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MÔN TIẾNG ANH – LỚP 10 103/120

Thời gian: 150 phút
Part I: Listening (15 points)
I. Napoleon led a very exciting and dangerous life, but he died in his own bed. The
cause of Napoleon’s death has been the subject of controversy from that time to the
present. Listen to some of the theories people have had about the cause of his death and
fill in each blank with ONE word. You will listen to the CD once. (5 points)
The cause of Napoleon’s death at the age of 51 on the island of St. Helena is still a
(1)___mystery____ . There is no doubt that he was a very sick man at the time of his
death. One theory about the cause of his death is that he had (2)____stomach____ cancer.
Another theory is that he was deliberately (3)____poisoned____ by a servant. A third
theory also suggests that he was poisoned, but not by his servant. This third theory
suggests that he was poisoned accidentally by fumes from the (4)___wallpaper____ in the
house he lived in. A few years ago, samples of the wallpaper were (5)___analyzed_____
and (6)____traces____ of arsenic were found in it. Arsenic is a (7)____powerful____
poison that was used in some of the (8)_____dyes_____ in wallpaper during the time that
Napoleon lived. More than (9)____170_____ years after his death, people are still
(10)____speculating_____ about the cause of his death.
II. You will hear someone talking on the radio about a Language Study Fair. For each
question, fill in the missing information in the numbered space. In each space, use NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS. You will listen to the CD twice. (5 points)

The Language Study Fair

Dates: 17th to 19th (0) of March
Place: National Education Centre
Fair includes: - stands with textbooks
- (1) ………talks………….. by educational speakers
- exhibition of furniture

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 - demonstrations of latest (2)……computer programs…
Opening hours: 9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Thursday and Friday
9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. (3)…………Saturday……………
Tickets: £5
or £3 for (4)……………full-time students……………..
Tickets can be booked by ringing (5) ……the ticket hotline... on 984 7711.
III. Listen to a conversation on a university campus and choose the correct option.
(5 points)
1. What is the woman’s status at the university?
A. She is a senior. B. She is a junior.
C. She’s a transfer student. D. She’s a graduate student.
2. What is the man’s status at the university?
A. He is a senior. B. He is a tutor.
C. He’s a transfer student. D. He’s a graduate student.
3. What does the man want to learn from the woman?
A. How to transfer to a junior college.
B. How to find his way around campus.
C. The course requirements for a literature major.
D. Who won the campus election.
4. How many total courses must a student take for a literature major?
A. Three B. Five C. Eight D. Ten
5. The man will probably take his elective courses in which area?
A. American literature B. World literature
C. Literary analysis D. Surveying
Part II: Grammar and Vocabulary
I. Choose the best answer. (10 points)
1. All my friends have big new cars. I’m becoming ………… of my old Mini.
A. embarrassed B. guilty C. ashamed D. upset
2. Fiona is very angry ………… her boss’s decision to sack several members of staff.
A. against B. by C. for D. about
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3. You are under no obligation to help as assistance is purely ……………
A. voluntary B. free C. charitable D. donated
4. I’m afraid you may find the truth somewhat …………………………
A. inedible B. unpalatable C. indigestible D. unmanageable
5. She’s very ………… She can be relied on to do her job properly.
A. efficient B. cautious C. serious D. conservative
6. The youth team really ………. themselves in the semi-final.
A. surmounted B. exceeded C. beat D. excelled
7. In my opinion, it’s only common …………… to wear a seat belt in a car.
A. judgement B. sense C. intelligence D. wit
8. How do you ……………… about the pollution problem in this country?
A. feel B. think C. believe D. view
9. I’m ……………. in my present job; I need something more challenging.
A. irritated B. annoyed C. crazy D. frustrated
10. I find his behaviour towards me quite ………….. He treats me like an idiot.
A. offending B. insulting C. crude D. ill-mannered
11. Several of my friends are …………… reporters.
A. newspaper B. newspapers C. newspaper’s D. newspapers’
12. Why did Mary ask you …………. a bicycle?
A. that if you had B. do you have C. that you had D. if you had
13. Our classroom is supplied with …………..
A. an heavy equipment B. a heavy equipment
C. heavy equipments D. heavy equipment
14. There are several means of mass communication. The newspaper is one, television is
………
A. other B. the other C. another D. others
15. Her guest apologized for causing her so much ……………
A. problem B. complication C. trouble D. damage
16. This cloth ……… very thin.

