Đề thi chính thức chọn học sinh giỏi dự thi HSG quốc gia THPT năm học 2020-2021
Đề thi chính thức chọn học sinh giỏi dự thi HSG quốc gia THPT năm học 2020-2021 giúp các bạn học sinh sắp tham gia các kì thi Tiếng Anh tham khảo, học tập và ôn tập kiến thức, bài tập và đạt kết quả cao trong kỳ thi sắp tới. Mời bạn đọc đón xem!
Môn: Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi Tiếng Anh lớp 12 THPT & đội tuyển dự thi học sinh giỏi Quốc gia THPT
Trường: Đề thi chọn HSG Tiếng Anh từ lớp 9 đến lớp 12 cấp trường, quận/ huyện, tỉnh/ thành phố
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Tác giả:
Thông tin :
Môn:
Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi Tiếng Anh lớp 12 THPT & đội tuyển dự thi học sinh giỏi Quốc gia THPT
Trường:
Đề thi chọn HSG Tiếng Anh từ lớp 9 đến lớp 12 cấp trường, quận/ huyện, tỉnh/ thành phố
Tác giả:
Tài liệu liên quan:
Preview text:
PHẦN ĐỀ VÀ BÀI LÀM CỦA THÍ SINH Điểm Điểm Mã phách Họ, tên chữ ký (bằng số) (bằng chữ) Chủ tịch HĐCT ghi Giám khảo 1: Giám khảo 2: I. LISTENING
• Bài nghe gồm 04 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 02 lần, mỗi phần thí sinh có 20 giây để chuẩn bị trước khi nghe.
• Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có tín hiệu nhạc.
• Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe.
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to an interview with Maria Stefanovich, co-founder of a creativity
group which organises workshops for executives and decide whether the statements are True (T) or
False (F). Write your answers in the corresponding boxes provided.
1. Corporations appreciate mask-making workshops because their employees change their approach.
2. Companies are turning to creative workshops because they have acknowledged that employees are
working too hard without enjoying it.
3. The employees at the firm 'Play' have stereotyped ideas about their jobs.
4. The companies that show most interest in creative workshops are surprising because their
employees are the ones who have to present regularly.
5. Maria mentions the traditional companies that have held workshops in order to point out the
diversity of those trying different approaches. Your answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. For questions 6-15, listen to a talk about the first science-fiction book written by Mary
Shelley. Complete each sentence with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. Write your answers in
the corresponding boxes provided.
6. Mary's mother was a high-profile___________and her father had very high expectations of her.
7. Her father often took her to see her mother's___________when Mary was a young child.
8. When Mary was 16, she left her father to live with a___________man who was 5 years older than her.
9. One evening, an___________prevented Mary and Shelley from getting home.
10. During the course of the evening it was suggested they should each try to come up with a___________
11. It was when Mary had a___________ that she got the idea for the Frankenstein novel.
12. Victor Frankenstein is a___________in the story.
13. The creature only becomes murderous when Victor refuses to create a___________ for him.
14. Despite the success of her novel, Mary had many___________ in her life.
15. It was ironic that Mary did not live to see___________. Your answers: 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 3. For questions 16-20, listen to an interview with Dr Lafford, a leading expert in the field of
forensic science. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS taken from the recording for each answer
in the corresponding boxes provided.
16. According to Dr Lafford, what approach helped Sherlock Holmes become a good forensic scientist?
______________________________________________
17. What do forensic scientists pay particular attention to?
______________________________________________
18. How is forensic science nowadays compared to it in the past when Dr Lafford mentions the broken headlight?
______________________________________________
19. According to Dr Lafford, what can electron microscopes provide?
______________________________________________
20. What is forensic science valuable for reducing?
______________________________________________ Your answers: 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Part 4. For questions 21-25, listen to an interview with Haile Gebrselassie who recently won an
Olympic gold medal. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) which best fits what you hear. Write
your answers in the corresponding boxes provided.
