Đề thi thử chọn đội tuyển dự thi HSG Quốc Gia Hà Nội năm 2021

MOCK TEST 5 (hn 2021) I. LISTENING (50 points)
Part 1. For questions 1 – 5, listen to a radio programme about lifelong learning and fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.
The world is undergoing technological, organizational, demographic, and (1)____________ changes, which poses
new chal enges to the world of work in the future. Many of today’s skil s wil become (2)_________ in the future, for
tomorrow’s job requirements wil change. Due to the unprecedented transformation, the term “lifelong learning” is
being (3)__________ and attached more importance to. The concept can be applied to both developed and
developing economies, so governments, employers and workers need to join hands to support it. There are some
things you can do to adapt lifelong learning to reality, one of which is improve coordination and ensure
(4)__________ access to learning. Today, it’s a major goal of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Global Commission on the Future of Work has demanded a formal recognition of a(an)
(5)________ to lifelong learning. Your answers: 1. climatic 2. obsolete 3. redifined 4.equitable 5. entitilement
Part 2. Listen to a news report about the worst slums in the world and match each number in A with one
corresponding letter (A-E) in B.
What are the TWO characteristics to define a slum? A B A. having permanent housing 6._________ B. poor standard of sanitation 7._________
C. located on the outskirts of the city
D. too many people living in a place
E. not having enough space for residents
Match the slums in the following places with their corresponding features. A B
A. being the setting for a famous movie 8._________South Africa
B. being said to contain 400.000 inhabitants 9._________ Mexico
C. being home to 1.000.000 people 10._________ Mumbai D. having high crime rate
E. being home to 4.000.000 people Your answers: 6. B 7. C 8. B 9.E 10. C
Part 3. You will hear two sports commentators called Heidi Stokes and Rob Aslett taking part in a
discussion on the subject of gyms. For questions 11-15, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear
11. What do Rob and Heidi think about government proposals regarding the problem of obesity?
A. They over-emphasize the role of dietary factors.
B. They represent a radical solution that must be worth trying.
C. They over-estimate the extent to which the fitness industry can help.
D. They are attempting to accommodate too many varied perspectives.
12. Heidi agrees with the suggestion that regular gym attendance
A. can discourage people from keeping fit in other ways.
B. may lead to obsessive behaviour in some cases.
C. general y forms the basis of a healthy lifestyle.
D. could be harder to keep up in rural areas.
13. When asked about motivation, Rob suggests that many gym clients lose interest
A. if they don’t get good value for money.
B. if they don’t find it enjoyable on a social level.
C. if they don’t make it part of a wider fitness regime.
D. if they don’t perceive real gains in personal fitness.
14. What does Heidi suggest about membership levels in gyms?
A. The best ones restrict access at peak times. Page 1 of 13
B. Most recruit more people than they can cope with.
C. It is impossible to predict demand with any accuracy.
D. Over-recruitment can be counter-productive in the long run.
15. Rob thinks the key to succesful gym marketing lies in
A. remaining true to the core values of fitness and strength.
B. appealing to a wide cross-section of the population.
C. joining forces with providers of related activities.
D. specializing in the needs of certain key groups.
Part 4. You will hear a robotics engineer talking about how people perceive robots. Listen and complete
the sentences with a word or a short phrase.
The first robot, which was proficient in (16) __________ ________________, appeared in a play written in 1921.
Computer researchers have been (17) _________ _________________ about the invention of an electronic translator.
When a robot looks too lifelike, people’s empathy turns to (18) _____________ _____________
It’s il ogical to believe that robots have an (19) _____________ _____________ to harm humans.
Researchers are responding to both the (20) _____________ _____________ chal enges of designing a robot people wil accept.
The (21) __________________________ appearance of Roboy has gained acceptance from the public, to some extent.
Surveys have been carried out to determine what (22) _____________ _____________ we think robots should be given.
The results of one survey showed it was acceptable for a robot to provide friendship and (23) ____________ ______________ for a child.
In South Korea, robots have been used as (24) ________ __________________ in the penal system.
