Đề Thi Chọn Học Sinh Giỏi Lớp 11 THPT Tỉnh Hà Tĩnh Năm Học 2010-2011 Không Đáp Án

Đề Thi Chọn Học Sinh Giỏi lớp 11 THPT tỉnh Hà Tĩnh năm học 2010-2011 không có đáp án là nguồn tài liệu quan trọng, giúp học sinh thử thách và kiểm tra kiến thức của mình. Đề thi mang lại cơ hội cho học sinh rèn luyện và chuẩn bị cho những thách thức học thuật sắp tới.

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ TĨNH
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC
(Đề thi gồm 5 trang)
KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI TỈNH LỚP 11
NĂM HỌC: 2010 - 2011
MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
THỜI GIAN LÀM BÀI: 180 PHÚT
Lưu ý: Thí sinh làm bài vào tờ giấy thi
A. LEXICO – GRAMMAR
I. Choose the best option A, B, C or D to complete the following questions.
1. According to the …………………… of the contract, tenants must give six months notice if
they intend to leave.
A. laws B. rules C. terms D. details
2. Please accept our …………………….. congratulations!
A. finest B. warmest C. dearest D. deepest
3. It is difficult for museums to find funds to protect the nation's …………………
A. inheritance B. heritage C. possessions D. legacy
4. A part-time job gives me the freedom to ………………. my own interests.
A. pursue B. chase C. seek D. catch
5. In his first game for Newcastle, Keegan ………………. a goal after 58 minutes.
A. scored B. won C. earned D. gained
6. ………………….. to China, if you had the chance?
A. Do you go B. You go C. Had you gone D. Would you go
7. It ………………. a lot of patience to be a nurse.
A. uses B. takes C. spends D. costs
8. She had to pass all her exams or ________ she would have no holiday.
A. instead B. else C. therefore D. though
9. " How's Karen today?" "She is feeling …………………….. she was yesterday."
A. better slightly than B. slight better than C. slightly better than D. slightly better
10. "Is Tom a good worker?" "He …………………….. what he starts."
A. never almost finishes B. finishes almost ever
C. almost never finishes D. finishes never almost
II. In most lines of the text, there is an extra word. Write the extra word or put a tick () in
the gap if a line is correct. (0) and (00) have been done as examples.
There were eight of us in my family. We lived by in a very 0.………by…….
small house. It was always untidy because we left our toys 00.…..…
……..
lying down around. At first, our parents picked our things up 1.………………
of for us. But eventually they decided not to put up with 2.………………
our untidiness any longer. They worked up out an original way 3.………………
to make it tidier. They placed one big box by on the front door 4.………………
for all the things that we dropped by on our way into the house 5.………………
from the garden. Each of us had our own personal box indoors, 6.………………
too. So, when anyone tidied the house, they could put with things 7.………………
into boxes instead of taking them upstairs. Our parents made 8.………………
us to pay a fine if we didn't pick up our things. We hated this 9.………………
punishment more than being told it off. We didn't get much pocket 10.………………
money and didn't want to waste it up on fines. So we sat down 11.………………
and worked out a schedule for tidying the house. We took off 12.………………
turns cleaning and made out sure the house was tidy when our 13.………………
parents came home. We have all grown it up and left home now 14.………………
but we agree that our parents definitely had the right idea. 15.………………
III. Write the correct FORM of each bracketed word in the numbered spaces . (0) has been
done as an example.
JOB INTERVIEWS
1
Interviews are an (0. PERFECT) method of choosing the best people 0. imperfect
for jobs, yet human (1. BE) like to examine each other in this way. 1……………….
One of the many problems of (2. SELECT) as it is commonly practised 2……………….
is that the forms filled in by (3. APPLY) often fail to show people as 3……………….
they really are. This means that you can follow all the best (4. ADVISE) 4……………….
when completing your form and still find that you are (5. SUCCESS) 5……………….
at the next stage - the interview. (6. SIMILAR) in the rare cases where 6……………….
interviews are automatic, a candidate with an (7. ADEQUATE) form 7……………….
may do surprisingly well.
