KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI NĂM HỌC 2015 – 2016

MÔN THI: TIẾNG ANH 12

Thời gian: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
(Đề thi gồm 16 trang)

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PART I. LISTENING (40 points)

I. You will listen to part of an interview with the press officer of the National Fitness
Association, in which he gives advice on how to join the right gym. For questions 1 - 7,
choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best according to what you hear. You will
hear the recording twice. Write your answer in the box provided. (14points)
1. Why is it advisable to research gyms in your area before you join?
A. Some gyms have too much of a social scene.
B. Different gyms suit people with different needs.
C. It's impossible to lose weight in the wrong gym.
2. Mark warns that joining a gym which is unsuitable for you ____________
A. will make you want to give up.
B. might prove embarrassing.
C. could end up being expensive.
3. According to Mark, when should you visit a gym for the first time?
A. When it's at its busiest
B. On any weekday
C. At a relatively quiet time
4. Apart from the standard monthly cost of being a member, you should find out
________
A. whether personal trainers are compulsory.
B. whether there are any hidden costs.
C. whether the changing rooms are expensive.
5. If the gym asks you to sign a contract, you should ______________
A. be suspicious of that gym.
B. study it closely on your own.
C. see what happens if you leave.
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6. Why does Mark say that life memberships are not good?
A. You might decide to live elsewhere.
B. The gym might move far away from you.
C. You might change your mind about exercise.
7. Mark says that doing research before joining is worth it because ______________
A. it can make a difference to the overall cost.
B. it will encourage you to start exercising.
C. the right gym can improve your quality of life.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

II. You will hear part of a radio talk about how to choose houseplants. For
questions 8-1, complete the sentences that summarize what the speaker says with NO
MORE THAN THREE words. You will hear the recording twice. Write your answer
in the box provided. (16 points)
Before you get the plant, choose the 8____________________.
You must make sure there is enough 9____________________.
Check that plants have been well looked after at the garden centre.
Plants in poor condition mean the garden centre might not be 10____________________.
Choose plants with healthy green 11____________________.
It could take months or years for a plant to reach the size you want.
It may be better to buy a large plant even if it is 12____________________.
Do not buy plants that have just been put 13____________________.
It is not a good idea to buy plants in 14_____________________.
You should look under the leaves for unwanted 15_____________________.
Answers:
8. 9. 10. 11.
12. 13. 14. 15.

III. Listen to the conversation and decide if each statement is True (T) or False (F).
(10 points)
A. Marilena talks about her sister in England and her nephews and nieces.
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1. _____ One of Marilena’s sisters lives with her.
2. _____ The two sisters get on really well.
3. _____ Marilena’s sister came to England because Marilena asked her to.
4. _____ Marilena’s sister trained as an electrical engineer.
5. _____ All Marilena’s grandparents are dead.
B. Marilena talks about her sister’s life in Romania.
6. _____ Marilena’s sister only has 100 of her own money to live on for a month after
she’s paid her mortgage.
7. _____ Marilena says food is much less expensive in Romania than in London.
8. _____ Marilena’s sister and brother-in-law’s joint income per month is 400.
9. _____ When Marilena goes back to Romania on holiday she gives her sister 1,000.
10. _____ Marilena is planning to return to Romania once she has saved enough money.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

PART II: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY (40 points)

I. Choose the word that best completes each sentence. Write your answer (A, B, C,
or D) in the box provided. (20 points)
1. Parents should be very careful with their baby’s ______ skin.
A. pretty B. delicate C. sensible D. sweat
2. It was felt that the new bonus for increased production would provide an ______ to
work overtime.
A. incitement B. attraction C. initiative D. incentive
3. The biggest advantage is that the shops are within easy _______.
A. touch B. contact C. access D. reach

