4GIFTED STUDENTS 1227

SỞ GD&ĐT VĨNH PHÚC
TRƯƠNG THPT LIÊN SƠN
ĐỀ LUYÊN 27

KỲ THI CHỌN HSG LỚP 12 - THPT NĂM HỌC 2017 - 2018
ĐỀ THI MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
(Thơi gian lam bai 150 phut, không kê thơi gian giao đê)

A. LISTENING (The recording will be played TWICE)
Part 1. You will hear a lecture on volcanic activity and its effect on atmostphere.
Questions 1 - 5
Answer the questions below by writing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
for each answer.
1. When did Mt.Pinatubo erupt for the first time?
2. When was the earthquake measuring 7.8 recorded?
3. When did the experts begin to study Mt.Pinatubo?
4. What fell on the local villages on 2nd April?
5. What does a ‘Level 5’ alert mean?
Questions 6 - 10
Complete the summary below by writing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A
NUMBER for each gap.
Several large earthquakes were triggered by the eruption of Pinatubo on 15 th June 1991
because of the (6) _____ of the summit. The ‘caldera’ thus created considerably reduced the height
of the mountain. At the same time a (7) ______ was passing by and the rain associated with it mixed
with the cinders in the air to form a substance called ‘tephra’ which fell on the (8 ) _____ of homes
causing them to collapse, crushing hundreds of people.
During the eruption, large amounts of sulphur dioxide gas were emitted, which combined
with (9) _____ to make sulphuric acid which was responsible for a great deal of ozone depletion
above Antarctica. The overall effect of the cloud from this great eruption was the lowering of (10)
______.
Part 2. You will hear a radio talk given by a photographer. For questions 11-15, complete

the sentences.
General information
Ian says that people prefer to take photographs of (11) _______ things.
Ian suggests that photograph albums have replaced people’s (12) _______.
He says that you should use many films in order to take good pictures.
Ian recommends that you should (13) ______ poor photographs.
Landscapes
Ian suggests taking pictures from different (14) ______.
He suggests including a varying amount of sky in the picture.
Portraits
Ian recommends checking all the settings first.
He recommends photographing children at their own (15) _______.

Part 3. You will hear two people who used to be famous television presenters in Britain,
Frank and Wendy, talking about their careers and why they decided to give them up. For
questions 16-20, decide whether the opinions are expressed by only one of the speakers, or
whether the speakers agree.
Write F for Frank
W for Wendy
or
B for Both, where they agree
16._____ A story in the press showed me the danger of taking your career too seriously.
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17._____ It’s a shame when famous people are obsessed with their image.
18._____ I had limited ambition in my career on television.
19._____ People who become famous on television attract critism.
20._____ When you are no longer famous, people you used to know ignore you.
B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR

I. Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) that completes each of the following sentences.
1. Misuse of the world’s resources is one of the ________ issues of our times.
A. burning
B. heating
C. firing
D. boiling
2. Hopes of finding the missing climbers are now beginning to _______.
A. reduce
B. faint
C. dim
D. fade
3. At length, it _______ him that his life wouldn’t take a turn for the better unless he left his present
employment.
A. dawned on
B. assumed that
C. happened to
D. realized that
4. Don’t read in such dim light; it will _______ your eyesight.
A. impair
B. dwindle
C. decrease
D. contract
5. The gift was a _______ of his gratitude.
A. segment
B. specimen
C. receipt
D. token
6. I admit breaking the window, but it wasn’t ________.
A. purposeful
B. instrumental

C. deliberate
D. desirable
7. Michael: “Look! He is as drunk as a lord”.
Sarah: “I don’t think so. Actually, he is as sober as a _______”.
A. Sunday
B. a judge
C. a Muslim
D. a priest
8. To be honest, I am __________ my brother is.
A. nothing near as ambitious as
B. nothing as ambitious than
C. nowhere like so ambitious
D. nowhere near as ambitious as
9. I can accept criticism in general, but Martin ______ it too far, so I had no other option but to show
my disapproval.
A. pushed
B. carried
C. made
D. put
10. I feel ______ to inform the committee that a number of members are very unhappy with the
decision.
A. it my duty
B. that my duty
C. my duty
D. this my duty
11. I’m not at all put out by their decision. _______, I welcome it.
A. All the same
B. On the contrary
C. In contrast D. On the other hand
12. Jack: “It seems to me that it’s great to hold a party after the exam.” Jim: “______”.

