Đề thi chọn đội tuyển dự thi HSG quốc gia lớp 12 THPT tỉnh Bình Thuận năm 2018 - 2019 (vòng 2)
Đề thi chọn đội tuyển dự thi HSG quốc gia lớp 12 THPT tỉnh Bình Thuận năm 2018 - 2019 (vòng 2) 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
Thông tin:
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:
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
KỲ THI THÀNH LẬP ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI BÌNH THUẬN
LỚP 12 DỰ THI QUỐC GIA NĂM HỌC : 2018-2019
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC Ngày thi : 19/10/2018
(Đề này có 16 trang) Môn : TIẾNG ANH
Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
Chú ý: Học sinh làm bài trên PHIẾU TRẢ LỜI; và nộp ĐỀ THI kèm theo PHIẾU TRẢ LỜI. ĐỀ
PAPER 1: LISTENING TEST: (50pts)
Part 1: Listen to a talk about the island of New Guinea and some of the people of Papua New Guinea.
For questions 1–10, complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS from the
recording for each answer. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
▪ eastern side became a(n) (1)____________________ in 1975
▪ western side of the island has (2)____________________ of Papua and West Papua
▪ tribes should be seen as (3)____________________
▪ a small number of groups without contact with (4)____________________ and the world beyond
TRIBES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Huli-Wigmen ▪ 40,000 members
▪ decorate faces with (5)____________________
▪ have belts of pigtails, apron of leaves, wigs made of own hair
▪ do dances which imitate local birds Asaro mud men
▪ cover bodies in mud to resemble (6)____________________ to frighten off other tribes
▪ have very long fingernails
▪ put on (7) terrifying masks to accentuate their ferocious look
Chimbu skeleton dancers
▪ men and women used to live in (8)____________________
▪ families now live together
▪ now perform dances for the benefit of tourists Mount Hagan Sing-Sing ▪ over 50 tribes take part
▪ begun by government in 1961to bring together tribes in peace
▪ wear headdresses made of flowers, shells and feathers
▪ certain(9)____________________,such as the replacement of natural materials on wonderful
costumes with (10)____________________
Part 2: Listen to a parenting advisor (Tom Willis) and a sociologist (Jane Thompson) discussing
teenagers’ behaviour.
For questions 11–29, complete the summary below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the
recording for each answer.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 1
WHY TEENAGERS BEHAVE AS THEY DO
It’s now known that the part of the brain that influences (11)____________________ and judgement doesn’t fully develop until people are about twenty-five, when the connecting nerve cells are
(12)____________________ myelin. According to scientists, this explains a lot of teenager’s
(13)____________________ behaviour, which is often deemed surly and (14)____________________ by
adults. There is also a train of thought that believes that upbringing, rather than (15)____________________,
determines how an adolescent behaves. In more (16)____________________, children generally go through
(17)____________________, which teaches them how to behave as an adult. Far too few
(18)___________________ spend time learning (19)____________________, such as cooking or caring for
others, from their parents. Their erratic behaviours are also believed to be influenced by their
(20)____________________, although there is no doubt more to it than simply that, i.e. it is also because of
their (21)____________________ that they find the appeal irresistible. At this stage of their development,
sleep is crucial to their education and, whilst they may have a tendency to be night owls, they should still aim
for nine hours’ sleep; otherwise, they wil have to exert themselves, with their (22)____________________ out
of synch with their biological clocks. This is not often attained, though, which explains why many teenagers
experience an acute (23)____________________. These days most teenagers are bombarded by so many
different things simultaneously, e.g. (24)____________________ modern world, the fact that everyone
(25)____________________ and (26)____________________ from technology, that their brains are simply learning how to deal with this (27)____________________. Parents need to be more
(28)____________________ towards their teenage children and to give them a gently supportive hand. Whilst
teenagers will learn from their teachers and friends, (29)____________________ and time spent with their
parents is at the heart of their growth and development.
For questions 30–35, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) that fits best according to what you hear.
30. Tom feels that recent research into teenage brain has __________.
A. failed to reach a convincing conclusion
B. confirmed what adults had always thought
C. provided him with an explanation for certain types of behaviour
D. shown that previous studies may have been misinterpreted
31. In Jane’s opinion, many Western teenagers behave badly because __________.
A. parents pay little attention to their social development
B. they’re obliged to carry out domestic duties which they hate
C. they’re under pressure to conform to the norms of other teenagers
D. formal education includes too few practical subjects
32. Tom thinks that teenagers sometimes do things they shouldn’t because __________.
A. they have a natural urge to rebel against their parents
B. they’re unaware that they could hurt themselves and others
C. they fell an irresistible need to impress their friends
D. they’re unable to stop themselves experimenting
33. When asked about teenage sleep patterns, Tom and Jane disagree about __________.
A. whether the school day should be organised around these
B. whether all teenagers actually share the same ones
C. how long teenagers should sleep on average
D. how much lack of sleep affects learning
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 2
34. Jane thinks the key difference between teenagers and adults relates to __________.
A. how adaptable teenagers are
B. how easily influenced teenagers are
C. how well teenagers can resist temptation
D. how easy teenagers find it to break a bad habit
35. Tom believes that teenagers learn best when their parents __________.
A. provide them with good role models
B. establish suitable routines for them
C. co-operate with their teachers
D. trust them to be independent
Part 3: Listen to a CNN interview with Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. For questions 36–43, complete the
sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS from the recording for each answer.