4. Choose the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to

the underlined part in the following sentence.
His policies were beneficialto the economy as a whole.
A. efficacious B. potent C. detrimental D. innocent
5. Language can change the _______of history and affect the behaviour of people.
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 A. route B. way C. course D. direction
6. John really ought to lose some weight. He ________ very heavily during the walk
yesterday.
A. should have breathed B. was breathing C. had breathed
D. had been breathing
7. Harry’s so _______! I wish he’d think things through a little more carefully.
A. impulsive B. repulsive C. compulsive D. expulsive
8. I’d rather you _______ the deal in writing by the end of next week.
A. confirmed B. have confirmed C. had confirmed D. confirm
9. Unfortunately, not all of us obtain our just ______ in this life.
A. demands B. deserts C. gains D. wins
10. In order to be successful in business, you’ve got to be able to _______ the
competition.
A. outreach B. outstand C. outwit D. output
11. Whether the sports club survives is a matter of complete _______ to me.
A. disinterest B. importance C. indifference D. interest
12. “But so,” I told him, “you’re my own _______.”
A. heart to heart B. body and soul C. flesh and blood D. skin and bone
13. At last he had found someone on whom he could vent his _______.
A. anger B. love C. happiness D. trust
14. One wonders whether the current political _______ is right for such a move.
A. environment B. climate C. state D. standpoint
15. I’m sorry! I didn’t break that vase on _______.
A. my mind B. time C. purpose D. intention

16. After hours of bargaining with the salesman, Jake got the jacket at a _______ of the
original price
A. fraction B. piece C. part D. spot
17. Bill Gates is probably the best known and most successful _______ in computer
software.
A. pioneer B. navigator C. generator D. volunteer
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18. Kelly wanted to have a live band _______ at her wedding.
A. to be played B. play C. played D. been playing
19. Some people enjoy training; for others it is only a _______ to an end.
A. means B. method C. way D. tool
20. We don’t sell foreign newspapers because there is no _______ for them.
A. request B. claim C. requirement D. demand
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 following passage. Find and correct them. Write
your answers in the space provided below. (10 points)
1. According to a recent report, more students are choosing to work in part-time jobs
instead spending their weekends studying during term-time.
2. I wouldn’t say that Adam is the best student. In addition, he’s certainly not the worst.
3. I’m not the kind of person who goes round thinking if only I have done this or that. I
just feel lucky.
4. We’ve invited Josh to come and he’s offered us to bring extra food.
5. It became obvious that a lot of British people didn’t like that their government
considered it essential that they should join the European Community.
6. Please stop making so much noise or I report you to the supervisor.
7. We have already washed all the dinner dishes so you mustn’t clean them tonight.
8. Two metres are about the size of most doorways.
9. Teenagers with credit cards like to buy CD’s and clothing.
10. Mrs. Peters slipped quietly into the room at the back that nobody would notice her.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

III. Complete each sentence with one suitable particle or preposition. Write your
answer in the box provided. (10 points)
1. My wife backed me ______ over my decision to quit my job.
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2. My mum and dad always find a way to work well together and are not critical
________ each other.
3. At first, residents opposed plans for a new city skate park, but the skaters eventually
won them _______.
4. Traditionally, Amish weddings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so there is time
in ________ to get ready for and clean up after each.
5. According to a government study, Korean elderly women are much more vulnerable
________ social isolation and illnesses compared to their male counterparts.
6. What is there so remarkable of him that people will hang ________ his every word?
7. The Minister was shouted ______ by hecklers and was unable to finish her speech.
8. Do you have to go already? Can’t you stick ________ for a few minutes?
9. The practice of acupuncture is rooted ________ the idea of promoting harmony
between humans and the world around them and a balance between yin and yang.
10. I never doubt that this candidate can pull ______ a victory.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

IV. Write the correct form of the words given in the brackets. Write your answers in
the spaces provided below. (20 points)
The Media Commentators
A live broadcast of any public event, such as a space flight or
sporting occasion, is almost (1) ________ accompanied by the 1. VARY
thoughts of a commentator. This may be on television, along with
the relevant pictures, or (2) ________ on radio. The technique 2. ALTER
involved differs between the two media, with radio broadcasters
needing to be more explicit and (3) ________. Because of the (4) 3. DESCRIBE
_______ of visual information. TV commentators do not need to 4. ABSENT
paint a picture for their audience; instead their various observations
should add to the images that are already there. There will
sometimes be silences and pauses in TV (5)________, although 5.COMMENT