Most South Koreans have no (25) ___ _______________________ towards robots. Your answers 16. speaking 4 17. optimistic 18. revoltion and 19. agenda 20.technical and languages fear psychological 21.benign 22.extent 23.comfort 24.prison guards 25.negative fel ings
II. LEXICO- GRAMMAR (20 points)
Part 1. For questions 26-40, choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the following questions.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. Elena is a _____ talented singer and has already had three successful albums. A. remarkably B. perceptibly C. deeply D. absolutely
27. They lived in a thatched cottage in a _____ vil age in the heart of the English countryside. A. dense B. conventional C. lush D. quaint
28. Even though there have been setbacks, because of their determination I’m sure they’l achieve their goals, ___. A. suffice to say B. be that as it may C. so be it D. come what may
29. The new restaurant in town has a wonderful y relaxing _____. A. ambience B. environment C. impression D. attitude
30. We can trace his problems _____ the time of his accident. A. in for B. out of C. away from D. back to
31. Writers and producers kept _____ the script even as the movie was being shot. A. squeaking B. tweaking C. squealing D. smearing
32. The book describes her _______ as a war correspondent. A. antics B. stunts C. exploits D. tragedies
33. Jeeps are _______ vehicles, designed for rough conditions. A. rutted B. ragged C. rugged D. jagged
34. I was offered to do the job, but soon found that I was ______as it was more difficult than I had thought. A. pushing up daisies B. knocking on wood C. in over my head D. off their hands
35. The plan wil enable his company to _______its financial position. A. pul up B. butter up C. shore up D. belt up
36. He's ______ that bookcase he was supposed to be making. Page 2 of 13 A. made a real pig's ear of B. turned a deaf ear to C. bent his ear to D. been up to his ear with
37. It began to rain, the tent sprang a leak, and I began to wish I was _______ in my bed at home. A. smug B. smooth C. snide D. snug
38. The scholarship _____ her the opportunity to study art in Barcelona. A. afforded B. proffered C. approached D. braved
39. The undercover police officer always wore _______ clothes, to avoid being noticed. A. nonchalant B. nondescript C. nonsensical D. nonconformist
40. As soon as he finished university, he was _______ into the army. A. consecrated B. conserved C. conscripted D. converted
Part 2. For questions 41-45, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the number space provided
in the column on the right. Your answers
41, 42. As relations between the two countries continue to (INTEGRAL), 41. disintergrate
Britain has taken the unusual step of ordering its (CONSUL) staff in Buenos Aires home. 42. consulting
43. His secret financial activities made him vulnerable to (MAIL). 43. blackmailing
44. These garments could be worn (CHANGE) by men and women. 44. changeably
45. They respond to questions from broadcasters with a nauseating mixture of arrogance and (RIGHT). 45.righteousness III. READING (50 points)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, read the text below and think of the word that best fits each space. Use only
one word in each space. HARD ROAD TO SUCCESS
In today’s music industry it is hard to (46) ___________ out in the crowd but the band, Makeover Mayhem, seem to
have done just that. They only got together a couple of months ago, but their first album, which was ready for
downloading only a week ago, is already speeding (47) ___________ the charts. It looks as if they are (48)
___________ to become the biggest success story of the year. If this continues, they stand (49)
___________reach number one and make their fortunes. Their music harks (50) ___________ to the early rock
and rol of the fifties and the reason for their success is probably due to two main things: first, the modern twist
which they have put on rock and rol music and, secondly, the (51) ___________ of nostalgia that seems to be
sweeping through the music-buying public.
In sharp contrast to the band, Josh Logan is an actor who has been struggling for years to (52) ___________ a
name for himself. But, final y, he has just finished his first lead role in a film at the age of 32. (53) ___________ he
loves working on films, he finds it difficult to tap into the emotional (54) __________ required when the scenes do
not fol ow on from each other as they do in a stage play. The film (55) __________ to have been released in spring
next year, but that has now changed to the autumn, mainly because of the director’s pedantic obsession with a
perfection that only exists in his head. However, Josh knows that tenacity and belief in what you are doing is a
prerequisite for an actor and he is prepared to work long hours to be the best he can be. Your answers: 46. stand 47. up 48. about 49. to 50. back 51. emotion 52. make 53. Although 54. side 55. thought
Part 2. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. TITANIUM
– A marvelous metal
One of the most useful substances in modern industry – titanium – is the ninth most common element found in the
Earth’s crust. Despite its abundance, titanium wasn’t discovered until 1791. More than a century went by before
anybody found a way to extract the metal titanium ore, and it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that a method of
doing this was invented that made it possible to use titanium metal commercial y. Since then, it’s been used in
everything from bicycles and hockey sticks to ships and aeroplane engines. It’s an ideal material for anything that
needs to be hard-wearing yet light-titanium is, in fact, as strong as steel, but only 45% as heavy, and it’s highly
resistant to corrosion. It was seen as such a valuable material in the 1950s and 1960s that attempts were made to
monopolize the world titanium market and prevent access to it. This didn’t work though, as it was accessed secretly
via overseas companies which agreed to cover up the transactions.
