ĐỀ THI HSG

MÔN :TIẾNG ANH

ĐỀ THI ĐỀ XUẤT (Đề này có 19 trang, gồm 15 câu)

PART I. LISTENING
Question 1. You’ll hear a recording and complete the notes below with ONE WORD
AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. (14.0 pts)
HIRING A PUBLIC ROOM
Example:
 the Main Hall – seats ……..200……….
Room and cost
 the (1) __________ Room – seats 100
 Cost of Main Hall for Saturday evening: £115
+ £250 deposit (2) __________ payment is required)
 Cost includes use of tables and chairs and also (3) ___________
 Additional charge for use of the kitchen: £25
Before the event
 Will need a music licence
 Need to contact caretaker (Mr Evans) in advance to arrange (4) ________
During the event
 The building is no smoking
 The band should use the stage door at the back
 Don’t touch the system that controls the volume
 For microphones, contact the caretaker
After the event
 Need to know the (5) ___________ for the cleaning cupboard
 The (6) _______ must be washed and rubbish placed in black bags

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  All (7) _______ must be taken down
 Chairs and tables must be piled up
Your answers:
1. ……………………………………. 5. …………………………………….
2. ……………………………………. 6. …………………………………….
3. ……………………………………. 7. …………………………………….
4. …………………………………….
Question 2. You will hear somebody giving their opinion about the media and its
influence on society. For questions 1-8, complete the sentences with a word or short
phrase. (16.0 pts)
The three forms of media are TV, radio and newspapers.
Politicians use the media during political (1) _______ .
Entertainers use it to stay in the (2) _______ .
The percentage of people who did not have a particular point of view about the
privacy of celebrities was (3) _______ .
The most influential form of media is TV.
We can be deceived by TV when we are shown carefully selected (4) _______ .
Some TV stations turn true events into (5) _______ .
A newspaper had to pay (6) _______ for printing lies about a rock singer.
Sometimes a paper can avoid being sued if it makes a public (7) _______ .
There are two kinds of newspaper, the “quality” papers and the (8) _______ .
Your answers:
1. ……………………………………. 5. …………………………………….
2. ……………………………………. 6. …………………………………….
3. ……………………………………. 7. …………………………………….
4. ……………………………………. 8. …………………………………….

Question 3. Listen to part of a radio programme. Decide whether the information in

each sentence is true (T) or false (F). (10 pts)
1. Data mining has only just been discovered.

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 2. Data mining is the same as information retrieval.
3. Shops use data mining to hire more professional staff.
4. Data from crime reports was not enough to fight crime effectively.
5. Police use data mining to identify possible future crime spots.
Your answers:
1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………
Question 4. You will hear two psychologists talking about modern childhood. For
questions 1 – 5, choose the answer (A, B, C, or D) which fits best according to what
you hear. (10 pts)
1. What does Daniel imply about past images of childhood?
A. They are entirely fictional.
B. They all show the misfortunes of childhood.
C. They are diverse.
D. They represent the innocence of childhood.
2. When mentioning the children throwing bags on the bus-stop, Louise is _____.
A. critical B. amused C. angry D. sarcastic
3. According to Daniel, ______.
A. children are failing to learn adequate social skills
B. children do not eat a balanced diet
C. children are becoming involved in political scandals
D. children are far more sociable than they used to be
4. Louise believes that ________.
A. parents are no longer interested in their children
B. children should study harder to pass school exams
C. modern life has a negative effect on children
D. most parents are emotionally unstable
5. Daniel implies that _______.
A. children would be happier if their parents taught them at home
B. machines are more of a menace to children than people are

