SỞ GD&ĐT LÀO CAI ĐỀ THI OLYMPIC KHU VỰC DHBB

TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN LÀO CAI NĂM HỌC 2017 - 2018

Môn: Tiếng anh – lớp 10
(Đề thi đề xuất) (Thời gian: 180 phút – không kể thời gian
giao đề)
A. LISTENING (50 points):
HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
• Bài nghe gồm 4 phần, mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mở đầu và kết thúc mỗi phần nghe có
tín hiệu.
• Mở đầu và kết thúc phần nghe có tín hiệu nhạc.
• Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe.

Part 1: You will hear a customer phoning a company representative to complain about
her new purchase. For questions 1-5, complete the instruction page. Write NO MORE
THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS for each answer.

Instruction Manual for

Example: Electric motorcycle

Model Number: 1.__ R-T-Y-34____

The motorcycle should travel 2. ____30_____ km, provided that the

battery is charged for 3. ___ three hours ____ when the gauge falls
below 4. __50_____ volts. The battery weighs 5. ___3__________kg,
so care is needed when removing it for charging.

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Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 2: You will hear a radio interview with a woman called Kay Stanley who is talking
about a condition called dyslexia. For questions 6 -10, choose the best answer A, B or C.

6. How did Kay’s parents first realize she had dyslexia?

A. She didn’t know stories that other children could read.

B. Her mother found her memorizing audio books.

C. She couldn’t spell words that other children knew.

7. What was Kay told by an expert on dyslexia?

A. She has a milder form of the condition.

B. She will be able to overcome her problems by reading.

C. Spelling will always be a particular problem for her.

8. How does dyslexia affect the way people think?

A. It can make people think more creatively.

B. It prevents them from solving problems effectively.

C. It makes it harder for them to follow logic.

9. What made Kay work hard to improve her reading?

A. It was the only way she could study acting.

B. She didn’t want people to think she was stupid.

C. Her father encouraged her.

10. How does Kay want to publicise the problem of dyslexia?

A. by acting in a film about the subject.

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B. by giving talks to parents of dyslexic children.

C. by setting a positive example.

Your answers:

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 3: You will hear part of a radio interview with a law student called Mark Stone,
talking about his life at university. For questions 11-15, decide whether the following
statements are true (T) or false (F).

11. __T_____ Mark decided to study at Gramwell University because it offers a very good
course in his subject.

12. ___F____ When Mark arrived at Gramwell, he was surprised by the architecture.

13. ___T____ Mark got a part-time job because he had to cover the cost of his
accommodation.

14. __T_____ According to Mark, his lecturers like to communicate with students.

15. __F_____ In terms of social life, Mark worries about wasting time.

Your answers:

11. 12. 13. 14. 14.

Part 4: You will hear a man called Tom Bothman giving a talk about newspaper
journalism. For questions 16-25, complete sentences with a word or short phrase.

Journalism

Tom mentions business, news, sport and 16. __ culture ____ as examples of what
journalists write about.

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Many journalists have a degree in journalism, though Tom took his in 17. _
economics____.

Tom says it’s important to gain a certificate in reporting, carrying out 18. __ interviews __
and editing.

When applying for a job, Tom says you need to show a selection of 19. __ articles _____
you’ve written.

Tom got experience of writing by working as a 20. ___ film critic _____ on a student
magazine.

Tom says journalists must have good communication 21. __ organization ___ skills, in
addition to personal characteristics such as motivation.

Tom was able to demonstrate to employers his experience of 22. __ web design ___.

As a junior reporter, Tom was pleased to attend 23. ___ football matches _ as well as
other local events.

In Tom’s present job, he has a range of responsibilities and most enjoys doing 24. __
research ___.

Tom is currently exploring the idea of working as a 25. __ photographer __ on the paper.

Your answers:

16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (50 points):

Part 1: Part 1: Choose the word/ phrase that best completes each of the following
sentences. Write your answer in the corresponding numbered boxes. (10 pts)

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1. By 2020 this city _____________ in size.

