ĐỀ HSG SỐ 9

SECTION B: LISTENING (15 pts)

I. You will hear a discussion in which two marine biologists, Gina Kelso and Thomas Ludman, talk
about an award-winning television film they made about wildlife in Antarctica. Choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the box
provided for Answers. (5 pts)
1. Gina’s interest in marine biology dates from ______.
A. her earliest recollections of life in Africa
B. one memorable experience in childhood
C. the years she spent studying in England
D. a postgraduate research project she led
2. The first wildlife TV series they both worked on ______.
A. made use of a previously untried format
B. was not filmed in a natural environment
C. was not intended to be taken too seriously
D. required them to do background research
3. How did Thomas feel when he was asked to produce the programs about Antarctica?
A. disappointed not to be presenting the series
B. surprised that people thought he was suitable
C. uncertain how well he would get on with the team
D. worried about having to spend the winter there
4. When they were in Antarctica, they would have appreciated ______.
A. a less demanding work schedule
B. more time to study certain animals
C. a close friend to share their feelings with
D. a chance to share their work with colleagues
5. What was most impressive about the whales they filmed?
A. the unusual sounds the whales made
B. the number of whales feeding in a small bay
C. how long the whales stayed feeding in one area
D. how well the whales co-operated with each other

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

II. You are going to hear a lecture on agriculture and the environment. C omplete the notes
below with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in the box
provided for Answers. (10 pts)

AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

 (1) _______ production = biggest problem in today’s world
 Agriculture is important for jobs, exports and foreign exchange
 Agriculture’ means:
- growing crops
- raising animals
- (2) _______
- (3) _______

 Agriculture must be sustainable: old methods, & new, chemical methods are all unsustainable → (4)

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_______ of biodiversity
 Biotechnology → GM or GE → bio-prospecting (bio-piracy) i.e. large companies steal samples of native
plants to use the (5) _______ for their own crop improvement
 (6) _______ is responsible for less food and higher prices
 Farmers need to be educated but governments also need to pay attention to (7) _______ in order to
protect the environment and re-nourish the soil.
 Experts from around the world could come together to form a (8) _______ to observe farm systems
aiming to prevent pollution and erosion and encourage safe procedures that are also (9) _______.
 Creating the project’s (10) _______ would be very expensive and more money would be needed for the
monitoring system but it could solve the problem of food shortages.

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

SECTION B: VOCABULARY AND STRUCTURE (60 pts)

I. Fill the gaps in the following sentences with the correct answer A, B, C or D. Write your
answers in the box provided for Answers. (20 pts)
1. There was no incident of any kind to ______ the journey until we ran into that ditch in Rodgers Field
A. dismantle B. scrap C. mar D. fray
2. It won’t be long. I’ll be with you in a ______.
A. beat B. stroke C. tick D. chime
3. His opponent called him a traitor, which really ______ his patriotism.
A. cast aspersions on B. dumped asperity on C. drew integrity from D. hurled insults in
4. The old lady was becoming increasingly affected by ______.
A. masculinity B. senility C. virginity D. audacity
5. It took me several seconds to grasp the meaning of her statement but finally the ______ dropped.
A. penny B. axe C. hammer D. stone
6. The government is doing all it can to ______ war on dangerous driving.
A. launch B. wage C. stage D. battle
7. The children's interest in playing the game soon ______.
A. flagged B. stumbled C. tottered D. thawed
8. There have been ups and downs, but on ______ we've had a very successful first year of business.
A. whole B. top C. balance D. general
9. Different chemists prefer different ______ theories, and there is no shortage of theories.
A. fancied B. fond C. pet D. preferable
10. She's such a ______ of strength that everyone relies on her in a crisis.
A. tower B. pillar C. post D. support
11. Josie can ______ her own in any argument
A. maintain B. hold C. keep D. support
12. He may look innocent, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could ______ him.
A. throw B. see C. hear D. catch
13. Mary went to work for a bank, and Jane ______ suit. Now they are both head cashiers. 
A. matched B. went C. came D. followed 
14. The city's ______ population has grown dramatically over recent years since having dogs as a pet has
grown in popularity.
A. feline B. canine  C. divine D. alpine
15. After his long illness, the old man appeared so thin and ______ that a gust of wind might have blown him
away.
A. flimsy B. faint C. withered D. frail
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16. Even though he had done nothing illegal, the public’s ______ was that he had acted dishonestly, and he
was forced to resign.
A. perception B. observation C. discernment D. consciousness
17. People usually gave their mother gifts and flowers as a ______ of their gratitude and appreciation.
A. coupon B. token C. remembrance D. memento
18. Stephen really lost his________ when his dental appointment was cancelled yet again.
A. head B. voice C. calm D. rag
19. The whole situation is getting out of ________. Let’s do something before it turns into a bitter row.
A. capacity B. charge C. hand D. discipline
20. Mr. Smith ate his breakfast in great ________ so as not to miss the bus to Liverpool.
A. speed B. pace C. rush D. haste

