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

ĐỀ THI THỬ HSG TỈNH SỐ 06 NĂM 2020

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH

Thời gian thi: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
Ngày thi:
Đáp án có 21 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 an appeal from a charity and decide whether these statements are
True (T) or False (F). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. Benedicto feels hitter about having to work.
2. Benedicto spends his earnings in the plantation shop.
3. All the children in Benedicto's family attend school.
4. Plantation owners employ children because they are willing and docile workers.
5. Consumers play a role in helping to tackle the exploitation of child labour.
6. Supermarkets are uninterested in improving pay and conditions for food producers.
7. When fair trade principles are applied, the need for child labour declines.
8. Fairtrade practices involve raising the prices of the goods produced in safer conditions.
9. The information pack gives suggestions on how to raise money for exploited workers.

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

Nowadays, we have an incredible range of fresh fruit and vegetables available to us all the year round.
But have you ever thought about what's involved in getting those products to our supermarket shelves?
Perhaps that fruit wouldn't taste so.sweet if you knew how bitter life was for the people who harvested
it. Let's take fifteen-year old Benedicto as an example. He lives on a banana plantation in the
Philippines. For the last three years, he's worked before and after school every day, and for eleven hours
every Saturday tying up banana trees. The pay is so bad that an hour's work would earn him enough
to buy one can of cola in the plantation shop. But Benedicto doesn't work to buy luxuries like soft
drinks. Without his contribution, his family wouldn't be able to afford to send him and his three
brothers to school at all. Unfortunately, Benedicto's situation is far from unique. Throughout Asia,
Latin America and Africa, the use of child labour in food production for the export market is
commonplace. Frequently, employers prefer to take on children rather than adults, because
children will work as many hours as they're asked to and do not get involved in labour disputes. In
many cases, children as young as five work and, unlike Benedicto, some never get the chance to go to
school at all.
If, as consumers, you find this sort of exploitation unacceptable, is there anything you can do
about it? Indeed there is. In response to consumer pressure, many supermarkets in the UK are
now supporting fair trade practices. This means they adopt codes of conduct which ensure that
the goods they import are produced in safe conditions, and the prices they pay for those goods
represent a fair return for the labour put into their production. As a result, working adults should
be able to support their families without their children having to work too. To find out if your
favourite supermarket supports fair trade, and what to do if it doesn't, call us now for a free
information pack.

Part 2. For questions 10-15, listen to a radio discussion about children who invent imaginary friends
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. In the incident that Liz describes
A. her daughter asked her to stop the car.
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B. she had to interrupt the journey twice.
C. she got angry with her daughter.
D. her daughter wanted to get out of the car.
11. What does the presenter say about the latest research into imaginary friends?
A. It contradicts other research on the subject.
B. It shows that the number of children who have them is increasing.
C. It indicates that negative attitudes towards them are wrong.
D. It focuses on the effect they have on parents.
12. How did Liz feel when her daughter had an imaginary friend?
A. always confident that it was only a temporary situation
B. occasionally worried about the friend's importance to her daughter
C. slightly confused as to how she should respond sometimes
D. highly impressed by her daughter's inventiveness
13. Karen says that one reason why children have imaginary friends is that
A. they are having serious problems with their real friends.
B. they can tell imaginary friends what to do.
C. they want something that they cannot be given.
D. they want something that other children haven't got.
14. Karen says that the teenager who had invented a superhero is an example of
A. a very untypical teenager.
B. a problem that imaginary friends can cause.
C. something she had not expected to discover.
D. how children change as they get older.
15. According to Karen, how should parents react to imaginary friends?
A. They should pretend that they like the imaginary friend.
B. They shouldn't get involved in the child's relationship with the friend.
C. They should take action if the situation becomes annoying.
D. They shouldn't discuss the imaginary friend with their child.

Your answers
10. B 11. C 12. A 13. C 14. C 15. B

Presenter: Today we're talking about children and their tendency to have imaginary friends. Liz
McManus has a daughter called Caitlin, who's eight now. When she was three, she had an imaginary
friend called Tytner. Liz, tell us about Caitlin and Tytner.