A. will have doubled B. will be doubling

C. will double D. is going to double

- thì tương lai hoàn thành: S+will + have + Vpp

2. Even thothugh she was new to the company her ideas were _____________ into the
plan.

A. included B. induced C. incorporated D. indebted

- included (adj): bao gồm cả

- induce (adj): thuyết phục cả

- incorporated (adj): sát nhập

- indebted (adj): mắc nợ

3. Some journalists _____________the truth in order to make their story more interesting.

A. distend B. disarray C. distort D. dissuade

- distend (v): là sưng to

- disarray (v): làm xáo trộn

- distort (v): bóp méo

- dissuade (v): khuyên can, khuyên ngăn

4. Her _____________ makes her a lot of fun to be with.

A. excitement B. exuberance C. exasperation D. enticement

- excitement (n): sự kích động

- exuberance (n): tính cởi mở

- exasperation (n): sự làm bực tức

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- enticement (n): sự cám dỗ

5. Daisy and Tim are talking with each other.

-Tim: “Do you mind if I smoke?” -Daisy: “I’d rather _____________.”

A. you didn’t B. you don’t C. you wouldn’t D. you hadn’t

- cấu trúc “would rather” ở hiện tại: S1 +would rather (than) + S2 + V2/Ved…

6.You look _____________ after all that hard work.

A. taken out B. turned out C. worn out D. broken out

- taken out (phr v): lấy cái gì đó ra khỏi túi

- turned out (phr v): khám phá, xảy ra

- worn out (adj): đồ ăn hỏng, cực kỳ mệt mỏi

- broken out (phr v): nổ ra, vỡ ra

7. My best friend was offered the job on the _____________ that she was well-qualified.

A. grants B. reasons C. causes D. grounds

- on the grounds = reason: lí do

8. Many young people are forced to _____________ themselves.

A. fend for B. look for C. feed for D. rely for

- fend for oneself = shift for oneself: tự lo liệu, tự xoay sở lấy

- look for (phr v): tìm kiếm

9. Playing squash is a good way to let off_____________.

A. smoke B. temper C. moisture D. steam

- let off steam = blow off steam (idm): làm cho hạ hỏa, xả giận

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10. It was imperative that the letter be _____________ by 5 o’clock in order to arrive early
the next morning.

A. dispatched B. dispensed C. dispersed D. dispelled

- dispatched (v): gửi đi

- dispelled (v): xua tan

- dispensed (v): phân phát

- dispersed (v): phân tán

- Câu giả định – bị động

Dạng chủ động: It + is + imperative + that + S + V(infinitive)

11. Of course, you have a chance of getting the scholarship. I think you should
_____________.

A. go for it B. go with it C. go along with it D. get with it

- go for (phr v): lựa chọn

- go with (phr v): tương xứng

- go along with (phr v): ủng hộ, đồng ý với ý kiến của ai đó

- get on with something (phr v): tiếp tục, hay bắt đầu làm gì đó

12.The team was _____________on winning the gold medal.

A. determined B. intent C. intense D. resolute

- determined (adj): nhất quyết, đã được xác định

- intent (adj): chăm chú → be intent on (doing) something: mục đích

- intense (adj): mạnh mẽ, cực kì

- resolute( adj): cương quyết

13.He _____________ to help me achieve my goal, for which I was very grateful.
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A. endeavoured B. endeared C. engaged D. enchanted

- endeavoured (v): cố gằng, ráng

- endeared (v): làm cho được mến

- engaged (v): tuyển dụng, thu hút

- enchanted (v): làm say mê, vui thích

14. I really don’t think he’s got the _____________ to complete the marathon; he’s sure to
give up before the end.

A. flair B. stamina C. suppleness D. speed

- flair (n): năng khiếu

- stamina (n): sức chịu đựng, bền bỉ

- suppleness (n): tính dẻo dai

- speed (n): tốc độ

15. The rock star’s fans were full of _____________ for him.

A. adulation B. glorification C. elation D. worship

- adulation (n): sự ngưỡng mộ, tán dương

- glorification (n): sự tuyên dương, ca ngợi

- elation (n): sự phấn khởi, sự tự hào

- worship (n): sự thờ phụng, sự tôn cúng

16. She wanted to _____________ her interest in microbiology.

A. pursue B. strive for C. stalk D. persist in

- pursue (v): theo đuổi

- strive for v): say mê vì đạt được gì đó

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- stalk (v): theo dõi

- persist in (doing) something: kiên trì, bền bỉ làm gì đó

17. The country around here is so _____________ that you can only get around in a jeep.

A. jagged B. weathered C. severe D. rugged

- jagged (adj): lởm chởm

- weathered (adj): phong hóa

- severe (adj): có thể chia cắt được

- rugged (adj): gồ ghề

18. His outburst was not _____________ with his normally placid nature.

A. consistent B. constant C. concise D. conclusive

- consistent with: phù hợp, thích hợp

- constant (adj): kiên định, chung thủy

- concise (adj): ngắn gọn, súc tích

- conclusive (adj): kết thúc, để kết luận

19. The prisoner was _____________ to hours of questioning.

A. subdued B. subjected C. objected D. submerged

- subdue (v): chinh phục, đánh bại

- subject to (phr v): chịu, phải chịu

- object (v): phản đối, chống lại

- submerge (v): nhấn chìm, áp đảo

20. Bella and Justin are chatting with each other.

-Bella: “I don’t think Eric’s coming over after all.” – Justin: “Well, if I_____________, I
think his car has just turned into the driveway.”
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A. am not mistaken B. don’t mistake

C. am not mistaking D. haven’t mistaken

- if I’m not mistaken: nếu tôi không lầm.