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 C. teachers aren’t helping children to be competitive enough
D. most teenage problems stem from an unbalanced diet
Your answers:
1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………
PART II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Question 5. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to complete each sentence below.
(20 pts)
1. The speaker’s __________ greatly impressed the audience.
A. eloquence B. fulfillment C. notoriety D. obstinacy
2. Paul was in the __________ of despair when he heard that Jane was leaving him.
A. abyss B. depths C. valley D. pits
3. Sorry I couldn’t ring you yesterday because my phone has been on the _________.
A. wink B. go C. run D. blink
4. If the student wants to do better on his exams, it is important that he _______ harder.
A. study B. studied C. studying D. studies
5. Busy as he is, he makes sure he spends a few hours __________ time with his children
every day.
A. full B. a part-time C. quality D. perfect
6. Instead of defending traditional values, the church frequently seems ___________ and
irresolute.
A. far-fetched B. strong-willed C. weak-kneed D. long-awaited
7. I supposed, as __________ we all, that the meeting would be cancelled.
A. did B. would C. only D. just
8. On the island __________ the only representative of the Indian’s handicraft.
A. does it remain B. did it remain C. remains it D. remains
9. The other people in the group all _________ my ideas, which was very disappointing.
A. prohibited B. repelled C. denied D. rejected
10. The global recession has had a major __________ on every economy in the world.
A. crash B. impact C. consequence D. impression

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11. _____________ the cold weather and my bad leg, I haven’t been out for weeks.
A. What with B. If it weren’t for C. Barring D. Given
12. It never __________ my mind that he was lying to me.
A. crossed B. racked C. took D. put
13. The information he gave us was __________ useless. It didn’t help us at all.
A. deeply B. utterly C. extremely D. painfully
14. I overslept this morning and caught the last bus to school by the skin of my _______ .
A. mouth B. leg C. neck D. teeth
15. You’ll be pleased to know that you are _____ for a scholarship if you wish to apply.
A. entitled B. eligible C. appropriate D. particular
16. Employees who have a ________ are encouraged to discuss it with the management.
A. hindrance B. grievance C. disadvantage D. disturbance
17. Those campers are really ___________. They have no idea how to set up a tent.
A. white B. blue C. green D. black
18. __________ I’ve told him not to go out with those people, but he wouldn’t listen. Just
let him face the music now.
A. Many a time B. Many the time C. Quite a time D. For a time
19. The more expensive carpet is a good choice __________ it will last longer.
A. by means of B. due to C. in that D. in view of
20. There was no one downstairs; so she turned off the lights again and decided that she
___________ have imagined things.
A. must B. should C. can’t D. needn’t
Your answers:

1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………

6. …………… 7. …………… 8. …………… 9. …………… 10. ………..…
11. …………… 12. 13. …………… 14. …………… 15. ……………
……………
16. …………… 17. 18. …………… 19. …………… 20. ………..…

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 ……………
Question 6. Give the correct form of the words given in brackets. (10 pts)
1. You have been ____________  important to the success of this company. I don't know
what I would have done without you. (MEASURE)
2. Most of the activities we did on the course were ____________  and irrelevant. I think
it is very wasteful to spend money on these things. (MEAN)
3. ‘Have you got any ________________ about the cooperation?’ ‘Oh no, I’m sure it will
be successful.’ (GIVE)
4. Mary has no practical experience of treating sick animals. She only
has________________ knowledge of the subject. (BOOK)
5. Next week, the Sunday mass will be held to _______________ the victims of the
holocaust. (MEMORY)
6. The soil has been _______________ by erosion. (POOR)
7. The pain became ________________ during the night, so I called the doctor.
(ENDURE)
8. The prize he has won is simply ______________. I can’t think what’s he is going to do
with such a lot of money. (IMAGINE)
9. It would be __________ to sail in weather like this. (HARD)
10. Babies affected by the disease will be born small, _______ and brain-damaged.
(FORM)
Your answers:

1. ……………………………………. 6. …………………………………….
2. ……………………………………. 7. …………………………………….
3. ……………………………………. 8. …………………………………….
4. ……………………………………. 9. …………………………………….
5. ……………………………………. 10. …………………………………….
Question 7. Identify 10 errors in the following passage and correct them. Write your
answers in the space provided in the column on the right. (10 pts)

