Đề thi thử kì thi chọn học sinh giỏi quốc gia THPT năm học 2020-2021

BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
KÌ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA THPT ĐỀ THI THỬ NĂM HỌC 2020-2021 Môn thi: Tiếng Anh SỐ PHÁCH Thời gian:
180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề) Ngày thi thứ nhất:
Đề thi có trang 20 trang I. LISTENING (50 points)
HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
 Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 10 giây; mở đầu và kết
thúc mỗi phần nghe có tín hiệu.
 Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có nhạc hiệu. Thí sinh có 02 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước nhạc
hiệu kết thúc bài nghe.
 Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh đã có trong bài nghe.
Part 1. For questions 1-5, listen to part of a radio program about climate change insurance
and decide whether the statements are True (T) or False (F). Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. In the U.S, there were five events a year that each cost more than $1bn in damage.
2. The last quarter premiums on property insurance in Australia rose by 80%.
3. Over four-fifths of American householders had flood insurance as half of the population lives near water.
4. Insurance firms now apply an approach called parametric insurance to reduce costs.
5. Homeowners who install metallic shutters on the windows or flood-proof doors are offered discounts by many companies. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to part of a news report about misinformation during the U.S
election and answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS taken from the
recording for each answer.
6. What is the man’s biggest concern?
_____________________________________.
7. What has QAnon been identified as by the FBI?
_____________________________________.
8. How did tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter suppress voters?
_____________________________________.
9. What did Florida voters received that alleged Rep. Byron Donald’ stop doing a congressional race? Page 1 of 20
_____________________________________.
10. According to Isabelle, what is careful consideration before liking, tweeting and sharing deemed?
_____________________________________.
Part 3. For questions 11-15, listen to an interview with Hazel Fisher, a music critic, about
some classical music awards and choose the answer A, B, C or D which fits best according to
what you hear. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
11. According to Hazel, what is bad about the current situation in the music industry?
A. Fewer small record companies are issuing classical music.
B. Publicity is generally concentrated on too few performers.
C. Many good recordings are no longer available.
D. Record companies cannot find good new performers.
12. In Hazel’s opinion, the list of nominations suggested that a purpose of the awards was to
A. take advantage of current fashions in music.
B. publicize small record companies.
C. strengthen the promotion of serious music.
D. compartmentalize different types of music.
13. What is Hazel’s main criticism of the way the winners will be chosen?
A. The voters are unrepresentative of the music industry.
B. The voters have a vested interest in the results.
C. The voting is too time-consuming.
D. The voting system is too complicated.
14. One of Hazel’s objections to the nominations themselves is that
A. the criteria for making them were kept secret.
B. they reflect too narrow a definition of music.
C. they are too different to be comparable.
D. there is none of a high enough standard.
15. Hazel sees it as ironic that the record companies
A. are inconsistent about what they consider classical music.
B. have spent so much on the awards while claiming to be short of money.
C. are attempting to popularize music that has little appeal.
D. have introduced their own awards ceremony after condemning others. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Page 2 of 20
Part 4. For question 16-25, listen to part of a talk about community regeneration by a
community liaison officer called Dolores O’Reilly. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
taken from the recording in each blank.
 Deterioration of living standards in some areas has led to a drop in people’s levels of 16) ________________.
 Not dealing with all the issues can result in the 17) ________________ not working.
 Emphasis should be placed on the 18) ________________ in the area that need help.
 Previously, the authorities looked for 19) ________________ to give the community a boost.
 The 20) ________________ of local people throughout the project is of the utmost importance.
 Looking to communities for solutions can reveal people’s 21) ________________.
 It is necessary to create a(n) 22) ________________ to support the process.
 In order to facilitate equality, both parties involved in the process need to be 23) ________________.
 Issues were discussed in regular meetings with community members before going to the
council and introduced a 24) ________________which the liaison group were directly responsible for.
 Dolores felt proud to see how the community 25) ________________________. II.
LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 points)
Part 1. For question 26-40, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following
questions. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered box provided.
