Đề thi chọn ĐT dự thi HSG QG Hà Nội năm học 2021-2022 môn Tiếng Anh

Mời quý thầy cô và các bạn học sinh tham khảo Đề thi chọn ĐT dự thi HSGQG Hà Nội năm học 2021-2022 môn Tiếng Anh do Sở GD&ĐT tổ chức vào ngày 12/01/2022. Bài thi nằm trong khuôn khổ Kỳ thi chọn đội tuyển học sinh giỏi thành phố lớp 12 dự thi học sinh giỏi Quốc gia năm học 2021-2022, gồm 16 trang với 4 phần chính: (I) LISTENING (5 điểm); (II) LEXICO-GRAMMAR (3 điểm); (III) READING (5 điểm) và (IV) WRITING (7 điểm), bám sát tương đối cấu trúc và dạng bài của Bộ Giáo dục & Đào tạo.

Dưới dây là các file đề thi chính thức HSG Tiếng Anh 12 tại Hà Nội:

Tải xuống: Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi thành phố Hà Nội lớp 12 THPT môn Tiếng Anh năm học 2023 - 2024 có đáp án (Vòng 1)

Tải xuống: Đề thi chọn Đội tuyển dự thi HSG Quốc gia Hà Nội năm học 2021-2022 (Vòng 1)

Trích dẫn "ĐỀ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI THÀNH PHỐ LỚP 12 DỰ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA NĂM HỌC 2021-2022 - Sở GD&ĐT Hà Nội"

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ NỘI

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC

KÌ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI THÀNH PHỐ LỚP 12 DỰ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA NĂM HỌC 2021-2022

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH

Ngày thi: 12 / 01 /2022

Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút

(Đề thi gồm 16 trang)

Điểm

Cán bộ chấm thi

Bằng số

Bằng chữ

Họ và tên

Chữ ký

Phách

- Thí sinh làm bài trực tiếp vào đề thi và không được sử dụng bất kỳ loại tài liệu nào, kể cả từ điển. - Cán bộ coi thi không giải thích gì thêm.

I. LISTENING (5.0 points)

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU

- Bài nghe có 04 phần. Trong đĩa CD đã ghi đủ số lần nghe (02 lần) theo quy định và đủ thời gian để thí sinh đọc câu hỏi trước khi nghe.

- Sau khi phát đề, cán bộ coi thi bật máy và chỉ bật 01 lần cho tới khi kết thúc bài nghe bằng một nhạc hiệu.

Part 1: For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about ethical concerns with artificial intelligence and decide whether these statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG). Write your answers (T, F or NG) in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

1. People are likely to be ignorant of the moral issues associated with artificial intelligence in the research stage.

2. Video tracking can be deployed to speed up recovery from injuries.

3. A handful of giants have become the dominant overlords in the realm of artificial intelligence. 4. Artificial intelligence (AI) may harm human society inadvertently when it receives clear instructions from humans.

5. AI might misinterpret the data introduced by their human programmers.

Your answers:

Part 2: For questions 1-5, listen to a talk about how to prevent a food crisis and answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

1. What sorts of countries have implemented viable measures to rise above the challenges during this hard time?

2. What have Peruvian and Brazilian governments increased in their cash-transfer program? 3. As unveiled in a research, which aspects of life have been ameliorated among cash-grant recipients? 4. What is the name of the strategy adopted by companies to grant financial aids for reduced working hours? 5. What policy has also been introduced by countries besides tax relief, tax payment delay and access to retirement accounts?

Your answers:

Page 2/16

Part 3: You will hear part of a TV programme featuring Jake Oliphant, a TV chef. For questions 1-5, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which best fits what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

1. The presenter states that he will use only a few of the viewers’ questions on the programme because _______.

A. some of them are unsuitable B. he’s been told to be more selective C. there are so many of them D. a lot of them ask the same things 2. P. Hughes and R. Jones both seem to be _______.

A. cookery students B. food lovers C. avid readers D. aspiring cooks 3. Jake Oliphant advises them to _______.

A. aim to excel in their area of food preparation B. put a greater emphasis on practical skills C. adopt a famous chef as a role model D. experiment with all kinds of recipes 4. Jake Oliphant’s cookery programme is popular because _______.