Of course, your form needs to show that you have (8. CONFIDENT) in 8……………….
your (9. ABLE) to do the job, but don't try to turn yourself into someone 9……………….
else - a person you have to pretend to be at the interview. Realism and
(10. HONEST) are definitely the best approach. 10……………….
IV. Supply the correct form of the VERBS in block capitals in brackets to complete the
passage.
My friends Paul and Ellen (1. RETURN, just) ………… from their honeymoon in
Europe. Before they (2. LEAVE) ……….. New York, I (3. GIVE) ………. them my brother’s
address in Switzerland in the hope that they (4. VISIT) ……… him and his family.
When I (5. GO) ……… to call on the newly-weds last Tuesday night, they told me how much
they (6. ENJOY) ……… travelling around Europe and that we (7. LOOK, soon) …..….. at the
colour slides they (8. TAKE) ………. They also gave me greetings from my brother and assured
me that it (9. BE) …………a great pleasure for them (10. MEET) ……. my relatives.
B. READING COMPREHENSION
I. Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.
Margarine
Napoleon III of France was (0).A……. for the invention of the butter substitute known as
margarine. He was looking for a cheap (1) ……… to butter for the poorer people of society, and
for his army and navy. So he (2) ............... up a prize competition to see who would (3) ...............
up with the best solution.
There was only one (4) ................. into this competition, from a man called Meges
Mouries. He had (5) ................ over two years experimenting, and finally found an acceptable
butter substitute made from milk and various animal fats. It tasted quite pleasant, and spread well
on bread, but it was (6) ............. white. (7) ………its colour, Meges Mouries’ invention was
awarded the prize. Yellow colouring was added to it at a (8) ............. date.
Margarine soon went into mass (9) ............... and was exported all over the world. In
Britain it was called 'Butterine', until protests from farmers (10) ............. to that name being
made illegal. Farmers in America were not happy (11) ………....the new arrival on the market
either. They (12) …….....to the yellow colouring, saying that it made it resemble butter so (13)
……….. that it could deceive consumers.
In effect, Napoleon III's competition is still going on. The ultimate (14) ........... of every
margarine manufacturer is to produce a product that is (15) ………… to distinguish from butter.
And they keep trying.
0. A responsible B original C fundamental D vital
1. A option B replacement C alternative D choice
2.A set B took C gave D put
3.A make B bring C go D come
4.A competitor B player C attempt D entry
5.A used B spent C tried D made
6.A clear B pure C true D perfect
7.A Despite B Although C However D Nevertheless
8.A further B longer C later D farther
9.A production B creation C industry D construction
10.A changed B ended C brought D led
11.A over B about C at D for
2
12. A protested B objected C disagreed D argued
13. A justly B nearly C rightly D closely
14. A end B score C goal D finish
15. A impractical B unable C impossible D incapable
II. Read the following passage and answer the questions by choosing one answer A, B, C or
D only.
Long-haul flights have just got longer, with a non-stop flight from Singapore to New York now
in operation. But 18 hours in the air creates its own challenges. A lot of preparation goes into the
ultra long-haul flight. The air craft is specifically designed for the journey with more space and
extensive entertainment services. The flight crews are also specially trained.
The seasoned traveler is also more aware of the health risks associated with a flight that covers
as much as 16.600 km (10.310 miles) in distance. Exposure to lower oxygen levels for up to 18,
maybe 20, hours is abnormal for the human body. With deep vein thrombosis (DVT) the
problem really starts occurring after 12 hours (in-flight). This could lead to an increase in heart
attack.
Doctors believe that prevention is better than cure when it comes to in-flight health. Passengers
on ultra long-range flights need to be provided with flight socks and, if necessary, tablets for
thinning the blood. It is not just the health and vitality of the passenger that is at stake on a flight
of this length, but also that of the flight crew. “They give us training on fatigue management and
how to adjust to the local time in New York and to exercise, as well as take care of our diet and
eat lightly in-flight,” says Linda Wu, a stewardess on Singapore Airlines.