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

II. There are TEN mistakes in the passage below. FIND, UNDERLINE and CORRECT them. Write
the corrections on the corresponding lines in the box for answers. (10 pts)
Answers
The world's strong storm this year, Typhoon Mangkhut, continued its path 0. strong  strongest
of destruction across Southeast Asia, reaching mainland China on Sunday __________  __________
afternoon after pummeling Hong Kong and killing dozens in the Philippines. __________  __________
The storm has killed two people in southern China and at least 54 people in __________  __________
the Philippines. Many of the Philippines' death were caused by landslides, __________  __________
with dozens more still believing to be buried beneath the deluge. __________  __________

More than 2.45 million people have evacuated in China's Guangdong __________  __________
province as Mangkhut makes landfall at 5 p.m. local time. As Mangkhut __________  __________
marched toward the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong was also buffeted with __________  __________
fierce winds that tore off roofs, downed trees and caused cranes perched top __________  __________
half-built skyscrapers to swing ominously. __________  __________

Hong Kong's weather observation issued its highest storm warning alert - a __________  __________
signal T10 - and the normally bustling city was all and shut down as __________  __________
transport was suspended and torrential rain flooded roads and buildings. __________  __________

Winds of 173 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 223 kph were __________  __________
reported, stronger than Hurricane Florence that hit North Carolina across the __________  __________
weekend. __________  __________

Mangkhut is now expected to move inland of western Guangdong. When the __________  __________
storm has weakened, a T8 warning was still in place into Sunday evening __________  __________
meaning that winds with speeds of about 63 kph were expected. __________  __________

III. Complete each sentence with ONE suitable word. Write your answers in the box provided for
Answers. (10 pts)
1. Lynn took several deep breaths to compose ____________ before hearing the news.
2. After all, stranger things have happened: legend ____________ it that the hooked burrs of plants inspired
the invention of Velcro.
3. It took quite a while but at ____________ last the website’s starting to take off.

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4. Stock brokers are believed to grow ____________ on other people's money.
5. I think you’re on very weak ____________ with that argument.
6. Get it off your ____________ and tell me exactly what’s wrong.
7. The Minister’s disappearance speaks ____________ about his involvement in the corruption scandal.
8. She wants to make a ____________ break and leave the publishing industry completely
9. Dave’s an ____________ hand when it comes to doing the carnival disco - he’s been doing it for years.
10. Jean Paul is clearly a very talented designer. His Achilles’ ____________, however, may be his lack of
business sense.
Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

IV. Read the text below. Use the word given in CAPITALS to form a word that fits in the space of
the passage. Write your answers in the box provided for Answers. (10 pts)
Our council members, a hopeless group who demonstrated remarkable (1. COMPETENCE) ____________ in
the design process of Hillside Road, are now busily working on plans for the rest of Bayview, again behind
(2. CLOSE) ____________ doors. Only when these people finish will the public be 'invited' to submit
comments, by which point none of these will make a difference. The council will simply go ahead despite our
concerns. Where is the (3. TRANSPARENT) ____________ in this process? When has anyone from the
council ever taken responsibility for the vast sums of money wasted when their schemes fail? And now we
have to prepare for further (4. WASTE) ____________ as the council use taxpayers' money to 'develop'
Bayview in ways that no local desires. The reason for this tirade is that, in my view, the problems we are faced
with – the escalation of (5. RISE) ____________ housing in single-storey areas, the road design, the
connection to our city. These issues have to be addressed before our beautiful environment is damaged
beyond repair.

