SỞ GIÁO DỤC & ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI TUYỂN SINH LỚP 10 TRUNG HỌC PHỔ THÔNG

TP HỒ CHÍ MINH NĂM HỌC: 2014–2015

***** MÔN THI CHUYÊN: TIẾNG ANH
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC NGÀY THI: 22 tháng 6 năm 2014
(Đề này gồm 4 trang) Thời gian làm bài: 120 phút (không kể thời gian phát đề)
I. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER TO FILL IN THE BLANK. (20 PTS)

1. “I’m sure the Whitleys were involved.” “They _____ have since they know nothing about the business.”
A. can’t B. wouldn’t C. shouldn’t D. mustn’t
2. “Candy’s an excellent pianist, isn’t she?” “She _____ to win the prize if she plays this well during the competition.”
A. is due B. is bound C. is about D. is set
3. _____, the balcony chairs will be ruined in this weather.
A. Leaving uncovered B. Having left uncovered C. Left uncovered D. Been left uncovered
4. His friends offered to _____ the next time he was in town so that he wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel.
A. place him in B. put him up C. back him up D. turn him out
5. Susan became so tired of city life that she decided to buy a piece of land _____.
A. out of the ordinary B. as the crow flies C. far and away D. in the middle of nowhere
6. The _____ of our cruise includes stops at six ports in three different countries.
A. timetable B. intention C. itinerary D. itemisation
7. My mind went _____ when the official asked me my phone number – I couldn’t remember it at all.
A. empty B. clear C. blank D. vacant
8. The life _____ of individuals in developed countries increases dramatically every decade.
A. expectation B. exception C. exertion D. expectancy
9. She believes that all countries should _____ the death penalty as it is inhumane.
A. put down to B. catch up on C. get down to D. do away with
10. Although the journey was _____ with danger, it turned out to be a rewarding experience for everyone.
A. fraught B. filled C. full D. littered
11. One way to let off _____ after a stressful day is to take some vigorous exercise.
A. cloud B. tension C. steam D. sweat
12. I’m amazed that this game ever _____ – it is so silly!
A. took in B. caught on C. took up D. caught by
13. They avoid the usual tourist attractions in favour of places that are off the _____ track.
A. gone B. worn C. beaten D. ridden
14. Their research into the causes of cancer promises to break new _____ in the field and possibly lead to a cure.
A. earth B. ground C. soil D. land
15. The _____ of the building of the new shopping centre are doing everything they can to prevent the project from even
starting.
A. advocates B. opponents C. independents D. opposites
16. After three days in the desert, his mind began to play _____ on him.
A. games B. jokes C. tricks D. fun
17. Finding the gorillas alive had been _____ his wildest dreams.
A. past B. beneath C. beyond D. without
18. He has been _____ to supporting his nephews.
A. determined B. allowed C. compromised D. committed
19. She worried _____ about her exam and couldn’t focus on her revision.
A. constantly B. practically C. decidedly D. effectively
20. Different measures have been _____ to help the homeless.
A. made B. taken C. done D. conducted
21. The noisy music _____ the students from their test.
A. distracted B. disrupted C. dissolved D. disqualified
22. Health food is now _____ in popularity.
A. growing B. raising C. getting D. flying
23. _____ fire, please break the glass and ring the bell.
A. In case of B. During C. Because of D. With a view to
24. Left-handed children are said to be _____ to accidents in the kitchen.
A. prone B. clear C. subject D. bound
25. It was _____ of Harry to arrive late and then try to dominate the meeting.
A. common B. usual C. ordinary D. typical
26. During their first date, Jane had nervously peppered the conversation with _____ talk.
A. unimportant B. tiny C. small D. trivial
27. The match will be screened on ITV with _____ commentary by Andy Gray.
A. lively B. live C. alive D. living

