Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi lớp 12 THPT tỉnh Nghệ An năm học 2020-2021 môn Tiếng Anh - Bảng A

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI TỈNH LỚP 12 NGHỆ AN NĂM HỌC 2020 - 2021
Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH - BẢNG A Đề chính thức
Thời gian: 150 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
(Đề gồm 13 trang) ĐIỂM
HỌ TÊN, CHỮ KÍ GIÁM KHẢO SỐ PHÁCH
Bằng số:…………………………………..
Giám khảo 1: ………………………………………
Bằng chữ:………………..……………….
Giám khảo 2: ………………………………………
SECTION A. LISTENING (50 points)
Part 1. You will hear a student talking about his taste in music. For questions 1-13, listen and
complete the text below by writing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS in the spaces provided.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
My taste in music is quite (1) _________ and there isn’t really one style of music that I like. I listen to
everything from (2) _________ music to classical. Music plays a very important role in my life, and I
listen to it almost constantly. I find that it helps to set or to (3) _________. So, I tend to choose my
music according to who I’m with or what I’m doing. For example, if I’m driving long distances in my
car, I prefer to play something stimulating to help (4) _________. But if I’m having a dinner party with
friends, then I play something more (5) _________. I think that music helps to inspire me when I’m
working, although my colleagues find it (6) _________ so I tend to listen with headphones on. In that
way I can escape into my (7) _________. When I was younger, I would (8) _________ have said that I
preferred live music. The atmosphere in a live concert can be electric. Nowadays, though, a lot of
popular groups only perform at very (9) _________ in front of audiences of 20,000 or more and I don’t
really like that. I prefer the (10) _________ of listening to recorded music and the sound quality is better
as well. Music really (11) _________ our lives - it can turn a boring, (12) _________ period of time into
a magical experience, so I think it’s essential to have music and, in fact, all of the arts in your life. Your answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Part 2. You will hear a radio review by a man called Graham Woodson, who recently tested the
Wii Fit software. For questions 13-22, decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false
(F). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
13. The people that Graham works with enjoy food like energy bars and vegetable juice.
14. Graham tried out Wii Fit in his office.
15. Some people think that the boxing game on Wii Fit makes players look silly.
16. Both Graham and his mum have played tennis on Wii Fit.
17. When he was young, Graham liked reading science fiction.
18. In real life, Graham is 55 years old.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 1
19. Graham’s girlfriend laughed when he said he was taking up yoga.
20. Wii Fit has improved Graham’s agility and posture.
21. Graham would recommend Wii Fit to sportspeople.
22. Graham once hurt his pet’s legs while using Wii Fit. Your answers: 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Part 3. You will hear part of an interview with Harold Mackenzie, who has written a book about
early adolescence. For questions 23-30, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best
according to what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
23. When is Harold’s book “Talking to Pre-teens” coming out? A. This month B. This year C. Next month D. Next year
24. According to Harold, a pre-teen is a child aged between _______. A. eight and nine B. eight and ten C. eight and eleven D. eight and twelve
