Sample past papers
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
KỲ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP THÀNH PHỐ LỚP 9 – THCS TP HỒ CHÍ MINH
KHÓA NGÀY: 27/3/2012 – NĂM HỌC: 2011-2012 --------------------- Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC
Thời gian làm bài: 150 phút, không kể thời gian phát đề
Đề thi gồm 6 trang
------------------------------------------------------- PART ONE. LISTENING
Recording One: Listen to the recording careful y, then write down the missing word(s) in each blank in your Answer Sheet.
The Hindenburg was the last in a series of (1) __________ which had been developed over 40 years in
both Europe and the United States. They were designed to carry passengers and (2) __________ over
long distances. The Hindenburg could carry 50 passengers (3) __________ in 25 luxury cabins with al the
amenities of a first class hotel. All the cabins had hot and cold water and electric (4) __________. There
was a dining-room, a bar and a (5) __________ with a dance floor and a baby grand piano. The
Hindenburg had been built to compete with the great luxury trans-Atlantic liners. It was (6) __________
meters long with a diameter of 41 meters. It could (7) __________ at a speed of 125 km/h, and was able to
cross the (8) __________ in less than half the time of a liner. By 1937 it had carried 1,000 passengers
safely and had even (9) __________ circus animals and cars. Its sister ship, the Graf Zeppelin, had (10)
__________ one and a half mil ion kilometers and it had carried 13,100 passengers without incident.
Recording Two: Listen to the recording careful y, then decide whether each of the statements is True or
False. Write TRUE or FALSE in your Answer Sheet.
11. Deborah was twenty in 1947.
12. Joseph taught art at New York University.
13. They first met each other at supper one Saturday.
14. Deborah agreed to share the table because she had nearly finished eating.
15. Joseph seemed to have read the book.
Recording Three: Listen to the recording careful y, then, on your Answer Sheet, write a short answer to
each question about the passage.
16. Why does Jenny want some days of work?
17. What time did Mr. Watkins cal ?
18. When wil Mr. Watkins cal back?
19. On which day this week does Godfrey want to be of work?
20. Where does he have to go then? PART TWO. USE OF ENGLISH
Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C, or D) that best completes the sentences.
1. The number of participants is _____ higher than that of the last conference. A. more B. further C. way D. a number
2. I’d rather you _____ more at ention when you are in the classroom. A. are paying B. had paid C. paid D. have paid
3. They couldn’t help _____ pity for the welfare of those disadvantaged children. A. feel B. to feel C. feeling D. to have felt
4. They _____ had there been more support from the manager.
A. may have succeeded B. had succeeded
C. must have succeeded D. could have succeeded
5. They have put forth two suggested plans, _____ seem to be feasible. A. neither of which B. none of which C. nothing of them D. either of them
6. They suggested _____ in the contest. A. I would participate B. me to participate C. my participating
D. that I must participate
7. We _____ this movie. There’s no time to move to another cinema.
A. should have watched B. are likely to watch
C. might as wel watch D. are watching
8. _____ that we had to stay in al day long. A. Such rain was it B. Such a heavy rain
C. So heavily it rained D. So hard did it rain
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9. She _____ a cold after walking in the rain for some time. A. came into B. went down with C. took over D. brought up
10. After my leave I have to _____ a lot of work in my of ice. A. get away with B. put up with C. cut down on D. catch up on
11. What was his reaction _____ the question you asked him? A. to B. about C. with D. on
12. Your complaints wil be answered _____ due course. A. under B. with C. for D. in
13. He final y _____ a confession that he had done it. A. took B. put C. made D. did
14. The players were _____ a big welcome when back from the most impressive win of the team’s history. A. made B. put C. had D. given
15. People are making great ef orts to _____ drug abuse among the young. A. block B. stamp out C. obliterate D. decline
16. This is _____ hot soup and it smel s fantastic. A. sweltering B. scorching C. piping D. unbearably
17. The place mentioned is quite _____.
A. off the beaten track B. on file C. under the weather D. to the boil
18. The rhino is _____ of extinction. A. on the verge B. on the whole C. in need D. in summary
19. – “He failed the last test.” – “_____” A. No sooner! B. No doubt! C. No wonder! 20. – “_____”
– “Veal is the specialty of the house!”
A. Where have you been? B. What do you think?
C. What do you recommend? WORD FORMATION
Use the correct form of the words given to fil in each blank.
