Nec Mock test - kỳ thi chọn học sinh giỏi khu vực THPT
Nec Mock test - kỳ thi chọn học sinh giỏi khu vực THPT giúp các bạn học sinh sắp tham gia các kì thi Tiếng Anh tham khảo, học tập và ôn tập kiến thức, bài tập và đạt kết quả cao trong kỳ thi sắp tới. Mời bạn đọc đón xem!
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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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:
Tài liệu liên quan:
Preview text:
KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI KHU VỰC THPT LẦN THỨ X, NĂM 2017 Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH- KHỐI 11 Thời gian thi:
180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề) SỐ PHÁCH Ngày thi: Đề thi có 14 trang
Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.
Giám thị không giải thích gì thêm.
_________________________________________________________ I. LISTENING (50 points)
HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
· Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 05 giây; mở đầu và kết thúc mỗi phần
nghe có n hiệu. Thí sinh có 20 giây để đọc mỗi phần câu hỏi.
· Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có n hiệu nhạc. Thí sinh có 03 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước n hiệu nhạc kết thúc bài nghe.
· Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng ếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe.
Part 1. Listen to two people, Carla Harris and Robert Clifon, who both work as mystery shoppers. They visit stores
and restaurants to check levels o service. For ques ons 1-5, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. When Carla started the job, she worried most about _______.
A. being easily recognised by other customers
C. failing to conceal her iden ty from sta
B. encountering hos lity at some point
D. ge ng an inaccurate impression of a situa on
2. When describing what she does, Carla is _______.
A. anxious to dispel any false assump ons about the work
B. determined to stress the occasional di cul es of the work
C. happy to explain why the work is some mes necessary
D. keen to emphasise the posi ve outcomes of the work
3. Robert says that as a mystery diner, he _______.
A. considers himself to be an equal to restaurant cri cs
B. nds it di cult to go out and eat purely for pleasure any more
C. has become much more discerning about what cons tutes good service
D. some mes nds the criteria he is required to use are inadequate
4. The aspect of restaurant service that Robert comments on most frequently is _______.
A. the ease with which sta deal with special requirements
B. the intrusiveness of any background music
C. the length of me clients are expected to wait for their order
D. the number of adver sed dishes that turn out to be unavailable
5. Robert and Carla both think that an e ec ve mystery shopper _______.
A. has usual y acquired in-depth knowledge of the business they are observing
B. needs to remain cool when dealing with members of sta
C. requires a good memory to recal details of their observa ons
D. wil a ract far more work if they prove how adaptable they are Your answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. Listen to a Na onal Geographic documentary about Cory Roeseler as he does two sports in the Columbia
River Gorge in the United States. For ques ons 6-9, choose a le er rom A–E. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered space provided.
Why does he like the Columbia River Gorge? Page 1 of 15 pages A. He enjoys himself there. 6 _______
B. He went there a lot as a teenager.
C. It’s close to his home in Washington State. 7 _______
D. It’s the home of kiteboarding.
E. It’s where he experiments with new sports equipment.
How is Roeseler’s wakeboarding boat di erent rom anyone else’s?
A. His inven on is the only one that has worked. 8 _______
B. It has been extensively tested on the water.
C. Its tower gives it more height than other boats. 9 _______
D. Nobody else has used a tower.
E. The addi on of a sail gives it more stability.
For ques on 10, give short answers to the ques ons. Write NO MORE THAN FIVE WORDS taken rom the recording
or each answer in the space provided.
10. How does he describe the experience of kiteboarding?
___________________________________
Part 3. Listen to a conversa on about ood and obesity. For ques ons 11-15, decide which statements are TRUE (T)
or FALSE (F) according to what you hear. Choose NOT STATED (NS) i there is no in orma on about the statement.
Put an X in the corresponding column. T F NS
11. Forty percent of Americans are obese.
12. ‘Pharming’ is growing plants from which to make drugs.
13. Staples are being gene cal y modi ed to produce a chemical reac on.
14. Research is currently being carried out using tobacco plants to produce a human vaccine.
15. The nal vaccine would be given as an injec on.
Part 4: Listen six pieces o BBC News. For ques ons 16–25, use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS to complete each
gap. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered space.
· The oil cartel OPEC’s decision to (16)________________ has led to a period of abnormal y low prices that has
(17) ____________________ of manufacturing countries.
