Đề thi vào 10 môn tiếng anh trường THPT năng khiếu

ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA TP HCM
TRƯỜNG PHỔ THÔNG NĂNG KHIẾU
________________________
blogchuyenanh.wordpress.com

ĐỀ THI TUYỂN SINH LỚP 10
Năm học 2013-2014
Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH (chuyên)
Thời gian làm bài: 120 phút, không kể thời gian phát đề
___________________

Đề thi có 8 trang

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PHẦN TRẮC NGHIỆM (5 điểm)
Read the four texts below. There are ten questions about the texts. Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your
answer sheet to indicate which text tells you the answer to the questions from 1 to 10.

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A Television is one of the most prevalent media B Television can affect learning and school

influences in kids’ lives. According to Kids’ Take
performance if it cuts into the time kids need for
on Media, a survey conducted in 2003 by the
activities crucial to healthy mental and physical
Canadian Teachers’ Federation, watching TV is a
development. Most of children’s free time,
daily pastime for 75 percent of Canadian
especially during the early formative years,
children, both boys and girls from Grade 3 to
should be spent in activities such as playing,
Grade 10.
reading, exploring nature, learning about music
or participating in sports.
How much impact TV has on children depends
on many factors: how much they watch, their age
TV viewing is a sedentary activity, and has been
and personality, whether they watch alone or with
proven to be a significant factor in childhood
adults, and whether their parents talk with them
obesity. According to the Heart and Stroke
about what they see on TV.
Foundation of Canada almost one in four
Canadian children, between seven and twelve, is
To minimize the potential negative effects of
obese. Time spent in front of the TV is often at
television, it’s important to understand what the
the expense of more active pastimes.
impact of television can be on children.

all

no

C Sesame Street is an educational children’s D Of course, television, in moderation, can be a
television series for young children, though
good thing: Preschoolers can get help learning
focusing more exclusively on preschoolers in its
the alphabet on public television, grade
later years, and is a pioneer of the contemporary
schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature
educational television standard, combining both
shows, and parents can keep up with current
education and entertainment. Sesame Street is
events on the evening news. No doubt about it –
well known for its Muppet characters created by
TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer.
Jim Henson. As of now, 4,160 episodes of the
show have been produced in 38 seasons. Sesame
Street is one of the longest running television
shows in history.
As a result of its positive influence, Sesame
Street is one of the most highly regarded
educational shows for children in the world. No
other television series has matched its level of
international recognition and success. The
original series has been televised in 120
countries, and more than 30 international versions
have been produced, not including dubbed
versions. The series has received 109 Emmy
Awards, more than any other television series. An

estimated 77 million Americans have watched the
series as children; millions more have watched
around the world, as have their parents.
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In which text does the writer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

argue that television can be beneficial to children?
discuss an educational and entertaining show?
argue that watching television could be bad for children?
stress parents understand television’s effect on children?
suggest things children should do other than watch television?

Which text is saying the following?
6. This TV programme has an excellent reputation.
7. TV can help children learn.
8. Many problems can stem from television watching.
9. A large percent of children watch TV every day.
10. TV can have varying impacts on children.
Read the following passage about loons and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate

the correct word for each of the blanks from 11 to 20.

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The loon is a migratory bird, which lives primarily in Canada and the northern part of the United States.
Loons (11) _____ their summer breeding season living on lakes in forested areas. Once lakes begin to freeze
over, loons migrate to the Canadian and American coastlines where they live during the winter months.

Loons usually build their nests very close to the water in (12) _____ to have quick access to their main
(13) _____ of food, which consists of fish, frogs, and other lake dwellers. Another (14) _____ why loons
stay close to the water is because they are better swimmers than walkers. This is because they are (15) _____
to dive, with their legs being far back on their bodies and their bones being heavy and solid, unlike most
birds. Although they can look funny (16) _____ over land, one foot at a time, their beautiful plumage (17)
_____ for their awkwardness. During its mating season, the Common Loon, for example, has a black-andwhite checked body with a (18) _____ white belly.