21. Runners from Ethiopia and other Rift Valley countries have an advantage because
A. Ethiopians like running for its own sake.
B. their bodies have adapted to their environment.
C. they train from an early age.
D. they were born with unusual physical attributes.
22. Runners from other countries may suffer
A. during training in the mountains. B. due to bad circulation.
C. when they leave high altitudes.
D. due to insufficient training.
23. Haile is particularly good at distances of 10 kilometres because
A. he was obliged to run to school and back.
B. he was taught to run at school.
C. school in Asela had many long-distance athletes.
D. his running style was influenced by carrying books.
24. Altitude plays a part in producing top athletes, but another factor involved is
A. that children are encouraged to run by their parents.
B. that running is their only means of getting around.
C. the influence of the Ethiopian attitude to life.
D. the long distances between places.
25. Haile and his equipment sponsor established the Global Adidas running club because
A. they wanted to recruit more athletes in Ethiopia.
B. they wanted to see more runners in the hills.
C. they wanted to bring athletes from Asela to Addis Ababa.
D. they wanted to invest money in the sport in Ethiopia. Your answers: 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Part 1. For questions 26-40, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26.The town centre is full of shops selling a ______ range of goods. A. variant B. diverted C. various D. diverse
27. Sniffer dogs are able to locate survivors beneath the rubble with ______. A. precision B. correctness C. meticulousness D. exactitude
28. I'm afraid we can't process your order at the moment as there's been a technical______. A. spill B. catch C. drop D. hitch
29. Sara brought in a lot of business last month; she should ask for a pay rise while she’s still on a______. A. run B. roll C. rush D. roam
30. I'll ______admit that the company isn't doing well, but I don't think there's any need to panic. A. readily B. overtly C. bluntly D. explicitly
31. His testing positive for drugs did nothing to ______the notion that most world-class athletes are taking illegal substances. A. dispel B. dissolve C. disclose D. disband
32. This shoe repairer is so quick that he can sole and heel your shoes in a______ A. split B. jiffy C. hurry D. flicker
33. We were all on a ______-edge until the very end of the Hitchcock film. A. razor B. cliff C. knife D. chair
34. If you don't get_____ those invitations today, they’ll never arrive on time. A. on B. from C. by D. off
35. His friends and family left him in the _____when he went bankrupt. A. church B. end C. lurch D. street
36. Having seen the film that won the Oscar, I was disappointed; it wasn’t all_____up to be. A. creased B. cracked C. lined D. valued
37. Talking this matter again is just flogging a dead _____; we don’t have anything new to discuss. A. dog B. bird C. horse D. camel
38. “Robert concluded by pointing out that we cannot increase productivity with this poor machinery.” “_____ an apt remark!” A. How B. So C. Wasn’t it D. Was it
39. In _____ did I knock on the huge oak door, for nobody answered. A. vane B. mane C. vein D. vain
40. During pioneer days a lot of land in the United States was up for_____. A. grabs B. taking C. gain D. promotion Your answers: 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 2. For questions 41-45, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the corresponding numbered box provided.
41. The speech by the headmaster at the salutation ceremony last week (SCORE) the importance of
the education of soft skills to students.
42. Other critics claim Mr Picketty ignores (ROCK) principles of economics.
43. In America, the online retailer has run out of the 700-page (COVER), which it sells for $25.
44. Since women are still fairly exotic creatures in the C-suite, they attract (PROPORTION)
publicity when they hit problems.
45. Customers are willing to pay (HAND) for anti-aging cosmetic products. Your answers: 41. 42. 43. 44 45. III. READING
Part 1. For questions 46-55, fill each of the following blank with ONE suitable word. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Control Your Body
Self-control of a remarkable kind is being (46)________ by doctors in Topeka, Kansas. Dr. Elmar
Green and his wife Alice, both psychologists, set (47)_____ in 1964 to discover what a person could
do to change his or her (48)________ physiological state. The method they employed is autogenic
training (i.e. a process that takes place at a conscious (49) ________). The doctors launched a two-
week training programme with 33 housewives, whose first lesson was to warm their hands at (50)__
______. With practice they mastered an increase of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, (51) ________ for the
purpose of making cold hands warm, but to alter the patterns of the brain.