· Stephen O’Brien, a UN envoy, made a plea to help residents in the (18) ____________________.
· The US president elect undertook to leave his business to avoid any (19) ____________________.
· The plane crash might have been caused by a(n) (20) ____________________, not electricity blackout as
reported, prior to the (21)_____________________.
· Ukrainian missile tests by Russian (22)________________ would be conducted as planned in the peninsula (23)
____________________ two years ago.
· Researchers believe the possibility that many families (24) ____________________ the birth of girls may distort
the commonly cited gures of (25)____________________ in China. Page 2 of 15 pages II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (30 points)
Part 1. For ques ons 1–10, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each o the ol owing ques ons and write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. We had to _______ in the back of the car for an hour to nd the missing keys. A. bed out B. ransack C. root around D. turn upside down
2. If the basket is removed with more citric acid added, it may be used to manufacture or _______ alcohol. A. amend B. patch up C. rec fy D. remedy
3. They spend so much me arguing that, when it comes to the _______, decisions are o en deferred. A. crunch B. outcry C. panic sta ons D. uproar
4. We were bi erly disappointed when our team were _______ to the second division from the rst. A. al ocated B. designated C. relegated D. s pulated
5. Working night shi s at the weekend is _______ of any job in hospitality. A. cut and thrust B. ebb and ow C. nuts and bolts D. part and parcel
6. The al tude _______ his breathing, making him a bit spaced out and disorientated. A. played downed B. played havoc with C. played himself in D. played up to
7. Materialism traps us _______ in a world of possessions hag-ridden by irra onal fears of likely loss and lurking dangers. A. impromptu B. o the cu C. on a whim D. unawares
8. Although she had been told quite _______ to pul herself together, she simply couldn’t stop crying. A. rigidly B. sternly C. unrelen ngly D. unsympathe cal y
9. These men share a tendency toward bal adeering that _______ me the wrong way. A. bothers B. provokes C. riles D. rubs
10. He was highly knowledgeable on the areas. Many would say he was something of a _______. A. novice B. proba oner C. tenderfoot D. veteran Your answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2. For ques ons 11-15, l in the blank with a suitable preposi on and write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
11.His suspicions were borne _______ by the ensuing events.
12.I think Jack is _______ a great story; he took a phone cal and dashed out of the o ce looking red.
13.My editor suggests I beef _______ the story with juicy details, otherwise the magazine won’t print it.
14.The salesman conned me _______ buying the car, which gave me nothing but trouble.
15.There are s l some problems which the manufacturers need to iron _______ before sales. Your answers 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part 3. For ques ons 16-20, nd the mistakes in the ol owing sentences and correct them and write your answers
in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
16. You should know b y now that I cannot s tand it when my steak is not c ooked properly as I always have mine well-made. A B C D
17. An important factor s hould be considered is Mr. Lopez's a bility to keep the new restaurant going A B
f or several months with limited revenue. C D
18. When one opens a n account at Dominion Savings and Loan, y ou can get t he first set of checks for free. A B C D Page 3 of 15 pages 19. Mobil
ity is one of the c haracteristics often demanded o f executives, and they must A B C
accustom themselves t o move quite regularly. D 20. N ot until rec
ent h as interest in synthetic fuels been revived. A B C D Your answers 16. 17. 18. 19. 20
Part 4. For ques ons 21–30, write the correct orm o each bracketed word in the numbered space provided below.
(0) has been done as an example. HOW DO WE BEST HELP OTHERS?
According to some (0)___________ (PSYCHOLOGY), we should examine our deeper (21) _______ (MOVE) when
we a empt to help others who appear to be in need of our support. Helping others is clearly a good thing to do,
and it can have a(n) (22) _______ (STORE) power for both giver and recipient. If, however, we begin to focus on
what we might get out of helping someone, rather than how that person might be helped, we could be in danger
of adop ng a somewhat calcula ng a tude. This would be to (23) _______ (PART) signi cance to the ideas of
those psychologists who believe that, ul mately, we only do things for our own aspira ons that no ac ons are
truly (24) _______ (ALTER). And, of course, we can al think of examples of problems that have been exacerbated
by the (25) ______ (INTEND), but (26) _______ (CONSIDER) interven on of third par es. We should also bear in
mind that doing too much for people and protec ng them from the consequences of their ac ons can reduce
their mo va on and even rob them of the resources to sort things out for themselves. Your answers 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. A MODERN ITALIAN ARTIST
Amedeo Modigliani (1884- 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor whose (0. ORIGIN) _original_ pain ngs,
which were characterised by asymmetry of somposi on, (27. LONG) ___________of gure, and simple but
monumental use of line, are among the most important of the 20th century. They have also gained popularity for
the en rely peronal atmosphere with which they are invested: a kind of mute rela onship between the ar st and
si er that implicates the spectator in a truly remarkable way s er su ering from serious il nesses as a child, he
was forced to give up conven onal educa on, and it was then that he began to study pain ng. A er his studies in
Italy, Modigliani le for Paris. There, he was overwhelmed by the pain ng of Paul Cezanne, which exerted a/(a)n
(28.QUESTION) ___________in uence on the earliest phase of his work. Furthermore, his extensive study of
African sculpture made a profound impression on his pain ng style .
