Đề thi HSG Tiếng Anh 9 tỉnh Ninh Bình 2025-2026 & đáp án chính thức

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO

TỈNH NINH BÌNH

(Đề thi có 08 trang) ĐỀ THI CHỌN HSG THCS CẤP TỈNH

NĂM HỌC 2025 - 2026

Môn: Tiếng Anh - Lớp 9

Ngày thi: 10/03/2026

Thời gian làm bài: 150 phút, không kể thời gian phát đề

Họ, tên thí sinh: .......................................................................... 

Số báo danh: ............................................................................... 

SECTION A. LISTENING (4.0 points)

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU:

- Phần thi nghe gồm 3 bài. Thí sinh được nghe mỗi bài 2 lần liên tiếp.

- Thí sinh đọc kĩ yêu cầu của từng bài trước khi nghe.

- Hướng dẫn chi tiết bằng tiếng Anh đã có trong file nghe. Bắt đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có tín hiệu nhạc.

Part 1. You will hear a conversation about the Buckworth Conservation Group. Complete the notes below with ONE WORD AND/ OR A NUMBER taken from the recording for each answer. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (2.0 points)

Buckworth Conservation Group

Regular activities

Beach

- collecting litter

- no dogs are allowed, except along the (1) __________

Nature reserve

- maintaining paths

- building up new (2) __________

- making and installing nesting boxes for birds

- taking action to attract insects to the place

- carrying out a project to (3) __________ various types of butterflies

- substituting the wall severely (4) __________ by a natural disaster a month ago

Forthcoming events

Saturday

- meet at Dunsmore Beach car park at low (5) __________

- go to the island, a perfect place to spot (6) __________

- take a picnic

- wear (7) __________ boots

Woodwork session

- suitable for beginners to participate in

- led by several (8) __________

Activities

- making wooden spoons out of wood

- learning how to use the tools

- Date: 17th, from (9) __________ to 3 p.m.

- Cost (including camping): (10) £ __________

Part 2. You will hear five different people talking about the way they study. Choose from the list 

(A-F) which of the opinions each speaker expresses. Use the letters only once. There is ONE extra letter which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (1.0 point)

A. I can focus completely when studying in the open air.

B. I often fail to follow preset schedules.

C. I am not in the habit of studying with a classmate.

D. I love music so much that it distracts me from my tasks.

E. I can concentrate more in the privacy of my own room.

F. I need complete concentration to do science homework. 1. Speaker 1 __________

2. Speaker 2 __________

3. Speaker 3 __________

4. Speaker 4 __________

5. Speaker 5 __________

Part 3. You will hear a short talk about kite-making. Choose the correct answer A, B or C for each question. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (1.0 point)

1. Which of the following is true about Maori kite-making traditions?

A. Food was prohibited during the preparation of kites of all sizes.

B. Villagers assisted priests in operating the biggest, most sacred kites.

C. Priests invented rules and procedures for making scared kites.

2. What was used to form the structure of Maori kites?

A. bark and roots B. long grasses C. feathers

3. What could have been the most common image on Maori kites?

A. a shell B. a creature C. a priest

4. The ‘birdman’ kite exhibited in the Auckland Museum __________.

A. is the first to have ever been made

B. has a wooden mask on it

C. is shaped like a human head

5. What was one message the Maori delivered when their kites rose into the air?

A. beginning of a war

B. hope for a good crop

C. prayer for a dead hunter

SECTION B. LANGUAGE IN USE (4.0 points)

Part 1. Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each gap. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (2.0 points)

Why Is History Education Important?

History is incredibly popular today. We all want to learn about the past, discover new evidence, and explain historical mysteries. For educators, teaching history is crucial for (1) __________ critical thinking and empathy in students. By studying history, they can learn to (2) __________ fact from opinion and develop a better understanding of their place in the world.

(3) __________ viewing history as a lifeless subject, it’s more apt to see it as a dynamic force shaping our present. History teachers are striving to make their lessons more inclusive, (4) __________ diverse perspectives and sources to create a well-rounded curriculum.

Renowned historians have (5) __________ a vital role in reshaping the way history is taught. Their work has (6) __________ light on contemporary issues such as racism and migration, making history more relevant to students’ lives.

