Chuyên đề Bồi dưỡng đội tuyển học sinh giỏi Tiếng Anh – 02 Đề luyện thi HSG Tiếng Anh lớp 10, 11, 12 THPT tỉnh Vĩnh Phúc có đáp án

SỞ GD&ĐT VĨNH PHÚC ———————— 

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC 

KỲ THI CHỌN HSG LỚP 1…. - THPT NĂM HỌC 201… - 201… (ĐỀ LUYỆN 10) 

ĐỀ THI MÔN: TIẾNG ANH 

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I. PHONETICS  

Part 1: Circle the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of  the others in each group. (5 pts) 

1. A. arrow B. loud C. moldy D. poultry 2. A. basilisk B. bison C. basic D. basin 3. A. subtlety B. indebtedness C. bombard D. combing 4. A. benevolent B. content C. molecules D. technique 5. A. conscience B. bronchitis C. shuttle D. chauffeur 

Part 2: Choose the word whose syllable is stressed differently from that of the  others in each line. (5 pts) 

6. A. comic B. clementine C. climax D. thermonuclear 7. A. diligent B. dimension C. action D. innate 8. A. characterizeB. absence C. datum D. charcoal 

9. A. solicitor B. separately C. spacious D. sequence 10. A. parachute B. armchair C. accent D. accidentally II. LEXICO – GRAMMAR  

Part 1: Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. (20 pts) 11. Assembly lines are useful for producing a large _____ of identical products.  A. quality B. quantity C. quandary D. qualification 12. Only the _____ of the building is going to be remodeled. 

 A. insides B. interior C. indoors D. inner 13. Whether the sports club survives is a matter of complete _____ to me. 

 A. indifference B. disinterest C. importance D. interest 14. After years of neglect there was a huge _____ program to return the city to its former glory.  A. restoration B. preservation C. conservation D.  refurbishment 

15. The assistant suggested _____ the next day when the manager would be there.  A. we are coming back B. to come back C. we will come back D. we came  back 

16. I never get a _____ of sleep after watching a horror film. 

 A. wink B. blink C. night D. ounce 17. As it was Christmas, the _____ at church was much larger than usual. 

 A. audience B. convention C. congregation D. grouping 18. The sheep were huddled into a _____ to protect them from overnight frosts.  A. cage B. kennel C. hutch D. pen 

19. The jury _____ the defendant “not guilty”. 

 A. gave B. returned C. subscribed D. found 20. Many _____ crafts such as weaving are now being revived. 

 A. customary B. habitual C. traditional D. ordinary Part 1: (20 x 0.05 = 1) 

21. He managed to finish his thesis under the _____ of his tutor. 

 A. guidance B. help C. aid D. assistance 22. Mr. Henry was given a medal in _____ of his service to his country. 

 A. gratitude B. knowledge C. recognition D. response 23. Everyone knows about pollution problems, but not many people have _____ any solutions.  A. thought over B. come up with C. looked into D. got round to 24. You _____ as well seek for a fish in the tree as try to do that. 

 A. must B. would C. should D. might 25. _____ calculations have shown that the earth’s resources may run out before the end of the  next century. 

 A. Raw B. Rude C. Crude D. Blunt 26. By the time you receive this letter, I _____ for China. 

 A. will have left B. have left C. would have left D. will leave 27. Prizes are awarded _____ the number of points scored. 

 A. resulting from B. adding up C. presented to D. according to

28. The needs of gifted children in schools have long been _____ neglected.  A. dolefully B. woefully C. idly D. pathetically 29. I must take this watch to be repaired; it _____ over 20 minutes a day. 

 A. increases B. gains C. accelerates D. progresses 30. It had been a trying afternoon, _____ at about six o’clock in the television breaking down.  A. culminating B. leading C. arriving D. finalizing 

Part 2: Write the correct FORM of each bracketed (0) has been done as an  example. (10 pts) 

According to some (0) _____ (SCIENCE), high-risk sports can be  particularly (31) _____ (VALUE) for certain types of people. Such activities help them to learn that being (32) _____ (FRIGHT) doesn’t mean that  they have to lose control. The recent fashion for jumping from bridges  attached to a (33) _____ (LONG) of elastic rope, known as “bungee  jumping”, has now been tried by over one million people (34) _____  (WORLD) and interest in it is continuing to grow. 

Before the special elastic rope (35) _____ (TIGHT) around them, jumpers  reach speeds of nearly 160kph. First-timers are usually too (36) _____  (TERROR) to open their mouths, and when they are finally (37) _____  (LOW) safely to the ground, they walk around with broad smiles on their  faces, saying (38) _____ (REPEAT) how amazing it was. However, for  some people, it is only the (39) _____ (EMBARRASS) of refusing to jump  at the last minute that finally persuades them to conquer their fear of  (40) _____ (HIGH) and push themselves off into space. 

scientists 

31. valuable 

32. frightened 33. length 

 34. worldwide  35. tightened  36. terrified  37. lowered  38. repeatedly  39.  

embarrassment  40. heights 

Part 3: The passage below contains 10 mistakes. (0) has been done as an  example. (10 pts) 

Traditional, mental tests have been divided into two types.  Achievement tests are designed to measure acquiring skills and knowledge, particularly those that have been  explicitness taught. The proficiency exams required by  few states for high school graduation are achievement  tests. Aptitude tests are designed and measure a person’s  ability to acquire new skills but knowledge. For example,  vocation aptitude tests can help you decide whether you  would do better like a mechanic or musician. However, all  mental tests are in some sense achievement tests because  they assumption some sort of past learning or experience  with certainly objects, words, or situations. The difference  between achievement and aptitude tests is the degree and  intention use. 

0. traditional →  traditionally 41. acquired 42. explicitly 43. a few 

44. to 

45. to 

46. vocational 47. as 

48. assume 49. certain 

50. intended 

Part 4: Fill in each of the gaps with the correct preposition or particle. (10 pts) The show was fully booked (51) _ up _ for weeks, and when it opened last night, the public poured (52) _ in_ and very soon the London Arts Center was packed (53) out _. But why? What did they come to see? They came to see human beings take (54) _ off _ circus animals, men in cat suits who stood (55) in __ for real lions and tigers. The show was put (56) _ on _ by its creators to protest (57) _ against _ traditional circuses and to send a message about cruelty to animals. The show was timed to tie (58) _ in _ with the National Protection of Animals Week. It was a good idea, but the standard of the performances was third-rate and an embarrassing number of people simply walked (59) _up_ before it ended. There were some amusing moments when the performers sent (60) out_ typical circus folks, but overall it was a dismal show. Despite the large turnout for the show’s first night, I doubt it will attract many people during the rest of its seven day run. 

 Part 5: Complete each sentence with the correct form of ONE of the phrasal verbs  below. (10 pts) 

try out 

slip up 

carry on 

get by 

put out

take after 

get down 

look up 

go through 

turn down

61. If you’re finding it difficult to _ get by __ on your salary, why don’t you ask for a raise? 62. I know what you’re _ going through _ and I feel really sorry for you.

63. In many ways you _ take after _ your father. 64. If you _ slip up _ you’ll get into  trouble. 

65. I proposed to her but she _ turned _ me __ down __. 

66. You’d better put out __ your cigarette because smoking isn’t allowed in here. 67. If you _ carry on _ working so hard, you’ll make yourself ill. 

68. Stop worrying about it. Don’t let this failure _ get _ you _ down _. 

69. The car’s in quite good condition but you can _ try _ it _ out _ before you make any decision  to buy, 

70. When I was in New York, I was able to _ look up _ several old friends I hadn’t seen for years. Part 6: Insert A, AN, THE or Ø (zero article) where necessary. Write your answers  in the numbered spaces provided below the passage. (10 pts) 

Suddenly (71) _a_ blackbird flew to (72) _ the _ top of (73) _ a _ beach. She perched way up on  (74) the __ topmost twig that stuck up thin against (75) _ the _. Then she commenced to sing.  Her little black body seemed only (76) _ a __ tiny dark speck at that distance. She looked like (77)  _ an__ old dead leaf. But she poured out her song in (78) _ a __ great flood of rejoicing through  (79) _ the _ whole forest. And (80) _ Ø _ things began to stir.  

III. READING COMPREHENSION  

Part 1: Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best  fits each gap. (10 pts) 

The ability to weep is a uniquely human form of emotional response. Some scientists have suggested that human tears are (81) _____ of an aquatic past – but this does not seem very likely. We cry from the moment we enter this world, for a number of reasons. Helpless babies cry to persuade their parents that they are ill, hungry or uncomfortable. As they (82) _____, they will also cry just to attract parental attention and will often stop when they get it. 