Today this exercise has particular significance for the migraine victim, (52) ________ can learn to
control the temperature of her hands as a step in gaining voluntary relief from headache. Epileptics
learn similar controls so that they can spare (53)________ an oncoming epileptic brain pattern. The
Kansas doctors would describe a homely old thermometer as a ‘biofeedback instrument’: it feeds back
biological information to the (54)________ about herself. The whole point of ‘biofeedback’ is that it
makes it possible to know consciously what normally carries on at a sub-conscious level; i.e. heart
beat, (55) ________ of breathing. Your answers: 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.
Part 2. For questions 56-68, read the following passage and do the task that follows.
Can We Prevent The Poles From Melting?
A growing number of scientists are looking to increasingly ambitious technological fixes to halt the
tide of global warming. Marie Rowe reports.
[A] Such is our dependence on fossil fuels and such is the volume of carbon dioxide we have already
released into the atmosphere that most climate scientists agree that significant global worming is now
inevitable - the best we can hope to do is keep it at a reasonable level, and even that is going to be an
uphill task. At present, the only serious option on the table for doing this is cutting back on our carbon
emissions, but while a few countries are making major strides in this regard, the majority are having
great difficulty even stemming the rate of increase, let alone reversing it. Consequently, an increasing
number of scientists are beginning to explore the alternatives. They all fall under the banner of
geoengineering - generally defined as the intentional large-scale manipulation of the environment.
[B] Geoengineering has been shown to work, at least on a small, localised scale, for decades. May Day
parades in Moscow have taken place under clear blue skies, aircraft having deposited dry ice, silver
iodide and cement powder to disperse clouds. Many of the schemes now suggested look to do the
opposite, and reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the planet. One scheme focuses on achieving a
general cooling of the Earth and involves the concept of releasing aerosol sprays into the stratosphere
above the Arctic to create clouds of sulphur dioxide which would, in turn, lead to a global dimming.
The idea is modelled on historical volcanic explosions, such as that of Mount Pinatubo in the
Philippines in 1991, which led to a short-term cooling of global temperatures by 0.50C. The aerosols
could be delivered by artillery, highflying aircraft or balloons.
[C] Instead of concentrating on global cooling, other schemes look specifically at reversing the
melting at the poles. One idea is to bolster an ice cap by spraying it with water. Using pumps to carry
water from below the sea ice, the spray would come out as snow or ice particles, producing thicker sea
ice with a higher albedo (the ratio of sunlight reflected from a surface) to reflect summer radiation.
Scientists have also scrutinised whether it is possible to block icejords in Greenland with cables which
have been reinforced, preventing icebergs from moving into the sea. Veh Albert Kallio, a Finnish
scientist, says that such an idea is impractical, because the force of the ice would ultimately snap the
cables and rapidly release a large quantity of frozen ice into the sea. However, Kallio believes that the
sort of cables used in suspension bridges could potentially be used to divert, rather than halt, the
southward movement of ice from Spitsbergen. ‘It would stop the ice moving south, an local currents
would see then float northwards,’ he says.
[D] A number of geoengineering ideas are currently being examined in the Russian Arctic. These
include planting millions of birch trees: the thinking, according to Kallio, is that their white bark would
increase the amount of reflected sunlight. The loss of their leaves in winter would also enable the snow
to reflect radiation. In contrast, the native evergreen pines tend to shade the snow and absorb radiation.
Using ice-breaking vessels to deliberately break up and scatter coastal area ice in both Arctic and
Antarctic waters in their respective autumns and diverting Russian rivers to increase cold-water flow to
ice-farming areas, could also be used to slow down warming, Kahlo says. ‘You would need the wind
to blow the right way, but in the right conditions, by letting ice float free and head north, you would enhance ice growth.’
[E] But will such ideas ever be implemented? The major counter-arguments to geoengineering
schemes are, first, that they are a ‘cop-out’ that allow us to continue living the way we do, rather than
reducing carbon emissions; and, second, even if they do work, would the side-effects outweigh the
advantages? Then there’s the daunting prospect of upkeep and repair of any scheme as well as the
consequences of a technical failure. ‘I think all of us agree that if we were to end geoengineering on a
given day, then the planet would return to its pre-engineered condition very rapidly, and probably
within 10 to 20 years,’ says Dr Phil Rasch, chief scientist for climate change at the US-based Pacific
Northwest National laboratory. ‘That’s certainly something to worry about. I would consider
geoengineering as a strategy to employ only while we manage the conversion to a non-fossil-fuel
economy.’ ‘The risk with geoengineering projects is that you can “overshoot”,’ says Dr Dan Lunt,
from the University of Bristol. ‘You may bring global temperatures back to pre-industrial levels, but
the risk is that the poles will still be warmer than they should be and the tropics will be cooler than before industrialisation’.