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A. feels B. touches C. holds D. handles
17. Bread and butter ………….. his favorite breakfast.
A. is B. are C. make D. making
18. As Roger had resigned, the company decided to take no further ………….against him.
A. action B. demand C. activity D. conduct
19. Neither Peter nor his parents …………….. going to spend the summer abroad.
A. is B. are C. was D. has been
20. I cannot help …………….. anxious about the exam results.
A. to feel B. felt C. feeling D. feel
II. In most lines of the following text, there is an error. For each line, indicate the error
and correct it. Some lines are correct. Indicate these lines with a tick. (5 points)
Example: 0. constructing => to contruct
0 Is it possible constructing devices that will talk and understand speech? As early
1 as the 18th century, various attempts was being made to find some way of
2 reproducing the human voice by mechanical means. The Austrian inventor,
3 Wolfgang von Kempelen built a small machine consists of a device to produce air
4 flow, and other similar mechanism to function like a voice box. Alexander Bell
5 also constructed a “talking head”, made out of artificial materials, that was able to
6 produce few sounds. Modern techniques led to huge progress in this field. It is no
7 longer necessary to build physical models of the voice box as sound waves can be
8 made electronic by reproduce the different components of the sound wave. Early
9 results sounded very unnaturally. More recently, the quality of artificial speech is
10 greatly improved. In fact, with some devices, it is impossible to tell whether or not
human being is talking.

1. was => were

2. correct
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 3. consists => consisting
4. other => another
5. correct
6. few => a few
7. correct
8. reproduce
9. unnatural
10. correct

III. Complete the following sentences with a suitable particle/preposition. (5 points)

1. A lorry had broken ………down………..on the motorway and we had to wait for over
an hour.
2. Stop the car! I think we’ve run ………over……a dog.
3. Who came up ……with……….. the idea of the ball-point pen?
4. I’d like everyone here to put ……down…………as many suggestions as possible.
5. She stands ………out…….as one of the finest contemporary British novelists around at
the moment.
6. They said ……on…….the news that the price of petrol is going up again.
7. The issue ……of……..question is more complex than you think.
8. Watch out ……for…….words like “so-called” in articles as they express the writer’s
bias.
9. I’ve gone ……off……..skiing since I discovered snowboarding.
10. I have narrowed it ……down… to two computer games, but I can’t still make up my
mind.
VI. Fill each gap with the correct form of the word in brackets.( 5 points)
1. I didn't believe him. His story was very ...............inconvincing................... (convince)
2. I'm afraid that your report is full of .................inaccuracy................... ( accurate )
3. The company was hit by a ............succession............. of crises. (success)

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4. I have told you on ............numerous.............. occasions not to leave the safe unlocked.
(number)
5. Deirdre is a ............commentary.............. on football matches for local radio. (comment)
6. In ...............comparison............. with other countries in the region, Vietnam is still a
poor country. (compare)
7. Burning gas in an ..........economical............ way of heating a house. Coal is much
cheaper. (economy)
8. The policeman held the thief by the wrist. The thief followed him
without .......resistance........... (resist)
9. She must have a lot of……imagination…….... to think of ideas like that. (imagine)
10. It would be safer if all houses had windows made out of ………broken……….glass.
(break)
VI. Write ONE word in each gap. (10 points)
Your first telescope
Many people look up at the night sky and become fascinated by the wonders of the
universe.(1) ……If……. that sounds like you, then perhaps it’s time you got your own
telescope. Astronomy can be a great hobby and we’ve provided this simple guide for those
of you thinking of (2) ……looking….. it up.
What if I don’t have much money?
Try a pair of binoculars. You can still see a lot, as long as you don’t expect to see so
(3)……much….. detail. Explore the Moon and the stars – and who knows? You might (4)
……even…. discover a comet! Remember, though, that you (5)…should…… never look
at the Sun directly through binoculars or a telescope.
What kind of telescope do I need?
Depending on what you want to do, you need to choose (6)……between…. a
refracting and a reflecting telescope. A refracting telescope (with two glass lenses) is a
great way of quickly (7)…wandering….. your way around the heavens. As well as more
stars (8)…than…… you can imagine, there are the planets to explore! You should have no
difficulty (9)……in……… finding Mars and even Saturn, with its fantastic rings. If you