make
case
place
reason
able
galloping
balances
faded

after
alternate

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

stay
regards
region
example
willing
gliding
compensates
glisteningly
for
related

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

spend
order
location
cause
used
crawling
atones
blindingly
of
identical

all

11. A.
12. A.
13. A.
14. A.
15. A.
16. A.
17. A.
18. A.
19. A.
20. A.

no

The loon is perhaps most beloved (19) _____ its famous cries, which have become symbolic of
summertime for many people in North America. There are four (20) _____ calls of the loon called tremolo,
wail, yodel, and hoot. The wail, which sounds like the howl of a wolf, can often be heard in horror movies
set in the outdoors.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

inhabit
purpose
source
element
built
waddling
exceeds
drab
by
main

Read the following passage about the first person to walk on the moon and mark the letter A, B, C or D on
your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 21 to 25.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. For months he had known
that, if all went well, the whole world would be listening to him as he took his first step. In the few hours
before the historic touchdown of the landing capsule, he came up with a line to tell the listening millions:
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
After the capsule had landed, he stepped deliberately down the ladder to the Moon’s surface. As he
stepped off the ladder onto the barren moonscape, he said his line. Back on Earth, however, no one heard the
“a” – such a small word, but without which the meaning of the sentence changed radically. It seemed to the
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half a billion listeners that Armstrong had uttered a contradiction: it was a small step for humanity and a
large step for humanity, too. Afterwards, Armstrong thought he had indeed said the word “a”, but he could
not be certain. It was plausible that he had indeed said it, but that it had been lost in transmission,
somewhere on its 240,000 mile journey to the Earth.
Almost forty years on, computer programmer Peter Shann Ford took an interest in the question. After
downloading the recording of Armstrong’s line from NASA’s website, he subjected it to a sophisticated
audio analysis. Ford’s results showed that the audio signature of the “a” was present on the tape, indicating
that Armstrong had indeed spoken the word. Moreover, it showed that Armstrong had said the phrase “one
small step for a man” too quickly for the 1960s equipment to discern every syllable. The result was that the
“a” was lost amidst transmission static, and Armstrong’s epic line lost its meaning.

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21. Why did Armstrong intend to say “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”?
A. His superiors had told him to say it.
B. He thought it was an appropriate thing to say.
C. He wanted to express a contradiction.
D. It was a phrase with particular historical importance.
22. What did the listeners think about Armstrong’s line?
A. They could not discern any of his words.
B. What they heard made no sense to them.
C. It was a plausible comment.
D. They heard a word that he did not say.
23. What did Ford try to do?
A. find out why Armstrong had chosen his line
B. solve a mystery that had lasted for almost forty years
C. investigate potential problems with NASA’s website

D. learn how speech sounds travel through space
24. What did Ford’s results show?
A. Armstrong had said what he had intended to say.
B. NASA had altered the recording of Armstrong’s line.
C. Armstrong had failed to say the word “a”.
D. The transmission equipment had stopped working for a moment.
25. What is the purpose of this passage?
A. to show that Armstrong had been let down by technology
B. to describe how Armstrong’s error had occurred
C. to show the importance of preparation when making speeches
D. to describe how mankind first reached the moon

og

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the rest in the
position of the main stress in each of the following questions.
calculated
emergence
subsequent
millimetre
presuppose

bl

26. A.
27. A.
28. A.
29. A.
30. A.

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

mistranslated
competence
sufficient
thermometer
reproduce

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

navigated
consequence
subsistent
diameter
idolize

D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

integrated
eloquence
persistent
speedometer
resurrect

Read the following passage about sleep research and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 31 to 35.
When the body starts to drift off to sleep, sometimes there is a sudden and unmistakable feeling of falling
until the whole body jerks itself awake again. This is called myoclonic jerk. Sleep researchers have a decent
understanding of how things work when people fall asleep without incident. During sleep, the human body
is much less sensitive to external stimuli. The brain stops it from reacting; otherwise it could not rest. This is
initiated when the region of the brain called the reticular formation dispatches a message through the body
via the spinal cord to relax the muscles. Muscle contractions in response to stimuli are inhibited, and
sleepers become exceedingly difficult to rouse.
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What causes the falling sensation is far less clear. Some scientists believe the reticular formation
functions differently in some individuals. Instead of sending out a signal that inhibits muscle contractions,
the signal occasionally increases muscle responsiveness to the degree that contractions can be initiated by
almost no stimuli at all. The contractions jerk the person awake suddenly and the brain interprets the
sensation as falling. Another view proposes that the falling sensation arises when the muscles start to relax
while the brain remains active, monitoring the situation. The brain might then interpret the increasing
slackness of the relaxing muscles as the sudden sensation of falling and jerk the body awake.

