HỘI CÁC TRƯỜNG CHUYÊN VÙNG ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI LẦN THỨ VIII

DUYÊN HẢI VÀ ĐỒNG BẰNG BẮC BỘ MÔN: TIẾNG ANH - KHỐI 10

Ngày thi: 16 tháng 4 năm 2017
Thời gian: 180 phút
Đề thi gồm: 12 trang
(Thí sinh viết câu trả lời vào bảng cho sẵn trong đề)
ĐỀ GIỚI THIỆU

Điểm Giám khảo 1 Giám khảo 2 Số phách

Bằng số Bằng chữ

A. LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1. You will hear the manager of a shop talking to a new employee called Penny.
Listen and write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each
answer. (10 pts)
Special staff staff discount of 1. ________ on everything except sale goods.
benefits or perks:
Information on pension: see Personnel Manager, office in 2. ________
Boss’s name: 3. ________
Duties: serve customers
4. ________
check for shoplifters
check the stock
Expected to wear: a 5. ________, a red blouse, and a name badge.
Part 2. You will hear a student called Joanna talking to her new supervisor about the
research she has done on psychology and music. (10 pts)
Questions 1-2: Which TWO characteristics were shared by the subjects of Joanna's
psychology study?
A. They had all won prizes for their music
B. They had all made music recordings
C. They were all under 27 years old.
D. They had all toured internationally
Questions 3-4: Which TWO points does Joanna make about her use of telephone
interviews?
A. It meant rich data could be collected
B. It led to a stressful atmosphere at times
C. It caused some technical problems
D. It allowed the involvement of top performers
Question 5: Which topic did Joanna originally intend to investigate in her research?

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A. changes in performer attitudes to concert dress
B. how choice of dress relates to performer roles
C. audience reactions to the dress of performers
D. regulations concerning concert dress
Part 3. Listen to the conversation between two friends and decide whether the statements
are True (T) or False (F) (10 pts)
1. Andy is writing an essay about different ancient civilizations. T/F
2. The land where Aztecs used to live is now part of the USA. T/F
3. It was very important for a boy to know how to fight well. T/F
4. Wendy thinks it was a shame not all girls went to school. T/F
5. The king didn’t make important decisions all by himself. T/F
Part 4. You will hear a lecturer introducing a case study to a group of finance students.
For questions 1-10, complete the sentences using up to three words. (20 pts)
CASE STUDY: COLLAPSE OF DALTON’S ELECTRICAL GOODS CHAIN
Background
That Dalton’s – a British electric goods chain collapsed came as a 1. ________ to
employees, shareholders and the general public.
Dalton’s had been facing greater competition from some 2. ________ for several years.
Previous attempts to 3. ________ Dalton’s or re-finance the business had failed.
The collapse
Dalton’s was unable to make 4. ________ payments which were due.
Staff were afraid that the 5. ________ that was run by ISQ Insurance would be short of
money.
ISQ Insurance stated that the scheme was administered by a 6. ________ who was external
to Dalton’s.
MacDougall Capital
At the time of the collapse, Dalton’s belonged to MacDougall Capital, a 7. ________ firm.
MacDougall believed it was entitled to receive 8. ________ in connection with its purchase
of Dalton’s.
MacDougall found a number of serious 9. “________” in Dalton’s accounts.
MacDougall claimed to have found a total 10. ________ of 3.7 million pounds.
B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (50 points)
Part 1. For questions 1-20, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to each of the
following questions. (20 pts)
1. He ________ some unusual educational beliefs.
A. keeps B. carries C. takes D. holds
2.There is a strong movement supporting the abolition of the death ________ .
A. penalty B. punishment C. discipline D. condemnation
3. The study adds to a growing ________ of evidence that links a lack of sleep with weight
gain.
A. body B. form C. hulk D. soul
4. “Are there any cookies left?” – “No, ________ .”
A. not anything B. nothing at all C. nothing whatever D. none whatsoever
5. It is ________ probable that they are the original bindings of the manuscript.