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want to really explore the universe, then you will need a reflecting telescope (with a
mirror). These telescopes are much (10)…better…… at collecting light and allow you to
see things in amazing detail!
Whatever you decide, welcome the wonderful world of astronomy!
Part III: Reading (30 points)
I. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct word for each of the blanks. (10 points)
If you are an environmentalist, plastic is a word you tend to say with a sneer or a
snarl. It has become a symbol of our wasteful, throw-away society. But there seems little
doubt it is here to stay, and the truth is, of course, that plastic has brought enormous
(1) ................... even environmental ones. It's not really the plastic themselves that are the
environmental evil - it's the way society chooses to use and (2) ............ them.
Almost all the 50 or so different kinds of modern plastic are made from oil, gas or
coal-non-renewable natural (3) ...... We (4) ..... well over three millions tonnes of the stuff
in Britain each year and, sooner or later, most of it is thrown away. A high (5) ...... of our
annual consumption is in the form of packaging, and this (6) ..... about 7% by weight of
our domestic refuse. Almost all of it could be recycled, but very little of it is, though the
plastic recycling (7) ...... is growing fast.
The plastics themselves are extremely energy-rich - they have a higher calorific
(8) ........ than coal and one (9) ............. of "recovery" strongly favoured by the plastic
manufacturers is the (10) ............. of waste plastic into a fuel.
1. A. savings B. pleasures C. benefits D. profits
2. A. abuse B. endanger C. store D. dispose
3. A. processes B. resources C. products D. fuels
4. A. import B. consign C. remove D. consume
5. A. amount B. proportion C. portion D. rate
6. A. makes B. carries C. takes D. constitutes
7. A. industry B. manufacture C. plant D. factory
8. A. demand B. effect C. value D. degree

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9. A. medium B. method C. measure D. mechanism
10. A. melting B. conversion C. change D. replacement
II. Read the passage and choose the best answer.(10 points)
Theories of life on Mars
In the mid-1700s, astronomers observed polar ice caps on Mars. William Herschel
saw that the ice caps changed in size with the seasons. The presence of water and seasons,
features present on Earth, prompted speculation that life might exist on Mars.
Improved telescopes in the nineteenth century further fueled these speculations.
They allowed Mars’s surface features to be identified. In 1877, an Italian astronomer,
Giovanni Schiapareli, used a 22-centimeter telescope to draw the first map of Mars. His
map depicted long lines that he called canali, the Italian word for channels. But his term
was mistakenly translated into English as canals. Because channels are usually natural and
canals are manmade, the mistake gave birth to imaginative theories of life on Mars over
the next 100 years.
The leading proponent of the view that the canals were built by intelligent beings was an
American astronomer, Percival Lowell. At the Lowell Observatory in the high altitude and
clear air of Flagstaff, Arizona, Lowell studied Mars extensively and made detailed
drawings of its surface features. He published books about his Mars studies, including
Mars and Its Canals in 1906 and Mars As the Abode of Life in 1908. Lowell proposed that
the canals had been constructed by a long-extinct civilization as an elaborate irrigation
system. The canals conveyed water from the polar regions to the dry population centers of
the planet. Lowell’s ideas were embraced by popular culture. The British novelist H.G.
Wells wrote the most famous novel describing life on Mars, War of the Worlds. He
imagined that Martians invaded Earth in order to flee the death of their own planet.
Bigger and better telescope lenses in the twentieth century failed to confirm that the
features Lowell observed really were canals. In fact, they ultimately were shown to be
optical illusions.
Life on Mars was dealt a further blow beginning in 1965. The United States
launched the Mariner spacecrafts to fly close to the surface to take photographs and test