Modigliani was not a professional (29. PORTRAIT) ___________ in the strict sense of the world. His pain ng are
almost always portraits of rela ves, (30. PERSON) ___________ of the Parisian liberary. Scene of his mes and
the contemporary ar s c world, along with many portraits of uniden ed persons. Your answers Page 4 of 15 pages 27. 28. 29. 30. III. READING (60 points)
Part 1. For ques ons 31–45, read the ol owing in ormal note about star ng a col ege Film Society and use the
in orma on to complete the numbered gaps in the ormal announcement. Then write the new words in the
corresponding space provided. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS or each gap. The words you need DO NOT
OCCUR in the in ormal note. (0) has been done as an example. INFORMAL NOTE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Do you think you could come up with some sort of
It was decided at the (0) recent commi ee mee ng that
no ce about the Film Club we decided should be started a col ege Film Society is to be (31) __________ and I have
in the commi ee mee ng the other day? Since you been (32) __________ its organiser. The commi ee was (33)
__________ the desire for such a club that many of you
were made the organiser of it, it’s best that you let have expressed and it is in everyone know about it.
(34) __________ this that the decision has been taken.
Obviously, the fact that so many people have said
As the commi ee have no (35) __________ regarding
they want a club like this is the main reason why we’ve the exact (36) _________ the lms we wil be showing, I
decided to set it up. So make it clear that we’re doing it would (37) __________ any sugges ons that you might
because of that. Since we didn’t have any strong idea make. It is (38) __________ that the society wil meet on
ourselves about which par cular lms we should show, a(n) (39) _________ and that no charge wil be made for
(40) __________. There wil , however, be a smal charge for
men on that you’d be glad of any sugges ons. Don’t each screening to
forget to men on that we’ve decided the club should (41) __________ the costs of lm and (42) _________.
meet every week and that they won’t have to pay to
Screenings wil take place in the Central Hal and
join. But make sure that you point out that they’l have (43) __________ of (44) __________ wil be available.
to pay a smal amount for each screening – just enough
(45) __________ to join should sign below.
to pay for the lms and equipment we have to hire. Oh,
and don’t forget to men on that they can get things like
ice-cream and cold drinks while the lm’s on. And get
them to sign a list if they want to join. Your answers 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.
Part 2. For ques ons 46–60, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best ts each gap. Write
your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided. LONDON’S BLACK CABS
Black cabs, o cial y known as Hackney Carriages, are (46) _______ London and are special for a number of
reasons. For a start, they are the only taxis in the city that can be (47) _______ from the kerb with a raised hand
signal to get the driver’s a en on. Currently, it is es mated that there are 20,000 black cabs (48) _______ on the
capital’s streets. Their origin, in fact, can be (49) _______ the name ‘Hackney Carriage’ said to derive from the French
word haquenée referring to the type of horse used to pul the carriages in the days of horse-drawn carriages. The rst
horse-drawn Hackney coaches appeared on London’s streets in the 17th century during the (50) _______ of Queen
Elizabeth I. As transport developed and motor cars were (51) _______, motor cabs replaced the horse-drawn
carriages. Since the end of the 19th century, various car manufacturers’ vehicles have been used as motor cabs but it
was not un l the mid-20th century that the cabs we have been (52) _______ over the last decades rst appeared.