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Part 2. Read the passage below which contains 10 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and
write the corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes.

Russia election: Vladimir Putin wins by big margin

line 1 Vladimir Putin will lead Russia for other six years, after securing an
line 2 expected victory in Sunday's president election.
line 3 Mr Putin, who has ruled the country as neither president or prime minister
line 4 since 1999, got more than 76% of the vote, official results shows. The main
line 5 opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was barred from the race. Addressed a
line 6 rally in Moscow, Mr Putin said voters had "recognised the achievements of
line 7 the last few years".
line 8 Speaking to reporters after the results announced, he laughed at a question
line 8 about running again in another six years. "What you are saying is a bit
line 10 funny. Do you think that I will stay here until I'm 100 years old? No!" he
line 11 said. The scale of victory - which had been widely predicted - appears to be
line 12 a markedly increase in his share of the vote from 2012, when he won 64%.
line 13 Mr Putin's nearest competitor, millionaire communist Pavel Grudinin,
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line 14 received about 12%. The race also included Ksenia Sobchak, a formal
line 15 reality TV host, and veteran nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky - they got
line 16 less than 2% and about 6% respectedly. Mr Putin's campaign team said it
line 17 was an "incredible victory". "The percentage that we have just seen speaks
line 18 for itself. It's a mandate which Putin needs for future decisions, and he has
line 19 a lot of them to do," a spokesman told Russia's Interfax.
(Adapted from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43452449)

Line Mistake Correction

Example 1 other another
1. 2 president presidential
2. 3 neither either
3. 5 shows show
4. 6 Addressed Addressing
5. 8 announced were announced
6. 8 laughed at laughed off
7. 12 markedly marked
8. 15 formal former
9. 16 respectedly respectively
10. 19 do make
Part 3.

Part 3. Complete each sentence with one suitable particle or preposition. Write your
answer in the box provided.
1. Inadvertently perhaps, the BiE report lets the cat ___ out of _______ the bag.
- let the cat out of the bag (idm): vô tình tiết lộ bí mật
2. People associate the old days __ with ____ good times, and seem
to forget the hardship they endured.
- associate with (phr v): lien tưởng (suy nghĩ)
3. The selection board interviewed him and rejected his application __ without ___ further
ado.
- without further ado (idm): không chần chừ gì thêm nữa
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4. The government is determined to crack ____ down on ________ terrorism.
- crack down on (phr v): xử phạt, trừng trị
5. Some lay eggs among the stones, so camouflaged you would mistake them
_for_ the rocks themselves.
- mistake someone/sth for someone/ sth: nhầm lẫn ai với ai, cái gì với cái gì
6. How did you manage to sleep __ through ____ that thunderstorm?
-sleep through something (phr v): ngủ say suốt đêm mà không tỉnh giấc
7. I haven’t got______ round to _______unpacking from my holiday yet.
- get round to (phr v): dự định làm gì đó trong mọt thời gian dài
8. Somebody had come in and ripped ___off___ the TV and stereo.
- rip off (phr v): gian lận, lấy trộm, bán quá đắt
9. People thought that the use of robots would do_____ away with ________ boring low-
paid factory jobs.
- do away with (phr v): loại bỏ, xóa bỏ
10. He bravely went through with _______ the wedding ceremony even though he was in
a lot of pain.
- go through with (phr v): làm hay thực hiện việc gì đó mà đã lên kế hoạch

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 4. Write the correct form of the words given in the brackets. Write your answers in
the spaces provided below.
Facebook data - as scandalous as MPs’ expenses?
The gathering storm over how millions of Facebook profiles were 0. (APPARENT)
_apparently_ exploited for political purposes raises all sorts of questions about how
our data is used.

