Kì thi chọn đội tuyển chính thức dự thi HSG quốc gia lớp 12 THPT Chuyên Bến Tre THPT năm 2020 môn thi Tiếng Anh

TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN BẾN TRE
KỲ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN Ọ N TỔ NGOẠI NGỮ N Ọ 20- 2021 Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH
Thời gian thi: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề) Ngày thi:
04/9/2020
Đề thi có 16 trang
 Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.
 Giám thị không giải thích gì thêm.
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)
ƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
 Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 05 giây; mở đầu và kết
thúc mỗi phần nghe có tín hiệu.
 Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có tín hiệu nhạc. Thí sinh có 3 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước tín
hiệu nhạc kết thúc bài nghe.
 Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe. Part 1:
What is said about each of these books? Choose your answers from the box and write the letters A-H
next to questions. Books
A. It conveys the thrill of scientific discovery.
1. A Short History of Nearly Everything
B. It is of interest to any natural historian. 2. Wonderful Life
C. This is a classic of scientific writing.
3. The Rise and Tall of the Third Chimpanzee D. It is about the life of a scientist. 4. The Water Babies
E. This book is now sometimes used in schools. 5. The Emperor of Scent
F. This is also a good travel book. 6. On The Origin of Species
G. This book examines the dark side of human nature.
H. This book was a response to another book. Your answers: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Part 2: You will hear a marine wildlife photographer called Bruce Hind talking about his work. For
questions 7 - 14, complete the sentences. You will hear it TWICE
MARINE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER
Bruce says that (7) ___________________________ is the most important aspect of his work.
Before going on a trip, Bruce makes (8) ___________________________ of the photographs he hopes to take.
Knowing the type of photographs he wants to take helps Bruce to choose the right (9) ___________________________ . Page 1 of 16
Bruce disagrees with people who say his way of taking photographs is not (10) ___________________________.
It‟s important to find out whether (11) ___________________________ is needed to photograph in a particular place.
Bruce says that storms have spoiled several promising shots.
When at sea, Bruce generally keeps his cameras in a container designed for storing
(12) ___________________________.
He is particularly pleased when his photographs appear in (13) ___________________________.
Part 3: You will hear part of a radio interview in which the comedian and writer Jane Clarkson is
talking about her work. For questions 14 - 18, choose the answer ( A, B, C or D) which fits best
according to what you hear. You will hear it TWICE.
14. What did Jane find difficult about writing a book?
A. She couldn‟t travel around the country.
B. She didn‟t get any instant reaction to her work.
C. She had to spend time looking after her daughter.
D. She found the process itself very challenging.
15. According to Jane, why did some critics dislike her novel?
A. They didn‟t think the book was funny.
B. They were dismissive of her initial success.
C. They thought her male colleagues were better writers.
D. They thought she should stick to being a comedian.
16. Which aspect of Jane‟s work as a comedian helped her to write? A. her patience
B. her ability to listen
C. her habit of watching people
D. her rational way of thinking
17. What was the disadvantage of the stage image which Jane developed?
A. It frightened the audience.
B. It made the audience angry.
C. People thought it reflected her real personality.
D. People did not take her seriously any more.
18. Why does Jane prefer being a solo comedian to acting in a play?
A. She can choose where she works.
B. There is a greater range of roles.
C. It‟s more rewarding financially.
D. It‟s a more relaxing way of life. Your answers: 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Part 4: You will hear a talk about how fast a vaccine can be made and fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
Vaccine development can generally go through three stages. RESEARCH Page 2 of 16
This phase aims at finding safe ways to (19)_________________________________ capable of fighting a real infection.
Sub-unit vaccines, that inject (20) _________________________________ of viral proteins, can also be created quickly.
These faster techniques produce (21) _________________________________. TESTING
Clinical testing consists of three phases, each containing multiple trials.
Occasionally, labs can (22) _________________________________ by leveraging previously approved treatments.
Every vaccine has a unique blend of biological and chemical components that require
(23)_________________________________ to produce. MANUFACTURING Preliminary studies suggest that future researchers may be able to (24)
_________________________________ from different viruses into the same vaccine design.
The best strategy is for labs around the world to cooperate and work in parallel on different approaches. By sharing
knowledge and resources, scientists can divide and (25)______________________.