It is such a(n) (53) _______ of becoming a black cab driver in London and it is (54) _______. If you want to gain
this honour you wil need to have passed the (55) _______ test known as ‘the Knowledge’, which was rst introduced
in 1851 fol owing (56) _______ of complaints by passengers whose cab drivers got lost. This incredibly di cult test
can take around three or four years to prepare for and you can o en catch a(n) (57) _______ of those drivers who are
doing just this zipping around London on their mopeds, with a map (58) _______ to a clipboard on their handlebars.
These people are essen al y trying not only to master the 25,000 or so streets within a six-mile radius of Charing
Cross, but also to work out the most direct routes from place to place. They must know thousands of ‘points of
interest’ such as hotels, hospitals, places of worship, theatres, sta ons, sports and leisure facili es, to name but a
few. Prac cal y everywhere and anywhere that a poten al passenger would wish to be taken to or from must be
known, so a(n) (59) _______, for a black cab driver, is (60) _______, and perhaps this is the most di cult part,
knowing the quickest way to get from one place to another. Li le wonder so few people are successful. 46. A. commensurate with B. equivalent to C. synonymous with D. tantamount to 47. A. acclaimed B. acknowledged C. hailed D. summoned 48. A. hereabouts B. hither and thither C. or thereabouts D. there and then 49. A. ferreted out from B. hunted down from C. mapped out to D. traced back to 50. A. incumbency B. leadership C. reign D. sovereignty 51. A. al the rage B. of high standing C. of repute D. in vogue 52. A. clued in on B. genned up on C. in the know about D. no stranger to 53. A. handiwork B. procurement C. realisa on D. undertaking 54. A. beyond you B. no brainer C. no mean feat D. over your head 55. A. abominable B. infamous C. loathsome D. unscrupulous 56. A. droves B. hordes C. packs D. swarms 57. A. gander B. geek C. glance D. glimpse 58. A. chained B. fastened C. linked D. sealed 59. A. nodding acquaintance B. insight into London C. profundity of London D. sma ering knowledge 60. A. beyond measure B. beyond redemp on C. beyond the pale D. beyond the veil Your answers 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60.
Part 3. For ques ons 61-70, read the magazine ar cle about noise. Six sentences have been removed rom the
ar cle. Choose the best sentence given below the text to l each o the blanks. Write one le er A–G in
corresponding numbered boxes. ONE o the suggested answers does NOT t at al . THE EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH NOISE
Noise pol ution is a modern problem that is getting worse. Mil ions of people are exposed to high levels
of noise, yet, despite studies outlining the mental and physical damage it can cause, its ef ects are stil largely ignored.
Long-term exposure to unwanted sound – the definition of noise – has been linked to increased risk of
high blood pressure and heart disease. (61) _______ For example, it has been shown to reduce
concentration levels in open-plan offices and affect long-term memory and attention span. In some extreme
cases, often involving disputes between neighbours, noise may even induce severe depression or trigger violent physical assaults.
Various studies monitoring schoolchildren regularly exposed to noise suggest that it has a direct effect
on ‘higher level processing’ – things like reading ability and concentration levels. (62) _______ Of particular
concern is the duration of this anxiety. For example, according to one German study, when a noisy airport
near a school closed down, it took several years for the children’s behaviour and performance to return to normal levels.
While physical response to noise may be relatively easy to measure, the psychological assessment of
stress caused by noise is less straightforward. There are various reasons for this. (63) _______ Noise
expert Professor Nick Arbury points to a Canadian study into noisy roads, which found that people felt most
strongly where noise was most annoying rather than the loudest. Another complication is that people’s
individual emotional reactions to noise differ. (64) _______ Arbury has an explanation for this dif erence:
‘people who are general y a bit nervous by nature seem to be a bit more sensitive to noise’.
(65) _______ Professor Arbury gives the example of people who claim that having their favourite radio
show on while working at home helps them to concentrate. He disagrees. ‘Some very boring, repetitive
tasks that don’t involve much thinking may wel be helped by having something on in the background.
However, any even moderately difficult task wil be disrupted.’
Arbury thinks that the key to understanding people’s response to noise is control. Some people are
even able to use, say, loud radio speech, to relax. They have chosen to have the sound on in the
background while they do their daily tasks, and so they are in control of their aural environment. And if you
have control, the sound doesn’t have so much ef ect on you. (66) _______ This emotion is a powerful one.
If it builds up over a period, it may reach the point where this person can’t take any more. It then leads to anger and aggression.
So what is to be done? According to Professor Arbury, governments need to look at interventions to
reduce noise levels, but also on an individual level, we al need to recognise that noise is a very real
problem and to show more consideration to those around us.
