Test for Gifted Ss (Ha Tay 2005 2006)

Sở giáo dục và đào tạo
tỉnh hà tây

Đề thi chính thức

Kỳ thi chọn học sinh giỏi tỉnh Lớp 12 THPT

Năm học 2005 - 2006

Môn Tiếng Anh hệ chuyên

Thời gian thi : 180 phút (kể cả nghe băng)
Ngày thi
: / 01 / 2006
Số phách

Đề thi có 9 trang.

(do chủ tịch hội đồng
chấm thi ghi)

Section I. Listening

Task 1. Listen to the interview with Trevor MacDonald, chosen as tie-man of the year. For each of
the questions 1-4 tick () one of the boxes A, B, C or D to show the correct answer.
1. Trevor MacDonald
A. works in the British Clothing Industry.
B. models ties.
C. writes for a Caribbean magazine.
D. reads the news on television.

2. Choosing a tie is easy for Trevor because
A. he has lots of suits.
B. he has lots of shirts.
C. he wears only plain ties.
D. he wears only plain suits.

3. On cold grey days, Trevor usually
A. takes no notice of the weather.
B. feels depressed all day.
C. wears a grey tie.
D. wears a colourful tie.

4. Which word best sums up Trevors personality?
A. conventional
B. outrageous
C. diverse
D. adventurous

Task 2. Listen to this interview with Angela Blackstone, author of books for children. For questions 511 tick a box to show whether the statements are true or false according to what Angela says.
According to Angela Blackstone:
5. informative books are inevitably dull.
6. the main function of childrens books is to give information.
7. books are the best medium for showing how other people think.
8. children are genuinely interested in fantasy books.
9. illustrations can confuse children.
10. it is better to illustrate your own books.
11. children are more critical of her books than adults.
Section II. Lexico grammar

True

False


Task 1. Each of the following sentences is provided with four choices. Choose the one that best
completes the sentence.
1. Thomas _____ for Bangkok as soon as he _____ about your accident.
A. had left …was informed
B. had left …had been informed
C. leaves …has been informed
D. left …was informed
2. We think that we will elect Somsak _____.
A. for our chairman
B. be our chairman C. being our chairman
D. our chairman
3. They quarrelled _____ the choice of a house.
A. on
B. over
C. for
D. to
4. ‚Why was the letter returned?‛
‚I put only a _____ on it.‛
A. three-cents stamp
B. three-cent stamp C. stamp of three cents
D. three-cent stamps
5. I _____ him that much money.
A. oppose to lend
B. oppose to lending
C. am opposed to lend
D. am opposed to lending

6. ‚You have been spending too much money lately.‛
‚You’re right. I need to _____ on my expenses.‛
A. cut out
B. cut up
C. cut down
D. cut away
7. The headmaster _____ the discipline problem in his school with growing concern.
A. saw
B. looked
C. viewed
D. reflected
8. The student’s hard work was _____ with success in his examinations.
A. rewarded
B. awarded
C. thanked
D. presented
9. That field _____ a good crop of potatoes last year.
A. planted
B. grew
C. raised
D. yielded
10. How can you avoid mistakes when you’re in such a _____?
A. speed
B. worry
C. hastening
D. hurry
11. There is no _____ in insisting on the impossible.
A. mind
B. meaning
C. sense

D. help
12. We have to produce more food to _____ the demand of the ever-growing population.
A. meet
B. suit
C. fill
D. respond
13. They rose one after _____ and walked out.
A. the other
B. each other
C. others
D. another
14. He wants to read a book, _____ is most unusual for him.
A. which
B. that
C. this
D. what
15. The next afternoon I went to _____ Miss Barkley again.
A. call by
B. call on
C. call for
D. call off
16. I checked all my answers _____ my teacher had suggested.
A. like
B. that
C. as
D. such
17. People such as teachers, government officials and bank managers earn _____.
A. wages
B. salaries
C. income

D. pay
18. Of course she behaved awfully, but _____, she is your sister.
A. however
B. in addition
C. for
D. after all
19. It was raining hard, but by the time class was over, the rain _____.
A. stopped
B. would stop
C. had stopped
D. might have stopped
20. The working condition is so bad that I don’t know how to _____ it.
A. put up with
B. stand up with
C. put up
D. stand with

Your answers: 1. _____
7. _____
14. _____

8. _____
15. _____

2. _____
9. _____
16. _____

3. _____
10. _____

17. _____

4. _____
11. _____
18. _____

5. _____
12. _____
19. _____

6. _____
13. _____
20. _____

Task 2. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate form of the word in block capitals.


