PAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO KỲ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI VÒNG TỈNH THPT

ĐỀ THI THỬ HSG TỈNH SỐ 07 NĂM 2020

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH

Thời gian thi: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
Ngày thi:
Đề thi có 15 trang

* Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển

* Giám thị không giải thích gì thêm.
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 1-9, listen to radio programme cautioning travellers to Thailand on the risk of
breaking the law there and decide whether these statements are True (T) or False (F). Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. The majority of British tourists go to Thailand because drugs are cheap there.
2. Twenty-three British prisoners are serving life sentences in Thailand.
3. Thai drug dealers caught in possession of 100 grams of heroin are executed.
4. Suspects in narcotics trials may spend more than three months on remand.
5. Foreign suspects who can afford a private lawyer are dealt with by the courts more quickly.
6. By insisting on a trial, a suspect may end up spending longer in prison.
7. Foreign prisoners receive harsher treatment from the prison authorities than Thai prisoners.
8. Many foreign prisoners in Thai jails are in bad health.
9. British prisoners in Thailand can reduce their sentences by applying for a transfer to a British jail.

Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Part 2. For questions 10-15, listen to a radio discussion about writing a novel and choose the correct
answer A, B, C or D which fits best according to what you hear. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided.
10. What does Louise say about Ernest Hemingway's advice to writers?
A. It is useful to a certain extent.
B. It applies only to inexperienced novelists.
C. It wasn't intended to be taken seriously.
D. It might confuse some inexperienced novelists.
11. Louise says that you need to get feedback when you
A. have not been able to write anything for some time.
B. are having difficulty organizing your ideas.
C. are having contrasting feelings about what you have written.
D. have finished the book but not shown it to anyone.
12. Louise says that you should get feedback from another writer because
A. it is easy to ignore criticism from people who are not writers.
B. another writer may be kinder to you than friends and relatives.
C. it is hard to find other people who will make an effort to help you.
D. another writer will understand what your intentions are.
13. What does Louise regard as useful feedback?
A. a combination of general observations and detailed comments
B. both identification of problems and suggested solutions

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C. comments focusing more on style than on content
D. as many points about strengths as weaknesses
14. What does Louise say about the people she gets feedback from?
A. Some of them are more successful than her.
B. She doesn't only discuss writing with them.
C. She also gives them feedback on their work.
D. It isn't always easy for her to get together with them.
15. One reaction to feedback that Louise mentions is that
A. it is justified but would require too much effort to act on.
B. it focuses on unimportant details rather than key issues.
C. it has been influenced by reading other people's novels.
D. it is not suggesting that major changes to the novel are required.

Your answers
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Part 3. For questions 16-25, listen to a talk given by a lecturer on Agriculture and Environment and
supply the blanks with the missing information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR
A NUMBER taken from the recording for each answer in the space provided.
16. Frederick was the name of the duke made famous in a well-known________________.
17. Frederick was aged_____________ when he was sent to war.
18. His battles against the_______________ ended in total disaster.
19. In 1798, George III gave his son a______________ within the ranks of the military.
20. Frederick should not be held wholly accountable for failing: the__________________ of his fighters
made victory difficult to achieve.
21. The people Frederick commanded were mostly old men, new conscripts or_______________.
The Grand Old Duke of York:
— wanted to enlist better types of 22__________________
— made the army better by bringing in chaplains, medics and 23_________________
— established a college for preparing army 24__________________
— established school in Chelsea for sons of soldiers
— gave up the position of Commander-in-Chief in 1807 because of a 25_______________
— re-appointed later (in 1811) by his brother (George IV)
— died in 1827

II. PHONETICS (10 POINTS)

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Part 1. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others.
26. A. packed B. punched C. pleased D. pushed
27. A. gives B. passes C. dances D. finishes
28. A. germ B. gesture C. gene D. gear
29. A. both B. cloth C. ghost D. sold
30. A. Chile B. recipe C. catastrophe D. kerosene