26. Sandra’s unpleasant __________ suggested that she knew about Amanda’s terrible secret. A. wince B. grimace C. snort D. smirk
27. Private printing was simply a means __________ he could increase his income. A. whereupon B. whereby C. wherewithal D. whereabouts
28. Most definitions of mental illness __________ the question of what constitutes normal behaviour. A. plead B. cadge C. beg D. mooch
29. I heard __________ that Peter has been dropped from the football team. A. on the grapevine B. under your feet C. in the woods D. on the olive branch
30. This company needs __________ executives, men and women who are capable of taking on a
variety of roles, of multitasking, of being polyvalent. A. versatile B. changeable C. variable D. diverse
31. You could _______ a haircut, Daniel. You’re starting to look like a superannuated hippie Page 3 of 20 A. use up B. do with C. take on D. see out
32. Della is an unreliable witness. A good lawyer would make __________ out of her in court. A. Mincemeat B. Smithereens C. Steak tartars D. Snippets
33. She was very frustrated by his behaviour, but didn’t say anything because she didn’t want to _________ the boat. A. shake B. rattle C. rock D. roll
34. In the hands of a reckless driver, a car becomes a __________ weapon. A. lethal B. fatal C. mortal D. deadening
35. The class went to see a production of Hamlet because it __________ with their A-level studies. A. latched on B. turned in C. tied in D. fitted on
36. It is not unusual to suffer some slight __________ after visiting the dentist’s. A. distension B. distortion C. discordance D. discomfort
37. Some of the cattle were place in quarantine for fear of the disease being __________ . A. contractual B. contagious C. congenital D. contentious
38. Yesterday’s weather forecast was rather _________. They said it would be hot and sunny, and just look: it is snowing. A. far from the bull B. far from the mark C. wide of the bull D. wide of the mark
39. As he was caught in ________ of a dangerous weapon, he was immediately placed under arrest. A. power B. control C. ownership D. possession
40. Turning on his _________ lights would have alerted other drivers to his presence at the roadsides. A. danger B. risk C. hazard D. peril Your answer: 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
Part 2. For question 41-45, write the correct form of each bracketed word in each sentence in
the numbered space provided in the column on the right Page 4 of 20
41. Her________________ style of doing homework is honed over 10 years with the upbringing of her parents. (CORRECT)
42. No one but Anna’s old boyfriend is the________ in her wedding. (CRASH)
43. This man is such a_________ for stealing old lady’s money. (DICK)
44. My sister teaches Physics in a______ secondary school. (ETHNIC)
45. Harry Potter readers are not _____________by age or ethnicity. (CLASS) Your answer: 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. III. READING (50 points)
Part 1. For question 46-55, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits
each gap. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
THE INVENTION OF TELEVISION
Few inventions have (46) ______ more scorn and praise (47)_______ them at the same time than
television. And few have done so much to unite the world into one vast audience for news, sport,
information and entertainment. Television must be (48) _______ alongside printing as one of the
most significant inventions of all time in the (49) _______of communications. In just a few
decades it has reached (50) _______ every home in the developed world an ever-increasing (51)
_______of homes in developing countries. It took over half a century from the first suggestion
that television might be possible before the first (52) ________ pictures were produced in
laboratories in Britain and America. In 1926, John Logie Baird’s genius for publicity brought
television to the (53) _______ of the British audience. It has since (54) ______ such heights of
success and taken on such a pivotal function that it is difficult to imagine a world (55) ______ of
this groundbreaking invention. 46. A. had B. even C. been D. done 47. A. taken over B. heaped upon C. picked on D. given over 48. A. awarded B. rated C. graduated D. assembled 49. A. location B. site C. post D. field 50. A. actually B. substantially C. virtually D. simultaneously 51. A. rate B. proportion C. part D. portion 52. A. flaring B. sparkling C. flickering D. glimmering 53. A. attention B. initiation C. concentration D. surveillance 54. A. left B. gained C. reached D. found 55. A. without B. bereft C. lacking D. shallow Page 5 of 20 Your answers: 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.
Part 2. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
PSYCHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT
A. Our daily lives are largely made up of contacts with other people, during which we are
constantly making judgments of their personalities and accommodating our behaviour to them
in accordance with these judgments. A casual meeting of neighbours on the street, an
employer giving instructions to an employee, a mother telling her children how to behave, a
journey in a train where strangers eye one another without exchanging a word – all these
involve mutual interpretations of personal qualities.