II. LEXICO & GRAMMAR ( 40 POINTS)
Part 1: Choose the correct option for each question. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered box.
26. We can expect to treble our turnover once the January sales get into full ________.
A. force B. flight C. speed D. swing
27. That my brother ______________ boasts about his achievements is absolutely annoying! A. inexorably B. incessantly C. intricately D. intrepidly
28. Neither side is prepared to _____ an inch in the negotiations. A. stir B. budge C. push D. bend
29. His driving license has been ________on the grounds of drink driving. A. repealed B. revoked C. nullified D. recalled
30. Clinics will be subject to a new ________of conduct and stronger controls by local authorities. A. ground B. system C. code D. set
31. The vegetation on the island ________. A. exuberant B. chivalrous C. overcast D. ingenious
32. These days the castle is swamped with ________ of tourists. A. hordes B. cliques C. mobs D. assemblies
33. If you continue to ____________ debts at this rate, you will have to declare bankruptcy eventually. A. save B. raise C. incur D. default
34. A couple of boys were _____________ in the pool. A. impinging on B. larking about
C. ploughing ahead D. floating out
35. Searching for one man in this city is like looking for a _________. A. salt of the earth B. sand in the desert C. needle in a haystack D. drop in the ocean
36. The book is such a ________ that I cannot put it down Page 3 of 16 A. page-turner B. best-seller C. duvet-cover D. mind-reader
37. Obama expressed regret as a US drone strike has ________ killed innocent hostages. A. incongruously B. vehemently C. inadvertently D. graciously
38. . Denise has been ___________ the midnight oil trying to finish this report, so she must be exhausted. A. lighting B. brightening C. burning D. burnt
39. When facing problems, it is important to keep a sense of __________ . A. proportion B. introspection C. relativity D. comparison
40. Hardship and hard work are very much part and _______ of student life. A. package B. parcel C. province D. section
41. The opposition will be elected into government at the next election, without a ________ of doubt. A. shadow B. shade C. benefit D. hue
42. Living by the ocean really _______ your _______. Once you‟ve lived there, you never want to leave. A. came in/heart B. get in/heart C. run in/blood D. came in/blood 43. They‟re planning to
_______ down their operation in Greece and concentrate on Eastern Europe. A. wind B. tie C. roll D. stretch
44. She is a very dominant woman; she certainly has her husband under her ___. A. head B. finger C. thumb D. hand
45. I think he must have some trick up his ________. A. sleeve B. arm C. shoulder D. collar
Part 2: Choose the option (A, B, C or D) that has the nearest meaning to the underlined word(s) in each sentence.
46. Because the jury had reached a deadlock, the judge called for a retrial. A. impasse B. verdict C. disagreement D. reduction
47. His tenacious personality made him top salesperson in the company. A. tenable B. explosive C. persistent D. charming
48. Her first year at school away from home, she suffered qualms of homesickness. A. quakes B. regrets C. lapses D. pangs
49. Manufacturers spend millions of dollars on advertising to entice people to buy their products. A. entertain B. encounter C. tempt D. force
50. During the flight from New York to London, Helen beguiled herself by reading comic books. A. fooled B. tired C. laughed D. amused
51. A good teacher must establish rapport with his or her students. A. report B. acquaintance C. understanding D. conversation
52. Swarms of locusts ravaged the crops. A. raided B. landed on C. flew over D. destroyed
53. The old car jolted along the country road at a snail‟s pace. A. rode B. dawdled C. honked D. bounced
54. Abraham Lincoln was born in a humble log cabin. A. meek B. modest C. modern D. pretentious
55. Submissive wives are seldom successful in the business world. A. unassertive B. substitute C. overworked D. indifferent Your answers: 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. Page 4 of 16
Part 2: For questions 56-65, give the correct form of the words in brackets.
56. The mass media are known to exert an …………… (MEASURE) influence upon people.
57. The headmaster decided to expel the rough boy from our school. His behaviour was really
…………… (OBJECT).