Part 2. Choose the word which is stressed differently from the others.
31. A. actor B. career C. rubbish D. cocktail
32. A. popular B. impatient C. decisive D. observant
33. A. accuracy B. fabulous C. immediate D. optimist
34. A. compromise B. picturesque C. European D. guarantee
35. A. supernatural B. hyperactive C. counterclockwise D. technobabble

Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

III. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (40 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 36-55, 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.
36. Mary: “Thanks a lot for your help.”
John: “_____________.”
A. My happiness B. My delight C. My excitement D. My pleasure
37. Visitors to the local museum are mostly attracted by _____________ rocking chair.
A. a beautiful old European wooden B. an old beautiful wooden European
C. a wooden old beautiful European D. an old wooden European beautiful
38. Having traveled to different parts of our country, _____________.
A. we have learned a lot about interesting lifestyles and customs
B. we are seeing a lot of interesting lifestyles and customs
C. many interesting lifestyles and customs have been learned by us
D. much has been learned about interesting lifestyles and customs
39. After a while, the flat was silent again. The baby had cried himself _____________. His mother
sighed with relief.
A. sleeping B. to sleeping C. into sleeping D. to sleep
40. Team leaders need to be _____________; they need to have the skills to make things happen rather
than waiting for things to happen and then reacting to them.
A. high-powered B. proactive C. creased D. receptive
41. You say that Rose has _____________ abilities, but I don’t believe anyone can predict the future.
A. physical B. sensory C. neurological D. psychic
42. Sadly, the old man’s _____________ means that he can’t be left alone even for a few minutes.
A. mindlessness B. sanity C. senility D. disruption
43. _____________ James Hill didn’t hesitate before jumping into the river to save his beloved pet
Labrador.
A. Plucky B. Gregarious C. Compassionate D. Bubbly
44. We should all _____________ when advertisers attempt to use unfair practices.
A. make a stand B. make a comeback
C. make amends D. make a deal
45. He didn’t have a _____________ of evidence to support his claims.
A. sign B. scrap C. sense D. state
46. The opposition protests against the government now threaten to get out of _____________ and the
security forces are likely to make arrests around the country today.
A. reach B. kilter C. hand D. ordinary
47. The entire staff was thrown off _____________ when the news of the takeover was announced.
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A. composure B. disarray C. stable D. balance
48. The full horror of the war only hit ___________ when we started seeing the television pictures of it.
A. base B. down C. home D.
back
49. The headmaster at my last school was a stern disciplinarian and made sure we ___________ the line.
A. drew B. faced C. touched D. toed
50. John and Sarah lived in the back of ___________ and it always took us a whole day to drive there.
A. the country B. isolation C. nowhere D. beyond
51. There were probably moments when you wondered if anyone spoke the truth or was ___________.
A. spoilt for choice B. below par C. off the beg D. on the level
52. If you make it to the final, you will be ___________ some of the best sprinters in the world.
A. in for B. up to C. up against D. up with
53. Somehow I managed to _____________ my physics exam. The pass mark was 55 and I got 56.
A. scrape through B. shake off C. sit through D. slip off
54. That he was using unscrupulous research methods only came out because his assistant
_____________ on him to the press.
A. ratted B. hounded C. fished D. bugged
55. The government has agreed to _____________ an additional £5 million to schools in
underprivileged regions.
A. dole out B. tip off C. crack down D. toss off

Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42.
43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-60, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space
provided.
Greenland and Australia (56-SEEM) _______________ have little in common. While the Australian
population is made up of a (57-DIVERSE) _______________ of cultures, Greenland is primarily Inuit.
Australia is renowned for the (58-RARE) _______________ of its fauna, with native animals unlike any
others in the world. Greenland's fauna, like reindeer, polar bears, and arctic foxes, can also be found
elsewhere, such as in Canada. Greenland's largest city, Nuuk, with a population of 16,500, is a (59-
PICTURE) _______________ town, while Sydney is a metropolis of millions. And yet, these two
countries share some important features. Both are (60-SPARSE) _______________ populated due to
inhospitable interiors where it is practically impossible for humans to survive — ice caps in the case of
Greenland and deserts in Australia.