The idea that having a good cry do you (83) _____ is a very old one and now it has scientific validity since recent research into tears has shown that they (84) _____ a natural painkiller called enkaphalin. By fighting sorrow and pain this chemical helps you feel better. Weeping can increase the quantities of enkaphalin you (85) _____. 

Unfortunately, in our society we impose restrictions upon this naturally (86) _____ activity. Because some people still regard it as a (87) _____ of weakness in men, boys in particular are admonished when they cry. This kind of repression can only increase stress, both emotionally and physically. Tears of emotion also help the body (88) _____ itself of toxic chemical waste, for there is more protein in them than in tears resulting from cold winds or other irritants. Crying comforts, calms and can be very enjoyable – (89) _____ the popularity of highly emotional films which are commonly (90) _____ “weepies”. It seems that people enjoy crying together almost as much as laughing together. 

81. A. witness B. evidence C. result D. display 82. A. evolve B. change C. develop D. alter 83. A. better B. fine C. good D. well 84. A. contain B. retain C. hold D. keep 85. A. construct B. achieve C. provide D. produce 86. A. curing B. treating C. healing D. improving 87. A. hint B. symbol C. feature D. sign 88. A. release B. rid C. loosen D. expel 89. A. consider B. remark C. distinguish D. regard 90. A. named B. entitled C. subtitled D. called  Part 2: Read the following passage and fill the blank with ONE suitable word.  (10 pts) 

New technologies, like all technologies, are morally neutral. (91) _ whether _ their advent  makes the world a better place or not depends on the uses to which they are (92) _ put __. And  that, (93) _ in __ turn, depends upon the decisions of many people, especially of politicians,  managers, trade (94) union _ leaders, engineers and scientists. The new technologies, cheap,  flexible, dependent on knowledge and information as their main input, can (95) free __ human  being from many of their current constraints for example constraints of resources and geography.  (96) _ but _ the new technologies could also (97) _ enable _ those with power to control their  fellow citizens even more effectively than in the (98) _ most _ efficient dictatorships of the past.  The new technological society will (99) make _ colossal demands on our imagination and  ingenuity and on the capacity (100) __ of _ our institutions to respond to new challenges.

 Part 3: Read the following passage and answer the questions from 101 to 110. (10  pts) 

 Legend has it that sometime toward the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) a government train carrying oxen traveling through the northern plains of eastern Wyoming was caught in a snowstorm and had to be abandoned. The driver returned the next spring to see what had become of his cargo. Instead of the skeletons he had expected to find, he saw his oxen, living, fat, and healthy. How had they survived? 

The answer lay in a resource that unknowing Americans lands trampled underfoot in their haste to cross the “Great American Desert” to reach lands that sometimes proved barren. In the eastern parts of the United States, the preferred grass for forage was a cultivated plant. It grew well with enough rain, then when cut and stored it would cure and become nourishing hay for winter feed. But in the dry grazing lands of the West that familiar bluejoint grass was often killed by drought. To raise cattle out there seemed risky or even hopeless. Who could imagine a fairy-tale grass that required no rain and somehow made it possible for cattle to feed themselves all winter? But the surprising western wild grasses did just that. They had wonderfully convenient features that made them superior to the cultivated eastern grasses. Variously known as buffalo grass, grama grass, or mesquite grass, not only were they immune to drought; but they were actually preserved by the lack of summer and autumn rains. They were not juicy like the cultivated eastern grasses, but had short, hard stems. And they did not need to be cured in a barn, but dried right where they grew on the ground. When they dried in this way, they remained naturally sweet and nourishing through the winter. Cattle left outdoors to fend for themselves thrived on this hay. And the cattle themselves helped plant the fresh grass year after year for they trampled the natural seeds firmly into the soil to be watered by the melting snows of winter and the occasional rains of spring. The dry summer air cured them much as storing in a barn cured the cultivated grasses. 

101. What does the passage mainly discuss? 

 A. A type of wild vegetation B. Western migration after Civil War  C. The raising of cattle D. The climate of the Western United States 102. What can be inferred by the phrase “Legend has it” in line 1? 

 A. Most history book include the story of the train.  

 B. The story of the train is similar to other ones from that time period.  C. The driver of the train invented the story. D. The story of the train may not be  completed factual. 

103. The word “they” in line 4 refers to _____. 

 A. plains B. skeletons C. oxen D. Americans 104. What can be inferred about the “Great American Desert” mentioned in line 7?  A. Many had settled there by the 1860’s. B. It was not originally assumed  to be a fertile area. 

 C. It was a popular place to raise cattle before the Civil War. D. It was not discovered  until the late 1800’s. 

105. The word “barren” in line 7 is closed in meaning to _____. 

 A. lonely B. uncomfortable C. infertile D.  dangerous 

106. The word “preferred” in line 8 is closed in meaning to _____. 

 A. favored B. available C. ordinary D. required 107. Which of the following can be inferred about the cultivated grass mentioned in the second  paragraph? 

 A. Cattle raised in the Western United States refused to eat it. B. It had to be imported into the United States. 

 C. It would probably not grow in the western United States. D. It was difficult for  cattle to digest. 

108. Which of the following was NOT one of the names given to the western grasses?  A. Mesquite grass B. Bluejoint grass C. Buffalo grass D.  Grama grass 

109. Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a characteristic of western grasses?  A. They contain little moisture B. They have tough stems 

 C. They can be grown indoors D. They are not affected by dry weather 110. According to the passage, the cattle help promote the growth of the wild grass by_____.  A. eating only small quantities of grass. B. continually moving from one grazing area to another.

 C. naturally fertilizing the soil. D. stepping on and pressing the seeds into the ground. IV. WRITING (6/20 points) 

 Part 1: Finish the second sentence in such a way that it means exactly the  same as the sentence printed before it 

111. Customs officials are stopping more travelers than usual this week. 

→ An increased number of travellers is being stopped by customs officials this week __ 112. I left without saying goodbye as I didn’t want to disturb the meeting. 

→ Rather __ than disturb the meeting, I left without saying goodbye __ 113. My decision to get up and dance coincided with the band’s decision to stop playing. → The moment _ I decided to get up to dance, the band decided to stop playing _ 114. He never suspected that the bicycle had been stolen. 

→ At no time ___ did he suspect that the bicycle had been stolen __ 

115. How could I help, except to offer to lend her some money? 

→ Other _ than to offer to lend her some money, how could I help?_ 

 Part 2: Use the word(s) given in the brackets and make any necessary additions to complete a new sentence in such a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence. Do NOT change the form of the given word(s). 116. To this day no one has equaled his achievements in the field of technology. (unsurpassed) → To this day …… his achievements are unsurpassed …… in the field of technology. 117. Peter grimaced as he swallowed the foul-tasting medicine. (pulled) 

→ Peter ……… pulled a face as he swallowed ….the foul-tasting medicine. 118. It’s unfortunately that the construction of the building will not be finished as originally  planned. (longer) 

→ The construction of the building … will take longer than originally planned, which is …  unfortunate. 

119. What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the history. (appetite) → What he told me ……… whetted my appetite for the rest of ….. the story. 120. They chose not to drive because they thought there would be too much snow. (fear) → They chose ……not to drive for fear of. too much snow. 

_____THE END_____ 

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HSG THPT. NĂM HỌC 2013 – 2014. SỐ 11 

Môn: Tiếng Anh. Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian phát đề). Đề thi gồm 3 phần, 7 trang.  

PART I: VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR. (7, 0 POINTS) 

I. Choose the best option to complete each of the sentences. (2,0 points) 1. The strike was ___ owing to a last minute agreement with the management. A. called off B. broken up C. set back D. put down 2. Lindsay’s excuses for being late are beginning to ___ rather thin. 

A. get B. turn C. wear D. go 3. ___ the people who come to this club are in their twenties and thirties. 

A. By and large B. Altogether C. To a degree D. Virtually 4. My cousin was nervous about being interviewed on television, but she rose to the ___  wonderfully. 

A. event B. performance C. incident D. occasion 5. The train service has been a ___ since they introduced the new schedules. A. shambles B. rumpus C. chaos D. fracas 

6. Is an inexperienced civil servant ___ to the task of running the company. A. capable B. skilled C. eligible D. suited 

7. We ___ have been happier in those days.  

A. can’t B. couldn’t C. might not D. must not  8. You’ve lived in the city for most of your life, so ___ you’re used to the noise. A. apparently B. presumably C. allegedly D. predictably 9. The storm ripped our tent to ___ 

A. slices B. shreds C. strips D. specks 10. He ____ so much harm on the nation during his regime that it has never fully recovered.  A. indicted B. inferred C. induced D. inflicted 

11. Hotel rooms must be ____ by 10 a. m, but luggage may be left with porters.  A. vacated B. evacuated C. abandoned D. left 12. I do not think there is so much as a ____ of truth in that rumor.  