A. the cooking is not too messy

B. his method is not too complicated

C. he is so knowledgeable

D. he uses uncommon combinations of ingredients

5. How does Jake Oliphant feel that being famous has altered him?

A. It hasn’t affected him in any way.

B. He has had to adapt to being in the public eye.

C. He has been able to put his financial plans into action.

D. He has become more self-confident.

Your answers:

Part 4: For questions 1-10, listen to a talk on a radio show about a film called The Man from Snowy River and complete the following sentences. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from the recording for each blank. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. The introduction the popular 1986 movie was the only then movie that (1) _______The Man from Snowy River

The Hollywood star King Douglas has an unusual (2) _______ in The Man from Snowy River.

Fallon praises the (3) _______ between Burlinson and his co-star Thornton and is complimentary of the quality of the acting in general in the film.

Besides, the spectacular scene of horse riders galloping over beautiful, yet (4) _______ is another wonder of the movie.

Fallon suggests that the great cinematography of the firm shows the (5) _______ in a very positive light.

On the death of his father, Craig must relocate to the lowland in the search of work, being discriminated by (6) _______of the mountain man.

Craig’s financial situation and his (7) _______ make it unlikely that Jessica’s father will approve of him. Another (8) _______ in this movie entails Spur, a mountain man, a friend of Jim.

Fallon suggests that although the storyline has a romantic flavour to it, it really centres on the lead character’s (9) _______.

Since the movie was so cherished by the Australian, Burlinson was even required to (10) _______ of Jim in a reputed sport event in 2000.

Your answers:

Page 3/16

10.

II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (3.0 points)

Part 1: Choose the best answer A, B, C, or D. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

1. The athlete was _______ in defeat and praised his opponent's skill, for which he received a lot of praise. A. abrasive B. valiant C. chivalrous D. magnanimous 2. I wish you’d stop _________ with that watch. It needs to be repaired by a professional A. dabbling B. striving C. tinkering D. preserving 3. His driving is so bad that I always turn _______ when I am sitting with him in the car. A. around the bend B. in a fog

C. off his trolley D. green around the gills

4. He _____ denied the accusations, saying they were totally false

A. excessively B. superficially C. strenuously D. unstintingly 5. The runner was far ahead for most of the race, but at the end she won only _______. A. larger than life B. on the dot C. by a whisker D. a notch above 6. She’s raising two kids, holding down a full-time job, and trying to maintain some _______ of a personal life.

A. semblance B. vestige C. inkling D. portent 7. Negotiations went _______, but we did manage to reach an agreement on the contract by the deadline. A. down to the short strokes B. down for the count

C. down to the ground D. down to the wire

8. Given the competitiveness of the National Contest, I have to knock it out of the _______ or I won’t be able to win any prizes.

A. park B. nail C. roof D. ring 9. She was extremely elegant and obviously very _________

A. entitled B. upheld C. upstanding D. well-heeled 10. I know it’s hard at first when you start a new job, but you’ll soon ______.

A. show your teeth B. find your feet C. follow your nose D. try your hand

Part 2: Complete these sentences, using the suitable form of the words in capitals. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

1. Both are _______, extravagant in character, highly lyrical and immediately establish the soloist as a romantic protagonist. CLAIM

2. We might have to employ someone temporarily as a _______ measure until we can hire someone permanently. STOP 3. Upholders of the scientific faith shudder at the implications of having to mix it with such _______ subjective and impure elements.

REDEEM

4. _______ should summarize the main facts about their performance based on the staff evaluation criteria of the company. APPRAISE 5. It encouraged experimenters to propose ___________ or novel approaches to problems. BEAT

III. READING (5.0 points)

Part 1: Read the passage below and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has achieved (1) _______ success as a computer programmer, inventor and entrepreneur. His path to that point, however, was anything but typical. While attending Havard University in the 1970s, he made a (2) _______ move and left university before graduating to start his own company. His parents didn’t like the idea at first, but Gates (3) _______ down and worked hard to get their support. He founded Microsoft in 1975, which after a few short years caused a revolution in

Page 4/16

personal computing. During the time that Gates was at the head of the company, some of his employees regarded him as (4) _______ and arrogant. He would sometimes (5) _______ in on presentations, expressing his dislike for certain ideas and proposals. He was often described as being (6) _______; he did whatever he liked and was often hard to reach either in or out of the office. But whatever anyone may have thought of these minor shortcomings, Gates was a (7) _______ competitor in the computer software industry who often (8) _______ the competition. In his years as CEO of the company, he labored hard at (9) _______ Microsoft’s range of software products, and whenever he achieved success in a particular area of computing, Gates guarded the position with all his might. Since then, he has won international (10) _______ as one of the greatest computer software inventors of all time.