Titanium metal, however, makes up only a smal percentage of titanium usage. The vast majority of titanium that is
mined remains in its natural y occurring oxide form. Known as titanium dioxide, it provides a white pigment that is
often used in paints and as a covering for plastics. Because of its ability to absorb ultraviolet rays, titanium dioxide Page 3 of 13
is a component of many sunscreens. It’s also used, controversial y, to whiten toothpastes and food products such
as chewing gum, marshmal ows and sweets. Although smal amounts of titanium occur natural y in the human
body, there are concerns that titanium dioxide could be harmful if ingested in large quantities by people with certain
health conditions relating to their digestive systems. We know that titanium dioxide can damage the intestines of
mice and, although there’s no evidence humans are similarly affected by it, people who have existing problems in
that area should probably avoid products containing titanium dioxide.
A newer form of titanium has appeared which has been designed especial y for use in the treatment of bone
injuries. Known as TiFoam, it is made by covering a foam structure with titanium powder. Once the titanium has
stuck to the whole of the material, the foam is destroyed, leaving behind a strong titanium mesh. TiFoam is used to
create implants which stabilize broken bones while they heal. Titanium rods have been used to repair bones for
some time, but the foam form is a significant advancement because it encourages the bone to grow into, rather
than rely on, the implant. Because solid titanium implants are stiffer than the surrounding bone, they tend to take
over when the patient gets active. This means the bone can fail to regain its original strength, or even become
weaker. TiFoam implants, on the other hand, are as flexible as human bone, and al ow bone cel s and blood vessels to grow into them.
One of the main reasons titanium has become common in surgery is its compatibility with the human body. It
doesn’t cause any kind of irritation to human tissue, and it combines wel with bone. Titanium- in non-foam form- is
even helping to make one of the most complex types of surgery –brain surgery – more effective and safe via 3D
printing technology. In the past, brain surgery patients who needed to have part of their skul replaced with a piece
of metal were given a plate which was hammered and cut to something approximately the right shape, and then
adjusted during the procedure. These plates never produced a perfect fit and one in ten people who were given
them developed an infection. Now, however, it’s possible to scan a person’s head and then produce titanium plate
which wil fit their skul perfectly. A 3D printer produces the plates by gradual y building up layers of very fine
titanium powder. These 3D-printed titanium skul plates are both faster and more economical to produce than hand- made ones.
Titanium is perhaps even more ideal for dentistry. Because it’s lightweight and doesn’t react with chemicals or other
metals, it’s practical and perfectly safe for instal ing in a mouth. It’s also much cheaper, of course than the likes of
gold for tooth crowns and, unlike gold, its price stays stable rather than fluctuating according to demand and world
markets. Artificial teeth made of titanium fuse very wel to the jaw, and, as with the skul plates, reduce the risk of
infection compared with traditional y used materials. Teeth-straightening braces are more comfortable when made
out of titanium than heavy steel – and much less likely to break.
Given its range of qualities, it seems fitting that Titanium was named after the Titans, part of the family of Greek
gods. It may not have supernatural powers, but it certainly is a super-useful material. Questions 56-59
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the reading passage? In the answer boxes, 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