However, passengers are trading in health concerns for convenience. An extra-long flight means
passengers do not need to break up their journey and change planes. “They like to board once,
de-plane once. It is saving time,” says James Williams from Singapore Airlines. “From Los
Angeles to Singapore, passengers are saving two and a half hours. And to New York passengers
are saving up to four hours in flying time.”
Thai Airways is also launching a non-stop service to New York from Bangkok next June to
compete with Singapore Airlines. It is planning a similar service to Chicago, Cathay Pacific,
Continental, Qantas and Emirates Airlines also offer flights that are more than 14 hours in
duration. However, there is still a question of whether longer non-stop flight will become
popular.
“They will certainly have a role in the future of aviation, there is no doubt about it. People will
prefer to fly non-stop if it is available,” says Chris Johnson, an airline analyst. “But we are
reaching the limits. These markets are at the very margin of aviation. Most airlines still fly in the
eight to 12-hour sector. This is still where the biggest volume in traffic is.”
Avery believes that geography will determine the demand for the ultra long-haul flight and that
worldwide appeal for this type of flight is unlikely. “Asia is where the demand is for the ultra
long-haul flight. They are connecting Asian cities to the U.S. East Coast, which is the big
market,” he explains. “The routes that connect most places that European business travelers go
do not need a capacity and endurance to fly 18 hours – this is the same for U.S. carriers.”
1. Why are longer flights potentially harmful to passengers and crew?
A. Because there isn’t as much oxygen in the air.
B. People will get bored more easily.
C. Long periods of inactivity will damage their bones.
2. What are flight socks?
A. Special socks to keep the plane free of harmful bacteria
B. One of the preventive measures planned by airlines
C. Socks that stop your blood getting too thin
3
3. Which of the following methods of countering the health problems caused by long flight is
NOT mentioned?
A. How best to cope with jet lag
B. Advice on food consumption during a flight
C. Advice on drinking alcohol
4. What are the advantages of longer flights?
A. There are less problems with jet lag.
B. Passengers save time.
C. Passengers get a good break between flights.
5. Where is the market for longer flights expected to develop?
A. Between Europe and America
B. Between Asia and America
C. Between Asia and Europe
6. What is closest in meaning to “long-haul flight”?
A. A flight that is non-stop
B. A flight that lasts longer than 12 hours
C. A flight that covers a significant distance
7. What opinion on the perspective of extra-long flights does the author most likely support?
A. A great demand for extra-long flights will be developed.
B. Geographical factor will affect the need for extra-long flights.
C. Extra-long flights will lose its attraction very soon.
III. You are going to read an article about ice skating. Choose the most
suitable heading from the list A-I for each part (1-8) of the article. There is
one extra heading which you do not need to use.
A Preparing yourself
B The benefits of the sport
C When things go wrong
D Different skating techniques
E A change in approach
F The right attitude
G Moving off
H Holding your body correctly
I How it all started
1. ______________
Ice skating has a history of thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered skates made
from animal bone. It seems that bone skates were used until the introduction of iron into
Scandinavia about the year 200 AD. Among the Scandinavian upper classes, skating was seen as
an essential skill.
2. ______________
In the early twentieth century, skating was stylish and reserved, but at the 1924 Winter
Olympics, 11-year-old Sonja Henie introduced a more athletics attitude which inspired a new
wave of popularity. Nowadays art and athletics are combined and modern skating is both
graceful and physically demanding.
3. ________________
For the beginner, balance and control are all important and speed can only increase with
proficiency. The position of your body plays a great part in balance. Legs slightly bowed and the
knees bent keep the body weight centred; in effect the body leans slightly forward in this
position. For skating, probably more than any other sport or recreation, relaxation is vital.
4. ________________
For the starting position, the heels should almost be touching and the feet should be turned
outwards. While pushing toward with the back foot, you make a very small movement with the
4
other foot. Fairly easy, isn’t it? If you can keep this up for a while, you can then slowly increase
the length of your movements as you gain experience.
5. ________________
Knowing how to fall must be learnt among the skater’s first skills. Even the best of the
professionals fall. In order to fall without injury, you should be as relaxed as possible. In this
way the shock of hitting the ice is lessened. To get up, use your hands to get into a kneeling
position, then stand.