1. A. grueling B. cunning C. crushing D. staggering

2. A. gutsy B. virtuous C. candid D. noble

3. A. broke B. knuckled C. fell D. got

4. A. impartial B. modest C. mediocre D. conceited

5. A. cut B. break C. put D. come

6. A. ingenuous B. notorious C. scrupulous D. impetuous

7. A. ruthless B. reckless C. worthless D. selfless

8. A. executed B. crushed C. snatched D. pocketed

9. A. growing B. broadening C. lengthening D. elongating

10. A. acceptance B. approval C. acclaim D. applause

Your answers:

10.

Part 2: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.

Section A

• The human community can be regarded as a system, holistic in nature, seeking survival. Throughout the ages, observers of human behaviour have repeatedly identified four major patterns or configurations of behaviour. Such holistic sorting of behaviour patterns has been recorded for at least twenty-five centuries.

• In 450 B.C., Hippocrates described four such dispositions he called temperaments - a choleric temperament with an ease of emotional arousal and sensitivity, a phlegmatic temperament with cool detachment and impassivity, a melancholic temperament with a very serious, dour, and downcast nature, and a sanguine temperament full of impulsivity, excitability, and quick reactivity. During the Middle Ages, Philippus Paracelsus described four natures whose behaviours were said to be influenced by four kinds of spirits: nymphs, sylphs, gnomes, and salamanders.

• Most twentieth-century psychologists abandoned holistic observation of human behaviour for a microscopic examination of parts, fragments, traits, and so on. To them, all human beings were basically alike, and individual differences were due to chance or conditioning.

• Two German psychologists, Ernst Kretschmer and Eduard Spranger, were among the few to continue to view individuals holistically in terms of patterns. Inspired by their work, a modern psychologist, David Keirsey, noted common themes in the various observations and the consistent tendency of human behavious to sort itself into four similar patterns. Linda Berens continues to expand our understanding of the four temperaments through the unique contributions, including the core needs, values, talents, and

Page 5/16

behaviours of the four temperament patterns – as illustrated by The Temperament Targets.

• These four major patterns are referred to as temperaments. They describe the ways human personality interacts with the environment to satisfy its needs. Each of the four types of humours corresponded to a different personality type.

Section B

• The Sanguine temperament personality is fairly extroverted. People of a sanguine temperament tend to enjoy social gatherings and making new friends. They tend to be creative and often day dream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean very sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with the following tasks all the way through. They are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when pursuing a new hobby, interest is lost quickly when it ceases to be engaging or fun. A sanguine person is happy, friendly, warm, eager and has an ability to sympathize with others. He has lots of friends and everyone thinks he is a fun company. But he is often very self-centred and he lacks self-control. He has a tendency to exaggerate and he is emotionally unstable.

Section C

• A person who is choleric is a doer. They have a lot of ambition, energy and passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were cholerics. They have a strong will. They are independent, practical, efficient and productive. When they get something in their mind, nothing can stop them. Unfortunately, choleric people have to spend a lot of their time alone, as their social side is so poorly

developed. They scare people away with their coldness and their angry and cruel words. They are insensitive and overly dominating.

Section D

• A person who is a thoughtful ponder has a melancholic disposition. Often very kind and considerate, melancholies can be highly creative – as in poetry and art – and can become occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist. They are often self-reliant and independent. A melancholic person is often extremely talented. He can analyse things very deeply. He has an eye for beauty. He is disciplined and diligent. But he has a whole load of dark sides. He is often pessimistic and is depressed easily. He is too critical of himself and of others. He is revengeful and easily offended.

