Test for Gifted Ss (Ha Tay 2006 2007)

SỞ GIÁO GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO
HÀ TÂY

KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI LỚP 12
Năm học 2006 - 2007

Môn: Tiếng Anh – hệ chuyên

Đề thi chính thức

Thời gian thi : 135 phút (kể cả thời gian nghe băng)
Ngày thi
: …… / 01 / 2007
Số phách
(do chủ tịch hội đồng
chấm thi ghi)

Đề thi gồm 9 trang
Thí sinh làm bài vào đề thi

Section I. Listening
Task 1. First, read the advertisement, and try to guess the missing words. Then listen and check
your answers.
This is what New Zealand looks like to the experienced traveler.
How can you (1)____________ New Zealand to the experienced traveler? You can begin by saying
that it has the unspoiled wilderness of Alaska, (2)____________ that rival Hawaii, breathtakingly
(3)____________ fjords like Norway, and majestic Alps like Switzerland. Then, to confuse things a
little more, you can say New Zealand has cities and (4)____________ similar to England‟s and lush
(5)____________ meadows much like those found in (6)____________. You can even say that New
Zealand‟s towering Mt. Egmont will bring to mind Japan‟s Mt. Fuji. And finally, to top it off, you can
say New Zealand has some of the (7)____________ people, fairest climate, and cleanest

(8)____________ on all the green earth.
Task 2. Two people are shopping for these products. Check the features of each one.

1. CD player

2. Camcorder

 a good price

 lightweight

 a long battery life
 includes FM radio

 an anti-shock feature
 a variety of colors

 costs less than $500
 a small size
 a nice design

 a well-known brand
 lightweight
 a color viewfinder

-------------------------------Page 1 of 9


Section II. Lexico – grammar
Task 1. Each of the following sentences is provided with four choices. Choose the one that best

completes the sentence.
1. We immediately ran as fast as we could for _____.
A. shelter
B. protection
C. hiding
D. avoid rain
2. We shall defend the city _____ it means fighting to the last of our men.
A. however
B. whether
C. even if
D. no matter
3. Three of those we invited to the party didn‟t _____.
A. show up
B. turn out
C. set off
D. see off
4. In a British law court, a case is heard by a law judge and a _____ of 12 people.
A. panel
B. cabinet
C. committee
D. jury
5. The bill came to over a thousand dollars _____.
A. at all
B. in all
C. to all
D. of all
6. It _____ me how she manages to put up with him.
A. amazes
B. startles
C. stuns

D. shatters
7. As a teenager he had many _____, one of which was to play oboe in the orchestra.
A. vocations
B. undertakings
C. desires
D. aspirations
8. The construction of the modern airport is _____.
A. being progress B. working out
C. in plan
D. under way
9. They went _____ hard days when they first came to settle here.
A. by
B. on
C. through
D. along
10. I‟m afraid a rise in salary is _____ just now.
A. out of sight
B. out of control
C. out of date
D. out of the question
11. I object _____ to do all the work myself.
A. to being asked B. to asking
C. being asked
D. on being asked
12. He‟s got plenty of _____ experience as he‟s worked in that field already.
A. second-hand
B. first-hand
C. primary
D. tertiary
13. The journalist informed _____ while carrying out his instructions.

A. his arrest to the editor
B. the editor that his arrest had been
C. the editor his arrest
D. the editor of his arrest
14. A dolphin six _____ length can move as fast as most ships.
A. foot in
B. foot of
C. feet in
D. feet of
15. _____ has such a stunning achievement been recorded.
A. Always
B. Seldom
C. Today
D. Recently
Your answers:
1. _____
2. _____
6. _____
7. _____
11. _____
12. _____

3. _____
8. _____
13. _____

4. _____
9. _____
14. _____

5. _____
10. _____
15. _____

Task 2. Give the correct form of the words in brackets.
We all know story about people with exceptional memories who have the (able)1____ to remember
hundreds of numbers after hearing them only once. Now experts are saying that such feats can be
taught.
Page 2 of 9


For example, most people can (repetition)2____ about nine numbers if they are read out one second.
In one experiment, ten hours‟ training (product)3____ only a small (improve)4____, but the results
after practicing for a thousand hours were (amaze)5____: some people remember 80 or even 100
numbers. Similarly, most adults can (identity)6____ only about five out of a set of 21 colors that are
only (slight)7____ different. But after 80 training hours one person could recognize 18 of them. Study
of 76 major (compose)8____ show that it took at least ten years of (music)9____ training before any of
them wrote a major work. Psychologists are therefore raising the (possible)10____ that genius is the
product of teaching.
Your answers:
1. ____________________