The council has announced its intention to spend a figure approaching $20 million over the next few years
improving facilities and transport in Bayview. Furthermore, they have (6. APPEAR) ____________ set aside
further funds to improve traffic flow on Hillside Road, and to finance the design and building of an exhibition
centre and renovation of the library. People who live and work here will have to face the inconvenience of
noise, dust and (7. BLOCK) ____________ pavements as roads are widened and car parks are extended in
downtown Bayview.

As a suburb that draws more tourists than any other in the city, Bayview deserves the considerable investment
that the council has proposed. However, it is not for the council to force upon us developments that people
here object to, and which we recognize are fundamentally detrimental to the community. Many of us have
asked the council for details concerning the anticipated population figures, should their high-density housing
projected be (8. ACT) ____________, but they appear reluctant to (9. CLOSE) ____________ them. We
have thus been forced to work it out for ourselves. It has been estimated that by building apartment blocks of
four to five storeys, the council will facilitate an (10. EXPONENT) ____________ and undesirable growth in
population: 400 homes are likely to rise to 1200 in the North Bayview area and 700 cars could turn into 2100.

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

SECTION C: READING COMPREHENSION (45 pts)

I. Choose the word that best fits each space to complete the text. Write your answers in the box
provided for Answers. (10 pts)
THE RETURN OF EL NINO
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Aside from the seasons, El Nino and its twin, La Nina, are the two largest single (1) ______ of variability in the
world's climate from year to year. Both are dictated by (2) ______ in water temperature in the tropical Pacific
basin between Australia and South America. (3) ______ after the Spanish words for "Christ child" and "the
girl" because of their (4) ______ to Christmas, they lead to dramatic shifts in the entire system of oceanic
and atmospheric factors from air pressure to currents.

A significant rise in sea temperature leads to an El Nino event whereas a fall in temperature leads to La Nina.
The cause of the phenomenon is not fully understood but in an El Nino "event" the pool of warm surface water
is forced eastwards by the loss of the westerly trade winds. The sea water evaporates, (5) ______ in drenching
rains over South America, as well as western parts of the United States, such as California. The effects can (6)
______ for anything from a few weeks to eight months, causing extreme weather as far (7) ______ as
India and East Africa. The correlation with global warming is as (8) ______ unclear. Archaeological evidence
shows El Ninos and La Ninas have been (9) ______ for 15,000 years. But scientists are investigating whether
climate change is leading to an increase in their intensity or duration.

The weather pattern is already having early and intense effects and El Nino could bring extreme rainfall to
parts of east Africa, which were last year (10) ______ by a cycle of drought and floods. It's difficult to
predict what will happen to the weather in the British Isles, but it will probably add to the likelihood of record-
breaking temperatures in the UK.

1. A. methods B. theories C. causes D. consequences

2. A. shifts B. drops C. alternatives D. downfall
3. A. Elected B. Called C. Nominated D. Named
4. A. proximity B. neighborhood C. attachment D. bond
5. A. producing B. resulting C. stemming D. refreshing
6. A. persist B. keep C. conserve D. assert
7. A. ahead B. afield C. along D. alongside
8. A. still B. yet C. present D. now
9. A. dawning B. obtaining C. occurring D. securing
10. A. hit B. shoved C. punctured D. punched

Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

II. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Write your answers in
the box provided for Answers. (10 pts)
In most art museums, the paintings on the wall just look flat, but sometimes visitors come across an image
that appears to be three-dimensional. The artist has cleverly used colors, lines, and shading to give the
painting some depth, making it more (1) __________. The artistic technique of creating three-dimensional
images of something on a flat surface is called trompe l'oeil, a French phrase (2) __________ trick the eye.
Today, some artists are adapting the idea of tricking the eye to make things become invisible. A new (3)
__________ for this is camouflage art. In nature, there are major benefits to using camouflage to blend
(4) __________ with the surroundings. Becoming invisible, or at (5) __________ being harder to see on the
ground or in a tree, allows insects and animals to hide from things that might eat them. It also allows them to
get close (6) __________ to surprise other insects or smaller animals that they want to catch and eat. Artists
are not hiding or preparing to attack. (7) __________, they are using the idea of camouflage to make urban
spaces look nicer or to make statements with their art. Sometimes they just do it for fun. Artists can make
these things more interesting and in some cases make them (8) __________ visible. In many urban areas,
large buildings have been painted with amazing murals that trick our eyes. Thus, ordinary brick walls are
transformed into interesting (9) __________ of art. Temporary walls put up to keep people out of a
(10) __________ site can be painted like the finished building to camouflage the site.
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Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

III. The following reading passage has five paragraphs, A-E. Choose the correct heading for each
paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-viii, in the box for
answers. (10 pts)
THE FINAL FRONTIER FOR TOURISM
A For some reason humankind has always looks towards the stars and dreamt of one day making the
voyage into the unknown and exploring outer space. Perhaps it is our innate curiosity, perhaps the
challenge presented by the seemingly impossible; whatever the lure, the quest to venture into space has
become an obsession for many.

B On a memorable July day in 1969 one man made a giant leap for his kind. Neil Armstrong touched down
on the moon as the world watched with bated breath. Was this a beginning or the culmination of years
of endeavor that pushed science to its very limits? Well, it has been a long time indeed since the last
moon landing, more than 40 years, but science has not stood still in the interim, nor have our dreams
become any less ambitious. According to NASA, plans are afoot for a manned mission to Mars at some
point after 2020. A return to the moon has been scheduled sooner - perhaps 2018 if NASA’s new Crew
Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is rolled out on time. It may not be Hollywood razzle-dazzle-style progress; it
may even be painstakingly slow, but rest assured that plans are afoot for something very ambitious and
special indeed, and NASA may be back in the headlines making waves and history again, just as it did on
that faithful day in 1969, in the not-too-distant future.

C That said, it is the prospect of space tourism for the masses that has captured the headlines recently,
and this may not be such a distant dream as people would expect. In 2001, an American multimillionaire,
Denis Tito, became the first space tourist, spending ten days on the International Space Station along
with his crew of Russian cosmonauts, and fulfilling a lifelong ambition in the process. He described the
experience rather paradoxically as ‘indescribable’; everything that he thought it would be and more. A
year later, South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth followed in his footsteps. On his return to Earth he
said, ‘every second will be with me for the rest of my life’. Clearly these men had a once-in-a-lifetime
experience, but this came at a hefty price, both paying $20 million for the pleasure of their space
adventures.

D At present, space tourism is undoubtedly reserved for an elite and wealthy few, but what of the future?
If Eric Anderson, president of Space Adventures, the company that organized Tito and Shuttleworth’s
trips, is to be believed, it will be the next big thing. ‘Everyone’s looking for a new experience’, he says.
Indeed, Space adventures is planning to offer rocket trips to the public for $100,000 within the next few
years, so perhaps space tourism is closer than we think. Another company, The Space Island Group, is
planning to build a space hotel inspired by the spaceship in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Gene
Meyers, the company’s president, predicts that in 2020 a five-day holiday at the hotel will cost less than
$25,000. Imagine, he says, a five-star hotel with all the usual luxuries, except that each morning you will
be greeted by mind-blowing views of outer space. This is certainly food for thought for adventure-
seeking holiday planners. That said, unless there is a serious spike in inflation between now and 2020,
$25,000 will still remain a considerable sum of money to have to part with for a recreational activity,
once-in-a-lifetime or not. But that is perhaps missing the point - the prospect of affordable space travel is
getting closer and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.

E Other companies have even more ambitious plans. Bigelow Aerospace is spending close to $500 million
on a project to build a 700-metre spaceship to fly tourists to the moon. The spaceship will be able to hold
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 100 guests, each with a private room offering truly unique views of the earth’s sunset. Even the Hilton
Hotel Group wants to get in on the act with talk of plans to build a Hilton on the moon. For the present,
only millionaires can enjoy the privilege of a space journey, but in the words of one Bob Dylan, ‘The
times they are a changing.’ And sooner than you’d think.