Part 3. For questions 61-65, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space
provided.
61. They live in a very __________ society with little social mobility. (HIERARCHY)
62. She is totally __________ and doesn’t need help from anyone. (SUFFICE)
63. It had been a warm __________ day in early October and she, Alex and her father were working in
the garden. (AUTUMN)
64. If you join the armed forces, you have to pledge __________ to your country. (ALLAY)
65. The message is clear and concise and displays no __________ that one would expect to find in more
courtly love scenes. (VERB)

Part 4. For questions 66-75, find and correct 10 mistakes in the passage. Write them in the numbered
boxes provided.
Genetic studies show that dogs evolved from wolves and remain similar to the creatures from which
they came as humans with different physical characteristics are to each other, which is to say not much
different at all. “Even the most changeable mitochondrial DNA markers — DNA handed down on the
mother's side — dogs and wolves differ by no much more than one per cent”, says Robert Wayne, a
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geneticist at University of California at Los Angeles. Wolf-like species go back one to two million
years, says Wayne, whom genetic work suggests dogs of some sort began breaking away about 100,000
years ago. Wolf and early human fossils have been found close together in as far back as 400,000 years
ago, but dog and human fossils date back only about 14,000 years, all of which puts wolves and dogs in
the accompany of man or his progenitors before the development of farming and permanent human
settlements, at a time when both species survived on what they could scratch out hunting or scavenging.
Why would these competitors cooperate? The answer probably lies in the similar social structure and
size of wolf packs and early human clans, the compatibility of their hunting objectives and range, and
the willingness of humans to accept to camp the most suppliant wolves, the young or less threatening
ones. Certain wolves or protodogs may have worked their way closely to the fire ring after smelling
something good to eat, then into early human gatherings by proving helpful or unthreatened.

Your answers
66. 67. 68. 69. 70.

71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

III. READING (50 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 76-85, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
These days. breakfast is widely regarded as the most important meal of the day and 76.____________
the most enjoyable, but lunch? Well, lunch often 77.____________ short shrift. For many office
workers, its a quick snack eaten on the 78.____________ - a sandwich scoffed down whilst checking
emails and spreadsheets; a burger eaten whilst running errands. Many employees even skip lunch
79.____________.
Should 80.____________ off for lunch be mandatory in the workplace? There are compelling
arguments that it should, and not just from the point of view of employee well-being. According to a
recent survey, lost 81.____________ from workers who fail to take a lunch break costs British
companies close to £50 million a day. The reason? Office employees who don't eat a decent lunch
struggle to concentrate fully in the afternoon.
Just a generation or two ago, people understood the importance of lunch. Today, thanks to increasing
competition in the workplace and the faster pace of life in general, lunch seems to be going the way of
the dodo. Surveys reveal that the majority of British working adults work straight 82.____________
their lunch break and nearly half believe that official lunch breaks are a 83.____________ of the past. Ft
you regularly 84.____________ lunch a miss, change your habit now. The brain needs constant
refuelling in order to perform optimally. Skip lunch and your mental focus will be 85.____________ par
for more than half the day.

Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 2. For questions 86-95, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each
gap. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Companies use a variety of tactics to 86) _____________ buyers into purchasing their products, a
powerful one being the 87) _____________ of storytelling. Studies show that consumers across all 88)
_____________ connect with products not so much because of associated facts, features or specific
attributes, but through emotions and personal feelings. Thus, hiring 89) ____________ actors to tell a
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moving story about how a product has changed their lives or made the world a better place 90)
_____________ more people than saying the product works twice as well as the next brand or that it's
made through a state-of-the-art manufacturing process. Such facts and figures can serve as strong 91)
_____________ of a product; however, 92) _____________ an emotional response influences
consumers threefold over mere content as regards television commercials and twofold in 93)
_____________ ads. Thus, companies are willing to 94) _____________ out on poignant, story-driven
advertisements because of how 95) _____________ they are of consumers.
86. A. endorse B. hype C. lobby D. entice
87. A. method B. art C. knack D. craft
88. A. demographics B. geographic C. biographic D. photographic
89. A. mysterious B. magnetic C. charismatic D. baffling
90. A courts B. woos C. flatters D. pursues
91. A. testimonies B. infomercials C advertisements D. endorsements
92. A. deducing B. inducing C. convincing D. tempting
93. A. print B. paper C. periodical D. press
94. A. smack B. spray C. slap D. splash
95. A. manipulative B. controlling C. unscrupulous D. protective

Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

Part 3. For questions 96-108, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.

