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Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018 Bộ đề thi chọn đội tuyển HSG quốc gia môn anh 12 các năm gần đây 2015 2018
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA Năm 2018 ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC SỐ PHÁCH Mơn: TIẾNG ANH (do Chủ tịch hội đồng chấm thi ghi) (Thời gian làm 180 phút, khơng kể phát đề) Đề thi có 12 trang Họ tên – chữ ký Giám khảo Họ tên – chữ ký Giám khảo Điểm (bằng số) Điểm (bằng chữ) - Thí sinh làm đề thi - Thí sinh làm phần nghe hiểu trước (chỉ nghe lần) A LISTENING (3.6 pts) SECTION Questions 1-10 (1,2pts) Questions and Circle the correct letter A, B, or C Example In the library George found A a book B a brochure C a newspaper In the lobby of the library George saw A a group of playing music B a display of instruments C a video about the festival George wants to sit at the back so they can A see well B hear clearly C pay less Questions 3-10 Complete the form below Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND / OR A NUMBER for each answer SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL BOOKING FORM Name George O'Neill Address: (3) ………………… , Westsea Postcode: (4) ………………… Telephone: (5) ………………… Date Event Price per ticket June Instrumental group No of tickets £7.50 £6.00 £7.00 - Guitarrini 17 June Singer (price includes (6) …………… in the garden) 22 June (7) …………… (Anna Ventura) 23 June Spanish Dance and Guitar (8) £……………… (9) ……….…… Concert Children / Students/ Senior citizens have (10) ………………… discount on all tickets SECTION Questions 11-20 (1.2 pts) Questions 11-15 Complete the sentences below Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER for each answer The dinosaur museum 11 The museum closes at ………………… p.m on Mondays 12 The museum is not open on …………….….… 13 School groups are met by tour guides in the ………… … … 14 The whole visit takes 90 minutes, including ………………… minutes for the guided tour 15 There are …………………… behind the museum where students can have lunch Questions 16 and 18 Circle THREE letters, A-G Which THREE things can students have with them in the museum? A food E bags B water F pens C cameras G worksheets D books Questions 19 and 20 Circle TWO letters, A-E Which TWO activities can students after the tour at present? A build model dinosaurs B watch films C draw dinosaurs D find dinosaur eggs E play computer games SECTION Questions 21-30 (1.2.pts) Questions 21-23 Circle the correct letter A, B or C 21 Andrew has worked at the hospital for A two years B three years C five years 22 During the course Andrew’s employers will pay A his fees B his living costs C his salary 23 The part-time course lasts for A one whole year B 18 months C two years Questions 24 and 25 Circle TWO letters A-E What TWO types of coursework are required each month on the part-time course? A a case study B an essay C a survey D a short report E a study diary Questions 26-30 Complete the summary below Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER for each answer MODULAR COURSES Students study (26) ……… …… during each module A module takes (27) ………… … and the work is very (28) …………… To get a diploma each student has to study (29) ……… …… and then work on (30) …… …… in depth B LEXICO-GRAMMAR: (4.4 pts.) Part For questions 1–12, circle the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions (2.4 pts) I read newspapers everyday to _ abreast of the global politics A have B keep C stand D hold Emergency exits are to be used in the of a fire A occurrence B point C matter D event You may use the facilities freely They are all at your A disposition B dispossession C display D disposal The responsibility that he has to is tremendous That’s why he’s paid so much A arm B hand C shoulder D chest More people would buy in your shop if you more important to the quality of service A connected B linked C related D attached I don’t need you to explain the problem to me I know it A backwards B upwards C downwards D towards You know how much we place in you, son Don’t let us down A dependence B confidence C anticipation D credibility Apologize to your sister _ you’ll be made to stay in your room alone for the whole day A or else B nevertheless C regardless D as with It was hard to make head or of what the man was talking about A neck B back C nose D tail 10 It was getting _ dark so we decided to head for home A utterly B absolutely C totally D fairly 11 There has been a lot of _ surrounding the government’s proposed scheme A controversy B consent C conformity D consequence 12 How the police the rise in juvenile delinquency? A explain about B account for C make for D look at Part For questions 13 – 22, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the blanks (2.0 pts) A massive clean-up (0) operation (operate) is now under way in the south-west of the country after a (13) (power) storm unexpectedly struck the region Among the worst effected were (14) _ (coast) areas, where many small boats were sunk or destroyed, though, (15) (fortune), there are no reports of anyone missing or seriously injured In many towns, however, there was (16) _ (extent) damage to property, with trees and fences blown over, in one street, almost every house had its roof blown off, leaving many families (17) (home) until repairs can be carried out The (18) _ (wind) conditions also affected transport links leading to the closure of motorways and the (19) (cancel) of nearly all rail services Further inland, where the monthly average (20) _ (rain) is about 80 mm, over 100 mm fell in just a few hours This resulted in several rivers bursting their banks and flooding huge areas of (21) (agriculture) land Some