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A. widely B. highly C. utterly D. bitterly
6. The show was ________ bit as good as I expected.
A. every B. so C. very D. much
7. My grandparents still ________ to old-fashioned ideas.
A. grip B. seize C. cling D. grasp
8. So why is it that the hardest workers ________ standard are always the poorest of people.
A. by any B. from any C. for every D. in every
9. I’m hoping that this work experience will stand me in ________ in my future career.
A. a good grounding B. good stead C. fine precedent D. stable footing
10. The similarities between all three crimes were such that they could not be ________
down to chance.
A. put B. laid C. set D. taken
11. His team scored a ________ victory over their opponents.
A. broad B. narrow C. near D. mere
12. She doesn't mind working overtime because she gets paid ________ .
A. by the hour B. all the hour C. at the hour D. in the hour
13. People often complain that children nowadays don't seem to respect their ________ .
A. elderly B. elders C. aged D. age
14. There is a large effort ________ to rebuild arts education in the New York city public
schools.
A. under way B. a long way C. out of the way D. in the way
15. I see you've made the same mistake ________ again.
A. ever B. still C. yet D. not
16. All statistical analysis must allow for a ________ of error.
A. margin B. border C. frontier D. boundary
17. It's time to take a rough ________ against obesity.
A. stance B. measure C. legislation D. angle
18. The world's first boot camp for teenagers addicted to the Internet may be the ________
of things to come.
A. draft B. formula C. character D. shape
19. Questions have been raised about whether the meat industry has been given too
much .................. to police itself.
A. capital B. leeway C. scale D. vision
20. A U.N report claims that humans are inflicting damage to the environment that could
pass the .................. of no return.
A. peak B. point C. apex D.tip
Part 2. Read the following text which contains 10 mistakes. Identify the errors and write
the corrections in the corresponding numbered boxes. (10 pts)
Line
1 Many people want to know whether cycling is better than running or
2 walking as an exercise for health or weight loss. Not surprising, it turns out
3 that all three activities are excellent forms of exercise. While they are similar
4 in which they are all rhythmic aerobic activities working large muscle
5 masses, there are also significant differences. In general, in the three,

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 6 running burns more calories per minute. Considering a person who weighs
7 150 pounds. According to the National Academy of Exercise, this person
8 running at an average pace with seven minutes per mile burn approximately
9 1,000 calories per hour. This compares to about 850 calories per hour for
10 cycling at modest speed of 16 –19 miles per hour, and just 360 calories per
11 hour for walking 15-minute miles, which is considered average speed. While
12 running might be more efficient at burning calories than either cycling and
13 walking, it also leads to significantly more injuries, especially ones of the
14 knees and other joint. Both cycling and walking are much gentler on the
15 body. All three activities improve aerobic fitness, which is closely linked to
16 a reducing risk of chronic disease and longer life span.
Part 3. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with suitable particles/prepositions.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. There is an example at the
beginning (0). (10 pts)
0. He finds it hard to put _________ the noise of the nearby factory.
Answer: up with

1. I can't believe how cheap it is to fly to New York right now. It's like they're giving the
tickets ________.
2. Labor unions and the company face ________ in a confrontation over plans to curb
benefits.
3. There was a huge coffee stain on floor near the copy machine at work. My boss asked
who had made the mess, but nobody would own ________ to it. Maybe the culprit was
afraid that he or she would have to pay to have the carpet professionally cleaned.
4. Wayne missed ________ on the chance to go with us to the concert because he had the
flu.
5. One of the inmates at the local prison escaped last week and was on the run for over three
hours before they caught him. They used specially trained police dogs to track him
________.
6. Diana had wanted to spend Christmas in New Zealand, but her plans fell ________. She
couldn't get enough time off from work to make the trip worthwhile.
7. At first I didn't like living in New York, but now the city is starting to grow ________
me. I think I am adapting to the fast-paced lifestyle.
8. This looks as if it's going to set us ________ a small fortune. I had no idea it would be so
expensive.
9. Her lack of experience counted ________ her when she applied for promotion.
10. The launching of the Soviet Sputnik in 1957 touch ________ a subsequent space race
with the US.
Part 4. Write the correct FORM of the word given in capitals. (10 pts)
Almost without exception, when a little boy starts to cry, he’s told to put a brave face on it.
“Boys don’t cry!” is the familiar 1. EXCLAIM ________, and with this, we exert enormous
pressure on our sons to hide their emotions. Girls are almost 2. VARY ________ expected
to express their feelings, but it would be 3. ERROR ________ to believe that they are born