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 The big majority of students who make well in the Cambridge Proficiency
Examination have learnt to use a good monolingual dictionary effectively. Such
dictionaries provide informations, not just about the meanings for words but about their
pronunciation and grammar as well. A student who studies how to use a dictionary
effectively will be able to work independently for much of the time, and will gain
considerable insight to the workings of the English language. He or she will be able to
confirm to the meanings of words in a text where contextual clues are insufficient,
pronounce words accurately by studying the phonological transcriptions, and use words
accurately both when speaking and writing. Make sure that you make the room for at
least one good monolingual dictionary on your bookshelf, and then make sure that you
use it at a regular basis.
Your answers:

Lines Lines
1. …….…………………. 6. ….…..…………….
2. …….…………………. 7. ……...…………….
3. …….…………………. 8. ……...…………….
4. …….…………………. 9. …………………….
5. …….…………………. 10. …….…..………..…

Question 8. Fill in each blank with a suitable particle or preposition. (10 pts)
1. Now that the case is __________ my hands, I don’t need to worry more. The other
barrister has taken it over.
2. I’d love to come to the concert with you but I can’t, I’m afraid. I’m ________to my
ears in work this week.
3. These days, many students are turning their backs ____________traditional subjects
such as Latin in favour of more trendy options.

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4. The teacher sat down and glared ____________ the class.
5. The soccer player was ejected because he had done something that was ________ the
rules.
6. Diana had wanted to spend Christmas in New Zealand, but her plans fell ________.
She couldn't get enough time off from work to make the trip worthwhile.
7. The children are _________ a cloud because of their bad behaviour.
8. That restaurant on the corner of High Street is __________ new management. 
9. I've decided to go__________ business with John Clarke. We're going to open a small
tool hire shop. 
10. After months of trying, we finally succeeded __________  persuading them. 
PART III. READING
Question 9. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your
answer sheet to indicate the correct word(s) to each of the questions. (10 pts)
KIWI SURPRISE
When a work project gave me the opportunity to return to New Zealand, I spent
several weeks (1) _______ a country I had left in my early twenties. I’d forgotten about
the petrol stations where men in smart uniforms (2) _______ to you. They fill your tank,
check your oil and still (3) _______ you less than one third of the British price for fuel.
And the people rush to your assistance if they see you (4) _______ over a map. Or the
blissful absence of tips. Locals simply cannot understand why anybody should expect to
pay extra for friendly efficient service.
Given that New Zealand has about 3,000 kilometers of coastline, it should come as
no (5) _______ that social life (6) _______ around the sea. When Auckland office
workers leave their desks at the end of the working day, they don’t (7) _______ home.
Instead, they (8) _______ a beeline for the marina and spend the evening under sail on
the Hauraki Gulf. There are more yachts in Auckland than in any other city in the world-
no wonder it’s called the City of Sails. Even those who can’t afford a (9) _______ of their

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own will always know someone who has one, or at the very least, will windsurf the
offshore breezes at speeds that make the commuter ferries appear to stand (10) _______.
1. A. regaining B. recapturing C. refamiliarizing D. rediscovering
2. A. assist B. attend C. supply D. serve
3. A. charge B. ask C. require D. demand
4. A. pointing B. doubting C. clamoring D. puzzling
5. A. wonder B. surprise C. amazement D. news

6. A. centers B. revolves C. turns D. gathers

7. A. move B. aim C. head D. divert
8. A. have B. do C. get D. make
9. A. vehicle B. hull C. vessel D. receptacle
10. A. still B. dead C. afloat D. upright
Your answers:

