ĐỀ THI HSG LỚP 8 (SO 2)

SECTION I: LISTENING (4.0 pts)

Part 1. You are going to hear a person calling an accommodation agency about an apartment she wants to
rent. Listen and complete the form. Write no more than TWO WORDS AND/ OR NUMBER for each answer.
Write your answers in the Answer Sheets. (2.0 pts)
GOOD MOVES ACCOMMODATION AGENCY
Call taken by: Ben
Name: (1)……………………..
Telephone: (2)……………………..
Heard about us from: (3)……………………..
Type of accommodation preferred: (4)……………………..
Number of people: (5)……………………..
Preferred location: Want to be closed to (6)……………………..
Price: Maximum: (7) £…………………….. per person (including (8)……………………..)
Additional notes:
I suggested flat 3 at (9)…………………….. Road in Bampton.
I will send further details to customer by (10)……………………..

Part 2. You are going to hear a conversation between Warren and Lindsay. Listen and answer questions by
choosing the appropriate letter A, B, or C. Write your answers in the Answer Sheets. (1.0 pt)
11. Why did Lindsay want to be Wonder Woman?
A. She can help people. B. She liked Superman. C. She is beautiful.
12. Why did Lindsay want to be a businesswoman?
A. To have a big house. B. To wear black suits. C. To tell people what to do.
13. Why did Lindsay think a PR specialist would be the perfect job?
A. She wanted to work with celebrities. B. A friend could get her a job. C. She liked planning parties.
14. What made Lindsay change her mind about being a PR specialist?
A. She found a man and got married. B. She likes planning parties. C. She wanted to help people.
15. What does she want to do in the future?
A. Have a lot of children. B. Help homeless people. C. Help homeless animals.
You will hear a conversation between a a boy, Marcus, and a girl, Catherine, about their homework. Decide if each
sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, type T for true and type F for false if incorrect. Write your answers
in the Answer Sheets. (1.0 pt)
_____1 Catherine finds it hard to understand why Marcus has so much homework.
_____2 Marcus agrees that he could change his weekend activities.
_____3 Catherine thinks visiting the museum was a good experience for Marcus..
_____4 Catherine offers to show Marcus the maths homework she has already done.
_____5 Marcus worries that his teacher might be angry if Catherine helps him.
_____6 After talking to Catherine, Marcus feels more confident about his homework.
SECTION III: LEXICO-GRAMMAR (6.0 pts)
Part 1. Choose the option (A, B, C or D) that best completes each of the following questions
21. Don't speak so fast, please. I cannot keep _______ with you.
A. on B. away C. up D. out
22. If I had known how difficulty the job was, I _______ it.
A. won't have taken B. wouldn't take C. won't take D. wouldn't have taken
23. I didn’t see the whole occurrence. I just managed to catch a_______ of it.
A. glimpse B. look C. sight D. view
24. The more make-up she puts on, _______.
A. she looks less attractive B. less attractive does she look
C. the less attractive she looks D. the less she looks attractive
25. The passengers were asked to put on life belts for the_______ of their safety.
A. risk B. sake C. care D. point
26. No matter_______, Betty wouldn’t listen to him.
A. how hardly did Tom try to explain B. as how hard Tom tried explaining
C. if Tom tried to explain hardly D. how hard Tom tried to explain
27. All students went to the magic show, which we thought was really________.
A. amused B. amusing C. amusingly D. amuse
28. Last Sunday was ________ that we took a drive in the country.
A. so beautiful day B. such beautiful a day C. such a beautiful weather D. so beautiful a day
29. The region is referred to as the “Land of Fruit” _______ it yields a bountiful harvest of oranges and apples.
A. such as B. so that C. because D. although
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30. A new species of tomato ________ adapted to harsh climatic conditions has been developed.