▪ According to the interviewer, Apple released (36)____________________ which enables users to monitor their screen time.
▪ According to Tim Cook, Apple’s business has never been about (37)____________________.
▪ After using the feature himself, he realised that he was not (38)____________________ about his screen time.
▪ Tim Cook does not (39)____________________ the idea that machines will take over the world. He is
more concerned that technology will not be (40)____________________, and that people will neglect
their (41)____________________.
▪ According to Tim Cook, privacy is a(n) (42)____________________but has been threatened. This
(43)____________________ of the former CEO’s, Steve Jobs, is not being embraced genuinely.
Part 4: Listen to a CNN news report on Nikon, a corporation that produces cameras. For questions 44–
50, complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS from the recording for each answer.
▪ The Nikon history museum is a popular destination for (44)____________________.
▪ According to Takashi Suyama, the company was originally founded amidst the urgent need of
(45)____________________ in Japan.
▪ The company made an initial success with the (46)____________________ in 1925.
▪ Although the company still produces film cameras, its (47)____________________ in 1997,introducing
the first (48)____________________.
▪ The company has been adapting to new technology to compete with (49)____________________ and smart phones.
▪ Their product’s features are not limited to (50)____________________.
PAPER 2: USE OF LANGUAGE (40 pts)
Part 1: For each of the sentences below, choose the most appropriate option to complete the blank.
1. Many groups of people have created a counter-culture, seeking to _______ mainstream values and break away from tradition. A. disdain B. evade C. repudiate D. shun
2. In the Netherlands, shared care models have acted as a _______ of the recently introduced concept of disease management. A. forerunner B. precursor C. predecessor D. trailblazer
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 3
3. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive help with tuition fees, and will have access to _______benefits. A. defined B. fringe C. means-tested D. unemployment
4. In Thailand, a cappuccino costs the equivalent of three bowls of noodles, enhancing its potential for _______ consumption. A. conspicuous B. ostentatious C. superfluous D. ubiquitous
5. You need to spend more time getting still and taking _______ of your true feelings, dreams and concerns. A. a dim view B. advantage C. stock D. the brunt
6. The house is not an inanimate thing to be pulled down or enlarged or structurally altered _______ of the
tenant or owner; it is a living thing. A. at the caprice B. by inclination C. on a whim D. on impulse
7. As soon as a visitor countered them, the actors responded by _______ an intellectual discussion on art. A. blasting off B. embarking on C. launching into D. propelling into
8. The negative effects are further _______ by adding a lot of vitamins to the children’s diet, believing that they
offer a beneficial source of energy. A. amalgamated B. ameliorated C. compounded D. synthesised
9. Various means were adopted for _______ the maximum effort from the people with the minimum satisfaction of their needs. A. excerpting B. extorting C. extracting D. extricating
10. Limited as their financial _______ is, they are content with their lifestyle and never complain. A. assets B. means C. resources D. wherewithal
11. The boy who claimed to be son of George Washington needed to prove his line of _______. A. ancestry B. descent C. heredity D. offspring
12. The film is composed of a series of tableaux, with scenes eerily _______ of detailed paintings. A. evocative B. nostalgic C. reminiscent D. suggestive
13. With his contract up after the play-offs, the cash-strapped club can no longer afford his inflated salary and
he looks bound for dreams of_______ new. A. crofts B. grasslands C. meadows D. pastures
14. Aside from their technical prowess, the performance was made _______ viewing by the showmanship of the boys. A. addictive B. compulsive C. irresistible D. obsessive
15. International media organisations should be allowed to say what they want without fear of _______. A. authority B. endorsement C. sanction D. warrant
Choose the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined parts.
16. David Cameron will insist he has not compromised his commitment to environmental politics despite the
challenges of the credit crunch. A. critical juncture
B. crux of the matter C. economic downturn D. moment of truth
17. Schools have usurped the role of parents in terms of making decisions about their children. A. assumed B. dispelled C. overthrown D. supplanted
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 4
18. Dark energy is a nebulous concept, one that has thus far flummoxed some of the smartest researchers on the planet. A. amorphous B. blurry C. indistinct D. obscure
Choose the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined parts.
19. With a deliberate hint of irony, they also echo corporate efforts at conveying information efficiently. A. sanity B. sensibility C. sensitivity D. sincerity
20. Observers do not doubt that the company is well down the recovery track –if not quite out of the woods. A. in a dilemma B. in a quandary C. in jeopardy D. in limbo
Part 2: For question 21-35, choose the correct word to complete each blank: DEFAULTS AND BAILOUTS
Surprisingly few of us understand (21)_______ about financial systems and economics, particularly the subject
of defaults and bailouts. A default is not a get-out-of-jail free card. It does not mean that the debts owed by a
bank in a bank default or by a nation in a(n) (22)_______ default simply disappear. They do not. The other key
misconception is with regard to bailouts. It is true that government or international bailouts use taxpayers’
money to rescue banks and nations. However, this money is not given away. They are loans with interest that
create profits for those that supply the money. There is also a myth that allowing a bank to default will simply
be (23) _______ the rich in their pockets and therefore banks should be allowed to go to the (24)_______. But
the banking sector is an economic (25) _______ in every country worldwide. If people lose confidence in a
nation’s banks, it’l have a major effect on the economy and wil hurt ordinary citizens far more than it wil the rich. 21. A. at the least B. in the least
C. leastways D. the least little bit 22. A. imperial B. monarchical C. regal D. sovereign 23. A. digging B. dipping C. eating D. hitting 24. A. dogs B. mat C. stake D. wall 25. A. centrepiece B. endorsement C. mainstay D. upholder CHEESY FACTS
The origins of cheese making have been lost in the (26) _______ of time, as cheese consumption (27)_______
recorded history. Still, there are plenty of facts we do know and some of them, like cheese itself, could (28)_______ your socks off.