Mother: Well, give you an example. One day I was driving Caitlin and Greg, her baby brother, home
when she solemnly informed me that Tytner was hitting the baby. So I said: 'You tell Tytner that if he
does that again, he'll be walking home.' Fifteen seconds later came the inevitable news: 'He's just done it
again, Mummy.' So I found myself in the embarrassing position of having to pull over, open the
back door and say to this imaginary little boy. `Tytner, out, now!' And of course, as we drove off,
Caitlin started crying because her friend was standing on the pavement all alone. I had to turn back
and go through the rigmarole of pulling over and opening the door to pick him up again.

Presenter: Wow, that's some story! But in fact, Caitlin is no different from many children and her
invented, make-believe friend is far from unusual. As many as 65% of children have had an
imaginary friend at some point in their lives. The latest research suggests that invisible friends, far
from being a cause for concern, should be welcomed by parents because they can help children to
be more creative, confident and articulate, and have more advanced communication skills. It is
thought that these findings will help reverse misconceptions about children with imaginary friends and
that they will come to be seen as having an advantage, rather than a problem that needs to be worried
about. Did it worry you, Liz?
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Mother: I know it does lots of parents but I never fretted about it, I think I was just amused. I'd be
reading to her and I'd say, 'Is Tytner around?' and she'd say, 'Yes, he's just sitting at the end of the bed.'
He became the centre of her life. She'd have tea parties with him, and he'd go to bed with her. She was
shy and this was her answer. I knew she would grow out of it.

Presenter: Now Liz is one of 15 people taking part in a study of imaginary friends at the Institute of
Education in London, run by Karen Majors, an education psychologist and lecturer at the institute.
Karen, should parents worry about it?

Expert: Well, parents sometimes think, 'Is this healthy and how long should it go on for?' But it is a
normal phenomenon for normal children. And it's very healthy.

Presenter: Why do children invent imaginary friends?

Expert: I think that children create pretend friends for many reasons: as safe, trustworthy best friends at
a time when they are just starting to make real friends; as someone to confide in; and as someone to play
with. Sometimes it is about wish fulfilment; children who cannot have a pet, for example, will
invent one. I interviewed one little girl, aged six, who had a pony called Minty for several years. It went
to school with her and the teachers knew all about it. It was a really strong relationship.

Presenter: Presumably, when they get older, children no longer have these imaginary friends. Karen?

Expert: Well, my most surprising finding is that children don't always stop having these made-up
playmates when they start school. The imaginary friends often stay with them through their
teenage years, providing comfort and escape - although in secret. One teenager I talked to had
invented a superhero to help him through tricky patches. When things hadn't gone well at school,
he would come home and play with the superhero, for whom everything always went well.

Presenter: How should parents treat these invisible people, Karen?

Expert: Well, sometimes of course, parents get irritated by them - for instance, if a child insists on
having the playmate at the dinner table with an imaginary setting and glass. Actually I myself had a
friend called Tiger when I was young, who would sit beside me at mealtimes. But I don't think
parents should tell children off for this kind of thing, or tell them that their friends are not real.
Perhaps the best way is Liz's down-to-earth approach.

Presenter: How did you handle it, Liz?

Mother: Well, I patiently acknowledged Caitlin's playmate but I tried not to get involved. I never used
to have to get out of the friend's way or anything. Other than that one incident in the car, Caitlin's
imaginary friend didn't impinge on my life.

Expert: Yes, I agree that parents should recognize imaginary friends, but they shouldn't try to overly
influence the friendship. Parents who interfere too much risk driving their children's playmates away. If
they try to direct the friends, they could spoil the fantasy altogether.

Presenter: Fascinating subject, thanks for coming in to talk about it, Liz and Karen.

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 taken
from the recording for each answer in the space provided.
Agriculture and Environment

• 16_____________ production = biggest problem in today's world

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• Agriculture is important for jobs, exports and foreign exchange
• 'Agriculture means:
• growing crops
• raising animals
• 17________________
• 18________________
• Agriculture must be sustainable: old methods, & new, chemical methods are all unsustainable 🡪
19__________________ of biodiversity
• Biotechnology -> GM or GE —> bio-prospecting (bio-piracy) i.e. large companies steal samples of
native plants to use the 20_______________ for their own crop improvement
• 21__________________ is responsible for less food and higher prices
• Farmers need to be educated but governments also need to pay attention to 22______________ in
order to protect the environment and re-nourish the soil
• Experts from around the world could come together to form a 23______________ to observe farm
systems aiming to prevent pollution and erosion and encourage safe procedures that are also
24_________________
• Creating the project's 25________________ would be very expensive and more money would be
needed for the monitoring system but it could solve the problem of food shortages.
16. food

17. fishing

18. forestry

19. (the) destruction

20. genetic material

21. climate change/ global warming

22. policy development/ environmental policies

23. global network

24. cost-effective

25. (online) infrastructure

Welcome to this lecture on Agriculture and the Environment. I hope it is enough to make some of you
decide on a career in the field of agricultural science. As you all know, food is a basic human need and
producing enough of it is the single greatest challenge facing the modern world.