6. _______________
Once you have learnt to move on the ice with confidence, there are various styles to be
practiced – figure skating, free style, distance, speed, skating in pairs, and so on – but the basis of
them all, and by far the best approach, is first to learn figure skating and then elementary
freestyle. With proper guidance available at most of the ice rinks, the basic figures can soon be
learnt and the turns, jumps, and spins of elementary free style will soon follow.
7. _______________
If you look at any good or professional skater, you will see how relaxed they are and how
easily they move. To achieve this, an exercise programme should be regularly practiced. It can
be dangerous to skate with a stiff body and warm up exercises should at least include those for
the legs, back and shoulders, with special emphasis on the ankles and the knees. After a long or
intense session, the same exercises should be used afterwards to avoid stiffness.
8. _______________
Skating improves balance, co-ordination, relaxation and movement. It improves heart
and lung activity and generally strengthens the body. Combined with swimming or jogging, it
provides a great programme for all-round health and fitness.
IV. Read the passage and fill in each gap with ONE suitable word.
Students frequently complain (1) ………… studying for hours on (2) ………..… and
then not doing well in their final exams. Many factors can (3) …………. in poor performances:
(4) ………… illness or a personal problem. Getting high grades can also put a terrible strain on
students (5) ……… don't want to let their parents down.
Can students' knowledge be judged by a (6) ………. exam? Certainly not! If we want to
be fair, students ought to be (7) ………… on a regular basic. So does that mean more exams?
Yes, but (8) ………. many written ones. In many countries, students do not have to take written
exams (9) ………… they don't want to, they are (10) ………………… to take oral ones instead.
This seems to be a fairer way of assessing understanding, not just testing it.
D. WRITING
I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible in
meaning to the original sentence. Use the word given and other words as necessary. Do not
change the form of the given word.
1. June was sure there was no mistake in her homework. (NOTHING)
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Although the weather changed, the picnic went ahead as planned. (CHANGE)
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. I advise you to think carefully before accepting William's offer. (BETTER)
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Apparently, Sheila wasn't listening to me. (APPEAR)
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Margaret was offered a place on the course but couldn't accept because she was ill. (TURN)
………………………………………………………………………………………
II. Write a composition of around 250 words in order to answer the following question:
It is very important that children should study hard at school. Time spent studying on the
Internet is time wasted. Do you agree or disagree? State the reasons for your answer.
==== The End ====
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Preview text:

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HÀ TĨNH
KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI TỈNH LỚP 11 NĂM HỌC: 2010 - 2011 ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
(Đề thi gồm 5 trang)
THỜI GIAN LÀM BÀI: 180 PHÚT
Lưu ý: Thí sinh làm bài vào tờ giấy thi A. LEXICO – GRAMMAR
I. Choose the best option A, B, C or D to complete the following questions.
1. According to the …………………… of the contract, tenants must give six months notice if they intend to leave. A. laws B. rules C. terms D. details
2. Please accept our …………………….. congratulations! A. finest B. warmest C. dearest D. deepest
3. It is difficult for museums to find funds to protect the nation's ………………… A. inheritance B. heritage C. possessions D. legacy
4. A part-time job gives me the freedom to ………………. my own interests. A. pursue B. chase C. seek D. catch
5. In his first game for Newcastle, Keegan ………………. a goal after 58 minutes. A. scored B. won C. earned D. gained
6. ………………….. to China, if you had the chance? A. Do you go B. You go C. Had you gone D. Would you go
7. It ………………. a lot of patience to be a nurse. A. uses B. takes C. spends D. costs
8. She had to pass all her exams or ________ she would have no holiday. A. instead B. else C. therefore D. though
9. " How's Karen today?" "She is feeling …………………….. she was yesterday."
A. better slightly than B. slight better than
C. slightly better than D. slightly better
10. "Is Tom a good worker?" "He …………………….. what he starts." A. never almost finishes B. finishes almost ever C. almost never finishes D. finishes never almost
II. In most lines of the text, there is an extra word. Write the extra word or put a tick () in
the gap if a line is correct. (0) and (00) have been done as examples.