25. According to Harold, what is the main reason pre-teens are receiving more publicity?
A. Psychologists now understand the importance of the pre-teen years.
B. A great deal of research is being done into the way children develop.
C. Pre-teens are now demanding more attention from the media.
D. People now realize pre-teens have economic power.
26. Harold suggests that pre-teens ______
A. cannot keep up with their peers.
B. start to choose their own clothes. C. develop unusual tastes.
D. become more aware of their image.
27. Harold claims friendships are important to pre-teens because ______
A. these relationships help them establish their identities.
B. the children are beginning to rebel against their families.
C. friends are starting to replace family members.
D. the children are now capable of reacting to other people.
28. He suggests that an alternative method of academic evaluation would ______
A. enable parents to be more supportive.
B. be more effective than examinations.
C. mean less stress for pre-teens.
D. delay the onset of tension in adolescence.
29. How does he suggest parents can help pre-teens develop confidence?
A. by allowing them to buy whatever they like
B. by allowing them a certain degree of independence
C. by allowing them to make decisions about their spare time
D. by allowing them to control unimportant aspects of their lives
30. According to Harold, what is the greatest challenge facing parents of pre-teens?
A. deciding what kinds of toys to buy for their children
B. developing the correct approach to material possessions
C. establishing a way of communicating effectively with their children
D. discovering what kind of help their children really need Your answers: 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 2
SECTION B. LEXICO – GRAMMAR (20 points)
Part 1. Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences. Write A, B, C or D in
the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. The new principal is young and has little experience. ______, I believe that he has the strength of will to make our school the best. A. Despite B. However C. While D. Although
2. The _______ from the event were to be given to central Vietnam flood victims. A. savings B. earnings C. proceeds D. winnings
3. I really must take ______ with what you just said because I think it’s very wrong. A. heart B. part C. issue D. difference
4. The ground hostess ______ to my sister was very well informed and did her best to help sort out the problem. A. talking B. who talking C. was talking D. talked
5. I think Sarah deserves the promotion. She’s such a(n) ______ worker. A. scrupulous B. detailed C. meticulous D. accurate
6. We are currently developing a new system to ______ up-to-date information on the epidemic. A. disseminate B. disperse C. dispel D. dissolve
7. When his family stopped at the lion’s enclosure, the young boy ______ in wonder at the fierce- looking animals. A. glanced B. gazed C. squinted D. glimpsed
8. Our school’s new syllabus should be designed in ______ with our students’ needs and interests. A. accordance B. relation C. collaboration D. response
9. To get a good bargain you will need to ______ so that you have a good idea what is available on the market. A. shop around B. turn up C. go off D. sell out
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
10. The man’s immune system was so run down when he contracted the corona virus that it took him ages to recuperate. A. recover B. deteriorate C. emerge D. vanish
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
11. Doctors and nurses of this hospital have worked round the clock to help those injured in the recent earthquake. A. permanently B. interruptedly C. continuously D. accurately
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the sentence that best completes each of the following exchanges
12. Mary is talking to her professor in his office.
Mary: “Can you tell me how to find material for my science report, professor?” Professor: “___________”
A. I like it that you understand. B. Try your best, Mary.
C. You can borrow books from the library. D. You mean the podcasts from other students? Your answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 3
Part 2. Read the passage below, which contains 8 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and write the
corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes. Line 1
The market for tourism in remote areas is booming as ever before. Countries all across the 2
world is actively promoting their ‘wilderness’ regions such as mountains, Arctic lands, deserts, 3
small islands and wetlands to potential tourists. The attraction of these areas is obvious: by 4
defining, wilderness tourism requires little or no initial investment. But that does not mean that 5
there is no cost. Like the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development recognized, 6
these regions are fragile (i.e. highly vulnerable of abnormal pressures) not just in terms of the 7
culture of their inhabitants. The three most significant types of fragile environment in these 8
respects are deserts, mountains and Arctic areas. An important characteristic is their marked 9
seasonality. Consequently, most human actions, including tourism, are limited to clear defined 10 parts of the year. 11
Tourists are drawn to these regions by their natural beauty and the unique culture of their 12
people. And poor governments in these areas have been welcomed the ‘adventure tourists’, 13
grateful for the currency they bring. For several years, tourism is the prime source of foreign 14
exchange in Nepal and Bhutan. Tourism is also a key element in the economics of Arctic zones 15
such as Lapland and Alaska and in desert areas such as Ayres Rocks in Australia and Arizona’s 16 Monument Valley. Your answers: Line Mistake Correction Line Mistake Correction 13. 17. 14. 18. 15. 19. 16. 20.
SECTION C. READING (70 points)
Part 1. Read the passage and choose the best answer. Write your answers A, B, C or D in the
corresponding numbered boxes. Model-to-be
In a competition for prospective models, four thousand girls between the ages of 16 and 24 were
auditioned by a (1) ______ of three judges from (2) ______ model agency Premier Model Management.
Twenty-two were asked to return for a more (3) ______ vetting process. This involved catwalk training,
being (4) ______without make-up and a personal interview. A further workshop week followed,
involving make-overs, hair-styling and more catwalk training, after which the girls were (5) ______ whittled down to five.
The finalists will now (6) ______ three months of intensive training. Cameras will (7) ______
them around constantly, capturing the daily (8) ______ of castings, shoots and lessons from industry
professionals. Also in (9) ______ for them are exhausting workouts at the gym, plus appointments with
hairdressers, nutritionists, beauticians and specialist skin clinics.