B. Success in many vocations largely depends on skill in sizing up people. It is important not
only to such professionals as the clinical psychologist, the psychiatrist or the social worker,
but also to the doctor or lawyer in dealing with their clients, the businessman trying to outwit
his rivals, the salesman with potential customers, the teacher with his pupils, not to speak of
the pupils judging their teacher. Social life, indeed, would be impossible if we did not. to
some extent, understand, and react to the motives and qualities of those we meet; and clearly
we are sufficiently accurate for most practical purposes, although we also recognize that
misinterpretations easily arise – particularly on the pare of others who judge us!
C. Errors can often be corrected as we go along. But whenever we are pinned down to a definite
decision about a person, which cannot easily be revised through his ‘feed-back’, the
Inadequacies of our judgments become apparent. The hostess who wrongly thinks that the
Smiths and the Joneses will get on well together can do little to retrieve the success of her
party. A school or a business may be saddled for years with an undesirable member of staff,
because the selection committee which interviewed him for a quarter of an hour misjudged his personality.
D. Just because the process is so familiar and taken for granted, It has aroused little scientific
curiosity until recently. Dramatists, writers and artists throughout the centuries have excelled
in the portrayal of character, but have seldom stopped to ask how they, or we, get to know
people, or how accurate is our knowledge. However, the popularity of such unscientific
systems as Lavater’s physiognomy in the eighteenth century, Gall’s phrenology in the
nineteenth, and of handwriting interpretations by graphologists, or palm-readings by Gypsies,
show that people are aware of weaknesses in their judgments and desirous of better methods
of diagnosis. It is natural that they should turn to psychology for help, in the belief that
psychologists are specialists in ‘human nature’.
E. This belief is hardly justified: for the primary aim of psychology had been to establish the
general laws and principles underlying behaviour and thinking, rather than to apply these to
concrete problems of the individual person. A great many professional psychologists still
regard it as their main function to study the nature of learning, perception and motivation in Page 6 of 20
the abstracted or average human being, or in lower organisms, and consider it premature to
put so young a science to practical uses. They would disclaim the possession of any superior
skill in judging their fellow-men. Indeed, being more aware of the difficulties than is the non-
psychologist, they may be more reluctant to commit themselves to definite predictions or
decisions about other people. Nevertheless, to an increasing extent psychologists are moving
into educational, occupational, clinical and other applied fields, where they are called upon to
use their expertise for such purposes as fitting the education or job to the child or adult,and
the person to the job, thus a considerable proportion of their activities consists of personality assessment.
F. The success of psychologists in personality assessment has been limited, in comparison with
what they have achieved in the fields of abilities and training, with the result that most people
continue to rely on unscientific methods of assessment. In recent times there has been a
tremendous amount of work on personality tests, and on carefully controlled experimental
studies of personality. Investigations of personality by Freudian and other ‘depth’
psychologists have an even longer history. And yet psychology seems to be no nearer to
providing society with practicable techniques which are sufficiently reliable and accurate to
win general acceptance. The soundness of the methods of psychologists in the field of
personality assessment and the value of their work are under constant fire from other
psychologists, and it is far from easy to prove their worth.
G. The growth of psychology has probably helped responsible members of society to become
more aware of the difficulties of assessment. But it is not much use telling employers,
educationists and judges how inaccurately they diagnose the personalities with which they
have to deal unless psychologists are sure that they can provide something better. Even when
university psychologists themselves appoint a new member of staff, they almost always resort
to the traditional techniques of assessing the candidates through interviews, past records, and
testimonials, and probably make at least as many bad appointments as other employers do.
However, a large amount of experimental development of better methods has been carried out
since 1940 by groups of psychologists in the Armed Services and in the Civil Service, and by
such organizations as the (British) National Institute of Industrial Psychology and the
American Institute of Research.
For questions 56-61, choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings
below. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. List of Headings
i The advantage of an intuitive approach to personality assessment
ii Overall theories of personality assessment rather than valuable guidance
iii The consequences of poor personality assessment
iv Differing views on the importance of personality assessment Page 7 of 20
v Success and failure in establishing an approach to personality assessment
vi Everyone makes personality assessments
vii Acknowledgement of the need for improvement in personality assessment
viii Little progress towards a widely applicable approach to personality assessment
ix The need for personality assessments to be well-judged
x The need for a different kind of research into personality assessment 56. Paragraph A 57. Paragraph B 58. Paragraph C 59. Paragraph D 60. Paragraph E 61. Paragraph F 62. Paragraph G
For questions 62-68, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F), or Not
Given (NG). Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
63. People often feel that they have been wrongly assessed.
64. Unscientific systems of personality assessment have been of some use.
65. People make false assumptions about the expertise of psychologists.
66. It is likely that some psychologists are no better than anyone else at assessing personality.
67. Thanks to the development of psychology, trustworthy groups of society become more aware of the problems of evaluation.