The ancient Greeks were the first to turn cheese making into an art form using different techniques to create an
array of different varieties of cheese. Nowadays, though, most people, if asked ‘who in the world produces the
greatest variety of cheese?’ would (29)_______to answer ‘the French’. But they’d soon find out that the
French, and Italians, are (30)_______behind the British, who produce 700 distinctive varieties, while their
Gallic cousins across the channel produce only a scant 400. The French don’t even top the record for cheese
consumption, as that particular (31)_______ goes to the Greeks, who (32)_______up more than 27 kilos each
a year thanks to their (33)_______ for feta cheese with everything. And, finally, the country that produces the
largest amount of cheese is the USA but most of that is processed cheese (34)_______ under the
(35)_______ name ‘cheddar type’ cheese.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 5 26. A. clouds B. haze C. mists D. smog 27.A. precipitates B. predates C. prefaces D. prefixes 28.A. blow B. knock C. pull D. shoot 29.A. bounce B. jump C. leap D. mount 30.A. hanging B. idling C. lagging D. lingering 31.A. accolade B. eulogy C. homage D. tribute 32.A. bolt B. chomp C. gobble D. slurp 33.A. inclination B. penchant C. proclivity D. vulnerability 34.A. catalogued B. characterised C. classed D. coded 35.A. blanket B. generic C. sweeping D. umbrella
Part 3: For questions 36–40, use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in each gap.
In an effort to escape from their hectic and (36)_______ (MONEY) city lives, more and more Northern
Europeans are buying houses in rural areas. Some relocate permanently in search of a more meaningful
existence. Those who cannot afford to give up their jobs seek therapeutic respite from their stressful lifestyle by
relaxing for a few weeks each year in their second home in the sun. However, many find that life in the country
is not as quiet and uneventful as they had anticipated. Aspects of village life which seemed(37)_______
(LIMEN) atmospheric in the context of a two-week holiday can grate on the nerves when you live with them on
a daily basis. Recently, a group of British residents in an Italian village took local farmers to court because they
found the smell of the vil agers’ pigs (38)_______ (TASTE). In other cases, foreigners have complained to
neighbours about the enthusiastic early-morning crowing of their cockerels, or to village priests about the
regular tolling of church bells.
Understandably, the local inhabitants are somewhat resentful of these attitudes. They argue that the foreigners
have an unrealistic view of what country life is like and that, since no-one forced them to come and live in a
village, they are being (39)_______ (CRITIC) by now complaining about the (40)_______ (CONVENE) of rural life.
PAPER 3: READING ( 50 PTS)
Part 1: For questions 1–8, fill each gap with ONE suitable word to complete the text. INTERPRETING HISTORY
One of the most common problems students face in learning to become thoughtful readers of historical
narrative is ridding (1)_______ of the desire to find the one ‘right’ answer, the one essential fact, the one
authoritative interpretation. These problems are, of course, deeply (2)_______ in the way textbooks present
history; as a(n) (3)_______ of facts marching straight to a settled outcome. To overcome these problems
requires teaching students to look at more than one source; to use the rich (4)_______ of historical documents
available that present alternative accounts, voices, and (5)_______ on the past. Because history is a dialogue
amongst historians not just about what events took place in the past, but about how and why those events
(6)_______ what we know and believe about the past constantly changes. Because of this, some philosophers
argue that history is too subjective to be of much (7)_______. But absolute truth is a rare commodity in this
world. It is no less available from history than it is from other academic fields, like science. Conscientious
historians are aware of the pitfalls in their (8)_______ for historical truth and try to avoid them. Likewise,
students of history aware of the subject’s inherent limitations are better prepared to study and interpret it.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 6
Part 2: Read the text below and answer questions 9–29.