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For Stephanie Hare, a tech expert who has worked in the data field, the Cambridge
Analytica story raises big questions over a lack of 1. (ACCOUNT)__ accountability ___:
"What is really striking here is the absence of any 2. (SIGHT)___ oversight __. " Nobody,
she points out - not the social network, nor the data company or the academic researcher -
seems to have thought that it was their job to ask if data had been 3.(PROPER) _
improperly ___shared, and if so to ensure it was deleted.
Much has been made of the fact that users who sign up to the kind of 4.(PERSONAL) __
personality __quiz used in this case have to explicitly give permission for their data to be
accessed. But Stephanie Hare says it is 5. (FAIR) unfair ______ to put the burden on
people with busy lives to read through the fine print. And she feels that Facebook's
6.(SET)_ settings ___should be set to maximise 7. (PRIVATE)__ privacy ___by default.
"It's our jobs as 8. (TECHNOLOGY)___ technologists ___to design systems that are safe,"
she says. "I don't get on an aeroplane as a passenger and make my own safety checks."
I spent this morning giving a talk at a school in South Wales about the power of social
media platforms to spread fake news. I took some time to explain just how much power
Facebook puts in the hands of 9. (ADVERTISE)__ advertisers ____- and political parties -
to target their messages very precisely at, say, 15-25 year olds in Pontypridd who like
motor racing.
My audience, all keen 10. (USE)__ users ____ of social media, seemed surprised to learn
that Facebook owned Instagram and WhatsApp, and Google owned YouTube, meaning
that just two giant companies could exert huge influence over the information they
received and how they thought.
(Adapted from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43458110)

1. Accountability (n): trách nhiệm giải trình

2. Oversight (n): sự giám sát
3. Improperly (adv): không thích hợp
4. Personality (n): tính cách

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 5. Unfair (adj): không công bằng, bất công
6. Settings (n): sự sắp đặt, sự sửa chữa
7. Privacy (n): sự riêng tư
8. Technologists (n): kỹ sư công nghệ
9. Advertisers (n): người quảng cáo
10. Users (n): người dùng

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

C. READING (50 points)

Part 1. Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits
each gap. Write your answers in corresponding numbered boxes.
Colour sense
ICI colour consultant Jack Widgery painted one police interview room light green,
and another strong red. Subsequently, the police found that suspects 1.________statements
more quickly when they were in the red room, again enforcing the idea that too much red
2._________a feeling of being pressurized. The soft green was for interviewing victims
and their families, and there are many 3._________of light colours being used to
4._________ feelings and encourage relaxation.
Some institutions in the USA have special pink areas to cool the 5._______of angry
prisoners, service recruits and patients. Soft blues, greens and beiges seem to be
6._________and hospitals, schools and dentists are beginning to take this into 7.________
when choosing colour schemes.
An airline which changed from a yellow and brown interior scheme to one of green
and blue reported a forty-five percent decrease in airsickness. But the workplace is the
biggest challenge: neither too much nor too 8.________ energy will do. The

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9._______fashion for grey with a few details in brighter colours may be a good
10._________.
1. A. gave B. said C. admitted D. spoke
2. A. makes B. leads C. has D. creates
3. A. ways B. occasions C. examples D. demonstrations
4. A. play up B. play down C. run up D. run down
5. A. tempers B. moods C. personalities D. senses
6. A. sleepy B. leisurely C. tiring D. restful
7. A. view B. mind C. account D. opinion
8. A. few B. small C. little D. low
9. A. current B. nowadays C. actual D. instant
10. A. result B. system C. solution D. way
1. give a statement = make a statement : đưa ra lời khai
2. create (v): sáng tạo, tạo ra
3. examples (n): ví dụ
- demonstration (n): sự thể hiện
4. play up (phr v): tâng bốc, xu nịnh
- play down (phr v): xem nhẹ, hạ thấp
- run up (phr v): giá cả tăng nhanh
- run down (phr v): chỉ trích
5. temper (n): tính tình (nóng nảy), cơn giận
6. sleepy (adj): buồn ngủ, ngái ngủ
- leisurely(adj, adv): thảnh thơi, ung dung
- tiring (adj): sự mệt mỏi
- restful (adj): yên tĩnh
7. take into account (phr v): để ý, chú ý đến
8. little(adj): ít không đáng kể, đi với danh từ không đếm được
9. current (n): gần đây

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10. result (n): kết quả
- system (n): hệt thống
- solution (n): giải pháp
- way (n): cách