1. We need greater __________ in how we deal with the problem of traf ic congestion. (FLEX)
2. The principal has placed a great number of __________ on picnicking activities. (CONSTRAIN)
3. Delays at the International Airport are far from __________. (NEGLECT)
4. Several __________ have been used, which is environmental y damaging. (REFRIGERATION)
5. I feel that he is __________ helping us this time; he doesn’t seem wholehearted. (RELUCTANCE)
6. The __________ of bird flu can bring about disastrous ef ects. (BREAK)
7. The woman stated that she had not __________ those street children. (TREAT)
8. There is every __________ that school wil be innovated. (LIKE)
9. This is a famous school for pupils with hearing __________. (PAIR)
10. She is cooking the meal under the __________ eye of her mother. (WATCH) PART THREE. CLOZE TESTS
Reading the passage and choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) for each blank space. PASSAGE A
(1) _____ every town in Britain has a public library, funded by the local authority, where local people
may borrow books (2) _____ of charge.
Most libraries divide their books (3) _____ two main sections, lending and reference. The lending
section normal y of ers a good (4) _____ of fiction and non-fiction, while the reference section contains
encyclopedia, dictionaries, atlases, etc. Books from the lending section can be borrowed, usual y for a
period of two or three weeks, while books in the reference section may normal y be (5) _____ only in the
library. Libraries are usual y open daily from Monday to Friday, including some evenings, as wel as on Saturday mornings.
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Other (6) _____ besides books usual y include: a selection of newspapers and magazines, desks for
privates reading and study, a children’s book section, access (7) _____ current catalogues and many other
(8) _____ of information by means of a computer terminal; a coin-(9) _____ photocopier, music scores,
records, audio-cassettes and videos that may be borrowed. Most libraries also (10) _____ exhibitions of
local interest, for example paintings by local artists or displays about local history. Many libraries also
contain a local tourist information desk.
Borrowers are normal y al owed to have up to ten or even more books at any one time. A system of (11)
_____ operates when books are not returned by the end of the borrowing (12) _____. People living in the
rural areas can use a ‘mobile library’, a van that (13) _____ these areas regularly with a selection of books from the local library.
(14) _____ public libraries, there are several important private libraries in Britain. Many of them are in
London, such as the London Library. (15) _____ belong to famous universities. 1. A. Most B. Almost C. Mostly D. Utmost 2. A. exempt B. except C. independent D. free 3. A. into B. for C. as D. to 4. A. variation B. dif erence C. range D. scale 5. A. consulted B. referred C. concluded D. inferred 6. A. equipment B. tools C. facilities D. conditions 7. A. for B. in C. on D. to 8. A. resources B. sources C. pieces D. suppliers 9. A. run B. functioned C. operated D. led 10. A. put on B. take up C. get by D. make for 11. A. fees B. fares C. punishments D. fines 12. A. period B. duration C. span D. limit 13. A. roams B. wanders C. tours D. surrounds 14. A. Beside B. Despite C. Instead D. Apart from 15. A. Another B. Other C. Others D. The others
Fil in each of the blanks in the fol owing passages with ONE suitable word. PASSAGE B
L’AQUILA, Italy – A powerful earthquake (1) __________ central Italy early Monday, kil ing at least 20
people, col apsing buildings and leaving thousands of people homeless, of icials and news reports said.
Of icials said the death (2) __________ was likely to rise as rescue crews made their way through the
(3) __________. Firefighters aided by dogs were trying to rescue people from crumbled homes, (4)
__________ a student dormitory in the city of L'Aquila (5) __________ half a dozen university students
were believed trapped. Outside the half-col apsed dorm, tearful students huddled together (6) __________
in blankets, some stil in their slippers. "We (7) __________ to come down with other students but we had
to (8) __________ through a hole in the stairs as the whole floor came down," said student Luigi Alfonsi,
22. "I was in bed – it was like it (9) __________ never end as I heard pieces of the building col apse around me."
The U.S. Geological Survey said the (10) __________ of the quake was 6.3, though Italy's National
Institute of Geophysics (11) __________ it at 5.8. The quake happened about 70 miles (110 kilometers)
northeast of Rome at 3:32 a.m. (12) __________ time (0132 GMT), of icials said. The Civil Protection
Department said the epicenter was near L'Aquila, in the mountainous Abruzzo region.
By early morning, the (13) __________ of people who died stood at 20, including five children, with
some 30 people unaccounted for, paramilitary police said. In addition to L'Aquila, the town of Castelnuovo
appeared (14) __________ hit, with five of the dead there. "It's the (15) __________ tragedy since the start
of the mil ennium," said Guido Bertolaso, the head of the Civil Protection Department. PASSAGE C
Why do some artists (16) __________ it? Why do others fail? Is it possible that successful artists share
certain character (17) __________? They probably do. Although they may have (18) __________ styles
and interests, they have a lot in (19) __________, too. You can cal it what you wil : passion, drive,
persistence. The (20) __________ rarely has it. The professional artist general y (21) __________. It may
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emerge as a fierce ambition or infinite patience. The true artist shows a wil ingness to work hard, no matter
what. Time barely (22) __________; only the creative result is important.