2. ____________________

3. ____________________

4. ____________________

5. ____________________

6. ____________________

7. ____________________

8. ____________________

9. ____________________

10. ____________________

Task 3. There are 10 mistakes in the following passage. Read it carefully, underline the mistakes
and correct them.
It was fine in April 8, 1994. That day all the students in our class went to suburb of our city to plant
trees.
On arrive at the planting place at 8 o‟clock the teacher asked every of us to plant 5 trees at least.
Then we set out digging, planting and watering. All of us were going all out to finish our task, afraid of
being fallen behind. Between us, our monitor set a good example to us. In spite of his illness, he
accepted his task and finished it ahead of the time. Then he went on to help others without a few rest.
After work, he was wet all over, but looked at the lines of the young trees, we smiled pleasantly.
Your answers:
1. ____________________

2. ____________________

3. ____________________

4. ____________________

5. ____________________

6. ____________________

7. ____________________

8. ____________________

9. ____________________

10. ____________________
--------------------------------

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.
(1) Andrew Carnegie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States, and,
in the process, became one of the wealthiest men in America. (2) His success resulted in part from his
ability to sell the product and in part from his policy of expanding during the periods of economic
decline, when most of his competitors were reducing their investments.
Page 3 of 9


Carnegie believed that individuals should progress through hard work, but he also felt strongly that
the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. (3) He opposed charity, preferring
instead to provide educational opportunities that would allow others to help themselves. (4) “He who
dies rich, dies disgraced”, he said.
Among his more noteworthy contributions to society are those that bear his name, including the
Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, which has a library, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of natural
history. He also founded a school of technology that is now part of Carnegie-Mellon University. Other
philanthropic gifts are the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to promote understanding

between nations, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund scientific research, and the Carnegie
Hall to provide a center for the arts.
Few Americans have left untouched by Andrew Carnegie‟s generosity. His contributions of more
than five million dollars established 2,500 libraries in small communities throughout the country and
formed the nucleus of the public library system that we all enjoy today.
1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. The establishment of the public library system.
B. The work of Carnegie-Mellon University.
C. The building of the steel industry.
D. The philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie.
2. The word fortunes in paragraph 2 could be best replaced by _____.
A. assets
B. talents
C. influence
D. advice
3. What does the author mean by the statement: “His success resulted in part from his ability to sell
the product and in part from his policy of expanding during the periods of economic decline, when
most of his competitors were reducing their investments”?
A. By selling his investments, he was able to purchase more products.
B. He succeeded by investing his competitors‟ products.
C. He was successful in spite of difficulties in selling his products during economic depressions.
D. He achieved success because he invested when the competition was not investing.
4. The author mentions all of the following as recipients of philanthropic contributions by Carnegie
EXCEPT _____.
A. the arts
B. technology
C. economics
D. science
5. In the second paragraph, what does Carnegie mean when he says, “He who dies rich, dies
disgraced”?

A. Rich people should be ashamed of their money.
B. Rich people should use their money for the benefit of society before they die.
C. Rich people often live disgraceful lives.
D. People should try to become rich before they die.
6. The following sentence can be added to the passage:
“Additionally, his wise investments in iron, oil and a railroad car manufacturing company further
expanded his wealth.”
Choose the bracketed number in the passage indicating where it would best fit into the passage:
A. (1)
B. (2)
C. (3)
D. (4)
Your answers:
1. _____
2. _____

3. _____

4. _____

5. _____

6. _____
Page 4 of 9


Task 2. Read the following text, then choose the heading that best summarizes each part of the text.
There is one heading that you don’t need. The first one had been done for you as an example.
A. The secret I had to keep
B. Learning through observation

C. How I suddenly became a star performer
D. A painful but important lesson
E. Then it happened again
F. The most important skill of all
G. How I first realized I could be a comedian
H. Losing my first job
0

H

I left school when I was seventeen. Even though I didn‟t have the right qualifications, I managed to
find a job as a secretary in a private bus company. Then the company was taken over by a bigger
company that cut back on running costs and laid thirty people off, including me.
1
My older sister was sharing a flat with two other girls in London. She agreed to put me up until I
found a job and a place of my own there. At first, things didn‟t seem too bad. I soon got a part-time job
in a video shop, but I didn‟t get on with my boss. After I‟d been there for a week, we had a terrible row
and I walked out.
2
I didn‟t say a word about this to my sister. I pretended to go to work everyday. I got up every
morning, just as usual, and then walked the streets. I even stopped people and asked for money. I
wasn‟t too proud to do that, even though I was too proud to tell my sister what had really happened. I
knew that if I told her, she‟d tell my parents back home and they‟d insist I come back to live with
them. I just couldn‟t let them know.
3
Then I found another part-time job selling drinks at a bar of a comedy club in South London. One
evening, one of the acts was a man imitating famous people. The manager of the club happened to be
standing next to me and asked me what I thought of the act. I said, „It‟s terrible. I could do better
myself!‟ I meant it, too. I‟d always been good at doing things like that and making people laugh at
school, but it had never occurred to me until then that perhaps I could actually make a living that way.