1. Most people agree that Christmas has become too _____. (COMMERCE)

______________

2. _____ fruit juice contains no extra sugar. (SWEET)
3. The car is in _____ good order. (REASON)
4. She decided to have a siesta even though she was _____
to sleep in the afternoon. (CUSTOM)
5. We can look forward to a period of _____. (PROSPER)
6. The car in front was going very slowly, so John _____ it. (TAKE)
7. He may come but it’s very _____. (LIKE)
8. This painting is a _____ of a storm at sea. (REPRESENT)
9. A lot of _____ events will be posted on the notice board. (COME)

______________
______________

10. There is a _____ living room with French windows. (SPACE)

______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________

Task 3. Fill in each gap in the following sentences with one of the particles in the box. There are four
extra particles which you do not need to use. Each particle can be used once only.
over
off

down
through

up
against

round
for

with
out

about
of

across
on

1. Sorry to let you _____, but I can’t give you a lift today.
2. The cheese had begun to give _____ a strange smell.
3. We look _____ this town as our real home.
4. We hadn’t bargained _____ there being so much traffic, and we missed the plane.
5. I think you made _____ the whole story!
6. I had the feeling I wasn’t getting _____.
7. Peter has fallen out _____ his boss.
8. We’ve come up _____ a bit of a problem.
9. The crisis was brought _____ by Brenda’s resignation.
10. My photos didn’t come _____ very well.

Your answers:
4. ____________
8. ____________

1. ____________
5. ____________
9. ____________

2. ____________
6. ____________
10. ____________

3. ____________
7. ____________

Task 4. There are eleven errors in the following paragraph. Try to find and correct them. The 1st one is
done as an example.
A SURPRISING MEMORY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Mr Peter Low, a 27 years-old taxi driver, has a very surprising ability: he can remind all the
numbers in the telephone directories of three cities by where he lives. He is now learning every
telephone numbers in a very remote region in the north of Scotland.
Mr Low discovered his remarkable ability to remembering numbers when he was twenty-one years
aged. ‚One day I read a phone directory because I was bored and I found them easy to remember
all the numbers‛, he said. The national telephone company was much interested in Mr Low’s
ability and asked him to address all their senior staffs at an annual conference. ‚As far as we are
concern, he provides a very useful service for people‛, a telephone company officer said.

Your answers:

1. years old  year old (line 1)


2. ____________________

3. ____________________

4. ____________________
6. ____________________
8. ____________________
10. ___________________

5. ____________________
7. ____________________
9. ____________________
11. ___________________

Task 5. Give the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
A public house which recently (buy)1 by Mr Ian Thompson is up for sale. Mr Thompson (sell)2 it
because it (haunt)3. He told me that he could not go to sleep one night because he (hear)4 a strange
noise coming from the bar. The next morning he found that the door (block)5 by chairs and the
furniture (move)6. Though Mr Thompson (turn)7 the lights off before he went to bed, they (be)8 on in
the morning. He also said that he (find)9 five empty whisky bottles which the ghost (must drink)10 the
night before. When I suggested that some villagers (must come)11 in for a free drink. Mr Thompson
(shake)12 his head. The villagers (tell)13 him that they (not accept)14 the inn even if he (give)15 it away.

Your answers:
2. __________________
4. __________________
6. __________________
8. __________________
10. __________________
12. __________________

1. __________________
3. __________________
5. __________________
7. __________________
9. __________________
11. __________________
13. __________________

14. __________________

15. __________________
------------------------------------------------

section III. reading

Task 1. In this section you will find after the passage a number of questions or unfinished statements
about it, each with four suggested answers or ways of finishing. You must choose the one which you
think fits best. Give one answer only to each question.
In the distance he heard the whistle and the train moved slowly across what sounded like an iron
bridge and came to a halt. It was a sixth stop since they had left Berlin.
Billy Fenwick lay very stiffly in his upper berth of the sleeping compartment and he knew that it was
the sixth stop because he’d counted every one of them. He also knew that the time was exactly twentyfive minutes to two and that they should be almost half-way to the border by now. Every other minute
he glanced at the luminous dial of his wristwatch, a treasured possession given to him on his ninth
birthday. Anything to pass the time, to stop him from falling asleep, to keep him from staring at the
blind which, in the blue light of the little bulb over the door, looked like a sheet of shiny metal.
But he shouldn’t be frightened because he was nine years old now. A great big boy, as they kept
telling him. Mummy had promised him that there were no monsters outside, it was just his
imagination. Robin wasn’t frightened and he was only five and a half. Billy leaned over and looked
down at his brother, who was curled up fast asleep with his head buried in the pillow. He looked so still
he might have been dead.