THE RISE AND FALL OF YOUTH SUBCULTURES A
Ask anyone British in their 50s, 60s and 70s to look back at their youth and they will doubtless name a plethora
of different subcultures. There were the Mods (Modernists) with their tailor-made suits, motor scooters and
R&B music, and their great rivals, the Rockers, a biker subculture, who wore leatherjackets and listened to
Rock and Roll. Hippies, who emerged in America and spread across the world, represented a more peaceful
group. With their longhair and garish clothes, they opposed all forms of violence and the ‘establishment’, as
they called mainstream society. Jumping forward to the 1970s, we see the rise of Punk. Instantly recognisable
with their drainpipe jeans, kilts, safety pins and Mohicans, they perhaps more than any of their predecessors
embodied youth rebellion, sometimes literally spitting in the face of the world in which they had grown up. B
These days, the average 15-year-old has probably never seen a Mod or Rocker in the flesh. These youth
subcultures from that era have all but disappeared, existing only in films and television for today’s young
people. Sadly, today’s youth, at first glance at least, look more homogenous, seemingly having lost their
tribalism. So what happened? Where have all the colourful youth subcultures gone? It was in the 1990s that
many older commentators started to point out that the youth movements had lost their fire and had become
conventional. The colourful ‘tribes’ of the previous years were disappearing and the young appeared to have stopped rebelling. C
To explain this phenomenon we need to look at the reasons why conditions were ripe for the emergence of
youth cultures in the mid-twentieth century. It was the post-war period that saw the rise of distinctive
subcultures. Elvis Presley and the advent of Rock and Roll generated the Teddy Boys in the UK, who in turn
influenced both Mods and Rockers. It was a time when conventional social values were being questioned and
after the austerity of the war, young people found themselves with more freedom. Fuelled by American culture,
Britain’s youth suddenly had something to say and a desire to express themselves. D
These days American culture is still a dominant force, but in many ways the world is so different. Rises in
levels of prosperity have robbed many young people of something to rebel against, and the development of the
internet and its widespread availability from the 1990s onwards has fundamentally changed how young people
interact with the world. Things change so quickly that young people no longer commit to one look and style of
music in order to find their identity. Influences from all over the world – not just America – mean that young
people have a vast array of choices in terms of fashion, music and even attitudes and beliefs. Although the
younger generation of today has been called ‘identity-less’, that is not actually the case. The identities they
create are more individual and subtle, with a wider range of influences. Teenagers today spend a lot of their
time developing their own sense of self through social media. They are free to slip in and out of identities and
scenes, which is more liberating than being tied to a specific tribe. E
Common to all those subcultures of the mid- to late twentieth century was a desire to rebel: against parents,
government policies and established society. Marking yourself out as different and separate through your
clothes and hairstyle is something that does not chime so resonantly with the globalised generation born in the
nineties and noughties. Today’s young people are more tolerant and international thanks to globalisation, but
that does not mean they are apathetic. In fact, it can be argued that they are more likely to contribute towards
actual change, which again has been made possible by the internet. They set up and sign online petitions and
share information about demonstrations on social media. They take part in charity events such as sponsored
runs or shave their heads to raise awareness as well as money. The global phenomenon which was the Ice
Bucket Challenge*,for example, raised over $100 million for motor neurone disease and raised awareness of
that terrible condition which affects, among others, world renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 7 F
There is one subculture that seems to have endured better than the others: the bikers. Characterised by their
longhair, scruffy denim jeans, leather jackets and Harley Davidson motorbikes, the most marked feature of the
group nowadays is that they are no longer young. At biker rallies in the 2010s,the average age is probably
around 50. What sets them apart is that they never grew out of the identity of their youth. Seeing them
gathered together invokes a strong sense of nostalgia in those of us who remember the days of youth subcultures. G
While it is sad in many ways to see the vibrant cultures of our youth consigned to the history books, it is, when
examined closely, a development which is as positive as it is inevitable. Young people today are free to adopt
aspects from a huge range of cultures and continually reinvent themselves. The symbolic rebellions of dress
and hairstyle have been replaced by meaningful action which impacts on political and social decision-making
at the highest levels. Rather than being without identity as a generation, today’s youth are typically broad-
minded and well informed, each individual having created their own unique style and set of beliefs, which they
are free to change at any moment. But those of us who recall the heady days of the Mods and Rockers, the
Punks and Teddy Boys, will always feel a slight regret at their passing.
*Ice Bucket Challenge: a charity action that involved filming yourself pouring ice cold water over your head in
order to raise money for charities related to Motor Neurone Disease
For questions 9–15, choose the correct heading for each paragraph (A–G) from the list of headings (i–
x). There are three headings you do not need to use. List of Headings
i. A different type of identity
ii. Fighting for change in new ways
iii. Identity-less youth of today
iv. Out with the old and in with the new and improved v. Regret for a lost era vi. Survivors of a lost age
vii. The decline of youth subcultures
viii. The ice bucket challenge raises millions
ix. Why young people formed their own social groups
x. Youth subcultures in the second half of the 20th century 9. Paragraph A: _______ 10. Paragraph B: _______ 11. Paragraph C: _______ 12. Paragraph D: _______ 13. Paragraph E: _______ 14. Paragraph F: _______ 15. Paragraph G: _______
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the text? For questions, write: YES
if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer NO
if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 8
16. 20th-century youth movements had their own distinct way of dressing.