[F] The main reason why geoengineering is countenanced by the mainstream scientific community is
that most researchers have little faith in the ability of politicians to agree - and then bring in - the
necessary carbon cuts. Even leading conservation organisations believe the subject is worth exploring.
As Dr Martin Sommerkom, a climate change advisor says, ‘But human-induced climate change has
brought humanity to a position where it is important not to exclude thinking thoroughly about this
topic and its possibilities despite the potential drawbacks. If, over the coming years, the science tells us
about on ever-increased climate sensitivity of the planet - and this isn't unrealistic - then we may be
best served by not having to start our thinking from scratch.'
Questions 56-60: Which paragraph contains the following information?
56. the existence of geoengineering projects distracting from the task of changing the way we live
57. circumstances in which geoengineering has demonstrated success
58. maintenance problems associated with geoengineering projects
59. support for geoengineering being due to a lack of confidence in governments
60. more success in fighting climate change in some parts of the world than others
Questions 61-65: Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the
passage for each answer. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Geoengineering projects
A range of geoengineering ideas have been put forward, which aim either to prevent the melting of the
ice caps or to stop the general rise in global temperatures. One scheme to discourage the melting of ice
and snow involves introducing (61)______to the Arctic because of their colour. The build-up of ice
could be encouraged by dispersing ice along the coasts using special ships and changing the direction
of some (62)_____but this scheme is dependent on certain weather conditions. Another way of
increasing the amount of ice involves using (63)_____to bring water to the surface. A scheme to stop
ice moving would use (64)_____but this method is more likely to be successful in preventing the ice
from travelling in one direction rather than stopping it altogether. A suggestion for cooling global
temperatures is based on what has happened in the past after (65)______ and it involves creating clouds of gas.
Questions 66-68: Look at the following people and the list of opinions below. Match each person
with the correct opinion, A-E. Write the correct letter, A-E, in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. 66. Phil Rasch 67. Dan Lunt 68. Martin Sommerkorn List of opinions
A. The problems of geoengineering shouldn’t mean that ideas are not seriously considered.
B. Some geoengineering projects are more likely to succeed than others.
C. Geoengineering only offers a short-term solution.
D. A positive outcome of geoengineering may have a negative consequence elsewhere.
E. Most geoengineering projects aren’t clear in what they are aiming at. Your answers: 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. For questions 69-75, read an extract from an article on language and choose the answer A,
B, C or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Lang Lang, the virtuoso Chinese pianist
When Lang Lang was nine, his father told him to kill himself. Four years before, his father had
decided that his only son should become the No 1 classical pianist in China. He gave up his job
as a policeman and took his son to live in Beijing, leaving Lang Lang's mother behind,
planning to get the child into the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music. 69.
Unbelievably, when Lang Lang's father heard the news, he demanded that the boy take his own life.
‘It’s really hard to talk about. My father went totally nuts,’ says Lang Lang quietly. ‘He said: “You
shouldn't live any more - everything is destroyed.”’ The father handed his son a bottle saying, ‘Take
these pills!’ When Lang Lang ran out on to the balcony to get away from him, his father screamed: Then jump off and die.’ 70.
Now twenty-eight, Lang Lang has surpassed his father’s ambition. The musician's recitals and
concerts sell out in every major city in the world and he is the first Chinese pianist to be
engaged by the Vienna and Berlin philharmonic orchestras. The pianist is now based in New
York and lives a rock-star lifestyle, but he began his career in a Beijing slum under a super-
strict regime of practice overseen by his unforgiving father, Lang Cuoren. 71.
Lang Lang’s parents are from Shenyang, an industrial city northeast of Beijing. They married at
the end of the Cultural Revolution. Lang Lang says: ‘People were starting to connect with the
West, and the piano was becoming an important instrument. My mother had always wanted to
be a musician and my father played in the air force orchestra before the budget was cut and he
had to become a policeman. My parents bought our piano before I was born - it cost half their annual salary.’ 72.