A. crumb B. speck C. grain D. pebble  

13. He’s not exactly rich but he certainly earns enough money to ____ 

A. get through B. get by C. get on D. get up 14. I have very ____ feelings about the plan – it might possibly work or it could be a disaster.  A. certain B. mixed C. doubtful D. troubled 

15. The noise of the typewriter really ____ me off. I just couldn’t concentrate.  A. put B. pulled C. set D. took 

16. The sixth time he called me at night was the ____ 

A. last cause B. last straw C. touch and go D. hot air 17. All three TV channels provide extensive ____ of sporting events.  

A. broadcast B. network C. coverage D. vision  18. They seemed to be ____ to the criticism and just carried on as before.  

A. disinterested B. sensitive C. uncaring D. indifferent 

19. “Shall we go out tonight?” - “____” 

 A. Yes, I can B. Yes, we are C. Yes, we go D. Yes, let’s 20. It's no use ___ over ___ milk. 

A. crying/ spilt B. to cry/ spilling C. crying/ spilling D. crying/ to spill II. Read the passage below. Use the word given in bold to form a word that fits in the  numbered gap. (2, 5 points) 

BLACK WIDOW SPIDER 

The black widow spider’s notoriety is not without foundation. However, an element of exaggeration has led to certain _ misconception (1. CONCEPT) regarding its evil nature. Firstly, this spider is not as dangerous as is often thought. While it is indeed one of the most _ venomous _ (2. VENOM) species of spider, its venom being fifteen times stronger than that of the prairie rattlesnake, its bite injects such as amount of venom by _ comparison _ (3. COMPARE) that it is unlikely to kill humans. In fact, _ fatalities _ (4. FATAL) are rare. Black widows bite only if they are touched or their web is threatened. Furthermore, only the adult female is poisonous. Those most at risk from the female are the spider’s natural pray insects-and male black widow spiders. The latter are vulnerable as the female is _ solitary _ (5. SOLITUDE) by nature, and has been known to kill and eat the male after mating. Such _ occurences _ (6. OCCUR) are rare, but they explain how the spider got its name – and its reputation. 

Nevertheless, the _ unpleasant _ (7. PLEASE) effects of this spider’s bite should not be _ underestimated _ (8. ESTIMATE), and if you live in a temperate climate and have a fireplace in your home, it is advisable to take _ precautions _ (9. CAUTION). Black widow spiders often inhabit wood piles, so you should wear gloves when handling firewood. Furthermore, since black widow spiders are _resistant_ (10. RESIST) to many insecticides, you should regularly clean out likely hiding places. 

III. Complete each sentence with the correct form of ONE of the two-word verbs. (2, 0  point) 

bring out do up slow down save up  hang over 

mix up grow up go with dress up   run for

1. Silence _ hung over _the theatre as the audience awaited the opening curtain with  expectation and excitement. 

2. Having seen a sharp bend ahead, Tim pressed hard on the brake pedal to _ slow down __. 3. Charles Dickens was born near Portsmouth, Hampshire on 7 February 1812, but relocated to  and _ grew up _ in Camden Town in London.  

4. Barrack Obama has decided to _ run for _ the American presidency in the election that will  take place next year. 

5. Because I hate _ doing up __ my shoes, I have bought a pair of shoes without any laces.  6. Sarah wanted to buy some curtains that would _ go with _ his furniture, so she had brought a  photo of … 

7. Kate had been _ saving up_ in order to buy a new laptop, but then she decided to use the  money on the guitar … 

8. Even though two of the bands are dead, a new ‘The Beatle’ album called Love was recently _ brought out __. 

9. Brendan was worried about having to _ dress up _ for the boss’ retirement dinner as he didn’t  own any formal clothes.  

10. He _ mixed up __ his grandmother’s phone number with his girlfriend’s, which led to some  embarrassment for him.  

IV. The passage below contains TEN mistakes. Underline them and write the correct forms in the numbered boxes. (2, 5 points) 

Large animals inhabit the desert have evolved adaptations for reducing the effects of extreme hot. One adaptation is to be light in color, and to reflect the Sun's rays. Desert mammals also depart from the normal mammalian practice of maintaining a constantly body temperature. Instead of try to keep down the body temperature inside the body, what would involve the expenditure of water and energy, desert mammals allow their temperatures rise to what would normally be fever height, and temperatures as high as 46 degree Celsius have been measured in Grant's gazelles. The overheated body cools down during the cold desert night, and indeed the temperature may fall unusual low by dawn, as low as 34 degrees Celsius in the camel. This is a advantage since the heat of the first few hours of daylight absorb in warming up the body. 

1. inhabit  inhabiting/which(that) inhabit 2. hot  heat 

3. constantly  constant 4. try   trying 

5. what  which 6. rise   to rise 

7. degree  degrees 8. unusual   unusually 

9. a  an 10. absorb   absorbed 

PART II: READING COMPREHENSION. (6, 0 POINTS) 

I. Read the passage and fill in each of the blanks with ONE suitable word. (2,0 points) True relaxation is most certainly not a matter of flopping down in front of the television with a welcome drink. Nor is it about drifting (1) _ into __ an exhausted sleep. Useful though these  responses to tension and over-tiredness (2) _ might/may/can __ be, we should distinguish  between them and conscious relaxation in (3) _ terms __ of quality and effect. (4) _ regardless/irrespective _ of the level of tiredness, real relaxation is a state of alert yet at the  same time passive awareness, in which our bodies are (5) _ at __ rest while our minds are awake.  Moreover, it is as natural for a healthy person to be relaxed when moving as resting. (6) __ Being _ relaxed in action means we bring the appropriate energy to everything we do, so as to  have a feeling of healthy tiredness by the end of the day, (7) _ rather __ than one of exhaustion.  Unfortunately, as a result of living in today’s competitive world, we are under constant strain and  have difficulty in coping, (8) _ let __ alone nurturing our body’s abilities. What needs to be  rediscovered is conscious relaxation. With (9) _ that/this __ in mind we must apply ourselves to  understanding stress and the nature of its causes (10) _ how __ deep-seated. II. Read the text and do the tasks as follow. (2, 0 points) OUT OF THE ASHES

Paragraph A 

On the afternoon of 30th August 1989, fire broke out at Uppark, a large eighteenth century house in Sussex. For a year builders had been replacing the lead on the roof, and by a stroke of irony, were due to finish the next day, on August 31st. Within fifteen minutes of the alarm being sounded, the fire brigade had arrived on the scene, though nothing was to survive of the priceless collection on the first floor apart from an oil painting of a dog which the firemen swept up as they finally retreated from the blaze. But due to the courage and swift action of the previous owners, the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family, and the staff, stewards and visitors to the house, who formed human chains to pass the precious pieces of porcelain, furniture and paintings out on to the lawn, 95 percent of the contents from the ground floor and the basement were saved. As the fire continued to rage, the National Trust’s conservators were being mobilised, and that evening local stationers were especially opened to provide the bulk supplies of blotting paper so desperately needed in the salvage operation. 

Paragraph B 

The following morning, Uppark stood open to the sky. A sludge of wet charcoal covered the ground floor and basement, and in every room charred and fallen timbers lay amongst the smoke. It was a scene of utter devastation. 

Paragraph C 

After the initial sense of shock, the days which followed the fire were filled with discoveries. Helped by volunteers, the National Trust’s archaeologists and conservators swung into action, first of all marking the site out into a grid and then salvaging everything down to the last door handle. The position of each fragment was recorded, and all the debris was stored in countless dustbins before being sifted and categorised. 

Paragraph D 

There was great excitement as remnants of the lantern from the Staircase Hall were pulled out from the debris of two fallen floors, and also three weeks later when the Red Room carpet, thought to have been totally lost, was found wrapped around the remains of a piano. There was a lucky reprieve for the State Bed too. Staff who had left the scene at 3 a.m on the night of the fire had thought its loss was inevitable, but when they returned the next morning it had escaped largely undamaged. Firemen, directed by the National Trust’s conservators from outside the Tapestry Room window, dismantled the silk-hung bed and passed it out piece by piece. Twenty minutes later the ceiling fell in. 

Paragraph E 

The scale of the task to repair Uppark was unprecedented in the National Trust. The immediate question was whether it should be done at all. A decision had to be taken quickly, as the building was unsound and whatever had not been damaged by the fire was exposed to the elements. Within a month, after consulting many experts and with the agreement of the National Trust’s Executive Committee, the restoration programme began. It was undertaken for three main reasons. After the fire it had become apparent just how much remained of the structure with its splendidly decorated interiors; to have pulled the house down, as one commentator suggested, would have been vandalism. Also the property was covered by insurance, so the repairs would not call upon the National Trust’s own funds. Lastly, much had been saved of the fine collection acquired especially for Uppark from 1747 by Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh and his son Harry. These objects belonged nowhere else, and complete restoration of the house would allow them to be seen and enjoyed again in their original setting. 