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weaker, more sensitive or with a greater natural 4. INCLINE ________ to cry. Boys have
feelings too.
According to several leading psychiastrists, boys are more vulnerable to psychological and
other problems later in life. Social pressures on them to be “tough” can 5. EFFECTIVE
________ their academic performance, and even lead to 6. SOCIETY ________ behaviour.
This, in turn, can manifest itself in 7. ACTION ________ of violence and recklessness. It is
even suspected that the 8. SIGNIFICANCE ________ higher rate of suicide among young
men is a result of boys being 9. ABILITY ________ to “get it off their chest”, as compared
to girls and women, who 10. CONFIDENCE ________ more readily in others and are
more likely to seek professional help if they are emotionally distressed.
C. READING (60 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. (15 pts)
That old saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" sums up what may well be the
most important 1. _________ of climbing the business ladder. Diligence, competence and
experience are fine 2. _________, but they are not enough.
While this is no great secret, the fact 3. _________ that skilled workers are few and 4.
_________between - yet business success depends on informal networking and sociologists
have 5. _________ that the majority of top jobs in the US are obtained through it. A vast 6.
_________of jobs are never advertised and of those that are, many have already been 7.
_________to someone known to the company. These processes 8. _________not just to
industry but to the government and public sector as well.
Potentially, colleagues, superiors, business friends, customers, suppliers can provide a
networker with information, addresses and open doors that make the difference between
stagnation and a rapid rise. Nonetheless, as a communications trainer in Germany put it:
"Many people just do not know how to 9. _________, develop and foster promising
relationships." For some, networking 10. _________ just too time-consuming or stressful.
Such individuals shut themselves in their office and minimize contact with the outside
world. They may do a great job of work, but they are unlikely to make great career strides.
1. A. measures B. resources C. means D. actions
2. A. marks B. qualities C. types D. distinctions
3. A. remains B. lasts C. continues D. keeps
4. A. long B. far C. wide D. broad
5. A. distinguished B. located C. viewed D. found
6. A. ratio B. division C. proportion D. section
7. A. promised B. assured C. declared D. warranted
8. A. carry B. engage C. suit D. apply
9. A. induct B. install C. invest D. initiate
10. A. shows B. proves C. turns D. results
Part 2. For questions 1-10, read the text below and think of word which best fits each gap.
Use only ONE word in each gap. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes. (15 pts)

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 Men and women are different. It is a premise universally accepted, 1. _________ the
subsequent argument concerning access to equal opportunities. However, what is beginning
to emerge is just how wide the gap is between the sexes.
2. _________ recently, it had been thought that many of the hundreds of genes on the X and
Y chromosomes were inactive, a consequence of damage during the 3. _________ of
combination and recombination which leads to the creation of a new human being. It was
believed that 4. _________ one of the two X chromosomes in women was active and 5.
_________ there were none on the Y chromosomes on men, 6. _________ the result that
both sexes would be comparable to 7. _________ one working X chromosome.
Now, it is known that both X chromosomes in women 8. _________ to a women's genetic
inheritance, while startling new evidence shows that the Y chromosome is 9. _________
from inactive. This means that men and women differ 10. _________ as much as one to two
percent of their genomes, an astounding figure when considering that there is only a 1.5%
difference between a man and a male chimpanzee, or a woman and a female chimpanzee.
Part 3. Read the text below. For questions 1-10, choose the best answer (A, B, C or D)
according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (15 pts)
Paragraph Decisions
In a theoretical model of decision making, a decision is defined as the process
of selecting one option from among a group of options for implementation.
[]4A. Decisions are formed by a decision maker, the one who actually chooses
the final option, in conjunction with a decision unit, all of those in the
1 organization around the decision maker who take part in the process. []4B. In
this theoretical model, the members of the decision unit react to an unidentified
problem by studying the problem, determining the objectives of the
organization, formulating options, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of
each of the options, and reaching a conclusion. []4C. Many different factors can
have an effect on the decision, including the nature of the problem itself,
external forces exerting an influence on the organization, the internal dynamics
of the decision unit, and the personality of the decision maker. []4D
During recent years, decision making has been studied systematically by
drawing from such diverse areas of study as psychology, sociology, business,
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government, history, mathematics, and statistics. Analyses of decisions often
emphasize one of three principal conceptual perspectives (though often the
approach that is actually employed is somewhat eclectic).
In the oldest of the three approaches, decisions are made by a rational actor,
who makes a particular decision directly and purposefully in response to a
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specific threat from the external environment. It is assumed that this rational
actor has clear objectives in mind, develops numerous reasonable options,
considers the advantages and disadvantages of each option carefully, chooses the
best option after careful analysis, and then proceeds to implement it fully. A
variation of the rational actor model is a decision maker who is a satisfier, one
who selects the first satisfactory option rather than continuing the decision-
making process until the optimal decision has been reached.
A second perspective places an emphasis on the impact of routines on
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 decisions within organizations. It demonstrates how organizational structures
and routines such as standard operating procedures tend to limit the decision-
making process in a variety of ways, perhaps by restricting the information
available to the decision unit, by restricting the breadth of options among which
the decision unit may choose, or by inhibiting the ability of the organization to
4 implement the decision quickly and effectively once it has been taken. Pre-
planned routines and standard operating procedures are essential to coordinate
the efforts of large numbers of people in massive organizations. However, these
same routines and procedures can also have an inhibiting effect on the ability of
the organization to arrive at optimal decisions and implement them efficiently.
In this sort of decision-making process, organizations tend to take not the
optimal decision but the decision that best fits within the permitted operating
parameters outlined by the organization.
A third conceptual perspective emphasizes the internal dynamics of the
decision unit and the extent to which decisions are based on political forces
within the organization. This perspective demonstrates how bargaining among
5 individuals who have different interests and motives and varying levels of power
in the decision unit lead to eventual compromise that is not the preferred choice
of any of the members of the decision unit.
Each of these three perspectives on the decision-making process
demonstrates a different point of view on decision making, a different lens
through which the decision-making process can be observed. It is safe to say that
6 decision making in most organizations shows marked influences from each
perspective; i.e., an organization strives to get as close as possible to the rational
model in its decisions, yet the internal routines and dynamics of the organization
come into play in the decision.