17. It is unfortunate that many of the sub-cultures are disappearing.
18. Today’s youth are less effective at changing society than their predecessors.
19. Young people waste too much time on social media.
In which section(s) of the text (A–G) are the following mentioned?
a discussion of the identity of today’s young people 20. _______ 21. _______
a subculture that has passed the test of time 22. _______
an example of the internet being used to raise money and inform people 23. _______
an explanation for the rise of youth subcultures 24. _______
descriptions of various youth groups’ fashion and music preferences 25. _______
the causes of a broader outlook in today’s young people 26. _______ 27. _______
thefact the older generation began to think youth subcultureswere declining 28. _______
the influence of the US on youth culture in Britain 29. _______
Part 3: Read the article below about the English sense of humour. Seven paragraphs have been
removed from the article. For questions 30–36, write letters A–G in the correct gap to show where each
paragraph belongs. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING EARNEST
English anthropologist Kate Fox analyses an aspect of her nation’s sense of humour
There is an awful lot of guff talked about the English sense of humour, including many patriotic attempts to
prove that our sense of humour is somehow unique and superior to everyone else’s. Many English people
seem to believe that we have some sort of global monopoly, if not on humour itself, then at least on certain
‘brands’ of humour—the high-class ones such as wit and especially irony. 30. _______
In other cultures, there is ‘a time and a place’ for humour; it is a special, separate kind of talk. In English
conversation, there is always an undercurrent of humour. We can barely manage to say ‘hel o’ or comment on
the weather without somehow contriving to make a bit of a joke out of it, and most English conversations will
involve at least some degree of banter, teasing, irony, understatement, humorous self-deprecation, mockery or just silliness. 31. _______
At the most basic level, an underlying rule in al English conversation is the proscription of ‘earnestness’.
Although we may not have a monopoly on humour, or even on irony, the English are probably more acutely
sensitive than any other nation to the difference between ‘serious’ and ‘solemn’, between ‘sincerity’ and ‘earnestness’.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 9 32. _______
Once you have become sufficiently sensitised to these fine nuances, the English ‘Importance of Not Being
Earnest’ rule is real y quite simple. Seriousness is acceptable, solemnity is prohibited. Sincerity is allowed,
earnestness is strictly forbidden. Pomposity and self-importance are outlawed. Serious matters can be spoken
of seriously, but one must never take oneself too seriously. 33. _______
To take a deliberately extreme example, the kind of hand-on-heart, gushing earnestness and pompous, Bible-
thumping solemnity favoured by almost all American politicians would never win a single vote in England—we
watch these speeches on our news programmes with a kind of detached and self-satisfied amusement,
wondering how the cheering crowds can possibly be so credulous as to fall for this sort of nonsense. 34. _______
We expect politicians to speak largely in platitudes, of course—ours are no different in this respect—it is the
earnestness that makes us wince. The same goes for the gushy, tearful speeches of American actors at the
Oscars and other awards ceremonies, to which English television viewers across the country all respond with
the same finger-down-throat ‘I’m going to be sick’ gesture. 35. _______
And Americans, although among the easiest to scoff at, are by no means the only targets of our cynical
censure. The sentimental patriotism of leaders and the portentous earnestness of writers, artists, actors,
musicians, pundits and other public figures of all nations are treated with equal derision by the English, who
can detect the slightest hint of self-importance at twenty paces, even on a grainy television picture and in a
language we don’t understand. 36. _______
And we are just as hard on each other, in ordinary everyday conversation, as we are on those in the public
eye. The tiniest sign that a speaker may be overdoing the intensity and crossing the fine line from sincerity to
earnestness wil be spotted and greeted with scornful cries of ‘Oh, come off it!’. In fact, if a country or culture
could be said to have a catchphrase, I would propose ‘Oh, come off it!’ as a strong candidate for England’s
national catchphrase. Jeremy Paxman’s candidate is ‘I know my rights’—well, he doesn’t actually use the term
catchphrase, but he refers to this one frequently, and it is the only such phrase that he includes in his personal
list of defining characteristics of Englishness. I take his point, and ‘I know my rights’ does beautifully
encapsulate a peculiarly English brand of stubborn individualism and a strong sense of justice. But I would
maintain that the armchair cynicism of ‘Oh, come off it!’ is more truly representative of the English psyche than
the bel igerent activism suggested by ‘I know my rights’. This may be why, as someone once said, the English
have satire instead of revolutions.
(Adapted from ‘Watching the English – The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour’ by Kate Fox) A
And with good reason, some may say. You wil rarely see these people’s English counterparts indulging in
such over-emotional, heart-on-sleeve displays—their acceptance speeches tend to be either short and
dignified, or self-deprecatingly humorous, and even so they nearly always manage to look uncomfortable and
embarrassed. Any English thespian who dares to break these unwritten rules is ridiculed and dismissed as a ‘luvvie’. B
Humour is our ‘default mode’ if you like: we do not have to switch it on deliberately, and we cannot switch it off.