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31. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. to raise awareness of a disorder
C. to demystify a common sensation
B. to propose a scientific argument
D. to help people sleep
32. According to the passage, why is it difficult to wake people who are asleep?
A. Their brains are inhibited.
C. Their muscles do not respond to stimuli.
B. The reticular formation is initiated.
D. Their bodies become more sensitive.
33. According to one view, why do some people wake up more often than others?
A. A dream of falling wakes them up.
C. Their muscle sensitivity is increased.
B. Their bodies do not reach deep sleep.

D. The mind and the body are too relaxed.
34. What is not clear about the feeling of falling?
A. if it is the response to or the cause of the jerk
C. whether or not the person wakes completely
B. if it is justified under the circumstances
D. if it is an interpretation by the brain or the body
35. What is implied about the sensation?
A. It is a harmless novelty.
C. It can lower quality of life.
B. It is a medical anomaly.
D. It does not actually exist.
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.

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c

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36. Fields grew in size when the farmers realized they could divert water from streams and rivers to _____
their crops.
A. irrigate
B. rotate
C. harvest

D. exploit
37. How could I have allowed myself to be _____ by his lies?
A. tricked into
B. fallen for
C. taken in
D. seen through
38. Many insurance companies want to get away with paying as _____ as possible.
A. few damages
B. little damage
C. a little damage
D. a few damages
39. The policeman gave Ann first _____ until the ambulance arrived.
A. aid
B. assistance
C. help
D. emergency
40. One of the great advantages of using the Internet is that people can _____ more quickly.
A. interrupt
B. interfere
C. interact
D. intervene
41. She shook her head in _____ when he asked to copy her homework, especially at the last minute.
A. contempt
B. disapproval
C. condemnation
D. criticism
42. Sally _____ blames someone else if things ever go wrong.
A. invariably
B. interchangeably
C. inconsiderably

D. indifferently
43. _____ the importance of the written language, the primary form of language is speech.
A. Notwithstanding
B. Besides
C. Inasmuch as
D. However
44. The bad news is Alice is in a coma and we don’t know when she _____ up.
A. will wake
B. wakes
C. will have woken
D. will be waking
45. PhD students may request a _____ of absence when certain life events prevent continued active
participation in their degree program.
A. permit
B. break
C. allowance
D. leave
46. “What made you _____?”
“When we arrived at the cabin we saw signs that someone had been there before us.”
A. incredible
B. suspicious
C. suspected
D. doubtful
47. The parents left a phone number with the baby-sitter in case a problem _____ with the children.
A. would occur
B. will occur
C. occurs
D. occurred
48. Sometimes one gets the impression that people are quite callous and _____ to the sufferings of their
fellow countrymen and women.

A. imperceptible
B. improper
C. indifferent
D. insensible
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49. A child’s first five years are important _____ learning is concerned.
A. unless
B. as far as
C. provided
D. as long as
50. Our Christmas tree was damaged _____ repair after my son and his friends borrowed it for a little
experiment.
A. beyond
B. above
C. over
D. out of
51. They’re interested in the support of the bosses. They _____ care less about the rank and file, like you
and me.
A. mightn’t
B. wouldn’t
C. shouldn’t
D. couldn’t
52. Divorced people may miss the companionship of even the most unsatisfactory marriages _____, of
course, do the widowed.
A. just as
B. which
C. as
D. as such
53. In this biography she is _____ as a kind sweet old lady but in reality she was a bad-tempered old witch.

A. presented
B. depicted
C. displayed
D. outlined
54. My throat infection is not any better; the _____ does not appear to be working.
A. antibiotic
B. analgesic
C. anesthetic
D. antivirus
55. The deterioration of her condition was so rapid that the doctors _____ she would die within the week.
A. convinced
B. doubted
C. suspected
D. confirmed
56. The storm clouds _____, the rain poured down and as the skies darkened, it became impossible to see
the ball.
A. cleared
B. drifted
C. gathered
D. floated
57. The private detective looking for the missing teenager eventually _____ her down in London.
A. trailed
B. spotted
C. pursued
D. tracked
58. Nancy _____ deathly pale and looked as if she might faint.
A. came
B. grew
C. got
D. went

59. The delegates _____ have been here by now. I can’t understand what’s keeping them.
A. should
B. could
C. might
D. must
60. This time as the _____ left the bow I felt confident with the shot.
A. bullet
B. rod
C. arrow
D. dart
61. “Money is the _____ of all evil.” How many times have you heard that?
A. origin
B. root
C. reason
D. cause
62. _____ peoples began to revolt all over the territories that had been acquired.
A. Conquered
B. To conquer
C. Being conquered
D. Conquering
63. He seems to have been, _____, sharply aware of other people and unusually receptive.
A. even when a very small child
C. even if a very small child
B. even a very small child
D. even as a very small child
64. Brian greeted me warmly, and ushered me into his modest office, _____ larger than the others along the
corridor.
A. someway
B. something
C. somewhat