A. A fundamental point is that our response to noise is, in part, emotional.
B. But for your neighbour, this sound is unwanted – it’s noise – and hearing it al the time may lead to frustration.
C. Exposing thousands of people to noise on a regular basis and monitoring their reactions is very hard to do.
D. In the workplace, constant unwanted sound causes additional problems.
E. It is sometimes asserted that so-cal ed ‘pleasurable noise’ has a beneficial effect on our ability to focus.
F. So while loud music late at night may be exciting for some, for others this may create feelings of isolation and fear.
G. These research projects consistently demonstrate notable increases in the levels of stress-hormone
among those tested, making them feel worried for no obvious reason. Your answers 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66.
Part 3B. For ques ons 67-70, read the our reviews o a sports psychology book. Choose the correct review. The
reviews may be chosen more than once. Write ONE le er A–D in the corresponding numbered space provided. Which reviewer … ? Your answers
believes the same as reviewer A about the quality of the author’s research and the 67. _______ arguments she puts forward
has the same view as reviewer D about how useful the content might be for the book’s 68 _______ intended audience
holds a dif erent view from the others regarding the author’s writing style 69. _______
shares reviewer C’s opinion about whether Sports Psychology is likely to appeal to its 70. _______ intended readers SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
Four reviewers comment on ‘Sports Psychology’, a book by Fiona Bright.
A. Although Sports Psychology is intended for a posi on C. Sports Psychology, by Fiona Bright, is a credit to her
in the academic bookcase, it wouldn’t be out of place on in terms of its engaging and lively style, though this work
the shelf of a special interest sec on in a public library. is without doubt a ne example of style over substance;
That isn’t to say Fiona Bright’s in-depth analysis of sports the la er of which is surely a prerequisite of works
psychology and what makes high-achieving athletes ck intended for serious educa onal purposes. That isn’t to
doesn’t deserve to sit on the lecturer’s desk – it has been say that the subject ma er itself is frivolous – far from it
thoroughly researched and appropriately referenced – – and indeed many a seminal work has been pro ered in
but that her uid prose makes for such ease of reading this rela vely new area of concern by less established
that I would defy anyone who picks it up to put it back writers, who have more successful y achieved a level of
down again without at least being drawn in for a few depth which Sports Psychology fal s short of. Any
pages, whether they have more than a passing interest in enquiring student or professional in the eld is likely to
sport or not. Bright’s weighty arguments are cleverly be le wan ng in terms of having something to sink their
interwoven with ful y il ustra ve examples which are teeth into. Men on of studies suppor ng Bright’s
both relevant to and within the grasp of anyone involved theories are few in number, leaving the reader with the
in the world of sports psychology, be that a student impression that much of the book’s arguments are
embarking on a degree course, or a professional already supposi on rather than grounded in meaningful employed in the eld. evidence.
B. Fiona Bright’s latest o ering, Sports Psychology, D. With Sports Psychology, Fiona Bright is sure to repeat
leaves a lot to be desired in terms of credibility in the the success of her previous books in the eld of sports
world of academia. Although she addresses some psychology, as her work has – rightly or wrongly –
per nent ma ers, and addresses them with an indisputable ‘shelf appeal’. This is not her nest hour,
impressive level of detail, supported by references to however, in terms of wri ng style – her normal y punchy
several in uen al works in the eld, and valid prose is no ceably absent, and the paragraphs swing
applica ons, she leaves a lot unsaid. I doubt I wil be the between laboured and clipped, leaving the reader either
only one who would have liked her to go into more depth overwhelmed with unnecessary detail, or confused by
on the topics of coaching and self-mo va on. That said, arguments which appear to be heading in an interes ng
this is a perfectly readable work, and Bright certainly direc on, only to be le hanging abruptly in the air. Al
understands how to keep an audience gripped with her this despite the fact that the themes covered in the book
lively wri ng style. While said audience may wel end up certainly adhere to the trends of the moment – which is
not being the author’s intended one, there is enough what wil draw readers in – and on the surface of it, it
meat in the book to provide fresh insight and guidance shows promise. Read a li le deeper, however, and one
for both those on the playing eld and the people who wil soon come to the realisa on that one has heard it al
support them in achieving their poten al. before.
Part 4. Read the ol owing passage and answer ques ons 71–80.