A. that is B. which are C. who is D. what is
31. Laura starts a conversation with Maya- Jane’s sister.
Laura: “You must be Jane's sister. Glad to meet you.” Maya: “ ”
A. I am, either. B. So I am. I'm glad. C. What do you do? D. Me too.
32. John: This grammar test is the hardest one we’ve ever had this semester! Mary: ___ but I think it’s quite easy.
A. I couldn’t agree more B. I understand what you’re saying
C. You’re wrong D. I don’t see in that way
Choose the word or phrase that is CLOSEST in meaning
33. Father has lost his job, so we’ll have to tighten our belt to avoid getting into debt.
A. earn money B. save money C. sit still D. economize
34. Mary will be like a dog with two tails if she gets into the team.
A. very exhausted B. extremely pleased C. very proud D. extremely dazed
Choose the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in meaning
35. Henry has found a temporary job in a factory.
A. eternal B. genuine C. permanent D. satisfactory
36. Not only my study but my hobbies also really keep me occupied every time.
A. worried B. relaxing C. busy D. free
Part 2. Each of the following sentences has one mistake. Identify the mistakes. (10 pts)
1. For thousands of years, man has created sweet-smelling substances from wood, herbs and flowers and using
them for perfumes or medicine.
A B C D
2. There are many different ways of comparing the culture of one nation with those of another.
A B C D
3. She only had a twenty-dollars bill with her when she landed at Healthrow airport.
A B C D
4. I was very busy lately since the project of designing the new collection started.
A B C D
5. Sometimes it takes me about three hours finishing my round.
A B C D
6. Little have people done to alleviate the sea pollution caused by the factories in central Vietnam, haven’t they?
A B C D
7. I can’t find the letter I received from my boss some days ago. I might throw it into the waste paper bin yesterday.
A B C D
8. Unlike the old one, this new copier can perform their functions in half the time.
A B C D
9. Building thousands of years ago, the ancient palace is popular with modern tourists.
A B C D
10. It is the recommendation of many psychologists that a learner ought to use mental images to associate word
and remember them.
A B C D
Part 3. Fill in each blank with the correct form of the given word in capital. (10 pts)
1. A child receives its early .............. at home. EDUCATE
2. Which is .................... movie or play? INTEREST
3. If you are a driver, remember to drive ............... CARE
4. My teacher found a lot of mistakes in my essay and told me to .............. it. WRITE
5. Traditional ................... are a good source of fun and entertainment. CELEBRATE
6. My tooth was really ..................._, so I went to see the dentist. PAIN
7. I’m afraid you aren’t suitably ................... for the job . QUALIFICATION
8. She has an _................... command of the language. IMPRESS
9. I watch the news everyday because it’s very ................... INFORM
10. I am thankful to my teacher who always gives me lots of...................to better my knowledge. COURAGE

SECTION IV: READING (5.0 pts)

Part 1. For questions from 51 to 60, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.
There is no one who has not heard of Walt Disney. He is without doubt one of the most famous figures in the
twentieth century and yet most people know hardly anything about him. (1) _____ he became one of the most
successful men in history, he (2) _____ school at the age of sixteen and then studied art for a short time. By the (3)
_____ year of the 20th century, he had already started to produce cartoons in Hollywood in (4) _____ with his brother
Roy, who, for some reasons, never (5) _____ to become as famous as Walt Disney. Disney is perhaps most well-
known on (6) _____ of his lovable cartoon character, Mickey Mouse, who first (7) _____ in 1928 in a film called
Steamboat Willie. One of the most popular cartoon films of all time is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which,
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when it was (8) _____ in 1937, was the first full-length cartoon in the history of the cinema. By the 1950s, Walt
Disney had become one of the world’s major (9) _____ of films for cinema and television. As Disney Productions
grew, its founder retained complete artistic control of the films and he also (10) _____ on to publish books for
children and cartoon strips in newspapers, featuring such characters as Donald Duck and Pluto the dog.
1. A. Despite B. In spite of C. Although D. Even
2. A. graduated B. completed C. failed D. left
3. A. primary B. early C. initial D. beginning
4. A. partnership B. friendship C. relationship D. already
5. A. managed B. succeeded C. reached D. achieved
6. A. case B. account C. view D. regard
7. A. appeared B. performed C. started D. began
8. A. seen B. released C. circulated D. advertised
9. A. businessman B. owners C. publishers D. producers
10. A. took B. put C. pushed D. went
Part 2. Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the questions
Niagara Falls, one of the most famous North American natural wonders, has long been a popular tourist destination.
Tourists today flock to see the two falls that actually constitute Niagara Falls: the 173- foot- high Horseshoe Falls on
the Canadian side of the Niagara River in the Canadian province of Ontario and the 182-foot-high American Falls on
the U.S. side of the river in the state of New York. Approximately 85 percent of the water that goes over the falls
actually goes over Horseshoe Falls, with the rest going over American Falls.