D. somehow
65. Some patients come _____ after an anesthetic sooner than others.
A. up
B. over
C. out
D. round
66. Don’t forget to _____ your alarm clock for 6.30.
A. put
B. set
C. ring
D. fix
67. Shakespeare was _____ the most successful dramatist of his age.
A. far and away
B. furthermost
C. by far
D. far-off
68. The surprising truth is that electric cars first made their appearance as _____ ago as the 1830s.
A. back
B. long
C. far
D. early
69. _____ you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest
mountain.
A. Only
B. Only if
C. If only
D. If
70. Suzanne is _____ superior to me in terms of technical knowledge.
A. far
B. very

C. quite
D. so
71. Ideas about human nature are _____.
A. of their philosophical essence
C. their essence philosophical
B. their philosophical essence
D. of their essence philosophical

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72. Most runners just need a simple shift in their _____ of mind to succeed.
A. way
B. turn
C. frame
D. set
73. At least five people, _____, have died and 11 were injured in a gas explosion.
A. three of them are children
C. three of whose children
B. three of whom children
D. three of them children
74. They are letting me pay for the washing machine by monthly _____.
A. invoices
B. periods
C. instalments
D. episodes

75. When you are balanced and when you listen and _____ the needs of your body, mind, and spirit, your
natural beauty comes out.
A. contribute to
B. dedicate to
C. resort to
D. attend to
Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part is pronounced
differently from that of the rest in each of the following questions.
TRACK
COURT
HEART
WILDERNESS
HOSE

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

RABBIT
JOURNAL
REHEARSE
WILDLIFE
HOST

C.
C.
C.
C.

C.

WRAPPED
COURTEOUS
SEARCH
WHITEN
HORSE

D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

DRAPED
SCOURGE
HEARD
WHINED
GHOST

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76. A.

77. A.
78. A.
79. A.
80. A.

Read the following passage about obesity and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate
the correct word for each of the blanks from 81 to 90.

There is mounting alarm over the growing rate of obesity in America. The common view (81) _____ that
obesity, (82) _____ reached epidemic proportions, poses (83) _____ threat to public health as other major
killers (84) _____ as heart disease and cancer.

seems to be
being
an as serious
such
indication
Even though
at all
view
behind
plan

B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.
B.

B.
B.
B.

seems it is
to be
as serious a
of which
evidence
But for
even
fact
between
point

C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.
C.

seems likely
having
as a serious
including

denying
With all
very much
contrast
as
way

all

81. A.
82. A.
83. A.
84. A.
85. A.
86. A.
87. A.
88. A.
89. A.
90. A.

no

Although there is no (85) _____ that obesity is a problem, it is unreasonable to claim that we are in the
midst of an epidemic. (86) _____ the widespread panic, obesity is really far from being a major health
hazard. In the first place, many cases of obesity are attributable not (87) _____ to unhealthy eating as they
are to genetics. In (88) _____, as much as 45% of the weight difference (89) _____ a person of normal
weight and a person classified as obese can be put down to the (90) _____ these peoples’ bodies are
naturally programmed to develop by their genes. People with weight problems stemming from their genes
will be unable to lose weight beyond a certain point, no matter how insistently health experts urge them to
stay thin.

D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.
D.

it seems
that
seriously as a
like
way
For all
so much
the contrary
of
reason

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to show the underlined part that needs correction.
91. I was just about to enter the station when someone grabbed me by my shoulders and threw me
A
B
C
to the ground.
D
92. Russell regularly walked along the footpath besides the tower, and when it went up for auction in 1997,

A
B
C
he impulsively put in a bid for £138,000.
D
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PHẦN TỰ LUẬN (5 điểm)

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93. When children were praised for their hard work performed badly, they blamed their lack of success on
A
B
C
poor effort and were more likely to try again.
D
94. Over 60 companies involved in the construction, and Arnold gave up work to act as project manager.