For example, when the artist Ralph Fasanel a read about a mil worker’s (23) __________ that
happened in Lawrence Massachusetts in 1912, he decided he had to go there (24) __________ to see the
town. After arriving, he (25) __________ into a cheap hotel, spent evenings in a local library, visited the
museums, and examined the old mil machinery to understand the (26) __________. Eventual y, he began
to draw quick (27) __________. Before long, Fasanel a was (28) __________ 12 to 14 hours a day to his
paintings, (29) __________ depicted the strike and the lives of the mil workers. Ultimately, he spent three
years in the community, talking to people, drawing, and doing a series of paintings. He simply had to paint.
Fasanel a had never studied art, but his work (30) __________ out for its energy and detail.
PART FOUR. READING COMPREHENSION
Choose the item (A, B, C, or D) that best completes the unfinished statements about the passage. PASSAGE A
Recent technological advances in manned and unmanned vehicles, along with breakthroughs in
satel ite technology and computer equipment, have overcome some of the limitations of divers and diving
equipment for scientists doing research on the great oceans of the world. Without a vehicle, divers often
became sluggish, and their mental concentration was severely limited. Because undersea pressure af ects
their speech organs, communication among divers has always been dif icult or impossible. But today, most
oceanographers avoid the use of vulnerable human divers, preferring to reduce the risk to human life and
make direct observations by means of instruments that are lowered into the ocean, from samples taken
from the water, or from photographs made by orbiting satel ites. Direct observations of the ocean floor can
be made not only by divers but also by deep-diving submarines in the water and even by the technology of
sophisticated aerial photography from vantage points above the surface of more than seven miles and
cruise at depths of fifteen thousand feet. In addition, radio-equipped buoys can be operated by remote
control in order to transmit information back to land-based laboratories via satel ite. Particularly important
for ocean study are data about water temperature, currents, and weather. Satel ite photographs can show
the distribution of sea ice, oil slicks, and cloud formations over the ocean. Maps created from satel ite
pictures can represent the temperature and the color of the ocean's surface, enabling researchers to study
the ocean currents from laboratories on dry land. Furthermore, computers help oceanographers to col ect,
organize, and analyze data from submarines and satel ites. By creating a model of the ocean's movement
and characteristics, scientists can predict the pat erns and possible ef ects of the ocean on the environment.
Recently, many oceanographers have been relying more on satel ites and computers than on research
ships or even submarine vehicles because they can supply a greater range of information more quickly and
more ef ectively. Some of humankind's most serious problems, especial y those concerning energy and
food, may be solved with the help of observations made possible by this new technology.
1. With what topic is the passage primarily concerned?
A. Communication among drivers
B. Direct observation of the ocean floor C. Undersea vehicles
D. Technological advances in oceanography
2. The word "sluggish" is closest in meaning to “_____”. A. very weak B. nervous C. confused D. slow moving
3. This passage suggests that the successful exploration of the ocean depends upon _____.
A. vehicles as wel as divers
B. control ing currents and the weather
C. radios that divers use to communicate
D. the limitations of diving equipment
4. Drives have had problems in communicating underwater because _____.
A. they did not pronounce clearly
B. the water destroyed their speech organs
C. the pressure af ected their speech organs
D. the vehicles they used have not been perfected
5. The word "cruise" could best be replaced by “_____”.
A. travel at a constant speed
B. function without problems
C. stay in communication D. remain stil
6. Undersea vehicles _____.
A. have the same limitations that divers have
B. are too smal for a man to fit inside
C. make direct observations of the ocean floor
D. are very slow to respond
7. The word “information” is closest in meaning to “_____”. A. samples B. photographs C. data D. articles
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8. How is a radio-equipped buoy operated?
A. By operators outside the vehicle on a diving platform
B. By operators outside the vehicle in a laboratory on shore
C. By operators inside the vehicle in the part underwater
D. By operators outside the vehicle on a ship
9. Which of the fol owing are NOT shown in satel ite photographs?
A. The location of sea ice
B. Cloud formations over the ocean
C. The temperature of the ocean's surface
D. A model of the ocean's movements
10. The words “those” refers to “_____”. A. vehicles B. problems C. ships D. computers PASSAGE B
Coincident with concerns about the accelerating loss of species and habitats has been a growing
appreciation of the importance of biological diversity, the number of species in a particular ecosystem, to
the health of the Earth and human wel -being.