Paragraph F 

The search for craftsmen and women capable of doing the intricate restoration work was nation-wide. Once the quality and skill of the individual or company had been ascertained, they had to pass an economic test, as every job was competitively tendered. This has had enormous benefits because not only have a number of highly skilled people come to the fore - woodcarvers for example, following in the footsteps of Grinling Gibbons - but many of them, for example plasterers, have relearnt the skills of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries which can now be of use to other country house owners when the need arises. 

Paragraph G 

In June 1994 the building programme was completed, on time and on budget. The total cost of the work to repair the house and its contents came to be nearly £20 million, largely met from

insurance. In addition, it made economic sense for the National Trust to invest time and money in upgrading water and heating systems, installing modern environmental controls, and updating fire and security equipment. 

Paragraph H 

The final stages of restoration and the massive programme of reinstallation took eight months. The family and the room stewards were visibly moved when returning to their old haunts, perhaps the best testament that the spirit of Uppark had not died. But the debate will no doubt continue as to whether or not it was right to repair the house after the fire. The National Trust has done its best to remain true to Uppark; it is for others to judge the success of the project. Note: The National Trust is a charitable organisation in Britain set up over a hundred years ago to preserve the national heritage. 

Questions 1–6. The text has eight paragraphs, A–H. Which paragraphs contain the following information? Write the appropriate letters, A–H, in the boxes. 1. The procedure for sorting through the remains of the fire.  C 2. How Uppark looked after the fire.  B 

3. Improvements made to the rebuilt Uppark.  G 4. The selection of people to carry out the repair work.  F 5. Why the National Trust chose to rebuild Uppark.  E 

6. How people reacted to the rebuilt Uppark.  H 

Questions 8–10. Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer. Write your answers in the boxes. 

7. On what date in 1989 should the original repairs to the roof have been completed?  August 31st 

8. By what method were things rescued immediately from the burning house?  human chain 

9. After the fire, what did the conservators require large quantities of immediately?  blotting paper 

10. Into what did the conservators put material recovered from the fire?  dustbins 

III. Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each  question. Write your answer in the numbered box. (2, 0 points) 

A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be burgled now than 20 years ago and the police advise everyone to take a few simple precautions to protect their homes. 

The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy opportunities, like a house which is very obviously empty. This is much less of a challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected. A burglar will wonder if it is worth the bother. 

There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming another crime statistic. Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty. When you have to go out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and do not leave any curtains wide open. The sight of your latest music centre or computer is enough to tempt any burglar. 

Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. The first place a burglar will look is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere more 'imaginative' could soon be uncovered by the intruder. It is much safer to leave a key with a neighbour you can trust. But if your house is in a quiet, desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar's dream, so deter any potential criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of your house. 

But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a burglar or intruder has decided to target your home. Windows are usually the first point of entry for many intruders. Downstairs windows provide easy access while upstairs windows can be reached with a

ladder or by climbing up the drainpipe. Before going to bed you should double-check that all windows and shutters are locked. No matter how small your windows may be, it is surprising what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through. For extra security, fit window locks to the inside of the window. 

What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are easily forced open, should have top quality security locks fitted. Even though this is expensive it will be money well spent. Install a burglar alarm if you can afford it as another line of defence against intruders. 

A sobering fact is that not all intruders have to break and enter into a property. Why go to the trouble of breaking in if you can just knock and be invited in? Beware of bogus officials or workmen and, particularly if you are elderly, fit a chain and an eye hole so you can scrutinise callers at your leisure. When you do have callers never let anybody into your home unless you are absolutely sure they are genuine. Ask to see an identity card, for example. 

If you are in the frightening position of waking in the middle of the night and think you can hear an intruder, then on no account should you approach the intruder. It is far better to telephone the police and wait for help. 

1. A well-protected house …………A. is less likely to be burgled. B. is regarded as a  challenge by most criminals. 

C. is a lot of bother to maintain. D. is very unlikely to be burgled. 

2. According to the writer, we should ………… A. avoid leaving our house empty. B. only go  out when we have to. 

C. always keep the curtains closed. D. give the impression that our house is  occupied when we go out. 

3. The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot ………… A. is predictable. B. is useful.C. is imaginative. D. is where you always find a spare key. 4. What word best replaces “desolate” in paragraph 4? 

A. isolated B. populous C. dissatisfying D. depressing 5. The phrase “aforementioned precautions” in paragraph 5 refers to steps that ………… A. will tell a burglar if your house is empty or not. 

B. are the most important precautions to take to make your home safe. C. will stop a  potential burglar. 

D. will not stop an intruder if he has decided to try and enter your home. 

6. Gaining entry to a house through a small window ………… 

A. is surprisingly difficult. B. is not as difficult as people think. 

C. is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door. D. is tried only by very  determined burglars. 

7. According to the writer, window locks, security locks and burglar alarms …………

A. cost a lot of money but are worth it. B. are good value for money. C. are luxury items. D. are absolutely essential items. 8. The writer argues that fitting a chain and an eye hole………… 

A. will prevent your home being burgled. B. avoids you having to invite people into your  home. 

C. is only necessary for elderly people. D. gives you time to check if the visitor is  genuine. 

9. What word best replaces “scrutinise” in paragraph 7? 

A. glance B. gaze C. search D. examine 

10. The best title for the text is ………… A. Increasing household crime. B. Protecting  your home from intruders. 

C. Burglary statistics. D. What to do if a burglar breaks into your  home.  

PART III. WRITING. (4,0 POINTS)  

I. Complete each of the sentences so that it has similar meaning to the given one, using the word given in bold. Do NOT change the form of the word given. (1, 0 point) 1. Although Joe kept on attempting to contact his cousin, he didn't manage to speak to her until the next day. → Despite repeated attempts/efforts to get in TOUCH with his cousin, Joe didn't manage to speak to her until the next day. 

2. When it comes to computer games, Jack is a real expert. 

→ As far as computer games are CONCERNED, Jack is a real expert. 

3. David said that the accident was his fault. → David TOOK the blame/responsibility for the accident.  

4. If he doesn’t get that job, who knows what he’ll do.  

→ If he doesn’t get that job, there is no KNOWING what he’ll do. 

5. The stranded climber would never have been rescued if his brother hadn’t had an ingenious plan.  

→ But for the INGENUITY of his brother’s plan, the stranded climber would never have been rescued.  

II. Use the word given and make any necessary additions to complete a new sentence in such a way that it is as similar as possible to the original one. Do NOT change the form of the word given. (1, 0 point) 

1. They will try John for murder at the High Court next week. (trial) → John … will stand trial murder at the High Court next week. 

2. How do our sales compare with those of other firms? (relation) → How do ……… our sales stand in relation to those of other firms?… 3. The number of accidents has gone down steadily since the speed limit was imposed.  (decline) 

→ There has …… been a steady decline in the number of accidents since the speed limit was imposed.…… 

4. This new record is certain to sell a lot of copies. (doubt) → There is…… no doubt that this new record will sell a lot of copies.

5. I certainly won’t change my mind about resigning. (question) → My changing …………… my mind about resigning is out of question. III. The charts below give information on the ages of the populations of Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. (2, 0 points) 

20002050 

YEMEN

46,3% 37,0% 

50,1% 

57,3% 

5,7% 

3,6% 

2000205046,2% 

24,1% 

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HSG THPT. NĂM HỌC 2013 – 2014. SỐ 13 

Môn: Tiếng Anh. Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian phát đề). 

Đề thi gồm 3 phần, 7 trang.  

A. LISTENING: (15 points) 

42,3% 

I. Listen to the conversation and then choose the correct answer among A, B, C, or D  

for each question: 61,6% 

14,3% 

II. Listen to the conversation and fill in each blank with ONE word: 

B. PHONETICS: (5 points) 

11,5% 

Choose the word that has a different stress pattern from the others in the group: 16. A. responsibility B. originality C. accommodation D.  

mischievousness 

0-14 years 15-59 years 60+ years 

17. A. appliance B. conscientious C. independent D.  confidential  

18. A. psychology B. environmental C. impossible D.  photography  

19. A. stimulate B. maximize C. interrupt D. register 20. A. appointment B. punishment C. publicity  D. efficient 

C. GRAMMAR – VOCABULARY – LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS:  

I. Choose the word, phrase or expression which best completes each sentence: (15 points) 

21. Tom: “I thought your performance last Sunday was wonderful.” Laura: “………………………..” 

A. Don’t tell a lie. I thought it was terrible. B. You must be kidding. It was not as  good as I had expected. 

C. I completely agree with you. It was terrific. D. No doubt! 

22. Boy: “What is your greatest phobia?” Girl: “………………………..” A. I'm afraid not. B. Worms , definitely!  

C. Probably people who smoke. D. I haven't made up my mind. 23. Jenny: “Thank you very much for your donation, Mr. Robinson.” Mr. Robinson: “………………………..” 