A
B
C
D
95. In Britain, like in many other countries, the methods used to build small houses have hardly changed
A
B
C
over hundreds of years.
D
96. When the grenade exploded, Ben was knocked unconsciously and the shelter collapsed around him.
A
B
C
D
97. Crime can in fact be regarded as essential an expression of immaturity, a continuation into adult life of
A
B
modes of feeling that are characteristic of a childish stage of development.
C
D
98. Clothes play a critical part in the conclusion we reach by providing clues to whom people are.
A
B
C
D
99. The attractions of a BA or a MA have penetrated into areas, both among the rich and the poor, where
A
B
C

they would not have been felt twenty years ago.
D
100. One question that has been of active interest to historians is why Industrial Revolution occurred in
A
B
C
Europe and not in other parts of the world.
D

A. Complete the passage below by writing one word in each gap.
Why do it?

Making the right (4) __________

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no

Living in another country will help you learn a language and learn about the culture of another land. You
will see the world in a new way and learn more about yourself. Studying (1) __________ is also excellent
training for the working (2) __________. Many companies today want employees who speak (3)
__________ second language or who have experienced living or working in another country.

To choose the right country or school, ask yourself these questions: how (5) __________ do I want to
study abroad? Do I want to live with a host (6) __________, with roommates, or alone? How much do I
want to (7) __________?
Getting ready to go
Get your passport and visa early! Before you go, learn as much of the language as you can, and read
about the customs of your (8) __________ country. Also, talk with people who have experienced studying
abroad. Call the school to make sure someone can (9) __________ you when you get there. And make sure

to bring some local money and a credit (10) __________.
Once you are there
Be curious and open to meeting new people and having new experiences. Don’t (11) __________ to
always be comfortable. After the first few weeks it’s usual to feel a little (12) __________. You’ll miss your
family and friends. Remember that it (13) __________ time to get used to a new place with new customs.
Talk to your new friends and write about your feelings. Try to keep in (14) __________ with the people
back home. Always keep an open (15) __________ and you’ll succeed.
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B. Use the words given in capitals at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits in the space.
1. VOS is a _________ agency which finds, selects and places volunteers in response to overseas requests.
RECRUIT
2. The editor must be able to justify the choices he makes and this obviously limits his __________.
SUBJECTIVE
3. The waiter often finds the __________ nature of his work rather congenial.
SERVE
4. This monument was erected to __________ those who died.
MEMORY
5. When he was found he wore the __________ of a tattered shirt, which indicated that he had been lost or
abandoned some years before.
REMAIN
6. England’s greatest __________ Shakespeare, one of whose most read works is Hamlet, is still the
dominant role in literature.
PLAY
7. There is still no __________ about how the Neanderthals were driven to extinction, leaving our Homo

sapiens ancestors without any competition.
CONSENT
8. Too much of the food we eat nowadays is full of chemicals and other __________.
ADD
9. All animals, and probably other __________ such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature
of things ‘wear out’.
ORGAN
10. My favourite subject at school was _________ geography. Now I want to study it at university. DOUBT

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C. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence
printed before it.

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1. It has been reported that children today expend approximately 600 kcal a day less than 50 years ago.
Children today _______________________________________________________________________
2. Peter started buying books on African art because he wanted to learn more about this field.
Peter started buying books on African art with ______________________________________________
3. We cannot deny that serious mistakes have been made.

There is _____________________________________________________________________________
4. If they hadn’t warned us, we’d have made exactly the same mistake.
If it ________________________________________________________________________________
5. Observers believe he resigned because of financial irregularities.
He is _______________________________________________________________________________
6. George had to try for months before he finally got a job.
Only after ___________________________________________________________________________
7. You’ve got to admire Jim for getting us the new contract.
You’ve got to hand ____________________________________________________________________
8. I’m always inviting him for a weekend with us but he’s always too busy.
No matter ___________________________________________________________________________
9. The demand for tickets was so great that a second concert had to be arranged.
Such _______________________________________________________________________________
10. You’ve got until next Wednesday to decide.
You’ll ______________________________________________________________________________

D. For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original
sentence, but using the word given. This word must not be altered in any way.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Her teacher advised her not to become an actress.
You needn’t come to work on Wednesday.
Winning a fortune at roulette doesn’t happen every day of the week.
Every time he speaks English he makes mistakes.
Don’t give up, even though the course is difficult.

STAGE
OFF
LIFETIME
WITHOUT
HEART

E. Write an essay in answer to the following question. Write your answer in 150–200 words.
Teenagers are growing up quicker than ever before; should we lower the age at which the new views
them as adults from 18 to 16?
Mã đề thi:

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