Section E

• Phlegmatics tend to be self-content and kind. They can be very accepting and affectionate. They may be very receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats. Unlike the Sanguine personality, they may be more dependable.

• It’s easiest to get along with a phlegmatic person. He is calm and easygoing. His carefree attitude and good sense of humour attract people. He is stable and reliable and very diplomatic. But he is not perfect, either. He is often irritatingly slow and unable to make up his mind. He is selfish and stingy. Sometimes he is totally indifferent to everything around him. All he’s interested in is his daydreams.

Section F

• The concept of temperament can generally be defined as a behavioural or emotional trait that differs across individuals, appears early in life, is relatively stable over the life-span, and is, at least to some degree, influenced by biology. One common defining characteristic of temperament is that it appears quite early in development and is relatively stable over the life-span. It is for this reason that the study of temperament has often focused on infancy and early-childhood. The assumption has been that temperament is not an acquired characteristic; one doesn’t learn one’s temperament, rather one is simply born with a given temperament profile. Further, these “in-born” traits persist throughout the life span,

Page 6/16

though they may change form. For example, an infant may have a withdrawal oriented temperament, but lacking the physical capacity to move independently may cry when presented with novel situations or toys or people, etc. The infant’s crying then elicits a caregiver to either remove the infant from the stimulus or the stimulus from the infant. In either case it effectively increases the distance between the infant and that which makes him or her uncomfortable. As the child ages through early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence and so on, he or she no longer needs to rely exclusively on others to control their environment. They can themselves retreat from situations that make them uncomfortable and/or they may actively seek out environments that are of low stimulus intensity. In adolescence they may begin to use depressant drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, or nicotine to effectively withdraw from situations that make them uncomfortable, but for which there is strong social pressure to pursue (parties, school functions, etc.) These behaviours are quite different in form, but yield the same functional effect.

Questions 1-6: The reading passage has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-ix, in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

List of Headings

i Cautious and caring people

ii Connection between characteristics and body

iii In-depth thinking and intelligent people

iv Changing behaviours

v Active and optimistic people

vi Theories from ancient philosophers

vii Four personalities on the basis of body fluid

viii Demanding and unsympathetic people

ix The in-born and permanent temperament

1. Section A

2. Section B

3. Section C

4. Section D

5. Section E

6. Section F

Questions 7-13: Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? In the corresponding numbered boxes provided, write:

TRUE if the statement reflects the claims of the writer

FALSE if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

7. The four temperaments can be traced back reliably to philosophy, notably in the work of Hippocrates. 8. To all twentieth-century psychologists, the personal characteristics came from different situations.

9. People of a sanguine temperament are imaginative and creative, and are often the ones who enthusiastically promote new ideas on the job.

10. If someone has a strong will, he or she must be a great charismatic military or political person.

Page 7/16

11. Most melancholies can be poets or artists because they are highly creative.

12. Phlegmatic people are usually indifferent to everything.

13. Temperament is an “in-born” characteristic which is stable throughout one’s life.

Your answers:

10.

11.

12.

13.

Part 3: In the passage below, seven paragraphs have removed. Choose from paragraphs (A-H) the one which fits each gap (1-7). There is one extra paragraph you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

The white and silver buildings of the VLT or Very Large Telescope at the ESO (European Organisation for Astronomical research in the Southern Hemisphere) stand tall and imposing on top of a mountain shining brightly under the desert sun. At night they come alive, the outer walls open up and silently slide through 360 degrees, allowing an uninterrupted view of the Southern Hemisphere sky. Inside, a giant eye looks deep into the stars and beyond, looking for life, mysteries and making sense out of the darkness.

Getting to the place is a journey of discovery in itself. After leaving the Pacific Ocean, you head south and hook up with the Panamericana Highway and into the desert, the driest on Earth. It's a two-hour drive to the observatory, but it feels longer as the harsh light, the rocky, dusty desert, the complete absence of any form of life, except for the giant trucks plying their trade along the highway, is unsettling.

The reason, we are told, is simple. Astronomers need a clear view of the sky at night. Optimal conditions are to be found in deserts; there are fewer of the negative factors like light pollution that can make the four telescopes which form VLT work less effectively. Here no lights are allowed after dark, all windows are screened, and even the main residence where 108 people sleep, leaks no more than 40W when the lights are turned on.