Six paragraphs have been removed rom the passage. For ques ons 71–76, choose rom paragraphs A–G the one
which ts each gap. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
IT’S A PITY READING PLEASURE CAN’T BE TESTED
We force children into reading far too early.
Today Einstein, who learnt to read at 10, would be in remedial class, argues Anne Karpf.
A good news story about educa on? It sounds like an 74. _______
oxymoron, but blazoned on Monday’s front pages was Elsewhere there’s no shortage of horror stories, like the
the nding of a major new interna onal survey that ‘UK parents of four-year-olds, who formerly wouldn’t have
pupils move close to top of world class’, especial y in even been in school, paying for coaching to help them keep
reading. This wil have been gra fying to a government up with the fast readers. The mother of a four-and-a-half-
for whom ‘educa on, educa on, educa on’ increasingly year-old was told that her son had to apply himself to
seems to be a euphemism for ‘reading, reading, reading because the school didn’t want him to end up at
reading’. But such singlemindedness has had other, the bo om o the pile. This from an excel ent teacher, unacknowledged, consequences.
herself under pressure to produce results: by their Sats 71. _______
shal we judge them. Einstein may have learned to read
Orthodox educa onalists, however, maintain that you’re only at 10, but today he’d be s gma sed and in remedial
never too young to learn to read: on the contrary, the reading.
earlier the be er. Reading, and especial y early reading, 75. _______
is considered so self-evidently good that children are Learning to read is rather like po y training. The parents of
coaxed, pressed and, if required, bribed into kids who do it young proclaim it abroad, yet most people submission.
get there in the end. How they do so is paramount for 72. _______
future pleasure, and the result of an unpredictable,
My own posi on has changed radical y between my rst serendipitous combina on of factors di erent for each of
and second children. The rst taught herself to read at us. But we’ve a government which has confused standards
the age of four. Therea er she secreted books around with standardisa on. You can, just about, dril children into
her bed like contraband, and had to be physical y prised learning to read, but you can’t compel them to enjoy it. In
from them at the dinner table. When her younger sister a culture increasingly in thral to what is measurable, what
started school last year, I expected a repeat a pity reading pleasure can’t be tested. performance. 76. _______ 73. _______
As for my own now almost-six-year-old, who I think would
Should I be vacuuming away her words, and pumping in have preferred this approach, something has recently
someone else’s? Should I have been coercing her to try clicked in the reading part of her brain, and she is on the
to read when she was plainly unwil ing? I can coerce for way to becoming a voracious reader. It’s probably sheer
England, but the thought o becoming her personal coincidence that this transforma on was over exactly the
politburo in the ma er of when she learned to read same period that she started learning the violin.
seemed so awful that I became a covert refusenik
instead. I decided to stop meddling altogether.
A. Being against it is like being against vitamins or bank B. For the best part of a year I schlepped her wretched
holidays – frankly perverse. Among the over half-mil ion bookbag to and from school without opening it, and
web pages devoted to teaching children to read, none resolved as far as possible to fol ow her own reading
of those I browsed are on learning to read too soon.
metable. Her recep on teacher adopted what today is a
rare, daring stance: there isn’t much you can do to make a
C. Early reading is al part of the extension of formal child read before they’re ready.
reading back into pre-school. Nurseries are now E. Like other recep on class mothers, I peeked at her
bestrewn with targets, and the children know it. friends’ bookbags to see if the books they were reading
Imagine the blow that might have dealt to his crea ve were more advanced. Invariably they were. My growing
genius. Also, one problem with exer ng such pressure anxiety was assuaged by a wise fel ow mother remarking
on pre-school children is that it can make children that my exuberant child was busily engaged in things, like
resistant to reading. Once a ec ng extravagant pretend games and drawing, which delighted her more.
interest in my daughter’s new book- tle, I was rewarded She also loves books, but o en pleads for the right to be
with: “You’re just trying to get me to read it and I able to make up her own stories to the pictures (frequently won’t.”
more exci ng than those confected by the author).