A. You can say that again. B. I see. C. You are right. D. Delighted I was able  to help.

24. I don’t think you have been watering the plants near the gate. The soil is ………………………..  A. as dry as rice B. as dry as a tile C. as dry as a bone D. as dry as wood 25. Susan was sad because she wasn’t invited to any social events. She felt ……………………….. 

A. left out B. turned out C. omitted out D. gone out 26. Most psychologists believe that the basic structure of an individual’s personality is……………………….. 

A. well established extremely by the age of five B. by the age of five it is extremely well established 

C. by the age of five and well established extremely D. extremely well established by the age of five 

27. In most ………. developed countries, up to 50% of ……..population enters higher education at some time in their lives. 

A. Ø / Ø B. the / Ø C. Ø / the D. the / a 

28. I wish you ………………….. me a new one instead of having it………………………..as you did. A. would give / to repair B. gave / to repair 

C. had given / to be repaired D. had given / repaired 

29. Henry was really a silly boy when we were at high school. I still remember………………………..very stupid questions. 

 A. him asking B. him to ask C. asking him D. his being  asked  

30. ………………………..the invention of the steam engine, most forms of transport were horse drawn. 

A. With reference B. Akin C. Prior to D. In addition to 31. No sooner ………………………..to marry Jack ………………………..to have serious doubts. A. had Carol agreed / than she began B. Carol has agreed / than she began C. had Carol agreed / than she begins D. had Carol agreed / than she had begun 32. Having been served dinner, ……………………... 

A. the problem was discussed by the members of the committee. 

B. the committee members discussed the problem. C. it was discussed by the  committee members the problem. 

D. a discussion of the problem was made by the members of the committee. 33. The marathon runner ……………………...for nearly one hour and a half when she ……………………...to the pavement. 

A. has been running / collapses B. were running / collapsed 

 C. had been running / collapsed D. ran / had been collapsing 

34. Son: “What is the process of ……………………..., Dad?” 

 Father: “Well, it involves the heating of liquid such as milk in order to kill harmful bacteria.” A. industrialization B. pasteurization C. commercialization D. globalization 35. An artist ……………………...will do his best to express innocence and inexperience in the child’s face. 

A. portraying a child B. who portray a child C. he portrays a child D. portrayed a child 

II. Give the correct form of the words in brackets: (10 points) 

36. Deforestation and excessive farming have …… impoverished ……... the soil. 

37. The damage caused by the terrible storm two days ago was…… underestimated.. by the government. The real figures go up every minute. 38. Barack Obama is the first President of the United States with … multiracial.. background. 

39. From the hotel there is a…… breathtaking...view across the canyon. 

(POOR) 

(ESTIMATE) 

(RACE) 

(BREATH) (SUSPECT) (OBSERVE)

40. The policeman examined the parcel … suspiciously... as he had no idea what it could be. 

41. It was very … observant …...of you to notice that. 

42. In his …… fury.., Mike smashed all the breakable items in the kitchen. 43. Before enrolling on a course, you should first ensure that it has been … validated.. by an officially recognized body. 

44. Mr. John, who teaches us Latin, usually stresses the need for regular …… attendance …... 

45. The government has yet to make an official ………pronouncement...on the issue. 

(FURIOUS) 

(VALID) 

(ATTEND) 

(PRONOUNCE) 

III. Choose the underlined word or phrase in each sentence that needs correcting (5 points): 

46. Dictionaries frequently explain the origin of the defined word, state its part of speech and  indication its correct use.  

 A B C D 47. The rings of Saturn are so distant to be seen from the Earth without a telescope.  A B C D 

48. Children subjected to violence, exploitation , abuse and neglect are in risk of death, poor  physical and mental health, HIV/AIDS infection, and educational problems. A B  C D 

49. It is important that cancer is diagnosed and treated as early as possible in order to assure a  successful cure. 

 A B C  D 

50. A ten-thousand-dollars reward was offered for the capture of the escaped prisoner.  A B C D 

D. READING: 

I. Read the following passage and decide which option A, B, C or D best fits each space: (10 points) 

Everyone has got two personalities - the one that is shown to the world and the other that is (51)… secret... and real. You don’t show your secret personality when you are (52)… awake.., because you can control yourself. But when you are asleep, your feeling position (53) shows...the real you. In a normal (54)… night..., of course, people often change their position. The important position is the one you go to sleep in. 

If you go to sleep on your back, you are a very (55)… open...person. You usually believe people and you accept new things or new ideas easily. You don’t like to make people sad, so you never express your (56) … real.. feeling. You are quite shy. 

If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive person. You (57)… worry...a lot and you always easily become sad. You usually live for today not tomorrow. This means that you (58) … enjoy...having a good time. 

If you sleep curled up, you are probably a very (59)… nervous..person. You have a low opinion of yourself. You are shy and don’t like meeting people. You (60)… prefer.....to be on your own. You are easily hurt. 

51. A. important B. serious C . 

52. A. awake B. active C . 

53. A. makes B. understand C . 

secret D. particular happy D. honest changes D. shows 

54. A. room B. bed C night D. body

. 

55. A. independent B. open C . 

56. A. real B. lonely C . 

57. A. talk B. sleep C . 

58. A. regret B. enjoy C . 

59. A. strong B. healthy C . 

60. A. pretend B. oppose C . 

talkative D. generous cheerful D. gentle relax D. worry mind D. deny nervous D. careful refuse D. prefer 

II. There are 5 blanks in the passage below. From the words given in the box, choose the most suitable for each blank.  

There are THREE extra words that you do not need to use: (5 points) 

A. legal 

C. responsibility 

E. serve 

G. 

B. community 

D. give back 

F. long-term 

organizations 

H. rare

Volunteering has many intangible benefits. It can help you (61) …… give back ……...to society, break down barriers of misunderstanding or fear, explore personal issues and even have fun. It also has a meaningful, positive impact on your (62)…… community.... But did you know that it can have many benefits for you, too? You may have heard that volunteering helps you get into college, but keep in mind they are not just looking for a list of (63)…… organizations …... and dates. Colleges want to see a complete picture of you and real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Volunteering brings together a variety of people. Both the recipients of your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be rich sources of insight. For example, maybe you’ll learn about the (64)…… legal …...profession from a former lawyer you visit at a convalescent center. Colleges pay attention to your life inside and outside the classroom. Your extracurricular activities reveal a great deal about you, such as what your interests are, whether you can manage your priorities and maintain a (65)… long-term... promise and how you’ve made an important contribution to something.  

III. Read the passage and choose the correct answer: (10 points) 

For many people who live in cities, parks are an important part of the landscape. They provide a place for people to relax and play sports, as well as a refuge from the often harsh environment of a city. What people often overlook is that parks also provide considerable environmental benefits.  

One benefit of parks is that plants absorb carbon dioxide—a key pollutant—and emit oxygen, which humans need to breathe. According to one study, an acre of trees can absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide that a typical car emits in 11,000 miles of driving. Parks also make cities cooler. Scientists have long noted what is called the Urban Heat Island Effect: building materials such as metal, concrete, and asphalt absorb much more of the sun’s heat and release it much more quickly than organic surfaces like trees and grass. Because city landscapes contain so much of these building materials, cities are usually warmer than surrounding rural areas. Parks and other green spaces help to mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect.  

Unfortunately, many cities cannot easily create more parks because most land is already being used for buildings, roads, parking lots, and other essential parts of the urban environment. However, cities could benefit from many of the positive effects of parks by encouraging citizens to create another type of green space: rooftop gardens. While most people would not think of starting a garden on their roof, human beings have been planting gardens on rooftops for

thousands of years. Some rooftop gardens are very complex and require complicated engineering, but others are simple container gardens that anyone can create with the investment of a few hundred dollars and a few hours of work. 

Rooftop gardens provide many of the same benefits as other urban park and garden spaces, but without taking up the much-needed land. Like parks, rooftop gardens help to replace carbon dioxide in the air with nourishing oxygen. They also help to lessen the Urban Heat Island Effect, which can save people money. In the summer, rooftop gardens prevent buildings from absorbing heat from the sun, which can significantly reduce cooling bills. In the winter, gardens help hold in the heat that materials like brick and concrete radiate so quickly, leading to savings on heating bills. Rooftop vegetable and herb gardens can also provide fresh food for city dwellers, saving them money and making their diets healthier. Rooftop gardens are not only something everyone can enjoy, they are also a smart environmental investment. 