villages were (22) (temporary) cut off by the rapidly rising water, although communications have now been restored in most places C READING (6.0 pts) Part For questions 1-10, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word (2.0 pts) The very first Tour de France, the greatest cycle race in the world, was held in 1903 It began when two French journalists, Henri Desgrange and Géo Lefèvre, came (1) _ with the idea of a race right round the country, (2) that had ever been tried anywhere before Nowadays we might think the aim of (3) an idea would be to bring in lots of television money, or even tourists, but at the beginning of the twentieth century what they wanted to was sell more copies of their newspaper And they succeeded Circulation figures, (4) _ had been 25,000, went to 65,000 within a year, and on to half a million by 1923 The reporters were in fact quite closely involved in organizing the race, and Desgrange would go (5) _ to remain Tour Director from 1903 right up to 1939 Even (6) _, their initial design for the race changed in several important ways before the first one was run For instance, they had intended (7) _ to be held over five weeks, but such a long race was just too much for most riders and very few wanted to take part So it became half (8) length, and it would be run entirely in July (9) than from late May to early July As, however, it would still go right round France, the distance travelled each day would be much longer, with cyclists sometimes (10) to ride at night Part For questions 11 – 18, read the following magazine article carefully and circle the correct answer A, B, C or D (1.6 pts) Gary and Me The restaurant owner John Moore writes about his relationship with his son Gary, the famous TV chef I believe everyone’s given a chance in life My son, Gary, was given his chance with cooking, and my chance was to run a restaurant When I heard about the opportunity, I rushed over to look at the place It was in a really bad state It was perfect for what I had in mind Coming into this business made me recall my childhood I can remember my mother going out to work in a factory and me being so upset because I was left alone With that in mind, I thought, “We want time for family life.” My wife dedicated herself to looking after the children and did all my accounts, while I ran the business We lived over the restaurant in those days, and we always put a lot of emphasis on having meals together It’s paid dividends with our children, Gary and Joe They’ve both very confident Also, from a very early age they would come down and talk to our regular customers It’s given both of them a great start in life Gary was quite a lively child when he was really small We had a corner bath, and when he was about seven he thought he’d jump into it like a swimming pool, and he knocked himself out When he was older, he had to work for pocket money He started off doing odd jobs and by the age of about ten he was in the kitchen every weekend, so he always had loads of money at school He had discipline He used to be up even before me in the morning If you run a family business, it’s for the family, and it was nice to see him helping out Gary wasn’t very academic, but he shone so much in the kitchen By the age of 15 he was as good as any of the men working there, and sometimes he was even left in charge He would produce over a hundred meals, and from then I knew he’d go into catering because he had that flair So when he came to me and said, “Dad, I’ve got to work experience as part of my course at school,” I sent him to a friend of mine who’s got a restaurant Gary recently took up playing the drums and now he has his own band Goodness knows what will happen to the cooking if the music takes off My advice to Gary would be: if you start chasing two hares, you end up catching neither, so chase the hare you know you’re going to catch He understood when I said to him: “Gary, if you are going to get anywhere in life, you’ve got to it by the age of 30 If you haven’t done it by then, it’s too late.” Gary went to catering college at the age of 17, and on his first day he and the other new students – they’re normally complete beginners–were given what’s supposed to be a morning’s work But within an hour Gary had chopped all his vegetables, sliced all his meats He’d prepared everything That’s my son for you! In the end, he was helping other people out None of us can believe how successful Gary’s TV cookery series has become I’m extremely proud of him I’ve always tried to tell him that if you want something, you’ve got to work jolly hard for it, because no one gives you anything He’s seen the opportunity he’s been given and grabbed hold of it with both hands You know, you talk to your children as they grow up, and if they only take in ten per cent of what you’ve told them, you’ve got to be happy with that The things Gary says, the things he does, I think, well, he must have listened sometimes 11 How did the writer react to his own big chance? A He worried about the problems B He saw what could be done C He thought the family would suffer D He wondered if he should take it 12 How did the writer’s childhood influence his own family life? A He realised that the pattern was repeating itself B He encouraged his children to talk to him C He made sure there was plenty of personal contact D He asked his wife to stay at home 13 What does the writer mean by “paid dividends” in the second paragraph? A brought financial reward B produced benefits C was worth the suffering D allowed money to be saved 14 as a young boy, Gary _ A showed how determined he could be B was always in trouble C was motivated by money D demonstrated a variety