68. Research since 1940 has been based on acceptance of previous theories. Page 8 of 20 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Part 3. In the passage below, 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 answer in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald witnesses the results of an amazing new scheme that brought
prisoners and animals new hope.
August 9, 2014, was one of the most memorable days of my life. On that day I entered a
maximum security prison in Lancaster, California, to witness an extraordinary event connecting
the lives of some of its inmates with a pack of rescued shelter dogs. Just a few months ago, five
lucky dogs – Shelby, Oreo, Rendell, Chuey and Eddie – beat the odds and were pulled from a
shelter in Los Angeles and entered this prison for a chance at a better life. 69
The group has saved the lives of over 2,000 dogs since their inception in 2003, placing them in
loving ‘forever’ homes. Education and outreach has always been part of their mission statement,
so when officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation approached
Karma with this unique opportunity, it seemed like a perfect match. 70
For instance, Jack explained that, ‘It’s a pleasure to simply observe dogs and to be observed by
them. Caring for them is an opportunity and a privilege to openly display caring and compassion,
and at times let my inner child out when playing with the dogs; being mindful of the overall goal
of training for adoption. I know that the best of me that I give will be the ensured success of the
dog. It feels good to nurture and care! I have no inhibitions about availing myself to any aspect of
caring for the dogs ... If I’ve learned nothing else in my life, it’s tolerance, patience, and caring for myself and others.’ 71
After these were reviewed, fourteen inmates were then selected to train five shelter dogs who
stayed at the prison this summer for a 12-week programme. From the very beginning, the
programme struck a chord with everyone involved. 72
During the programme, professional dog trainer Mark Tipton would drive out to the prison
several times a week to instruct the inmates on how to train their assigned dogs for ‘Canine Good
Citizen’ certification, a designation that increases the chance that a dog will be successfully
adopted. The culmination of all this hard work was the graduation of the first class of Paws for
Life, which I had the pleasure to attend on August 9th. Page 9 of 20 73
Four of the dogs in the programme had already been adopted into loving homes. And the inmates
had gained experience and skills that renewed their own lives as much as their training renewed
the dogs’ lives during those 12 weeks. Although the programme was limited to 14 inmates, it was
clear there has been a ripple effect through the prison. ‘The calming effect of the staff, the
interaction between the staff and inmates is amazing. Before it was yes sir, no sir – now it’s more
cordial ... it’s two human beings having a conversation. The hearts are totally open,’ explained the
warden of the prison, John Soto. 74
Every inmate that I spoke with expressed how deeply this programme had touched their hearts,
and shared sincere gratitude for the support of Warden Soto and Captain Wood, often referring to
them as ‘awesome’ and ‘amazing’. Although there were certainly bittersweet moments as the
inmates prepared to say goodbye to the dogs they had loved and cared for, they were overjoyed
that they could positively contribute to society and even meet the people whose lives were now
going to be enriched by their new canine companion. 75
Witnessing this event had an enormous impact on me, and I am deeply grateful for the
opportunity. A couple of weeks have passed and my mind still lingers on the occasion. I am
thrilled programmes like this exist to allow people – and dogs – to have a second chance at life.
A. In another essay Christopher tells us that, ‘I know some people in society may think that we
as prisoners don’t have anything good left in ourselves or have redeeming qualities, or should
be allowed any goodness in our lives; however contrary to that thinking I know in my heart this to be the opposite.’
B. This remarkable situation came about as a result of Paws for Life, a programme, started by the
charity Karma Rescue that matches rescued dogs with inmates who train them to boost their
odds of adoption. What’s even more unusual about it is that it’s the first programme in
California to take place at a high security prison with inmates serving life sentences.