A. I can’t help thinking the same
B. Don’t mention it
C. So far so good
D. The more the merrier
13. Don’t _______ a word of this to anyone else, it’s highly confidential.
A. speak
B. pass
C. mutter
D. breathe
14. Hassan is down with influenza and he is feeling _____ right now.
A. critically
B. barely
C. poorly
D. weakly
15. She seems to be angry with the whole world. She has got a chip _______.
A. in her bonnet
B. between the ears C. on her shoulder
D. under her hat
16. . ________, they slept soundly.
A. Hot though was the night air
B. Hot though the night air was
C. Hot as was the night air
D. Hot although the night air was
17. May: “I’m about to sit for a talent exam”.
Tom: “Really? ________________!”
A. Let’s take a break
B. Make a break for it
C. Break a leg
D. Break out of it
18. Thankfully, she only suffered _________ injuries in the accicent.

A. minor
B. meagre
C. minute
D. tiny
19. I didn’t know my guess was going to be right, it was just ________.
A. odds
B. draw
C. pot luck
D. gamble
20. It was getting ________ dark so we decided to head for home.
A. utterly
B. totally
C. absolutely
D. fairly
II. Supply the correct form of the words in brackets.
DO STATISTICS TELL THE WHOLE STORY?
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Once (1)________ regarded as reflecting the level of crime in CONFIDENCE
society, criminal statistics are now interpreted with caution. Such
statistics are based only on (2) ________offences which have been NOTIFY
reported and recorded. But not all of these are reported by the public,
so there are (3) ________ in what is actually recorded. It has been ACCURATE
suggested that routinely compiled statistics seriously under-record
some types of crime such as (4) ________, petty theft and domestic VANDAL
violence.
COME
The (5)________ of a court case, and whether a conviction is
actually recorded or not, also depends on a complex mix of PROCEED

ingredients.
ERR
And changes in police (6)________ or even simple
human (7)________ can sometimes mean no record is made of a crime. INCIDENT
Some would argue, therefore, that the criminal statistics we MANAGE
have are less a picture of the (8)________ of crime than an indication of
what the authorities actually find it (9)________ to police, and also a CERTAIN
reflection of the kinds of offences that tend to end up in court and
result in convictions. Nevertheless, after a period of criticism and
(10) ________, the use of criminal statistics has been regaining broad
acceptance.
III. In most lines of the following text there is an incorrect item. Read the numbered lines 010 and then write the correct form of the word in the spaces provided for your answers.
Some lines are correct. Indicate these lines with a tick (√). The first one has been done for
you.
The latest, most comfortable credit card is the Europersonal Loan Card,
0. convenient
with who you can increase your spending power by up to $20,000. This
1. ................
can be lent at low interest rates and with a minimum of complicated
2. ................
red-tape. Major purchases can be done with the freedom this card
3. ................
provides. In addition, the card can be used to act with unexpected
4. ................
emergencies. The bank requires some form of proof that the customer
5. ................
will be able to repay some money borrowed. A previous bank or building 6. ................
society statement will serve this reason. Provided the loan is repaid
7. ................
within three months, the interest rate will be only 2%. Moreover, in the

8. ................
event of this time limit expiring, the rate will increase at 3,5%. The
9. ................
Europersonal Loan Card is a secure, easy way to stretch your budget.
10. ..............
IV. Insert a suitable preposition/particle in each of the following sentences.
1. Don’t worry, the documents are safely ________ lock and key at my place.
2. My cousin has a flair ____ language and can speak more than six.
3. John fell _____ Susan at first sight. They got married a month later.
4. Winter is coming. The days are really starting to draw ______.
5. Does the shed go _______ the house or should I pay extra?
6. _____ her boss’s request, she has worked overtime nearly every day this month.
7. On seeing the burglar the woman made ______ him with a kitchen knife.
8. I went to see the boss about a pay rise and he brushed me _______ with a weak excuse about a
business dinner and left me standing there!
9. The investigation after the accident found that someone had tampered _______ the rocket's fuel
systems causing the launch pad explosion.
10. The woman turned her son ______ to the police because he was selling drugs.
C. READING
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I. Read the text below and choose the correct word (A, B, C, or D) to fit the gaps.
Many separate fires (1) ______ in the humus of the forest floor. Smoke sometimes (2) ______
the sun, which was often visible only at midday. On September 30, flames came within three miles
of the town of Green Bay, (3) ______ 1,200 cords of wood stored at a charcoal kiln.
The settlements in the area were becoming increasingly (4) ______ from both the outside
world and one another as railroad and telegraph lines burned. The fires seemed to wax and wane,
on the wind and chance. On September 30 the Marinette and Peshtigo Eagle reported hopefully
that “the fires have nearly (5) ______ now in this vincinity”.