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the atmosphere. Those probes showed that Mars has a thin atmosphere made mostly of
carbon dioxide and that the polar ice caps are frozen dioxide, not water. The photos
revealed that Mars had no rivers, oceans, or any other visible signs of life. Scientists
concluded that Mars’ thin atmosphere and lack of a magnetic field made it vulnerable to
harmful cosmic radiation. Biological and soil experiments were conducted by the Viking
project in 1976. To the scientists’ surprise, the test showed that Mars’s surface has no
organic matter at all. Thus the present view is that Mars is a dead planet, though there may
have been life early in its history that later became extinct.
Beginning in 1996, the United States launched a highly successful series of landings
on Mars. While they have not found life, they have expanded our knowledge of Martian
geology and chemistry. A robotic exploration vehicle in 2001 sent back to Earth
spectacular images of Mars’s terrain. Other missions have detected hydrogen and methane.
In 2004, Martian vehicles provided conclusive evidence that water existed in the distant
past. Additional American missions have been planned through 2009. The European Space
Agency wants to land humans on Mars by 2035. And in 2004, the American president
declared a national goal of sending astronauts to land on and explore Mars.
1. The word they in the paragraph 2 refers to …..
A. ice caps B. water and reasons
C. improved telescopes D. speculations
2. According to paragraph 2, the first map of Mars showed which of the following surface
feature?
A. mountains B. craters C. deserts D. canals
3. What does the author imply about water on Mars?
A. It never existed because Mars has no oxygen.
B. It disappeared because of Mars’ thin atmosphere and cosmic radiation.
C. It was carried by manmade canals.
D. It was used to irrigate the deserts.
4. The word conveyed in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ………
A. evaporated B. collected C. transported D. condensed

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5. Why does the author mention H.G. Wells’s novel, War of the Worlds?
A. To show that another astronomer agreed with Lowell
B. To give an example of how Lowell’s view was adopted by popular culture
C. To identify a famous novel of the early 1900s
D. to prove that there were canals on Mars
6. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about Mars?
A. It has methane. B. It had water at one time.
C. It has a thick atmosphere. D. Its surface has no organic matter.
7. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 5 about Earth?
A. Its atmosphere is made mostly of carbon dioxide and water.
B. Its atmosphere is thinner than Mars’s.
C. Its oceans were once frozen carbon dioxide.
D. Its magnetic field protects life forms from cosmic radiation.
8 – 9 – 10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is
provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that
express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in
the summary because they express ideas that are not in the passage or are minor ideas in
the passage.
This passage discusses the history of theories of life on Mars.



Answer Choices:
A. H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds.
B. The Italian word for channels is canali.
C. Observations of polar ice caps and canals suggested that life existed.
D. Recent space probes have proved that life is lacking.
E. Improved telescopes showed that there are no canals.
F. The Viking project conducted soil surveys on Mars.

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III. You are going to read a magazine article about cloning. Choose the most suitable
heading from the list A-H for each part (1-5) of the article. There is one extra heading
which you do not need to use. There are two examples at the beginning and at the end.
(5 points)
A. Planning the filming E. Give people what they expect
B. Selling it to the right person F. The right leader with business sense
C. Breaking down the budget G. Putting the pieces together
D. Not as glamorous as you think H. hard work, but worth it
Lights, Camera, Actions
0 B
Most films start as an idea. It might be in a director’s mind, or in a writer’s mind,
but wherever it comes from, it’s the producer who needs convincing. The producer is the
businessman who finds the money to make the film. If you’ve got an idea for the next
blockbuster, you need to find somebody who is willing to make your film. The producer
will then organize the budget and decide how much it worth spending on the film.
1 F
The producer will decide who is going to be responsible for making the film: the
director. This is an important decision since the director is the person who will be in
charge of the whole cast and crew. The producer will either find somebody who has made
similar films in the past or he or she might take a chance on a new director. Most
importantly, the producer wants someone he or she can trust to do a good job and to stay
under budget.
2 E
The producer and director then choose the other people to work on the film and will
decide on the members of the cast. People feel very strongly about actors and a film has to
have the right ones if it is to draw people into cinemas. Actors usually become associated
with a particular kind of film in the mind of the public and it can be a risk to cast an actor
in a different kind of role. Auditions and screen tests might be held to make final decisions
and rehearsals will begin.
3 A