C. Captain Crystal Wood also noticed a huge change in the inmates in a relatively short time
after the dogs entered the prison. ‘A lot of times in this setting it’s so depressing and you
don’t show emotion... and when you have a creature that gives you unconditional love and
licks you and doesn’t care – you see men who’ve been in prison for 20 and 30 years break
down and cry just for the compassion and the humanity. It’s just generally made the yard a calmer place.’
D. What made this ceremony so powerful was the pervasive sense that it changed all the
participants so profoundly. Everybody involved – the volunteers, the prison warden and staff,
the inmates, the dogs, and everyone in their vicinity – was transformed by it. Page 10 of 20
E. Through the scheme inmates eligible for Paws for Life applied for the limited slots by
participating in interviews and writing essays, often laden with extraordinary reflections on
their lives. Some of the excerpts are remarkable, as is the frankness of the writers.
F. Indeed, at the end of the ceremony, the inmates spent quite a bit of time with the families,
giving them pointers. Observing the inmates bond with the families and beam with pride over
the dogs was an incredibly moving experience.
G. Karma Rescue’s founder Rande Levine was amazed at the impact, ‘Men who had not seen an
animal in decades were openly emotional at the sight of the beautiful creatures before them.
Just petting our dogs brought many to happy tears. It was a moment I will never, ever forget.’
H. Families stated how grateful they would be to receive a dog via Paws for Life. Everyone
agreed that adopting an animal that has gone through such excellent training really made their
decision to take a dog into their home easier. Your answers: 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Part 4. For questions 76-85, read an article on schizophrenia and choose the answer A, B, C
or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answer in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided. SCHIZOPHRENIA
One of the most serious forms of mental illness is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a complex
illness and includes many symptoms, and most people who suffer from schizophrenia do not
display all the symptoms. One common trait shared by almost every schizophrenic, however, is a
basic inability to tell the difference between reality and fantasy. Every person has fantasies. Our
imaginations create situations which are not real. In a healthy person, these fantasies are often
called “daydreams,” and the person is aware that they are not real. A schizophrenic, however,
does not understand that his or her daydreams are not part of reality. This can lead to powerful
delusions in which a person may believe things that could not possibly be true. For example, a
schizophrenic may believe that he or she has been contacted by aliens, or some other situation
which is just as unlikely. Under extreme circumstances, these delusions may cause the
schizophrenic to become violent and dangerous.
The causes of schizophrenia are complex and not completely understood. We know that brain
chemistry is somehow involved. We know this because certain drugs which help control a
specific chemical in the brain are helpful in treating schizophrenia. We also know that people
who come from a family in which schizophrenia is common are more likely to develop
schizophrenia themselves. Furthermore, schizophrenia usually surfaces during or after a person’s
teenage years, right about the same time important chemical changes occur in the brain. All of
these facts point to a biological cause for schizophrenia. At the same time, there is a great deal of
evidence that shows that a person’s environment and personal experiences are also important Page 11 of 20
factors. For instance, one study showed that people living in a city are almost 70% more likely to
develop schizophrenia, and minority groups show higher rates of the illness as well. This clearly
shows that environment plays an important role alongside brain chemistry.
Schizophrenia is an episodic illness, with periods of severe illness usually lasting several months.
Severe schizophrenics experience these episodes more frequently than those with less severe
forms of the illness. It is estimated that about 1 % of the world population will experience a
schizophrenic episode at some point in their lives. Treatment generally includes medication, and
in severe cases hospitalization.
76. The word “trait” in the passage is closest in meaning to A. problem B. illness C. handicap D. characteristic
77. According to paragraph 1, the essential difference between the daydreams of a healthy person
and those of a schizophrenic is that __________.
A. a schizophrenic does not know that his or her daydreams are imaginary
B. the daydreams of schizophrenics make them violent and dangerous
C. a healthy person’s daydreams are more imaginative
D. the daydreams of a healthy person occur far less frequently
78. All of the following are symptoms of schizophrenia EXCEPT
A. Hearing voices or noises that are not there B. Organized thinking
C. A lack of emotion and motivation
D. Feeling that things are being controlled from outside
79. Based on the information in paragraph 1, the term delusions can best be explained as
A. the belief in ideas that are untrue and highly unlikely
B. serious forms of mental illness
C. common symptoms among schizophrenics
D. conditions which cause a person to become violent
80. According to the passage, all of the following are proof that schizophrenia has biological
causes EXCEPT _________.