58. Leaving the vault unlocked was a display of an utter …………… (NEGLECT) on one of the clerk‟s part.
59. The majority of the inhabitants would prefer to move out of the area because of the ……………
(AGREE) climatic conditions.
60. The news of another delay was rather …………… (SETTLE). To avoid further stress, several
passengers gave up travelling on that day.
61. There was no …………… (JUSTIFY) for your violent reaction. Nobody was going to do any harm to you.
62. During the ceremony, gunshots were fired in …………… (REMEMBER) of those who devoted their lives to the country.
63. I must admit I have forgotten to bring your drink, sir. I‟m very sorry for this unfortunate …………… (SEE).
64. That tall guy is …………… (FAME) for his hostile manner. That is why he is never invited to parties.
65. The detective was questioned because some of the steps he had taken were not in ……………… (COMPLY) with the law. Your answers: 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65.
III. READING ( 60 POINTS)
Part 1: For questions 66-70, fill in the numbered spaces with ONE WORD only.
Gap year is the term used to describe the year that some students take off before going to university.
Gap years are quite popular in many countries, (66) ……………….. the UK, Australia and Germany.
There are a variety of options (67) ……………….. for people who are thinking of taking a gap year.
One is to SPEND the year travelling around the world. Another possibility is to spend the year at home
getting work experience. A third option is to do volunteer work, (68) ……………….. at home or abroad.
In 2003, Sam Cooke chose this option and travelled to Ecuador to provide tuition in basic literacy for
underprivileged children. "It was a wonderful experience and it really helped me (69) ……………….. mature".
However, Sam warns that it's not for everyone. "Voluntary work is certainly not an easy option and
before you go you should make sure you are properly informed about the living conditions you will
find there. Young people need to ask themselves (70) ……………….. they'll be able to put up with
these conditions for a whole year." Page 5 of 16 Your answers: 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
Part 2: Read the text below and choose the correct word A, B C or D to fit the gaps. Reading People
Recently I went out to dinner with a friend and her new boyfriend. She had been (71)…….... for weeks
about what a kind, considerate, engaging person he was. He had truly (72)…….... her off her feet.
Within minutes of meeting him I thought „Boy, has he got her fooled!‟ At the restaurant, he curtly
announced his reservation to the waiter without so much as a glimmer of courtesy. He proceeded to
interrogate the waiter about the menu as if he were conducting a criminal investigation, and then
(73)…….... at the young man who brushed against him as he served his water. Meanwhile, he was
exuding charm and grace to those of us at the table whom he (74)…….... worthy of his attention and
good humour. It was clear to me that he was a nice guy only when it (75)…….... his purpose. „Little
people‟ didn‟t rate. Truly kind, thoughtful and confident people do not treat others in dramatically
different ways depending on their mood or their perception of what someone can do for them. 71. A. acclaiming B. fuming C. raving D. extolling 72. A. plucked B. swept C. dragged D. hoisted 73. A. winked B. glared C. peeped D. eyed 74. A. pondered B. discriminated C. weighed D. deemed 75. A. met B. realized C. performed D. served Your answers: 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.
Part 3: Read the text below and choose the best answer to each question.
Line Although management principles have been implemented since ancient times, most
management scholars trace the beginning of modern management thought back to the early
1900s, beginning with the pioneering work of Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) Taylor was the
first person to study work scientifically. He is most famous for introducing techniques of time 5
and motion study, differential piece rate systems, and for systematically specializing the work
of operating employees and managers. Along with other pioneers such as Frank and Lillian
Gilbreth, Taylor set the stage, labeling his philosophy and methods “scientific management‟. At
that time, his philosophy, which was concerned with productivity, but which was often
misinterpreted as promoting worker interests at the expense of management, was in marked 10
contrast to the prevailing industrial norms of worker exploitation.