Developing nations have rapidly expanding populations so agriculture should be central to any
development agenda for those countries. What's more, 75% of people in the developing world are
dependant, directly or indirectly, on agriculture for their livelihood. And, for many low-income
countries, it's the most important sector of the economy accounting for 50% of GDP and sometimes it's
the primary, if not only, source of foreign currency.

Now, of course, when I talk about `agriculture', I am using the term to encompass more than just
growing food crops. Of course, livestock farming, fishing, and forestry are included.

In order to combat wide-scale food shortages, agricultural research programs are underway in many
areas. Using science is one way to increase productivity; but, a word of warning: agriculture must also
be sustainable. Let's look at approaches that are not sustainable. Firstly, overgrazing and intensive
cropping are two ancient but destructive practices that lead to loss of soil fertility. Secondly, the modern

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idea of liberal application of chemical pesticides and herbicides has had disastrous consequences for the
health of the land, ranging from the pollution of water sources to the destruction of wildlife.

These practices have ignored the mechanisms that sustain ecological communities. Ignorance has led to
the destruction of the very biodiversity that is essential for sustainable food production. However,
introducing new agricultural techniques, especially things like genetic engineering, can be difficult
because many people remain suspicious of the fact that plants have had their genetic material modified
by scientists.

Biotechnology has also led to the dubious practice of bio-prospecting, or as some prefer to call it, bio-
piracy. Foreign multinational companies have been accused of illegally obtaining samples of indigenous
plants of other countries in order to get their hands on genetic material to improve the quality or yield of
their own crops.

We must put aside the controversy surrounding the field of agricultural biotechnology in order to
concentrate on the biggest threat to food production on this planet.....which is.....? Yes, climate change.
The effects of global warming so far have been to shrink the food supply thereby pushing up prices and
making, even the most basic necessities, unaffordable.

As I see it, the international community must address this, and other challenges to agricultural
production, with urgency. Concrete scientific and technological achievements need to be presented for
farmers to evaluate and learn to use but, apart from that, governments need to address the complex
issues of policy development if the world's hungry are to be fed.

Environmental policies need to be put in place to protect ecosystems and correct soil degradation
where possible. Countries cannot continue to exploit natural resources whilst ignoring the consequences.
In fact, I'd like to see teams of agriculture and environment experts making up a global network which
would monitor the world's farming systems. Different farming systems should be studied not only with a
view to analyzing the environmental effects, but the social and economic effects as well, The studies
would be carried out with a view to stemming pollution and erosion and promoting safe, cost-effective
practices that will guarantee a secure food supply in the future.

Monitoring sites would need to be set up all across the world and data collected in a systematic way. Of
course, building the online infrastructure for such a project would cost millions of dollars and there
would be ongoing costs involved with the monitoring system but the information gathered would go a
long way towards solving the problem of feeding the masses and ensuring millions of people don't face
a hungry future.

II. PHONETICS (10 POINTS)

Part 1. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others.
26. A. considered B. rescued C. pulled D. roughed
27. A. types B. sites C. changes D. cokes
28. A. uncertain B. unbeatable C. unanimous D. undone
29. A. shield B. cement C. executive D. spill
30. A. archaic B. chaperon C. choreograph D. chasm

Part 2. Choose the word which is stressed differently from the others.
31. A. survive B. enlarge C. struggle D. occur
32. A. specify B. illustrate C. interact D. fertilize
33. A. preservative B. conventional C. reliable D. intellectual

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34. A. homemade B. farmhand C. bookshop D. tradesman
35. A. testimony B. prerequisite C. aristocrat D. commentary