1. It can be inferred from the information in paragraph 1 that the theoretical decision-
making process
A. involves only the decision maker
B. requires the contemplation of numerous options.
C. is made without the decision unit
D. does not work in real situations
2. The phrase in conjunction with in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by
A. along with B. tied to C. apart from D. connected to
3. All of the following are listed in paragraph 1 as having an effect on decisions EXCEPT
A. evaluation of the problem B. focus on objectives
C. generation of options D. open-ended discussions
4. Look at the four squares [] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to
the passage
Additionally, when a decision must be made in a crisis situation, both stress and the speed
at which events are progressing can have an effect, often a negative one, on the decision
process.
5. The word eclectic in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

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A. bizarre B. personal C. mixed D. organized
6. It can be inferred from paragraph 3 that a rational actor would be least likely to
A. deal with a specific threat B. work in a random fashion
C. ponder various options D. consider disadvantages of options
7. The word it in paragraph 3 refers to
A. each option B. the best option C. careful analysis D. variation
8. Why does the author mention a satisfier, one who selects the first satisfactory option
rather than continuing the decision-making process until the optimal decision has been
reached in paragraph 3?
A. A satisfier shows contrasting behavior to a rational actor.
B. A satisfier exhibits more common behavior than a rational actor.
C. A satisfier is the predecessor of a rational actor.
D. A satisfier shares some characteristics with a rational actor.
9. According to paragraph 5, what is the end result of political bargaining within an
organization?
A. No decision is ever reached.
B. Differing interests and motives are changed.
C. No one is completely satisfied with the final outcome.
D. The members of the decision unit leave the unit.
10. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the underlined
sentence in paragraph 4? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave
out essential information.
A. Set routines within organizations tend to constrain decisions.
B. The restriction of information limits the number of options in a decision.
C. Organizations need to set up strict procedures to maximize the effectiveness of decisions.
D. Procedures are needed to ensure that decisions are implemented quickly and effectively.
Part 4. Read the passage and answer the questions from 1-10 (15 pts)

TACKLING OBESITY IN THE WESTERN WORLD

A. Obesity is a huge problem in many Western countries and one which now attracts
considerable medical interest as researchers take up the challenge to find a cure for the
common condition of being seriously overweight. However, rather than take responsibility
for their weight, obese people have often sought solace in the excuse that they have a slow
metabolism, a genetic hiccup which sentences more than half the Australian population
(63% of men and 47% of women) to a life of battling with their weight. The argument goes
like this: it doesn’t matter how little they eat, they gain weight because their bodies break
down food and turn it into energy more slowly than those with a so-called normal metabolic
rate.
B. “This is nonsense,” says Dr Susan Jebb from the Dunn Nutrition Unit at Cambridge
in England. Despite the persistence of this metabolism myth, science has known for several
years that the exact opposite is in fact true. Fat people have faster metabolisms than thin
people. “What is very clear,” says Dr Jebb, “ is that overweight people actually burn off
more energy. They have more cells, bigger hearts, bigger lungs and they all need more
energy just to keep going.”