66. Based on its use in paragraph 2, it can be inferred that mitigate belongs to which of the following word groups?  

A. exacerbate, aggravate, intensify B. obliterate, destroy, annihilate  C. allay, alleviate, reduce D. absorb, intake, consume  

67. Using the information in paragraph 2 as a guide, it can be inferred that .................................. A. cities with rooftop gardens are cooler than those without rooftop gardens B. some plants are not suitable for growth in rooftop gardens  

C. most people prefer parks to rooftop gardens D. most people prefer life in the country over life in the city  

68. According to the passage, the Urban Heat Island Effect is caused by the fact(s) that .................................. 

a. cities are warmer than nearby rural areas b. building materials absorb more of the sun’s heat than organic surfaces  

c. building materials release the sun’s heat more quickly than organic surfaces  A. a. only B. a. and b. only C. b. and c. only D. a., b., and c. 69. Based on the information in paragraph 3, which of the following best describes the main difference between parks and rooftop gardens? A. Parks are expensive to create while rooftop gardens are not.  

B. Parks are public while rooftop gardens are private. C. Parks absorb heat while rooftop gardens do not.  

D. Parks require much space while rooftop gardens do not.  

70. The author claims all of the following to be the benefits of rooftop gardens except .................................. 

A. increased space for private relaxation B. savings on heating and cooling costs  C. better food for city dwellers D. improved air quality  

71. According to the author, one advantage that rooftop gardens have over parks is that they .................................. 

A. decrease the Urban Heat Island Effect B. replenish the air with nourishing oxygen  C. do not require the use of valuable urban land D. are less expensive than traditional park spaces  

72. The author’s tone in the passage is best described as.................................. A. descriptive B. passionate C. informative D. argumentative 

73. Which of the following pieces of information would, if true, most weaken the author's claim that rooftop gardens are good for the environment? A. Parks have many benefits that rooftop gardens do not share.  

B. More pollution is produced during rooftop garden construction than rooftop plants can remove from the air. 

C. Extremely high winds atop tall city buildings can severely damage some plants.  D. The overall environmental benefits that result from driving less exceed those of planting a rooftop garden.  

74. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?  A. A hypothesis is stated and then analyzed. B. A proposal is evaluated and alternatives are explored.  

C. A viewpoint is established and then defended. D. A thesis is presented and then supported.  

75. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would most likely endorse a program that .................................. 

A. permitted the construction of buildings in city park land provided they have rooftop gardens  

B. extended discounts on plants to customers who use them to create rooftop gardens  

C. offered free admission to schools willing to take their students on field trips to the city park  

D. promised vacation getaways to cooler destinations for those trapped in the city at the peak of summer  

E. WRITING: 

I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence printed before it: (5 points) 

76. Its lack of irregular verbs makes Esperanto a unique language. 

 Unlike… other languages, Esperanto has no irregular verbs.. 

77. Mr. Smith knew little about the Internet, so he didn’t invest into any computer companies.  Had…. Mr. Smith known something / more / a little more / some more about the Internet, he would have invested into some computer companies... 78. The Board of Directors discussed the business in length, but came to no decision.   The Board of Directors had . a long discussion on / about the business, but come to / reached / made no decision.. 

79. When she got to the party, everyone was dancing and singing. 

 On... her arrival at the party, everyone was dancing and singing. 80. Barbara runs a successful company and she also manages to look after her five children.  Not only.... does Barbara run a successful company, but she also manages to look after her five children... 

81. It is my opinion that you should spend more time practicing English. 

 If..... I were you I would spend more time practicing English... 

82. Everyone was surprised that the famous actor had very little money when he died.  The famous actor.. had very little money when he died, which surprised everyone... 83. Success in the academic field depends on your ability to amass qualifications.  The more.. qualifications you are able to / can amass, the more successful you become / are in the academic field. 

84. “Get out of my house or I will shoot you”, the woman shouted at the strange man.  The woman threatened.... to shoot the strange man if he did not get out of her house..... 

85. What mainly distinguishes man from other animals is the power of speech.  Man… is mainly distinguished from other animals by the power of speech.... 

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HSG THPT. NĂM HỌC 2013 – 2014. SỐ 14 

Môn: Tiếng Anh. Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian phát đề). Đề thi gồm 3 phần, 7 trang. 

SECTION I – PHONETICS 

I.Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the rest in the same line. ( 5p) 

1. A. several B. suppose C. decisive D. sister 

2. A. muddle B. struggle C. bush D. interrupt 3.A. ready B. measure C. steak D. stealth 4. A. wind B. behind C. mind D. find 5. A.chalice B. challenge C. choice D. chemist II. Pick out the word that has the stress syllable differently from that of the other  words.(5p) 

1. A. application B. certificate C. biology D. security 2. A. university B. punctuality C. agricultural 

D.mathematician 

3. A. identify B. secondary C. luxuriously D. majority 4. A. academic B. engineering C. availabe D.sympathetic 5. A. obligatory B. geographical C. international D.  undergraduate 

SECTION II- VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR 

I. Choose the best option ( A, B, C or D) to complete sentence below and write your  answers in the answer sheet.( 10p) 

1. She refused to eat meat under any ………………… . 

A. circumstances B. occasion C. opportunity D. reason 2. It was difficult to guess what he ……………. to the news would be. 

A. feelings B. reaction C. capital D. opinion 3. Though badly damaged by fire, the palace was eventually …… to its original splendour. A. repaired B. renewed C. restored D. renovated 4. He didn’t know anyone at the wedding ………….. than the bride and the groom. A. except B. other C. apart D. rather 5. When you are an old age pensioner, you have to learn to ………… a very small income. A. live on B. live up to C. live out D. live down 6. I felt so much better, my doctor ………….. me to take a holiday by the sea. A. suggested B. considered C. accepted D. advised 7. He said that the plane had already left and that I …………….. arrived an hour earlier. A. must have B. had to C. should have D. was supposed to 8. Alice didn’t expect ……………. to Bill’s party. 

A. to ask B. being asked C. to be asked D. asking 9.The restaurants on the island are expensive, so it’s worth ……………… a packed lunch. A. take B. to take C. taking D. taken 10. When the alarm went off, Mick just turned ………..…. and went back to sleep. A. down B. over C. up D. out II.Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense.( 10p) 

1.When he ( not arrive) … didn’t arrive.. by 6.00, I ( know) … knew …. He ( miss) … hadn’t  missed … the bus. 

2. Something ( tell) … tells ….. me that you ( not listen) … haven’t been listening … to a  single word I (say) … have said ….. in the past tense minutes. 

3. Same ( not receive) ……… hadn’t received … the parcel the last time I ( speak) … spoke.. to  him. 

4. When you ( feel) …… feel … hungry, room service ( bring) … will bring ….. you whatever you  want. 

III. Give the correct forms of the words in brackets to complete the blank space. ( 10p) 1.The judges describe Jones as a … hardened.. criminal who was a danger to members of the  public. HARD 

2. Rescue team held out little hope of finding other …… survivors …….  

SURVIVE 

3. He works for UNESCO in a purely …… advisory …….. role.  

ADVICE 

4. …… Installation … of the new system will take several days. 

INSTALL

5. This type of behaviour is no longer … socially …. acceptable. 

SOCIETY 

6. Watching television can be very …… eduacational …..  

EDUCATION 

7. Teachers must keep a record of students’ …… attendances ……..  

ATTEND 

8. Our school set up a project to …… computerize …. the library system. 

COMPUTER 

9.The breakdown of the negotiations was not … unexpected ……..  

EXPECT 

10. Those countries are … dependent …. on other countries for most of their food. DEPEND 

IV. Fill in each gap with a suitable preposition. (10 points) 

1.……ON… behalf of the department I would like to thank you all. 

2. Many people expressed a strong preference …FOR……. the original plan. 3. They were refused entrance ……TO… the exhibition . 