The time and motion study concepts were popularized by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The
Gilbreths had 12 children. By analyzing his children‟s dishwashing and bedmaking chores, this
pioneer efficiency expert, Frank Gilbreth, hit on principles whereby workers could eliminate
waste motion. He was memorialized by two of his children in their 1949 book called “Cheaper by the Dozen”. 15
The Gilbreth methods included using stop watches to time worker movements and special tools
(cameras and special clocks) to monitor and study worker performance, and also involved
identification of “therbligs” (Gilbreth spelled backwards) – basic motions used in production Page 6 of 16
jobs. Many of these motions and accompanying times have been used to determine how long it
should take a skilled worker to perform a given job. In this way an industrial engineer can get a
handle on the approximate time it should take to produce a product or provide a service. 20
However, use of work analysis in this way is unlikely to lead to useful results unless all five
work dimensions are considered: physical, psychological, social, cultural, and power.
76. What is the passage primarily about?
A. The limitations of pioneering studies in understanding human behavior
B. How time and motion studies were first developed
C. The first applications of a scientific approach to understanding human behavior
D. The beginnings of modern management theory
77. The word “which” in line 9 refers to A. scientific management B. philosophy C. productivity D. time and motion study
78. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that
A. workers welcomed the application of scientific management
B. Talor‟s philosophy is different from the industrial norms
C. by the early 1900s science had reached a stage where it could be applied to the workplace
D. workers were no longer exploited after the introduction of scientific management.
79. The word “prevailing” in line 10 is closest in meaning to A. predominant B. broadly accepted C. prevalent D. common
80. According to the passage, Frank Gilbreth discovered how workers could eliminate waste motion by
A. using special tools such as cameras and clocks B. using stop watches
C. applying scientific management principles
D. watching his children do their chores
81. The basic motions used in production jobs were given which one of following names by Frank Gilbreth? A. dimensions B. gilreths C. therbligs D. monitors
82. According to the passage, the time it takes a skilled worker to perform the motion of a given job can be measured by using: A. stop watches
B. all five work dimensions C. special tools D. therbligs
83. The word “motions” in line 20 is closest in meaning to A. stop watches B. habits C. actions D. special tools
84. The word “dimensions” in line 24 is closest in meaning to A. sizes B. extents C. aspects D. standards
85. All of the following are true except
A. scientific management was concerned with productivity.
B. the beginnings of modern management thought commenced in the 19th century.
C. Frank Gilbreth‟s fame was enhanced by two of his children writing a book.
D. analyzing work to increase productivity is not likely to be useful unless all of the dimensions are considered. Page 7 of 16 Your answers: 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85.
Part 4: You are going to read four book reviews. For questions 86 - 94, choose from the sections
(A - D). The sections may be chosen more than once.
Of which book are the following stated?
It presents complicated material in manageable chunks of data. 86
The book failed to sustain the reviewer‟s interest throughout. 87
Readers are left to draw their own conclusions about some of the book‟s material. 88
Its author sought expert advice on certain aspects of the book. 89
The book is both instructive and visually appealing. 90
It looks both backwards and forwards in time. 91
Its author effectively brings together different fields of study. 92
It offers a selective, rather than comprehensive, coverage of its topic. 93
It is possible to feel a sense of involvement with the subject matter. 94
A WHY ELEPHANTS HAVE BIG EARS by Chris Lavers
Chris Lavers has set out to produce a book that sits neatly between serious scholarship (he is a senior
lecturer in animal ecology) and the need to satisfy the inquisitive pesterings of children. Why are ants
so small? Why can a bat fly and a shrew not? And of course, why do elephants have big ears? The
answer is no shocker - creatures have interacted with their habitats to evolve into the extraordinary
forms they possess today. But once this principle is established, the book loses some of its charm. The
book‟s most successful sections are where we travel through the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of
prehistory to look at how nature made its primal decisions: which species would fly and which would
swim, which creatures would be warm or cold-blooded? Lavers argues that it is here we find the true
answers to our questions today and the principles to safely predict our future.