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 these are becoming increasingly rare. Both types of commentators
should try to be more informative, but should avoid sounding 6. OPINION
(6)_______. In sports ones, fairness and (7)_______ to both sides is 7. PART
vital, but spontaneity and (8)________ are valued by those watching 8. ENTHUSE
or listening. Sports commentators usually broadcast live in an
essentially unscripted way, although they may refer to previously
prepared materials such as sports statistics. Because of the (9) 9. PREDICT
________ nature of live events, thorough preparation in advance is
vital. The internet has helped enormously with this aspect of the job.
Anyone interested in becoming a commentator should have excellent
(10)________ skills, the willingness to work irregular hours and a 10.ORGANIZE
strong voice.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

PART III: READING (60 points)

I. Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each space.
Write your answer (A, B, C or D) in the numbered box. (15 points)
If you’re 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 (1)
______ it is here to stay, and the truth is, of course, that plastic has brought enormous (2)
______, even environmental ones. It’s not really the plastics themselves that are the
environmental (3) ______ - it’s the way society chooses to use and (4) ______ them.
Almost all the 50 or so different kinds of modern plastic are made from oil, gas or
coal – non-renewable natural (5) ______. We (6) ______ well over three million tonnes of
the stuff in Britain each year and, sooner or later, most of it is thrown away. A high (7)
______ of our annual consumption is in the (8) ______ of packaging, and this (9) ______
about seven percent by weight of our domestic (10) ______. Almost all of it could be
recycled, but very little of it is, though the plastic recycling (11) ______ is growing fast.

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 The plastics themselves are extremely energy-rich – they have a higher calorific (12)
______ than coal and one (13) ______ of ‘recovery’ strongly (14) ______ by the plastic
manufacturers is the (15) ______ of waste plastic into a fuel.
1. A. evidence B. concern C. doubt D. likelihood
2. A. pleasures B. benefits C. savings D. profits
3. A. poison B. disaster C. disadvantage D. evil
4. A. dispose B. store C. endanger D. abuse
5. A. resources B. processes C. products D. fuels
6. A. remove B. import C. consign D. consume
7. A. portion B. amount C. proportion D. rate
8. A. way B. kind C. form D. type
9. A. takes B. makes C. carries D. constitutes
10. A. refuse B. goods C. requirements D. rubble
11. A. manufacture B. plant C. factory D. industry
12. A. degree B. value C. demand D. effect
13. A. measure B. mechanism C. method D. medium
14. A. desired B. argued C. favoured D. presented
15. A. conversion B. melting C. change D. replacement
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

II. Fill in each gap with one suitable word. Write your answer in the box provided.
(15 points)
QUEST – THE NEXT BIG THING?
How often do you go along to a gig and see (1)_________ new? Well, Quest's Friday
night gig at the City Hall certainly caught my (2)_________. Having heard one or two
tracks online, I was (3)_________ a group of about six musicians. Imagine my surprise
when just three young men walked on stage.
It was clear that the band already have a small but (4)_________ following. A group of
fans in front of the small stage were singing (5)_________ to at least half of the songs.
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And it was easy to see why. Quest have a clever combination of catchy (6)_________, an
irresistible beat, and very much their own sound. All three of the band members play with
great energy and expertise (7)_________ their age.
The only downside was when it came to the encores. They (8)_________ up repeating
some of their material and giving us cover (9)_________ of early rock classics. A bit
disappointing, but give them time and I'm sure they'll be writing a lot more.
I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from Quest. Check them out every Friday at the City
Hall until the end of the month. It's well (10)_________ it.
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

III. Read the passage below and choose the best answer to each question. Write your
answer (A, B, C or D) in the numbered box. (15 points)
A rather surprising geographical feature of Antarctica is that a huge freshwater lake, one
of the world's largest and deepest, lies hidden there under four kilometers of ice. Now
known as Lake Vostok, this huge body of water is located under the ice block that
comprises Antarctica. The lake is able to exist in its unfrozen state beneath this block of
ice because its waters are warmed by geothermal heat from the earth's core. The thick
glacier above Lake Vostok actually insulates it from the frigid temperatures on the surface.
The lake was first discovered in the 1970s while a research team was conducting an aerial
survey of the area. Radio waves from the survey equipment penetrated the ice and
revealed a body of water of indeterminate size. It was not until much more recently that
data collected by satellite made scientists aware of the tremendous size of the lake; the
satellite-borne radar detected an extremely flat region where the ice remains level because
it is floating on the water of the lake.
The discovery of such a huge freshwater lake trapped under Antarctica is of interest to the
scientific community because of the potential that the lake contains ancient microbes that
have survived for thousands upon thousands of years, unaffected by factors such as
nuclear fallout and elevated ultraviolet light that have affected organisms in more exposed
areas. The downside of the discovery, however, lies in the difficulty of conducting