of talents 15 What is Gary’s father’s attitude to Gary playing in a band? A pleased that he has a hobby he enjoys B interested in how he can introduce music into the restaurant C concerned that music may interfere with his career D doubtful whether he will have time to improve his technique 16 What does “done it” refer to in paragraph five? A chosen a profession B achieved success C caught a hare D lived your life 17 According to his father, what was typical about Gary’s behavior on his first day at college? A He helped other people B He impressed those in charge C He tried to make his father proud D He performed the task efficiently 18 How does his father regard Gary's upbringing? A His encouragement has caused Gary’s success B The family influence on Gary was too strong C Gary has forgotten important lessons D Gary has learnt some essential things Part For questions 19- 25, read the following magazine article about a new hotel Seven sentences have been removed from the article Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (19-25) There is one extra sentence which you not need to use Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided (1.4 pts) FIVE- STAR LUXURY MEETS UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY The five-star Merrion Hotel, which has just opened, is the result of considerable research into customer requirements and nearly two years’s work converting four large eighteenth-century houses in Dublin Creating a new hotel in this way has allowed the lasted technology to be installed This has been done for the benefit of staff and guests alike At the Merrion, General Manager Peter MacCann expects his staff to know the guests by name (19) It can deal with return clients in the extra-special way that is appropriate to a five-star hotel Though the system cost £250,000 to install, it will pay for itself over time, according to MacCann (20) For example, a guest who requests certain music CDs during a first day will find those same CDs ready for him on a return visit This is thanks to the guest-history facility which allows staff to key in any number of preferences Hotel guests the world over frequently complain about room temperature (21) Guests have the opportunity to change the temperature themselves within three degrees either side of the normal 18 degree centigrates but, in addition, each individual room can be adjusted by any amount between 14-25 degree centigrates at the front desk (22) this is particularly true for the business users, and MacCann estimates that up to sixty-five per cent of his business will come from this part of the market To provide the best service for such needs, the hotel has taken the traditional business centre and put it into individual bedrooms Each one has three phones, two phone lines, a fax machine that doubles as a photocopier and printer, and a video-conferencing facility Technology changes so quickly these days that the hotel has had to try to forecast possible improvements (23) _ The televisions are rented rather than bought, so that they can be replaced with more up-to-date models at any time DVD recorders can also be upgraded when necessary Despite the presence of all this very up-to-the-minute equipment in the rooms MacCann says they have tried hard not to make guests feel threatened by the technology (24) There are, of course, a swimming pool and gym, six conference rooms, two bars and two restaurants, and a beautiful garden at the heart of it all As at all luxury hotels, the food that is offered to guests must be excellent Chef Patrick Guilbaud’s Dublin restaurant already had two Michelin stars when he agreed to move his restaurant business to the Merrion (25) _ He has been able to design a new kitchen and take it into the modern age There are better parking facilities than at the previous address, too From the hotel’s side, they are able to offer a popular and a successful place to eat, with no financial risks attached Aided by technology and a highly capable staff, the Merrion looks likely to succeed A For guests, though, it is the other technology offered in their rooms which is most likely to find favor B Being part of the hotel site has huge benefits, both for him and the hotel itself C Extra cables have been laid to handle whatever scientific advances may occur D He expects fifty per cent of the rooms to be occupied in the hotel’s first year E Another hi-tech system controls this essential area of comfort F However, for details of his guests’ preferences, he relies on the hotel’s computer system G The one hundred and forty-five bedrooms, large and well-furnished, are both comfortable and welcoming H He praises its efficiency and talks enthusiastically of the facilities it offers Your answers 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Part For questions 26-30, read the following passage carefully and circle the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions (1.0 pt) Similar to many cities in developing countries, Ho Chi Minh City’s dynamic economic development, on-going large and active planning projects have been along with environmental impacts, weak urban infrastructure (basic equipment needed for a city to operate), housing (26) _ (particularly houses for low-income population), non-compliance with planning regulations and underdeveloped human and financial resources, all of which challenging the city’s growth management and problems resolution Vietnam has paid (27) to more effective planning methods: various solutions have been carried out towards this end for many years now At the national (28) _, the law on urban planning was announced and taught in 2009, simplifying the application process for