4. He graduated ……FROM….. York with a degree in Psychology. 

5. We had an argument ……WITH….. the waiter about the bill. 

6. She complimented him …… ON ….. his exellent German. 

7. She sacrificed everything …… FOR …. her children. 

8. Sit down and make yourself …AT……. home. 

9. He works away … FROM …… home during the week. 

10. The searchers spread …OUT.. to over the area faster. 

 SECTION III – READING 

I.Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions below.(10p) Traditionally the United States has been described as a melting pot, a place where the previous identities of each immigrant group are melted down to create an intergrated, uniform society. Since the 1960s, many Americans have rejected the melting pot metaphor in favour of the image of the mosaic, a picture created by assembling many small stones or tiles. In a mosaic, each peace retains its own distinctive identity, while contributing to a larger design. Advocates of the mosaic metaphor assert that it better represents the diverse multicultural society of the United States. Today, may Americans value their immigrant heritage as an important part of their identity. More recent immigrant groups from Asia, such as Vietnamese Americans and Korean Americans, have established communities alongside those populated by the descendants of European immigrants, such as French Americans, German Americans, Irish Americans and Italian Americans. 

1.Why has the United States often been described as a melting pot? - Because the United  States is a place where the previous identities of each immigrant group are melted  down to create an intergrated, uniform society. 

2. Why have people been in favour of the image of the “ mosaic”? - Because it better represents the diverse multicultural society of the United States. 

3. What does the word “mosaic” mean? - It means a picture create by assembling many  small stones or tiles. 

4. What have immigrant groups from Asia done to maintain their identity? - They have  established communities alongside those populated by the descendants of European  immigrants 

5. Name some recent immigrant groups from Asia in the United States? - They are Vietnamese  Americans and Korean Americans 

II.Read the following passage and then choose the most suitable word for each space. (10 p) 

 CAR CATCHES FIRE 

Three people jumped … out of …( 1) a car on a busy Oxford road after a fire started under the bonnet this morning. They were just able to rescue their possessions before the car burst into … flames …..(2). Mr. Peter Collins, 25, of Wey Road, Berinsfield …… was driving.(3) his Avenger astate car home … from ….(4) work with two friends when he noticed smoke coming into the car. He stopped, … but …(5) was unable to open the bonnet. He poured a bottle of water over the radiator where the smoke was coming from, but could not put out the flames. He then … ran… (6) to get fire extinguishers from a nearby…… garage …(7) , but … these.(8) also failed to have any

effect. … Finally.(9) he telephoned for a … fire engine.(10) , but by the time it arrived, the car was totally burned out. 

1. A. into B. on C. out of D. over 

2. A. flames B. petrol C. smoke D. sparks 3. A.drove B. has driven C. was driving D. was driven 4. A. to B. from C. at D. in 5. A. but B. because C. although D. so 

6. A. wandered B. jumped C. walked D. ran 7. A. hospital B. garage C.library D. swimming pool 8. A. this B. those C. that D. these 9. A. At length B. Finally C. At the end D. Terminally 10. A. police car B. ambulance C. taxi D. fire engine III.Read the passage below carefully. Then choose the correct answer: A, B, C or D that  best answers the question about the passage. (5p) 

When we were in England last year, I went fishing with my friend, Peter. Early in the morning we were sitting quietly by the side of the lake when we had an unpleasant surprise. We saw a duck come along with three ducklings padding cheerfully behind her. As we watched them, there was a sudden swirl in the water. We caught a glimpse of the vicious jaws of a pike- a fish which is rather like a freshwater shark- and one of the ducklings was dragged below the surface. 

This incident made Peter furious. He vowed to catch the pike. On three successive mornings we returned to the vicinity and used several different kinds of bait. On the third day Peter was lucky. Using an artificial frog as bait, he managed to hook the monster. There was a desperate fight but Peter was determined to capture the pike and succeeded. When he had got it ashore and killed it, he wieghed the fish and found that it scaled nearly thirty pounds- a record for that district. 

1.Why do you think Peter was sitting quietly by the lake ? 

A. He was watching the ducks. C. He was waiting for the pike to appear. B. He wasn’t very talkative. D. He was fishing 

2. To what does surprise in line 3 probably refer? 

A. to the duck. B. to the ducklings. C. to the action of the pike. D. to the time of the day. 

3. What were Peter’s feelings about the incident two days later? 

A. He caught and killed the pike. C. He vowed that he would catch the remaining  ducklings 

B. He remained determined to catch the pike. D. He caught a frog and used it as bait for the  pike. 

4. How much was the pike worth? 

A. about thirty pounds. B. about two hundred and forty dollars. C. the passage contains no information on this point. D. the passage says that the fish  scaled nearly thirty pound. 

5. Which of the following titles best sums up the whole passage? 

A. Mysterious disappearance of ducklings. C. Record pike caught by an angry fisherman. B. Revenge on a duck. D. Huge pike caught by fisherman after desperate  struggle at sea. 

Section IV – writing  

I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence printed before it (5 points). 

1. But for your unsuspected talents as a mechanic, he would have been stranded there for hours. - If … it hadn’t been for your unsuspected talents as a mechanic, we would have been  stranded there for hours. 

2. Let’s invite the Browns to the party on Sunday. - He suggested … inviting the Browns to the  party on Sunday.. 

3. The only thing that prevented the passing of the bill was the death of the Prime Minister. - Had it not ..… been for the death of the Prime Minister, the bill would have been  passed …. 

4. I’ve forgotten that commentator’s name but he’s very well-known. 

- That commentator, … whose name I’ve forgotten, is very well-known …..

5. I only recognised him when he came into the light. - Not until … he came into the light did I  recognise him ….. 

II. Using the word given and other words, complete the sencond sentence so that it  has a similar meaning to the first sentence. (5points) 

1.There’s no point in asking George to help. = - It’s … WORTH asking ….Gerge to help. 2. The last time I saw him was when I lived in London. = - I haven’t seen him SINCE.. I lived in  London. 

3. I don’t normally go into town by car. = - I am not USED to going into town by car. 4. Nobody plays this piece as beautifully as he does. - He plays this piece MORE beautifully than anybody/ anyone else. 

5. I couldn’t go to work because of the transport strike. =- I was PREVENTED from going to work  by the transport strike. 

III. Using the cues below to complete each sentence of the following passage. (5p) 1.Teacher/ Day/ Vietnam/ fall/ twenty/ November/ each year. 

Teacher’s day in Vietnam falls on the twentieth of November each year. 2. General/ it / be/ mean/ schoolchildren/ show/ appreciation/ teacher/ who/ guide/ in/ study. Generally/ In general, it is meant for schoolchildren to show their appreciation to their  teachers who have guided them in their studies. 

3. In / a/ time/ forget/ bad/ experience/ student/ have/ teacher/ scold/ punish. It is a time to forget the bad experiences students may have of their teachers scolding  and punishing them. 

4. Students/ give/ teacher/ flower/ small/ gift. 

Students give their teachers flowers and small gifts. 

5. Small/ party/ hold/ and/ there/ be/ atmosphere/ fun/ amusement/ school. Small parties are held and there is an atmosphere of fun and amazenment in the school. 

IV. Writing an essay (10p) 

Living in a tranditional family of three or four generations has both advantages and  disadvantages. What do you think of that matter? Write an essay of about 180- 200 words to  support your points. 

-----------THE END------------- 

SỞ GD&ĐT VĨNH PHÚC ———————— 

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC 

I/ READING:  

KỲ THI CHỌN HSG LỚP 1…. - THPT NĂM HỌC 201… - 201… (ĐỀ LUYỆN 15) 

ĐỀ THI MÔN: TIẾNG ANH 

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PART 1: Choose the word or phrase ( A, B, C or D). Write your answers in the spaces  bellow. Number 0 is an example ( 2 ms ) 0. The … A …….-hour accident caused chaos for the  local motorists yesterday evening. 

A. rush B. high C. traffic D. heavy 1. The unemployment rate of the area ……………..every year until 2003 then started to fall.  A. raised B. rose C. dropped D. decreased 2. It is gravity……………………objects towards the earth. 

A. pulling B. to pull C. what pulls D. that pulls 

3. …………problems in sailing in tropical seas is the coral reefs. 

A. One of the biggest B.The biggest one C. Of the biggest one D. There are the  biggest 

4. ……………foreign languages requires great effort. 

A. Learn B. Learning C. To learn it D. Learnt 5. "I am tired" “ ……… ” 

A. Me too B. Also me C. For me the same D. I also 6. I’m really not satisfied with the way you have …………………the situation. A. dealt B. handled C. done D. fingered 7. We may win, we may lose- It is just the ………………..of the draw. 

A. strike B. odds C. chance D. luck 

8. War is ……………as open-armed conflict between countries or factions within countries. A. delineated B. declared C. defaulted D. defined 9. I hope you won’t take it…………………if I suggest an alternative remedy.

A. offence B. amiss C. upset D. most 

10. Claims for compensation could ………………… run into billions of pounds. A. far B. much C. well D. most 

PART 2: Complete the spaces with A, AN, THE or (No article). Write your answers in the spaces bellow. Number 0 is an example (1 m) 0: Jason’s father bought him  ………..bicycle that he had wanted for his birthday. 