These monsters and their smaller auxiliaries bring to mind the set of Star Wars. But at sunset, they take on another look. This could be Stonehenge, another magic circle where our forefathers tried to make sense of the stars. Soon after arriving, we are taken to see the inside of one of the telescopes. They have all been named in the indigenous Mapuche language following a competition among Chilean schoolchildren.

Once these have been completed, the telescope is handed over to the team who will operate one or more of the telescopes from a control room. All night long these giants will be moving and pointing to the sky helping the scientists unravel new problems. Fourteen countries contribute around 160 million euros to their joint astronomical cause, and Paranal is allocated 20% of that figure. Standing in the shadow of the VLT, one wonders what all this taxpayers' money buys.

They all answered with the usual 'finding out where we came from, where we are going, are we alone in the universe...?' And, as the ESO has no commercial use and is a not-for-profit organization, it's easy to imagine these scientists indulging in their research and being cut off from reality.

Page 8/16

One of Paranal's great achievements was the discovery of a planet outside our solar system. It is huge: five times bigger than Jupiter, and the work being done now is aimed at understanding the physical and chemical composition of this, and other, giant Earth-like planets. Truly a quest for life in outer space.

'We needed even sharper images to settle the issue of whether any other configuration is possible and we counted on the ESO VLT to provide those,’ says Reinhard Genzel, director at the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. 'Now the era of observational physics has truly begun.'

Missing paragraphs

A But talking further revealed a simple truth: that having pretty much discovered all there is to know about our world on the Earth, astronomy looks at the vast Terra Incognita which surrounds us. These scientists see themselves very much as a mixture of Renaissance men and women: all questing for further knowledge.

B Every evening an engineer is assigned to one of these telescopes and his or her job is to get it ready so that it can then be taken over at night by a three-person team. The engineer runs through a series of tests in preparation for the work which will be done later that night.

C The central unit inside weighs 450 tonnes and houses the main 8.5 m mirror. A second, smaller mirror is made from beryllium, a rare metal. The external walls can all slide open to allow the telescope to point in any direction as it rotates soundlessly on its base.

D As we drive further into the desert, the road starts to rise gradually, with hills and steep valleys all around us. The environment is harsh in the extreme and it's hard to imagine that a community of European scientists have chosen this place to establish a world-leading laboratory.

E It is a question that many in Paranal find a little difficult to answer. Maybe because scientists, due to the nature of their research and also, maybe, their mindsets, tend to focus on very specific areas of competence and therefore are not required to have a broader 'strategic' view.

F The other big consideration in the desert is the absence of cloud cover and, higher up, the lack of atmospheric dust and all the other interference caused by humans or nature which contributes to partially hiding the secrets of the universe. 'Twinkle, twinkle little star' is just what astronomers do not want to hear, as this means there is debris between the eye, the telescopes and the stars.

We are in Paranal, in Chile's Atacama Desert, where at 2,600 m above sea level, Europe has its most

advanced astronomical observatory. It's a leading site, a joint undertaking by fourteen European countries focused on developing the most advanced scientific tools for observing the universe and enhancing the knowledge base for industry, education and culture.

Astronomers have also used the data from VLT for another purpose - to attempt to find out how old the

universe is. It seems that the oldest star is 13.2 billion years old, which means the universe must be even older. They also use VLT to look into galaxies beyond ours, and where they continue to find evidence of supermassive black holes, where all kinds of violent activity occur.

Your answers:

Part 4. Read the passage below and answers the questions

The presence or absence of water has a direct bearing on the possibility of life on other planets. In the nineteenth century, it was commonly accepted that life, perhaps even intelligent life, was widespread in the solar system, and Mars was an obvious target in the search for life. New photographic technology offered a way for astronomers to learn more about the red planet. In 1888, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli

Page 9/16

produced images that showed a network of long, thin, dark lines crossing the surface of Mars. He called these features canali in Italian, which became “canals” or “channels” in English. The strange appearance of the canals suggested to some scientists that they had been formed artificially rather than naturally. The mystery deepened when Schiaparelli observed that many of the canals in the photographs were actually double.