1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………

6. …………… 7. …………… 8. …………… 9. …………… 10. ………..…
Question 10. Fill in each numbered blank with one suitable word to complete the
passage. (10 pts)
When rainforests are cleared and (1) _______, millions of carbon dioxide are
released into the atmosphere affecting climatic conditions and threatening us all (2)
_______ severe flooding, drought and drop failure. The rainforests (3) _______ at least
half of the earth’s species. At the current rate of devastation an (4) _______ 50 species
worldwide become extinct every day.
One in four purchases from our chemists is derived from the rainforests. Scientists
are (5) _______ caught in a race against time to find rainforest treatments for cancer,
AIDS and heart disease before they are (6) _______ forever. Tribal people in the
rainforests have been shot, poisoned and infected with diseases to which they have no
resistance – to make room for logging, mining and dams. If this destruction continues,

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only nine (7) _______ the 33 countries currently exporting rainforest timber will have
any (8) _______ by the end of the decade.
Almost everyone will have part of the rainforests in their home, as do-it-yourself
stores still supply and the construction industry still uses tropical hardwood for doors,
window (9) _______ and even toilet seats.
Please help us (10) _______ the tropical rainforests now, before it is too late.
Your answers:

1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………

6. …………… 7. …………… 8. …………… 9. …………… 10. ………..…
Question 11. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your
answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. (10 pts)
Thunderstorms, with their jagged bursts of lightning and roaring thunder, are
actually one of nature’s primary mechanisms for transferring heat from the surface of the
earth into the atmosphere. A thunderstorm starts when low-lying pockets of warm air
from the surface of the earth begin to rise. The pockets of warm air float upward through
the air above that is both cooler and heavier. The rising pockets cool as their pressure
decreases, and their latent heat is released above the condensation line through the
formation of cumulus clouds.
What will happen with these clouds depends on the temperature of the atmosphere.
In winter, the air temperature differential between higher and lower altitudes is not
extremely great, and the temperature of the rising air mass drops more slowly. During
these colder months, the atmosphere, therefore, tends to remain rather stable. In summer,
however, when there is a high accumulation of heat near the earth’s surface, in direct
contrast to the considerably colder air higher up, the temperature differential between
higher and lower altitudes is much more pronounced. As warm air rises in this type of
environment, the temperature drops much more rapidly than it does in winter; when the
temperature drops more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit per thousand feet of altitude, cumulus
clouds aggregate into a single massive cumulonimbus cloud, or thunderhead.

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 In isolation, a single thunderstorm is an impressive but fairly benign way for
Mother Earth to defuse trapped heat from her surface; thunderstorms, however, can
appear in concert, and the resulting show, while extremely impressive, can also prove
extraordinarily destructive. When there is a large-scale collision between cold air and
warm air masses during the summer months, a squall line, or series of thunderheads, may
develop. It is common for a squall line to begin when an advancing cold front meets up
with and forces itself under a layer of warm and moist air, creating a line of
thunderstorms that races forward at speeds of approximately forty miles per hour. A
squall line, which can be hundreds of miles long and can contain fifty distinct
thunderheads, is a magnificent force of nature with incredible potential for destruction.
Within the squall line, often near its southern end, can be found supercells, long-lived
rotating storms of exceptional strength that serve as the source of tornadoes.
1. The topic of the passage is ________.
A. the development of thunderstorms and squall lines
B. the devastating effects of tornadoes
C. cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds
D. the power of tornadoes
2. The word “mechanisms” in paragraph 1 is most likely ________.
A. machines B. motions C. methods D. materials
3. It can be inferred from the passage that, in summer, ________.
A. there is not a great temperature differential between higher and lower altitudes
B. the greater temperature differential between higher and lower altitudes makes
thunderstorms more likely to occur
C. there is not much cold air higher up in the atmosphere
D. the temperature of rising air drops more slowly than it does in winter
4. The word “benign” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. harmless B. beneficial C. ferocious D. spectacular
5. The expression “in concert” in paragraph 3 could best be replaced by ________.