Lang Lang explains: ‘My father quit his job as a policeman and off we went. My mother didn't come -
she needed to earn money for us.’ In Beijing, Lang Lang's father had to be both mother and father.
Lang Lang says: ‘He didn't like to cook or do the laundry, because my mum had always done it. We
couldn’t do much, because we only had Mum’s salary and had to pay for expensive piano lessons once
a week, and if there was a competition, twice a week. It was really hard.’ Lang Lang's father does not
understand English, but in the past, he has spoken about the way he pushed his son. He said, ‘The way
I see it is pressure always turns into motivation. Lang Lang is well aware that if he fails to be
outstanding at playing the piano, he has nothing.’ 73.
Indeed, the musician has always had as much faith in himself as his father has. But it was after
Professor Angry had told Lang Lang some home truths, that the boy’s relationship with his father hit
an all-time low. But they did not return to Shenyang afterwards. ‘For three months, I didn't touch the
piano,’ says Lang Lang. ‘We stayed in Beijing, I don't know why. Probably because having to go
home would have resulted in shame for us.’ 74.
So began nineteen months of intensive practice as father and son redoubled their attempts to
get Lang Lang into the conservatory. Finally, when Lang Lang was ten, he was admitted on a
full scholarship. He and his father remained in their slum until he was fifteen, when they left
for America to continue his studies in Philadelphia. 75.
Does Lang Lang think he would have succeeded without his father? ‘Yes, absolutely,’ he says
emphatically. 'Over the years I have seen so many different cultures and different ways of bringing up
kids, I believe that no matter how you train your kid, you need to give them love. Sometimes my father
pushed me too much, but he loved me.' The missing paragraphs:
A. Then one day at school, his fellow students hectored Lang Lang into playing some Mozart. He
laughs: ‘They asked me to play, and I said no, I don’t play anymore. Then they just applauded and
applauded. They gave me a score and forced me to play. I started and realized that I actually loved to
play the piano. So I went home and told my father, “Find me another teacher, I’d like to play again.”’
B. The ‘Lang Lang effect’ is credited with inspiring China’s forty million classical piano students and,
in 2009, he was listed in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. His name, Lang
Lang, has even become a trademark.
C. Lang Lang says: ‘When we came to America, my father could see that the American system was
much more relaxed. At that time he said he still believed in the Chinese way. But as we met different
musicians from different countries, his opinion changed. He is fifty-eight now and his personality has
totally changed, he doesn’t push me anymore. When I turned twenty-two, he let go.’
D. However, his teacher in Beijing, nicknamed Professor Angry by Lang Lang, had other ideas.
‘Professor Angry didn’t like me and she always gave me a hard time,’ he remembers. ‘One afternoon
she said that I had no talent, that I shouldn’t play the piano and I should go home. She basically fired
me before I could even get into the conservatory!’
E. Lang Lang explains: ‘I started lessons when I was three and a half. In the beginning I just played a
little but, when I was five, I played my first recital, and from that point my parents had high hopes for me, especially my father.’
F. Born during China’s one-child policy, the young musician became his parents’ sole focus. When
Lang Lang was nine, his father and his piano teacher decided that he must leave Shenyang for Beijing,
home of the Central Conservatory of Music. If his father had been strict before, he soon became a lot harder.
G. ‘I got totally crazy, too,’ says Lang Lang. ‘I was beating the wall, trying to prevent myself from
being a pianist by destroying my hands. I hated everything: my father, the piano, myself. And then somehow, we just stopped.
My father went out or I ran out - I can’t remember, but somehow we stopped. After that I didn’t want
to play piano any more. I said, “OK, fine. Let’s go home.’”