But the paper was wrong, and the fires were growing. By October 4, the smoke was so thick
on Green Bay that ships had to use their foghorns and (6) ______ by compass. On October 7, the
paper, reduced to looking for any scrap of good news, noted that at least the smoke had greatly
reduced the mosquito population and that “a certain establishment down on the bay shore that
has been (7) ______ to the respectable citizens” had burned.
The paper’s editor, (8) ______ by the burning of the telegraph line, could not know it, but a
large, deep low-pressure area was moving in from the west. The winds circling it would turn the
smoldering forest of northestern Winconsin into hell on earth.
1. A. extinguished
B. engulfed
C. spread
D. smoldered
2. A. obscured
B. burnt
C. illuminated
D. exposed
3. A. damaging
B. consuming
C. avoiding
D. licking
4. A. frightened
B. lonely
C. isolated
D. inundated
5. A. increased
B. died out
C. flared
D. diminished
6. A. steer
B. drive

C. guess
D. navigate
7. A. frequented
B. obnoxious
C. open
D. ignorant
8. A. cut-off
B. burnt
C. dismissed
D. chased
II. Read the text below and fill each space with ONE suitable word.
THE TROUBLE WITH SCHOOL
In the first few years at school all appears to (1) _______ very well. There is much concern,
(2) _______ the part of the teachers, with high educational standards, and the children, even those
who are far from being privileged in other ways, seem eager and happy. However, by the time the
children (3) _______ adolescence, the promise of the early years frequently remains unfulfilled.
Many leave school without having mastered those basic skills which society demands, let (4)
_______ having developed the ability to exercise any sort of creative intelligence.
There is no denying that, in spite of the enlightened concern of our primary schools with
happiness, schooling (5) _______ or other turns into a distinctly unhappy experience for many of
our children. Large numbers of them emerge from it well aware that they are ill-equipped for life
in our society. So then they either regard (6) _______ as stupid for failing or else, quite
understandably, they regard the activities at which they have failed as stupid. In any event they
want no (7) _______ of them. How can we justify a long period of compulsory education which ends
like that?
III. Read the following text and answer the questions 1-8.
A. A social problem can be defined as a condition that is considered undesirable by sufficient
number of members of a specific community to constitute a group. There are, however,
degrees of social problem, ranging from the relatively trivial to those that are so serious as to
call into question the most important values of the society in question. On some there is likely

to be consensus, while others may provoke extreme debate. Nobody could claim that social
problems such as murder and traffic deaths resulting from driving are to be accepted as minor
issues. However, it is not hard to find examples of other social problems that divide opinion.
By Đô Binh – THPT Liên Sơn, Lâp Thach, Vinh Phuc – www.violet.vn/quocbinh72 Trang 4


B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

Teenagers playing loud music in a public park on finishing their school day obviously do not
consider their behavior unreasonable, but it may well be considered an extremely undesirable
social condition by other groups who feel they have an equal right to enjoy the park and its
facilities. Similarly, a number of non-smokers hold the view that smoking is an undesirable
social condition that should be banned or restricted in all outdoor public areas.
Nevertheless, research indicate there are factors that determine the degree to which a
phenomenon comes to be perceived and accepted as a social problem. For example, the
likelihood of a condition being considered a social problem is much greater if the group it
affects are themselves powerful; that is, if they are figures of influence. For this reason, the
problems that made life difficult for the poor tended to escape notice until they had some
impact on the rich and middle-class citizens, for example when they became victims of crime.
In the United States, the problem of drug abuse attracted substantially more attention once it