No, Robin wasn’t frightened, but why should he be? Robin was too young to know why the blinds
were pulled down so tightly. He couldn’t picture the cold desert outside with the white-faced people
who stood and watched the trains. Robin didn’t realize that at every stop there was danger, that at any
moment the people would start coming towards them and, if the train didn’t start again soon, one of
them might raise his hand, open the window and begin to climb in.


And two of them were there now. Sweat ran down his forehead as he listened. Yes, footsteps were
coming across the tracks, somebody was speaking in a low voice, somebody laughed, and there was a
tapping noise just below the window. He pulled the blankets up tightly to his chin and tried not to
scream, though at any moment he knew the window would come down and he would see a hand slide
in under the blind. The tapping stopped. There was another deep laugh and he could picture fingers
feeling for the window catch. Then the carriage creaked, the wheels started to turn. They were on their
way again and he was safe.
1. Billy was lying stiffly in the berth because _____.
A. he wasn’t very comfortable.
B. he was afraid.
C. he was counting the stops.
D. he had trouble with his back.
2. Why did Billy keep looking at his watch?
A. he wanted to know the time.
B. he was very proud of it.
C. it helped him stay awake.
D. it was a birthday present.
3. Billy didn’t want to look at the window blind because _____.
A. it was made of dull metal.
B. it was behind him.
C. the blue light was shining on it.
D. he was afraid of what was behind it.
4. Why was Billy ashamed of being scared?

A. he was older than his brother.
B. his brother was older than him.
C. his mother thought he was a baby.
D. he had promised his mother that he wouldn’t be.
5. When Billy looked at his brother _____.
A. he thought he was dead.
B. he saw he was lying stretched out on the bed.
C. he noticed his head was under the pillow. D. he saw he was fast asleep.
6. Why wasn’t Robin afraid?
A. he understood about the blinds.
C. he couldn’t draw the scene outside the window.
B. he had too much imagination.
D. he wasn’t old enough to understand the danger.
7. What did Billy imagine at every stop?
A. he would become dangerous.
B. the train wouldn’t start again.
C. someone outside would put his hand up. D. someone might enter the compartment.
8. When the train stopped Billy could hear _____.
A. someone speaking to himself.
B. a loud knock below the window.
C. someone telling a joke.
D. several different sounds.
9. Billy felt like screaming because _____.
A. he could imagine the window opening. B. he couldn’t hear anything.
C. the train started suddenly.
D. the noise stopped.
10. From the story what do we understand about Billy’s character?
A. he was sensitive and imaginative.
B. he was sensible and clever.
C. he was artistic and easily frightened.

D. he was fearless and kind.

Your answers:
1. _____
6. _____

2. _____
7. _____

3. _____
8. _____

4. _____
9. _____

5. _____
10. _____

Task 2. Read the text below. Six sentences have been removed. Choose from sentences A-G the one
that fits each gap (1-6).
Running the ruins
Acid rain is now a familiar problem in the industrialized countries in Europe. Gases like sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide are produced by power stations and cars. (1-----) Acid rain is also capable
of dissolving some rocks, and building made of soft rock, such as limestone, are particularly affected.
The acid rain attacks the rock, and so carving and statues are eroded more quickly.
(2-----) . According to a report in the New Scientist, acid rain is being blame for the rapid decay of
ancient ruins in Mexico. The old limestone building in places like Chicken Itza, Tulum and Palenque
are wearing away very quickly indeed. These sites are the remains of the building built by the Mayas
between 250 BC and AD 900, and the spectacular ruins of Mayan civilization are visited by thousands

of tourists every year. But those ruins are in danger of being seriously damaged by pollution. At any
site the stone has been covered with a layer of black substances like tar. (3-----)
Scientists estimate that about one millimeter of stone is worn away every twelve years. (4-----) The
acid rain is said to be caused by pollution from oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Car exhaust gases are
also a problem. Local volcanic eruptions make the problem even worse. Nevertheless, with enough
money and effort, researchers say that many of the problems could be solved and the rate of erosion
reduced. (5-----)
Mexico’s current lack of funds is also partly due to oil. The country has rich oil fields and a few years
ago, when oil was expensive. Mexico was selling large quantities of oil to the USA and earning a lot of
money. (6-----) However, the price of oil then dropped, and Mexico has been left owning enormous
sums of money and with not enough income from oil sales to pay back the loans. So unless the price of
oil rises, it is unlikely that Mexico will be able to afford to clean up the pollution and save its Mayan
ruins from destruction.
A. At other the painted surfaces inside temples are lifting and flaking off and the stone is being eaten
aaaaway.
B. That is enough to have caused some of the ancient carvings to become seriously damaged already.
C. These measures would reduce the pollution, but would not stop it completely.
D. The government therefore was able to borrow huge sums of money from banks around the world,
tttttthinking they would have no problem repaying their debts.
E. They dissolve in rainwater and this makes acid rain, which damages trees, rivers and streams.
F. The problem, however, is not just a European one.
G. However, the Mexican government does not have enough money to do the work, and need to spend
wwwhat money it has on the Mexican people.