Choose the right heading for each paragraph A-E from the list of the headings below.

List of Headings
i. Not worth the cost
ii. Space travel; past, present and future
iii. Russian innovations
iv. A profitable investment
v. The future of tourism
vi. Insatiable desire for adventure
vii. The first space tourism
viii. Moon hotels

1. Paragraph A: ________
2. Paragraph B: ________
3. Paragraph C: ________
4. Paragraph D: ________
5. Paragraph E: ________

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Write your answers in the box provided for answers
6. Bigelow Aerospace’s spaceship will offer unique views of the Moon’s sunset. ________
7. The Hilton Hotel Group has ambitious plans to organize cheap space journey. ________
8. Gene Meyers believes space tourism will be popular in the near future. ________
9. NASA plans to launch a mission to Mars, but first it is hoping to return to the moon. ________
10. At the moment, space tourism is too expensive for ordinary people, only the very rich can travel to
space. ________

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

IV. You are going to read an extract from an article about jewellery designers. Choose from the
sections (A-D). The sections may be chosen more than once. (10 pts)

In which section are the following mentioned? Answers

found that she was launching her jewellery at exactly the tight time? 1.
is keen for others to focus on what her jewellery represents? 2.
mentions acting on comments made by others? 3.
mentions being regarded as an important person? 4.
does not profit from everything she makes? 5.
regards her jewellery as having long-term appeal? 6.
produces pieces that give information on the source of the material used? 7.
suggests that her jewellery may be too unusual for some people? 8.
sometimes varies from her usual theme in her jewellery? 9.

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has rejected a certain business method? 10.

SHINING LIGHTS: INDEPENDENT JEWELLERY DESIGNERS

Highly individual jewellery pieces are in demand, and independent designers are putting
heart and soul into making them

A. EMMA FRANKLIN
It has always been about animals,' Emma Franklin says. 'My friend's grandmother had an amazing stag brooch
with huge antlers and that's where it started. Everyone has a relationship with an animal in my collection.
When people ask me about an animal I haven't done, I then introduce it to the collection.' Her favourite? 'The
ram. It's so strong.' Franklin hand-makes each necklace, bangle, ring, cufflink and pin, featuring any of 14
animal heads, from a pig to a triceratops. All her pieces are made in solid silver, plated in 22ct yellow gold or
black rhodium, with black diamonds and freshwater pearls. Bespoke commissions, predominantly engagement
rings, not all animal-related, are becoming more frequent. Her clients are all ages, women and men with a bold
sense of style. Franklin's robust designs are instantly recognisable, as she has discovered. 'I see a surprising
number of people wearing my designs in the street, mainly in east London,' she says. 'Recently in a pub this
girl was wearing one of my rings at the bar so I introduced myself. She was completely star-struck and fetched
over her dad, who had bought it for her. I had to explain that it was really me who was excited.'

B. ALEXANDRA JEFFORD
'My design style constantly evolves,' Alexandra Jefford says. 'It started out as a throwback to the 1940s, but
even though I try new things I can't kick my art background. I'm really inspired by art, architecture, design,
furniture design.' Jefford graduated with a degree in fine art, began designing jewellery and sold her first
piece, a gold ring, on its first outing, at dinner with a friend. Her designs, produced on a project-by-project
basis rather than as collections, include her signature Alphabet series for which she designed a slim font. Her
recent O project interprets that letter in various typefaces. Jefford also makes one-off high-end pieces that are
more sculptural. Fans range from her daughter's friends to her mother's friends, although she doesn't always
want to sell. 'I become emotionally involved with all my pieces so I find it really hard to let go. There are some
pieces that I hide "for the family museum". My husband says that I work as a shopper rather than a seller.'