H. Lang Lang disagrees. ‘I think that attitude is wrong because there are a lot of things you can do in
the world,’ he says. ‘When I was nine, I didn't like my father. I knew he had dedicated his life to me,
but I thought it was too much. I found the pressure unnecessary because I was a workaholic from the
very beginning. I could understand if I was lazy and didn’t care, but I didn’t need that kind of push,
because I knew what I wanted.’ Your answers: 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read the passage and choose the best option (A, B, C or D) for each
question. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. Super Humans
A. Sit down with an anthropologist to talk about the nature of humans, and you are likely to hear this
pearl of wisdom: 'Well, you have to remember that 99 percent of human history was spent on the open
savanna in small bands of hunter-gatherers.' It's a classic scientific cliché, and it's true. Indeed, those
millions of ancestral years produced many of our hallmark traits — upright walking and big brains, for
instance. Of course, those useful evolutionary innovations come at a price: aching backs from our
bipedal stance and existential despair from our large, self-contemplative cerebral cortex.
B. Compounding the challenges of those trade-offs, the world we have invented is dramatically
different from the one to which our bodies and minds are adapted. Have your dinner delivered to you
instead of chasing it down on foot; log in to Facebook to interact with your nearest and dearest instead
of spending most of the day with them. But this is where the utility of the anthropologist's cliché for
explaining the human condition ends.
C. The reason for this mismatch between the setting we evolved to live in and the situations we
encounter in our modern era derives from another defining characteristic of our kind, arguably the
most important one: our impulse to push beyond the limitations evolution imposed on us by
developing tools to make us faster, smarter and longer-lived. Science is one such tool — an invention
that requires us to break out of our Stone Age seeing-is-believing mindset so that we can clearly see
the next hurdle we have to overcome, be it a pandemic flu or climate change. You could call it the
ultimate expression of humanity's singular drive to aspire to be better than we are.
D. To understand how natural selection moulded us into the unique primates we have become, let us
return to the ancestral savanna. There the sun was hotter and nutritious plant foods were scarcer. In
response, our predecessors lost their hair and their molars dwindled as they abandoned a tough
vegetarian diet for one focused in part on meat from grassland grazers. Meanwhile, the selective
demands of food scarcities sculpted our distant forebears into having a body that was extremely thrifty
and good at storing calories. Now, having inherited that same metabolism, we hunt and gather burgers
as diabetes becomes a worldwide scourge. Or consider how our immune systems evolved in a world
where one hardly ever encountered someone carrying a novel pathogen. Today, if you sneeze near
someone in an airport, your rhinovirus could be set free 12 time zones away by the next day.
E. As regards behavior, our abilities abound. We can follow extraordinarily complex scenarios of
social interaction and figure out if a social contract has been violated. And we are peerless when it
comes to facial recognition: we even have an area of the cortex in the fusiform gyrus that specializes in this activity.
F. The selective advantages of evolving a highly social brain are obvious. It paved the way for us to
finetune our capabilities for reading one another's mental states, to excel at social manipulation and to
deceive and attract mates and supporters. Among Americans, the extent of social intelligence in youth
is a better predictor of adult success in the occupational world than are academic scores. Indeed, when
it comes to social intelligence in primates, humans reign supreme. The social brain hypothesis of
primate evolution is built on the fact that across primate species the percentage of the brain devoted to
the neocortex correlates with the average size of the social group of that species. This correlation is
more dramatic in humans than in any other primate species.
G. The fact that we have created this world proves a point — namely, that it is in our nature to be
unconstrained by our nature. Science is one of the strangest, newest domains where we challenge our
hominid limits. It also tests our sense of what is the norm, what counts as better than well and it
challenges our sense of who we are. Thanks to science, human life expectancy keeps extending, our
average height increases, our intelligence test scores improve and we eventually break every world
record. But when it comes to humans becoming, on average, smarter, taller and better at athletics, there
is a problem: Who cares about the average? As individuals, we want to be better than other
individuals. Our brain is invidious, comparative and more interested in contrasts, a state that begins
with sensory systems that do not normally tell us about the quality of a stimulus but instead about the
quality relative to the stimuli around it.