Worldly Wealth
Can the future population of the world enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, with possessions, space and
mobility, without crippling the environment?

The world's population is expected to stabilize at around nine billion. Will it be possible for nine billion
people to have the lifestyle enjoyed today only by the wealthy? One school of thought says no: not only
should the majority of the world's people resign themselves to poverty forever, but rich nations must
also revert to simpler lifestyles in order to save the planet.

Admittedly, there may be political or social barriers to achieving a rich world. But in fact, there seems to
be no insuperable physical or ecological reason why nine billion people should not achieve a
comfortable lifestyle, using technology only slightly more advanced than that which we now possess. In
thinking about the future of civilization, we ought to start by asking what people want. The evidence
demonstrates that as people get richer they want a greater range of personal technology, they want lots
of room (preferably near or in natural surroundings) arid they want greater speed in travel. More
possessions, more space, more mobility.

In the developed world, the personal technologies of the wealthy, including telephones, washing
machines, and ears, have become necessities within a generation or two. Increasing productivity that
results in decreasing costs for such goods has been responsible for the greatest gains in the standard of
living, and there is every reason to believe that this will continue.

As affluence grows, the amount of energy and raw materials used for the production of machinery will
therefore escalate. But this need not mean an end to the machine age. Rather than being thrown away,
materials from old machinery can be recycled by manufacturers. And long before all fossil fuels are
exhausted, their rising prices may compel industrial society not only to become more energy efficient
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but also to find alternative energy sources sufficient for the demands of an advanced technological
civilization - nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, solar energy, chemical photosynthesis, geothermal, biomass
or sonic yet unknown source of energy.

The growth of cities and suburbs is often seen as a threat to the environment. However, in fact, the
increasing amount of land consumed by agriculture is a far greater danger than urban sprawl. Stopping
the growth of farms is the best way to preserve many of the world's remaining wild areas. But is a
dramatic downsizing of farmland possible? Thanks to the growth of agricultural productivity,
reforestation and 're-wilding' has been underway in the industrial countries for generations. Since 1950
more land in the US has been set aside in parks than has been occupied by urban and suburban growth.
And much of what was Farmland in the nineteenth century is now forest again. Taking the best Iowa
maize growers as the norm for world food productivity, it has been calculated that less than a tenth of
present cropland could support a population of 10 billion.

In The Environment Game, a vision of a utopia that would be at once high-tech and environmentalist.
Nigel Calder suggested that 'nourishing but unpalatable primary food produced by industrial techniques
- like yeast from petroleum may be fed to animals, so that we can continue to eat our customary meat,
eggs, milk, butter, and cheese - and so that people in underdeveloped countries can have adequate
supplies of animal protein for the first time.'

In the long run, tissue-cloning techniques could be used to grow desired portions of meat by themselves.
Once their DNA has been extracted to create cowless steaks and chickenless drumsticks, domesticated
species of livestock, bred for millennia to be stupid or to have grotesquely enhanced traits, should be
allowed to become extinct, except for a few specimens in zoos. However, games such as wild deer,
rabbits and wild ducks will be ever more abundant as farms revert to wilderness, so this could
supplement the laboratory-grown meat in the diets of tomorrow's affluent.

With rising personal incomes come rising expectations of mobility. This is another luxury of today's rich
that could become a necessity of tomorrow's global population - particularly if its members choose to
live widely dispersed in a post-agrarian wilderness. In his recent hook Free Flight, James Fallows, a
pilot as well as a writer, describes serious attempts by both state and private entrepreneurs in the USA to
promote an ‘air taxi' system within the price range of today's middle class - and perhaps tomorrow's
global population.