There were eight of us in my family. We lived by in a very
0.………by…….
small house. It was always untidy because we left our toys 00.…..………..
lying down around. At first, our parents picked our things up 1.………………
of for us. But eventually they decided not to put up with 2.………………
our untidiness any longer. They worked up out an original way 3.………………
to make it tidier. They placed one big box by on the front door 4.………………
for all the things that we dropped by on our way into the house 5.………………
from the garden. Each of us had our own personal box indoors, 6.………………
too. So, when anyone tidied the house, they could put with things 7.………………
into boxes instead of taking them upstairs. Our parents made 8.………………
us to pay a fine if we didn't pick up our things. We hated this 9.………………
punishment more than being told it off. We didn't get much pocket 10.………………
money and didn't want to waste it up on fines. So we sat down 11.………………
and worked out a schedule for tidying the house. We took off 12.………………
turns cleaning and made out sure the house was tidy when our 13.………………
parents came home. We have all grown it up and left home now 14.………………
but we agree that our parents definitely had the right idea. 15.………………
III. Write the correct FORM of each bracketed word in the numbered spaces . (0) has been done as an example. JOB INTERVIEWS 1
Interviews are an (0. PERFECT) method of choosing the best people 0. imperfect
for jobs, yet human (1. BE) like to examine each other in this way. 1……………….
One of the many problems of (2. SELECT) as it is commonly practised 2……………….
is that the forms filled in by (3. APPLY) often fail to show people as 3……………….
they really are. This means that you can follow all the best (4. ADVISE) 4……………….
when completing your form and still find that you are (5. SUCCESS) 5……………….
at the next stage - the interview. (6. SIMILAR) in the rare cases where 6……………….
interviews are automatic, a candidate with an (7. ADEQUATE) form 7………………. may do surprisingly well.
Of course, your form needs to show that you have (8. CONFIDENT) in 8……………….
your (9. ABLE) to do the job, but don't try to turn yourself into someone 9……………….
else - a person you have to pretend to be at the interview. Realism and
(10. HONEST) are definitely the best approach. 10……………….
IV. Supply the correct form of the VERBS in block capitals in brackets to complete the passage.
My friends Paul and Ellen (1. RETURN, just) ………… from their honeymoon in
Europe. Before they (2. LEAVE) ……….. New York, I (3. GIVE) ………. them my brother’s
address in Switzerland in the hope that they (4. VISIT) ……… him and his family.
When I (5. GO) ……… to call on the newly-weds last Tuesday night, they told me how much
they (6. ENJOY) ……… travelling around Europe and that we (7. LOOK, soon) …..….. at the
colour slides they (8. TAKE) ………. They also gave me greetings from my brother and assured
me that it (9. BE) …………a great pleasure for them (10. MEET) ……. my relatives. B. READING COMPREHENSION
I. Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.
Margarine
Napoleon III of France was (0).A……. for the invention of the butter substitute known as
margarine. He was looking for a cheap (1) ……… to butter for the poorer people of society, and
for his army and navy. So he (2) ............... up a prize competition to see who would (3) ............... up with the best solution.
There was only one (4) ................. into this competition, from a man called Meges
Mouries. He had (5) ................ over two years experimenting, and finally found an acceptable
butter substitute made from milk and various animal fats. It tasted quite pleasant, and spread well
on bread, but it was (6) ............. white. (7) ………its colour, Meges Mouries’ invention was
awarded the prize. Yellow colouring was added to it at a (8) ............. date.
Margarine soon went into mass (9) ............... and was exported all over the world. In
Britain it was called 'Butterine', until protests from farmers (10) ............. to that name being
made illegal. Farmers in America were not happy (11) ………....the new arrival on the market
either. They (12) …….....to the yellow colouring, saying that it made it resemble butter so (13)
……….. that it could deceive consumers.