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2. Read the following text and fill in the blank with ONE suitable word. Write your
answers in corresponding numbered boxes.
The origin of language
The truth (0).___is __ nobody really knows how the language first began. Did we all
start talking at around the same time 1.__ because __ of the manner in which our brains
had begun to develop?
Although there is a lack of clear evidence, people have come up with various theories
about the origins of language. One recent theory is that human beings have evolved in
2.__such__ a way that we are programmed for language from the moment of birth. In
3._other___ words, language came about as a result of an evolutionary change in our
brains at some stage.
Language 4._ could/may/might __ well be programmed into the brain but, 5.____ despite _
this, people still need stimulus from others around them. From studies, we know that 6. _
if/when/whenever __ children are isolated 7._ from __ human contact and have not learnt
to construct sentences before they are ten, it is doubtful they will ever do 8.___so___. This
research shows, if 9. __ nothing/little __ else, that language is a social activity, not
something invented 10.__in____isolation.
- Because of : bởi vì + N phr/ V-ing

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 - In such a way: theo cách
- If nothing else (idm): nếu không có gì nữa

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 3. Read the following passage and circle the best answer to each of the following
questions. Write your answers in corresponding numbered boxes.
The Moon has been worshipped by primitive peoples and has inspired humans to
create everything from lunar calendars to love sonnets, but what do we really know about
it? The most accepted theory about the origin of the Moon is that it was formed of the
debris from a massive collision with the young Earth about 4.6 billion years ago. A huge
body, perhaps the size of Mars, struck the Earth, throwing out an immense amount of
debris that coalesced and cooled in orbit around the Earth.
The development of Earth is inextricably linked to the moon; the Moon’s
gravitational influence upon the Earth is the primary cause of ocean tides. In fact, the
Moon has more than twice the effect upon the tides than does the Sun. The Moon makes
one rotation and completes a revolution around the Earth every 27 days, 7 hours, and 43
minutes. This synchronous rotation is caused by an uneven distribution of mass in the
Moon (essentially, it is heavier on one side than the other) and has allowed the Earth’s
gravity to keep one side of the Moon permanently facing Earth. It is an average distance
from Earth of 384,403 km.
The Moon has no atmosphere; without an atmosphere, the Moon has nothing to
protect it from meteorite impacts, and thus the surface of the Moon is covered with impact
craters, both large and small. The Moon also has no active tectonic or volcanic activity, so
the erosive effects of atmospheric weathering, tectonic shifts, and volcanic upheavals that

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tend to erase and reform the Earth’s surface features are not at work on the Moon. In fact,
even tiny surface features such as the footprint left by an astronaut in the lunar soil are
likely to last for millions of years, unless obliterated by a chance meteorite strike. The
surface gravity of the Moon is about one-sixth that of the Earth’s. Therefore, a man
weighing 82 kilograms on Earth would only weigh 14 kilograms on the Moon.
The geographical features of the Earth most like that of the Moon are, in fact, places such
as the Hawaiian volcanic craters and the huge meteor crater in Arizona. The climate of the
Moon is very unlike either Hawaii or Arizona, however; in fact the temperature on the
Moon ranges between 123 degrees C. to –233 degrees C.
1.What is the passage primarily about?
A. the Moon’s effect upon the Earth
B. the origin of the Moon
C. what we know about the Moon and its differences to Earth
D. a comparison of the Moon and the Earth
- dẫn chứng: The most accepted theory about the origin of the Moon is that it was formed
of the debris from a massive collision with the young Earth about 4.6 billion years ago. A
huge body, perhaps the size of Mars, struck the Earth, throwing out an immense amount of
debris that coalesced and cooled in orbit around the Earth.
2. The word “massive” in the passage is closest in meaning to ________
A. unavoidable B. dense C. huge D. impressive
- massive = huge (adj): to lớn
3. The word “debris” in the passage is closest in meaning to______
A. rubbish B. satellites C. moons D. earth
- debris = rubbish (n): mảnh vỡ, vật bỏ đi
4. According to the passage, the Moon is______
A. older than the Earth
B. protected by a dense atmosphere
C. composed of a few active volcanoes