D. Those who consider such misgivings a middle-class F. The obsession with reading has led to a major decline
luxury should look at Europe. We’re alone in bul ying in the me and energy given over to music, art and drama.
children to read so young. The Norwegians don’t start And the heresy that dare not speak its name is that
un l they’re seven, when it’s usual y painless. This also children are being pressurised to learn to read too early.
al ows dyslexics to be diagnosed before and not a er G. When I asked her to tel me what she thought of her
they’ve been label ed poor readers. Sylvia Hopland, classes, she was unabashedly sincere: ‘I like books with
headteacher of the Norwegian School in London, says: pictures, but books with too many words are boring.’ My
“We know that we could teach children to read at four if immediate urge was to force her, threaten her or coax her
we wanted to but we want them to spend those years nose into her books. Un l it suddenly dawned on me: at
playing. Here you teach them to give the right answers. what age did I start reading?
We want to teach them to solve problems, cooperate
with others and cope with life.” Steiner schools in
Britain also concentrate on s mula ng children’s
crea ve facul es un l “a new kind of knowing” emerges at seven.
For ques ons 77–80, choose the best answer A, B, C or D. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
77. The phrase “the thought o becoming her personal politburo” implies the writer’s no on of _______.
A. becoming an orthodox tradi onalist
C. helping the child see educa on in a posi ve light
B. forcing the child to read against her wil
D. resis ng change and favouring established ideas
78. In the context, “at the bo om o the pile” mostly means being _______ of the class. A. the black sheep B. the fair-haired C. the least academic D. the weakest
79. According to the text, “something has recently clicked” implies a change has taken place in _______.
A. coaching the child on extensive reading
C. the child’s a tude towards reading B. bribing the child to read
D. the child’s joy of reading books
80. According to the text, the phrase “And the heresy that dare not speak its names” indicates _______.
A. a belief that people feel uncomfortable about expressing
B. a situa on where contradictory incidents co-occur
C. a subtle support and encouragement
D. an unacceptably unconven onal and unreasonable pedagogy Your answers 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
Part 5. Read the text below and answer ques ons 81–90. WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPH?
One hundred years ago, some thought it a mere novelty.
Yet it has proved itself to be not only the most democra c art form, but a weapon against injus ce.
It has l ed the world with mul ple images of itself.
As the new century begins, we’re familiar with it. But can we trust it?
A. Photography ended the last century as it began it – in the shadow of ne art. “Photography has been, and s l is,
tormented by the ghost of pain ng,” wrote Roland Barthes in the 1970s, when pain ng was supposedly dead, and
photography was making its most determined assault yet on the museums and gal eries of ne art. Since then, ar sts
have taken to the camera in increasing numbers, (and the acceptance of art made by photographic means is more or
less complete). But the ghost of pain ng s l haunts photography, and wil con nue to do so as long as the de ni on
of a work of art relies on the existence of an original.
The most radical inven on to a ect the fortunes of photography was that of the half-tone prin ng process
(around 1880), which meant that photographs could be transferred quickly, cheaply and in large numbers on to the
pages of books, newspapers and magazines. A er the First World War, newspapers in Germany and France
popularised the use of the picture essay to tel a news story, crea ng a new genera on of freelance photographic
reporters. Robert Capa (under his real name, Andrei Friedmann), published his rst set of pictures (of Trotsky
addressing a ral y in Copenhagen) in Der Welt Spiegel in 1932. The diaspora of editors and photographers from these
papers, who ed to Britain and America a er 1933, would contribute the core ideals of the two great English-speaking
picture magazines, Picture Post and Life.
B. Between the 20s and 60s, when television began to usurp its role, photojournalism was a primary source of news
from around the world. But the adage that “the camera never lies” was chal enged as soon as it was u ered, when, in
the 20s, poli cal sa rists used photo-montage to cri cise the German military and bourgeoisie. Our faith in the truth-
tel ing capacity of photographs has been eroded as much by the tricks of adver sing as by poli cal propaganda, but
when it ma ered – when George Rodger entered Belsen in 1945, say, or Margaret Bourke-White entered Buchenwald,
or when someone with a camcorder recorded evidence of ethnic cleansing in Africa – here was evidence that
revisionists found di cult to refute.
At the beginning of the last century, much was made o the divide between photographs concerned with
recording everyday life, and those intended as “works of art". Alfred Steiglitz believed its days to be numbered.
“Photography is a ad wel -nigh on its last legs,” he said, “thanks principal y to the bicycle craze.” He misunderstood
its value to ordinary people. Photography was the most democra c picture-making process since pen and paper, and,
in most cases, the results were far more sa sfactory. The family snapshot is photography’s greatest success this
century. We measure our lives in pictures, we have recorded our own great, historical moments. The emo onal power
of memory – to hold your own past in the palm of your hand – has survived a century when the power of
documentary and reportage photographs threatens to become exhausted.