(7) __________ like statue removals and social movements requires an awareness of their historical context. By learning about migration, colonization, and civil rights movements, students can better comprehend modern-day challenges like systemic racism. (8) __________ essence, history is not a thing of the past; it’s a vibrant and essential part of (9) __________ student’s education, offering valuable lessons about humanity and the world (10) __________ we live in.

1. A. preventing B. nurturing C. satisfying D. determining

2. A. differentiate B. discourage C. divide D. distract

3. A. In spite of B. On account of C. With a view to D. Rather than

4. A. incorporating B. being incorporated C. have incorporated D. to incorporate

5. A. produced B. planted C. played D. provided

6. A. put B. shed C. burned D. fired

7. A. Understanding historical events

C. Students understand historical events B. Understood historical events

D. Historical events are understood by students

8. A. Under B. On C. In D. With

9. A. every B. most C. all D. almost

10. A. where B. which C. when D. what

Part 2. Give the correct form of the bold words in capital to complete the following passage. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (1.0 point)

Youth Activism In The Digital Age

In recent years, youth activism has gained (1. REMARK) __________ momentum, largely due to the influence of social media platforms. What once required months of organizing can now be achieved within hours, as campaigns quickly spread across continents. Not only are young people raising awareness about environmental issues, but they are also demanding concrete policy changes. Many activists argue that, had governments acted decisively a decade ago, the climate crisis would be far less severe today.

Social media, however, is a(n) (2. EDGE) __________ sword. While it enables rapid communication, it also exposes users to misinformation, which may undermine public trust in scientific research. To address this issue, experts recommend that digital (3. LITERATE) __________ be included in school curricula worldwide.

Rarely has such a large-scale global movement been coordinated primarily by teenagers. Their determination has become a catalyst for broader societal change, inspiring adults to (4. CONSIDER) __________ long-standing habits. Despite the criticism they face, these young activists remain resilient. Were their efforts to be dismissed entirely, the opportunity for meaningful reform would be 

(5. RETRIEVE) __________ lost.

Part 3. There are 5 mistakes in the following passage. Underline the mistakes and write the correct answers in the numbered spaces given below. One example (0) has been done for you. (1.0 point)

Too Much On Our Plates

An increasing number of people are overweight, probably due of growing prosperity, cheaper food and changing dietary habits. One noticeable example of this is that portion size increases dramatically over the last thirty years. What’s more, we are losing the ability to judge how large an “appropriate portion” should be. There is now so much food on our plates that if we eat up everything that is put in front of us, as our parents teach us to do, the chances are we will put up weight. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University investigating the factors that lead to obesity looked at the role portion size plays in determining how much people eat. With a view to test this, the researchers set the lunch table for four days for two groups of men and women. One group was given a plate that contained a pre-measured portion. The other was handed an empty plate and allowed to serve themselves from the same-sized portions presented in a dish. Whether the participants put the food on their own plates or not, the largest portion in front of them, the more they ate. Even if we think we are in control of what we eat, we all have the same innate reaction to portion size. No matter how hungry we are, we eat more if we give more.

Number Line Mistake Correction

0 1 of to

1

2

3

4

5

SECTION C. READING (5.0 points)

Part 1. Fill in each gap with ONE suitable word to complete the following passage. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (1.0 point)

Language Changes

While linguistic change can occasionally bring about problems, the parts undergoing change are tiny compared to the vast unchanging areas. Some caution is desirable, (1) __________ there are no grounds for the extreme pessimism so often encountered.

For the most part, language changes because society changes. To hold back the one requires controlling the (2) __________ - a task with very limited success. Language change is inevitable. We need to develop greater awareness and put up with change. Schools should teach a common standard while recognizing linguistic diversity.

Some view language changes as progressions, but no evidence backs this (3) __________. Languages don’t progress or decay toward any endpoint. They simply change, (4) __________ does society. Languages die out because their status alters, not because they’ve grown too old. If metaphors (5) __________ called for, the tide works best - always changing, ebbing and flowing, but never progressing.