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D. the primary cause of Earth’s ocean tides
- dẫn chứng: The development of Earth is inextricably linked to the moon; the Moon’s
gravitational influence upon the Earth is the primary cause of ocean tides
5. The word “uneven“ in the passage is closest in meaning to ______
A. Heavier B. Equally distributed C. Orderly D. Not uniform
- uneven = not uniform: không đồng bộ
6. Why does the author mention “impact craters” in the paragraph 3?
A. to show the result of the Moon not having an atmosphere
B. to show the result of the Moon not having active tectonic or volcanic activity
C. to explain why the Moon has no plant life because of meteorites
D. to explain the corrosive effects of atmospheric weathering
- dẫn chứng: The Moon has no atmosphere; without an atmosphere, the Moon has nothing
to protect it from meteorite impacts, and thus the surface of the Moon is covered with
impact craters, both large and small
7. The word “erase” in the passage is closest in meaning to _________
A. change B. impact C. obliterate D. erupt
- erase = obliterate (v): xóa sạch, phá hủy
8. A person on the Moon would weigh less than on the Earth because_____
A. of the composition of lunar soil
B. the surface gravity of the Moon is less
C. the Moon has no atmosphere
D. the Moon has no active tectonic or volcanic activity
- dẫn chứng: The surface gravity of the Moon is about one-sixth that of the Earth’s.
Therefore, a man weighing 82 kilograms on Earth would only weigh 14 kilograms on the
Moon.

9. All of the following are true about the Moon EXCEPT____

A. it has a wide range of temperatures.

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B. it is heavier on one side than the other.
C. it is unable to protect itself from meteorite attacks.
D. it has less effect upon the tides than the Sun.
- dẫn chứng: The Moon also has no active tectonic or volcanic activity, so the erosive
effects … in the lunar soil are likely to last for millions of years, unless obliterated by a
chance meteorite strike.
10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. the Moon is not able to support human life.
B. if the Moon had no gravitational influence, the Earth would not have tides.
C. people living in Hawaii and Arizona would feel at home on the Moon.
D. Mars could have been formed in a similar way to the Moon.
- dẫn chứng: The Moon has no atmosphere; without an atmosphere, the Moon has nothing
to protect it from meteorite impacts, and thus the surface of the Moon is covered with
impact craters, both large and small

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 4. Read the following text and do the tasks that follow.
For questions 1-5, choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of
headings (I-VIII) below.
I. The fascination explained
II. Speedsters thwarted by manufacturers
III. A policy well conceived
IV. Speed limits that are not speed limits
V. Recklessness rewarded
VI. Safety compromised

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 VII. Safety not only factor driving speed regulators
VIII. The longest motorways examined

1. Paragraph A I. The fascination explained

- dẫn chứng: No, indeed, what fascinates us about the autobahns has nothing to do with
their technical or design features. It is though, a lot to do with how fast you can go on
them.
2. Paragraph B IV. Speed limits that are not speed limits
- dẫn chứng: Nonetheless, the fact remains that all other cars, trucks and motorbikes, while
encouraged to adhere to the ‘recommended’ speed limit, are by no means bound to it and
can, in effect, travel as fast as they please
3. Paragraph C VII. Safety not only factor driving speed regulators
- dẫn chứng: Indeed, safety considerations aside, the Germans have even imposed speed
limits for other purposes, such as to reduce pollution and noise on some stretches of the
autobahn
4. Paragraph D III. A policy well conceived
- dẫn chứng: 98% of vehicles on the road do in fact have their speeds very strictly
regulated, and these regulations are also heavily enforced. Speed cameras are everywhere
and the motorways are patrolled by unmarked police cars ready to pull over speed
offenders and reckless drivers
5. Paragraph E II. Speedsters thwarted by manufacturers
-dẫn chứng: all German car manufacturers (and most international ones) keep to a
gentlemen’s agreement whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h
for safety reasons as,…..
Uncovering the truth about Germany’s autobahns
A._______
Officially the Bundesautobahnen, which, when translated, means federal
expressways, we know them more commonly as the autobahns – Germany’s impressive
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system of motorways. There is nothing extraordinary about them, fine feats of engineering
though they may be, so why has the term autobahn become so well-known? The simple
answer is that people living outside of Germany have had their curiosity more than a little
tickled on account of the fact that Germany’s motorways are, in one specific way, very
unique indeed. They are not the longest system in the world, this plaudit going to the
Interstate Highway System of America, nor are they even second or third (China and India
respectively), and though they come a healthy fourth in the length stakes, this is really
neither here nor there. No, indeed, what fascinates us about the autobahns has nothing to
do with their technical or design features. It is though, a lot to do with how fast you can go
on them. The autobahns, you see, are the only stretch of motorway in the world on which
you can drive your car (provided it is not towing a trailer) at, well, any speed you like.
Now, that’s a very attractive proposition for many boy-racers out there who would salivate
at the prospect of being able to drive as fast as they wanted, and therefore, on that rather
scary point, perhaps we should consider asking the, well, obvious question: what on earth
were the Germans thinking when they did this? Surely having no speed limit whatsoever is
a recipe of disaster.
B. _______
To clarify, there is a ‘recommended’ speed limit of 130km/h on all stretches of
German motorway, and a hard limit is imposed on some vehicles. Buses carrying standing
passengers and motorbikes pulling trailers cannot go faster than 60 km/h. All other buses,
as well as passenger cars and trucks with trailers, and all vehicles weighing in excess of
3.5 tonnes are not allowed to exceed 80 km/h. Rare exceptions include buses that have
been officially certified to travel at 100 km/h and passenger cars carrying trailers that have
received similar certification. Nonetheless, the fact remains that all other cars, trucks and
motorbikes, while encouraged to adhere to the ‘recommended’ speed limit, are by no
means bound to it and can, in effect, travel as fast as they please. Indeed, many of them do
and it is not uncommon to see a car racing past you on the autobahn travelling in excess of
140 km/h.