In effect, Napoleon III's competition is still going on. The ultimate (14) ........... of every
margarine manufacturer is to produce a product that is (15) ………… to distinguish from butter. And they keep trying. 0. A responsible B original C fundamental D vital 1. A option B replacement C alternative D choice 2.A set B took C gave D put 3.A make B bring C go D come 4.A competitor B player C attempt D entry 5.A used B spent C tried D made 6.A clear B pure C true D perfect 7.A Despite B Although C However D Nevertheless 8.A further B longer C later D farther 9.A production B creation C industry D construction 10.A changed B ended C brought D led 11.A over B about C at D for 2 12. A protested B objected C disagreed D argued 13. A justly B nearly C rightly D closely 14. A end B score C goal D finish 15. A impractical B unable C impossible D incapable
II. Read the following passage and answer the questions by choosing one answer A, B, C or D only.
Long-haul flights have just got longer, with a non-stop flight from Singapore to New York now
in operation. But 18 hours in the air creates its own challenges. A lot of preparation goes into the
ultra long-haul flight. The air craft is specifically designed for the journey with more space and
extensive entertainment services. The flight crews are also specially trained.
The seasoned traveler is also more aware of the health risks associated with a flight that covers
as much as 16.600 km (10.310 miles) in distance. Exposure to lower oxygen levels for up to 18,
maybe 20, hours is abnormal for the human body. With deep vein thrombosis (DVT) the
problem really starts occurring after 12 hours (in-flight). This could lead to an increase in heart attack.
Doctors believe that prevention is better than cure when it comes to in-flight health. Passengers
on ultra long-range flights need to be provided with flight socks and, if necessary, tablets for
thinning the blood. It is not just the health and vitality of the passenger that is at stake on a flight
of this length, but also that of the flight crew. “They give us training on fatigue management and
how to adjust to the local time in New York and to exercise, as well as take care of our diet and
eat lightly in-flight,” says Linda Wu, a stewardess on Singapore Airlines.
However, passengers are trading in health concerns for convenience. An extra-long flight means
passengers do not need to break up their journey and change planes. “They like to board once,
de-plane once. It is saving time,” says James Williams from Singapore Airlines. “From Los
Angeles to Singapore, passengers are saving two and a half hours. And to New York passengers
are saving up to four hours in flying time.”
Thai Airways is also launching a non-stop service to New York from Bangkok next June to
compete with Singapore Airlines. It is planning a similar service to Chicago, Cathay Pacific,
Continental, Qantas and Emirates Airlines also offer flights that are more than 14 hours in
duration. However, there is still a question of whether longer non-stop flight will become popular.
“They will certainly have a role in the future of aviation, there is no doubt about it. People will
prefer to fly non-stop if it is available,” says Chris Johnson, an airline analyst. “But we are
reaching the limits. These markets are at the very margin of aviation. Most airlines still fly in the
eight to 12-hour sector. This is still where the biggest volume in traffic is.”
Avery believes that geography will determine the demand for the ultra long-haul flight and that
worldwide appeal for this type of flight is unlikely. “Asia is where the demand is for the ultra
long-haul flight. They are connecting Asian cities to the U.S. East Coast, which is the big
market,” he explains. “The routes that connect most places that European business travelers go
do not need a capacity and endurance to fly 18 hours – this is the same for U.S. carriers.”
1. Why are longer flights potentially harmful to passengers and crew?
A. Because there isn’t as much oxygen in the air.
B. People will get bored more easily.
C. Long periods of inactivity will damage their bones. 2. What are flight socks?
A. Special socks to keep the plane free of harmful bacteria
B. One of the preventive measures planned by airlines
C. Socks that stop your blood getting too thin 3
3. Which of the following methods of countering the health problems caused by long flight is NOT mentioned?
A. How best to cope with jet lag
B. Advice on food consumption during a flight C. Advice on drinking alcohol
4. What are the advantages of longer flights?
A. There are less problems with jet lag. B. Passengers save time.
C. Passengers get a good break between flights.
5. Where is the market for longer flights expected to develop? A. Between Europe and America B. Between Asia and America C. Between Asia and Europe
6. What is closest in meaning to “long-haul flight”? A. A flight that is non-stop
B. A flight that lasts longer than 12 hours
C. A flight that covers a significant distance
7. What opinion on the perspective of extra-long flights does the author most likely support?
A. A great demand for extra-long flights will be developed.
B. Geographical factor will affect the need for extra-long flights.
C. Extra-long flights will lose its attraction very soon.
III. You are going to read an article about ice skating. Choose the most
suitable heading from the list A-I for each part (1-8) of the article. There is
one extra heading which you do not need to use.