56. The conversion of titanium dioxide to metal is an expensive process. NG
57. The consumption of titanium dioxide is considered perfectly safe. F
58. TiFoam technology was designed with medical applications in mind. T
59. The strength of solid titanium implants is actual y detrimental to bones. T Questions 60-64
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
60. Previous plates which were shaped by hand were only__approximately_________ fitted
61. It is an unexpected bonus when technological advancements are_economical__________ rather than more costly.
62. For the field of_dentistry__________, titanium seems to be a perfect material.
63. Titanium teeth_fuse__________ easily with the bones that support them.
64. The lightness of titanium makes braces more___comfortable________ than they used to be. Questions 65-68 Complete the summary below
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer
The history of the exploitation of titanium as a resource
Titanium is a(n) (65)_element__________ that is not at al rare, yet it was discovered relatively late. Many decades
went by after its discovery before it became (66) __commercial y_________ available. Titanium was considered so Page 4 of 13
important that attempts were made to (67) __monopolize_________ its use. These attempts failed, however,
because of secret (68)_transactions __________ between countries. Your answers: 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. You are going to read an article in which seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-
75, read the passage and choose from paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra
paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. MUSICAL ROOTS
We don’t need lengthy research and wel -meaning experts on the subject to tel us that music affects our mood.
Music is everywhere in the world today, and neuroscientists say that melodies fire off brain neurons synchronously
and give a sense of wel -being to the listener. Music is the food of love – it fil s our hearts, stirs our emotions,
arouses our senses and soothes our souls. 69.
Trying to pin down archaeological evidence that our extinct human forebears were capable of making music is not
easy. Not only does the human voice not fossilize, but neither do simple instruments, such as drums, which are
made of perishable organic materials like wood and skin. 70.
The perforated thigh bone of a young bear, found in Slovenia, is significant in this respect. It is thought to be
associated with occupation of the cave more than 35,000 years ago. The bone has two neat round holes
reminiscent of finger holes, and the discovery has generated a lot of excitement and speculation that it is a primitive
flute or recorder. If this is true, then the Neanderthals, who occupied the cave and are frequently described as
nasty and brutish individuals, may have been a lot more civilize than previously thought. 71.
The excavators have concluded that there is apparently no convincing technological evidence that the holes in the
thigh bone were made by humans, but equal y there is no convincing evidence that the holes were made by the
teeth of any of the predators from the list of animals on the site. The jury is stil out but, whatever the outcome, one
broken bone recorder does not make a band. 72.
And in fact, such mysterious incisions on bones have been found at a few other Neanderthal sites in France.
However, as one specialist has pointed out, polished and regularly spaced grooves on bones can be produced by carnivore gnawing. 73.
Evidence of their music can be found in wind-based instruments. From the archaeological record on sites across
Europe, quite a number of hol ow tubes fashioned from bird and reindeer bones have been found. Blowing across
the hol ow end of these horizontal y held flutes produces a whistling noise similar to that produced by blowing across the mouth of a bottle. 74.
Such reservations notwithstanding, good evidence for wind instruments is provided by delicately made bone pipes
found on sites in several European countries. About three dozen sites are now known, many of which are more
than 30,000 years old. The French pipes are made of hol ow bird bones, and the Eastern example of reindeer or
bear bones al have three to seven finger holes. Experiments have shown that they could have been held vertical y rather than horizontal y. 75.
The dating of these early instruments and pieces of evidence indicates that the emergence of musical sound
coincided with the first use of color and ritual by the earliest modern humans, somewhere between 35,000 and
30,000 years ago. In fact, this explosion of artistic ability may have even contributed to the Cro-Magnons
establishing their superiority over the Neanderthals. Missing paragraphs:
A. However, there is anatomical evidence, from the shape and position of fossilized bones which are situated at
the base of the tongue, that these early human may have been just as capable of singing as we are. But whether
they used musical instruments is hotly disputed
B. Several settlement sites in the Czech Republic and Ukraine that are more than 20,000 years old have yielded
similar artifacts. A mammoth-bone hut contained bones with polished and scratched surfaces suggestive of their
being held and hit. Interpretation of this new evidence therefore clearly contradicts previously convincing theories. Page 5 of 13
C. So perhaps the Neanderthals were not flautists at al . It should be easier to find indications that our direct
ancestors, the Cro-Magnons, were into making music. However, archaeological support for this is equal y fraught with controversy.
D. So it is significant that there is another similarly contentious find, a 40,000 to 50,000-year-old mammoth bone
with at least 12 regularly spaced grooves cut into it. Discovered in Belgium, it has been interpreted as an idiophone,
or skiffle, a simple percussion instrument that is stil used today.
E. Again, whether these constitute musical instruments is questionable; they may have been used as decoy cal ers
to attract animals. From their use, they may have evolved into music-making devices. However, music
archaeologist Graeme Lawson is highly skeptical of such interpretations, and warns against the dangers of jumping
to easy conclusions about primitive orchestras.