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C. _______
In such circumstances, it would not be at all surprising to learn that Germany has an
awful record on road safety, except that it doesn’t. Indeed, Germany’s road safety record is
comparable, and in some cases superior, to that of all other industrialized European
countries. So is this just luck rewarding recklessness? Well, first of all, it’s important to
concede that speed limits do apply at junctions and other danger spots, such as sections
under repair, and that there are even weather-related speed limits on some stretches of the
autobahn (lower speed limits are used in cases of wet lanes). To fail to point this out would
be to paint a picture, rather unfairly, of speed-hungry officials putting the travelling public
in jeopardy on roads in order to gratify their own thrill-lust. Of course, this is not the case.
Indeed, safety considerations aside, the Germans have even imposed speed limits for other
purposes, such as to reduce pollution and noise on some stretches of the autobahn, so there
is no crazy speed-fuelled agenda here. ‘Mad’ you may say, but the Germans actually seem
to think this is safe.
D. _______
And the statistics appear to back them up though. After all, the International Traffic
Safety Data and Analysis Group’s research indicates that there are 2.2 road-user fatalities
per billion vehicle kilometers on German autobahns each year. Using the same statistics,
4.5 fatalities occur on United States motorways each year. In fact, when you look beyond
the myth of the motorway without speed limits, where drivers regularly clock up speeds in
excess of 200 km/h, and uncover the more sober reality, you realize that the German
approach might not be so draft as it first seemed. For a start, only 2% of all traffic
regularly travels on the unrestricted stretches of motorway as, despite the vast area they
cover, they are strategically located in rural areas with low traffic volume. The other 98%
of vehicles on the road do in fact have their speeds very strictly regulated, and these
regulations are also heavily enforced. Speed cameras are everywhere and the motorways
are patrolled by unmarked police cars ready to pull over speed offenders and reckless
drivers. The Germans have also taken into consideration statistics which show that very

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few road accidents occur on motorways in low-volume traffic each year. In fact, these
stretches of motorway offer up some of the safest driving conditions, statistically speaking,
of all. The Germans have therefore reasoned that they don’t need to regulate rural
motorways a great deal, and it would seem they are right.
E. _______
Furthermore, the myth of limitless speed is also quite misleading. In reality, all
German car manufacturers (and most international ones) keep to a gentlemen’s agreement
whereby they limit the top speed of their cars to around 150 km/h for safety reasons as,
unless tyre pressure is optimally maintained and cars are constantly serviced (as would
happen, say, in motor racing), travelling at higher speeds than that is, well, extremely risky
and can lead to blowouts and other physical and mechanical failures that have the potential
to cause death. Therefore, the situation is a little different than we might have assumed
because while there is no official speed limit in theory, car manufacturers self-regulate so,
in practice, a limit on the maximum speed vehicles can travel at has been put in place. In
addition, the few vehicles which are capable of clocking speeds in excess of 150 km/h
seldom get the opportunity (the time and space) to build up to these speeds on the German
autobahns, and, if they do, well, the way the German government sees it, they might as
well be driving that fast there rather than in the suburbs, so let them do it!
For questions 6-7, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
6. Special motorway speed limits ___________
A. are sometimes imposed on all vehicles in difficult driving conditions.
B. never apply to cars, trucks and motorcycles, which can travel at any speed, provided
they are not towing a trailer
C. like all speed limits in Germany- are only recommended maximum speeds, and are not
enforceable in law.
D. are only seen at junctions and on stretches of motorway which need work.
- dẫn chứng: Well, first of all, it’s important to concede that speed limits do apply at
junctions and other danger spots, such as sections under repair, and that there are even

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weather-related speed limits on some stretches of the autobahn (lower speed limits are
used in cases of wet lanes).
7. What do you think is the writer’s view of the German approach to speed regulation?
A. It is irresponsible and reckless
B. It initially appears baffling, but, on closer inspection, makes a lot of sense
C. It is inadequate in cities and leaves a lot to be desired in rural areas
D. It is over-reliant on self-regulation by manufacturers and even drivers themselves
- dẫn chứng: what on earth were the Germans thinking when they did this?
- The Germans have therefore reasoned that they don’t need to regulate rural
motorways a great deal, and it would seem they are right.