4
I wish I could say that all my troubles ended there, and that the manager immediately gave me a
chance and I was huge success. What really happened was that I spent a year working every evening at
the bar. I leaned as much as I could by watching the performers.
5

Page 5 of 9


Then I got a chance to do my own act at another club in Brighton. To be honest, at first I was awful.
I quickly learned it isn‟t enough to imitate famous people. You have to make the audience laugh at the
same time and that‟s a thousand times more difficult.
6
Since then, I‟ve learned a lot about the art of timing. You have to get your timing as sharp as a
razor. Just before the „punch line‟ – the words the audience is supposed to laugh at – a good comedian
slow down just a little, and pauses so slightly that you‟re hardly aware of it. You don‟t notice it at all if
a performer is really good. Comedy is sometimes very hard work, I can tell you!
Task 3. For questions from one to sixteen, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or
D best fits each space.
Save money on the book
that aims to save animals
Do you want to (1)____ part in the battle to save the world‟s wildlife? Animal Watch is a book
which will (2)____ you in the fight for survival that (3)____ many of our endangered animals and
show how they struggle on the (4)____ of extinction. As you enjoy the book‟s 250 pages and over 150
colour photographs, you will have the (5)____ of knowing that part of your purchase money is being
used to (6)____ animals (7)____. From the comfort of your armchair, you will be able to observe the
world‟s animals close-up and explore their habitats. You will also discover the terrible results of
human (8)____ for land, flesh and skins.
Animal Watch is packed with fascinating facts. Did you know that polar bears cover their black
noses (9)____ their (10)____ so they can hunt their prey in the snow without being seen, for example?

Or that (11)____ each orangutan which is captured, one has to die?
This superb (12)____ has so (13)____ Britain‟s leading wildlife charity that it has been chosen as
Book of the Year, a (14)____ awarded to books which are considered to have made a major
contribution to wildlife conservation. You will find Animal Watch at a special low (15)____ at all
good bookshops, but hurry while stocks last.
1. A. play
2. A. combine
3. A. meets
4. A. edge
5. A. satisfaction
6. A. enable
7. A. preserve
8. A. greed
9. A. with
10. A. feet
11. A. with
12. A. publicity
13. A. imposed
14. A. symbol
15. A. beginning

B. be
B. involve
B. opposes
B. start
B. enjoyment
B. help
B. conserve
B. interest
B. by

B. claws
B. by
B. periodical
B. impressed
B. title
B. preparatory

Your answers:
1. _____
2. _____

3. _____

C. take
C. bring
C. forces
C. limit
C. virtue
C. allow
C. revive
C. care
C. for
C. paws
C. for
C. publication
C. persuaded
C. trademark
C. original
4. _____

D. have
D. lead
D. faces
D. end
D. value
D. assist
D. survive
D. concern
D. from
D. toes
D. from
D. reference
D. admired
D. nickname
D. introductory
5. _____
Page 6 of 9


6. _____
11. _____

7. _____
12. _____

8. _____
13. _____

9. _____
14. _____

10. _____
15. _____

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

section iv. Writing
Task 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. I left without saying goodbye as I didn‟t want to disturb the meeting.
Rather.....................................................................................................................................................
2. The drama critic of the “Daily News” regards the new play as a major breakthrough.
According to...........................................................................................................................................
3. We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
Much to...................................................................................................................................................
4. You‟ll certainly meet lots of people in your new job.
You are...................................................................................................................................................
5. Our opinions on the subject are identical.

DIFFERENCE

.................................................................................................................................................................
6. Jenny didn‟t feel like going to the party.

MOOD

.................................................................................................................................................................
7. His arrival was completely unexpected.

TOOK

.................................................................................................................................................................
8. Bill reckoned that his success was due to incredible luck.

PUT

.................................................................................................................................................................
Task2. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the
environment. Which do you think the company should choose?
Write a composition of about 200 words, using specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
Page 7 of 9


……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…

Page 8 of 9


Task 3. Write a description of the following graph. You should write at least 150 words.
Average Annual Urban Growth Rates
6
5
4

1970-1975

3

1995-2000

2

2020-2025

1
0
Africa

Asia

Europe

Latin
America

North
America

................................................................................................................................................................
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…
Page 9 of 9