A. drugs that control brain chemistry effectively treat schizophrenia
B. schizophrenia causes important changes in the bodies of teenagers
C. people with a family history of the illness are more likely to develop schizophrenia
D. schizophrenia often occurs for the first time during adolescence Page 12 of 20
81. Based on the information in paragraph 3, what can be inferred about minority groups?
A. They have different brain chemistries.
B. They are often the most violent schizophrenics.
C. They often live in different environments than other people.
D. They are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people living in the city.
82. In stating that schizophrenia is an episodic illness, the author means that schizophrenia
A. is an illness which appears for a period of time and reappears later
B. is an illness which is only treatable for short periods of time
C. is an illness which can be overcome in a short period of time
D. affects people from every part of the world
83. The word those in the passage refers to A. episodes B. schizophrenics C. periods of illness D. experiences
84. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. These delusions can be damaging to a person’s professional and social life.
B. Schizophrenics can be aware whether their daydreams are real or not all the time.
C. In the middle age, people usually suffer from schizophrenia.
D. Schizophrenia is a chronic illness.
85. According to the passage, all of the following are true EXCEPT
A. Schizophrenia is characterized by the inability to tell reality from fantasy.
B. The delusions of schizophrenics can lead to violence in most cases.
C. Schizophrenia is believed to have both biological and environmental causes.
D. Schizophrenia is periodic in nature and is treated with medication or hospitalization. Your answers: 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85.
Part 5. For questions 86-95, read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answer
in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
What characteristics marked out one of history’s greatest military geniuses?
A. Napoleon Bonaparte stirs the emotions. Some find him heroic and regard his opponents
as reactionary and unimaginative. Others think him mad with ambition and responsible for Page 13 of 20
many of the sins of his era. Between these extremes there are those who find some aspects of
the man admirable and others regrettable. Of course, Bonaparte was anything but pure,
anything but modest, anything but democratic, and anything but a peacemaker. But in the end,
who else that sat on a throne in Europe could claim to be? Should he be assailed for sins that
were so sadly common? What is it about Napoleon Bonaparte that makes him the object of
such unique criticism? Is it because he holds a special place in our imaginations, a place that
we hope would be an example of our better selves? Was his genius, good fortune, and
opportunity enough to condemn him - not so much for what he did, but what he failed to do?
In the end is our greatest disappointment in Bonaparte simply that he was merely human?
B. Napoleon was a military genius in the strategic and tactical handling of armies and although
he provided no large scale reforms of armies (or, indeed, their equipment and techniques), he
excelled at the refinement of an art that already existed. One of the most important factors of
Napoleon's personality and its effect on his abilities as a military commander was his genius
to inspire others. He believed in the maxim that ‘spirit and drive is to the physical as three is
to one’. It was through his system of awards (an appealing to soldiers’ ‘soul in order to
electrify the man’) that Napoleon was so successful in obtaining unquestionable obedience,
loyalty and devotion from his rank and file.
C. The name Napoleon Bonaparte is surrounded by so vast an array of myth and legend that it is
quite difficult to separate fact from fiction. It is said that Napoleon displayed outstanding
leadership qualities while still at school. But this is undoubtedly the product of the school of
Napoleonic mythology that was systematically promoted for political reasons in 19th century
France, since it hardly squares with the general picture of the taciturn child with an inferiority
complex that has come down to us. Napoleon was, in truth, a reserved child, resentful of his
peers. On the other hand, he excelled at Maths – a qualification that determined his
specialization as an artillery officer. This was a stroke of luck (one of many that Napoleon
benefited from) inasmuch as the artillery was the most prestigious branch of the army under
the old regime. But the biggest stroke of fortune Napoleon had was to be born when he was –
in the age of the French Revolution. The Revolution turned the whole world upside down
and presented an ambitious young man (Napoleon was always ambitious – a consequence of
his resentment at his inferior status) with new and vast opportunities.
D. No man previously ever concentrated authority to such a point, nor showed mental abilities at
all comparable to Napoleon’s: an extraordinary power of work; prodigious memory for detail
and fine judgment in their selection; a luminous decision-making capacity and a simple and
rapid conception - all placed at the disposal of a sovereign will. And no head of state gave
expression more imperiously than this Corsican to the popular passions of the French of that
day: abhorrence for the emigrant nobility, fear of the ancient régime, dislike of foreigners,
hatred of England, an appetite for conquest evoked by revolutionary propaganda, and the love of glory.