Your answers
26. D 27. C 28. C 29. A 30. B 31. C 32. C 33. D 34. A 35. B

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. Mrs Smith and her students are visiting the zoo.
Mike: "Can I feed the gorilla, Mrs Smith?"
Mrs Smith: "____________. The sign says 'No feeding the animals'."
A. Of course you can B. I don't think it works
C. I'm sure about that D. I'm afraid not
37. “____________ any character in Game of Thrones. Who would you choose?
“Definitely Jon Snow!”
A. Supposing you had been B. Imagine that you be
C. Say you could be D. What if you would be
38. On the battlefield ____________.
A. the tanks lay B. did the tanks lie
C. lay the tanks D. lied the tanks
39. Nuclear waste disposal is a growing problem ____________.
A. considering that no state permits radioactive material transported on its roads or to bury it inside its
borders
B. considering that no state permits neither radioactive material transported on its roads or buried inside
its borders
C. because no state permits radioactive material transported on its roads or buried inside its
borders
D. because no state will permit radioactive material not only to be carried on its roads but in addition
also buried inside its borders
40. The police have expressed ____________ concern about the missing child's safety.
A. critical B. essential C. significant D. grave
grave concern: sự lo ngại sâu sắc
41. The design is ____________ from Japanese porcelains of the fourteenth century.
A.imitated B. copied C. emulated D. faked
copy sth from sth : make something that is exactly like something else
42. She did not tolerate press ____________ into her private life.
A. invasion B. intrusion C. infringement D. interference
intrusion into sth = invasion of sth: xâm phạm
43. Queen Elizabeth II’s ____________ took place in 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London.
A. empire B. colony C. throne D. coronation
coronation: a ceremony at which a crown (= an object in the shape of a circle, usually made of gold and
precious stones) is formally placed on the head of a new king or queen and they officially become king
or queen
44. Her punky hairstyle showed she was not one for following the ____________.
A. flock B. herd C. swarm D. group
follow the herd: theo trào lưu
45. Harry was offered a scholarship to study in Japan and he ____________ the opportunity with both
hands.
A. grasped B. grabbed C. held D. passed
grap the opportunity: nắm bắt cơ hội
46. It was an extremely hostile article which cast _____________ on the conduct of the entire cabinet.
A. criticism B. aspersions C. disapproval D. abuse
cast aspersions on: chỉ trích gay gắt
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47. The most important parts of your job may seem difficult now but they will become second
_____________ to you within a couple of weeks.
A. instinct B. thought C. nature D. mind
become second nature: trở nên quen thuộc
48. I know you have a good voice and have ambitions to be an opera singer but do not give up your day
_____________ yet.
A. situation B. work C. job D. place
don’t give up your day job: đừng mơ tưởng xa xôi
49. Substantial members of the _____________ members ignored the union advice.
A. all and sundry B. flesh and blood
C. head and shoulders. D. rank and file
rank and file members: nhân viên
50. Searching for one man in this city is like looking for a ______________.
A. salt of the earth B. sand in the desert
C. needle in a haystack D. drop in the ocean
look for a needle in a haystack: mò kim đáy bể
51. Don’t worry about Grandad getting tired on the walk – he’s as tough as old _____________.!
A. boots B. nails C. rocks D. horses
as tough as old boots: very strong, and not easily made weaker
52. I adore walking around the old city of Venice – just _____________ the atmosphere!
A. heading for B. soaking up C. getting in D. pulling up
soak up sth: enjoy the effects or experience of something as much as possible
53. Our tenants have _____________ with the rent again. How can we persuade them to pay us the
money they owe?
A. fallen behind B. put up C. poured through D. slid down
fall behind with sth: trễ hạn
54. Sorry, Sir. I wanted to let you know that I’ve _____________ the contract, so all we need now is the
client’s signature.
A. keyed into B. noted down C. drawn up D. measured up
draw up: soạn thảo
55. I ‘ve been working a lot of overtime during the last month because we’ve been _____________
under with orders.
A. piled B. flooded C. rained D. snowed
be snowed under with: to be very busy or overwhelmed with something