Part 2. Read the following passage and choose the best answer A, B, C or D for each of the questions. Write your answers in the numbered boxes. (2.0 points)

The phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more chemicals that influence the growth, survival and reproduction of other organisms is called allelopathy. [I] The term was first used by the Austrian scientist Hans Molisch in 1937, but people have been noting the negative effects that one plant can have on another for a long time. [II]

Allelopathy can be observed in many aspects of plant ecology. [III] It can affect where certain species of plants grow, the fertility of competitor plants, the natural change of plant communities over time, which plant species are able to dominate a particular area, and the diversity of plants in an area. Plants can release allelopathic chemicals in several ways: their roots can release chemicals directly into the soil, and their bark and leaves can release chemicals into the soil as they rot. [IV]

There may be at least three applications of allelopathy to agriculture. Firstly, the allelopathic properties of wild or cultivated plants may be bred into crop plants through genetic modification or traditional breeding methods to improve the release of desired allelochemicals and thus improve crop yield. Secondly, a plant with strong allelopathic properties could be used to control weeds by planting it in rotation with an agricultural crop and then leaving it to rot and become part of the soil in order to inhibit the growth of weeds. Finally, naturally occurring allelopathic chemicals could be used in combination with man-made chemicals. Boosting the efficiency of man-made herbicides could lead to a reduction in the amount of herbicides used in agriculture, which is better for the environment.

Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious. Firstly, allelopathic chemicals may break down and disappear in the soil more easily than artificial chemicals. Secondly, allelopathic chemicals may be deleterious to plants other than weeds. Thirdly, allelopathic chemicals could persist in the soil for a long time and may affect crops grown in the same field as the allelopathic plants at a later date. Because the effects of allelopathic chemicals are not yet fully known, agricultural scientists will need to continue to study the biological war between plants.

1. According to paragraph 1, Hans Molisch __________.

A. spent decades looking into harmful plants

B. was the first to detect mutual harm between plants

C. was not in favor of using allelopathy in agriculture

D. coined the term ‘allelopathy’

2. The word they in paragraph 2 refers to __________.

A. chemicals B. ways C. plants D. communities

3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT mentioned as something affected by allelopathy?

A. the reproduction of rival plants B. dominant plant species in a location

C. the diversity of local vegetations D. the sizes of roots, barks and leaves

4. The word inhibit in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to __________.

A. discourage B. stimulate C. imitate D. manage

5. The word deleterious in paragraph 4 is CLOSEST in meaning to __________.

A. harmful B. beneficial C. widespread D. significant

6. Which of the following best paraphrases the information in the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Agricultural specialists are applying allelopathic chemicals on a wide scale on account of their astonishing effectiveness.

B. Allelopathy is being adopted widely in agriculture in the face of various warnings from agriculturalists regarding its dangers.

C. Scientists’ confidence in promising agricultural applications of allelopathy has promoted the use of allelopathic chemicals by farmers.

D. Promising as applications of allelopathic chemicals are, experts in agriculture are not yet completely confident in the adoption of these.

7. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

The term ‘allelopathy’ comes from the Greek: allelo and pathy meaning ‘mutual harm’.

A. [I] B. [II] C. [III] D. [IV]

8. Which of the following could be inferred from the passage?

A. Plants with allelopathic properties could exert influence on other species even after they have died.

B. Leafy plants with allelopathic properties are the most potential candidates for agricultural application.

C. Herbicides in agriculture will be prohibited and replaced by natural chemicals in the near future.

D. Famers have been using allelopathic plants to boost plants’ productivity since ancient time.

9. Which of the following is defined in the passage?

A. weeds B. agriculture C. allelopathy D. biological war

10. Which paragraph mentions the adoption of natural chemicals in conjunction with artificial ones?

A. Paragraph 1 B. Paragraph 2 C. Paragraph 3 D. Paragraph 4

Part 3. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (2.0 points)

The Rise Of The Remote Professional

A. In recent years, a significant shift in the global labor market has emerged in the form of the ‘digital nomad’. This term refers to individuals who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner. Unlike the traditional office worker, these professionals are often found in coffee shops, public libraries, or co-working spaces in foreign countries. Recent data from a major global freelance platform suggests that the number of people identifying as digital nomads has grown by nearly 500% since 2015, with the market for specialized travel insurance and long-stay visas for this group now valued at billions of dollars annually.

