Đề thi chọn Học sinh giỏi môn Tiếng Anh Lớp 12 - Năm học 2012-2013 - Trường THPT Lê Hồng Phong (

Nội dung text: Đề thi chọn Học sinh giỏi môn Tiếng Anh Lớp 12 - Năm học 2012-2013 - Trường THPT Lê Hồng Phong (

1. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Period 1-2 READING Exercise 1: Read the following text and decide which word best fits each blank. When in Britain, you must never complain. Complaining is very un-British. If you are (1) waiting half an hour in a shop, if a bus (2) .is rude to you, if a waiter brings your food ice-cold – you keep your mouth shut. The (3) .upper lip is the British way. Other nationalities might make a (4) .protest loudly or call for the manager, but not the British. Remember also that British ears are (5) not tuned to hear complaints. A friend of mine was a regular (6) .at a famous and expensive London restaurant. Every day at 2p.m. and 9p.m. the (7) .manager would come out (as he had been doing for the last 37 years), go from table to table and (8) . . “Did you enjoy your meal?” For 37 years, hundreds of thousands of properly (9) up English people had replied to him: “Very much indeed.” The man would smile, say “Thank you very much”, and (10) .to the next table. One day, however, the lunch was so (11) that my friend (Dutch mother, Albanian father) decided to tell him the naked truth. So, when the antiquated manager (12) .at his table as usual and asked, “Did you enjoy your meal, sir?” my friend replied: (13) , not at all. It was appalling.” To which the managergave his (14) ., obsequious smile, said: “Thank you very much, sir”, and moved on, quite (15) . 1. A. made B. kept C. stayed D. held 2. A. conductor B. attendant C. assistant D. steward 3. A. hard B. inflexible C. firm D. stiff 4. A. discussion B. argument C. quarrel D. fuss 5. A. simply B. easily C. utterly D. modestly 6. A. supporter B. purchaser C. custumer D. guest 7. A. mature B. elderly C. outdated D. vintage 8. A. inquire B. query C. request D. probe 9. A. raised B. grown C. educated D. brought 10. A. motion B. progress C. stride D. shift 11. A. offensive B. painful C. abominable D. harrowing 12. A. appeared B. surfaced C. descended D. joined 13. A. Sincerely B. Largely C. Bluntly D. Frankly 14. A. customary B. average C. commonplace D. daily 15. A. convinced B. fulfilled C. satisfied D. complete Exercise 2: Use the correct form of the words given in parentheses to fill in the blank in each sentence. ANIMALS Most cat or dog owners would swear their pet was virtually human. It’s pleased to see you and shows its disapproval when you go. It may not be particularly (talk) or a genius at mathematics but it sees grass as green and inhabits as rich world of smells (imagine) to us. Until recently such notions of a pet’s inner life, with (similar) to our own in some ways would have been met with a (know) sneer in many respected (science) circles. Nowadays in fact, claiming (conscious) . For your pets in commonplace. The problem now is providing an adequate (define) of what this actually means. Is it about having sensations like hunger and pain, or is it more about the ability to be aware that you are experiencing something? ANSWER KEYS: 1. talkative 2. unimaginable 3. similarities 4. knowing 5. scientific 6. consciousness 7. definition English 1
2. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Exercise 3: Read the passage and answer the questions which follow by choosing the best suggestion. San Francisco is where I grew up between the ages of two and ten and where I lived for a period when I was about 13 and again as a married man from the ages of 37 to 51. So quite a bit slice of my life has been spent there. My mother, who is now 90, still lives in Los Gatos, about 60 miles south of San Francisco. Even though I have since lived in Switzerland and settled in London over 25 years ago, I have kept property in California foe sentimential reasons. I was born in New York and I love the United States. It is still a land of enermous drive, strength, imagination and opportunaty. I know it well, having played in every town and, during the war, in every army camp. I have grown new roots in London as I did in Switzerland and if I am asked now where I want to live permanently, I would say London. But I will always remain an American citizen. Climatically, San Francisco and London are similar and so are the people who settle in both cities. San Francisco is sophisticated, and like London, has many parks and squares. Every day my sisters and I were taken to play in the parks as children. We had an English upbringing in terms of plenty of fresh air and outdoors games. I didn’t go to school. My whole formal education consisted of some three hours when I was five. I was sent to school but came home at noon on the first day and said I didn’t enjoyed it, hadn’t learned anything and couldn’t see the point of a lot of children sitting restlessly while a teacher taught from a big book. My parents decided, wisely I think, that school was not for me and I never went back. My mother then took over my education and brought up my two sisters and me rather in the way of an educated English lady. The emphasis was on languages and reading rather than sciences and mathematics. Sometimes she taught us herself, but we also had other teachers and we were kept to a strict routine. About once a week we walked to Golden Gate Park which led down to the sea and on our walks my mother taught me to read music. One day I noticed a small windmill in the window of a shop we passed on our way back to the park and I remember now how my heart yearned for it. I couldn’t roll my ‘r’s when I was small and my mother who was a perfecttionist regarding pronunciation, said if I could pronounce an “r” well I’d have the windmill. I practised and practised and one morning woke everyone up with my ‘r’s. I got the windmill. I usually get the things I want in life-but I work for them and dream of them. 1. When the writer was twelve he was living in A. San Francisco B. Los Gatos C. London D. a place unkown to the reader 2. During the war, the writer A. became an American soldier. B. went camping all over the country. C. gave concerts for soldiers. D. left the United States. 3. The writer did not attend school in America because A. his mother wanted him to go to school in England. B. His parents did not think he was suited to formal education. C. His mother preferred him to play outdoors in the parks. D. He couldn’t get on with the other children. 4. He was educated at home by A. his mother and other teachers. B. an educated English lady. C. his mother and sisters. D. teachers of languages and science. 5. The writer managed to obtain the little windmill he wanted by A. borrowing the money for it. B. learning to rad music. C. succeeding in speaking properly. D. working hard at his lessons. English 2
3. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Question 1: Read the following advertisement and choose the best answer. Outstanding opportunity with local real estate corporation. Requires strong background in real estate, financing, closing. Some legal training helpful. Prefer candidate with M.A and two or more years of successful real estate experience. Broker's license required. Salary range $8,000 - $12,000 commensurate with education and experience. Begin immediately. Interview will be conducted Tuesday and Thursday, June 10 and 12. Call for an appointment 243- 1153, or send a letter of application and résume´ to: 1. Which of the following isPersonal NOT a requirementDepartment for the job advertised? A. At least two year’sExecutive experience Real Estate Corporation B. A broker’s license C. An M.A500 Capital Avenue D. Extensive legal training 2. The salary range indicate Lawrence,that ___ Kansas 67884 A. everyone earns a beginning salary $8,000 B. the salary depends upon applicant's education and work experience C. some applicants would earn less than $8,000 D. candidates with an M. A would earn $12,000 3. What should an interested candidate submit with his or her application? A. A current address and telephone number B. A signed contract C. A summary of work experience D. A request for employment 4. This passage would most probably be found in ___ A. the classified section of a newspaper B. a college catalog C. a textbook or a coursebook D. a dictionary ANSWERS: 1. 2. 3. 4. Question 2: Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is an example at the beginning (0). A In investment to get excited about B There's money to be made C The two winners D Even winners can be losers E Cutting down the risk F A popular pastime in Britain G The cheaper the successful 0. A There must be wiser investments, but it’s doubtful whether many will provide the same sort of excitement. If you’re looking for financial adventure, forget your savings accounts — let your money go to the dogs. 1. English 3
4. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Greyhound racing might he suffering from an image problem, but the dogs still have their fans. After football, it is the second biggest spectator sport in Britain. More than 70,000 races are run each year, watched by 4 million people. And more than £2 billion is spent each year on betting. 2. In the past two years, two greyhounds — Some Picture and Tom’s the Best — were candidates for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. However, in both cases the award went to a human. What a shame! 3. But there are significant financial rewards on offer if your dog turns out to be a champion. For instance, if it wins the English, Irish or Scottish Derby, you collect £50,000 in prize money. However, this is very little compared to what you can make on breeding. This can add up to total earnings in excess of £350,000 over seven years. 4. To avoid the uncertainty, some owners prefer to buy a dog that has proved itself and is ready to run. The cost, though, is around £3,000, even at the bottom end of the market, and some rich enthusiasts have been known to pay up to £25,000 for a promising young dog. 5. However, some of the cheaper buys are surprisingly successful. Two years ago, a dog called Stows Val. which had cost its owner £500, ran in the finals of the English Derby. This season a dog called Cee Kay fo bought r £1,500 has already won its owner £20,000 in prize money. 6. Even if your dog does start winning, it is unlikely that you’ll be taking early retirement. Normal races at stadiums such as Walthamstow and Wimbledon net the winner no more than £50-100, and as a greyhound usually races once every ten days or so, this isn’t enough to pay for its upkeep, even if it wins regularly. ANSWERS: 1. F 2. C 3. B 4. E 5. G 6. D Question3: Read the following passage, then choose the correct answer for each question. The Stone Age was a period of history which began in approximately two million B.C and lasted until 3000 B.C. Its name was derived from the stone tools and weapons that modern scientists found. This period was divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic Ages. During the first period (2 million to 8000 B.C), the first hatchet and use of fire for heating and cooking were developed. As a result of the Ice Age, which evolved about one million years into the Paleolithic Age, people were forced to seek shelter in caves, wear clothing, and developed new tools. During the Mesolithic Age (8000 to 6000 B.C), people made crude pottery and the first fish hooks, took dogs hunting, and developed the bow and arrow, which was used until the fourteenth century A.D. The Neolithic Age (6000 to 3000 B.C) saw humankind domesticating sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle, being less nomadic than in previous eras, establishing permanent settlements, and creating governments. 1. Into how many periods was the Stone Age divided ? A. two B. three C. four D. five 2. The word “derived” is closest meaning to ___. A. originated B. destroyed C. inferred D. discussed English 4
5. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 3. Which of the following was developed earliest ? A. fish hook B. bow and arrow C. hatchet D. pottery 4. Which of the following developments is NOT related to the conditions of the Ice Age ? A. farming B. clothing C. living indoors D. using fire 5. The word “crude” is closest meaning to ___. A. extravagant B. complex C. vulgar D. primitive 6. The author states that the Stone Age was so named because ___. A. it was very durable like stone B. there was little vegetation C. the stools and weapons was made of stone D. the people lived in stone caves 7. The word “nomadic” is closest meaning to ___. A. sedentary B. wandering C. primitive D. inquisitive 8. The word “eras” is closest meaning to ___. A. families B. periods C. herds D. tools 9. Which of the following best describes the Mesolithic Age ? A. people were inventive B. people were warriors C. People stayed indoors all the time D. people were crude 10. With what subject is the passage mainly concerned ? A. The Neolithic Age B. The Stone Age C. The Ice Age D. The Paleolithic Age ANSWERS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Question 4: Read the following passage and circle the most suitable word for each space. Several years ago while I was visiting Athens for a few weeks, I decided to spend a whole day on a nearby island. The weather (1) ___ had predicted that it would be a scorching hot day so 1(2) ___ off early in the morning. Even though I arrived at the port in plenty of time, I was forced to sit on the top (3) ___ because other passengers who had got to the boat earlier filled the lower ones. Soon after the boat had departed, somebody came round with raffle tickets. There were, as far as I could make (4) ___ two prizes: a bag of fresh fish and several (5) ___. of chocolate. I bought a ticket, not expecting to win as I had never won anything in a raffle (6) ___ Some time later the person who had sold the tickets announced the winning numbers. To my great surprise, I had won the chocolate. I was naturally delighted, but (7) ___how I could prevent it from (8) ___ in the intense heat. Realising that I could not possible eat it all myself, I (9) ___ it with the passengers sitting near me. In return, they offered me sandwiches and (10) ___drinks. All in all, it was a pleasant start to a memorable day with my new acquaintances. 1. A. prediction B. prophecy C. forecast D. foresight 2. A. went B. left C. departed D. set 3. A. deck B. layer C. floor D. storey 4. A. up B. out C. for D. over 5. A. bars B. slices C. cartons D. packets English 5
6. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 6. A. again B. before C. since D. already 7. A. thought B. questioned C. wondered D. regarded 8. A. dissolving B. liquefying C. melting D. spreading 9. A. separated B. divided C. distributed D. shared 10. A. soft B. light C. bubbly D. sparkling ANSWERS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Question 5: The following letter is in response to the job advertisement shown below. Complete the letter with suitable words or phrases. DESK EDITOR CIRCA $25,500 p.a. An experienced editor is required by an expanding publisher of books on leisure, craft and wood-related subjects. The position involved taking charge of the day-to-day process of producing highly illustrated books from receipt of manuscript to approval for press. A practical approach is needed, with good keyboard and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work quickly and accurately to tight deadlines. You will need to be able to work independently, although you will be part of a small team, and to be concerned with maintaining the highest standards. Please apply in writing to: Mr. A E Phillips, Publisher GMC Publications 166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1XU 34 St Mary’s way Buxton Derbyshire BU4 8JS 10th October 2010 Mr. A E Phillips, Publisher GMC Publications 166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1XU Dear Mr. Phillips, I am interested in (1) ___ the post of desk editor which (2) ___ in the “Independent” yesterday. My reason for applying is that I (3) ___ for 10 years as an assistant editor in a small publishing company concerned mainly (4) ___ on leisure and hobbies and I am now (5) ___ a post which would (6) ___ more responsibility and independence to make editorial and organizational decisions. I am used to and enjoy the challenge of working to tight deadlines (7) ___ high quality books. I have fast and accurate keyboard skills and am familiar with all modern publishing (8) ___software. I would be able to attend (9) ___ at any time which is convenient to you. I (10) ___ hearing from you. Yours sincerely Olivia James English 6
7. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 ANSWERS: 1. applying for 6. offer me / give me 2. was advertised / I saw advertised 7. to produce 3. have worked / have been working 8. computer 4. with books 9. an interview 5. interested in / looking for 10. look(am looking) forward to Em hãy điền dạng đúng của từ in hoa vào mỗi chỗ trống để hoàn thành đoạn văn. Nowadays it is important to be well - (1) if you want to get a good job. To be (2) it is generally necessary to be well - educated. Therefore, many people who are badly-educated fell they are a (3). They fell unable to complete even the simplest (4) form. More (5) should be given to these people to continue their studies. Otherwise, much (6) can result from doing boring work. Many (7) people are waiting their time in monotonous job. Instead, they should be finding (8) in their occupations, (9) are very worried about this situation and many have started training and education schemes. As a result it is hoped that a greater number of people will qualify for more (10) work in the future. (1) QUALIFY (2) SUCCESS (3) FAIL (4) APPLY (5) COURAGE (6) HAPPY (7)GIFT (8) SATISFY (9) EMPLOY (10) INTEREST ANSWERS: 1. qualified 6. unhappiness 2. successful 7. gifted 3. failure 8. satisfaction 4. application 9. employers 5. encouragement 10. interesting Em hãy chọn một phương án A, B, C, hoặc D tương ứng để hoàn thành đoạn văn. Money is something we all take for granted in our lives. Some of us may (1) we had more of it. But we all recognize it when we see it, whether in the (2) of coins, notes or cheques. It is difficult to imagine how people (3) without money. In the earliest periods of human history, people used to exchange things they had (4) of for things that they were in (5) of. For example, they might offer food for tools. This (6) of exchange, which is known as “barter”, has many disadvantages. Certain goods may be difficult to carry, they may not (7) long, or may be impossible to (8) into smaller units. It can also be difficult to know the (9) of something compared with other goods. (10) historians, the first money, in the sense we (11) it today, (12) of good coins produced about2,500 years ago. Gold, being a very precious metal, was a (13) material. The introduction of gold coins was (14) to everyone and they were still being used at the beginning of this century, although they have now been (15) by paper money and coins made of ordinary metals. 1. A. wish B. hope C. expect D. desire 2. A. image B. desire C. form D. figure 3. A. arranged B. spent C. dealt D. managed 4. A. sufficient B. supply C. plenty D. amount 5. A. need B. want C. lack D. demand English 7
8. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 6. A. procedure B. method C. operation D. business 7. A. last B. stay C. continue D. remain 8. A. divide B. reduce C. decrease D. share 9. A. rate B. worth C. level D. charge 10. According to B. Judging C. Depending from D. Agreeing with on 11. A. suppose B. realize C. estimate D. understand 12. A. created B. consisted C. developed D. composed 13. A. suitable B. right C. just D. correct 14. A. positive B. good C. acceptable D. fine 15. A. taken over B. reformed C. put away D. replaced Em hãy điền một từ thích hợp vào chỗ trống để hoàn thành đoạn văn. Robbie Williams and his school day story On my first day at school I saw all these kids crying as they said (16) to their mums, but I was more concerned with playing with the boys. I told Mum to go home; she was (17) upset than I was! After Millhill Primary School I went (18) to St Margaret Ward which was the local High School. I was there until sixteen and (19) with eight or nine GCSEs. I was a good boy at school because I never got caught. I did the normal things that you would expect from a fourteen- year-old (20). I didn’t smoke, but I went to the smokers’ corners. And you won’t allowed to wear sport shoes, so I’d always (21) them on. I always used to be the one that would (22)the class laugh. Then as soon as the teacher turned (23), I’d sit straight and the rest of the class would be (24) and the teacher would tell (25) off. ANSWERS: 16. goodbye 21. put 17. more 22. make 18. on 23. round 19. graduated 24. laughing 20. boy 25. them Em hãy đọc đoạn văn sau và trả lời các câu hỏi sau đây bằng cách chọn đáp án A, B, C hoặc D cho mỗi câu hỏi: Over the past 600 years, English has grown from a language of few speakers to become the dominant language of international communication. English as we know it today emerged around1350, after having incorporated many elements of French that were introduced following the Norman invasion of 1066. Until the 1600s, English was, for the most part, spoken only in England and had not extended even as far as Wales, Scotland, or Ireland. However, during the course of the next two centuries, English began to spread around the globe as a results of exploration, trade (including slave trade), colonization, and missionary work. That small enslaves of English speakers became established and grew in various parts of the world. As these communities proliferated, English gradually became the primary language of international business, banking, and diplomacy. Currently, more than 80 percent of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English. English 8
9. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Two thirds of the world’s science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airports, and air traffic controllers. Today there are 700 million English users in the world, and over half of these are nonnative speakers, constituting the largest number of nonnative users of any language in the world. 1. What is the main topic of the passage? A. The number of nonnative users of English. B. The French influence on the English language. C. The expansion of English as an international language. D. The use of English for science and technology. 2. English began to be used beyond England approximately A. in 1066 B. around 1350 C. before 1600 D. after 1600 3. According to the passage, all of the following contributed to the spread of English around the world EXCEPT A. the slave trade B. the Norman invasion C. missionaries. D. colonization 4. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A. Most of the information stored on computer systems is in English. B. Only one thirds of the world’s science writing is in languages other than English. C. English is the only language used in technology, and advertising. D. International airports and air controllers use mostly English. 5. According to the passage, approximately how many nonnative users of an English are there in the world today? A. A quarter million B. Half a million C. 350 million D. 700 million. A. Read the passage and answer the questions which follow by choosing the best suggestion. There is a distinct cadence to an English sentence, with the voice falling on the last word to indicate that it is the utterance. Nowadays, on television, more often than not a speaker is cut off in mid-sentence. You always know itbecause the voice is still rising. The bit of the sentence that one hears may make perfectly good sense in itself, but one knows that the speaker simply has not finished making his point. It is extremely irritating and even physically disturbing to the viewer - and, to my mind, it is very offensive to the speaker as well. That is the point I really want to make here. A culture of rudeness has sprung up on British television in the past two or three years. Allowing people to speak, to have their say, is one of the essential points of good manners and respect for other people. Talking while other people are talking, interrupting them, turning one’s back on them before they have finished – these are heinous crimes against courtesy. Yet television news does this all the time – and prides itself on the technical skill with which it does it. That neat insertion of half a politician’s sentence into a carefully-worded little news item – how pleased, you can feel, the reporter and the editor of the bulletin are with the deftness they have displayed in their craft. This culture of rudeness is not, however, a matter of broadcasters being deliberately and ostentatiously rude. It reflects a disagreeable dose of self-importance, no doubt, but it also springs to some degre from a proper pursuit – that of reporting clearly and briskly what people such as politicians have got to say on a subject of interest. But it treats people who are on television as mere inert material to be chopped up and pasted into the bulletin as required. This seems to me a classic case of the medium itself being the message – and a very bad message too. Viewers do not see politicians as scraps of ‘copy’ 10 be used as needed. They accept the illusion of television, and regard them as people, whom the television personnel are treating like dirt. The bulletins send a message that it is nevertheless perfectly all rigth to treat people like this. After all, is it not the great figures of television who are doing it: that is the way bad behaviour spreads are grows. 1. What has the writer noticed about people who are speaking on television? English 9
10. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 A. They have come to expect to be interrupted. B. They try to make sure they are allowed to finish what they are saying. C. They frequently show their annoyance at being interrupted. D. They are denied the chace to complete statements they are making. 2. The writer suggests in the third paragraph that many news items A. are meant to show the expertise of the broadcasters. B. would be better without politicians in them. C. make little sense to many people watching them. D. contain things which are not really relevant. 3. What does the writer believe about broadcasters? A. They spend too little time preparing programmes. B. They are not really sure what impression they want to create. C. They do not care what people think of their programmes. D. They are acting partly out of honourable intentions. 4. the writer says that viewers belive that A. what they see on television has little relevance to them. B. broadcasters have the wrong attitude to policticians. C. the standards of broadcasting in general have fallen. D. politicians are not all the same as each other. 5. What is the writer’s main theme in the passage? A. the loss of good manners in Bristish life. B. the way in which conversations should be conducted. C. the ill-mannered behaviour of Bristish broadcasters. D. the reactions of viewers when they watch TV. B. Use the correct form of each of the words given in paratheses to fill in the blank in each sentence. WEDDING OF STRANGERS A wedding between two strangers who met for the first time when they exchanged marital vows during a peak time radio broadcast has come in for widespread (critic) . . Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were married after winning each other in a ‘lonely heart’ competition organized by BRMB radio station. The service, perhaps (surprise) , attracted the highest ratings figures of the year. The model and the salesman were (dismiss) .of their critics and say they have made a serious (commit) to make their marriage work. ‘Everyone seems to have the (expect) .that we will split up, but we’re going to prove them wrong’, Cordell said (defy) The couple were selected from 200 (hope) candidates by a panel including (relate) .counsellors and an astrologer. As well as each other, they won a free honeymoon in the Bahamas, a sports car and a luxury two bedroom apartment. ANSWERS: 1. criticism 2. surprisingly 3. dismissive 4. commitment 5. expectation 6. defiantly 7. hopeful 8. relationship C. Read the passage and answer the questions which follow by choosing the best suggestion. I have had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen, simply because I happen to be that put-upon member of society – customer. The more I go into shops and hotels, banks and post offices, railway stations, airports and the like, the more I’m convinced that things are being run solely to suit the firm, the system, or the union. There seems to be an insidious new motto for so-called ‘service’ organizations – Staff Before Service. How often, for example, have you queued for what seems like hours at the Post Office or the supermarket because there weren’t enough staff on duty to man all the service grilles or checkout counters? English 10
11. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Surely in these days of high unemployment it must be possible to recruit cashiers and counter staff? Yet supermarkets, hinting darkly at higher prices, claim that unshrouding all their cash registers at anyone time would increase overheads. And the Post Office says we cannot expect all their service grilles to be occupied ‘at times when demand is low’. It’s the same with hotels. Because waiters and kitchen staff must finish when it suits them, dining rooms close earlier or menu choice is curtailed. As for us guests (and how the meaning of that word has been whittled away), we just have to put up with it. There’s also the nonsense of so many friendly hotel night porters having been phased out in the interests of ‘efficiency’ (i.e. profits) and replaced by coin- guzzling machines which dispense everything from lager to laxatives. Not to mention the creeping menace of the tea-making kit in your room: a kettle with an assortment of teabags, plastic milk cartons and lump sugar. Who wants to wake up to a raw teabag? I don’t, especially when I am paying for ‘service’. Can it be halted, this erosion of service, this growing attitude that the customer is always a nuisance? I fervently hope so because it’s happening, sadly, in all walks of life. Our only hope is to hammer home our indignation whenever and whereever we can and, if all else fails, resurrect that other, older slogan and Take Our Custom Elsewhere. 1. The writer feels that nowadays a customer is A. the recipient of privileged treatment. B. unworthy of proper consideration. C. classified by society as inferior. D. the victim of modern organizations. 2. In the writer’s opinion, the quality of service is changing because A. the customers’ demand have changed. B. the staff receive more consideration than the customers. C. the customers’ needs have increased. D. the staff are less considerate than their employers. 3. According to the writer, long queues at counters are caused by A. difficulties in recruiting staff. B. inadequate staffing arrangement. C. staff being made redundant. D. lack of co-operation staff. 4. Service organizations claim that keeing the checkout counters manned would result in A. a rise in the price for providing service. B. demands by cashiers for more money. C. insignificant benefits for the customers. D. the need to purchase expensive equipment. 5. The disappearance of old-style hotel porters can be attributed to the fact that A. few people are willing to do this type of work. B. machines are more reliable than human beings. C. the personal touch is appreciated less nowadays. D. automation has provided cheaper alternatives. D.Fill each of the numbered blanks in the passage with one suitable word. Men have lived in groups and societies . All times and in all places, as as we know. They do not seem to survive as human beings .they live in cooperation with one . The most basic of human groups is the family in .various forms. The most important reason for this is the simple that human beings take many years to . In they are the most helpless of all earthly creatures. For several years after , a child has to be ., clothed and protected day and night. In all societies such duties normally fall . A family group of some Men groups for countless .reasons. for instance, it is .by cooperating that they are able to . their environment and defend . . E. Read the passage and answer the questions which follow by choosing the best suggestion. Does it matter that that we British are so grudging towards the sciences compared with our almost slavering eagerness to vaunt the winners in the arts? Is this a lingering example of our quiet unspoken pride in one of our very greatest areas of achievement? Or is it media meagreness, or madness or, worst of all, fashion? Coverage of science has grown in newspapers and magazines lately; and science has its redoubts in radio and television. But it cannot claim the public excitement so easily agitated by any slip of a new arts English 11
12. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 winner who strolls onto the block. Perhaps this public recognition is unnecessary to science; perhaps it is even harmful and scientists are wisely wary of the false inflation of reputation, the bitching, and the feeding of the flames of envy which accompanies the glitz. Perhaps scientists are too mature to bother with such baubles. I doubt it. The blunt fact is that science has dropped out, or been dropped out, more correctly, of that race for the wider public recognition and applause given so readily to the arts. There is also the odd and persistent social canard about scientists: they are boring. I have met many artists and many scientists over the years and here are my conclusions. First, the scientists know much more about the arts than artists do about anyone of the sciences. Secondly, when artists think they know about science, they almost always – according to scientists – get it wrong. Thirdly, scientists are deeply interested innew ideas, theories, wild speculations, and imaginative wizardry. For these reasons, I guess they’d rather talk to each other in preference to talking the rest of us because they find the rest of us rather boring. The explanation for the bad press could simply be that those in charge of our great organs of communication are moulded by arts or news or business or sport or entertainment, and therefore science has a struggle to join the game. But the effect of this could be unfortunate. Because which young person wants to be left out of what is perceived by peers robe the current scene? If science is in the amateur league of aminated discourse, then who wants to play for an amateur club? It would be a shame were this to become a drip-drip effect. Most British people are scarcely half aware of what keeps ideas turning into inventions which save lives, drive societies, and open up the heavens of imagination and possibility – as has happened in the last-couple of centuries in science with its stout ally, technology. And does our comparative indifference to the subjects which make up this great flow of knowledge dispirit many of those who in the future could have built on the proud statistics of a few years ago? 1. What does the writer say in the first paragraph about the British attitude to the sciences? A. It is typical of the British attitude towards many other things. B. People who do well in the arts have had a big influence on it. C. There may be a reason for it which is not too terrible. D. Most British people are not aware that they have it. 2. In the second paragraph, the writer says that scientists in genera A. tend not to be capable of feeling envious. B. are frustrated by the kind of coverage given to science. C. do not pay much attention to each other’s reputations. D. would probably welcome a certain amount of fame. 3. The writer includes himself among people who A. have tended to regard scientists as boring people. B. have made a point of getting to know scientists. C. have narrower interests than most scientists. D. have wrong ideas about the work scientists do. 4. The writer says that there is a danger that young people will regard science as A. elitist. B. unfashionable. C. predictable. D. unintelligible. 5. What doesthe writer conclude in the final paragraph? A. British attitudes to science may result in fewer useful inventions. B. British attitudes to science are likely to change in the future. C. Scientists will become keener to educate the public about science. D. Scientists will gain wider public recognition in the future. F. Read the passage carefully, then choose the correct option (marked A, B, C or D) to answer the questions. English 12
13. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 Million of people are using cell phones today. In many places, it is actually considered unusual not to use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are means of communication – having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected. The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has made some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health. On the other hand, medical studies have shown changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones. Signs of change in the issues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at young age because of serious memory loss. He couldn't remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer's doctor didn't agree. What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High – tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about. As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone of you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often. 1. According to the passage, cell phones are especially popular with young people because ___. A. they are indispensable in everyday communication B. they make them look more stylish C. they keep the users alert all the time D. they cannot be replaced by regular phones 2. The changes possible caused by the cell phones are mainly concerned with___. A. the mobility of the mind and the body B. the smallest units of brain C. the arteries of the brain D. the resident memory 3. The word "means" in the passage most closely means ___. A. meanings B. expression C. method D. transmission 4. The word "potentially" in the passage most closely means ___. A. obviously B. possibly C. certainly D. privately 5. "Negative publicity" in the passage most likely means ___. A. information on the lethal effects of cell phones B. widespread opinion about bad effects of cell phones C. the negative public use of cell phones D. poor ideas about the effects of cell phones 6. Doctors have tentatively concluded that cell phones may ___. A. damage their users' emotions B. cause some mental malfunction C. change their users' temperament D. change their users' social behavior 7. The man mentioned in the passage, who used his cell phone too often ___. A. suffered serious loss of mental ability B. could no longer think lucidly C. abandoned his family D. had a problem with memory 8. According to the passage, what makes mobile phones potentially harmful is ___. A. their radiant light B. their power of attraction C. their raiding power D. their invisible rays 9. According to the writer, people should ___. A. only use mobile phones in urgent cases B. only use mobile phones in medical emergencies English 13
14. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 C. keep off mobile phones regularly D. never used mobile phones in all cases 10.The most suitable title for the passage could be ___. A. "The reasons why mobile phones are regular" B. "Technological Innovation and their price" C. "They way mobile phones work" D. "Mobile phones – a must of our time" G. Complete the following passage by choosing A, B, C or D to fill in each blank. Stamp collecting! What a wonderful hobby! I began when I was only five. I used to (1) ___ for the postman's arrival, always (2) ___ to seize unwanted envelopes and tear off the corner with the stamp stuck on it. Once – I remember it was too clearly – my mother and father were sunning themselves in the garden when the post (3) ___ on the doormat. I heard the clatter of the letter flap and hurriedly went to (4) ___. There were four or five envelops, all with very exciting stamps. Even at the (5) ___ age of five I knew one doesn't open mail addressed to other people. However, tearing just the corners off the envelops (6) ___ me as perfectly fair and allowable, and just what I did. I carefully tore as (7) ___ to the stamps as (8) ___, feeling that even the envelopes, which were addressed to my parents and not to be, should be treated with (9) ___. There were nothing furtive in what I did. I knew my parents would see what I'd done, and I didn't think there was any (10) ___ in it. They always let me (11) ___ the corners after they'd opened them. Why should I think there was any harm in doing it first, (12) ___ in mind that they weren't on hand to be (13) ___. Wouldn't they rather be left to doze in their summer deckchairs? (14) ___, though, my father solemnly showed me his letters. They looked distinctly moth-eaten, with bites taken out of the corners and sites. I began to (15) ___ what I've done. 1. A. stare B. watch C. look D. peer 2. A. glad B. pleased C. eager D. excited 3. A. came B. was C. lay D. arrived 4. A. investigate B. observe C. see D. notice 5. A. junior B. tender C. small D. little 6. A. struck B. seemed C. appeared D. felt 7. A. nearby B. close C. next D. round 8. A. able B. possibly C. possible D. could 9. A. gentleness B. caution C. honor D. respect 10. A. trouble B. wrong C. bad D. harm 11. A. take B. tear C. cut D. remove 12. A. having B. holding C. bearing D. keeping 13. A. consulted B. advised C. queried D. requested 14. A. After B. Then C. Later D. Soon 15. A. accept B. realize C. admit D. confess H. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Write A, B, C or D to indicate your answers on the answer sheet. Every drop of water in the ocean, even in the deepest parts, responds to the forces that create the tides. No other force that affects the sea is so strong. Compared with the tides, the waves created by the wind are surface movements felt no more than a hundred fathoms below the surface. The currents also seldom involve more than the upper several hundred fathoms despite their impressive sweep. The tides are a response of the waters of the ocean to the pull of the Moon and the more distant Sun. In theory, there is a gravitational attraction between the water and even the outermost star of the universe. In English 14
15. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 reality, however, the pull of remote stars is so slight as to be obliterated by the control of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun. Just as the Moon rises later each day by fifty minutes, on the average, so, in most places, the time of high tide is correspondingly later each day. And as the Moon waxes and wanes in its monthly cycle, so the height of the tide varies. The tidal movements are strongest when the Moon is a sliver in the sky, and when it is full. These are the highest flood tides and the lowest ebb tides of the lunar month and are called the spring tides. At these times the Sun, Moon, and Earth are nearly in line and the pull of the two heavenly bodies is added together to bring the water high on the beaches, to send its surf upward against the sea cliffs, and to draw a high tide into the harbors. Twice each month, at the quarters of the Moon, when the Sun, Moon and Earth lie at the apexes of a triangular configuration and the pull of the Sun and Moon are opposed, the moderate tidal movements called neap tides occur. Then the difference between high and low water is less than at any other time during the month. 1. What is the main point of the first paragraph? A. The waves created by ocean currents are very large. B. Despite the strength of the wind, it only moves surface water. C. Deep ocean water is seldom affected by forces that move water. D. The tides are the most powerful force to affect the movement of ocean water. 2. The words "In reality" in the passage is closest in meaning to A. surprisingly B. actually C. characteristically D. similarly 3. It can be inferred from the passage that the most important factor in determining how much gravitational effect one object in space has on the tides is A. size B. distance C. temperature D. density 4. The word "configuration" in the passage is closest in meaning to A. unit B. center C. surface D. arrangement 5. Neap tides occur when A. the Sun counteracts the Moon's gravitational attraction B. the Moon is full C. the Moon is farthest from the Sun D. waves created by the wind combine with the Moon's gravitational attraction I. Choose the word that best fits each of the blanks in the following passage. Circle A, B, C or D to indicate your answer. (0) has been done as an example. THE OPEN UNIVERSITY The Open University was created in 1968 to (0) ___ people who cannot afford to (1) ___ regular courses of study, the opportunity of studying and (2) ___ a university diploma or degree. They study at home and their academic performance is assessed by (3) ___ of written examinations or project work. Most Open University students (4) ___ in study while also holding down a job or coping with a busy home life. They study in order to update their job skills or for personal (5) ___. At the heart of most courses is a (6) ___ of specially written and professionally printed textbooks and workbooks which students receive by post. On many of the courses, students are (7) ___ to watch television programmes on the BBC network, which are usually broadcast in the (8) ___ hours of the morning. The (9) ___ of these programmes is to develop and broaden the study experience, so that students do not have to (10) ___ only on the printed material they are sent. Students are (11) ___ with all the notes and books they need and, in (12) ___, some courses also include audio and video cassettes and computer software. However, studying at the Open University can be a (13) ___ because students have few opportunities to (14) ___ each other. That is why the University encourages students to set (15) ___ and run informal study groups themselves. 0. ○A . give B. bring C. let D. make English 15
16. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 1. A. present B. assist C. attend D. apply 2. A. managing B. claiming C. reaching D. obtaining 3. A. method B. means C. route D. system 4. A. fit B. take C. put D. join 5. A. delight B. satisfaction C. joy D. challenge 6. A. unit B. club C. set D. heap 7. A. expected B. needed C. hoped D. considered 8. A. first B. initial C. starting D. early 9. A. cause B. reason C. end D. aim 10. A. rely B. believe C. trust D. confide 11. A. given B. provided C. posted D. handed 12. A. addition B. particular C. advance D. return 13. A. fight B. struggle C. battle D. pressure 14. A. introduce B. know C. meet D. speak 15. A. out B. in C. up D. off J. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow by circling A,B,C or D to indicate your answers. A Japanese construction company plans to create a huge independent city-state, akin to the legendary Atlantis, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The city, dubbed “Marinnation”, would have about one million inhabitants, two airports, and possibly even a space port. Marinnation, if built, would be a separate country but could serve as a home for international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank. Aside from the many political and social problems that would have to be solved, the engineering task envisaged is monumental. The initial stage requires the building of a circular dam eighteen miles in diameter attached to the sea bed in a relatively shallow place in international waters. Then, several hundred powerful pumps, operating for more than a year, would suck out the sea water from within the dam. When empty and dry, the area would have a city constructed on it. The actual land would be about 300 feet below the sea level. According to designers, the hardest task from an engineering point of view would be to ensure that the dam is leak proof and earthquake proof. If all goes well, it is hoped that Marinnation could be ready for habitation at the end of the second decade of the twenty-first century. Whether anyone would want to live in such an isolated and artificial community, however, will remain an open question until that time. 1. According to the text, Marrination, when built, will be a(an) ___ city. A. underground B. underwater C. marine D. legendary 2. The word ‘akin’ in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by ___. A. similar B. next C. likely D. close 3. Which of the following would NOT be a problem for the construction plan? A. social B. political C. financial D. engineering 4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text? A. Marinnation will be located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. B. Marinnation will be built in a deep place in the Pacific Ocean. C. Marinnation could be served as home for international organisations. D. Marinnation would have about one million inhabitants. 5. The word ‘monumental’ in Paragraph 2 means ___. A. important and difficult B. like a large monument C. serving as a monument D. important and historic 6. What is going to be built first? A. a city B. a dam C. a monument D. a sea bed 7. The phrase ‘suck out’ in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following? English 16
17. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 A. draw out B. pull out C. dry up D. take out 8. The most difficult task is to protect the dam against ___ and earthquake. A. fire B. water C. sunlight D. weather 9. According to the text, people could come to live in the future city in the year ___. A. 2020 B. 2010 C. 2012 D. 2002 10. What does the author imply in the last sentence of the passage? A. The construction of Marinnation could never be completed in time. B. People will ask an open question about living in Marinnation. C. People will ask how they can live in such an isolated and artificial city. D. People might not want to live in an isolated and artificial community. K. Fill each blank with ONE suitable word. Write your answers in the numbered blanks provided below the passage. The first (0) has been done as an example. BICYCLE SAFETY Having to obey rules and regulations when riding a bike is (0) __one__ of the first experiences children have of the idea of obeying the law. However, a large number of children (1) ___ left to learn the rules by trial and (2) ___, instead of being guided by experienced (3) ___. Every year, hundreds of children visit the doctor or the hospital casualty department (4) ___ crashing on their bikes. This could be easily prevented by (5) ___ them the basics of bicycle safety. Ideally, children should be allowed to (6) ___ only in safe places, such as parks and cycle tracks. When this is not possible, and they are permitted to go on the (7) ___, it is important to teach them (8) ___ basic safety principles. First, they ought to learn and obey the rules of the road, which (9) ___ traffic signs, signals and road markings. Second, they should (10) ___ wear a helmet. Studies have shown that wearing bicycle helmets can (11) ___ head injuries by up to 85 per cent. In many places, (12) ___ are required by law, particularly (13) ___ children. Finally, children should be made to understand (14) ___ importance of riding in areas that are brightly lit and of wearing clothes that make (15) ___ clearly visible on the road. ANSWERS: (0) one(1) are (2) error (3) adults / people (4) after (5) teaching (6) ride (7) road (8) three / some (9) include (10) always (11) reduce (12) helmets (13) for (14) the (15) them I. Read the pasage and choose the best answer for each of the questions below. Since the 20th century, magazines have been a major growth area of popular pulishing. Specialist magazines cater to every imaginable field and activity. In the United Kingdom, over 12,000 periodicals, magazines, bulletins, annuals, trade journals are published on the regular basis. There are some 40 women’s magazines and over 60 dealing with particular sports, games, hobbies, and pastimes. Although some U.S magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, has succumbed to the competition of television, many continue to have enermous international circulations, The Reader’s Digest over 16 million, The National Geographic over 10 million. For many people, magazines have been the most available and widely used form of continuing education, providing information about history, geography, literature, science, and the arts, as well as guidance on gardening, cooking, home decorating, financial management, psychology, even marriage and family life. Until the rise of television, magazines were the most available form of cheap, convenient entertainment in the English-speaking world. Radio served a similar function, but it was more limited in what it could do. Magazines and television, however, both address the more powerful visual sense. During the third quarter of the 20th century, coincident with a dramatic rise in the popularity of television, many general-interest, especially illustrated magazines went out of business. The shift in attention of a mass audience from reading English 17
18. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 such magazines to watching television has been a major factor in this decline, but it is an implicit tribute from television to the order genre that its programs are generally organized in a single format and content. 1. The word “it” in bold refers to___. A. television B. publishing C. entertainment D. radio 2. From the passage, it can be inferred that ___. A. movies have replaced magazines B. the author is fond of magazines C. almost all magazines are printed in English D. home decorating magazines are dramatic 3. According to the passage, which of the following magazines is no longer printed? A. The Saturday Evening Post B. The Reader’s Digest C. The Nation D. The National Geographic 4. The word “circulations” in bold is closest in meaning to ___. A. the number of blood banks selling magazines B. the number of readers of a magazine C. the number of international magazines D. the number of sold copies of a magazine 5. The passage implies that magazines ___. A. are less visual than radio B. put television out of business C. influence television programs D. have a limited range of subjects 6. Which of the following does the author describe as limited in what it could do? A. radio B. magazines C. movies D. television 7. The word “succumbed” in bold means ___. A. set up for B. brought up for C. taken up by D. given in to 8. The passage mainly discusses ___. A. the rise and fall of the radio business B. the growth and decline of magazines in the 20th century C. magazines and continuing education D. the decline of international circulation II. Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each space. Whenever we read about the natural world nowadays, it is generally to be given dire predictions about its imminent destrcution. Some scientists go so far as to assert that from now on, the world can no longer be called “natural”, in so far as future processes of weather, ___ and all the interactions of plant and animal life will no longer carry on in their time honored way, unaffected by ___. There will be never such a thing as “natural weather” again, say such writers, only weather manufactured by global warming. It is hard to know whether to believe such ___ of doom, possibly because what they are saying seems to terrible to be ___. There are other equally influential scientists who argue that climate, for example, has changed many times over the ___, and that what we are experiencing now may simply be part of an endless cycle of change, rather than a disaster on a global ___. One cannot help wondering these attempt to wish the problem be away simply underline the extent to which western industrialized countries are to blame for upsetting the world’s ___. It is not our fault; they seem to be saying, because everything is all right, really! One certain ___ which is chilling in its implications, is that there is no longer anywhere on the earth’s ___ whether in the depths of the oceans or in the polar wastes, which is not ___ by polluted air or littered, with empty cas and bottles. Now we are having to come to terms with understanding just what that means, and it is far from easy. 1. A. change B. atmosphere C. climate D. even 2. A. beings B. man C. people D. humans 3. A. prophets B. champions C. warriors D. giants 4. A. stopped B. true C. guessed D. here 5. A. top B. again C. centuries D. world 6. A. sense B. form C. scale D. existence 7. A. future B. ecology C. balance D. population 8. A. fact B. must C. fault D. and 9. A. planet B. atmosphere C. anywhere D. surface 10. A. full B. stained C. breathing D. only English 18
19. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 III. Read the following passage and choose the best option to complete the blank or answer the question. Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places, it is actually considered unusal not to use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are more than a means of communication – having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected. The explosion in mobile phone use around the world has made some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health. On the other hand, medical studies have shown changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones. Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment. In one case, a traveling saesman had to retire at young age because of serious memory loss. He couldn’t remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer’s doctor didn’t agree. What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about. As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it’s best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it’s wise not to use your mobile phone too often. 1. According to the passage, cell phones are especially popular with young people because ___. A. they are indispensable in everyday communications B. they make them look more stylish C. they keep the users alert all the time D. they cannot be replaced by regular phones 2. The changes possibly caused by the cell phones are mainly concerned with ___. A. the mobility of the mind and the body B. the smallest units of the brain C. the arteries of the brain D. the resident memory 3. The word “means” in the passage most closely means ___. A. meanings B. expression C. method D. transmission 4. The word “potentially” in the passage most closely means ___. A. obviously B. possibly C. certainly D. privately 5. “Negative publicity” in the passage most closely means ___. A. information on the lethal effects of cell phones B. widespread opinion about bad effects of cell phones C. the negative public use of cell phones D. poor ideas about the effects of cell phones 6. Doctors have tentatively concluded that cell phones may ___. A. damage their users’s emotions B. cause some mental malfunction B. change their users’ temperament D. change their users’ social behavior 7. The man mentioned in the passage, who used his cell phone too often, ___. A. suffer serious loss of mental ability B. could no longer think lucidly C. abandoned his family D. had a problem with memory 8. According to the passage, what makes obile phones potentially hrmful is ___. A. their radiant light B. their power of attraction C. their raiding power D. their invisible rays 9. According to the writer, people should ___. A. only use mobile phones in urgent cases B. only use mobile phones regularly C. keep off mobile phone regularly D. never use mobile phones in all cases 10. The most suitable title for the passage could be ___. English 19
20. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 A. “The Reasons Why Mobile Phones are popular” B. “Technological Innovations and Their Price” C. “The Way Mobile Phones Work” D. “Mobile Phones: A Must of Our Time” IV. Read the text below and decide which answer best fits each space. THE CHANGING EARTH Although the earth was formed about 4,500 million years ago, human beings have inhabited it for less than half a million years. Within this time, population has increased hugely and people have had a vast ___ upon the earth. They have long been able to ___ the forces of nature to use. Now, with modern technology, they have the power to alter the balance of life on earth. Reports back from the first astronauts helped dispel the dangerous ___ that the world had no boundaries and had limitless resources. ___ -, ecologists have shown that all forms of life on earth are interconnected, so it ___ that all human activity has an effect on the natural environment. In recent years, people have been putting the environment under stress. As a result, certain ___ materials such as timber, water and minerals are beginning to ___ short. Pollution and the ___ of waste are already critical issues, and the state of the environment is fast becoming the most pressing problem ___ us all. The way we response to the challenge will have a profound effect on the earth and its life support system. However, despite all these threats there are ___ signs. Over the past few decades, the growth in population has been more than matched by food production, indicating that we should be able to feed ourselves for some time yet. 1. A. imprint B. indication C. impression D. impact 2. A. put B. make C. place D. stand 3. A. judgement B. notion C. reflection D. concept 4. A. However B. Likewise C. Moreover D. Otherwise 5. A. results B. follows C. complies D. rough 6. A. raw B. coarse C. crude D. run 7. A. turn B. come C. go D. run 8. A. disposal B. displacement C. dismissal D. disposition 9. A. encountering B. opposing C. meeting D. confronting 10. A. stimulating B. welcoming C. satisfying D. reassuring Read the text below and look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct and some have a word which should not be there. If the line is correct, put a stick () by the number. If a line has a word which should not be there, write the word . There are two examples at the beginning (0 and 00). 0 Not so long ago I had the good fortune to make friends 0  00 with a neighbour who was owned a garage which socialized in 00 was 01 repairing quality cars. He usually arrived at home with a customer’s 02 car when he finished work in order to test it all fully before 01 03 giving it back the following day. Most of the cars he has brought 02 04 back were more expensive but I didn’t really like them. That was 03 05 until one day when I saw Daimler 5.3 parked outside of his 04 06 house. At that time such a car was cost about £30.000. This 05 07 meant that I could only to dream of owning or driving 06 08 one. After a moment’s hesitation, I knocked on his door and 07 09 waited. When he answered, I was staring at the car so he 08 10 knew about what I was going to ask him. he invited me in for a cup of some tea and tried to tell me that driving the 09 car was out of the question. 10 1. at 2. all 3. has 4. more 5. of 6. was 7. to 8.  9.  10. about English 20
21. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 V. Fill in each of the following blanks with ONE suitable word. COMMUNICATION Throughout our lives, right from the moment when ___ infants we cry to express hunger, we are engaging in social interaction of one form or another. Each and ___ time wec encounter fellow human beings, some kind of social interaction will take place, ___. It’s getting on a bus and paying the fare for the journey, or socialising with friends. It goes without ___. Therefore, that we need the ability to communicate. Without some method of transmitting intentions, we would be ___ a complete loss when it came to interacting socially. Communication involves the exchange of information, which can be ___ from a gesture to a friend signalling boredom to the presentation of a university thesis which may only ever be read by a handful of others, or it could be something in ___ the two.our highly developed languages set us ___ from animals. ___ for these languages, we could we talk or write about people or objects not immediately present. ___ we restricted to discussing objects already present, we would be unable abstract generalisations about the world. VI. There are 10 errors in the following passage. Identify and correct them. Children who say pop music do not interfere with their homework receive support today, with the discovery that pay attention to visual stimuli and sounds requires completely different brain pathways which can operate at a same time with your appreciation of either being damaged. Researchers have founded that listening to car stereos does not create much interference when you are driving. Similarly, pop music should not interfere to children’s homework. The affect of pop music on their performance at it is far outweigh by other factors, such as how happy they are to be doing it. These findings could be applied to the design of places which people have to take in large amounts of information very quickly. They could, for example, be relevantly to the layout of pilot cockpits on aircraft. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. English 21
22. Le Hong Phong High School School year: 2012-2013 You must choose which of the paragraphs A-G fit into the numbered gaps in the following magazine article. There is one extra paragraph which does not fit in any of the gaps. A. From the very start Hardenberger seems to have had the gift of finding the right compromise, and making that relationship. Without any sense of boasting, he explains that even in his boyhood years the characteristic Hardenberger sound was already recognisable, ‘the first thing I acquired’. B. He is always anxious to extend his repertory. Hans-Werner Henze is the latest composer to be writing a piece for him, while on other records he has unearthed rare works from the 17th and 18th centuries. C. He was objective enough about himself to know that he played the trumpet better than others of his age, but it was only at the end of the first competition he entered, at the age of 17 during his first year in Paris, that he came to realize that in addition he had a particular gift of communicating. D. His father, unmusical but liking Louis Armstrong’s playing, had the idea of giving his only son a trumpet. Being a serious man, he didn’t pick a toy trumpet, but took advice and bought a genuine grown-up instrument. E. His records are continually opening up new repertory, not just concertos by long-neglected composers of the baroque and classical periods, but new works too. When you meet him, bright-eyed and good-looking, he seems even younger than his years, as fresh and open in his manner as the sound of the trumpet. F. Bo Nilsson was an up-and-coming musician, and at once spotted natural talent. Hardenberger consistently alesses his luck to have got such a teacher right from the start, one who was himself so obsessed with the trumpet and trumpet-playing that he would search out and contact players all over the world, and as a ‘trumpet fanatic’ was ‘always looking for another mouthpiece’. G. From nearly boyhood he had as a role-model the French trumperter, Maurice Andre, another player who bypassed the orchestra. The boy bought all his records, and idolised him. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 English 22