Despite its (10) ______ image, the modelling world is (11) ______ and the finalists will
certainly be ( 12) ______ through their paces. But though their lives may be all (13) ______ fit and
carrot juice, the prize at the end is glittering - a year’s modelling (14) ______ with Premier Model
Management, an overseas photo shoot for the (15) ______ of Cosmopolitan magazine, and the chance to
model on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 4 1. A. council B. panel C. meeting D. range 2. A. peak B. top C. high D. great 3. A. solid B. exact C. rigorous D. stable 4. A. assessed B. charged C. investigated D. noted 5. A. shortly B. lastly C. completely D. finally 6. A. overcome B. outlast C. undergo D. uphold 7. A. pursue B. take C. hunt D. follow 8. A. grind B. attempt C. duty D. labour 9. A. stock B. store C. view D. supply 10. A. shining B. gorgeous C. glamorous D. picturesque 11. A. firm B. stiff C. tough D. sticky 12. A. put B. shown C. pushed D. thrown 13. A. maintain B. hold C. catch D. keep 14. A. promotion B. contract C. treaty D. settlement 15. A. lid B. jacket C. cover D. sleeve Your answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 2. Fill in the gap with ONE suitable word. Write the answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. BROKE AGAIN
It’s a standing joke that most university students invariably have nearly empty bank accounts! If
you are (16) ______ the age of 17 or 18, you probably don’t have a keen sense of money management.
Plus, university years are full (17) ________ enticing activities that require money: get involved in this
book society; go on that trip or the other concert and whatnot. So, (18) _______ surprisingly, it’s only
the first week of the month and you are broke. Again. Well, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are a
zillion ways to put money (19) ________ while on campus. The (20) _______ readily available solution
is to get a part-time job. More and (21) _______ students now occupy positions on every campus and in
most cases the money is not bad; not to (22) _______ you don’t have to commute. Another alternative
is to buy used books (23) ______ of brand new ones and sell your old books as well. Most student
unions organize regular bazaars, (24) ______ you can sell things you don’t need; CDs, video games,
even used clothes. Remember: one man’s trash is (25) ______ man’s treasure! The bottom line is either
earn more or spend (26) _______. This means that you have to (27) _______ down on unnecessary costs.
Unless you change your big-spender habits, there is no (28) ______ in striving to make an extra
income. So, (29) _______ track of your expenses, everything from supermarket shopping to transport
and entertainment. Ask yourself questions like: Do I really need that expensive All about Hairstyles
magazine subscription? If the answer is no, you are on the right (30)______ . Your answers: 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 5
Part 3. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions. Write
your answers A, B, C or D in the corresponding numbered boxes.
VARIATIONS IN THE CLIMATE
One of the most difficult aspects of deciding whether current climatic events reveal evidence of
the impact of human activities is that it is hard to get a measure of what constitutes the natural variability
of the climate. We know that over the past millennia the climate has undergone major changes without
any significant human intervention. We also know that the global climate system is immensely
complicated and that everything is in some way connected, and so the system is capable of fluctuating in
unexpected ways. We need therefore to know how much the climate can vary of its own accord in order
to interpret with confidence the extent to which recent changes are natural as opposed to being the result of human activities.
Instrumental records do not go back far enough to provide us with reliable measurements of
global climatic variability on timescales longer than a century. What we do know is that as we include
longer time intervals, the record shows increasing evidence of slow swings in climate between different
regimes. To build up a better picture of fluctuations appreciably further back in time requires us to use proxy records.
Over long periods of time, substances whose physical and chemical properties change with
the ambient climate at the time can be deposited in a systematic way to provide a continuous
record of changes in those properties over time, sometimes for hundreds or thousands of years.
Generally, the layering occurs on an annual basis, hence the observed changes in the records can be
dated. Information on temperature, rainfall, and other aspects of the climate that can be inferred from the
systematic changes in properties is usually referred to as proxy data. Proxy temperature records have
been reconstructed from ice core drilled out of the central Greenland ice cap, calcite shells embedded in
layered lake sediments in Western Europe, ocean floor sediment cores from the tropical Atlantic Ocean,
ice cores from Peruvian glaciers, and ice cores from eastern Antarctica. While these records provide
broadly consistent indications that temperature variations can occur on a global scale, there are
nonetheless some intriguing differences, which suggest that the pattern of temperature variations in
regional climates can also differ significantly from each other.
What the proxy records make abundantly clear is that there have been significant natural changes
in the climate over timescales longer than a few thousand years. Equally striking, however, is the
relative stability of the climate in the past 10,000 years (the Holocene period).
To the extent that the coverage of the global climate from these records can provide a measure of
its true variability, it should at least indicate how all the natural causes of climate change have
combined. These include the chaotic fluctuations of the atmosphere, the slower but equally erratic
behavior of the oceans, changes in the land surfaces, and the extent of ice and snow. Also included will
be any variations that have arisen from volcanic activity, solar activity, and, possibly, human activities.