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.
According to the dictionary, a (56-cynicism) _______________ person believes that people are
insincere and are only interested in themselves. The word originated in the philosophical schools of
ancient Greece. Cynicism was a way of life for this unusual and (57-convention) _______________
group. It derived its name from the Greek word for 'dog' (kunos) to denote its indifference to luxury. For
this reason, their fellow Greeks considered them a (58-function) _______________ lot. The most
eminent Cynic was Diogenes. By all accounts, he was quite a(n) (59-orthodox) _______________
character who chose to live in a storage jar and took the simple way of life to (60-normal)
_______________ extremes.
56. cynical: đa nghi
57. unconventional: not following what is done or considered normal or acceptable by most people;
different and interesting
58. dysfunctional: not working normally or properly
59. unorthodox: different from what is usual or accepted

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60. abnormal: different from what is usual or expected, especially in a way that worries somebody or is
harmful or not wanted

Part 3. For questions 61-65, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space
provided.
61. The structure is considered to be an ___________ (odd) by many, but I quite like it.
oddity: a person or thing that is strange or unusual
62. Proximity to the beach was a ___________ (decide) factor in their choice of hotel.
deciding: có tính quyết định
63. Mr Mandela was the symbolic leader of the ___________ (enfranchise) black majority.
disenfranchised: deprived of rights, especially their right to vote
64. It was very difficult to __________ (capsule) the story of the revolution in a single one-hour
documentary.
encapsulate: tóm gọn, gói gọn
65. Although geographically linked, the two provinces have long fought for political __________
(ascend).
ascendancy: thế lực, quyền thế

Part 4. For questions 66-75, find and correct 10 mistakes in the passage. Write them in the numbered
boxes provided.
The impact of malnutrition on children's learning is not simply that they are tired and unable to
concentrate in class although they have not eaten enough on a given day. Malnutrition in the first 1000
days - from the start of a woman's pregnancy until her child's second birthday - has a devastating impact
on children's future potential. It restricts their cognitive development, meaning they are more likely to
be sick and miss out of school, and reduces their ability to learn. This 1000-day window is a critical time
for structural brain development. Good maternal nutrition is essential: pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
who can't access to the right nutrients are more likely to have children with compromised brain
development and who suffer from poor cognitive performance. And once the child is born, nutrition
continues to play a key role in ensuring the brain development properly. But the effects of malnutrition
on a child's cognitive development and education go beyond the biology of the brain. A child's
nutritional status can impact on the experiences and stimulation that children receive. Parents sometimes
treat a malnourished boy or girl different because they are small, and this child is also more likely to
miss school and key learning opportunities due to illness.
The impact is not just on academic achievement. Malnutrition is associated with children having lower
self-esteem, self-confidence and career aspirations. Malnourished children not only face with direct
damage to their bodies and minds, but are less confident to learn and aspire to change the situation they
were born into. In the longer term, malnutrition can have a big impact on earnings when children reach
adult. The effects of malnutrition on physical stature, the ability to do physical work, and on cognitive
development, can lock children into poverty and entrench inequalities. Children who are malnourished
go on to earn 20% less as adults as the children who are well-nourished. But there is some evidence that
the difference could be even larger - one study has estimated this earning deficit for malnourished
children to 66%.
66. althoughbecause
67. meaningmeans
68. ofon
69. access toaccess
70. developmentdevelops
71. differentdifferently
72. face withface
73. adultadulthood
74. asthan
75. toat

III. READING (50 POINTS)

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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.
Today, more people than ever are choosing to 76.____________ under the knife in order to enhance
their appearance. From cheek implants to liposuction, men and women of all ages are flocking to
surgeons who promise they can forestall the ravages of 77.____________ or make them look more
beautiful.
78.____________ subjects are as controversial as the escalating use of cosmetic surgery to reshape
perfectly functioning body parts towards some subjective aesthetic ideal. Many vehemently oppose the
whole idea, denouncing it 79.____________ an expression of society's worst impulses. Others embrace
it, citing its ability to change lives. No 80.____________ what one's stance, it cannot be denied that
cosmetic surgery (not to be confused with plastic surgery, the surgical speciality dedicated to repairing
body defects 81.____________ to birth disorders, trauma, burns and disease) is a story of continual
expansion. increased consumer demand, and growing social acceptability. What was once the province
of celebrities and the rich has trickled down the social scale and is now within the grasp of anyone with
the time and inclination. What was once kept 82.____________ wraps is now discussed openly, if not
braggingly.
The thing about beauty that makes it the perfect marketing concept is its elusiveness. 83.____________
when you have it, you're constantly at risk of losing it, or at least being jostled aside by someone with
more of it. Cosmetic surgery success is built on the powerful emotions of denial and envy, not just
vanity. It thrives on our refusal to accept the body we were 84.____________ with, and our collective
denial of aging. It feeds our envy of those who embody nature's most powerful 85.____________
fleeting charms: youth, strength and beauty.
76. go
go under the knife: to submit to surgery
77. time
78. Few
79. as
80. matter
81. due
82. under
keep sth under wraps: to keep something concealed
83. Even
84. born
85. but