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research on the lake in such a harsh climate and in the problems associated with obtaining
uncontaminated samples from the lake without actually exposing the lake to
contamination. Scientists are looking for possible ways to accomplish this.
1. The word "hidden" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ______ .
A. undrinkable B. untouched C. unexploitable D. undiscovered
2. What is true of Lake Vostok?
A. It is completely frozen. B. It is a saltwater lake.
C. It is beneath a thick slab of ice. D. It is heated by the sun.
3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “frigid” in paragraph 1?
A. extremely cold B. easily broken C. quite harsh D. lukewarm
4. All of the following are true about the 1970 survey of Antarctica EXCEPT that it
______.
A. was conducted by air B. made use of radio waves
C. could not determine the lake's exact size D. was controlled by a satellite
5. It can be inferred from the passage that the ice would not be flat if _______.
A. there were no lake underneath B. the lake were not so big
C. Antarctica were not so cold D. radio waves were not used
6. The word "microbes" in paragraph 3 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. Pieces of dust B. Tiny bubbles C. Tiny organisms D. Rays of light
7. Lake Vostok is potentially important to scientists because it ______.
A. can be studied using radio waves
B. may contain uncontaminated microbes
C. may have elevated levels of ultraviolet light
D. has already been contaminated
8. The word "downside" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. bottom level B. negative aspect C. underside D. buried section
9. The last paragraph suggests that scientists should be aware of ______.
A. further discoveries on the surface of Antarctica
B. problems with satellite-borne radar equipment
C. ways to study Lake Vostok without contaminating it
D. the harsh climate of Antarctica
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10. The purpose of the passage is to ______.
A. explain how Lake Vostok was discovered
B. provide satellite data concerning Antarctica
C. discuss future plans for Lake Vostok
D. present an unexpected aspect of Antarctica's geography
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

IV. You are going to read a set of magazine interviews with four teachers about their
flat-sharing experiences. For questions 1-10, choose from the interviews (A-D). The
interviews may be chosen more than once. Write your answer in the box provided.
(15 points)
Of which teacher are the following statements true?
1. I might look for a flatmate in the right circumstances. 1…………
2. Finding a flatmate now would represent a backward step to me. 2…………
3. I suspect my flatmate considered my behaviour to be odd. 3…………
4. It is necessary to make compromises when living with other people. 4…………
5. Talking about housework duties eventually proved to be pointless. 5…………
6. There were no restrictions on when I could leave and return home. 6…………
7. It was important to us that the flat was easily affordable. 7…………
8. Sharing a flat can be successful as long as the flatmates have something in 8…………
common.
9. I was less comfortable after others in the house began to depend on me 9…………
financially.
10. Setting up in a flat was not as easy as I had expected 10………..

TWO'S COMPANY, THREE'S A CROWD?