Two of the chief obstacles to the science fiction fantasy of the personal plane or hover Cat are price and
danger. While technological improvements are driving prices down, piloting an aircraft in three
dimensions is still more difficult than driving a car in two, and pilot error causes more facilities than
driver error. But before long our aircraft and cars will be piloted by computers which are never tired or
stressed.

So perhaps there are some grounds for optimism when viewing the future of civilization. With the help
of technology, and without putting serious strains on the global environment, possessions, space and
mobility can be achieved for all the projected population or the world.

Question 96-101: Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in the passage? Write
your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

YES if the statement reflects the writer's claims

NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

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96. Today's wealthy people ignore the fact that millions are living in poverty.

97. There are reasons why the future population of the world may not enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

98. The first thing to consider when planning for the future is environmental protection.

99. As manufactured goods get cheaper, people will benefit more from them.

100. It may be possible to find new types of raw materials for use in the production of machinery.

101. The rising prices of fossil fuels may bring some benefits.

Your answers
96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101.

Questions 102-107: Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for
each answer. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Space for an increased population
According to the writer, the use of land for 102___________is the most serious threat to the
environment. However, in the US, there has already been an increase in the amount of land used for
103_____________ and forests. Far less land would be required to feed the world's population if the
104_________________ of the land could be improved worldwide It has also been claimed that the
industrial production of animal foods could allow greater access to animal 105_______________by the
entire world's population. Scientists could use 106_______________from domesticated animals to help
produce meat by tissue cloning, and these species could then be allowed to die out. In addition to this
type of meat, 107_____________ will also be widely available.

Questions 108: Choose the correct answer, A, B, C, D.

Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

108. Greater mobility may be a feature of the future because of changes in

A. the location of housing.

B. patterns of employment.

C. centres of transport.

D. the distribution of wealth.

Your answers
102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108.

Part 4. For questions 109-118, read the following passage and choose the answer A, B, C or D that
fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
The radical change in the land's surface that results when rural areas are transformed into cities is a
significant cause of the rise in temperature in cities that is known as urban heat island.
First, the tall buildings and the concrete and asphalt of the city absorb and store greater quantities of
solar radiation than do the vegetation and soil typical of rural areas.
In addition, because the concrete and asphalt are impermeable, the runoff of water following a rain is
rapid, resulting in a severe reduction in the evaporation rate. So heat that once would have been used to
convert liquid water to a gas goes instead to increase the surface temperature further.

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At night, although both city and countryside cool through radiation losses, the stone-like surface of the
city gradually releases the additional heat accumulated during the day, keeping the urban air warmer
than that of the outlying areas.
Part of the urban temperature rise must also be attributed to waste heat from such sources as home
heating and air conditioning, power generation, industry, and transportation. Many studies have shown
that the magnitude of human-made energy in metropolitan areas is equal to a significant percentage of
the energy received from the Sun at the surface.
Investigations in Sheffield, England, and Berlin showed that the annual heat production in these cities
was equal to approximately one-third of that received from solar radiation. Another study of the densely
built-up Manhattan section of New York City revealed that during the winter the quantity of heat
produced from combustion alone was two and one-half times greater than the amount of solar energy
reaching the ground. In summer the figure dropped to one-sixth.
It is interesting to note that during the summer there is a mutual reinforcement between the higher night-
time temperatures of the city and the human-made heat that helped create them. That is the higher
temperatures result in the increased use of air conditioners, which in, turn, use energy and further
increase the amount of urban heat. During the winter the night-time warmth of urban areas, produced in
large part by heavy energy consumption, is beneficial because less energy is needed to heat buildings.
109. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The loss of farmland to urban development
B. The causes of increased heat in cities
C. Waste heat generated by home heating and air conditioning
D. How seasonal change affects the temperature of cities.
110. All of the following contribute to the urban heat island effect EXCEPT
A. absorption of heat from the Sun
B. storage of heat from the Sun
C. an increased rate of evaporation after a rainfall
D. the release of heat at night from city surfaces
111. The word convert in the passage is closest in meaning to
А. reverse B. transform C. reduce D. compare
112. The word that in the passage refers to
A. city B. heat C. day D. air
113. In which of the following locations would the rate of evaporation probably be highest?
A. A rural area B. A small town C. A medium-sized city D. A big city
114. The word magnitude in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. calculation B. comprehension C. extent D. formation
115. The author mentions Manhattan in order to demonstrate that
A. heat in urban areas can be reduced
B. the conclusions of the investigation in Sheffield were wrong
C. its heat production is smaller than that of Berlin
D. human-made heat can exceed the solar energy that reaches the ground in winter
116. According to the passage, an important consequence of the use of air conditioners at night is
A. greater energy costs
B. higher levels of urban heat
C. serious problems with the energy supply
D. less need for air conditioning in the morning
117. The word beneficial in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. predictable B. powerful C. hazardous D. advantageous
118. Which of the following is true about cities at night in the winter?
A. Solar energy has an increased impact on the urban heat island.
B. They tend to be colder than rural areas.
C. Less energy is required to heat buildings.
D. Human-made energy creates a larger area of total heat than solar energy.