Other photographic images of Mars revealed its seasonally changing polar ice caps and features that appeared to be ancient islands located in what was now a dry streambed. When the islands were first discovered, some scientists speculated that a thick water-laden atmosphere capable of generating heavy rains and had once existed on Mars. However, others remained unconvinced of the presence of water. Then, in 1963, a team of astronomers obtained a good photographic plate of the near-infrared spectrum of Mars. The photograph showed that, faintly but definitely, water vapor lines could be seen. This photograph established that there really was water on Mars, though the amount was very small. Today, the presence of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere is generally accepted, as is the belief that the atmosphere was once much denser than it is now, with a much greater abundance of water vapor.

The surface of Mars is dry today, but it does contain significant amounts of ice and signs that liquid water once flowed over the planet. All of the locations where evidence of water has been found are ancient, probably formed every early in Martian history. Data transmitted from spacecraft on Mars in 2004 have revealed that water was once common across a vast region of the planet, possibly as shallow lakes or seas that dried out and then filled up again. There are signs that the wind blew debris around during dry stages. These seas and lakes extended across hundreds of thousands of square miles, creating habitable conditions during long stretches of time billions of years ago.

Evidence of water includes the presence of various minerals known as evaporates, deposits left behind when liquid water turns to vapor. Small areas of mineral deposits have been found in Valles Marineris, a huge hole on Mars that is larger than the Grand Canyon on Earth. The minerals there contain water, so they had to be formed in the presence of water. Geologic research has also turned up clay and gypsum deposits that were formed by water in the soil. Rocks that clearly formed in water extend throughout 300 meters of layered materials in several locations across the Martian plains. The layers were built up over time, which means water was present, at least temporarily, for extended periods on ancient Mars.

Besides the ice packs at Mars’s poles, astronomers have discovered a frozen sea near its equator. This frozen sea is the size of the North Sea on Earth and appears similar to the ice packs on Antarctica. Scientists have also detected evidence of lava flows 20 million years ago as well as signs that some volcanoes may still be active. Several recently formed volcanic cones near Mars’s North Pole indicate that the planet’s core may interact with the surface, meaning there was both warmth and moisture in the recent past – circumstances that might have supported life.

Liquid water is the key ingredient for life as we know it. Of all the other planets in the solar system, Mars is most like Earth. In 20111 a team of researchers used computer modeling to compare data on temperature and pressure conditions on Earth with those on Mars to estimate how much of Mars could support Earth- like organisms. Their results showed that three percent of Mars could sustain life, although most of these regions are underground. Below the planet’s surface, conditions are right for water to exist as a liquid. Additional evidence of water on the planet’s surface came in 2012, when a robot landed on Mars and transmitted hig-resolution images showing a streambed with coarse gravel that had likely been deposited by flowing water. All of this evidence of water does not necessarily mean life ever emerged there; however, it does suggest that Mars meets all the requirements that are needed for life to exist.

1. The word ‘target’ in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. watery planet B. symbol of strength C. missing link D. object of interest

2. According to the passage, what has been a major focus of research about Mars? A. How Mars compares to other planets in the solar system

B. Who built the network of canals on the surface of Mars

C. Whether signs of water indicate that life has existed on Mars

D. How soon astronauts from Earth will be able to go to Mars

Page 10/16

Page 11/16

3. Astronomers of the 19th and 20th centuries studied Mars mainly through ______. A. ancient writings B. photographic images

C. Martian soil samples D. data sent by spacecraft

4. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that Schiaparelli’s observation of canals on Mars led to ______. A. direct proof that life has existed on Mars

B. the rejection of Schiaparelli’s ideas by other scientists

C. the search for canals on other planets in the solar system

D. new questions about intelligent life on Mars

5. What discovery led some scientists to think that the Martian atmosphere had produced heavy rains in the past?

A. A network of canals on the surface

B. Ancient islands in a dry streambed

C. Water vapor lines on a photographic plate

D. Volcanic cones near the planet’s North Pole

6. Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 2?

A. Most scientists believe there is water vapor in the Martian atmosphere, which is now less dense than it was in the past.

B. The amount of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere has changed many times in the past, and scientists generally accept this.

C. The atmosphere of Mars used to contain only water vapor, but now scientists know that several other gases are also present.