B. To cater to this burgeoning lifestyle, a diverse ecosystem of services has been established. This includes everything from ‘coliving’ spaces - residential communities that combine housing with office facilities - to digital platforms that help nomads navigate local tax laws and internet reliability. Marcus Thorne, CEO of a prominent global co-working network, suggests that his company’s success is rooted in ‘location independence’ branding. They offer a membership that allows access to hubs in over 50 countries, specifically targeting the need for a stable professional environment away from home. Conversely, economist Dr. Elena Rossi argues that the next phase of growth will come from ‘hybrid’ models, where traditional corporations allow employees to work remotely for several months a year rather than permanently.

C. Skeptics such as historian Arthur Miller argue that this lifestyle is a fleeting trend, inconsistent with the human need for rootedness and community stability. He believes the move away from the local office would have been unthinkable twenty years ago. However, cultural anthropologist Sarah Jenkins views the digital nomad as a modern-day version of the ‘itinerant scholar’ of the Renaissance. Just as those scholars traveled between European universities to share knowledge, today’s nomads move between global tech hubs, fostering a cross-pollination of ideas. In some regions, she notes, this movement is even linked to ‘economic activism’, where nomads choose to spend their high-currency salaries in developing economies to support local growth.

D. According to urban sociologist Leo Grant, the boundaries between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred. In previous generations, the office was a physical manifestation of professional identity, and ‘leaving work at the door’ was a social standard. Grant defines this traditional structure - fixed-location employment - as providing a sense of security and clear social hierarchy. He argues that the loss of this structure has placed immense psychological pressure on workers. Without a physical office, many nomads feel they must be ‘always on’, leading to burnout and a sense of isolation despite being in a crowded tourist destination.

E. Arthur Miller suggests that the way we perceive professional success is deeply ingrained during childhood through the observation of parents’ work habits. A child who grows up seeing work as a remote, screen-based activity may develop a very different understanding of social responsibility compared to one who sees work as a community-based physical task. Dr. Elena Rossi adds that media portrayals of digital nomads often glamorize the lifestyle, showing people working on beaches, while ignoring the realities of precarious internet connections and the lack of long-term social safety nets.

F. While the desire for travel varies, Professor Jenkins points out a universal trait among digital nomads: a high tolerance for ambiguity and risk. She attributes this to a psychological ‘openness to experience’ rather than just a desire to see new places. Research shows that nomads are significantly more likely to start their own businesses or invest in volatile markets than their office-bound counterparts. Leo Grant also observes that a ‘freedom-seeking’ mindset is dominant in this group, which often results in a rejection of traditional long-term commitments like home ownership or pension schemes.

G. Marcus Thorne remains confident that remote culture will endure. He views the movement as a revolt against the ‘cubicle culture’ of the 20th century. He believes that as technology continues to improve, the face of the global workforce will continue to decentralize, eventually leading to a world where a person’s geographic location has no bearing on their professional potential.

Match the names A-E with the corresponding expressions 1-5. Use each name ONCE only.

A. Elena Rossi B. Arthur Miller C. Leo Grant D. Marcus Thorne E. Sarah Jenkins

Which person …

1. implies that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish workplace from private home.

2. associates people’s perception of professional triumph with their experience in formative years.

3. criticizes media for presenting one-sided images of digital nomads.

4. believes that where a worker lives will not necessarily affect their career prospects.

5. compares modern digital nomads with some people from the past.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? Write 

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

6. The number of digital nomads has exhibited a slight increase over the last decade.

7. A variety of services have emerged in response to the rise of the digital nomad.

8. Marcus Thorne attributes his company’s success to workers’ permanent settlement in their hometown.

9. Arthur Miller does not believe in the persistence of the digital nomad.

10. Digital nomads invariably work more productively than their traditional counterparts.

SECTION D. WRITING (5.0 points)

Part 1. Email writing (2.0 points)

Your school is going to organize an English festival next month. As the leader of the English club, write an email (about 120-150 words) to Mr. John Hughes, the principal of your school to propose some useful and exciting activities for the festival.

In the email, you should:

- introduce something about you (Tom - the leader of the English club).

- suggest activities during the festival.

- explain the skills and knowledge students can gain from the festival.

Begin and end your email as follows:

Dear Mr. John Hughes,

Yours sincerely, Tom

Part 2. Essay writing (3.0 points)

Teenagers today are suffering from more stress than previous generations. Why is this happening? How can teenagers cope with this stress?

Write an essay of about 200-250 words on this topic. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

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