Most visitors come between April and October, and it is quite a popular activity to take a steamer out onto the river
and right up to the base of the falls for a close-up view. It is also possible to get a spectacular view of the falls from
the strategic locations along the Niagara River, such as Prospect Point of Table Rock, or from one of the four
observation towers which have heights up to 500 feet.
Tourists have been visiting Niagara Falls in large numbers since the 1800's; annual visitation now averages above 10
million visitors per year. Because of concern that all these tourists would inadvertently destroy the natural beauty of
this scenic wonder, the State of New York in 1885 created Niagara Falls Park in order to protect the land surrounding
American Falls. A year later Canada created Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side of the Niagara, around
Horseshoe Falls. With the area surrounding the falls under the jurisdiction of government agencies, appropriate steps
could be taken to preserve the pristine beauty of the area.
1. What is the major point that the author is making in this passage?
A. Niagara Falls can be viewed from either the American side or the Canadian side.
B.A trip to the United States isn’t complete without a visit to Niagara Falls.
C. Niagara Falls has had an interesting history.
D. It has been necessary to protect Niagara Falls from the many tourists who go there.
2. The word “flock” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by .
A. come by plane B. come in large number C. come out of boredom D. come without knowing what they will see
3. According to the passage, which of the following best describes Niagara Falls?
A. Niagara Falls consists of two rivers, one Canadian and the other American.
B. American Falls is considerably higher than Horseshoe Falls.
C. The Niagara River has two falls, one in Canada and one in The United States.
D. Although the Niagara River flows through the United States and Canada, the falls are only in the United States.
4. The expression “right up” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by .
A. turn to the right B. follow correct procedures C. travel upstream D. all the way up
5. The passage implies that tourists prefer to .
A. visit Niagara Falls during warmer weather B. see the falls from a great distance
C. take a ride over the falls D. come to Niagara Falls for a winter vacation.
6. According to the passage, why was Niagara Falls Park created?
A. To encourage tourists to visit Niagara Falls B. To show off the natural beauty of Niagara Falls
C. To protect the area around Niagara Falls D. To force Canada to open Queen Victoria Park
7. The paragraph following the passage most probably discusses .
A. additional ways to observe the falls B. steps taken by government agencies to protect the falls
C. a detailed description of the division of the falls between the United States and Canada
D. further problems that are destroying the area around the falls
Part 3. For questions 68 – 75, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word.
The Maldives, a paradise with tropical beaches and pure white sand, attracts about 500,000 (1) _____ every
year. But the natural beauty of this island nation may soon disappear. The 1,100 islands that (2) _____ up the
Maldives may disappear from the surface of the Earth in the next century because of global warming. (3) _____ to
scientists, the sea levels will rise by about 60cm in the next one hundred years. The islands are protected by coral
reefs. The rise of the oceans, however, will lead to higher (4) _____ and destroy the reefs. As a result, more salt from
the (5) _____ may spread to and destroy the ground and soil of the islands. Global warming will also damage
the fishing (6) _____ of the island. Plankton lives deeper when the water becomes warmer. So, tuna fish, the most
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important type of fish, live in deeper areas too. That means they are much harder to catch. Tourism in the Maldives is
in (7) _____ , too. The white sandy beaches could disappear as fast as the reefs. People wouldn’t come to dive in the
colorful water any more. The island’s leaders are (8) _____ of the dangers. Plans are underway to find a new living
area for the population. Finding a new homeland is not easy. One plan calls for the rescue of at least a few of the
islands. It may be possible to make them higher.
IV. You are going to read a magazine article about Sarah Bryant, an acupuncturist. Six sentences have been
removed from the article on the left. Choose the most suitable sentence from the list A-G on the right for each part
(1-6) of the article. There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
THIS MONTH IN LIFESTYLES WE FEATURE SARAH A PRACTISING ACUPUNCTURIST.
I’ve done a lot of travelling in Europe and Asia throughout my adult life and it was while I was teaching in China that
I became interested in acupuncture. It is common for people there to have acupuncture treatment, not only if they’re ill
but also to prevent the onset of diseases. It was after returning from China and witnessing how successful it had been
that I reached the decision to become an acupuncturist myself. I was lucky to discover that the town where I lived had
a famous and well-reputed college of traditional acupuncture.
Alternative medicine is particularly important for me because I firmly believe that it works on the level of body, mind
and spirit.
A. These are twelve acupuncture channels along which energy travels in the human body.
B. Also on a physical level I've treated a woman for problems with eczema.
C. I'd like to work with practitioners of homeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy and perhaps counselling.
D. There was a lot more to it than that though.
E. Contrary to popular belief, having the needles placed in your body is quite painless.
F. I've had a lot of acupuncture treatment and found it particularly useful.
G. This is very different from Western medicine which is supposed to work solely on the body.
1
Of course this medicine is very powerful and can consequently have powerful side effects. Alternative medicine like
acupuncture on the other hand is aimed at treating the person as a whole. When a person’s ill, there’s something in
their life which is putting their energy levels out of balance. What alternative therapies try to do is help to gradually
push that energy back into balance. The result is that any disease present might naturally disappear as it cannot survive
when energies are balanced.
The treatments consist largely of balancing the energy between the different meridians of a person’s body.
2
Treatment aims to free blocks of energy in these meridians which may be causing ill health and which may have been
there for many years. It would be an odd state of affairs if a practicing alternative therapist had not had treatment
themselves and this is certainly not the case for myself.
3
I’ve never suffered particularly from physical problems but treatment for my mental and spiritual wellbeing has been
very successful. I’ve treated a wide range of people for various conditions, for example people suffering from stress
and anxiety and helped them to cope with stressful situations in their lives.
4
There’s another woman who suffers from arthritis of the hip and at the moment I’m treating an old lady who has
several health problems, one of them being Parkinson’s Disease. All these people have found that acupuncture has
made them feel more balanced in themselves and they have certainly benefited from the treatment. To date I currently
own the Licentiate in Acupuncture. This course lasted three years and I had to go to the college about one weekend in
three.
5
I had a large amount of homework to do and practical work, which I did two or three evenings a week. This entailed
locating points on different people. As you can imagine, this isn’t straightforward as people are different sizes and
have different shaped bodies. In the future I hope to set up an alternative health clinic which will involve myself as an
acupuncturist but perhaps other people as well.
6
I’d like to set this up somewhere in a rural setting, where people could enjoy coming not only for the treatment but
where they would be able to sit and enjoy the scenery, go for walks and basically feel free from the stresses of life.
SECTION V: WRITING (5.0 pts)
Part 1. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the sentence printed before it,
1. As people use a lot of wood-pulp, many trees are cut down.
→The more ________________________________________________________ .
2. Immediately after his arrival home, a water-heater exploded.
→Hardly __________________________________________________________.
3. It was overeating that caused his heart attack.
→If he ____________________________________________________________.
4. My bank manager and I get on together very well.
→ I am on_________________________________________________________.
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5. They could be arrested for not giving a breath sample to the police.
→ Refusal _________________________________________________________.
6. I thought about what had happened all those years before.
→ I cast _________________________________________________________.
7. What put me off the idea was simply how expensive it was going to be.
→The sheer _______________________________________________________.
8. Scientists have tried very hard to find a cure for this disease.
→ Enormous _______________________________________________________.
9. He is by no means a smart boy.
→He is. ---------------------------------------------------------------
10. I take it for granted that he is influential person.
→I---------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2. Finish each of the following sentences so that it has a similar meaning to the sentences printed before it,
1. I don’t think we need to mention that matter now (UP )
→ I don’t think we need to____________________________________ now.
2. That old typewriter is not worth repairing. (POINTLESS)
→ Repairing _________________________________________________.
3. The journalist pretended that she was a parent of one of the children. (FALSE)
→ The journalist ______________________ that she was a parent of one of the children.
4. Come on Thursday or Friday. It’s all the same to me. (DIFFERENCE)
→ Come on Thursday or Friday. It __________________________________ me.
5. I don’t think there will be any applicants for this post. (LIKELIHOOD)
→ There______________________________ there will be any applicants for this post.
6. I used to be familiar with every corner of this school. (HAND)
→ I used to know this school like ________________________________ .
7. She felt uncomfortable in the huge hotel. (FISH)
→ She felt like________________________________ in the huge hotel.
8. Everything went well that morning. (NOTHING)
→------------------------------------- that morning.
9. A portion of strawberries and cream costs a lot in the café. (CHARGES)
→The café---------------------------------------------------------------
10. How likely am I to pass the examination, do you think? (CHANCE)
→What ------------------------------------------------------, do you think?
Part 3. Write an essay about 150 – 200 words on the following topic in the Answer Sheets: (2.0 pts)
More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list. What are the
reasons for this? What can be done to solve the problem?

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