76. According to the writer, the anthropological cliché to explain the nature of mankind
A. needs some slight modifications B. requires little analysis
C. should be considered paradoxical D. is limited in scope
77. Humankind will only be able to use science to progress if
A. ethical considerations are ignored
B. we discard an outdated approach to acquiring knowledge
C. our drive to eliminate barriers continues
D. the philosophy we adopt can be widely understood
78. Our ancient ancestors lived in a world where
A. the necessity to hunt for food led to good health
B. it was vitally important to have a balanced diet
C. isolation allowed them to develop immunity from disease
D. their restricted movement protected them from illness
79. The word peerless in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to A. friendless B. unsurpassed C. uncompetitive D. flawless
80. Having a highly social brain
A. allows us to create groups with more members
B. prevents us from being misunderstood
C. causes us to be more devious
D. helps us to read other people's minds 81. The way we tend to think
A. forces us to overlook our shortcomings
B. has enhanced our understanding of sense perception
C. distorts our perception of the notion of average
D. makes us less likely to be concerned with absolutes
82. The word invidious in paragraph 7 mostly means A. prejudiced B. preordained C. unfathomable D. attitudinal
83. Which of the following square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph
the sentence "We are no strangers to going out of bounds." can be inserted?
[A] The fact that we have created this world proves a point — namely, that it is in our nature to be
unconstrained by our nature. [B] Science is one of the strangest, newest domains where we challenge
our hominid limits. It also tests our sense of what is the norm, what counts as better than well and it
challenges our sense of who we are. [C] Thanks to science, human life expectancy keeps extending,
our average height increases, our intelligence test scores improve and we eventually break every world
record. [D] But when it comes to humans becoming, on average smarter, taller and better at athletics,
there is a problem: Who cares about the average? As individuals, we want to be better than other
individuals. Our brain is invidious, comparative and more interested in contrasts, a state that begins
with sensory systems that do not normally tell us about the quality of a stimulus but instead about the
quality relative to the stimuli around it. A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
84. It can be inferred from the passage that
A. there are no limits to human capabilities
B. we will be able to adapt to harsh environments
C. humankind's evolutionary path will not be smooth
D. our knowledge of the past is crucial to our future
85. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A. Social intelligence enables Americans to be both academically and professionally successful.
B. Science helps prolong human life and improve human intelligence to break all world records.
C. Our evolutionary limits can be exceeded and that's what sets us apart from other species.
D. A highly evolved social brain paved the way for humans to be able to read and distort others' thinking. Your answers: 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85.
Part 5. You are going to read an extract from a book about Creole languages. For questions 86-95,
choose from the sections (A - E). The section may be chosen more than once. A
Language in Jamaica today reflects the history of the country's interaction with a variety of cultures
and languages from many ethnic, linguistic, and social backgrounds. Aside from the Arawaks, the
original inhabitants of Jamaica, all its people were exiles or children of exiles. Over 90% of the 2.5
million people living in Jamaica today are descendants of slaves brought from western Africa by the
British. The local Jamaican language is a reflection of a history of contact with a variety of speakers,
but the official language remains Standard English. The most influential speakers were immigrants
from Africa and Europe. Kwa, Manding, and Kru are amongst the variety of prominent African
languages apparent in Jamaican history. Early Modern English was brought to the Caribbean by
sailors, soldiers, indentured servants, convicts, and lower-class settlers in the form of regional and non- standard dialects. B
Today the Jamaican creole language, called Jamaican Patois, falls at one extreme of the linguistic
spectrum while Standard English lies at the other end of the spectrum. The majority of the population
speaks a language which falls in between the two. At one end there is the educated model spoken by
the elite, which follows the "London Standard". At the other extreme is what linguists call "creolized"
English, fragmented English speech and syntax with African influences developed during the days of
slavery. This is the speech of the peasant or labourer with little education. In the middle of the
language scale there is the inclusion of Jamaican rhythm and intonation of words, which evolved
within the country, as well as the presence of other uniquely Jamaican traits including retention in
common speech of English words now rare or poetic as well as new formations such as alterations of existing words. C
Jamaican history and the formation of Patois are based on the experience of exile. In the early 16th
century Spanish settlement began in Jamaica with the Arawaks as their first slave labour force. Within
100 years very few Arawaks survived due to a deadly epidemic. The only evidence of the Arawak
dialect in Jamaica today is a few loan words, place names, foods, natural objects, and events. Xaymaca
is actually an Arawak word meaning "island of springs", which is where the name Jamaica is derived
from. It is possible that the first contact of the Arawaks and the Spinards may have led to an early
pidgin or bilingualism among the first generation of mixed blood. Throughout Spanish rule, the
Arawaks had contact with Spanish colonists, Portuguese, Amerindians brought in as slaves from other
parts of the Caribbean, and West Africans. Then, in 1655, the English attacked the Spanish colony
bringing with them new influences. Arriving with the invaders were soldiers recruited from England,
Barbados, and Montserrat; settlers from Surinam, Barbados, Bermuda, New England, and Virginia;
Jews from Brazil; indentured servants from Bristol; midland and northern lower-class English
speakers; convicts from large prisons in England; Romany speakers; and a variety of African speakers.