For the English, the rules of humour are the cultural equivalent of natural laws—we obey them automatically,
rather in the way that we obey the law of gravity.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 10 C
My findings indicate that while there may indeed be something distinctive about English humour, the real
‘defining characteristic’ is the value we put on humour, the central importance of humour in English culture and social interactions. D
The ability to laugh at ourselves, although it may be deep-seated in a form of arrogance, is one of the more
endearing characteristics of the English. At least, I hope I am right about this if I have overestimated our ability
to laugh at ourselves, this book will be rather unpopular. E
The English ban on earnestness, and specifically on taking oneself too seriously, means that our own
dignitaries and celebrities have a particularly tough time. The sharp-eyed English public is even less tolerant of
any breaches of these rules on home ground, and even the smallest lapse will be picked up on immediately. F
The latter is in fact more appropriate, as the most noticeable and important ‘rule’ about humour in English
conversation is its dominance and pervasiveness. Humour rules. Humour governs. Humour is omnipresent and
omnipotent. I wasn’t even going to do a separate chapter on humour, because I knew that, like class, it
permeates every aspect of English life and culture, and would therefore just naturally crop up in different
contexts throughout the book. It did, but the trouble with English humour is that it is so pervasive that to convey
its role in our lives I would have to mention it in every other paragraph, which would eventually become
tedious—so it got its own chapter after all. G
This distinction is crucial to any kind of understanding of Englishness. I cannot emphasise this strongly
enough: if you are not able to grasp this subtle but vital point, you will never understand the English—and even
if you speak the language fluently, you will never feel or appear entirely at home in conversation with the
English. Your English may be impeccable, but your behavioural ‘grammar’ wil be full of glaring errors. H
When we are not feeling smugly disdainful, we are cringing with vicarious embarrassment: how can these
people bring themselves to utter such shamefully pretentious clichés, in such ludicrously solemn tones?
Reading Part 4: Read the article about a team of computer experts who fight cyber crime. For
questions 37–46, choose A, B, C or D to show which section of the article is referred to. THE HACKER HUNTERS
An elite battalion of largely twenty-something experts are on the front line of corporate cyber defence Section A
Somewhere deep within PwC’s doughnut-shaped headquarters in the shadow of London’s Tower Bridge, a
projection flickers on the whitewashed wall of a meeting room. Its uniform multi-coloured dots form an image
that would not look out of place on one of Damien Hirst’s production lines. But this is not art; it is science.
Each lilac and rose-coloured spot represents one step of a mesmerising track on the hunt for hackers. For the
members of PwC’s newest security team – a pack of cyber sleuths mostly still in their twenties – these bright
lights are flares of corporate danger.
The cyber response team at PwC, the professional services firm, is part of a broadening frontier in private
security. A growing number of companies are seeking protection against cyber fraud, activism and industrial
espionage, perpetrated by unseen enemies who can be thousands of miles away. PwC has responded in kind,
launching a hiring spree over the past two years to create an in-house battalion of more than 80 youthful
experts from across the UK and abroad. They are part of a world-class team: the firm’s cross-border cyber
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 11
security unit has been ranked number one globally in 2013 by Gartner, the independent information-technology research company.
The men who form its ranks are now tasked with a Sisyphean challenge: raise the barricades against
business-like crime gangs, teenage hacktivists and, increasingly, nations that deploy cyber troops as a way for
state-owned enterprises to compete on a global stage with the private sector. Section B
Cyber protection has become one of PwC’s fastest-growing revenue streams, according to the firm, fed in no
small part by the increasing number of such attacks and deepening sense of bewilderment and fear within
private corporations over who is profiting from these secret cyber wars.
“There’s blurring of the threat and a blurring of who’s behind it,” says David Garfield, managing director of
cyber security at BAE Systems Detica, which manages the cyber threat for the defence company and other
clients. “There used to be a clear delineation between the bedroom hackers, hacktivists, industrial espionage
and the state-sponsored stuff. Now there’s a blurring across all of these. Maybe one is recruited by the other.”
Hackers want to steal the secrets and money and damage the reputations of the companies they target.
Recent research shows their persistence pays: the UK Cabinet Office estimates that the cost of cyber crime to
the country’s economy alone reaches £27bn annual y, while a White House white paper on cyber policy this
year estimated that data theft to US businesses costs close to $1tn.
Inside the sleek glass corridors of PwC, John Berriman was one of the first in the firm to gauge the private
sector’s losses from cyber crime – and recognise the market potential in fighting it. Two years ago, Berriman –
a PwC lifer who looks more like the archetypal management consultant than some of his newest digital-
forensics recruits – began preaching to his fellow senior partners that investing in cyber specialists could
improve the firm’s bottom line. He has since been charged with doubling the integrated cyber teams’ revenues
over the next couple of years. Berriman now oversees every facet of PwC’s cyber crusade, from hiring front-
line analysts to solicitors who advise on data-protection laws to management consultants who are dispatched
to try to explain the various threats to the country’s top executives. Section C
Dan Kelly, a 28-year-old former farm boy turned forensic investigator of computer code, sees clues that form
what is known as threat intelligence. His team has pinpointed a one-man hack attack amid a string of dots, numbers and letters.
“This is malware that’s been tied to several campaigns, which targeted people in the western and eastern
hemispheres,” says Kelly, who left school at 16 having completed all his qualifications early. Malware is
shorthand for the malicious software that is the stock-in-trade of hackers worldwide. “What we’ve actual y
managed to do is tie the malware and the campaigns back to an individual.”
Kelly, an expert in reverse engineering – taking code apart to deduce its origin and purpose – points out that
the image projected on the team’s meeting room wall is also telegraphing something personal about his prime
suspect. Much like a graffiti artist, the hacker tagged his work, embedding his moniker within the malware. As
the malware spread, Kelly and the other crew members could see “that malware is now being used to target
human-rights activists, governments and industry. So it looks very, very much like it was state-sponsored.” Section D
Hiring the right talent has been among his biggest challenges – even for a man once responsible for PwC’s
“milk round” in the 1980s, when the firm would scour the UK’s best universities and try to lure their brightest
graduates. Cyber experts – some of whom try out for jobs in simulated sessions of “ethical hacking” or
“penetration testing”, where they attempt to hack into replications of companies’ systems to find any
vulnerabilities – are something of a breed apart for the conventional corporation, he says.