F. However, others were skeptical of this view, because in those times, the instrument’s holes would have been
made either by dril ing or gouging. But close examination of the bone shows that the holes have been punctured.
Many experts therefore suspect that they were more likely to have been produced by strong-jawed predators, such
as hyenas, rather than to have been man-made.
G. The need to make music seems to be deeply rooted in the human psyche –but when did it al begin? Is musical
composition and performance purely a modern human skil or is there evidence that our ancestors could also appreciate the sound of music?
H. Unfortunately, as most such pipes are broken, reconstructing their tonal properties is difficult. But one concrete
example has been investigated by a modern musicologist and it was found that once a head was fixed to the tube
to direct air flow, a strong, clear note was produced on a five-tone scale. Your answers: 69. G 70. A 71. F 72. C 73. B 74. E 75. H
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an article about obesity and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you
think fits best according to the text. A MODERN HEALTH PROBLEM
There is growing concern about the way we view food, which goes beyond the “do we live to eat or eat to live”
debate. More and more children are leading inactive, sedentary lifestyles and are suffering from obesity. In the
1990s, tobacco-related diseases were the problem, but aggressive anti-smoking campaigns caused the focus of
concern to shift. In the new mil ennium, obesity appears to be the major health concern, and not only among
children with far-reaching repercussions. Obese children suffer taunts, jibes and bul ying from their peers and this,
instead of causing them to rethink their eating habits, may perpetuate the vicious circle; in other words, these
children turn to “comfort eating” which adds to their weight problem.
Researchers have noted that some children are doing less than one or two minutes of “moderate activity” in an
hour, which is an alarmingly lower amount than that recorded in previous studies. The problem seems to be worse
in teenage girls than in teenage boys, with older children getting much less exercise than younger ones.
Parents realize that their children are overweight, but do not know enough about nutrition to give their offspring the
support they need in order to help them change their lifestyles. Given time pressures from work and family, more
and more people rely on pre-cooked convenience foods or quick fry-ups, thus exacerbating the problem.
There is some recognition of the problem, but it is not widely advertised. For example, there are “Weight Loss
Camps” aimed at obese children where, along with their slightly less overweight peers, they learn to read food
labels and understand the nutritional content of food, or lack of it, eat healthily and do exercises. This experience
can also restore their self-confidence, as they are surrounded by youngsters with the same problem.
But by and large, it is not an issue which is taken very seriously. Schools are partly to blame for the worsening of
the problem, as they have marginalized physical education due to the pressures of the national curriculum. Also,
they have bowed to financial pressure and sold off playing fields, often in order to buy more up-to-date computers,
which in turn encourage sedentary lifestyles.
The food industry must also shoulder some of the responsibility, as their advertising campaigns promote foodstuffs
which are high in fat and sugar content. Such advertisements are often aimed at children, and frequently feature
such products as fizzy drinks, king-size chocolate bars and ever larger packets of crisps. Such foods are attractive
to families on low incomes because you now get more for the same price as the original, smal er portion. However,
children who have large bags of crisps or bars of chocolate in their school lunch-boxes don’t save half for the next
day; they eat the whole thing. It would appear that fast food marketing people have seized upon children as being
brand-loyal from the cradle to the grave. They target smal children with give-away toys, a worrying trend which ,
some believe, warrants government action. Page 6 of 13
Experts want governments to begin to treat the fast food industry as they do to tobacco industry, insisting that such
food should carry a government health warning, especial y on food with a high fat content. They would also like a
ban on vending machines in schools, as it is estimated that one-fifth of children get more than 20 per cent of their
energy from sugar, with 5 per cent of that coming from the consumption of fizzy drinks.
Of course, children are not the only ones to suffer from obesity. [A] In one survey, only 40 percent of adults claim to
sit down for a meal, which means that the majority are eating on the hoof. [B] Only around 30 per cent say that
they cook al their own meals. [C] It becomes reasonably obvious that this is so when you look around you in the
street or in an underground station. [D]
We live in a culture which actively promotes fast food while simultaneously showing images of svelte models who
are supposedly the ultimate in “beauty”. The majority of us wil never achieve this perfect look, given our sedentary
lifestyle and increasingly unhealthy diet. This, in turn, wil give rise to both over-eating and its extreme opposite, anorexia.