construction permits In Ho Chi Minh city, large urban planning projects have been prepared with international contests or developed with private partners Similarly, large infrastructure projects have been executed by public-private (29) This has considerably contributed to the improvement of planning Together with the development of the country, (30) _ planning has changed and gotten better considerably to meet social needs (Source: Adapted from Urban Planning in Vietnam, 2012) 26 A lack 27 A attention 28 A level 29 A assistance 30 A civic B weakness B mind B scope B associations B civil C deficit C thoughtful C width C business C popular D shortage D debate D rank D partnerships D urban C WRITING (6.0 pts) Part Finish the second sentence in such a way that it is as similar in meaning as possible to the first one, using the word given Do not change the word given You must use between THREE and EIGHT words, including the word given (1.0 pt) I couldn’t understand the instructions for my new DVD player SENSE The instructions for my new DVD player didn’t _ me While I was on holiday, a lot of interesting things happened to me MY During _ a lot of interesting experiences Thunder terrifies me DEATH I of thunder Any personal indolent on the part of the Prime Minister in this scandal would be disastrous CAUGHT If the Prime Minister this scandal, it would be a disaster Interest rates have fallen sharply recently DECLINE There has been interest rates recently Part (2.0 pts) The table below shows the percentage of pupils who entered higher education from five secondary schools between 1995 and 2000 inclusive Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and makes comparisons where relevant You should write at least 150 words Years 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Royston Academy 50 52 54 54 60 60 Greenstone High 90 80 75 73 72 70 Harble Secondary 30 35 40 50 60 60 Fairfield Girls 65 70 75 75 70 79 Crackend Boys 60 59 60 61 60 62 ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH Năm học 2013-2014 Đề thức Mơn: Tiếng Anh - Lớp 12 (Thi nói, thời gian thực thí sinh khơng q phút) Ngày thi: 22/9/2013 SPEAKING Topic 1: Talk about your dream job You should say - what it is - why you choose it - what you are doing to make your dream come true (at least three things) Topic 2: Talk about your dream house You should say - where it would be situated - how large it would be - why you want to have such a house (at least three reasons) Topic 3: Talk about your favourite sport You should say - what sport it is - when you started to it, where you often it and how often - why you like it most (at least three reasons) Topic 4: Talk about a woman you admire the most You should say - who that person is - what she is like (personalities) - why you admire her (at least three reasons) Page /6 Topic 5: Talk about your favourite school subject You should say - what subject it is - why you like it best - what you have done to be good at that subject (at least three things) Topic 6: Talk about a competition you took part in and it impressed you most You should say - what competition it was and who took part in it - when and when it was held - why the competition impressed you so much (at least three reasons) Topic 7: Talk about a book you have read and you like it best You should say - the title, the writer and when it was published - a summary of the content - the reasons why you like the book (at least three reasons) Topic 8: Talk about a tourist attraction you visited and impressed you most You should say - what place it is and where it is - when you visited it and who went with you - what there are in that place and why you were impressed (at least two reasons) Topic 9: Talk about your favourite food You should say - what food it is and how to make it - what is special about the food - why you like it more than other kinds of food (at least three reasons) Page /6 Topic 10: Talk about a polluted place you have seen You should say - where it is - why it is polluted - what people should to make it less polluted and clean (at least three things) Topic 11: Talk about a traditional game you played when you were a child You should say - what game it is - how to play it - why you liked it (at least two reasons) Topic 12: Talk about a library you often go to You should say - What library it is and where it is - What the library looks like - What you often there and why you like it (at least two reasons) Topic 13 Talk about your first meeting with the headmaster of high school You should say - Who he (or she) is - When and where - Your impressions (at least three things) _ Topic 14: Talk about your favorite hobby.You should say - what it is - how to (or play or use) it - why you liked it (at least two reasons) Page /6 Topic 15: Talk about the good way of learning English vocabulary You should say - The way of learning - How often you study - The result (at least three things) Topic 16: Talk about the good way of learning English reading skill You should say - The way of learning - How often you study - The result (at least three things) Topic 17: Talk about a place that has a special meaning to you You should say - The name and where it is - What the special meaning is - Why it has the special meaning to you (at least two reasons) Topic 18: Talk something you know about the high school you are studying in You should say - The name and where it is - The things you know (at least three things) - your impression Page /6 Topic 19: Talk about your daily activities in your free time You should say - What they are - you like them or not - Why (at least two reasons) Topic 20: Talk about a trip you are planning to go on for your holiday