“Do we expect some of these younger tech-savvy people to adjust to our world of management consultants or
do we recognise that we have to change?” Berriman ponders. “A bit of each, I’d say.”
Stephen Page, who advises both the UK government and PwC on the digital issues facing boards, offers a slightly
more nuanced job description of what is needed in a tech detective, no matter the age. “We need people who are
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 12
not only technically agile but also people who are totally trustworthy. The kind of employees at PwC are the same
kind of people you see at GCHQ or the NCA,” referring respectively to the UK intel igence services’ signals and
communications arm, and to the UK’s new National Crime Agency, which targets cyber crime.
Sometimes, however, even government agencies’ trust can be misplaced, no matter the rigour of their
background checks – as in the case of Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor
whose actions have sparked a worldwide debate over privacy and security. PwC tries to ensure that leaks of
highly sensitive and classified information will never be perpetrated by any of its recruits by submitting them to
extensive interviews and background checks. Those who work on the most top-secret client information can be
subject to so-called developed vetting, which includes credit and criminal-record checks, scrutiny of references
and qualifications, and often requires the subject to have been resident in the UK for more than a decade.
Insider risk is all too real for the analysts within the cyber security team. For all the new technology they are
faced with, many cyber-enabled frauds or attacks they review rely on old-fashioned human vulnerabilities.
“The most dangerous cases from an organisational perspective are the volunteers [insiders] who want to give
information away,” explains Jay Choi, a polyglot 29-year-old who heads up the PwC cyber team’s “insider
threat” analysis. “But how, from an organisational point of view, you deal with that requires a different mindset altogether.” Section E
The poster boy of PwC’s cyber efforts is Kris McConkey, a 31-year-old who has been obsessed with
computers since primary school. McConkey – whose just-so hair, designer stubble and sharp shirts dispel any
notion of the hoodie- wearing geek – grew up on a family farm in a rural corner of Northern Ireland and bought his first computer at age 13.
The first thing he did, somewhat disconcertingly to his parents, was pull it apart. Luckily, the young teenager
also figured out how to fit all the pieces back together. Within the year, he was learning how to dissect
computer viruses and malware. By the time he left school, McConkey had set up his own software company.
“I was always trying to work out how stuff worked, and take things to bits – whether it was machinery, or radios
or anything – just to figure it out. I started doing that with computers, and with computer programs as well,” he
explains in a soft brogue. “I’ve pretty much done that either as a hobby or as my job for 16 years now; just
trying to work out what the bad guys are up to and how to defend against it.”
McConkey eventually became the first forensic technology employee at PwC’s Belfast outpost. He is now the
team’s elder statesman and heads up the London-headquartered cyber response team. His foot soldiers are
not PwC’s typical graduate recruits. Some have gone to university. Others didn’t bother; they already had
offers from the UK intelligence services. Some speak several languages. For most, only one language matters:
computer code. All use social media effortlessly and for them, the internet is like oxygen; an unremarkable,
unconscious part of life. […]
(Adapted from ‘Financial Times’)
In which section (A–E) does the writer mention the following? The sections may be chosen more than once.
37. a method of assessing the suitability of those wishing to join the team
38. a natural talent that has been put to good use
39. a stereotypical image not confirmed by the appearance of one team member
40. evidence that suggests the identity of one particular criminal
41. increasing levels of concern amongst those targeted by cyber criminals
42. one team member’s particular area of technical expertise
43. research that confirms the level of damage inflicted by cyber criminals
44. the decision to embark on an intensive recruitment campaign
45. the personal qualities required of potential team members
46. the visual representation of an ongoing investigation
Reading Part 5: Read four reviews of a book about self-help. For questions 47–50, choose from the
reviews A, B, C or D. The reviews may be chosen more than once.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 13 IMPROVING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Four reviews comment on Oliver McPherson self-help book called Journeys and Horizons A
The latest publication in the self-help genre is Journeys and Horizons, a guide to improving self-esteem and
achieving personal goals. In this, we are presented with a series of case studies, based on the interviews writer
Oliver McPherson has carried out with his subjects. While there is a story that wil reflect most people’s
experience, there are occasions when extreme claims are left unsubstantiated, as are unlikely statistics for
areas such as ‘the vital link between self-worth and longevity’. Then one wonders how much McPherson has
relied on the work of others in the field in order to lend his book more substance. He can also be harsh when it
comes to the reasons why people end up ‘demotivated and drifting’, placing the blame solely on an inadequate
upbringing and absolving the individual from any personal responsibility, although the rationale for this line of
thought is hard to pin down. Nonetheless, this is an accessible read, offering practical steps for confidence- building along the way. B
Each chapter of Journeys and Horizons begins with ‘a travel er’; which is how Oliver McPherson refers to the
people whose lives, decisions and accurate/erroneous evaluation of self form the basis of this self-help book.