It is obviously time for us to take a close look at our relationship with food. The ideal daily diet, or so the experts
say, would consist of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, some protein (but not too much) and only a few
carbohydrates. No one would deny, however, that the occasional lapse would be acceptable. Remember the old
adage: a little of what you fancy does you good!
76. In the text as a whole, the writer’s purpose is to
A. discuss the eating habits of those with eating disorders.
B. draw attention to the causes of obesity.
C. extol the benefits of healthy eating.
D. criticize those who encourage children to eat junk food.
77. In the first paragraph, what does the writer say about the anti-smoking campaigns of the 1990s?
A. They were not real y successful.
B. They did reduce the number of smokers.
C. They focused on the wrong subjects.
D. It took a long time for these campaigns to reach their goals.
78. The writer use the example of Weigh Loss Camps to show that
A. a number of people are aware of the problem of corpulence.
B. solutions to the problems of obesity are available.
C. a large percentage of children are obese
D. programs involving people who share a problem are effective.
79. Which phrase, in its context in the text, suggests exploitation? A. turn to B. aimed at C. sold off D. seized upon
80. The word “warrants” in the sixth paragraph is closest in meaning to A. needs B. chal enges C. ensures D. wastes
81. The writer states that a significant number of schools
A. have taken inappropriate decisions under duress.
B. are obliged to purchase state-of-the-art computers
C. have exacerbated the problem of obesity by axing Physical Education
D. are under pressure to report overweight children to a government agency.
82. What does the writer say about adults in the eighth paragraph?
A. Most of them sit down to eat.
B. Eating is an important element of the daily routine.
C. Seventy percent eat in restaurants.
D. Most of them eat on the run.
83. What is the writer’s attitude to contemporary culture, as expressed in the penultimate paragraph?
A. Svelte models are extremely beautiful.
B. Citizens are encouraged to fol ow a healthy diet.
C. It promotes ideals which are virtual y unattainable. D. We are fortunate to have a sedentary lifestyle.
84. In the final paragraph, the writer suggests that A. we should eat what we like.
B. we should change our eating habits.
C. most of us need to go on a diet.
D. we should become vegetarian.
85. Which of the fol owing square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph the sentence
“Walking and talking are interspersed with eating and drinking; people carry a can to swig from, and clutch food to scoff”. A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
Part 5. For questions 86-95, read an article about vocational education. Choose from the sections (A-E) to
answer each of the questions. The sections may be chosen more than once.
In which section are the following mentioned?
86. __________ new proposals require an appropriate level of scrutiny?
87. __________ academic subjects have benefits beyond their syllabuses?
88. __________ business is investing in an unknown quantity un the pursuit of an uncertain goal?
89. __________ responsibility for service provision needs to be correctly al ocated?
90. __________ educators need to make sure that they don’t lose sight of an important point?
91. __________ the issues discussed are a recurring theme that is yet to be agreed upon?
92. __________ beliefs about the key topics of a study were al uded to in the heading of a publication? Page 7 of 13
93. __________ industry is better suited to cover some issues than educational institutions?
94. __________ original thinking is key in finding solutions to future chal enges?
95. __________ while obligations vary, they are stil present for both parties?
LIFTING HIGHER EDUCATION TO LOFTIER HEIGHTS?
Academic John Brennan asks whether universities should leave on the job training to employers
A. There is a lot of emphasis nowadays placed on the need for universities and business groups to get graduates
“work ready” through vocational workplace training. This is to be welcomed but it is also to be questioned – about
what it should mean in practice and how it should be applied. The concept is nothing new. I remember some years
back being at a meeting about higher education and employment, attended by a number of employer
representatives. I recal one employer remarking that of the many thousands of graduates that he had hired what
he real y wanted and expected was for each of them to have exchanged the nature of the job by the time they had left the role.
B. Rather than being concerned with how recruits would fit into existing organizational arrangements and master
existing ways of doing things, here was an employer who expected graduates to change existing arrangements and
ways of working. Who, rather than focusing on whether graduates had the right kinds of skil s and competencies,
acknowledged that he didn’t know what skil s and competencies his workers would need in a few years’ time. The
very point of hiring graduates was that he hoped to get people who would themselves be able to work out what was
required and be capable of delivering it and a bold new future.