One way to estimate how all the various processes leading to climate variability will
combine is by using computer models of the global climate. They can do only so much to
represent the full complexity of the global climate and hence may give only limited information about
natural variability. Studies suggest that to date the variability in computer simulations is considerably
smaller than in data obtained from the proxy records.
31. According to paragraph 1, which of the following must we find out in order to determine the impact
of human activities upon climate?
A. The major changes in climate over the past millennia.
B. The degree to which the climate varies naturally.
C. The best method for measuring climatic change.
D. The millennium when humans began to interfere with the climate.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 6
32. According to paragraph 2, an advantage of proxy records over instrumental records is that ______.
A. they are more reliable measures of climatic variability in the past century
B. they provide more accurate measures of local temperatures
C. they provide information on climate fluctuations further back in time
D. they reveal information about the human impact on the climate
33. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in
the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A. Because physical and chemical properties of substances are unchanging, they are useful
records of climate fluctuations over time.
B. For hundreds or thousands of years, people have been observing changes in the chemical and
physical properties of substances in order to infer climate change.
C. Because it takes long periods of time for the climate to change, systematic changes in the
properties of substances are difficult to observe.
D. Changes in systematically deposited substances that are affected by climate can indicate climate variations over time.
34. According to paragraph 3, scientists are able to reconstruct proxy temperature records by ______.
A. studying regional differences in temperature variations
B. studying and dating changes in the properties of substances
C. observing changes in present-day climate conditions
D. inferring past climate shifts from observations of current climatic changes
35. The word “striking” in the passage is closest in meaning to ______. A. noticeable B. confusing C. true D. unlikely
36. According to paragraphs 3 and 4, proxy data have suggested all of the following about the climate EXCEPT ______.
A. Regional climates may change over time.
B. The climate has changed very little in the past 10,000 years.
C. Global temperatures vary more than regional temperatures.
D. Important natural changes in climate have occurred over large timescales.
37. The word “erratic” in the passage is closest in meaning to ______. A. dramatic B. important C. unpredictable D. common
38. According to paragraph 5, which of the following is one of the natural causes of climate change? A. atmospheric stability
B. fluctuations in the amount of ice and snow
C. the slow movement of landmasses
D. the faster but constant behavior of the oceans
39. The word “They” in paragraph 6 refers to ______.
A. computer models B. various processes C. variations D. human activities
40. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is true of computer models of the global climate?
A. The information they produce is still limited.
B. They are currently most useful in understanding past climatic behaviors.
C. They allow researchers to interpret the data obtained from proxy records.
D. They do not provide information about regional climates. Your answers: 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 7
Part 4. You are going to read an article about colour-taste relationships. For questions 41-50,
choose from the sections of the article (A-D). The sections may be chosen more than once. Write
your answers A, B, C or D in the corresponding numbered boxes.
In which section are the following mentioned? 41
the influence of external factors other than the colour of food or drink 42
the idea that reaction to colours is not uniform 43
the type of people who are most susceptible to colour influence 44
a collaboration between people from different backgrounds 45
the effect of impaired vision on eating habits 46
something that interests people but not for its original purpose 47
a hypothetical situation which may disgust us 48
some people’s ability to be more precise than others in describing subtle taste changes 49
the way companies can use psychology to make us eat more 50
a belief that some people are naturally reluctant to taste something
HOW WE TASTE DIFFERENT COLOURS A.
We’ve all heard that the first bite is taken with the eye but the link between our visual sense and our
flavour perception may be stronger than you think. When I think of flavour perception, noses and taste
buds primarily spring to mind. Sure, other factors such as texture, temperature and touch sensations play
a part but taste and smell are the dominant senses here, right? Well, perhaps not. You only have to
consider the insatiable public appetite for food pictures masquerading as cookbooks to see there is meat
to the old adage we eat with our eyes. Charles Spence, the Oxford experimental psychologist who
helped Heston Blumenthal develop some of his playful multisensory signature dishes, places vision right
up there with smell, in flavour’s ‘premier league’, if you will. ‘Half the brain is visual in some sense,’
says Spence. This is, in part, why the colour of our food and drink can not only determine whether it is
appetising but its flavour, too. В.
It is often said that we have an inherent aversion to blue food because it appears so rarely in nature.