E. Psychological studies of ‘great men and women’ frequently serve as a fig leaf to disguise the
absence of an understanding of broad socio-historical processes. The study of history is
replaced by trivial personal observations. Instead of science, we have gossip. A careful study Page 14 of 20
of the character and background of Napoleon Bonaparte can furnish us with many useful
insights into his behaviour. But we are left with a small amount of useful information that can
help us to attain a deeper understanding of Bonaparte. Men and women make their own
history, but they do not make it freely, in the sense that the scope and results of their actions
are strictly limited by the given socio-economic context that is prepared independently of their will.
In which section are the followings mentioned?
the idea that an individual’s actions cannot be separated from their historical 86. context
the view that the writing of history is sometimes agenda-driven 87.
the characteristics that made Napoleon an exceptional leader 88.
the fact that Napoleon was eminently aware of the impact of morale on modern 89. warfare
the fact that Napoleon is as divisive a character as he is famous 90.
the uncertainty as to whether detractors of Napoleon simply lament the fact he 91.
had the vices and virtues of the common man
the view that Napoleon was no great revolutionary of warfare itself 92.
the notion that we are all a product of the time we live in 93.
the fact that Napoleon’s views reflected those of his countrymen 94.
the event that made Napoleon’s ascent possible 95. IV. WRITING
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary
shoud be between 120 and 140 words long.
What do we mean by being ‘talented’ or ‘gifted’? The most obvious way is to look at the work
someone does and if they are capable of significant success, label them as talented. The purely
quantitative route - ‘percentage definition’ - looks not at individuals, but at simple percentages,
such as the top five per cent of the population, and labels them - by definition - as gifted. This
definition has fallen from favour, eclipsed by the advent of IQ tests, favoured by luminaries such
as Professor Hans Eysenck, where a series of written or verbal tests of general intelligence leads to a score of intelligence.
The IQ test has been eclipsed in turn. Most people studying intelligence and creativity in the new
millennium now prefer a broader definition, using a multifaceted approach where talents in many
areas are recognised rather than purely concentrating on academic achievement. If we are
therefore assuming that talented, creative or gifted individuals may need to be assessed across a
range of abilities, does this mean intelligence can run in families as a genetic or inherited
tendency? Mental dysfunction - such as schizophrenia - can, so is an efficient mental capacity
passed on from parent to child? Page 15 of 20
Animal experiments throw some light on this question, and on the whole area of whether it is
genetics, the environment or a combination of the two that allows for intelligence and creative
ability. Different strains of rats show great differences in intelligence or ‘rat reasoning’. If these
are brought up in normal conditions and then mn through a maze to reach a food goal, the ‘bright’
strain make far fewer wrong turns that the ‘dull’ ones. But if the environment is made dull and
boring the number of errors becomes equal. Return the rats to an exciting maze and the
discrepancy returns as before - but is much smaller. In other words, a dull rat in a stimulating
environment will almost do as well as a bright rat who is bored in a normal one. This principle
applies to humans too - someone may be born with innate intelligence, but their environment
probably has the final say over whether they become creative or even a genius.
Evidence now exists that most young children, if given enough opportunities and encouragement,
are able to achieve significant and sustainable levels of academic or sporting prowess. Bright or
creative children are often physically very active at the same time, and so may receive more
parental attention as a result - almost by default - in order to ensure their safety. They may also
talk earlier, and this, in turn, breeds parental interest. This can sometimes cause problems with
other siblings who may feel jealous even though they themselves may be bright. Their creative
talents may be undervalued and so never come to fruition.
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Part 2. The table below gives information about the underground railway systems in six
countries. Describe the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150 words. City Date opened Kilometers of route Passengers per year (in millions) London 1863 394 775 Paris 1900 199 1191 Tokyo 1927 155 1927 Washington DC 1976 126 144 Kyoto 1981 11 45 Los Angeles 2001 28 50
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Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.
Some people believe that the development of artificial intelligence will make human labor
obsolete. Others think that work performed by humans will always be important.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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