spread from the lower-class, predominantly non-white population and began to affect the sons
and daughters of the educated middle class.
By much the same logic, if a condition has an impact on a small subsection of the population, it
will more easily escape attention than when its adverse effects impact on a larger social group.
Again, in the United States, the poverty of African American has featured much more
prominently than the poverty of Native Americans. This can partly be explained by the fact
that African Americans constitute a much larger group and are more visible.
The third factor relates to the dynamics of the condition. If the number of people directly
affected is seen to be increasing rapidly, public awareness will rise. For example, we become
used to prevailing levels of crime, traffic congestion, atmospheric pollution and even political
corruption. But should there be a sharp rise in intensity in one of these, public concern will
also increase. One case of political corruption a year may be a source of concern for our
institutions, but five such cases in one month will forcefully grab the public the public’s
attention.
Also worth a mention is the role played by the mass media, which according to many
commentators, have largely and unfortunately failed in any attempt they might have made to
address social problems. In fact, some would go further and state that if anything, television,
radio and newspapers have actually contributed to the problems that exists and made them
worse. This is to a great extent because they have reinforced the stereotypes that relate to race,
class and gender rather than tackle them.
Until the advent of the Internet, television was without doubt the primary vehicle through
which society received its information and also the mirror of society in the way in which it
reflected its values and expectations. Television has a vital role to play in the presentation of
news and information. Consequently, what a particular station chooses to present as
newsworthy will inevitably influence the way viewers interpret both their society and the
world around them.
All too often, television news programmes tend to focus on stories that present negative
images of minority groups. We are bombarded on an almost daily basis with stories of
minorities engaging in crimes such as robbery, murder and rape. These crimes by implication
become characteristic of minorities. The success stories that could counterbalance this

negativity are remarkably absent. The single mother who, despite the odds, finishes college
with a good degree; the young man from the inner city who works his way up from the factory
floor to hold a position of responsibility in the company – these stories rarely feature.

Questions 1-4
The passage has seven paragraphs labelled A-G.
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Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G. (You may use any letter more than once)
1. The significance of the size of the group of those affected.
2. Deciding to ignore the positive.
3. Disappointments about lack of influence on the problems.
4. Disagreements of interpretation of social problems.
Questions 5-8
Complete the notes below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
What’s a social problem?
Definition: A condition that a group views as undesirable
Can be trivial or extremely serious
Consensus on drink driving and (5) __________.
Factors influencing acceptance of social problems
- If people affected have power and influence. Example: (6) ________ not considered a problem
when it was limited to lower class.
- Size of the population it affects. Example: poverty of Native Americans was overlooked.
Habit
We get used to problems like pollution, etc. However, (7) ________ will attract attention.
(8) _________.
Addressing social problems unsuccessful or not attempted.
May have made problems worse.

Example: race, class, gender stereotypes not tackled.
IV. Read the text below then choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D) to each question from
1-7.
Architecture has social purposes and meets practical needs by means of combining art and
technological innovations. In building construction, however, an emergence of new materials does
not make its precursors obsolete, and architectural knowledge is cumulative. The fact that today
much is constructed from prefabricated concrete does not do away with brick. Furthermore,
despite dramatic changes and increased technological sophistication of architectural design and
construction, the essential apparatus of erecting a building has remained rooted in preindustrial
traditional practices passed down during the millennia. The social and utilitarian expectations of
structures are largely based on elemental demands of keeping out elements and enemies, avoiding
the extremes of heat, and avoiding the intrusion of wind, precipitation, and pests.
Gravity, air pressure, and earthquakes can induce tensions that have to be accounted for
when constructing functional enclosed space. Vertical stacking of masonry materials causes
compression that can lead to important problems when a structure is spanned to build a roof and
connect walls. Arches, vaults, and domes were specifically developed to alleviate the compression
by directing the spanning element along a curve rather than a straight line. Building suspension
structures, dams, and tunnels became possible in the nineteenth century with the increased
availability of steel that could reinforce structural frames and enable them to withstand natural
forces previously believed to be insurmountable.
Functional evolutions of modern buildings create new demands on the analysis of
structural behavior and engineering. Few occupants of skyscrapers view elevators as elaborate
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systems of vertical transportation. Humidity and temperature control, forced ventilation, natural
and artificial lighting, sanitation and disposal of waste, electrical wiring and fire prevention make
very tall constructions engineering marvels that also must be aesthetically pleasing and physically
convenient.
Erecting a structure involves a great deal more than merely attending to the aesthetics and