Part 5. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 119-125, read the
passage and choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra

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paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered box
provided.

Where to next?
Are travelers selfish?

Travel, when you think about it, is largely a selfish pursuit. It’s all about me, me, me. Places I can go to, people I
can meet, things I can see, food I can try, my bucket list, my experiences. Are you a self-absorbed traveler? Let’s
look at some common scenarios, starting with the plight of traveler seeking to discover something unique.

119.

Your first reaction is to blame the guide book, regardless of the fact that it’s probably the way you found out
about it, too. And it’s true, that book in your hand has a bit to answer for. But that’s a simplistic notion. In an
age of mass tourism, of backpacker grapevines, of internet and travel blogs, it’s inevitable that what was once a
pristine paradise will be seething with tourists before long.

120.

You can direct a little blame at the locals, too. Without their efforts, that which seems to offend you would not
exist. They like the money and they want more – although it’s a bit hard to blame them for that. If tourist cash
spent at beach bars and souvenir shops can ease poverty and raise living standards it would be selfish to
begrudge the locals their chance at a better life.

121.

Honestly, either accept a place as it is, even if it doesn't live up to your expectations or go elsewhere if the
trappings of the progress are too offensive for your sensibilities. Don’t blame the guide books, the internet, the
Trip Advisor. Don’t blame your fellow tourists. And definitely don’t blame the locals for trying to improve their
lives – that would be the height of selfishness.

122.

They say money makes the world go round. So how do you spend your hard-earned cash on holiday? Do you
shop locally? If you stay, eat and shop in places owned by locals, your money will stay in the community and
help generate jobs. Foreign-owned resorts or hotel chains may offer a higher level of comfort and extra
facilities, but very little of what you pay actually trickles down into the local economy. If there’s a beach nearby,
do you really need a swimming pool?

123.

And last but not least where money’s concerned, bargain fairly. Saving an extra dollar on that T-shirt or souvenir
will hardly make a dent in your budget, but it can make a huge difference to the seller. Once, I was disgusted to
witness a shameful exchange in which a well-fed foreigner haggled hard to get a novelty toy for less than half
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price. The saving? Fifty measly cents. Adding insults to injury, he boasted about it to his companions. He felt
great because he’d put one over on the locals. Don’t be that person!

124.

People say there’s something about lending a hand that lifts voluntourism above the average travel experience.
But I think there's still an element of selfishness even to the noble volunteers who help build homes or teach art
to children. You do these things because it downsizes to all this goodwill, however, is that voluntourism is
actually quite expensive. Most companies that organize volunteer trips will charge you plenty for the experience
– often far more than it would cost you to just visit those countries on your own.

125.