C. By 1910, pain ng was moving towards abstrac on. Pictorialism petered out, leaving its survivors, notably three
Americans – Edward Steichen, Paul Strand and Steiglitz – to nd out what kind of art photography might be capable of
in its own right. But while ar st-photographers had been gazing inwards, photographic reporters had begun to look
outwards, and used their cameras to document social inequality. Jacob Ri s and Lewis Hine, from the rst decade of
the century, established a tradi on of social y-commi ed photography that shaped the ethos of the Magnum photo
agency, founded in 1947 by Car er-Bresson, Capa, Rodger and Seymour.
By the late 50s, in Britain and in the US, photography was becoming the subject of art. As television slowly began
to take over the repor ng of hard news, magazines began to concentrate on make-believe. Andy Warhol used familiar
photographic images (his famous can of Heinz beans being one of them) to point out how al -pervasive and
manipula ve mass-market images had become. He understood the power of the iconic photograph, which gained
power with repe on. The cult of the celebrity photograph had begun decades before, when Steichen accepted a
contract to provide portraits of the rich and glamorous for Vanity Fair, triggering the insa able public appe te that
has led to the breed of quasi-celebri es who inhabit the pages of OK! and Hello! magazines.
D. As the twenty- rst century begins, it is photographers dedicated to the systema c recording of fact who are
regarded as having produced some of the greatest works of photographic art – Atget’s documen ng of architectural
details and neighbourhoods of old Paris, or August Sander’s massive study of di erent classes of the German people,
Ci zens of the 20th Century. As the century turns, it’s hard to know what photography means. What used to be cal ed a
photograph is more o en a cocktail of mixed, digital images that a computer operator can paint in and out,
highligh ng and enhancing electronical y with the dexterity of a painter with brush. A computer can remove evidence
from the scene of a crime, or put a smile on the face of a glum royal prince.
With the pro igacy of the Internet, visual manipula on has become a moral as wel as aesthe c issue.
Photography has al owed us to create imaginary worlds and play them back to ourselves as fact. The problem in the
current century wil be to remember that it ma ers to know the di erence.
For ques ons 81–90, iden y which sec on A–F each o the ol owing is men oned. Write ONE le er A–F in the
corresponding numbered space provided. Each le er may be used more than once.
According to the text, which section(s) mention the following? Your answers
Advances in printing were instrumental in shaping the evolution of photography. 81. _______
Art photography is the photographing of historical fact. 82. _______
Early in the twentieth century photography was already dealing with social issues. 83. _______
European newspapers were the first to use photography as a news vehicle. 84. _______
It’s hard to define photography. 85. _______
Modern technology has made photographs easy to manipulate. 86. _______
Photographers escaping from mainland Europe before the World War II popularised 87. _______ news photography.
Photographs of famous people have always been popular. 88. _______
Photography became more popular with artists in the last quarter of the 20th century. 89. _______
Photography was discredited as a reliable news source when picture editing and 90. _______ montage was first used. IV. WRITING (60 points)
Part 1. For ques on 1-5, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the rst sentence, using
the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word
given. There is an example at the beginning (0).
0. ‘Why don’t we have a picnic this weekend?’ said Andy having
Andy suggested ………having a picnic that………. weekend.
1. It is recommended that you take water with you as wel as few and far between in this area. (lest)
Travel ers to this area are advised to carry water ___________________________________ ground.
2. Nobody expected it of him but Sam was laid o . (ranks)
Against_________________________________________________________unemployed.
3. Ge ng to work should be much easier once the new underground line is ready. (commu ng)
The new underground line____________________________________________________sailing.
4. Although the signs are op mis c, there are imminent dark clouds. (teeth)
On the___________________________________________________________op mis c signs.
5. We only ingra ated ourselves with our teacher because Ka e insisted. (curried)
It was______________________________________________________________ our teacher.
Part 2. The charts below show the number o Vietnamese tourists visi ng oreign countries and the percentage o
those visi ng Thailand. Summarise the informa on by selec ng and repor ng the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Vietnamese Tourists Visi ng Foreign Countries 18 16 14 12 10 mil ions 8 6 4 2 0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 Years (20. .)
Vietnamese Tourists Visi ng Thailand 9 8 7 6 5 % 4 3 2 1 06.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 Years (20. .)
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