Your answers: 1. _____

2. _____

3. _____

4. _____

5. _____

6. _____

Task 3. For questions from one to fifteen, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D
best fits each space.
Press Photographers
Good press photographers must have an ‚eye‛ for news. Just as journalists must have a ‚nose‛ for a
good story. They must be able to interpret a story and decide rapidly how they can take (1)_____ of the
best opportunities to take pictures. The most difficult part of a press photographer’s job is that he or she
must be able to (2)_____ a complicated situation with just one photograph. They rarely have second
(3)_____ and must be able to take the required (4)_____ very quickly. Indeed, speed is essential – if
the photographs are not ready for the printing deadline, they are very unlikely to be of any (5)_____.
Most press photographers begin work with a local newspaper. There, the (6)_____ is mostly for
material of regional interest. Photographers may be expected to photograph a lot of unexciting events
but to (7)_____ the enthusiasm to put ‘something special’ into every picture.
There is (8)_____ competition among those who want to move from local to national newspapers.
Here, the work is much more centred on news. The photographer must work (9)_____ greater pressure
and (10)_____ more responsibility. Only (11)_____ reliable, talented and resourceful photographers
(12)_____ this difficult move. The work is tough and can be dangerous. On an overseas assignment,
photographers may have to (13)_____ unfamiliar food and accommodation, physical and mental stress,
and (14)_____ difficulty in transporting the pictures from an isolated area to get them to the newspaper
(15)_____. They also have to beat the competition from other publications.
1. A. profit
2. A. draw up
3. A. chances
4. A. image

5. A. role

B. benefit
B. put out
B. occasions
B. shot
B. gain

C. gain
C. sum up
C. possibilities
C. scene
C. employment

D. advantage
D. turn out
D. moments
D. illustration
D. use


6. A. demand
7. A. hold on
8. A. firm
9. A. by
10. A. take
11. A. sharply
12. A. pass
13. A. struggle for
14. A. extreme

15. A. on time

B. task
B. keep up
B. forceful
B. under
B. support
B. largely
B. make
B. get by
B. plentiful
B. by the time

C. obligation
C. carry on
C. strict
C. through
C. perform
C. highly
C. turn
C. cope with
C. far
C. for a time

D. duty
D. stay up
D. strong
D. from
D. fetch
D. fully

D. proceed
D. stand up
D. grand
D. with time

Your answers:
1. _____
6. _____
11. _____

2. _____
7. _____
12. _____

3. _____
8. _____
13. _____

4. _____
9. _____
14. _____

5. _____
10. _____
15. _____

------------------------------------------------

section iv. Writing
Part 1. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning

to the sentence printed before it, beginning with the words given or using the word in capital letters.
1. He said he was anxious about the plight of the homeless. (CONCERN)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. He did the puzzle in two minutes.

(SOLUTION)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Money is of little value on a desert island.

(COUNTS)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. We didn’t go incase we were recognized.

(FEAR)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. The collision didn’t damage my car much.

Not a great …………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. Nobody expected her to lose, but she did.

Against ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. People no longer smoke as many cigarettes as they used to.

The smoking ……………………………………………………………………………………….....
8. You can use it as long as you like, and it won’t wear out.

No matter ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Task 2. Modern technology has increased our material wealth, but not our happiness. To what extent
do you agree with this statement? Write a composition of about 250 words in relation to the topic given
above.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………


…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Task 3. The table below shows the consumer durables (telephone, refrigerator, etc.) owned in Britain
from 1972 to 1983. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
You should write at least 150 words.
Consumer durables

Percentage of
households with:
Central heating
Television

1972

1974

1976

1978

1979

1981

1982

1983

37
93

43
95

48
96

52
96

55
97

59
97

60
97

64

98


Video
Vacuum cleaner
Refrigerator
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Telephone

18
87
73
66

89
81
68

92
88
71

42

50

54

92

91
75
3
60

93
92
74
3
67

94
93
78
4
75

95
93
79
4
76

94
80
5
77

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

-------------------

The end

-------------------