Another popular theory is that we’re attracted to red food because it signals ripeness, sweetness and
calories. But is this an innate preference? Probably not, thinks Chris Lukehurst, head of research at the
Marketing Clinic. How colour affects appetite is inconsistent and contextual. Think about green food
and you might picture fresh, nutritious rocket, watercress or cucumber. Or perhaps under-ripe, sour
fruits. ‘However, If I talk to you about green meat,’ he says, ‘your stomach probably turns.’ It is
interesting, though, that a dyed-blue steak will have the same effect, even if you know it’s perfectly safe.
If you get people to eat it in the dark, says Spence, ‘so they think it’s normal, then you turn the lights up
and show them the colour, some will get up and be sick straightaway.’ Such is the powerfully aversive
effect of food colour out of context. C.
As well as tasting the colour of what we consume, we can also taste the shade of its wrapping. Spence
has tricked people into confusing salt and vinegar crisps with cheese and onion flavour merely by
switching packets. ‘Many of our subjects will taste the colour of the crisp packet, not the crisp itself,’ he
says. Our brains excel in picking up associations and using them as shortcuts. When the colour makes us
expect something to taste a certain way, we’ll taste what we expect unless it’s shockingly different.
Using multiple colours in sweets such as Smarties and M&Ms is a strategy to get you to eat lots of them.
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 8
People will wolf down more from a mixed bowl than they will from a bowl full of their favourite colour.
And a recent study from Cornwell University showed that you’ll eat more, too, if your food colour
matches the plate, while a contrast will have the opposite effect. D.
If you can’t see colours, you might expect your other senses to sharpen and compensate but blind people
don’t taste or smell any more than anyone else. They are, however, generally better at naming smells,
which most sighted people struggle with. So they may not be tasting more intensely but they can identify
flavours better without visual cues. Not surprisingly, losing your sight can make eating stressful and it is
thought to contribute to a diminished appetite in old age. But even losing the capacity to see colours can
have adverse effects. In his book An Anthropologist on Mars, Oliver Sacks told the fascinating story of
a man who experienced this after an accident. He found eating less pleasurable and started to choose
black or white foods, or eat with his eyes closed. Following a discussion with Blumenthal, Spence and
his team at Oxford did some research to discover who is the most easily influenced by the effects of
colouring and found that those at the super-taster end of the spectrum rely less on their eyes. ‘Whereas
those with fewer taste buds,’ says Spence, ‘will be more easily led astray or say, “Yep, I see red therefore it’s sweet”.’ Your answers: 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Part 5. Read the following passage and answer the questions from 51 to 60.
ESTABLISHING YOUR BIRTHRIGHTS
Position in the famlily can play a huge role in shaping character, finds Clover Stroud A.
Last week I was given a potent reminder of how powerful birth order might be in determining a child’s
character. My son, Jimmy Joe, nine, and my daughter, Dolly, six, were re-enacting a TV talent show.
Jimmy Joe elected himself judge and Dolly was a contestant. Authoritative and unyielding, he wielded a
clipboard, delivering harsh criticisms that would make a real talent show judge flinch. Initially Dolly
loved the attention, but she soon grew tired of his dominance, instigating a pillow fight, then a fist fight.
It ended, inevitably, in tears. A visiting friend, with an older, more successful sister, declared it ‘classic
first child behaviour of dominance and supposed authority'. Dolly's objection to her brother's self-
appointed role as leader was justified, he announced, while Jimmy Joe’s superiority was characteristic of
the forceful personality of firstborns. Birth order, he said, wasn’t something they could just shrug off. B.
Debate about the significance of birth order goes right to the heart of the nature versus nurture argument
and is, consequently, surrounded by huge controversy. This controversy has raged since the 19th
century, when Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler argued that birth order can define the way someone
deals with life. He identified firstborns as driven and often suffering from a sense of having been
‘dethroned’ by a second child. Younger children, he stated, were hampered by having been more
pampered than older siblings. It’s a view reiterated by Professor Frank Sulloway’s influential work,
Born to Rebel. Sulloway, a leading proponent of the birth- order idea, argued it has a definitive effect on
the ‘Big Five' personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. C.
According to the birth-order theory, first children are usually well-organized high achievers. However,
they can have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement and be unyielding. Second children are sometimes
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 9
very competitive through rivalry with the older sibling. They’re also good mediators and negotiators,
keen to keep everyone happy. Middle children, tagged the ‘easy’ ones, have good diplomacy skills.