A Preparing yourself B The benefits of the sport C When things go wrong D Different skating techniques E A change in approach F The right attitude G Moving off H Holding your body correctly I How it all started 1. ______________
Ice skating has a history of thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered skates made
from animal bone. It seems that bone skates were used until the introduction of iron into
Scandinavia about the year 200 AD. Among the Scandinavian upper classes, skating was seen as an essential skill. 2. ______________
In the early twentieth century, skating was stylish and reserved, but at the 1924 Winter
Olympics, 11-year-old Sonja Henie introduced a more athletics attitude which inspired a new
wave of popularity. Nowadays art and athletics are combined and modern skating is both
graceful and physically demanding. 3. ________________
For the beginner, balance and control are all important and speed can only increase with
proficiency. The position of your body plays a great part in balance. Legs slightly bowed and the
knees bent keep the body weight centred; in effect the body leans slightly forward in this
position. For skating, probably more than any other sport or recreation, relaxation is vital. 4. ________________
For the starting position, the heels should almost be touching and the feet should be turned
outwards. While pushing toward with the back foot, you make a very small movement with the 4
other foot. Fairly easy, isn’t it? If you can keep this up for a while, you can then slowly increase
the length of your movements as you gain experience. 5. ________________
Knowing how to fall must be learnt among the skater’s first skills. Even the best of the
professionals fall. In order to fall without injury, you should be as relaxed as possible. In this
way the shock of hitting the ice is lessened. To get up, use your hands to get into a kneeling position, then stand. 6. _______________
Once you have learnt to move on the ice with confidence, there are various styles to be
practiced – figure skating, free style, distance, speed, skating in pairs, and so on – but the basis of
them all, and by far the best approach, is first to learn figure skating and then elementary
freestyle. With proper guidance available at most of the ice rinks, the basic figures can soon be
learnt and the turns, jumps, and spins of elementary free style will soon follow. 7. _______________
If you look at any good or professional skater, you will see how relaxed they are and how
easily they move. To achieve this, an exercise programme should be regularly practiced. It can
be dangerous to skate with a stiff body and warm up exercises should at least include those for
the legs, back and shoulders, with special emphasis on the ankles and the knees. After a long or
intense session, the same exercises should be used afterwards to avoid stiffness. 8. _______________
Skating improves balance, co-ordination, relaxation and movement. It improves heart
and lung activity and generally strengthens the body. Combined with swimming or jogging, it
provides a great programme for all-round health and fitness.
IV. Read the passage and fill in each gap with ONE suitable word.
Students frequently complain (1) ………… studying for hours on (2) ………..… and
then not doing well in their final exams. Many factors can (3) …………. in poor performances:
(4) ………… illness or a personal problem. Getting high grades can also put a terrible strain on
students (5) ……… don't want to let their parents down.
Can students' knowledge be judged by a (6) ………. exam? Certainly not! If we want to
be fair, students ought to be (7) ………… on a regular basic. So does that mean more exams?
Yes, but (8) ………. many written ones. In many countries, students do not have to take written
exams (9) ………… they don't want to, they are (10) ………………… to take oral ones instead.
This seems to be a fairer way of assessing understanding, not just testing it. D. WRITING
I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible in
meaning to the original sentence. Use the word given and other words as necessary. Do not
change the form of the given word.
1. June was sure there was no mistake in her homework. (NOTHING)
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Although the weather changed, the picnic went ahead as planned. (CHANGE)
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. I advise you to think carefully before accepting William's offer. (BETTER)
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Apparently, Sheila wasn't listening to me. (APPEAR)
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Margaret was offered a place on the course but couldn't accept because she was ill. (TURN)
………………………………………………………………………………………
II. Write a composition of around 250 words in order to answer the following question:
It is very important that children should study hard at school. Time spent studying on the
Internet is time wasted. Do you agree or disagree? State the reasons for your answer.

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