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 While the actors are developing their characters, the director will be making other
key decisions concerning things such as location. Where the film is shot is very important
and the locations for filming will be chosen carefully. The film will also be storyboarded,
with pictures of all the key moments. Special effects will be planned and costumes will be
designed. This pre-production phase can take a long time because there may not be a
chance to change things later.
4 D
The actual shooting can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year, or possibly even
more. The actors spend a lot of time waiting for everything to be right – the set, the
lighting, the cameras – and boredom can be a real problem. Life at the Oscars might seem
wonderful, but life on a film set can be stressful and tedious.
5 G
Once filming is over, post-production begins. This is the stage where all the
elements of the film are brought together. The film is edited so that it tells a clear story and
any special effects are perfected. Music is added to emphasize the excitement or the
emotion of certain moments in the film. Often, the film is previewed to small audiences
and changes are made, depending on their reactions. Finally, the film makes its way into
the cinemas.
00 C
Once the process is over, what the backers will want to know is where the money
has gone. We hear a lot these days about the huge fees commanded by stars but the cast
will typically cost around 10% of the total budget. Pre- and post-production costs will
account for 50%, while the director and crew will take another 10%. This leaves around
30% of the total cost of the film to be spent on actual filming.
IV. Choose from the list A-H the best phrase to fill each gap. Use each correct phrase
only once. There are more answers than you need. (5 points)
GETTING TO SLEEP
If you suffer from insomnia, there are several natural remedies which makes you fall
asleep the next day. Start with essential oils, (1) ………… or by diffusion in the lungs
when you inhale them. A combination of lavender and geranium oil is highly
recommended (2) …………. after travelling.
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 If you have an aversion to aromatherapy, why not try listening to soothing sounds?
The right kind of sound can help you drop off (3) ……. to a sleep-ready state. Playing
relaxing music or sounds from the natural world can facilitate the transition from alert,
wakeful state to sleep mode.
Another solution is to sleep with a hop pillow under your head. The hop plant, (4)
………… for its use in beer, provides the stuffing for an aromatic pillow, (5)……… for
centuries.
A. by slowing down your bodies processes : 3
B. by raising your heart rate
C. although better known : 4
D. who originally discovered
E. whose calming qualities have been known : 5
F. which has incredible holistic value
G. for help with getting to sleep : 2
H. which work either via skin absorption : 1
Part IV: Writing (20 points)
I. Complete each of the following sentences in such a way that it means the same as the
one given. (5 points)
1. Immediately after his arrival, things went wrong.
No sooner …………………………………………….
NO SOONER HAD HE ARRIVED THAN THINGS WENT WRONG.
2. It was only when I left home that I realized how much my father meant to me.
Not until ……………………………………………………………………….
NOT UNTIL I LEFT HOME DID I REALIZE HOW MUCH MY FATHER MEANT
TO ME
3. I dislike it when people criticize me unfairly.
I object ……………………………………………
I OBJECT TO PEOPLE CRITICIZING ME UNFAIRLY.
4. My shoes need to be cleaned before the interview.

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 I must ………………………………………………..
I MUST HAVE MY SHOES CLEANED BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.
5. Our present financial problems will soon be a thing in the past.
We ……………………………………………………………..
WE WILL SOON OVERCOME OUR PRESENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
II. Complete the second sentence so that it has the similar meaning to the first one, by
using the word given.( Do not change the word given.) (5 points)
1. The effects of the gale were felt mainly along the south coast. brunt
The south coast ……………………….………………the gale.
2. All she does is sit in the office drinking coffee. but
She does …………NOTHING BUT SIT IN THE OFFICE………….drinking coffee.
3. If his father hadn’t advised him against it, he might have become a record producer. for
Had it not …BEEN FOR HIS FATHER ADVISE AGAINST IT, HE WOULD BE……
a record producer now.
4. Police reported that a man had been helping them with their inquiries. was
A man …………WAS REPORTED TO HAVE HELPED…………………….police
with their inquiries.
5. The accused was alleged to have committed fraud. had
It ………WAS ALLEGED THAT THE ACCUSED HAVE…………committed fraud.

III. Paragraph writing (10 points)

Write a paragraph (about 200 words) about the advantages of modern technology.
BÀI LÀM:
Modern technology is known for its benefits in our everyday life and these are
the three main advantages which it brings. To begin with, modern technology provides us

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with communication. Telephones, Wi-Fi modems, computers are a few of many
communication devices out there. Only in five minutes can you talk to your friend from
the other half of the Earth, and all you need is a phone connected to the Internet. This is
perhaps the best advancement that men have achieved. Another advantage is, modern
technology determines a country’s economic development. The agriculture industry,
service industry, tourism all need the newest, the latest technology for effectiveness and
productivity. Therefore, the most developed countries are the ones that invest much in
science and technology. Last but not least, modern technology gives everyone access to
information with ease. With the existence of the Internet, everybody can be a ‘genius’ right
at home. News always shows up with notification for you not to miss the slightest
difference around the world. In conclusion, modern technology has advanced our life so
far ahead that no one may perhaps imagine a world without it.

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