C. Of course, starting any job requires some work-specific knowledge and capability and when recruiting staff,
graduate or non-graduate, employers have a responsibility to provide suitable induction and training. The
responsibilities of higher education are different. They are about preparing for work in the long term, in different
jobs and, quite possibly, in different sectors. This is preparation for work in a different world, for work that is going
to require learning over a lifetime, not just the first few weeks of that first job after graduation. Current initiatives set
out a perfect reasonable set of objectives for the ways in which higher education can help prepare students for their
working lives. But much wil depend on the interpretation and on recognizing who-higher education or employer – is
best equipped to contribute what.
D. In the rush to focus on “vocational training to improve graduate employability” academics need to remember that
al higher education is vocational in the sense that it can help shape a graduate’s capacity to succeed in the
workplace. In this way higher education is about life skil s, not just job skil s. Many years ago, Harold Silver and I
wrote a book entitled A Liberal Vocationalism. It was based on a project we had just completed on the aims of
degree courses in vocational areas such as accountancy, business and engineering. The book’s title intentional y
conveyed the message that even vocational degree courses were about more than training a job. There were
assumptions about criticality, transferability of skil s, creating and adapting to change and, above al , an academic credibility.
E. Degree courses in subjects such as history and sociology are preparations for employment as much as
vocational degrees such as business and engineering. But the job details wil not be known at the time of study.
Indeed, they may not be known until several years later. Thus, the relevance of higher education to later working
life for many graduates wil lie in the realm of generic and transferable skil s rather than specific competencies
needed for a first job after graduation. The latter competences are not unimportant but the graduate’s employer is
general y much better equipped than a university to ensure that the graduate acquires them. Work experience
alongside or as part of study can also help a lot. Higher education is for the long term. Universities, employers and students should realize that. Your answers: 86.E 87.C 88. B 89. B 90. D 91. A 92. D 93. E 94. A 95. C Page 8 of 13 IV. WRITING (80 points)
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should be
between 100-120 words long. (20 points)
Statistics show there has been a constant trend in internal migration patterns, from rural to urban areas, making for
larger cities with increased populations. This is a global phenomenon and this urbanization wil continue into the
foreseeable future. On closer analysis, there appear to be three main reasons to account for this: the hope of
finding more work opportunities and better schools as wel as more public and cultural amenities.
One obvious driver of urbanization is the uneven geographical distribution of work opportunities. First of al , the
rural agricultural economy is suffering because sophisticated agricultural methods and machinery decrease the
number of workers required for production. In addition, agriculture also suffers from natural disasters such as
droughts and storms. Another factor is the concentration of jobs and industries that are present in large cities. This
means that there are more employment opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines for different skil sets. Looked
at purely from an economic standpoint, this drives migration into urban areas. As far as the educational aspect is
concerned, opportunities in cities are greater than in the countryside and smal towns. Oftentimes, young people
move to urban areas to go to university as not al rural areas have schools of higher education and if they do, they
are not as renowned as in big cities. A diploma or certificate from a respected institution makes an individual more
competitive in the job market. It is also apparent that public amenities and services are more accessible in cities.
Benefits such as better medical facilities, more efficient public transport systems, and a wider variety of retail
outlets are a few of them. What is more, from a social viewpoint, cultural and recreational opportunities are
dramatical y increased in a large city. A wide selection of theaters, cinemas and other entertainment options are
mostly found in urban areas. This wealth of choice makes life less monotonous than in rural areas.
It is evident that the continuing migration patterns from rural to urban areas is no accidental trend, as there are
clear factors underlying this phenomenon. Some people are compel ed to leave the countryside, due to lack of
professional and academic opportunities, while others freely make the choice to experience a higher standard of
living. As the world’s population is expected to grow in cities, it is with great uncertainty that we look to the future
and wonder, “Where wil we at fit?”
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Part 2. The graphs below show the number of drivers in Britain who have been caught driving too fast by
speed cameras placed on roads, and the number of people killed in road accidents, over an eight-year
period since the introduction of speed cameras. The tables show the results of a survey on people’s
opinions on speed cameras. (20 points)
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Your writing should be at least 150 words.
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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic. (40 points)
Due to the popularity of photo sharing websites it’s no longer necessary to have framed pictures or printed photo albums.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
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