Well, that’s it. Some of you will disagree with my views, but I’m up for a good debate. Are you a selfish
traveler?

A. Maybe you’re not the kind of travelers who thinks hell is other people. Maybe you’re happy to
discover and share the world with others. That’s commendable. But while you’re roaming the planet,
think about your personal impact on the people and the places around you. Are you contributing in
positive ways that can be of benefit to others, or are you exacerbating problems? Are you causing harm
to satisfy selfish needs?

B. You get to an exotic destination expecting to find an untouched and unspoiled paradise, a secluded
fantasyland just for you, far from the well-worn tourist path….and the place is crawling with other
travelers. There are loud and obnoxious backpackers, huge speakers thumping out the most awful dance
music, and tour buses spewing their human cargo.

C. One last thing before I get off my soapbox: voluntourism. It’s a novel concept, and, to those whose
idea of travel is a secluded resort and a day spa, a somewhat frightening one. The idea is simple: as a
traveler from the first world, you’re usually in a far more privileged position than those who live in the
countries you’re visiting. But, rather than just comfort yourself with the knowledge that your money is
helping their economy, why not do something tangible to help out, even for just a few days?

D. There is something imperialistic about not allowing – or wanting – less developed countries to
develop along the lines of our own cultures. After a recent trip to Nepal, a member of our group was
complaining about locals in a village, and how the place was spoilt because there was an internet café. I
couldn’t believe in my ears. Why can’t these Nepalese people enjoy the web if they so choose?

E. Stay calm and don’t get angry if you think you’ve been charged a bit more for your transport, hotel or
food. Perhaps it’s just an honest mistake. Try to point out the discrepancy in a polite and respectful way,
and don’t accuse anyone of dishonesty. Yes, it’s your hard-earned cash, but don’t assume that people
want to rob you of it just because they have less.

F. Be careful about what you’re buying, too. In countries with lax environmental regulations, or where
authorities turn a blind eye to illegal trade, it’s not difficult to find products made from endangered
species such as shell, coral and certain woods. It never fails to shock me when I hear of anyone buying
ivory products, like carving or jewellery. And then there’s medicine made from parts of endangered
animals. Don’t even think about it! The tiger population in Asia has been drastically reduced, and for
what? Some crackpot cure that doesn’t work.
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G. Isn’t this concept of an exclusive paradise selfish? Not only that, but the arrogance implicit in it is
astonishing too. Without wishing to state the obvious, the second you decide to go to a place because it
is paradise, you are part of the problem. The blaring speakers, international sport on big screen TVs,
karaoke, fish and chips – it’s all there because it’s what the tourists want.

H. Yes, that’s right – you pay the organization to go and work for free. The money is supposed to go
into the community, but often, shady operators pocket the profits. As if that wasn’t bad enough
volunteers could be taking jobs from locals. Think about it. If there’s free labor, i.e. you, why would
anyone employ a local? That’s probably what I find most disturbing about the whole concept. It’s not
ethical or responsible, and in my humble opinion, best avoided.

Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125.

IV. WRITING (50 points)

Part 1. Rewrite the following sentences using the words given.

126. Doesn’t anyone but me care about this issue? (ONLY)
Am I ______________________________________________________________________?
127. I was amazed at the speed with which Chris learned to drive. (FOUND)
I__________________________________________________________________________
128. So long as the examiner can read your handwriting, he’ll accept your answer. (LEGIBLE)
Provided that_______________________________________________________________
129. She‘s only just started now, but, judging by her recent performance, she should become an
excellent tennis player. (MAKINGS)
She_________________________________________________________________________
130. The needs of the poor should be given more importance than those of the middle classes.
(PRIORITY)
The needs__________________________________________________________________

Part 2. The chart below shows the amount of time that 10 to 15-year-olds spend chatting on the
Internet and playing on games consoles on an average school day in the UK. Summarise the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

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Part 3. Write an essay of 300 words on the following topic:

In many countries, the government spent a large amount of money on improving Internet access.
Why is it happening and do you think it is the most appropriate use of government money?

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