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 A. as a chorus B. with other musicians C. as a cluster D. in a performance
6. According to the passage, a “squall line” in paragraph 3 is ________.
A. a lengthy cold front B. a serious thunderstorm
C. a line of supercells D. a string of thunderheads
7. The word “itself” in paragraph 3 refers to ________.
A. a large-scale collision B. a squall line
C. an advancing cold front D. a layer of warm and moist air
8. All of the following are mentioned in the passage about supercells EXCEPT that they
________.
A. are of short duration B. have circling winds
C. have extraordinary power D. can give birth to tornadoes
9. This reading passage would most probably be assigned in which of the following
courses?
A. Geography B. Meteorology C. Marine Biology D. Chemistry
10. The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses ________.
A. the lightning and thunder associated with thunderstorms
B. various types of cloud formations
C. the forces that contribute to the formation of squall lines
D. the development of tornadoes within supercells
Your answers:

1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………

6. …………… 7. …………… 8. …………… 9. …………… 10. ………..…
Question 12. Read the passage including six sections (A-F) and do the following
tasks. (20 pts)
Task 1. Choose the correct heading (i-ix) for each section (B-F) from the list of
headings below.
Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 1-5 below.

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 List of Headings
i The influence of Monbusho
ii Helping less successful students
iii The success of compulsory education
iv Research findings concerning achievements in maths
v The typical format of a maths lesson
vi Comparative expenditure on maths education
vii Background to middle-years education in Japan
viii The key to Japanese successes in maths education
ix The role of homework correction

Example                 Answer:
Section    A                 iv
Your answers:
1.  Section  B _____________
2.  Section  C _____________
3.  Section  D _____________
4.  Section  E _____________
5.  Section  F _____________
A Japan has a significantly better record in terms of average mathematical attainment
than England and Wales. Large sample international comparisons of pupils' attainments
since the 1960s have established that not only did Japanese pupils at age 13 have better
scores of average attainment, but there was also a larger proportion of “low” attainers in
England, where, incidentally, the variation in attainment scores was much greater. The
percentage of Gross National Product spent on education is reasonably similar in the two
countries, so how is this higher and more consistent attainment in maths achieved?

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B Lower secondary schools in Japan cover three school years, from the seventh grade
(age 13) to the ninth grade (age 15). Virtually all pupils at this stage attend state schools:
only 3 per cent are in the private sector. Schools are usually modern in design, set well
back from the road and spacious inside. Classrooms are large and pupils sit at single
desks in rows. Lessons last for a standardised 50 minutes and are always followed by a
10-minute break, which gives the pupils a chance to let off steam. Teachers begin with a
formal address and mutual bowing, and then concentrate on whole-class teaching.
Classes are large - usually, about 40 - and are unstreamed. Pupils stay in the same
class for all lessons throughout the school and develop considerable class identity and
loyalty. Pupils attend the school in their own neighbourhood, which in theory removes
ranking by school. In practice in Tokyo, because of the relative concentration of schools,
there is some competition to get into the 'better' school in a particular area.

C Traditional ways of teaching form the basis of the lesson and the remarkably quiet
classes take their own notes of the points made and the examples demonstrated. Everyone
has their own copy of the textbook supplied by the central education authority,
Monbusho, as part of the concept of free compulsory education up to the age of 15. These
textbooks are, on the whole, small, presumably inexpensive to produce, but well set out
and logically developed. (One teacher was particularly keen to introduce colour and
pictures into maths textbooks: he felt this would make them more accessible to pupils
brought up in a cartoon culture.) Besides approving textbooks, Monbusho also decides
the highly centralised national curriculum and how it is to be delivered.