You should say -What trip it is Where to go - What and whom you can see -Why you plan to go there (at least two reasons) Topic 21: Talk about a game or sport you enjoy playing You should say: - What kind of game or sport is - Where you play it and Whom you play with - Why you enjoy playing it (at least two reasons) Topic 22: Talk about a park you like You should say: - Where the park is - When and whom you go there with - Why you like going this park (at least two reasons) Page /6 Topic 23: Talk about an artist or entertainer you admire You should say: - Who he (or she) is and what he (or she) does - How he (or she) became successful - Why you admire him (or her) (at least two reasons) Topic 24: Talk about a subject you enjoyed studying at school You should say: - What it is,when and where you started studying it - What made the subject different from other subjects -Why you enjoyed that subject (at least two reasons) Topic 25: Talk about an enjoyable event that you experienced when you were at school You should say: - What event and when it happened - What was good about it - Why you particularly remember this event (at least two reasons) The End Page /6 SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TỈNH SÓC TRĂNG KỲ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA Năm học: 2016-2017 ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC Mơn: TIẾNG ANH - Lớp 12 SỐ PHÁCH (do Chủ tịch hội đồng chấm thi ghi) (Thời gian làm 180 phút, không kể phát đề) Ngày thi: 05/11/2016 Đề thi có trang Họ tên – chữ ký Giám khảo - Họ tên – chữ ký Giám khảo Điểm (bằng số) Điểm (bằng chữ) Thí sinh làm đề thi Thí sinh làm phần nghe hiểu trước Hướng dẫn phần thi nghe: Đề nghe gồm có phần, phần nghe lần, lần cách khoảng giây, mở đầu kết thúc phần nghe có tín hiệu Trước nghe, thí sinh có 30 giây để đọc câu hỏi phần A LISTENING (5.1 pts – 0.3 pt / each) Part You will hear an interview about an interesting news story For questions – 7, choose the best answer A, B, or C Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided What does Andy say about the story? A It is amusing B It is difficult to believe C It is unusual What was Chris’ life like when he had hiccups? A The hiccups prevented him from sleeping B The hiccups affected his social life C The hiccups stopped for a short time each day What action did doctors initially take to deal with the problem? A They performed unsuccessful surgery on Chris B They advised Chris to use alternative therapies C They gave Chris medicine for depression Chris went to Japan _ A to appear on a TV show B to study traditional Japanese remedies C to have a medical examination It was discovered that _ A Chris also had problems with his eyesight B Chris needed surgery that carried a lot of risk C Chris had a cancerous growth in the brain What was the result of the operation? A Chris cannot walk easily B Chris cannot a lot of sport C Chris can only use one arm well If Chris hadn’t had the operation he _ A would have worse hiccups than before B would have a much shorter life expectancy C would not be able to see now Trang Your answers: Part Questions – 17 Listen to a talk on insomnia – the inability to sleep properly Complete the following notes on the talk about insomnia Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each space Causes People may have trouble falling asleep due to worries about exams or a (8) It can be due to (9) factors: noise, light, no privacy It can be due to occupational factors: working irregular hours, overworking, too much (10) , high stress Solutions In situations where the patient is suffering from illness and physical discomfort, a doctor may give them (11) or (12) (13) before going to bed Watch your diet Don’t eat a large meal in the evening Avoid alcohol, cola, and coffee Drink herbal tea (e.g camomile) or (14) Don’t take naps during (15) Take a (16) before bed or after exercise Cut down on (17) in the evening B LEXICO-GRAMMAR: (4.4 pts.) Part For questions 18 - 27, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided (2.0 pts.– 0.2 pt / each) 18 I _, a pen pal of mine, while I was in London last month A ran into Andy B ran after Andy C ran Andy into D ran Andy after 19 Plans to build a nuclear power plant in the area have been _following strong public opposition A announced B shelved C unveiled D revealed 20 The President remained _by mounting criticism of his leadership and pressed ahead regardless with his controversial programme of policies A impervious B upset C unmoved D overcome 21 I can’t understand why my cousin applied for the job; there wasn’t even a _ possibility that he’d get it A heavy B distinct C strong D remote 22 Scientists are now beginning to conduct experiments on trigger different sorts of health risks A how noise pollution B noise pollution can C that noise pollution D how noise pollution can 23 does not circle around the earth was proven by Galileo A The rest of the universe B Since the rest of the universe C That the rest of the universe D As the rest of the universe Trang 24 few species that live on the ground, most monkeys lives in trees A There are B Except for a C A D All but 25 A desert is described as a region an average of less than ten inches of rain falls in a year A in which B there is C which has D in which is 26 There have been so many interruptions today that we’ve with our work A fallen through B fallen behind C left behind D got low 27 To Health Department ordered extra vaccine to control any possible of the disease A outbreak B breakout C breakdown D breakup Your answers: 18 20 22 24 26 19 21 23 25 27 Part For questions 28 - 35, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the corresponding numbered boxes provided (2.4 pts.