C. HATTIE RICKARDS
Hattie Rickards' first collection of 12 rings, entitled Revealed, was an instant success. Her second, Geo, a
collection of 15 tactile, geometric necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and a brooch, came out to even greater
acclaim. 'The ethos behind Geo is connection and relationships, bringing tessellating or geometrical shapes
together making one, for example the Kindred ring where two puzzle pieces fit neatly together.' Rickards
graduated in jewellery design, then worked for Solange Azagury-Partridge, helping to launch her Madison
Avenue store in New York, before setting up on her own. 'I wanted to create a high-end, luxury jewellery
brand with an ethical backbone, which coincided with a gap in the market.' All Hattie Rickards Jewellery is
made using Fair trade precious stones from Thailand and India and 18ct Fair trade, fair-mined gold from
Colombia. HRJ is one of the first 20 companies to become a certified user of this type of gold, many of its
pieces having the premium 'ecological' label, which ensures no cyanide is used during extraction, which is
harmful to the environment. There are no plans for e-commerce, as Rickards believes this detracts from the
meaning behind the piece. 'I am passionate that people understand the symbolism behind my work. I don't
want it to just be a ring on a website. The story is so important.'

D. MAWI KEIVOM
Mawi Keivom is known for her architectural statement jewellery: chunky box chains with coloured pearls,
spiked gold rings and brightly coloured gems. Born in the north-east of India, 40 miles from the Burmese
border, into the Mahr tribe, Keivom draws her influences from a peripatetic childhood with her diplomat
parents that took them to Africa, the Middle East, south-east Asia and Europe. 'I come from a tribal
background and having that heritage has influenced me greatly; the colours, the chunky jewels, the sparkle.'

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Keivom designs two collections a year. 'My style of jewellery is very individual and not for the faint-hearted. I
have a very strong vision that translates into an industrial, graphic aesthetic offset with crystals and pearls that
are a little bit feminine. I don't try to do something that is for the moment. My pieces are classics in their own
right, not trend-specific.'

V. You are going to read an article about cyclist Lance Armstrong. Choose the answer (A, B, C or
D) which you think fits best according to the text.
LIVESTRONG — BUT WILL THE LEGACY?
In the early- to mid-1990s, Lance Armstrong was on the up-and-up. Success seemed to be written in his stars;
he notched up a stage win at the ’93 Tour de France, then another in ’95. This cyclist was clearly coming of
age in the sport, and he was, at 24 on registering his second tour win, still a relative baby in cycling terms -
most of his career lay ahead of him. Then, just when it looked like he would conquer all before him, his ’96
tour was cut disappointingly short due to illness. And, as it would soon emerge, this was no ordinary illness;
Armstrong had testicular cancer. Fans were aghast and there was an outpouring of sympathy for him.

But Armstrong would need more than goodwill to get through this. The cancer had metastasized to the lungs
and the brain. The prognosis was not at all good. Months of spirit- and body-breaking chemotherapy followed
and a delicate surgical procedure to remove the malignancies on his brain was performed. Cycling mourned the
surely permanent loss to the sport of one of its most promising young disciples. But Armstrong wasn’t finished
yet.

In 1998, he made a remarkable, defiant and inspirational return to cycling and competed in the Tour de France
again the following year. But surely his would now only be a cameo role; after all, what could one expect from
a cancer survivor with a compromised liver and the other familiar scars of cancer therapy? Except Armstrong
had other ideas.

Four stage wins later, the legend of Armstrong was born; he had claimed the Tour and defied the odds in the
most emphatic of manners. His victory represented not just his announcement as a force in cycling, but as a
force for hope for millions of cancer sufferers the world over. Indeed, Armstrong threw himself into
campaigning for his newly-established cancer foundation, Livestrong - so much so that he metamorphosed into
a sort of human-embodiment of the cause - he became the cause, and his annual battle with the French Alps
came to represent the struggle against the deadly disease. So long as Lance could succeed, there was hope.

And succeed he did, beyond the wildest expectations of even the most optimistic of his supporters, amassing a
further six titles - so seven in consecution - before he retired in 2005. His achievements were simply
remarkable; his story absorbing; his book a must-read for all cancer sufferers - their ray of hope; proof that
hopefulness should never fade and that sanguinity can and does make light of the odds - the tunnel, though
long and at times excruciating to pass through, has an end, and it is a happy one - the light is in sight.

After his seventh victory, he retired and the sporting world entered congratulatory mode, writing his eulogies.
But Armstrong had one more surprise for us; he wasn’t finished yet. There were whispers of a comeback,
confirmed in 2009, and so it was that the legend would ride again.