psychological experience of architectural space. The shape, size, and incombustibility of locally
available construction materials fostered developments of specific technologies, ang brick and
stones masonry have evolved in response to the need for structural durability. Advances in
engineering and knowledge associated with properties of building materials combine to lead
innovations in architectural design. Tools and skills required to exploit easily obtainable material
have continued to inform the development of modem industrialized technologies.
1. What is the main topic of the passage?
A. The modem art of architecture and social pressure.
B. The profound importance of tradition in architecture.
C. The mutual impact of architecture and technology.
D. The great technological advances in building material.
2. The author mentions the word "brick" as an example of which of the following?
A. How new design can improve traditional construction.
B. How old buildings can co-exist modern architecture.
C. How new knowledge can supplant traditional technology.
D. How old techniques can continue to remain practical.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that pragmatic requirements of buildings ________.
A. retain essential sophistication
B. stay rooted in the elements
C. stagnate over millennia
D. hold constant over time
4. What can be inferred from the passage about reducing the effects of material compacting?
A. Masonry is stacked vertically by increasing compression.
B. Downward pressure is dispersed by semicircular roofs.
C. Buildings are spanned to account for the force of gravity.
D. Vertical roofs are bent to counteract air pressure.
5. The word "withstand" is closest in meaning to _______.
A. withdraw
B. enlarge
C. endure

D. withhold
6. The purpose of the third paragraph is to suggest that _______.
A. tall buildings require large amounts of wiring to make them functional.
B. architectural innovations pose new challenges for technological development.
C. skyscrapers need to be appealing and convenient for their occupants.
D. architects of modem buildings create a demand for engineering talent.
7. It can be inferred from the passage that architecture and engineering _________.
A. are at the opposite ends of the technological spectrum.
B. compete for technological advancements.
C. go hand in hand to promote art and science.
D. supersede aesthetic and experiential values.
D. WRITING
I. For each of the sentences below, write a new sentence as similar in meaning as possible to
the original sentence, using the word given. The word must not be altered in any way.
1. There is no way you are going to persuade me not to go on holiday with her. (TALK)
………………………………………………………………………………………
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2. Thomas was not given details of the company’s new project. (DARK)
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. They accused Jimmy of stealing the money. (PUT)
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. She can’t remember meeting you before. (RECOLLECTION)
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. A notorious mass-murder is on the run from prison. (LARGE)
………………………………………………………………………………………
II. Write an essay of around 300 words on the following topic.

It is a fact in Vietnam these days that a remarkable number of people with a

bachelor’s degree have trouble finding a job. Therefore, it is advisory for school-leavers
to make an intelligent choice between vocational training and higher education.
Discuss the advantages of both course types and state your preference.

-END OF THE TEST –
A. LISTENING
I. 0.1 point/1 item
1. C
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. A
II. 0.1 point/1item
7. olive
9. (simple) pins 11. (local) co-operative/ (local ) coop
8. harden
10. (silver) tears
13. ice-cream
14. (clay) pots
III. 0.1 point/1 item
16. C
17. C
18. D
19. C

6. C
12. (a) chewing gum
15. stomach
20. B

B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
I. 0.1 point/1 item
1. A
2. D
6. A
7. B
II. 0.1 point/1 item
1.
compulsive/compelling

3. A
8. A

4. D
9. B

2. hightlighted

3.
deprivation

5. D
10. C
4. headway

5.
backdrop

C. READING
I. 0.1 point/1 item

1. C
2. E
6. E
7. B
II.
1. C
2. D
III.
1. D
2. A
6. ability

3. A
8. D
3. G

7. form of language

4. B
9. A
4.A

5. C
10.D
5. F

6. B

3. F

4. E

8. in old age

9. YES

5. intrusions
from
10. NO

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11. NOT GIVEN
IV.
1. being
4. would

12. YES

13. NOT GIVEN
2. no
5. it

3. lies
6. took

D. WRITING
I. 0.5 point
The summary:

-

must capture the important details of (each paragraph of) the original;

-

must retain the style and message of the original;

-

must show a thorough understanding of the original (by means of paraphrasing,
interpreting, etc…); and

-

must NOT copy whole sentences of the original.

II. 1.0 point
III. 1.5 points
Notes:
The mark given to part 2 and 3 is based on the following criteria:
1. Content (35 % of total mark)
a. Providing all main ideas and details as required
b. Communicating intentions sufficiently and effectively
2. Organization and presentation (30% of total mark)
a. Ideas are well-organized and presented with coherence, cohesion, and clarity
b. The essay is well-structured
3. Language (30% of total mark)
a. Demonstration of a variety of vocabulary and structures appropriate to level of English
language of gifted upper secondary school students

b. Good use and control of grammatical structures
4. Punctuation, spelling and handwriting (5 % of total mark)
a. Good punctuation and no spelling mistakes
b. Legible handwriting
Markers should discuss the suggested answers and the marking scale thoroughly before
marking the papers.

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