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Kỳ Thi Tuyển Sinh Lớp 10 Trung Học Phổ Thông 1
Năm học: 2014–2015 _ Môn: Tiếng Anh (Chuyên) _ blogchuyenanh.wordpress.com 2014
28. The job creation scheme is still in its _____.
A. childhood B. babyhood C. opening D. infancy
29. I am subjected to _____ smoking in the office and at home.
A. passive B. inactive C. involuntary D. reluctant
30. Dr Chen advised me to use this remedy in _____ as it is extremely potent.
A. restraint B. moderation C. control D. regulation
31. I’m _____ my brother is.
A. nowhere like so ambitious C. nothing as ambitious than
B. nothing near as ambitious as D. nowhere near as ambitious as
32. Reports are coming in that a flood has hit a heavily-_____ area in the south of India.
A. crowded B. personalised C. peopled D. populated
33. It was _____ a victory that even Smith’s fans couldn’t believe it.
A. such surprising B. so surprising C. too surprising D. surprising
34. I always clean the flat before my mom comes round, but she always finds at least one _____ of dust.
A. scrap B. gust C. speck D. blade
35. Everyone _____ around the old woman on the floor, but no one offered her any help.
A. crowded B. spread C. put D. hung
36. I do agree there _____ simple solution to this problem.
A. is no B. be not C. not to be D. not being
37. I know you didn’t want to upset me but I’d sooner you _____ me the whole truth yesterday.
A. could have told B. told C. have told D. had told
38. As the drug took _____, the patient became quieter.
A. effect B. force C. influence D. action
39. The dawn redwood appears _____ some 100 million years ago in northern forests around the world.
A. was flourished B. having to flourish C. to have flourished D. have flourished
40. His comments _____ little or no relation to the facts and the figures of the case.
A. reflect B. bear C. give D. possess
II. CHOOSE THE WORD OR PHRASE THAT BEST FITS EACH SPACE IN THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE. (15 PTS)

We often assume the best way to (1) _____ to a decision is to spend ages taking into account a lot of
information before we arrive at our conclusion. We (2) _____ the evidence in the belief that instant decisions are
unreliable. However, there are arguments for a reassessment of that (3) _____. It may be that (4) _____ our
subconscious mind does a better job in a moment than our conscious mind does.

When Evelyn Harrison, a(n) (5) _____ on sculpture, was shown a statue that the J. Paul Getty Museum had
purchased for $10 million, she (6) _____ out that it was a fake. It came (7) _____ a shock to the museum. Harrison
was (8) _____ to explain why she had formed that impression, but it was enough to (9) _____ doubt on the statue.
Now most experts have come round to her (10) _____, but how did she (11) _____ the difference between that and
the (12) _____ article so quickly? It’s probable that her subconscious mind sorted through information that escaped
the (13) _____ of her conscious mind. Although we are rarely, (14) _____, aware of our subconscious mind, it can
be surprisingly (15) _____.

1. A. come B. go C. reach D. make

2. A. measure B. observe C. weigh D. give
3. A. outlook B. view C. proof D. support
4. A. many a time B. from time to time C. all the time D. the time of the life
5. A. scholar B. specialist C. artist D. expert
6. A. put B. figured C. mumbled D. blurted
7. A. as B. with C. in D. by
8. A. incapable B. difficult C. unable D. hard
9. A. put B. lay C. cast D. place
10. A. place B. position C. argument D. point
11. A. make B. tell C. realise D. seek
12. A. inimitable B. true C. actual D. real
13. A. notice B. procession C. realisation D. guard
14. A. let alone B. in fact C. even then D. if ever
15. A. influential B. dependent C. effective D. productive

III. IDENTIFY THE MISTAKE IN EACH SENTENCE. (5 PTS)

1. Asteroids may be fragments (A) of a planet shattered (B) long ago (C) or from material (D) the nuclei of old comets.
2. Between (A) the ages of nine and fifteen, almost (B) all young people undertake (C) a rapid series of (D) psychological
changes.