D. Scientists used to believe that Mars had no atmosphere, but now most think it has a very dense atmosphere of water vapor.

7. Layers of rock in several places on the Martian plains are evidence that ______. A. Mars was formed at the same time as Earth

B. both wind and water erosion occurred there

C. water was present there for a long time

D. liquid water is no longer present on Mars

8. All of the following indicate the presence of water on Mars EXCEPT ______. A. images of polar ice caps B. a 1963 photograph

C. clay and gypsum deposits D. evidence of lava flows

9. Write the correct letter [A], [B], [C] or [D] that indicates where the following sentence could be added to the passage?

Astronomers already knew that Mars had some kind of atmosphere because of the occasional presence of bright features that looked like clouds.

The presence or absence of water has a direct bearing on the possibility of life on other planets. [A] In the nineteenth century, it was commonly accepted that life, perhaps even intelligent life, was widespread in the solar system, and Mars was an obvious target in the search for life. [B] New photographic technology offered a way for astronomers to learn more about the red planet. In 1888, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli produced images that showed a network of long, thin, dark lines crossing the surface of Mars. [C] He called these features canali in Italian, which became “canals” or “channels” in English. The strange appearance of the canals suggested to some scientists that they had been formed artificially rather than naturally. [D] The mystery deepened when Schiaparelli observed that many of the canals in the photographs were actually double.

10. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage.

Scientists have long searched for evidence of water on Mars

Page 12/16

A. Early photographs of Mars showed what appeared to be canals, polar ice caps, and ancient islands.

B. Dry streambed, lakes, and seas suggest that Mars does not have enough water to support life. C. There is water vapor in the Martian atmosphere and evidence that liquid water once flowed on the surface.

D. Mars contains many types of evaporates, minerals left behind when liquid water becomes vapor. E. Geologic research, photography and computer modeling provide evidence of water – and possibly life – on Mars.

F. Because Mars is so similar to Earth, scientists believe that humans will be able to live on Mars in the future.

Your answers:

10.

Part 5: You are going to read an extract from an article about paintings. For questions 1–10, choose from the sections (A–E). The sections may be chosen more than once. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

A. Luisa Sutton

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, by Edouard Manet

Manet was inviting some kind of response in the way in which he presented women in his work and he succeeded in bridging the gap between classical traditions and painting modern life. Above all, I have tremendous respect for the fact that he was a breakthrough artist: a champion of realist modernism who was censured for breaking the mould. Through the medium of painting, Manet constantly reassessed the prevailing attitudes of the world he was living in. Today we are used to multiple perspective - seeing the same image from different angles. This was not so in Manet’s time and in this painting we see him crossing boundaries as he switches reality by employing a mirror to reflect his subjects.

B. Paul Harris

Henry VII, 29 October 1505, by unknown artist

Visually, this is a stunning portrait; Henry moves towards the viewer from the parapet wearing the red robes of Lancaster, his hands on the ledge. It is immediately exciting and emotive. Henry VII was on the lookout for a new bride and this was painted to be sent to the court of Maximilian, much as we would send a photo today. So the provenance is clear. Portraits of other English monarchs, Richard III in particular, are, in comparison, stiff and remote. Henry VII’s portrait speaks in a very particular way. His eyes look at one. He is Renaissance man but, at the same time one sees a shrewd, wise and wily man who, throughout his reign, managed to amass the fortune of the Tudor dynasty.

C. Tom Newman

James VI and I, 1618, by Paul Van Somer

I used to work for an art handling company in New York, and I came to realise how wonderful paintings are as entities. Old paintings last for so long because of the materials used – the oil is so robust, it expands or contracts depending on the heat. They can be rolled up and taken around the world, they’ll never die. This portrait, in particular, made a huge impression on me. Works of art often lose their power as soon as they’re placed in a museum. This painting is where it belongs – in a palace. Subject to who you speak to, James is either a buffoon or a tactical genius, but in this work he looks so stately. The painting was clearly commissioned to convey regality – and it worked on me, 400 years later.

