s Committee, it was estimated that the city …(8)… VND27 billion ($1.2 million) this academic year by lowering the fees, but the loss is worth it because it will create more favorable conditions for all students to go to school.
lose
will lose
lost
would lose
đáp án đúng would lose, thì tương lai trong quá khứ, diễn tả dự đoán trong quá khứ điều gì đó sẽ xảy ra

Questions 9 through 12 refer to the following news report.

HA NOI — Blue-ear disease in pigs and bird flu …(9)… significantly in several cities and provinces over the past three weeks, according to a report on the diseases released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development`s Department of Animal Health last Thursday.
have increased
has increased
increased
would increase
cụm từ chỉ thời gian over the past three weeks nên ta dùng thì hiện tại hoàn thành, chủ ngữ blue-ear disease in pigs and bird flu là số nhiều --> đáp án đúng là have increased
Northern Bac Kan Province`s Department of Animal Health said on Friday the H5N1 bird flu epidemic …(10)… out in 11 hamlets in Cho Don District, with about 380 birds infected