According to McPherson, the choices they have made, or neglected to make, place them somewhere along the
spectrum of ‘highly effective’ to ‘extremely dysfunctional’, with the latter condition apparently the fault of poor
parenting skills. (Why this should be the case – when the opposite is not – is a point that McPherson does not
back up with hard evidence.) Chapters conclude with an analysis of the behaviours that reinforce each
person’s positive self-image, or impair it, and a set of sensible key strategies for ‘appreciating your own worth’
that can readily be put into practice. Unlike certain previous authors in the field, McPherson offers some
genuinely refreshing discernment in what creates a balanced ‘whole’ person, taking the reader with him on a
journey of honest self-reflection. C
In Journeys and Horizons, Oliver McPherson draws on earlier research into the area of self-esteem and how it
influences our responses to opportunities that present themselves in life: do we seize or dismiss them? While
not a particularly pioneering work, it is stil mostly an engaging one. The case studies of people ‘on the road to
personal success or the path to personal defeat’ are well-constructed and the interviews are poignant. Less
convincing are some of the strategies McPherson puts forward for dealing with self-confidence issues within
the family hierarchy. It is really worth challenging older siblings or confronting ageing parents with a list of their
behaviours you find detrimental to your well-being? McPherson has also rather limited his readership by
focusing on the middle-class and employed, a misjudgement, to my mind. Surely in times of recession it’s the
underprivileged and long-term out-of-work that need a boost? D
With the wealth of new titles jostling for position on the self-help shelf, it can be a challenge to pick out
something real y worth your attention. Oliver McPherson’s Journeys and Horizons may well be that candidate.
An evaluation of the requirements for positive self-image and personal achievement, the book offers little that
is new in terms of theory and concept, but readers wil appreciate McPherson’s unique blend of frank
assessment and consistent optimism. Life skills will be enhanced by following his simple recommendations;
strategies we already suspect may be effective but have never quite managed to put in place. For my part, if
the case studies presented had reflected a wider section of society, McPherson’s work might indeed merit a
public service award. All the same, an intelligent and inspiring read.
Which reviewer…?
47. expresses a different view from the others concerning the extent to which McPherson’s ideas are workable
48. expresses the same opinion as reviewer C regarding the scope of McPherson’s book
49. has a different view from the others on the originality of McPherson’s ideas
50. shares reviewer A’s opinion about the support McPherson offers for his beliefs
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 14 PAPER 4: WRITING (60 PTS.)
Part 1 (10 pts.): Read the following extract and use your own words to summarise it. Your summary
should be between 100 and 120 words long.
Initially seen purely as centres of entertainment, zoos were often heavily criticised in society
for keeping animals captive. Nowadays, however, zoos have a lot more to offer than perhaps
some people realise. Good zoos have changed their focus and are now responding to
environmental problems, such as the decline in wildlife and loss of habitat. Indeed, scientists
believe that a third of all animal and plant species on Earth risk extinction within this century.
The modern zoo, therefore, has developed dramatically as a major force in conserving
biodiversity worldwide. Zoos linked with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums participate in
Species Survival Plan Programmes, which involve captive breeding, reintroduction
programmes and public education to ensure the survival of many of the planet’s threatened and endangered species.
Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals outside their natural environment in
restricted conditions such as farms, zoos or other closed areas. It is a method used to
increase the populations of endangered species, in order to prevent extinction. One of the
main challenges facing captive breeding programmes, however, is maintaining genetic
diversity. Zoo staff are fully trained in this area, and manage the programmes carefully to ensure genetic variation.
Another way in which zoos protect endangered species is through reintroduction
programmes. These programmes release animals that have been in the zoo back into their natural habitats.
Finally, and perhaps most significantly, many zoos now concentrate on educating the public,
particularly the younger generation. These zoos educate millions of visitors each year about
endangered species and related conservation issues. Visiting the zoo not only raises money
for conservation projects, but also reminds individuals about environmental issues.
Part 2 (30 pts.): “Not all education can and should happen within the classroom.” To what
extent do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 15
Part 3 (20 pts.): The charts below show the result of a long-term survey carried out by an
environmental group into local wildlife population figures. Summarise the information by selecting and
reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Main reasons for wildlife population changes (2000–present) 3% Habitat destruction (43%) 6% 12% Pollution (21%) 43%
Overexploitation (hunting, fishing) (15%) 15%
Random factors (e.g. accidents) (12%) Disease (6%) 21%
Introduction of exotic species (3%)
Changes in population figures for wildlife observed (%) (2000–present) 30 Bats (23) 20 Foxes (9) Otters (9) 10
Sparrows (-5) Sand lizards (-6) 0 Water voles (-3) -10 Owls (-6) Skylarks (-8) Grass snakes (-8) Hedgehogs (-8) -20 -30 Salmon (-26) Trout (-29) -40 Butterflies (-42) Bees (-43) -50 Freshwater fish Birds Reptiles Insects Mammals Aquatic mammals THE END
(Cán bộ coi thi không được giải thích gì thêm)
Họ và tên thí sinh:………………………………………
Số báo danh:………………………….
Kì thi thành lập đội tuyển lớp 12 dự thi HSGQG-Môn Tiếng Anh- 2018_2019 Trang 16