D Lessons all follow the same pattern. At the beginning, the pupils put solutions to
the homework on the board, then the teachers comment, correct or elaborate as necessary.
Pupils mark their own homework: this is an important principle in Japanese schooling as
it enables pupils to see where and why they made a mistake, so that these can be avoided

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in future. No one minds mistakes or ignorance as long as you are prepared to learn from
them.
After the homework has been discussed, the teacher explains the topic of the
lesson, slowly and with a lot of repetition and elaboration. Examples are demonstrated on
the board; questions from the textbook are worked through first with the class, and then
the class is set questions from the textbook to do individually. Only rarely are
supplementary worksheets distributed in a maths class. The impression is that the logical
nature of the textbooks and their comprehensive coverage of different types of examples,
combined with the relative homogeneity of the class, renders work sheets unnecessary. At
this point, the teacher would circulate and make sure that all the pupils were coping well.

E It is remarkable that large, mixed-ability classes could be kept together for maths
throughout all their compulsory schooling from 6 to 15. Teachers say that they give
individual help at the end of a lesson or after school, setting extra work if necessary. In
observed lessons, any strugglers would be assisted by the teacher or quietly seek help
from their neighbour. Carefully fostered class identity makes pupils keen to help each
other — anyway, it is in their interests since the class progresses together.

This scarcely seems adequate help to enable slow learners to keep up. However,
the Japanese attitude towards education runs along the lines of “if you work hard enough,
you can do almost anything”. Parents are kept closely informed of their children's
progress and will play a part in helping their children to keep up with class, sending them
to 'Juku' (private evening tuition) if extra help is needed and encouraging them to work
harder. It seems to work, at least for 95 per cent of the school population.

F So what are the major contributing factors in the success of maths teaching?
Clearly, attitudes are important. Education is valued greatly in Japanese culture; maths is

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recognised as an important compulsory subject throughout schooling; and the emphasis is
on hard work coupled with a focus on accuracy.

Other relevant points relate to the supportive attitude of a class towards slower
pupils, the lack of competition within a class, and the positive emphasis on learning for
oneself and improving one's own standard. And the view of repetitively boring lessons
and learning the facts by heart, which is sometimes quoted in relation to Japanese classes,
may be unfair and unjustified. No poor maths lessons were observed. They were mainly
good and one or two were inspirational.
Task 2. Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the
reading passage?
Write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
6. There is a wider range of achievement amongst English pupils studying maths than
amongst their Japanese counterparts.
7. The percentage of Gross National Product spent on education generally reflects the
level of attainment in mathematics.
8. Private schools in Japan are more modern and spacious than state-run lower secondary
schools.
9. Teachers mark homework in Japanese schools.
10. Maths textbooks in Japanese schools are well organised and adapted to the needs of
the pupils.
Your answers:

1. …………… 2. …………… 3. …………… 4. …………… 5. ……………

6. …………… 7. …………… 8. …………… 9. …………… 10. ………..…
PART IV. WRITING

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Question 13. Rewrite each of the following sentences in such a way that it means
exactly the same as the one given. (10 pts)
1. Having bad table manners is the most annoying thing.
There is……………………………………………………………………………………
2. We would be extremely grateful if you could reply as soon as possible.
A prompt ………………………………………………………………………………….
3. In a nutshell, Joseph’s not up to the job.
The long ……………………………………………………………………………………
4. It’s a widespread assumption that George was wrongly accused.
George ……………………………………………………………………………………...
5. Immediately after winning the race, Sandy began training for the next one.
No sooner …………………………………………………………………………………..
Question 14. Use the word given in bold and make any necessary additions to write
a new sentence in such a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the
original sentence. Do not change the form of the given word. (10 pts)
1. Don’t run away with the idea that this job is easy.
CONCLUSION
………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. The young actress was very nervous before the audition.
BUTTERFLIES
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. No one listened to what the politician was saying last night.
EARS
………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. In the area, Thailand is much better than all other countries in football.
SHOULDERS
………………………………………………………………………………………………

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5. The final version of the plan was quite different from the initial draft.
RESEMBLANCE
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Question 15. Paragraph Writing (30 pts)
Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children.
Many children suffer because they do not get as much attention from their parents
as children did in the past.
Do you agree or disagree?
Write a paragraph of about 180 words to express your opinion and give the reasons
for your answer.
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THE END

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