Countries around (1) …THE….world have begun to deal with (2) ……… THE ……problem in various ways. Some countries, in (3) ……AN….effort to circumvent the problem, have allocated large  amounts of land to animal reserves. They then charge admission prices to help defray the costs of maintaining (4) … THE ……parks, and they often must also depend on (5) …O…..world  organizations for support.  

PART 3: Give the correct preposition. Write your answers in the spaces bellow. Number 0 is an example (1 m) 

0. It is very good ……….you to volunteer to help the poor. 

1. I’m sure you are capable …OF…passing the exam. 

2. He is not aware …OF….the dangers of smoking.  

3. Many Vietnamese students have difficulty …IN… learning English. 

4. I get very annoyed ……WITH…..people who don’t queue at bus stop. 

5. If you have any complaints , tell me …TO……my face. I can’t stand people who do things  behind my back. 

PART 4: Give the correct forms and tenses of the verbs in brackets. Write your  answers in the spaces bellow. Number 0 is an example (1 m) 

1 Her (get) ……………..sick was not expected. 

1. She took a risk investing money with them. I’d rather she (not do) …… didn’t do …..it. 2. He (not catch) …… hadn’t caught ……cold if he would not have walked in the rain so long. 3. I'll wait until he (finish)……… has finished/ finishes.. his novel. 

4. By next month I (leave) ……… will have left ….for India. 

5. He volunteered ( help) ……… to help …… us. 

PART 5: Choose the word which best fits each gap of the passage. Write your  answers in the spaces bellow. (2ms) 

Although all Americans do not (1) . speak... the same way, their speech has enough in common that American English can be recognized as a (2) variety … of English distinct from British English, Australian English and other national varieties. American English has grown up with the country. It began to (3) ... diverge.. from British English during its colonial beginnings and (4) ... acquired. regional differences and ethnic flavor. Today it (5) … influences ….other languages and other varieties of English because it is the medium by which the attractions of American culture - its literature, (6) .. motion...pictures and television programs - are transmitted to the world. 

All speakers of English (7).. share... a common linguistic system and a basic set of words. But American English (8) ... differs.... from British English, Australian English and other national varieties in many of its pronunciations, words, spellings and grammatical (9) .. constructions.. Words or phrases of American (10) ... origin. and those used in America but not so much elsewhere, are called Americanisms. 

1. A. say B. speak C. talk D. tell 2. A. alteration B. change C. variety D. variation 3. A. diverge B. divert C. digress D. depress 4. A. enquired B. inquired C. required D. acquired 5. A. affluence B. fluency C. influences D. nuances 6. A. motion B. moving C. movement D. removing 7. A. have B. bear C. tear D. share 8. A. differentiates B. differs C. changes D. alters 9. A. constructions B. building C. points D. syntax 10. A. birth B. source C. origin D. tradition PART 6: Fill in each blank with one suitable word. Write your answers in the spaces bellow. (2ms) 

Is Photography Dead?

For a long time in the past photography was not regarded as an art. It was simply a skill and it was criticized for being too mechanical and not creative enough. At last, however, photography is now accepted as a unique and very important (1)... form..of art. 

The photograph's claim to be an objective record of reality is now seriously challenged, and the important function of photography in modern-day society is consequently (2) .. under....threat. The threat has suddenly become all the more serious as more and more photographers are (3).. turning... to the new technology which computers offer. Moreover, a (n) (4) .. increasing... number of colleges have now begun to offer (5) .. courses. in computer imaging. All these developments (6).. raise... a disturbing question. Is photography, as we know (7).. it.dead? 

In spite of its complete transformation by new technological developments, however, photography will continue to play a (8) ... key..role in our culture. Although it may no longer (9). claim... to be realistic, modern photography can continue to provide us with fresh visral (10) ... information...about ourselves and the world in which we live. 

PART 7: Read the passage below carefully and choose the best answer (2ms) Langston Hughes was one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. He was born in Joplin, Missouri, and moved to Cleveland at the age of 14. Several years later he spent one year in Mexico before attending Columbia University in New York. For a few years after that, he roamed the world as a seaman, visiting ports around the world and writing some poetry. He returned to the United States and attended Lincoln University, where he won the Witter Bynner Prize for undergraduate poetry. After graduating in 1928, he traveled to Spain and to Russia with the help of a Guggenheim fellowship. His novels include Not without Laughter (1930) and The Big Sea (1940). He wrote an autobiography in 1956 and also published several collections of poetry. The collections include The Weary Blues (1926), The Dream Keeper (1932), Shakespeare in Harlem (1942), Fields of Wonder (1947), One Way Ticket (1947), and Selected Poems (1959) A man of many talents, Hughes was also a lyricist, librettist, and a journalist. As an older man in the 1960s, he spent much of his time collecting poems from Africa and from African-Americans to popularize black writers. Hughes is one of the most accomplished writers in American literary history, and he is seen as one of the artistic leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, the period when a neighborhood that was predominantly black produced a flood of great literature, music, and other art forms depicting daily city life for African-Americans. 

1. What is the main topic of this passage? A. The life of Langston Hughes B. The Harlem Renaissance 

C. African-American writers D. American twentieth-century writers 2 .Where was Langston Hughes born? 

A. Spain B. New York C. Missouri D. North  Carolina 

3. As used in the passage, which of the following words could best replace the word "ports"? A. Islands B. Ships C. Friends. D. Harbors 4. To which of the following movements might Shakespeare in Harlem refer?  A. The Civil War B. The Harlem Riots C. The Harlem Renaissance D. The Civil  Rights Movement 

5. What provided Hughes with assistance for his travel to Spain and Russia?  A. His job as a reporter B. His career as a soldier C. A literary fellowship D. A  college study program 

6. The word "talents" in the passage could be replaced by which of the following? A Desires B. Abilities C. Strategies D. Careers 7. According to the author, what did Hughes do during the later years of his life?  A. Write short stories B. Popularize African-American writers C. Advocate racial equality . D. Write about life in Harlem  8. Which of the following could best replace the word "accomplished" as used in the passage? A Successful B. Prolific C. Brilliant D. Imaginative 9. Which of the following can best substitute for the word "depicting" in the passage? A. Congratulating Blessing C. Screening D. Portraying 10. According to the passage, Langston Hughes was all of the following EXCEPT: A A novelist B. A poet C. A historian D. A journalism. PART 8: Fill each blank with a suitable word or phrase. 

 Write your answers in the spaces bellow. (2ms) 

1. The car can't have broken down. I...... only had it........serviced last week.

2. If I..... had been in that...situation, I certainly wouldn't have had the courage to do what you  did. 

3. Although he had a difficult time during the war, it..... did him no/ did not( seem to ) do him  any......harm. 

4. It's no..... good/ use grumbling/ complaining about......the cold and wet, you'll just have to  put up with it. 

5. I won't have .... people parking.......... their cars in the street outside the entrance to my  house! 

6. In times of hardship we have to learn to do...... without..........some basic necessities. 7. I'm........ frightened/ scared to.......death of spiders! 

8. I heard the thunder.... rumbling......in the distance. 

9. He's been....... under the........weather for ages and still isn't back at work. 10. We made the uniforms ourselves as we couldn't … afford to have them …..made. II. WRITING:  

PART 1: Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the  same as sentence printed before it. (2ms) EXAMPLE: “They would be very  disappointed if you did not come,” the man said to his daughter. 

  The man told his daughter (that) they would be very disappointed if she did  not come. 

1. “I am happy you have passed the final exams. Congratulations!” Tom said to me.  Tom congratulated …… me on having passed the final exams. 

2. You ‘d better not swim too far from the shore,” the lifeguard said to us 

 The lifeguard advised …… us not to swim too far from the shore.… 

3. Birth rates have fallen sharply recently.  There … has been a sharp decline in birth race  recently.…. 

4. I didn’t hear the news until the next day.  It was not …… until the next day I heard the news …… 

5. Although it rain torrentially all day, we all enjoyed the excursion. 

 Despite … the torrential all day, we all enjoy the excursion. 

PART 2:Write a new sentence using the word in brackets. Do not alter the word in any  way (2ms) 

1. He may choose to take early retirement.  He has the OPTION of taking early retirement 2. He didn’t take any part in the conversation.  He didn’t CONTRIBUTE to the conversation. 3. We lose our way because the signposts were confusing.  The signposts were confusing,  WHICH made us lose our way. 

4. He likes to be addressed as “Professor”.  He wants you people / students to CALL him  “professor” 

5. She always has a good relationship with the children.  She always GETS as well with the  children. 

PART 3: Write an essay about 200 words on the following topic: 

What measures do you take in order to reduce air and water pollution in your  city? (3ms)