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.
You may think that’s easy to answer: surely a good school is one which (86) _____________ good
exam results. After all, it is these results which will (87) _____________ students to get into good
universities. However, schools are about much more than exams. They are about education for all, from
the most academic to the least. A good school has three (88) _____________ ingredients: good
leadership from the head, dedicated teachers with high (89) _____________ for all students, and
students who want to be there and are willing to (90) _____________ rules and respect one another. It
isn’t easy to (91) _____________ around a failing school, but research has shown that a strong and (92)
_____________ leader is often the key to success. A good head or principal of a school will (93)
_____________ teachers and students alike, will not tolerate bullying or bad behaviour and will (94)
_____________ the respect of all. He or she will make sure teachers are encouraged and assisted in their
work, and that they receive the training they need to do their job efectively; once this is in place,
teachers are happier and more fulfilled and students (95) _____________ the benefits. Some will go on
to get brilliant academic results, others may not do so well in their exams, but provided they have
reached their potential and they have passed with acceptable grades, the school will not have failed
them.
86 A conveys B delivers C brings D gives
deliver: produce or provide what people expect you to
87 A allow B accept C admit D enable
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88 A critical B acute C crucial D burning
89 A expectations B ideals C opportunities D potentials
90 A accept B understand C grasp D follow
91 A go B turn C direct D transform
92 A inspirational B moving C promising D uplifting
93 A drive B provoke C motivate D arouse
94 A control B order C command D direct
To command respect is to have others observe and admire your actions of their own volition.
95 A earn B obtain C realise D reap
reap the benefits: If you reap the benefits or the rewards of something, you enjoy the good things that
happen as a result of it.

Part 3. For questions 96-108, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Keep taking the tablets
The history of aspirin is a product of a rollercoaster ride through time, of accidental discoveries,
intuitive reasoning, and intense corporate rivalry

In the opening pages of Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug, Diarmuid Jeffreys describes
this little white pill as `one of the most amazing creations in medical drug so astonishingly versatile that
it can release headache, ease your aching limbs, lower temperature and treat some of the deadliest
human diseases’.

Its properties have been known for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian physicians used extracts from
the willow tree as an analgesic, or pain killer. Centuries later the Greek physician Hippocrates
recommended the bark of the willow tree as a remedy for the pains of childbirth and as a fever reducer.
But it wasn't until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that salicylates found in the willow tree -
became serious scientific investigation. The race was on to identify the active ingredient and to replicate
it synthetically. At the end of the nineteenth century a German company, Friedrich Bayer & Co,
succeeded in creating a relatively safe and very effective chemical compound, acetylsalicylic acid,
which was renamed aspirin.

The late nineteenth century was a fertile period for experimentation, partly because of the hunger among
scientists to answer some of the great scientific questions, but also because those questions were within
their means to answer. One scientist in a laboratory with some chemicals and a test tube could make
significant breakthroughs - whereas today, in order to map the human genome, for instance, one needs
an army of researchers, a bank of computers and millions and millions of dollars’.

But an understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry is not enough on its own to explain
how society innovates. In the nineteenth century, scientific advance was closely linked to the industrial
revolution. This was a period when people frequently had the means, motive, and determination to take
an idea and turn it into reality. In the case of aspirin that happened piecemeal - a series of minor, often
unrelated advances, fertilized by the century's broader economic, medical and scientific developments,
that led to one big final breakthrough.