Much has been written about the diversity of terrestrial organisms, particularly the exceptional y rich life
associated with tropical rain-forest habitats. Relatively little has been said, however, about diversity of life in
the sea even though coral reef systems are comparable to rain forests in terms of richness of life.
An alien exploring Earth would probably give priority to the planet's dominants, most-distinctive feature-
the ocean. Humans have a bias toward land that sometimes gets in the way of truly examining global
issues. Seen from far away, it is easy to realize that landmasses occupy only one-third of the Earth's
surface. Given that two-thirds of the Earth's surface is water and that marine life lives at al levels of the
ocean, the total three-dimensional living space of the ocean is perhaps 100 times greater than that of land
and contains more than 90 percent of al life on Earth even though the ocean has fewer distinct species.
The fact that half of the known species are thought to inhabit the world's rain forests does not seem
surprising, considering the huge numbers of insects that comprise the bulk of the species. One scientist
found many dif erent species of ants in just one tree from a rain forest. While every species is dif erent from
every other species, their genetic makeup constrains them to be insects and to share similar characteristics
with 750,000 species of insects. If basic, broad categories such as phyla and classes are given more
emphasis than dif erentiating between species, then the greatest diversity of life is unquestionably the
sea. Nearly every major type of plant and animal has some representation there.
To appreciate ful y the diversity and abundance of life in the sea, it helps to think smal . Every spoonful
of ocean water contains life, on the order of 100 to 100,000 bacterial cel s plus assorted microscopic plants
and animals, including larvae of organisms ranging from sponges and corals to starfish and clams and much more.
11. What is the main point of the passage?
A. Humans are destroying thousands of species.
B. There are thousands of insect species.
C. The sea is even richer in life than the rain forests.
D. Coral reefs are similar to rain forests.
12. The word “appreciation” is closest in meaning to “_____”. A. ignorance B. recognition C. tolerance D. forgiveness
13. Why does the author compare rain forests and coral reefs?
A. They are approximately the same size.
B. They share many similar species.
C. Most of their inhabitants require water.
D. Both have many dif erent forms of life.
14. The word “bias” is closest in meaning to “_____”. A. concern B. disadvantage C. attitude D. prejudice
15. The passage suggests that most rain forest species are _____. A. insects B. bacteria C. mammals D. birds
16. The word “there” refers to “_____”. A. the sea B. the rain forests C. a tree D. the Earth's surface
17. The author argues that there is more diversity of life in the sea than in the rain forests because _____.
A. more phyla and classes of life are represented in the sea
B. there are too many insects to make meaningful distinctions
C. many insect species are too smal to divide into categories
D. marine life-forms reproduce at a faster rate
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18. Which of the fol owing is NOT mentioned as an example of microscopic sea life? A. Sponges B. Coral C. Starfish D. Shrimp
19. Which of the fol owing conclusions is supported by the passage?
A. Ocean life is highly adaptive.
B. More attention needs to be paid to preserving ocean species and habitats.
C. Ocean life is primarily composed of plants.
D. The sea is highly resistant to the damage done by pol utants.
20. The word “unquestionably” is closet in meaning to “_____”. A. inexplicably B. doubtlessly C. seemingly D. ambiguously
PART FIVE. SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION
Rewrite each sentence in such a way that it means almost the same as the one printed before it.
Use the word given.
1. Ann is proud of her ability to speak five languages fluently. PRIDES
Being _____________________________________________________________________________
2. Please come as early as possible. BETTER
You should _________________________________________________________________________
3. “You have done an excel ent job, Lucie,” said the teacher. CONGRATULATED
The teacher ________________________________________________________________________
4. They say that the computer is playing important part in modern life. ROLE
The computer _______________________________________________________________________
5. Shortly before my eighteenth birthday, I wil go to university. STUDENT
By the _____________________________________________________________________________
6. You can get the best discounts at our shop. OFFERED
It is _______________________________________________________________________________
7. People who haven’t seen his performances are in no position to be critical. PERFORM
Nobody ___________________________________________________________________________
8. She didn’t try very hard to get to know other people in the course. EFFORT
Little ______________________________________________________________________________
9. Staying on late at work is becoming less of a problem for me. USED
I _________________________________________________________________________________
10. These two brands of ketchup are almost the same. HARDLY
There’s ____________________________________________________________________________ THE END OF THE TEST
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