– 0.3 pt / each) Writing the shopping list is almost as tedious a (0) (RESPONSIBLE) as trekking round the supermarket, and it would be a huge benefit if the store could this for you That day cannot be far off, thanks to the massive (28) (ACCUMULATE) of data on millions of customers who already use so-called loyalty cards Loyalty has nothing to with it – at least, not yet – as is all too (29) (APPEAR) from the many people who hold every supermarket card there is Why then are supermarkets so keen to issue these cards? The answer is that in a technologicallysophisticated world, they provide highly (30) (INFORM) data about customers and their shopping habits One US chain noticed that Friday nights saw a seemingly (31) (EXPLAIN) peak in purchases of both baby’s nappies and alcohol In their subsequent (32) (ANALYSE) of the sales data, they concluded that men were being sent out for emergency baby supplies and were seizing the opportunity to stock up on beer at the same time Their immediate (33) (RESPOND) was to place the nappies closer to the beer! This is all part of the move away from mass marketing in favour of its newly-heralded (34) (PART), ‘micro marketing’ Supermarkets are in essence reinventing the culture of the traditional corner shop, by calling on this new-found, (35) (PERSON) knowledge of their customers Your answers: Responsibility 28 30 32 34 29 31 33 35 C READING (6.0 pts.– 0.2 pt / each) Part For questions 36 – 45, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided It is undeniable that our education system in Singapore has (36) a lot for students Our literacy (37) has risen tremendously over the past twenty years More youths are leaving school for the work force at (38) educational levels The majority of Singaporeans have had the benefit of primary education, (39) most of our grandparents not have However, there are still (40) in our educational system which need improvement There is a need for quality education We spend so much time (41) as many facts as physically Trang possible and then regurgitating (42) during our examinations There is (43) space for experimentation nor for the cultivation of genuine interest What is required is a real understanding and appreciation of a subject, (44) merely scoring high marks Until we learn to (45) our inhibitions about the freedom of creativity, we will never achieve independence of thought Your answers: 36 38 40 42 44 37 39 41 43 45 Part Read the passage carefully and answer questions 46 – 58 The Mozart Effect A Music has been used for centuries to heal the body In the Ebers Papyrus (one of the earliest medical documents, circa 1550 BC), it was recorded that physicians chanted to heal the sick (Castleman, 1994) In various cultures, we have observed singing as part of healing rituals In the world of Western medicine, however, using music in medicine lost popularity until the introduction of the radio Researchers then started to notice that listening to music could have significant physical effects Therapists noticed music could help calm anxiety, and researchers saw that listening to music could cause a drop in blood pressure In addition to these two areas, music has been used with cancer chemotherapy to reduce nausea, during surgery to reduce stress hormone production, during childbirth, and in stroke recovery (Castleman, 1994 and Westley, 1998) It has been shown to decrease pain as well as enhance the effectiveness of the immune system In Japan, compilations of music are used as medication of sorts For example, if you want to cure a headache or migraine, the album suggested is Mendelssohn's "Spring Song", Dvorak's "Humoresque", or part of George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" (Campbell, 1998) Music is also being used to assist in learning, in a phenomenon called the Mozart Effect B Frances H Rauscher, PhD, first demonstrated the correlation between music and learning in an experiment in 1993 His experiment indicated that a 10-minute dose of Mozart could temporarily boost intelligence Groups of students were given intelligence tests after listening to silence, relaxation tapes, or Mozart's "Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major" for a short time He found that after silence, the average IQ score was 110, and after the relaxation tapes, the score rose a point After listening to Mozart's music, however, the score jumped to 119 (Westley, 1998) Even students who did not like the music still had an increased score in the IQ test Rauscher hypothesised that "listening to complex, non-repetitive music, like Mozart's, may stimulate neural pathways that are important in thinking" (Castleman, 1994) C The same experiment was repeated on rats by Rauscher and Hong Hua Li from Stanford Rats also demonstrated enhancement in their intelligence performance These new studies indicate that rats that were exposed to Mozart's showed "increased gene expression of BDNF (a neural growth factor), CREB (a learning and memory compound), and Synapsin I (a synaptic growth protein)" in the brain's hippocampus, compared with rats in the control group, which heard only white noise (e.g the whooshing sound of a radio tuned between stations) D How exactly does the Mozart Effect work? Researchers are still trying to determine the actual mechanisms for the formation of these enhanced learning pathways Neuroscientists suspect that music can actually help build and strengthen connections between neurons in the cerebral cortex in a process similar to what occurs in brain development despite its type When a baby is born, certain connections have already been made - like connections for heartbeat and breathing As new