Flat-sharing has long been a tradition in New Zealand, and not just for students. But while
there are those who love the sense of communal living, there are others who can't wait to
establish their own private nest. Lisa Simpson speaks to four teachers.
A. Craig Andrews
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The flat-sharing experience has not always been a rewarding one for New Zealander Craig
Andrews. There was, for instance, the time when Craig found himself flat-sharing in Rome
while teaching for a language school. 'The other tenant, an English man, was also working
for them. The big issue was that he was totally uninterested in cleaning. Despite the great
many hints I dropped, he never picked up on them, and so it was all left to me. In
retrospect, I suppose he might have thought I was rather obsessive with my constant
cleaning.' Craig felt it necessary to put up with the situation as their contract with the
school had six months to run and he felt that any confrontation would have ultimately led
to greater tension. Craig learnt a valuable lesson from this experience, which ensured that
living arrangements with future flatmates were more harmonious. 'Provided flatmates'
backgrounds are similar and their interests compatible, there's no reason why it all
shouldn't work out well,' he says. 'And just establish the rules from the outset.' Now a
house-owner, however, Craig admits that he can't imagine ever being in a flat-sharing
situation again. 'I realize it’s cheaper but I prefer my privacy and I'm not prepared to give
that up.'
B. Derene Els
Having emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa four years ago, Derene is currently
living with her family. 'I pay rent which I know some people might find strange, but it
would be morally wrong not to, especially as I'm working.' She feels that she has her own
privacy to a certain extent but says that 'taking turns with the television remote control,
meeting halfway when it comes to the bathroom schedule, settling for the smaller room
when you really want the big one - this is what you have to do when you're all under the
same roof.' Derene is currently keeping an eye out for a small apartment. Her criteria is
simply 'near the coast' as she needs a sense of open space around her. Perhaps this is what
drew her to Australia where she took time off from her job in New Zealand to work as a
translator. After that contract came to an end, she decided to stay on with the host family
who'd been putting her up. 'Once the arrangement became more formal, when I felt they
were relying on me for income, I was not so at ease,' she explains. 'But I still felt obliged
to be sociable and didn't want to appear rude by keeping myself to myself. All the same, I
could still come and go as I wished and the door was never locked.'
C. Sarah Nuttall
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Originally from the UK, Sarah has spent the last five years in New Zealand. She's found
the local flat-sharing experience rather different to what she was used to. 'There aren't so
many flats available here,' she explains. 'As well as this, in London the flats are usually
fully furnished whereas in New Zealand you only get a cooker. When my boyfriend and I
first got here, it had never occurred to us that we would have to go out and buy loads of
second-hand stuff just to get started.' She's adamant that there's no room for a third person
in her flat. 'We've talked about getting an extra person in to reduce costs but our privacy
comes first. But if I were ever single again, I suppose I'd consider it. It would be a good
way of meeting friends.' Sarah's first flat-sharing experience was in London with four
friends she'd been to university with. She admits that there were both good and bad times.
'We hardly ever argued at first except for minor quarrels over the washing up.' Eventually,
however, things came to a head when the kitchen became unusable. 'We had a group
meeting and the rules were laid down. They were effective for about three weeks and then
things went back to the way they were.'
D. Callum McNab
Now in the complicated process of looking for his own house, Callum spent his second
year of university flat-sharing with three other students. There was a unanimous decision
that the accommodation had to be within their financial means and in close proximity to
the university. 'There were no real disputes. One woman, Cathy, was extremely talkative,
so much so you'd end up not listening. But she was generous and she very much pulled her
weight around the flat so we could live with that.' Callum confesses to little participation
when it came to housework. 'There were times when we'd all pitch in but the problem was
that I spent a lot of time away from the flat. It was agreed that I wasn't as responsible for
the messes created and I wasn't going to argue with that.' When that flat got sold, Callum
found the easiest option was to move in with his brother. 'I can't say I had that much in
common with him, except for our interest in foreign movies.' And now the flat-sharing
seems to be coming to an end? 'I couldn't imagine flat-sharing ever again. Living with a
stranger would mean I'd failed in some way, like I was de-maturing.'
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

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PART IV: WRITING (40 points)
I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means the same as the
sentence printed before it. (15 points)
1. I think he’s at last beginning to agree with me.
ROUND
I suppose ____________________________________________________________.
2. When he won the scholarship, Alan began to realize just how lucky he was.
DAWN
When he won the scholarship, it began ____________________________________.
3. Do you have any idea about how Jack made enough money to buy that new sports
car? LIGHT
Can you ________________________________________________ to buy that new
sports car?
4. Anne complained about the weather throughout the holiday.
ENTIRE
Anne _______________________________________________________________.
5. He said there was no way the government would send financial aid to the region.
RULED
He __________________________________ sending financial aid to the region.
6. Did you see how concerned Jessie was?
EXPRESSION
Did you see__________________________________________________________.
7. I only called the police when I had tried everything else.
RESORT
I only _______________________________________________________________.
8. Would you take freelance work if it was offered to you?
Were _______________________________________________________________?
9. A rise in temperature in the next century seems likely.
In all _______________________________________________________________.
10. It was an impressive building but it wasn’t to my taste.
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 Impressive ___________________________________________________________.

II. Essay writing (25 points)

Most Vietnamese people have so far cherished the tradition of spending Tet holiday
with their family and relatives in their hometown. However, recently some people
have chosen to take a holiday trip away from home to other provinces or even to
other countries on this occasion. What do you think about this trend?

In about 180 words, write an essay to express your opinion on the issue. Use reasons and
examples to support your position.

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