B ORIGINS: The Evolution of Continents, Oceans and Life by Ron Redfern
Shortlisted for the BP Natural World Book Prize, Origins comprises panoramas and a wide-ranging,
accessible scientific insight to make this work a fresh interpretation of the Earth‟s fascinating
evolution. The landscape photographs were shot specifically for the book, albeit by the author himself,
after consultation with leading scientists to find the location of the best-known examples of various
forms and processes. The writer manages to reduce the most complex theories to digestible nuggets of
information. The text is an entertaining narrative that successfully weaves recent and ancient history
with science. Origins is a heavyweight work in more ways than one: as a test for the legs of any coffee
table and as a definitive guide to our planet‟s evolution. It is ideal for regular dipping into as much as for in-depth reference.
C EARTH ODYSSEY by Mark Hertsgaard
Worried about the effects of our expanding population on the world‟s resources, Mark Hertsgaard took
a world tour to see for himself how bad things really were. Earth Odyssey is the culmination of seven
years‟ work, during which time he visited 19 countries. To read it is to shadow him on his tour and to
observe the condition of the planet through the eyes of the people he met along the way: their living
conditions, their personal struggles and triumphs. He does not try to offer his own opinions; rather he
lets us make our own minds up. Hertsgaard cleverly interweaves his observations with carefully
gathered evidence as he seeks to answer questions about our environment. He takes us through the
industrial and agricultural revolutions, then back to the origins of the human species, to see if the past
can provide any answers. Although the answers we want to hear sit uneasily with the facts, Hertsgaard Page 8 of 16
presents an elegant portrait of the human species, full of character, dignity, perseverance and strength.
He leaves you with a strong conviction that it is ultimately a race worth saving.
D THE VIKING ATLAS OF EVOLUTION by Roger Osbourne
Why are there no penguins in the Arctic, or polar bears in Antarctica? How is it that camels and llamas
are so closely related, yet they live so far apart? The answers come down to the fact that evolution takes
place according to geographical location as well as time. Using photographs, superb illustrations and
more than 100 maps showing distributions of organisms, migrations, territories and biogeographic
regions, the atlas graphically highlights the impact geography has had on the development of life on
Earth. It charts the origins, evolution and spread of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals worldwide. It
also investigates the way people have altered the world they live in, from the introduction of exotic
species into fragile ecosystems to the destruction of habitats and the domestication of wild species. The
accompanying text is highly informative. The atlas does not review the evolution of every „important‟
life form on the planet. Rather, it chooses several case studies to highlight the evolutionary process in
differing geographical settings.
Part 5: You are going to read a newspaper article about a memorable incident. Seven
paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one
which fits each gap (95-101). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.
This stiff grey fin was moving purposefully towards us ...
RICHARD E. GRANT TALKS TO DANNY DANZIGER
WHEN I was eight, my parents, my younger brother, Stewart, and a girl called Margo Edwards, who
was at school with us, went on holiday to Mozambique. One day, we took out a small rowing boat with
an outboard motor on it, and went fishing on this vast lagoon at a place called San Martina. 95
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, there was this disturbance in the water. I remember everyone initially
thought it was a dolphin, but it wasn‟t leaping in and out of the water, and before long we could see this
stiff grey fin moving purposefully towards us.
It then circled around our rowing boat, and I remember my father saying: “Well, I think that‟s a shark...” 96
My mother was screaming, and father was shouting obscenities at this thing, which he was trying to
bash back with one of his oars. I had never seen my parents in obvious terror before, and that‟s
something which never leaves you. 97
My mother clutched the three of us around her. I remember she had a voluminous navy blue towelling
robe, with huge starfishes and sunflowers on it, and us three kids gratefully huddled together inside it. 98
As soon as we were in the fishing boat there was this almost hysterical laughter, and I remember
feeling very cold, and being unable to stop shivering. 99 Page 9 of 16
We all talked about it incessantly, too, and probably made out we were far braver than we were. And
there was lots of re-enactment, I remember that we made mud pools, one of us would be crawling along
playing the shark, and the others screaming and shouting: “Kill the shark!” 100
We all touched it. There‟s no texture quite like a shark; its skin is very abrasive, like leather with steel
wool attached to it. If you ran your hand hard against it, you would suffer the equivalent of stinging nettles. 101
I suppose I do go on about it. I‟ll come across friends I haven‟t seen for 20 years, and the first thing
they‟ll say is: “Still going on about that shark?” So I think it must have really affected me. I‟ve never
since had a closer sense of feeling I was going to die, and so theatre critics, job rejection, everything
else daunting in life seems less frightening in relation to that. Paragraphs A
For the longest time this thing kept circling around us, and ramming our rowing boat, while Dad
continued fending it off, stabbing at it with his oar, which was probably the worst thing to have done
because it must have made the beast even more livid than it already was. B
Our story went back to the town, it spread like wildfire, everybody knew about it, and people
talked about it endlessly. My father was regarded as a bit of a hero: Dad the sharkbasher. If he‟d caught
the thing, then I suppose he would have been completely heroic. C
My daughter likes to hear this story a lot. She‟s five now, so she likes monstrous or horrific
tales. She hasn‟t seen the film Jaws, I‟m keeping that for a few years‟ hence - besides, I nearly had a
thrombosis when I saw Jaws - that grey fin moving relentlessly through the water, coming towards you ... D
It was early evening when the motor broke down, and we were stranded. We started to shout in
the hope that somebody would hear us; we knew the sound could travel because of the water being very flat and calm. E
Two or three weeks later, near the end of our holiday, the shark was caught by one of the local
fishermen, and put in the main square for people to go and see. The thing was strung up on a pole, and
it looked horrific because they had slit its stomach open, all its innards had fallen out, and all the
intestines were lying in a pile underneath it, with flies buzzing around. Everybody came to see it, and people took pictures. F
The shark became a legend in the town and there were many local fishermen who claimed to
have seen it prowling around the bay. But despite all the stories of sightings, nobody ever managed to catch the thing. G
And then this monster started bashing our boat, which began rocking from side to side, and
everyone got hysterical. We were just terrified because the boat was by now rocking so much we
thought we were going to be tipped into the water and chomped up by this thing. I remember assuming that we were going to die. H
Eventually, people in a fishing boat heard us screaming, and came alongside, and a fisherman
tied our boat up to his. He was very careful, or he seemed to be, and he and my father handed first us
kids, and then my mother, through to his boat, and our rowing boat was towed behind.
Part 6: Read the passage below and do the tasks that follow Page 10 of 16 Team Building
If you thought ancient monuments were built in honour of gods and kings, think
again, says Laura Spinney
At Poverty Point in the US state of Louisiana, a remarkable monument overlooks the Mississippi river.
Built around 3,500 years ago entirely from earth, it consists of six semi-circular ridges and five
mounds. „Mound A‟, as archaeologists refer to it, is the largest at 22 metres high. The earth mounds at
Poverty Point are not just impressive, they are also intriguing. Ancient monuments have always been
regarded as products of large, hierarchical societies, built as tributes to gods and kings. But the creators
of the Poverty Point monument were hunter-gatherers, who functioned in more democratic way. They
may have looked to elders for guidance, but these would not have exerted a commanding influence
over their small groups. So who, or what, motivated building on such a grand scale?
Archaeologists have been excavating Poverty Point for more than a century. However, the truly
remarkable nature of Mound A only emerged a few years ago. This was when a team led by Tristram
Kidder of Washington University drilled into the mound. They saw for the first time that it consisted of
neat layers of differently coloured earth. It rains a lot around Poverty Point, and we know that
fluctuations in temperature and increased flooding eventually led to its abandonment. But Kidder could
see no sign that the layers had combined as you might expect if it had rained during construction.
Kidder reached a startling conclusion: Mound A must have been built in one short period, perhaps in as
little as 30 days, and probably no more than 90.
Mound A contains nearly 240,000 cubic metres of earth; the equivalent of 32,000 truckloads. There
were no trucks, of course, nor any other heavy machinery, animals like mule to carry the earth, or
wheelbarrows. Assuming it did take 90 days, Kidder‟s group calculated that around 3,000 backet-
carrying individuals would have been needed to get the job done. Given that people probably travelled
in family groups, as many as 9,000 people may have assembled at Poverty Point during construction.
„If that‟s true, it was an extraordinarily large gathering,‟ says Kidder. Why would they have chosen to do this?
Another archaeologist, Carl Lipo, thinks he has the answer: the same reason that the people of Easter
Island built their famous stone heads. When Lipo first went to Easter Island, the prevailing idea was
that the enormous statue had been rolled into place using logs, and the resulting deforestation
contributed to the human population‟s collapse. But Lipo and fellow archaeologist Terry Hunt showed
the statues could have been „walked‟ upright into place by cooperating bands of people using ropes,
with no need for trees. They argue further that by making statues, people‟s energy was directed into
peaceful interactions and information-sharing.
They ceased crafting statues, Lipo claims, precisely because daily existence became
less of a challenge, and it was no longer so important that they work together.
An ancient temple known as Gobekli Tepe in south-east Turkey is another site
where a giant team-building project might have taken place. Since excavations
started, archaeologists have uncovered nine enclosures formed of massive stone
pillars. Given the vast size of these pillars, a considerable workforce would have
been needed to move them. But what archaeologists have also discovered is that
every so often the workers filled in the enclosures with broken rock and built new
ones. The apparent disposability of these monuments makes sense if the main aim
was building a team rather than a lasting structure. Indeed, the many bones from
animals such as gazelle found in the filled-in enclosures suggest people held feasts
to celebrate the end of collaborative effort. A number of researchers share Lipo‟s view that the need to
cooperate is what drove monument makers. But as you might expect when a major shift in thinking is Page 11 of 16
proposed, not everyone goes along with it. The sceptics include Tristram Kidder.
For him, the interesting question is not „Did cooperative building promote group
survival‟ but „What did the builders think they were doing?‟ All human behaviour
comes down to a pursuit of food and self-preservation, he says. As for why people
came to Poverty Point, he and his colleagues have suggested it was a pilgrimage site.
If Lipo is right, have we in any inherited our ancestor‟s tendency to work together
for the sake of social harmony? Evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson thinks
we have. Wilson cites the Burning Man festival, promoted as an experiment in
community and art, which draws thousands of people to Nevada‟s Black Rock
Desert each summer. Among the ten principles laid down by co-founder Larry
Harvey ate „inclusion‟ and „community effort‟. Another is „leaving no trace‟,
meaning that whatever festival-goers create they destroy before departing. In this
way, the desert landscape is only temporarily disturbed. Wilson says there is
evidence that such cooperative ventures matter more today than ever because we are
dependent on a wider range of people than our ancestors were. Food, education,
security: all are provided by people beyond our family group. Recently, as part of
his Neighborhood Project in Binghamton, Wilson and his colleagues helped locals
create their own parks. „This brought people together and enabled them to cooperate
in numerous other contexts,‟ he explains. This included helping with repair after a
series of floods in 2011. Social psychologist Susan Fiske of Princeton University
also sees value in community projects. Her research shows, for example, that they
can help break down the ill-informed views that people hold towards others they
have observed but do not usually interact with. So if modern projects really help
build better communities, that will surely be a monumental achievement. Questions 102-107
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 102- 107, 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
102. The whole monument at Poverty Point was made out of earth.
103. The monument at Poverty Point was the first of its kind to be built in the US
104. The older members of the tribes at Poverty Point had great power mover their people.
105. It is surprising that archaeologists took so long to discover the existence of Mound A.
106. Tristram Kidder‟s work at Mound A revealed something previously unknown to researchers.
107. A change in weather patterns forced people living around the Poverty Point monument to move away. Your answers: 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107 Questions 108-111
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 108-111.
108. The writers refers to trucks, mules and wheelbarrows in order to
A. highlight the technical ability of the Poverty Point inhabitants.
B. emphasise the number of workers required to build the mound.
C. question the logic of choosing Poverty Point as a place for construction. Page 12 of 16
D. challenge the idea that the mound could have been made so quickly.
109. Archaeologists Carl Lipo‟s research at Easter Island has led him to believe that
A. people had to cut down trees in order to transport larger statues.
B. remote communities faced greater environmental challenges than other societies.
C. islanders stopped making statues when their lives became easier.
D. methods of making the statues varied amongst different groups.
110. According to the writer, excavations at Gobekli Tepe suggest that
A. there was disagreement between groups over the temple‟s design.
B. human occupation drove certain animal populations into decline.
C. each of the enclosures that were built served a different purpose.
D. the builders had no intention of creating permanent structures.
111. In the sixth paragraph, what are we told about Tristram Kidder?
A. He feels the academic community should support Carl Lipo‟s theory.
B. He has changed his mind about the purpose of the Poverty Point monument.
C. He doubts that Carl Lipo has identified the key reason for monument making.
D. He believes that most people recognise the need to help each other to survive. Your answers: 108. 109. 110. 111. Questions 112-115
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 112-115. A basic needs
B different generations C new infrastructure D human activities E negative impressions F emergency situation
G commercial advertising H. economic growth
Examples of cooperation in modern times
David Wilson believes that events such as the Burning Man festival encourage social harmony. For
example, participants in the festival cooperate so 112 ……………… won‟t permanently affect the
desert environment. In Wilson‟s opinions, cooperation is especially important today because we now
rely on many people for our 113…………………. Wilson points to how community projects such as
park creation can lead to improved group efforts in 114…………………. Psychologist Susan Fiske has
also shown how 115……………… can change when community projects encourage interaction between strangers. Your answers: 112. 113. 114. 115. IV. WRITING (60 points) Part 1: (15 points)
Read the following article on tattoos carefully and then write a summary of the article in NOT MORE THAN 120 words.
As far as possible, use your own words.
Your summary must be in continuous prose. In your answer, you will be assessed on how well you
(a) identified the main ideas and opinions in the extract Page 13 of 16
(b) organized and expressed these ideas and opinions in your own words
(c) used appropriate grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. Tattoos
Since the beginning of civilization, they have served as marks of identification, spiritual protection and
decoration. Now at the cusp of another millennium, tattoos and other varieties of body markings are
resurfacing as a popular form of individual self-expression. Tattoos are timeless and can be as unique
as the bearers they adorn. They don‟t fade away like favourite T-shirts, or get lost or broken like school
rings. They stay with you forever, until death. They become a part of you from the day you sit in the
artist‟s chair, etching your emotions alongside the needle‟s sting, transforming an instant of your life
into a symbol for the world to see.
Tattoos and other body markings arrived in the Caribbean with African slaves and indentured workers
from China and India. They were sometimes the only permanent keepsakes of peoples snatched from
their ancestral places. The Caribbean‟s original Amerindian inhabitants also used tattoos to mark
spiritual milestones. The Taino of the Northern Caribbean Islands, for instance, used vegetable dyes to
affix images of their guardians onto their skin. These images also indicated an individual‟s lineage, or
his or her social position. Each tattoo was both a personal history book and a mark of belonging.
Over the centuries, however, tattoos and other forms of bodily adornment have mutated, exchanging
religious and cultural significance for individualist associations. Sometimes that mark of individuality
has been confused with rebellion and non-conformity, often alluding to a stain of bad character. Tattoo-
wearers have seemed wild, dangerous, even just plain bad.
But today, tattoos have come full circle. Celebrities, writers, lawyers, housewives, all proudly display
their marks of rebellion. An entirely new perception of the art of tattooing has arisen, which is more
than just a preoccupation with style. This rediscovered form of expression has spawned an entire
subculture of individuals among us. They carry this common bond of distinction through their daily
routines. Via the images on their forearms, shoulders, ankles, or torsos, they connect to each other,
announcing to the world that it is OK to be unique and different.
Adapted from “Pictures made flesh”. Caribbean Beat, July/August 2003.
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................. Page 14 of 16
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................. Part 2 ( 15 points)
The table below shows the results of surveys in 2005, 2010 and 2015 about McGill University.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Percentage of students giving good ratings for
different aspects of McGill University
................................................................................................................................................................. Page 15 of 16
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
Part 3: ESSAY WRITING (30 points) Page 16 of 16
Write an essay of about 300-350 words on the following topic:
Some people believe that it is possible for a country to be economically successful and have a clean
environment. Others argue that these two aims are not compatible.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................. Page 17 of 16
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................. -The end- Page 18 of 16 Page 19 of 16