But the renewed focus on him wasn’t all good; there were whispers of another kind, too; sources, some
credible, were claiming he had had an illicit ally all through his exploits; he was, they claimed, in bed with the
syringe. Our champion laughed off and dismissed these claims but the rumours persisted and a cloud began to
form over his legacy. Surely Armstrong could not have earned his victories clean, some said.

We may never know for sure. Fast-forward to 2012 and despite an abandoned federal case, those sharpening
their knives for Armstrong seem to have finally nabbed him; ASADA, the U.S. body tasked with cracking down
on drug offenders charged Armstrong with doping and the trafficking of drugs - and some say his failure to

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contest is indicative of his guilt. At any rate, because he pleaded no-contest, he will now be stripped of all his
titles; his legacy has been pulled from under him.

And yet he has not, and now may never be tried, so we have not seen the evidence against him. We do not
know if he is guilty or innocent, and it still remains fact that he never failed an official drugs test. Did he cheat?
Does it matter? Does anyone care? Time may tell, but for now, though his legacy is tainted, his legend, in the
eyes of many of his loyal supporters, lives on.

1. What does the writer mean when he says in the first paragraph that Lance Armstrong was 'coming of age
in the sport'?
A. he was of the right age to be a competitive cyclist
B. he was nearly at the age at which it is expected that a cyclist should win
C. he was of a mature age for a cyclist and had few years left in the sport
D. he was beginning to figure as a real contender in his sport
2. Which of the following statements is true about the cancer Armstrong had?
A. he recovered remarkably quickly from it, suffering little.
B. it started in the lungs and spread to the brain.
C. doctors were optimistic about his chances of survival.
D. the generally held view was that it would prevent him from cycling professionally ever again.
3. Why does the writer say, 'Except Armstrong had other ideas', at the end of the third paragraph?
A. Armstrong was determined to play some role in the Tour de France again.
B. Armstrong's idea of victory had changed since he'd had cancer.
C. Armstrong was determined to defy the odds and become a real contender in the Tour de France.
D. Armstrong didn't want to race for victory, he just wanted to represent cancer victims.
4. What is one of the ways in which his story became about more than just cycling?
A. his published biography became a source of inspiration for cancer sufferers
B. cycling through a tunnel was like fighting cancer
C. he gave people hope that they could one day be professional athletes, too
D. he gave people the belief to fight the disease that is drug-taking in sport
5. What can be inferred about the rumours of Armstrong's drug-taking?
A. they were disproved in a state court case
B. they have not caused Armstrong's reputation and record any harm
C. they were eventually proved true beyond doubt
D. he had, but passed up, an opportunity to disprove them

Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

SECTION D: WRITING (30 pts)

I. Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that it is closest in meaning to the one
printed before it. Use the word given. (10 pts)
1. These books just aren’t on the same level. LEAGUE
These books just ____________________________________________.
2. It was really embarrassing when your asked what her age was! FOOT
You really ____________________________________________ when your asked what her age was!
3. His efforts to set up a local youth centre were finally successful. BORE
His efforts to set up a local youth centre ____________________________________________.
4. With this voucher you can get a free drink with every doughnut you buy. ENTITLES
This voucher ____________________________________________ when you purchase a doughnut.
5. He is quite a celebrity in this part of the country. SOMETHING
He ____________________________________________ in this part of the country.

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6. The parents of that girl are furious about her expulsion. ARMS
That’s the girl ____________________________________________ about her expulsion.
7. Most people seem to think that I will be next to be promoted. LINE
Most people seem to think that ____________________________________________ a promotion.
8. He had no money left after his company went bankrupt. RUB
They ____________________________________________ after his company went bankrupt.
9. He maintained his position against his adversary. GROUND
He ____________________________________________ his adversary. BREADLINE
10. Josh grew up in a very poor family and lived in public housing
Josh grew up in a family that _____________________________________ and lived in public housing.

II. GRAPH WRITING (20 pts)

The line graph shows three different crimes in England and Wales from 1970 to 2005.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words.

car theft

house burgling

street robbery

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