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Kỳ Thi Tuyển Sinh Lớp 10 Trung Học Phổ Thông 2
Năm học: 2014–2015 _ Môn: Tiếng Anh (Chuyên) _ blogchuyenanh.wordpress.com 2014
3. Ponds are noted (A) for their rich and varied types of (B) plant and animal life, all maintain (C) in a delicate ecological
balance (D).
4. The explorers said that (A) they could make (B) the round trip shorter if (C) the weather had not been that bad (D).
5. The Pinebrook Inn has (A) a courtesy bus which (B) runs every thirty minute (C) both to and from (D) the downtown
area.
6. Most authorities consider both (A) dreaming while (B) sleep and daydreaming to be (C) forms of fantasy (D).
7. Antique auctions (A) are getting more and more (B) popular in the United States because of increasingly (C) public
awareness of the value of (D) investing in antiques.
8. An X-ray microscope enables (A) a person to see on (B) solid materials such as (C) metal and bone (D).
9. The growth rate (A) of the Pacific Rim countries is twice faster than (B) other comparable (C) areas during (D) the
Industrial Revolution.
10. Computers have (A) made access (B) to information instantly available (C) just to push (D) a few buttons.

IV. READ THE PASSAGE AND CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. (10 PTS)

In the early days of the United States, postal charges were paid by the recipient and charges varied with the
distance carried. In 1825, the United States Congress permitted local postmasters to give letters to mail carriers for
home delivery, but these carriers received no government salary and their entire compensation depended on what
they were paid by the recipients of individual letters.
In 1847 the United States Post Office Department adopted the idea of a postage stamp, which of course
simplified the payment for postal service but caused grumbling by those who did not like to prepay. Besides, the
stamp covered only delivery to the post office and did not include carrying it to a private address. In Philadelphia,
for example, with a population of 150,000 people still had to go to the post office to get their mail. The confusion and
congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itself enough to discourage use of the mail. It is no
wonder that, during the years of these cumbersome arrangements, private letter-carrying and express businesses
developed. Although their activities were only semi-legal, they thrived, and actually advertised that between Boston
and Philadelphia they were a half-day speedier than the government mail. The government postal service lost
volume to private competition and was not able to handle efficiently even the business it had.
Finally, in 1863, Congress provided that the mail carriers who delivered the mail from the post offices to private
addresses should receive a government salary, and that there should be no extra charge for that delivery. But this
delivery service was at first confined to cities, and free home delivery became a mark of urbanism. As late as 1887,
a town had to have 10,000 people to be eligible for free home delivery. In 1890, of the 75 million people in the
United States, fewer than 20 million had mail delivered free to their doors. The rest, nearly three-quarters of the
population, still received no mail unless they went to their post office.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. The increased use of private mail services C. A comparison of urban and rural postal services
B. The development of a government postal system D. The history of postage stamps
2. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that in the USA in the early 19th century _____.
A. the recipient had to pay to receive the letters C. postage stamps for letters came into use
B. the recipient paid the same for all kinds of letters D. the mail carriers earned a lot of money from the government
3. Which of the following was seen as a disadvantage of the postage stamp?
A. It had to be purchased by the sender in advance. C. It was difficult to affix to letters.
B. It increased the cost of mail delivery. D. It was easy to counterfeit.
4. Why does the author mention the city of Philadelphia?
A. Its postal service was inadequate for its population. C. It was the largest city in the United States in 1847
B. It was the site of the first post office in the United States. D. It was commemorated by the first United States postage stamp.
5. In the 1950s, _____.
A. American people were happy with every postal service
B. people in Philadelphia had their letters delivered free of charge by the government
C. there was a preference among Americans for private mail services
D. the American government managed their mail businesses satisfactorily
6. The word ‘they’ refers to _____.
A. Boston and Philadelphia B. businesses C. arrangements D. letters
7. The private postal services of the 19th century claimed that they could do which of the following better than the government?
A. Deliver a higher volume of mail C. Deliver mail faster
B. Deliver mail more cheaply D. Deliver mail to rural areas
8. In 1863 the United States government began providing which of the following to mail carriers?
A. A salary B. Housing C. Transportation D. Free postage stamps
9. All of the following statements are true of the American postal service in the second half of the 19th century EXCEPT ___.
A. Delivery service distinguishes cities from the countryside.
B. People paid more to get their letters delivered to their home.
C. Small towns did not provide delivery service.
D. About 55 million people had to get to the post office to receive their mail.
10. The word ‘confined’ is closest in meaning to _____.
A. granted B. scheduled C. limited D. recommended