The birth of population centers, such as Port Royal, Passage Fort, and Kingston, served as a mixing pot of many different speakers. D
Today linguists agree that East Indians, Spanish, and Arawaks have contributed a little vocabulary to
the Jamaican dialect, but the majority of non-English terms, grammar and phonology is African.
Africans came to acquire forms of English because of the domination of the English dialects of their
plantation-owning masters. The heyday of sugar, between 1700-1834, is the period thought to be most
responsible for the forming of Patois. At this time, increasing numbers of Africans were imported to
work on the large plantations. By the end of the century Africans made up a quarter of the slave
population and Creole took precedence over the African past. Increases in written records of Jamaican
Creole were seen at the time of the abolitionist movement from 1770 to 1838, but English continued to
influence Jamaican Creole in the form of biblical and prayer-book language. E
The perception that English-lexicon Creole languages are a form of "bad English" still persists today in
Jamaica. Jamaican Patois continues to be considered an unacceptable official language and an informal
language not to be used for any formal purpose. Creole speakers are often compared to those speakers
of Standard English. The similarity of Creole to English has led Creole speakers to be labelled as
socially and linguistically inferior, although Jamaica Creole is increasingly showing up in newspapers
once known for their old-fashioned Standard English, on the radio, and in songs. Indeed, in the past 30
or 40 years linguists have finally begun to recognize Creole as a language in itself.
In which section are the following mentioned? Your answers:
the reason why Jamaican Creole is looked down upon 86.
a source by which Jamaicans were exposed to English after Patois developed 87.
how most people speak in Jamaica 88.
the name of the legally recognized language of Jamaica 89.
why there are not many Arawaks in Jamaica today 90.
the part of society that speaks the London Standard of English 91.
the places where most Jamaican people live 92.
a significant development during the years when growing sugar was important 93.
African languages that were particularly important in the development of Patois 94.
the characteristics that make Jamaican Patois unique 95. IV. WRITING
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarise it. Your summary should
be between 100 and 120 words long.
There are several key technologies which will without doubt affect the nature of work in the 21st
century, one of which is virtual reality. Appealing to several of your senses at once, this marvel of
science presents images that respond instantaneously to your movements. It allows people to behave as
if they were somewhere completely different; this could be a place which existed hundreds of years
ago, or a completely fictional one. At present, you need to wear bizarre-looking goggles to receive the
images. However, as computers become smarter these will be replaced by more lightweight ones,
which will be able to superimpose synthesised images onto the real world.
Complex tasks are already being performed using multimedia applications, some of them in
hazardous environments such as space, or inside nuclear reactors. Pilots now train in virtual reality
cockpits; these merge three dimensional graphics with the view out of the window and contain sound
systems that provide prompts to tell them about their surroundings, in the not so distant future,
surgeons will be conducting delicate operations on patients, the latter possibly being thousands of
miles away, while architects will stroll through buildings and environments still in the first stage of design.
As software evolves, complex systems may be simplified into models which are no longer beyond
human comprehension. New ranks of specialists will dearly be needed to enable both expert and
amateur alike to access and utilise such applications. Clearly, the job opportunities thus created for
those trained in this sphere will be immense.
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Part 2. The bar chart below gives information about the percentage of the population living in
urban areas in different parts of the world.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant. You should write about 150 words.
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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
In the past, shopping was a routine domestic task. Many people nowadays regard it as a hobby.
To what extent do you think this is a positive trend?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
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Document Outline
- Điểm
- (bằng số)
- Điểm
- (bằng chữ)
- Họ, tên chữ ký
- Mã phách
- Giám khảo 1:
- Giám khảo 2: