Kỳ thi chọn đội tuyển học sinh giỏi cấp thành phố TP Hồ Chí Minh khóa 2021 - 2022
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Môn: Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi Tiếng Anh lớp 12 THPT & đội tuyển dự thi học sinh giỏi Quốc gia THPT
Trường: Đề thi chọn HSG Tiếng Anh từ lớp 9 đến lớp 12 cấp trường, quận/ huyện, tỉnh/ thành phố
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Thông tin :
Môn:
Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi Tiếng Anh lớp 12 THPT & đội tuyển dự thi học sinh giỏi Quốc gia THPT
Trường:
Đề thi chọn HSG Tiếng Anh từ lớp 9 đến lớp 12 cấp trường, quận/ huyện, tỉnh/ thành phố
Tác giả:
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ENGLISH BONANZA
KỲ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP THÀNH PHỐ TP HỒ CHÍ MINH KHÓA: 2021 – 2022 MÔN: TIẾNG ANH ĐỀ THI THỬ
Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút
Tài liệu này gồm 10 trang
USE OF ENGLISH (50 pts)
Choose the best answer A, B, C, or D to complete each blank.
1. Learning German isn’t so difficult once you ______ down to it. A. go B. come C. get D. put
2. My grandfather could always spend the whole evening ____ yarns about his adventures. A. turning B. breaking C. spinning D. going
3 We haven’t _____ al the details yet, but we wil certainly be going to Italy in June. A. concluded B. terminated C. ceased D. finalized
4. Two versions of the vaccine have been shown in trials to be between 90% and 95% _____. A. prominent B. proficient C. affectionate D. efficacious
5. Since he became a geologist, Fred’s yearly income has _____. A. nearly tripled
B. got almost three times bigger
C. almost grown by three times
D. just about gone up three times
6. The costume was al _____ an expensive leather outfit. A. anteed up in B. decked out C. frolicked with D. spruced up
7. The report noted that forty percentage of literature teachers _____ the profession are men. A. entering B. joining C. applying D. attending
8. It’s advisable that you ____ heed to the advice that you have been given. A. lay B. take C. pay D. put
9. In order to put aside money, my brother had to _____ his expenditure. A. husband B. stint C. economicalize D. womanize
10. I love blueberries, but they don’t _____ with me. A. play B. agree C. suit D. tally
11. On the way to Nha Trang yesterday, the road was blocked by a fal en tree, so my family had to make a ________ A. deviation B. digression C. detour D. departure
12. Teacher: ‘When are you going to get rid of al these empty cartons? They've been _________ up the classroom for
weeks now.’ – Student: ‘We wil do it as soon as possible, Sir!’ A. buttering B. clutching C. cluttering D. botching
13. My son was in the ______ of despair before he heard the good news about his score in the national examination. A. depths B. profundities C. bottoms D. holes
14. My brother found it impossible to _________his anger and started shouting as I ate al of his cookies. A. restrict B. inhibit C. reserve D. contain
15. I hated the way Emma ________ around looking so self-important. A. strutted B. scampered C. slithered D. slinked
16. Helen had an encounter with Lady Gaga once and she has been _____ her constantly. A. swashbuckling B. perpetuating C. self-glorifying D. name-dropping
17. Sailing through the high school and getting admitted to a prestigious university does not ____ mean you wil succeed in
life. You have to go through vicissitudes. A. legitimately B. axiomatically C. veraciously D. by fits and starts
18. The manager made a(n) ____ statement that everyone must not bring any food into the office from 10a.m to 1p.m. A. downright B. categorical C. indubitable D. unstinting
19. Can I ____ about how you passed the CPE exam? A. beat your brains B. pick your brain C. have on your brain D. go brain dead
20. My Math teacher tries to tel me how to work out a thorny geometry problem, but _____. A. it’s in double Dutch
B. it’s the Chinese whispers
C. it fiddles while Rome burns D. it’s al Greek to me
21. In some movies, stepmother is often described as a completely hard and selfish person - she doesn't have the ________ of human kindness in her. A. cream B. oil C. milk D. water
22. The inspector suspected that there had been some ________ business going on while she was out of the room. A. horse B. monkey C. mouse D. duck
23. Our team are well-prepared for the workforce, and we are ________ a harvest of high standards. A. earning B. growing C. reaping D. gathering
24. I always try to keep myself ____ of Covid-19 pandemic. A. breach B. picture C. information D. abreast
25. After many hours of fruitless negotiations, he stormed out of the meeting in _____. A. exasperation B. adulation C. repercussion D. abnegation
26. Mike was only wearing a thin coat and began ____ in the cold wind. A. vibrating B. agitating C. shivering D. trembling
27. The two companies have agreed on this col aboration with a view to expanding their own _____ of influence. A. part B. way C. field D. sphere
28. It is expected that five mil ion doses of covid-19 vaccine _____ exported by the end of this year. A. wil have to have been B. must have been C. had to have been D. wil need being
29. The Covid-19 patient’s health has ____ so much that the doctors fear for his life. A. degenerated B. deteriorated C. disintegrated D. Declined
30. They wandered around in circles for an hour before finally admitting they were well and ____ lost. A. utterly B. truly C. thoroughly D. Completely
31. The film, which was made _____, surprised everyone by winning three Oscars, including the one for Best Picture. A. over the moon B. on the air C. under the counter D. on a shoestring
32. I shall be ____ you if I can. A. only too pleased to help B. too pleased to help only C. too pleased only to help D. too only pleased to help
33. They must have come to school yesterday, ____? A. mustn’t they B. shouldn’t they C. didn’t they D. haven’t they
34. Under no circumstances _____ gratuities from clients.
A. may members of staff accept
B. are members of staff to accept
C. must members of staff accept D. do members of staff accept
35. The reporters have found the man _____ it was _____ saved the drowning girl last week. A. ∅/ who B. ∅/ that C. whom/ who D. who/ that
36. In my grandfather’s wil , he left me a col ection of antiques, _____ might be quite valuable. A. which some B. some of them C. of which some D. some of what
37. In the ____ of any real evidences against the three men, the case had to be dropped. A. lack B. want C. scarcity D. absence
38. He felt ____ to tell the teacher about the truth. A. in her duty B. her duty C. the duty D. that her duty
39. During the flood in 1972, the Red Cross, _____ out of emergency headquarters in Mississippi, set up temporary shelters for the homeless. A. has operated B. operating C. is operating D. operated
40. Here _____ notebook and report that I promised you last week. A. were the B. is the C. are the D. was the
41. They are quite _____ about not going to university; they wouldn’t even consider it. A. evasive B. suspicious C. adept D. adamant
42. Mike: ‘Look! Anna and her boyfriend are _____ under the umbrel a to keep dry.’ – Timmy: ‘If only I had a lover to do like that!’ A. augmenting B. huddling C. muffling D. enclosing
43. The footbal team became _____ after 6 successive losts. A. regrettable B. conscience-stricken C. egregious D. disconsolate
44. The unity of col eagues and wil ingness to help each other are _____ in our workplace. A. the mod cons B. the creature comforts C. the birds and the bees D. the vantage points
45. Mike: ‘Your brother is not interested in learning Spanish, is he?’ – Anna: ‘_____. I’m afraid!’ A. No, he is B. Yes, he is C. No, he isn’t D. Yes, he isn’t
46. Mina could get any guy she wanted – so I was real y surprised when she introduced me to her latest boyfriend, who I thought was ____ ugly. A. bitterly B. ostentatiously C. hideously D. extremely
47. Mike makes it clear _____ his girlfriend’s problems again. A. not to cope with B. not coping with C. he would not cope with D. he not cope with
48. Cindy says she’s _____ busy to come to my birthday party. A. so much B. much too C. too much D much so
49. After many ______, the handicapped children final y could go to school themselves. A. trials and tribulations B. pass judgement C. hues and cries D. loom large
50. Given how spontaneous she had always been, no one was in the least bit surprised when she decided she was going to move to Greece on a(n) _____. A. impulse B. wish C. whim D. flash GUIDED CLOZE (30 pts)
Read the passages and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) for each bank space. PASSAGE A:
After a four-decade-long career, Tri has not lost his passion for (1) _____ antique radios and cassette players to
retain the (2) _____ memory of vintage sounds. The repair shop of 67-year-old technician Tri catches the eye of passers-by
with its old-school (3) _____ that has been kept from the early post-war years.
Tri learned the trade of radio repair from his brother and has kept the heritage alive in his shop for the past 40 years.
In recent years, the shop has seen a significant (4) _____ in its customer base, leaving only a few loyal visitors. Because of
the slowdown, Tri has had to (5) ______ working as a ‘xe om’ motorbike taxi driver as a side job to support his family.
“Yet, I still want to keep the shop running to cure the ‘disease’ for them [the radios] and let the old sounds have their own world,” Tri said.
He stores a (6) _____ of vintage pieces and gadgets from the past century in the mere two-square-meter area of
his kiosk. The technician has acquired (7) _____ experience in repairing virtually every product line (8) _____ of radios and
cassette players. No matter how much time or effort it takes, he never fails to figure out the issue and find the right spare
parts to fix his customers' devices.
According to Tri, there are two options for repairing a radio, depending on the condition of the device: recovery or
replacement. In the shop, there have been instances of antique, seemingly can-not-be-(9) _____ devices that were brought
back to (10) ______ thanks to Tri's diligence. Tri said the avid collectors as well as the people who fix radio devices find it
too hard to give up the antique equipment for new tech pieces. [...] 1. A. reassuring B. reusing C. rejuvenating D. reselling 2. A. loathsome B. execrated C. hostile D. treasured 3. A. signature B. signings C. assignment D. signage 4. A. downswing B. disparity C. incandescence D. non-aggression 5. A. salted away B. put by C. blotted out D. ushering in 6. A. shortage B. dearth C. many D. plethora 7. A. hands-down B. onhand C. hands-on D. hands-free 8. A. over the counter B. on the back C. in the realm D. at the coalface 9. A. salvaged B. retrieved C. relinquished D. ditched 10. A. society B. life C. day D. Heart PASSAGE B:
Culture shock refers to the feelings of discomfort experienced as a person adjusts to a new culture. It is caused by
having to (11) _______ many new and unfamiliar situations and traditions. Newcomers feel helpless because they cannot
understand all the new things they experience. However, understanding the stages of culture shock - and knowing that it is
only (12) ______ - can help new comers make the transition.
There are four stages of culture shock, although the length of time each stage lasts wil diff er for each person.
The first stage is the honeymoon stage. During this time, when you first (13) _______ a new culture, everything is interesting
and exciting. You are (14) ______ about the new culture and eager to learn. Everything seems interesting, the people are
friendly, the food is delicious, and you are eager to explore your new surroundings. However, after some time, the (15)
______ stage begins. The newcomer starts to feel uncomfortable and unhappy in the new culture. Everything seems very
difficult: shopping, getting around, and making friends (16) _____ confusing. You may begin to feel homesick and want to
return home. Feelings of anger and sadness are common, and you may (17) _______ be overwhelmed by small problems.
However, these feelings don’t last long. Gradual y, the newcomer becomes more comfortable in the culture and enters the
(18) _______ stage. The new customs seem clearer, and (19) ______ seem(s) rather easier. You begin to enjoy the new
culture once more. Finally, the stability stage begins. Life becomes more normal, and your sense of humor returns. You may
not like everything about the new culture, but it doesn't make you so unhappy. You begin to feel (20) ______ home in the new culture. 11. A. prevail upon B. slot in C. attend to D. tussle with 12. A. for good B. temporary C. contemporary D. ephemeral 13. A. set foot on B. hammer out at C. commit yourself to D. make way for 14. A. interrogative B. inquisitive C. interested D. intermingling 15. A. distress B. agony C. hardship D. jeopardy 16. A. to seem B. seemingly C. seems D. seem 17. A. like B. also C. well D. both 18. A. recover B. resurrection C. regeneration D. regain 19. A. interactions of everyday B. everyday interactiveness C. everyday interactions D. being interactive everyday 20. A. as B. similarly C. like D. at PASSAGE C:
Stressful situations that (21) ______ almost every day in life seem to be unavoidable. However, we can do little
sometimes to (22) ______ a misfortune or unpleasant occurrence which may (23) ______ us expectedly as only it can. At such
a moment, one may hit the roof give in to the helplessness of the situation or, ideal y, put a brave (24) ______ on it trying to bear the burden.
Can you (25) ______ in your mind an hour spent in a traffic jam, say, this morning? Do you light one cigarette after
another? Do you sound the (26) ______ every few seconds like the other neurotics? Or do you take a different stance and make
good use of the time drawing up a schedule for the days to come?
To withstand the stressful moment you can also do a crossword puzzle, listen to your favorite music or even compose
a menu for your Saturday dinner. In fact, whatever way you respond to the annoying situation, you can exert no impact on it
as the traffic jam wil only reduce in due (27) ______. Nevertheless, your reaction might considerably influence your mood for
the rest of the day. The inability to confront a stressful occurrence like that with a deal of composure and sensibility adds much
more (28) _____ to your life and in this way puts your well-being in (28) ______. Surprisingly, it's the seemingly negligible
hardships we (29) ______ on daily that run double the risk of developing serious health disorders rather than our isolated
tragedies however painful they may be.
Given that so many of those (30) ______ stress inducing troubles affect us in a day, we should, at best, try to avoid
them or possibly make radical alterations in the way we lead our daily lifestyles. 21. A. create B. originate C. emerge D. devise 22. A. stamp out B. dawn on C. boil down to D. ward off 23. A. befall B. happen C. occur D. arise 24. A. neck B. face C. forehead D. fist 25. A. observe B. picture C. envision D. conclude 26. A. horn B. alarm C. voice D. song 27. A. term B. course C. timing D. period 28. A. risk B. jeopardy C. weakness D. strain 29. A. stagger B. stutter C. stumble D. stump 30. A. wretched B. incongruous C. countervailing D. unkempt
READING COMPREHENSION (20 pts)
Choose the item (A, B, C, or D) that best answers the question or best completes the unfinished statement about the passage. PASSAGE A:
Most countries’ education systems have had what you might call educational disasters, but, sadly, in many areas of
certain countries these disasters’ are stil evident today. The English education system is unique due to the fact that there are
stil dozens of schools which are known as private schools and they perpetuate privilege and social division. Most countries
have some private schools for the children of the wealthy; England is able to more than triple the average number globally.
England has around 3,000 private schools and just under half a mil ion children are educated at them whilst some nine mil ion
children are educated at state schools. The overwhelming majority of students at private schools also come from middle-class families.
The result of this system is evident and it has much English history embedded within it. The facts seem to speak for
themselves. In the private system almost half the students go on to University, whilst in the state system, only about eight per
cent make it to further education. However, statistics such as these can be deceptive due to the fact that middle-class children
do better at examinations than working class ones, and most of them stay on at school after 16. Private schools, therefore,
have the advantage over state schools as they are 77 entirely ‘middle class’, and this creates an environment of success where
students work harder and apply themselves more diligently to their school work.
Private schools are extortionately expensive, being as much as £18,000 a year at somewhere such as Harrow or Eton,
where Princes Wil iam and Harry attended, and at least £8,000 a year almost everywhere else. There are many parents who are
not wealthy or even comfortably off but are wil ing to sacrifice a great deal in the cause of their children’s schooling. It baffles
many people as to why they need to spend such vast amounts when there are perfectly acceptable state schools that don’t cost
a penny. One father gave his reasoning for sending his son to a private school, ‘If my son gets a five-percent-better chance of
going to University then that may be the difference between success and failure.” It would seem to the average person that a
£50,000 minimum total cost of second level education is a lot to pay for a five-percent-better chance. Most children, given the
choice, would take the money and spend it on more enjoyable things rather than shelling it out on a school that is too posh for its own good
However, some say that the real reason that parents fork out the cash is prejudice: they don’t want their little kids
mixing with the “workers”, or picking up an undesirable accent. In addition to this, it wouldn’t do if at the next dinner party al
the guests were boasting about sending their kids to the same place where the son of the third cousin of Prince Charles is going,
and you say your kid is going to the state school down the road, even if you could pocket the money for yourself instead, and,
as a result, be able to serve the best Champagne with the smoked salmon and duck.
It is a fact, however, that at many of the best private schools, your money buys you something. One school, with 500
pupils, has 11 science laboratories; another school with 800 pupils, has 30 music practice rooms; another has 16 squash courts,
and yet another has its own beach. Private schools spend £300 per pupil a year on investment in buildings and facilities; the
state system spends less than £50. On books, the ratio is 3 to 1.
One of the things that your money buys which is difficult to quantify is the appearance of the school, the way it looks.
Most private schools that you wil find are set in beautiful, well-kept country houses, with extensive grounds and gardens. In
comparison with the state schools, they tend to look like castles, with the worst of the state schools looking like public lavatories,
perhaps even tiled or covered in graffiti. Many may even have an architectural design that is just about on the level of an industrial shed.
1. The English educational system differs from the other ones because _________.
A. it tries to make state and private equal.
B. more students are educated at private schools than state schools
C. it contributes to creating a class system within society.
D. it is more expensive to run
2. There are more private school children who go to university because _________.
A. the lessons and teachers at the private schools are much better.
B. their parents often send their children to private schools
C. they have more teaching hours
D. the school create a successful environment.
3. A lot of parents often send their children to private schools _________.
A. because they are not wel -informed.
B. to show how much money they have to their friends
C. to increase their chances of succeeding in the university exams.
D. because of the better sports facilities.
4. It is suggested that some parents of children at private schools are _________.
A. prejudiced and superficial.
B. more intelligent that those with children at state schools.
C. well-brought-up and cultivated. D. overly protective.
5. Private schools _________.
A. always have their own beaches.
B. teach sports that state schools do not.
C. spend more money per student than state schools.
D. spend more money on hiring good teachers.
6. The writer thinks that private-school buildings _________.
A. are very attractive and luxurious.
B. generally do not look very nice.
C. are too big for the amount of students who attend the school.
D. are not built to suit student’s needs.
7. In general, the writer’s opinion about private schools is _______.
A. It isn’t fair that those without money can’t attend them.
B. They divide social classes but they offer better facilities and a more creative environment.
C. There is little difference between private and state schools.
D. They have the best teachers.
8. The word ‘perpetuate’ in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _________. A. establish B. preclude C. immortalize D. elevate
9. Which of the following characteristics most accurately describes the data concerning about the percentage
of students receiving tertiary education among English schools? A. disingenuous B. righteous C. revealing D. unequivocal
10. Why do the author mention ‘to serve the best Champagne with the smoked salmon and duck’ in paragraph 4?
A. To suggest that sending juveniles to state educational institutions can embarrass opinionated parents
B. To give an il ustration of appetizing specialties at state schools C
C. To point out the similarities between two academic systems in England
D. To present an explanation for the preconception of middle-class parents PASSAGE B:
The length of day - as based on daylight or the period between sunrise and sunset -varies over the course of a year.
While the days tend to be longer than nights in summer, they become shorter than nights in winter. The change in the length
of day is gradual, staring from the longest day of the year to the shortest day. Similarly, starting from the shortest day of the
year, the length of a day increases gradually until it is the longest day of the next calendar year.
The occurrence of the longest or shortest day of the year is attributed to the astronomical event known as solstice,
which occurs twice in a calendar year-first when the apparent position of the Sun is at its northernmost limit (Tropic of
Cancer/23.50 North), and again, when the apparent position of the Sun is at its southernmost limit (Tropic of Capricorn/23.50
South). This event of astronomy is further categorized into two parts- summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year,
and winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. When the Sun is at its northernmost limit at 23.50 N, it is referred to
as summer solstice, and when it is at its southernmost limit at 23.50 S, it is referred to as winter solstice.
On the other hand, when the Sun's apparent position is just above the equator, it is referred to as equinox -which
occurs twice a year. This however only applies to the northern hemisphere of the Earth.
In the southern hemisphere summer solstice occurs when the Sun is at its southernmost limit at 23.50 South and winter
solstice occurs when the Sun is at its northernmost limit at 23.50 North. Owing to the differences in apparent position of the
Sun, each of the two hemispheres experiences summer solstice and winter solstice at different times of the year. When the Sun
is positioned at northernmost limit, the northern hemisphere experiences more daylight as compared to the southern
hemisphere. Contrary to this when the Sun is at its southernmost extreme the southern hemisphere experiences more daylight
as compared to its northern counterpart. For a resident of the northern hemisphere, the longest day is when the Sun is at the
Tropic of Cancer, and the shortest is when it is at the Tropic of Capricorn.
If you happen to be a resident of some countries in the southern hemisphere. You wil experience the longest day when
the Sun is at the Tropic of Capricorn and the shortest day when it is at the Tropic of Cancer Generally, the Sun is at the Tropic
of Cancer on 20 or 21 June (sometimes on 19 or 22 June) and at the Tropic of Capricorn on 21 or 22 December (sometimes on
20 or 23 December). Going by these dates longest day of the year has to be 20 or 21 June for the northern hemisphere, but 21
or 22 December for the southern hemisphere. Similarly, the shortest day of the year has to be 21 or 22 December for the
northern hemisphere, but 20 or 27 June for the southern hemisphere.
Interestingly, when the Sun is positioned at the 23.50 North latitude the region around the North Pole experiences 24
hours of daylight (day) while the region around the South Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness (night) at a stretch. Similarly,
when the Sun is positioned at the 23.50 South latitude the North Pole and surrounding areas experience 24 hours of darkness
while the South Pole and surrounding areas receive 24 hours of daylight.
11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. influences of the Sun on the length of the day on the occasion of equinox
B. differences in the occurrence of solstices at various latitudes on the Earth
C. variations in the duration of daylight throughout a span of a year
D. similarities in the length of a day of each hemisphere
12. The word “gradual” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______ A. marginal B. significant C. distinguishable D. conspicuous
13. Based on the information in paragraph 2, which of the following best explains the term ‘summer solstice’?
A. a synonymous definition of winter solstice
B. an astronomical event coming about in December 84 C. an equivalent for equinox
D. a subdivided sort of solstice
14. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to _____
A. The astronomical event of solstice
B. The astronomic location of the Sun C. The length of a day D. The latitude
15. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about solstice?
A. It occurs once every six months when the Sun’s position is somewhere in the vicinity of the equator
B. It is solely attributed to the occurrence of the shortest period of daytime
C. In the event of solstice, the Southermost point on the Earth’s surface experiences the same length of darkness as its counterpart.
D. It takes place when the Sun’s position is either at its northernmost or southernmost extreme.
16. According to paragraph 5, each of the two hemispheres experience summer and winter solstice at different
times with its counterpart because ______.
A. The location of the Sun is peculiar to each hemisphere during solstice
B. There is a thorough similitude between the position of the Sun
C. Each of the hemisphere has its own celestial body of the Sun
D. Each of the hemisphere utilize a separate calendar
17. It may be concluded from paragraph 5 that the longest day for an individual residing in the southern
hemisphere occurs when ______
A. the Sun is at the tropic of Capricorn
B. the Sun is at the latitude of 23.5o South
C. the Sun is at the Tropic of Cancer
D. the Sun is at its northernmost limit
18. According to the passage, all of the following characteristics describe alterations in the length of the day in
the Antarctic circle EXCEPT ______.
A. The shortest day invariably fal s on the twenty-first of June
B. The Antarctic pole receives continuous daylight on one day in December
C. The hemisphere has no equinoxes throughout the year
D. The occurrence of the hemisphere’s winter solstice ranges from the nineteenth to the twenty-second of June
19. According to paragraph 7, in which season does the North Pole experience no obscurity? A. Spring B. Summer C. Autumn D. Winter
20. What is the tone of the passage? A. speculative B. commiserating C. introspective D. condescending PASSAGE C:
According to accounts, when the first astronauts in space looked down and saw the Earth floating in the vast black void,
they had what can only be described as a profound spiritual experience; in an instant they had attained a 'global consciousness'
in which all national and international boundaries disappeared, and they were left with the awesome realization that they were
mere ‘planetary citizens'. To the astronauts, the planet looked as if it were some huge single living system. The photographs
they brought back touched us all in some way, and the blue sphere in space came to symbolize the oneness of all humanity
and life on Earth. The idea that the planet might be alive, strange though it sounds, was soon to gain credence, even among the scientific community.
Not long afterwards in the 1970s, the hypothesis that the Earth's biosphere actually functions as a single living system
was put forward by Dr. James Lovelock, a British scientists and inventor who had been commissioned by NASA to help
determine whether or not there was life on Mars. By comparing the atmospheres of both planets, he soon realized that, while
Mars had a stable, unchanging, 'dead' atmosphere, Earth had no such equilibrium, and that there were some complex
processes going on. It was this imbalance that made the planet suitable for sustaining life. He postulated that: “the physical
and chemical condition of the surface of the Earth, of the atmosphere and of the oceans has been, and is, actively made fit
and comfortable by the presence of life itself ... in contrast to the conventional wisdom which held that life adapted to the
planetary conditions as it, and they, evolved their separate ways.”
Suffice it to say, Lovelock knew that when looking at the Earth in this way, what he was seeing was not so much a planet
that just happened to be suitable for sustaining life, but a self-evolving and self-regulating system that adjusted itself to
support life. This seemed to qualify the Earth as a living entity in her own right, so he named her ‘Gaia' - after the Greek
goddess who was said to have drawn the living world forth from Chaos - and the 'Gaia hypothesis' was born.
Lovelock first published his idea in 1979 in his book, Gaia, a New Look at Life on Earth, although the science behind the
hypothesis was stil imprecise. The ideas in the book provoked a storm of criticism, but also generated a lot of research, which
has since led to profound new insights about life on Earth. For instance, Lovelock knew that the heat of the sun had increased
by 25 % since life began on Earth, yet he did not understand by which process the temperature on the surface had been kept
at the optimum conditions suitable for sustaining life.
Since that time, many of the mechanisms by which Gaia regulates her systems have been identified. For example, it has
been shown that cloud formation over the open ocean is almost entirely a function of the metabolism of oceanic algae.
Previously, it was thought that this cloud formation was a purely chemical phenomenon. Further research suggested that Gaia
has automatical y been control ing global temperature, atmospheric content, ocean salinity, and other factors in order to
'maintain the conditions suitable for its own survival', in much the same way that any individual organism regulates its body
temperature, blood salinity etc.
Similarly, al the life forms on the planet are part of Gaia, in a way analogous to the different organs in a body, each with
its own function. The oceans and atmosphere act as the planet's circulatory and temperature control system, while the tropical
rainforests could be compared to the liver, cleansing the body of toxins. In their diversity, the myriad life forms of earth co-
evolve and contribute interactively to produce and sustain the system as a whole.
Some of Lovelock's critics took his hypothesis to imply that the Earth was behaving with a sense of purpose, that it was
a teleological being, actively control ing the climate and so on. However, Lovelock had never stated that planetary self-
regulation was purposeful, only that it was a living, highly complex system. No one doubts that plants or bacteria are alive,
yet they do not produce processes nearly as complicated as the Earth's.
The Gaia Theory has already had a huge impact on science and has inspired many leading figures of the part 20 years,
who have written and spoken eloquently about how we can model human activities that are beneficial to the living systems of
our planet. By making us more aware of the damage we are doing to the eco-system, Gaia theory may also help us to survive.
We are just one part of a larger system, and are reliant of that system for our continued existence. As Lovelock said: “If we
see the world as a super-organism of which we are a part – not the owner, nor the tenant, not even a passenger - we could
have a long time ahead of us and our species might survive for its ‘al otted span'. It al depends on you and me”
1. The first astronauts in space were _____
A. conscious of the lack of physical boundaries between nations.
B. forced to adjust their perspective of their place in the cosmos.
C. profoundly affected by the symbolism of the Earth.
D. made aware of the life - forces operating on Earth.
2. Dr. James Lovelock had originally _____
A. been an inventor in Britain.
B. been employed to compare Mars with Earth.
C. been looking for Martian life.
D. proved Mars was a dead planet.
3. Lovelock surmised that _____
A. Earth's inconstant atmosphere was a by-product on life on the planet.
B. the chemical condition of the Earth had come about be accident.
C. the imbalance of gases on Earth had created life.
D. life had evolved to survive in Earth's planetary conditions.
4. Research has shown that ______
A. the various planetary systems are regulated by different mechanism.
B. clouds are formed by metabolic chemical changes in the sky.
C. the saltiness of the seas is due to the presence of oceanic algae.
D. Gaia can ultimately control her own survival.
5. According to Gaia theory _____
A. the planet has physical biological organs similar to a person's.
B. the oceans control the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere.
C. the rainforests can remove al the pol ution from the Earth's atmosphere.
D. each species on Earth has a part to play in the planet's survival.
6. According to Lovelock, _____
A. higher forced were at work behind the Earth's existence and survival.
B. the Earth had developed senses and was conscious of its purpose.
C. the complex life - forces on earth are equal to the sum of a living being.
D. bacteria and plants are alive but can only produce simple processes.
7. The Gaia hypothesis may ultimately ensure the immediate survival of _____ A. the planet Earth. B. the human species. C. the ecosystem. D. all life on Earth
8. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to “equilibrium"? A. serenity B. balance C. sustainability D. evenness
9. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to "myriad”? A. fruitful B. col ateral C. classic D. innumerable
10. Which of the following words is closest in meaning to "teleological"? A. deliberate B. tenacious C. inexorable D. Efficacious WORD FORMS (20 pts)
Use the correct form of the word given to fill in each blank.
1. Al the employees were opposed to that strict idea and called for another _____ one. (WATER)
2. Despite being interrogated for hours, the criminal stil guarded the secret to avoid _____ (INCRIMINATE).
3. Many _____ teenagers tend to look down on farmers and dismiss them as dirty and old-fashioned. (CITY)
4. Many educationlists are now acting in _____ of national formal education system. (FAR)
5. There was a(n) _____ debate tournament between school in Sydney and in Melbourne last week. (SCHOOL)
6. Not only India but also some countries all over the world believe that cow urine, bleach and cocaine are COVID-19 cures,
though they are _____. (SCIENCE)
7. At the age of 70, he couldn't manage to maintain his enthusiasm as a young man but became a _____ old man with a
hopeless outlook on life. (WORLD)
8. Her approach, though a bit _____, managed to solve the problem. (IDIOM)
9. A rainbow flag is a ____ flag consisting of the colors of the rainbow, which is symbolic of LGBT. (COLOR)
10. We got into considerable confusion when the kidnapper called us from a _____ number for blackmailing. (GEOGRAPHY)
Read the passage carefully. Put the words given in corrects blanks. You have to use correct forms to make a
meaningful passage. There are two words that you cannot use. compete vehemence operate prosper measure limit potential likely Mind worth hope effectual
In contemporary Western culture there is a great deal of controversy about competition. One segment values it highly,
believing that it is responsible for Western progress and (11) _____. Another segment says that competition is bad; that it pits
one person against another and therefore; divisive that it leads to enmity between people and therefore to a lack of (12) _____
and eventual (13) _____. Those who value competition believe in sports such as footbal , baseball, tennis and golf. Those who
see competition as a form of legalized hostility tend to favor such (14) _____ forms of recreation as surfing or jogging.
I have taught many children and teenagers who were caught up in the belief that their (15) _____ depended on how wel
they performed at tennis and other skil s. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death issues. In their (16) _____
pursuit of (17) _____ success, the development of many other human (18) _____ is sadly neglected. But whereas some seem
to get trapped in the compulsion to succeed, others take a rebellious stance. Pointing to the (19) _____ involved in a cultural
pattern which tends to value only the winners and ignore even the positive of the mediocre, they (20) ______ criticize competition. CLOZE TEST (60 pts)
Fill in each blank the following passages with ONE suitable word to make meaningful passages. PASSAGE A: TO WORK EFFECTIVELY
Dividing big jobs into smal er sub-tasks helps you to bring work under (1) ____ al ows you to set targets and check your
(2) _____. There is so much pressure to be ambitious - to go for the long dissertation, to read the huge tomes. Yet achievement
(3) ____ out of quite modest activities undertaken on a small (4) ____. The trouble with the big tasks is that you keep (5)
_____ them off. Their scope and shape is unclear and we all flee from uncertainty. The more you can (6) _____ your work as
small, discrete, concrete tasks, the more control you have over it.
Organizing tasks into the time (7) ____ can itself be divided into strategy and application. It is useful to think of yourself
as “investing” time. Some tasks require intense (8) _____ and need to be done at a prime time of day, when you are at your
best and have time to (9) _____. Others can be fitted (10) ____ when you are tired, or as "warm-up” activities at the start of
a session. Some, such as essay writing, may best be spread over several days. Some need to be done straight away. PASSAGE B: BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Bilingual Education is the application of specialized (11) ______ techniques to enhance the learning opportunities of students
whose native language (12) _____ from the predominant language of instruction. These students are referred to (13) _____
language minority students, and they are found throughout the world. Bilingual education has received (14) _____ research
and public policy attention in the USA because of the continued presence of large number of (15) _____ speaking immigrants.
Language minority students in the USA are often called limited English (16) ____ (LEP) students. Estimates of LEP students
range from 2.5 mil ion to 4.6 mil ion, which equals about 7 to 10 percent of the USA student (17) ____. These students
represent more than 180 distinct language groups.
Prior to 1900, bilingual education programs in German, French, Italian, and Spanish existed throughout the USA. In 1900 more
than 600,000 elementary school students – about 4 percent of the primary school population – received instruction at least
partly in German. Such programs (18) _____ in use during the early 1900s, however, when waves of anti-immigrant feeling
(19) ____ to restrictions on the use of languages other than English in classrooms. In the 1960s, a resurgence of interest in
bilingual education accompanied the (20) _____ in Florida of Spanish – speaking refugees from Cuba. PASSAGE C:
The US dol ar is made up of 100 cents. The Department of the Treasury prints bil s in various (21) ________, or values: $1,
$2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. US bil s are all the same size, (22) ________ their value, and measure about 2x6
inches/6.5x15.5 centimetres. Al are green and are sometimes called greenbacks. On the front, (23) ________ has a picture
of a famous American. The (24) ________ bil , for instance, shows George Washington, the first US president. An informal
name for dol ars is bucks, because in the early period of US history people traded the skins of bucks and prices would sometimes
be given as a number of buckskins. Buck refers to the dol ar (25) ________, and not to the bil . The Treasury also makes US
coins: (26) ________ which are worth .01 of a dol ar, nickels (.05), dimes (.10) and quarters (.25). There are also (27)
________ (.50) and silver dol ars but these are not often seen. Pennies have a dark brown colour; al (28) ________ other
coins have a silver appearance. When you write an amount in figures the dol ar sign ($) goes to the left of the amount and a
(29) ________ point (.) is placed between the dol ars and the cents, or hundredths of a dol ar. If the amount is (30) ________
than one dol ar, the cent sign (¢) is put after the numbers. So you write $5, $5.62 and 62¢.
SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION (20 pts)
Rewrite the sentences so that they mean almost the same as the ones before them. You have to use the exact
words given in brackets.
1. I always enjoy this novel, no matter how often I read it. (TIRE)
Often ___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Helene tried to be one of the heroes when he was a young musician. (MODELLED)
As ______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Coming second didn’t make her feel any better because she only wanted to win. (CONSOLATION)
Winning was all that ________________________________________________________________________________
4. Inefficient treatment of customers creates bad impression of the company. (PART)
Lack __________________________________________________________________________________ on customers.
5. It’s a mystery where the Coronavirus originated. (SHROUDED)
The origins _______________________________________________________________________________________
6. The home team took too many risks, and they finally lost the last match. (OVERPLAYED)
Now that _________________________________________________________________________________________
7. His daughter wishes to become a popular artistic performer. (SIGHTS)
His daughter has __________________________________________________________________________________
8. Your protesting the initiation of the project is immaterial for us. (CRY)
Of no ____________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Mike chose computing rather than marketing for his next course. (PREFERENCE)
Mike opted _______________________________________________________________________________________
10. It’s great to go home after spending a few days in Greece. (LIKE)
There’s __________________________________________________________________________________________ THE END OF THE TEST