D. Paula Smith

Mr and Mrs Andrews, by Gainsborough

Page 13/16

I chose this painting as it has personal relevance for me. I grew up in my grandmother’s house in London. She was an excellent copyist of Gainsborough. We had copies of all of his paintings, except for this one, which my grandmother didn’t approve of. I’ve always found it incredibly beautiful though. The two figures in this wonderful painting have very enigmatic expressions. What are they up to? What are they thinking? And then what are we to make of the landscape? It’s an agricultural scene, in the middle of the day, but there are no agricultural workers anywhere to be seen. Where on earth is everybody? What a strange atmosphere the place has, a long ago era that will never be recaptured.

E. Lynn D’Anton

An Old Woman Cooking Eggs, 1618, by Velàzquez

What is most striking about this painting is surely its veracity. One gets the feeling that one is looking into a room in which there are no obstacles to understanding. Nothing comes between the subject and the observer. The artist here is the perfect observer. When I saw it a few years ago in the National Gallery of Scotland, set alongside many other works from Velazquez’s youth, there was no doubt in my mind that it was a masterpiece. I think that it is easy for many people to empathise with this painting in one way or another.

In which section are the following mentioned?

1. the inscrutable nature of the subjects

2. the artist’s ability to give an insight into temperament

3. the integrity of the image portrayed

4. the view that the artist was an innovator

5. delight in a painting’s ability to endure

6. the background to a painting being well documented

7. the view that a painting’s impact depends on its surroundings

8. a painting which gives an image of a lost world

9. admiration for an artist who dared to challenge conventional ideas

10. conflicting opinions about the subject of a painting

Your answers:

10.

IV. WRITING (7.0 points)

Part 1

Read the following articles and summarize the measures recommended in both articles in order to improve health and performance. You should write a paragraph of between 80 and 100 words.

Then present your own viewpoint concerning this issue in another paragraph of around 100 words.

Article 1: Discover the healing power of positive thinking

We all know that strong emotions have powerful physical effect. Feeling nervous before an important interview can send you rushing to the bathroom, while a sudden attack of anxiety can send your heart racing and leave you feeling faint and dizzy. But new research has revealed the incredible healing power of the brain and how learning to relax and think positively can have dramatic health benefits. And there is now overwhelming evidence that your mental and emotional state can also have a direct impact on your body’s ability to fight disease and cope with pain.

Bob Lewin, Professor of Rehabilitation at York University, took a group of heart patients through an eight-week angina management, relaxation techniques, goal-setting, yoga and exercise. The results were staggering. Fifty per cent of the patients who had been on waiting list for bypass surgery were taken off by their cardiologists who decided that they no longer needed it.

Page 14/16

So how do you make it work for yourself? Well, it’s far more complex than just learning to look on the bright side. The key variable in patients getting well is the extent to which they feel in control of their own emotions. Reorganizing your life and learning self-help techniques can help put you back in control of these.

Article 2: How to stay cool even when you’re quaking

We all carry round a baggage of attitudes and beliefs that colours our response to new situations. If you’re lucky, these will be “can-do” messages, but many of us are programmed for failure. Perhaps every time you stepped out of the door when you were little, your parents cried “Be careful!”, as if doom and disaster lurked at every turn, or friends say, “I wouldn’t attempt that if I were you!”, if you hear negative statements often enough, you learn to expect the worst. The immediate reaction to a new or daunting situation is “I can’t handle it”.

“Most people’s confidence is a level or two below their competency.” Says clinical psychologist Averil Leimon, director of a company which helps personnel transform their behaviour. “People need to understand that they really are better than they believe.”

Everybody feels fearful in unfamiliar situations that doesn’t mean we should avoid them. Taking risks, even tiny ones like picking up a telephone to make a complaint, is a necessary part of accepting adult responsibility. The best strategy you can adopt is to understand why you feel so fearful and learn how to deal with it, then, when you succeed in a difficult situation, you’ll feel more confident about approaching it next time around.

The people you admire for their apparent confidence and ability to cope with any situation are probably feeling just as daunted as you would be, but they don’t let it stand in their way.

Your summary:

Page 15/16

The maps below show the changes that took place at Riversdale University Campus between 1973 and 2010. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Page 16/16

In many countries today insufficient respect is shown to older people. What do you think may be the reasons for this? What problems might this cause in society?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 350 words.

Page 17/16

.......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Page 18/16

.......................................................................................................................................................................... = THE END =