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C. It took only one night, spent in a sealed room at the Dunn Unit to disabuse one of
their patients of the beliefs of a lifetime: her metabolism was fast, not slow. By sealing the
room and measuring the exact amount of oxygen she used, researchers were able to show
her that her metabolism was not the culprit. It wasn’t the answer they expected and probably
not the one she wanted but she took the news philosophically.
D. Although the metabolism myth has been completely disproved, science has far from
discounted our genes as responsible for making us whatever weight we are, fat or thin. One
of the world’s leading obesity researchers, geneticist Professor Stephen O’Rahilly, goes so
far as to say we are on the threshold of a complete change in the way we view not ony
morbid obesity, but aslo everyday overweight. Prof.O’Rahilly’s groundbreaking work in
Cambridge has proven that obesity can be caused by our genes. “These people are not weak-
will, slothful or lazy,” says Pro.O’Rahilly, “They have a medical condition due to genetic
defect and that causes them to be obese.”
E. In Australia, the University of Sydney’s Professor Ian Caterson says while major
genetic defects may be rare, many people probably have minor genetic variations that
combine to dictate weight and are responsible for things such as how much we eat, the
amount of exercise we do and the amount of energy we need. When you add up all these
little variations, the result is that some people are genetically predisposed to putting on
weight. He says while the fast/slow metabolism debate may have been settled, that doesn’t
mean some other subtle changes in the metabolism gene won’t be found in overweight
people. He is confident that science will, eventually, be able to “cure” some forms of
obesity but the only effective way for the vast majority of overweight and obese people to
lose weight is a change of diet and an increase in exercise.
F. Despite the $500 million a year Australians spend trying to lose weight and the $830
million it costs the community in health care, obesity is at epidemic proportions here, as it is
in all Western nations. Until recently, research and treatment for obesity had concentrated
on behaviour modification, drugs to decrease appetite and surgery. How the drugs worked
was often not understood and many caused severe side effects and even death in some
patients. Surgery for obesity has also claimed many lives.

Questions 1-5: Choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph. Write the
appropriate numbers (i-ix) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

i. Obesity in animals Paragraph A x

ii. Hidden dangers
iii. Proof of the truth 1. Paragraph B
iv. New perspective on the horizon 2. Paragraph C
v. No known treatment 3. Paragraph D
vi. Expert explains energy requirements of obese people 4. Paragraph E
vii. Nature or nurture 5. Paragraph F
viii. Shifting the blame
ix. Lifestyle change required despite new findings
Questions 6-10
Complete the summary below, using the words from the box provided.

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 OBESITY
People with a weight problem often try to deny responsibility. They do this by seeking to
blame their 6. ________ for the fact that they are overweight and erroneously believe that
they use 7. ________ energy than thin people to stay alive. However, recent research has
shown that a 8.________ problem can be responsible for obesity as some people seem
programmed to 9.________ more than others. The new research points to a shift from trying
to change people’s 10.________ to seeking an answer to the problem in the laboratory.

List of words
weight exercise sleep
mind bodies exercise
metabolism more genetic
less physical consume
behaviour use mental

IV. Writing:
Part 1. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as
possible in meaning to the sentence printed before it. (10 pts)
1. I explained what had happened but they totally refused to accept what I said.
 They found ____________________________________________
2. The stadium capacity has been considerably expanded following the rise in the number of
spectators.
 The rise in the number of spectators has led to _________________
3. We may as well start the meeting, now that we are all here.
 As ___________________________________________________
4. The day was unbearably hot until the sun went down.
 Only __________________________________________________
5. It’s a widespread assumption that George was wrongly accused.
 George _________________________________________________
Part 2. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in brackets and the meaning
stays the same. Do NOT change the form of the given word. You must use between
THREE and EIGHT words, including the word given.
1. The mistake in the accounts was not noticed until the figures were re-checked. (light)
 The mistake in the accounts only ______________ the figures were re-checked.
2. It's possible that they got the wrong idea and thought the party was next week.
(reached)
 They might ______________ conclusion and thought the party was next week.
3. When I realized what had happened, I became quite afraid. (overcome)
 I ______________ when I worked out what had happened.
84. I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was so late. (track)
 Sorry, I ______________ time.
5. I feel completely exhausted when I've listened to Marion for half-an-hour. (leaves)
 Half-an-hour ______________ completely exhausted.

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Part 3. Write a paragraph of about 180-200 words expressing your opinion on the
following topic:
“City living in the 21st century is stressful and offers no advantages.”
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

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