They suffer from a tendency to feel insignificant beside other siblings and often complain of feeling
invisible to their parents. Youngest children are often the most likely to rebel, feeling the need to ‘prove’
themselves. They’re often extroverts and are sometimes accused of being selfish. Twins inevitably find
it harder to see themselves as individuals, unless their parents have worked hard to identify them as
such. It’s not unusual for one twin to have a slightly dominant role over the other and take the lead role. D.
But slapping generalized labels on a child is dangerous; they change all the time, often taking turns at
being the ‘naughty one’ or the 'diligent one’. However, as one of five children, I know how hard it is to
transcend the tags you earn according to when you were born. It is unsurprising then that my eldest
sister is the successful entrepreneur, and that, despite covering all the big bases of adult life like
marriage, kids and property, my siblings will probably always regard me as their spoilt younger sister. E.
‘As the oldest of three, I've found it hard not to think of my own three children as having the same
personality types that the three of us had when I was growing up,’ says Lisa Cannan, a teacher. ‘I
identify with my eldest son, who constantly takes the lead in terms of organization and responsibility.
My daughter, the middle child, is more cerebral than her brothers. She's been easier than them. She
avoids confrontation, so has an easy relationship with both boys. My youngest is gorgeous but naughty.
I know I’m partly to blame for this, as I forgive him things the elder two wouldn't get away with.’ F.
As a parent, it’s easy to feel guilty about saddling a child with labels according to birth order, but as
child psychologist Stephen Bayliss points out, these characteristics might be better attributed to
parenting styles, rather than a child's character. He says that if a parent is worried about having
encouraged, for example, an overdeveloped sense of dominance in an older sibling or spoiled a younger
child, then it's more useful to look at ways this can be addressed than over-analyzing why it happened.
Bayliss is optimistic that as adults we can overcome any negative connotations around birth order. ‘Look
at the way you react to certain situations with your siblings. If you're unhappy about being treated as a
certain type of personality, try to work out if it's a role that you’ve willingly accepted. If you’re unhappy
with the role, being dynamic about focusing on your own reactions, rather than blaming theirs, will help
you overcome it. Change isn’t easy but nobody need be the victim of their biography.’ Questions 51 - 56
The reading passage has six paragraphs, A-F. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph
from the list of headings below. Write your answers A, B, C or D in the corresponding numbered boxes. LIST OF HEADINGS
i Children’s views on birth order
ii Solutions are more important than causes
iii Characteristics common to all children regardless of birth order
iv Doubts about birth-order theory but personal experience supporting it
v A theory that is still supported
vi Birth-order characteristics continuing as children get older
vii A typical example of birth-order behaviour in practice
viii Exceptions to the rule of birth order
ix A detailed description of each child in families in general
Tiếng Anh THPT – Bảng A 10 Your answers: 51. Paragraph A ______ 52. Paragraph B ______ 53. Paragraph C ______ 54. Paragraph D ______ 55. Paragraph E ______ 56. Paragraph F ______ Questions 57 – 60 Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers A, B, C or D
in the corresponding numbered boxes.
57. First-born children have expectations that are too high with regard to __________.
58. Middle children are often considered __________ by their parents.
59. Youngest children may be described as __________ by other people.
60. According to Bayliss, adults can get over any negative __________ around birth order. Your answers: 57. ______ 58. ______ 59. ______ 60. ______
SECTION D. WRITING (60 points)
Part 1. Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first one. Use the word
given in capital letters and the word mustn’t be altered in any way.
1. He wishes he hadn’t spent all his money playing cards. REGRETS
He ____________________________ playing cards.
2. Your attitude will have to change if you want to succeed. LEAF
You will have to ____________________________ if you want to succeed.
3. I didn’t realize what she would suffer in the first place. DID
Little ____________________________ would suffer in the first place.
4. Their marriage was under pressure because of their financial problems. STRAIN
Their financial problems ____________________________ marriage.
5. Her latest novel isn’t as good as her previous one. PAR
Her latest novel ____________________________ her previous.
Part 2. The central region of Vietnam has suffered from torrential downpours that triggered severe
flooding. You plan to do charity to help the inhabitants there. Write a letter (80- 100 words) to the local
authorities to ask them how to get to the area safely and what should be provided for the local people.
Use your name and address as Hoang Van Nam – 37 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Vinh City, Nghe An Province.
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Part 3: Write an essay of about 350 words on the following topic.
Nowadays, many people tend to substitute offline friends with online ones. What is your opinion?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include
any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
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