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Kỳ Thi Tuyển Sinh Lớp 10 Trung Học Phổ Thông 3
Năm học: 2014–2015 _ Môn: Tiếng Anh (Chuyên) _ blogchuyenanh.wordpress.com 2014
V. SUPPLY THE APPROPRIATE FORMS OF WORDS IN THE BRACKETS. (15 PTS)

1. The students were __________ to hear that the class had been cancelled. (JOY)
2. A sports club has just been established and aims to have a __________ of 500 in the next two years. (MEMBER)
3. The spectators booed when the second goal was __________. (ALLOW)
4. __________, we didn’t buy better quality goods from the beginning. (REGRET)
5. A fatal __________ was made by air traffic control. (CALCULATE)
6. Despite having a __________ job, she has difficulty making ends meet. (PAY)
7. When the lab findings and the research results were __________, an amazing discovery came to light. (RELATE)
8. I really believe that it should be a major mistake to __________ any drugs that are currently illegal. (CRIME)
9. The attack in the city centre last night is said to __________ the kind of behaviour amongst young people that many
people object to. (EXAMPLE)
10. Theo and his twin brother are always together. They are __________. (SEPARATE)
11. Reading is an effective way to __________ your vocabulary. (RICH)
12. John considers reading others’ diaries an __________ invasion of privacy. (PERMIT)
13. His failure in the exam was a real __________ for his parents. (LET)
14. There is __________ a great demand for organic vegetables. (DENY)
15. Having a deep __________ of strangers, he felt reluctant to talk to the newcomer. (TRUST)

VI. SUPPLY EACH BLANK WITH ONE SUITABLE WORD. (15 PTS)

The development of the sport of skateboarding can be (1) __________ back to the early 1890s, when children in
California used wooden boards to ‘surf’ the streets. During the 1950s, the (2) __________ of the sport increased and
manufacturers began producing the first factory-made boards. By the 1960s, the sport had (3) __________ an
impressive following, not just in the USA, but (4) __________.
However, by 1965, (5) __________ about safety resulted in regulations being (6) __________ to ban
skateboarding in most public places in the USA. This effectively killed the sport there for the next decade. Companies
that had been making a (7) __________ selling skateboards suddenly faced huge losses and many (8) __________
out of business. Over the next eight years a few enthusiasts continued practising the sport but, although they tried
hard to raise its profile, they were (9) __________ in their efforts.
Then in 1973, some technological breakthroughs revolutionised the sport. The invention of new materials (10)
__________ that manufacturers (11) __________ strengthen the boards but at the same time make them lighter
and more manoeuvrable. Such improvements also made the boards (12) __________ dangerous and pressure from
an increasing number of users (13) __________ to the installation of special skateboarding parks. Despite the
various (14) __________ it has suffered over the years, the sport is now stronger than (15) __________.

VII. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITHOUT CHANGING THE MEANING. (20 PTS)

1. He played so well that he received a standing ovation from the audience. (SUCH)
à His ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Sam tried extremely hard to convince her, but it was no use. (BRING)
à Hard ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Unless you take the train, you will be late for work. (MAKE)
à Only by __________________________________________________________________________________
4. Surprisingly, the website wouldn’t allow me to access certain pages. (WHICH)
à The website denied ______________________________________________________________________
5. She worked hard during her final year. Therefore, she easily got admitted to this prestigious high school. (INDUSTRY)
à Had it ___________________________________________________________________________________
6. Looking back, I really believe I did everything I could do to stop her. (MORE)
à I can honestly say, with ___________________________________________________________________
7. When he arrived at the airport, his family welcomed him warmly. (GIVEN)
à On ______________________________________________________________________________________
8. “I must say goodbye to Peter at the airport,” said Helen. (OFF)
à Helen insisted ____________________________________________________________________________
9. Jane said it would be a good idea if I called in the plumber to check the plumbing. (CHECKED)
à Jane urged _______________________________________________________________________________
10. Arguing about the referee’s decision would be a waste of time. (ARGUMENT)
à There’s __________________________________________________________________________________

---THE END OF THE TEST---

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Kỳ Thi Tuyển Sinh Lớp 10 Trung Học Phổ Thông 4
Năm học: 2014–2015 _ Môn: Tiếng Anh (Chuyên) _ blogchuyenanh.wordpress.com 2014