For questions 8-10, complete the sentences. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
from the passage for each answer.
8. For cars operating at high speeds, it is necessary to maintain optimal tyre pressure and
ensure that the vehicle is serviced regularly in order to combat the heightened risk of
_physical and mechanical failures.
- dẫn chứng: travelling at higher speeds than that is, well, extremely risky and can lead to
blowouts and other physical and mechanical failures that have the potential to cause death
9. In reality, due to the practice whereby _manufacturers self-regulate__, few vehicles
have the capacity at speeds in excess of 150 km/h.
- dẫn chứng: car manufacturers self-regulate so, in practice, a limit on the maximum speed
vehicles can travel at has been put in place. In addition, the few vehicles which are capable
of clocking speeds in excess of 150 km/h seldom get the opportunity
10. When it comes to vehicles which can and are determined to travel at very high speeds,
__the (German) goverment___ would rather they attempted to drive excessively fast on the
parts of the motorway it deems safe than anywhere else.
- dẫn chứng: In addition, the few vehicles which are capable of clocking speeds in
excess of 150 km/h seldom get the opportunity (the time and space) to build up to these

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speeds on the German autobahns, and, if they do, well, the way the German government
sees it, they might as well be driving that fast there rather than in the suburbs, so let them
do it!

Your answers:

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

D. WRITING (50 points)

Part 1. Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets so that the meaning stays the
same. You must use between THREE and EIGHT words, including the word given.
1. Attendance at the additional evening lectures is not obligatory for students. (under)
Students _ are under no obligation to attend ___ the additional evening lectures.

- to be under an obligation to do [sth]: có nghĩa vụ phải làm gì

- to be under no obligation to do [sth]: không có nghĩa vụ phải làm gì

2. All are eligible for the contest. There is no discrimination of race and sex. (regardless)
All are eligible __ for taking/to take part in the contest regardless of _______ race and
sex.
- Regardless of + clause/ N/ N phr: bất chấp , mặc kệ
- Take part in (phr V): tham gia
3. We were very much surprised to learn that Brian had become a monk. (To)
To our surprise,_____________, Brian had become a monk.
- to one’s surprise (phr): ngạc nhiên thay

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4. Some people will do anything to lose weight. (lengths)
Some people will _ go to great length__________ to lose weight.
- go to great length (idm): nỗ lực để làm điều gì đó
5. He didn’t mention our previous conversation at all. (reference)
He made ____ no reference to_______ our previous conversation.
- make no reference to: khống nhắc, đề cập đến
Part 2. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the
same as the sentence printed before it.
1. It was not until five years had elapsed that the whole truth about the murder came out.
Not for another five years did the whole truth about the murder come out.______
- not for another hour: nói về việc gì đó sẽ không xảy ra ít nhất cho đến khi..
- another+ danh từ số ít/ một khoảng thời gian/ một đơn vị đo lường: một...khác nữa/ thêm
nữa
2. The only reason why she got promotion is that she’s very competent.
Were it not for her competence, she wouldn’t get promotion _____________
- Câu đảo ngữ đk loại 2: Were + S + V2, S + could/ would + V-inf
3. Something must be done quickly to solve the problem of homelessness.
Urgent action is/measures are necessary/essential to solve the problem.
- Urgent action/steps must be taken/Urgent measures must be adopted to solve the
problem.
- urgent action: hành động khẩn cấp
- measure (n): biện pháp, cách xử trí
4. It’s such a wonderful opportunity that we mustn’t miss it.
It’s too wonderful an opportunity for us to miss.
- cấu trúc: S + be +too +adj (for s.o) + to V
5. You’re far more practical than I am.
Nowhere else am I as practical as you are.
- So sánh bằng: S + tobe as +adj +as

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 - Đảo ngữ nowhere: nowhere + Aux (trợ động từ) + S + V-inf

Part 3: In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general education

across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range of subjects
related to a particular career.

Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today’s world?

Write an essay of about 200-250 words to express your opinion. Give reasons and specific
examples to support your answer.
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_________________________________________________________________________
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_THE END_
Người biên soạn: Nguyễn Thị Vân Khánh (0918795856)

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