Trang information is learned and motor skills develop, new neural connections are formed Neurons that are not used will eventually die while those used repeatedly will form strong connections Although a large number of these neural connections require experience, they must also occur within a certain time frame For example, a child born with cataracts cannot develop connections within the visual cortex If the cataracts are removed by surgery right away, the child's vision develops normally However, after the age of 2, if the cataracts are removed, the child will remain blind because those pathways cannot establish themselves E Music seems to work in the same way In October of 1997, researchers at the University of Konstanz in Germany found that music actually rewires neural circuits (Begley, 1996) Although some of these circuits are formed for physical skills needed to play an instrument, just listening to music strengthens connections used in higher-order thinking Listening to music can then be thought of as "exercise" for the brain, improving concentration and enhancing intuition F If you're a little sceptical about the claims made by supporters of the Mozart Effect, you're not alone Many people accredit the advanced learning of some children who take music lessons to other personality traits, such as motivation and persistence, which are required in all types of learning There have also been claims of that influencing the results of some experiments G Furthermore, many people are critical of the role the media had in turning an isolated study into a trend for parents and music educators After the Mozart Effect was published to the public, the sales of Mozart CDs stayed on the top of the hit list for three weeks In an article by Michael Linton, he wrote that the research that began this phenomenon (the study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine) showed only a temporary boost in IQ, which was not significant enough to even last throughout the course of the experiment Using music to influence intelligence was used in Confucian civilization and Plato alluded to Pythagorean music when he described its ideal state in The Republic In both of these examples, music did not cause any overwhelming changes, and the theory eventually died out Linton also asks, "If Mozart's music were able to improve health, why was Mozart himself so frequently sick? If listening to Mozart's music increases intelligence and encourages spirituality, why aren't the world's smartest and most spiritual people Mozart specialists?" Linton raises an interesting point, if the Mozart Effect causes such significant changes, why isn't there more documented evidence? H The "trendiness" of the Mozart Effect may have died out somewhat, but there are still strong supporters (and opponents) of the claims made in 1993 Since that initial experiment, there has not been a surge of supporting evidence However, many parents, after playing classical music while pregnant or when their children are young, will swear by the Mozart Effect A classmate of mine once told me that listening to classical music while studying will help with memorization If we approach this controversy from a scientific aspect, although there has been some evidence that music does increase brain activity, actual improvements in learning and memory have not been adequately demonstrated Questions 46-50: Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-H in the corresponding numbered boxes provided 46 A description of how music affects the brain development of infants 47 Public's first reaction to the discovery of the Mozart Effect 48 The description of Rauscher's original experiment 49 The description of using music for healing in other countries 50 Other qualities needed in all learning Your answers: 46 47 48 49 Trang 50 Questions 51 - 53 : Complete the summary below Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided During the experiment conducted by Frances Rauscher, subjects were exposed to the music for a (51) _ period of time before they were tested And Rauscher believes the enhancement in their performance is related to the (52) _ nature of Mozart's music Later, a similar experiment was also repeated on (53) _ Your answers: 51 52 53 Questions 54 – 58: Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided TRUE : If the statement agrees with the information FALSE : If the statement contradicts with the information NOT GIVEN : If there is no information on this 54 All kinds of music can enhance one’s brain performance to somewhat extent 55 There is no neural connection made when a baby is born 56 There are very few who question the Mozart Effect 57 Michael Linton conducted extensive research on Mozart’s life 58 There is not enough evidence in support of the Mozart Effect today Your answers: 54 55 56 57 58 Part Read the following passage and answer questions 59 – 65 Nine paragraphs have been removed from the passage For questions 59 - 65, choose from paragraphs A – H the one which fits each gap There is ONE extra paragraph which you not need to use Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided Without doubt, the worst part of my job is the unearthly hour that I have to get up at every day This puts me in a foul mood for at least two hours as I am not, nor have I ever been, a morning person! In fact I cannot imagine what it must be like to be a ‘morning person’ 59 Unfortunately for me, this only happen at the weekends these days ‘Why?’ people ask me, ‘Why you have a job that means you have to get up at 3.45 in the morning?’ The simple answer is that the job of presenting weekly the weekday breakfast news programme on a radio station is what I have always wanted to 60 But there are no two ways about it – I am still not a morning person! Having hauled myself out of bed, I get a taxi to the radio station (I wouldn’t trust myself driving at that hour), and we arrive it is still dark with only a few brave birds daring to break the silence with their song Singing is the last thing I feel like doing 61 In much better spirits now I sit on the news conference, which is where the editors make the big decisions on which news stories we are going to run with and in which order They discuss events that Trang have happened overnight and developments in any stories we ran yesterday 62 You can feel the excitement in the air on morning like these, particularly if it’s an event with important national or international implications The discussions are fierce Which stories we report and in how much depth? Then the big question – which stories get priority? We may have five big stories but which we lead with? Is it the celebrity who has been caught for dangerous driving or is it yet another political scandal? Is it the murder of a homeless person or the fact that Australia has just won an important cricket match? People in the meeting pull in different directions 63 Others think that local crimes need to be top of the list The team thrashes out the possibilities and eventually I am nearly ready to go on air This is when the adrenalin really kicks in It is a buzz presenting a show live but there is not much room for mistakes and things not always go smoothly My job is to appear to be in control and I have to be alert and able to think on my feet 64 Then there are the times when I get linked with the wrong reporter Last week for example, I was talking about break-in at a country house hotel and got linked to a reporter on another story who was at the zoo So, my question about ‘Was anything valuable stolen’ prompted the rather puzzled response ‘Er…no…all the elephants are definitely still here!’ Of course, there are also those callers on the phone-in sections who see it as an opportunity to go way off topic and complain about everything from taxation to the quality of the burgers in the restaurant down the road! There’s a lot of mental gymnastics that goes on and afterwards I always feel completely exhausted 65 Before leaving the studio there’s another meeting to discuss items for tomorrow’s show We might have a special guest – like a politician or an actor we talk about the questions I should or shouldn’t ask Eventually the heart stops pounding and I can relax I’m out of the door, determined to enjoy the rest of the day before I need to go to bed at the early time of 8.30! A There may even be a breaking news story happening at the time B Of course, I realize there’s a contradiction here, and I shouldn’t be moaning about getting up early, particularly when my job is the envy of hundreds of other would-be presenters in Australia C What I love to most in the whole world is to snuggle up in bed until lunchtime D When you’re talking on the radio, you have to imagine that you’re talking to one person face to face E Sometimes sound links with reporters in the field can go wrong and I’m left talking to complete silence F Some want to win the popular vote – celebrity stories attract listeners, the more sensational the better G However, that’s all part of the job and the unpredictability is one of the reasons I love it so much H A couple of strong coffees later, however, I feel better able to face the day and my grumpiness begins to lift Your answers: 59 61 63 60 62 64 65 D WRITING (4.5 pts.) Part Finish the second sentence in such a way that it is as similar in meaning as possible to the first one, using the word given Do not change the word given You must use between THREE and EIGHT words, including the word given (1.5 pts.– 0.3 pt / each) Trang 66 The President was impeached because of his financial misconduct GROUNDS → The President was impeached _misconduct 67 She and her husband disagree strongly about how their daughter should be educated EYE → She and her husband _daughter’s education 68 No one listened to what the politician was saying last night EARS → What the politician was saying last night 69 Most people are not told about the effects of these drugs IGNORANCE → Most people are _the effects of these drugs 70 Jane was the only person who didn’t enjoy the party WITH → Everyone enjoyed the party _Jane Part Write about the following topic: (3.0 pts.) Some people believe that teachers should be responsible for teaching students the difference between right and wrong Others say that teachers should only teach academic subjects Discuss both viewpoints and give your own opinion Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience Write about 160 - 180 words Your answer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Trang …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE END Trang ... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… THE END 12 SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA Năm 2018 ĐỀ THI CHÍNH THỨC Mơn thi: Tiếng Anh (Đề thi nói) Ngày thi: 16/9/2017 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯... VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA Năm 2018 ĐỀ THI CHÍNH THỨC Mơn thi: Tiếng Anh (Đề thi nói) Ngày thi: 16/9/2017 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ QUESTION What you think about the showbiz... DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO SÓC TRĂNG THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA Năm 2018 ĐỀ THI CHÍNH THỨC Mơn thi: Tiếng Anh (Đề thi nói) Ngày thi: 16/9/2017 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ QUESTION 12 Living far from family