The link between big money and pharmaceutical innovation is also a significant one. Aspirin's continued
shelf life was ensured because, for the first 70 years of its life, huge amounts of money were put into
promoting it as an ordinary everyday analgesic. In the 1970s, other analgesics, such as ibuprofen and
pharmaceutical, were entering the market, and the pharmaceutical companies then focused on
publicizing these new drugs. But just at the same time, discoveries were made regarding the beneficial
role of aspirin in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other afflictions. Had it not been for these
findings, this pharmaceutical marvel may well have disappeared.
10
So the relationship between big money and drugs is an odd one. Commercial markets are necessary for
developing new products and ensuring that they remain around long enough for scientists to carry out
research on them. But the commercial markets, are just as likely to kill of certain products when
something more attractive comes along. In the case of aspirin, a potential ‘wonder drug' was around for
over 70 years without anybody investigating the way in which it achieved its effects, because they were
making more than enough money out of it as it was. If ibuprofen or paracetamol had entered the market
just a decade earlier, aspirin might then not be here today. It would be just another forgotten drug that
people hadn't bothered to explore.

None of the recent discoveries of aspirin's benefits were made by the big pharmaceutical companies;
they were made by scientists working in the public sector. ‘The reason for that is very simple and
straightforward,' Jeffreys says in his book. 'Drug companies will only pursue research that is going to
deliver financial benefits. There's no profit in aspirin anymore. It is incredibly inexpensive with tiny
profit margins and it has no patent any more, so anyone can produce it.’ In fact, there's almost a
disincentive for drug companies to further boost the drug, he argues, as it could possibly put them out of
business by stopping them from selling their more expensive brands’.

So what is the solution to a lack of commercial interest in further exploring the therapeutic benefits of
aspirin? More public money going into clinical trials, says Jeffreys. 'If I were the Department of Health,
I would say this is a very inexpensive drug. There may be a lot of other things we could do with it." We
should put a lot more money into trying to find out.”

Jeffreys' book - which not only tells the tale of a 'wonder drug' but also explores the nature of innovation
and the role of big business, public money and regulation - reminds us why such research is so
important.

Questions 96-101: Complete each sentence with the correct ending A—H from the box below. Write
your answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.

96. Ancient Egyptian and Greek doctors were aware of

97. Frederick Bayer & Co were able to reproduce

98. The development of aspirin was partly due to the effects of

99. The creation of a market for aspirin as a painkiller was achieved through

100. Aspirin might have become unavailable without

101. The way in which aspirin actually worked was not investigated by

A. the discovery of new medical applications.

B. the negative effects of publicity.

C. the large pharmaceutical companies.

D. the industrial revolution.

E. the medical uses of a particular tree.

F. the limited availability of new drugs.

G. the chemical found in the willow tree.

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H. commercial advertising campaigns.

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

96. E

Ancient Egyptian physicians used extracts from the willow tree as an analgesic, or pain killer. Centuries
later the Greek physician Hippocrates recommended the bark of the willow tree as a remedy for the
pains of childbirth and as a fever reducer.

97. G

The race was on to identify the active ingredient and to replicate it synthetically. At the end of the
nineteenth century a German company, Friedrich Bayer & Co, succeeded in creating a relatively safe
and very effective chemical compound, acetylsalicylic acid, which was renamed aspirin.

98. D

In the nineteenth century, scientific advance was closely linked to the industrial revolution. This was a
period when people frequently had the means, motive and determination to take an idea and turn it into
reality. In the case of aspirin that happened piecemeal - a series of minor, often unrelated advances,
fertilized by the century's broader economic, medical and scientific developments, that led to one big
final breakthrough.

99. H

…..huge amounts of money were put into promoting it as an ordinary everyday analgesic.

100. A

………discoveries were made regarding the beneficial role of aspirin in preventing heart attacks,
strokes, and other afflictions.

101. C

In the case of aspirin, a potential ‘wonder drug' was around for over 70 years without anybody
investigating the way in which it achieved its effects, because they were making more than enough
money out of it as it was.

Questions 102-106:

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage?

Write your answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

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

102. For nineteenth-century scientists, small-scale research was enough to make important discoveries.
12
103. The nineteenth-century industrial revolution caused a change in the focus of scientific research.

104. The development of aspirin in the nineteenth century followed a structured pattern of development.

105. In the 1970s, sales of new analgesic drugs overtook sales of aspirin.

106. Commercial companies may have both good and bad effects on the availability of pharmaceutical
products.

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

102. YES

One scientist in a laboratory with some chemicals and a test tube could make significant breakthroughs

103. NOT GIVEN

104. NO

In the case of aspirin that happened piecemeal - a series of minor, often unrelated advances, fertilized by
the century's broader economic, medical and scientific developments, that led to one big final
breakthrough.

105. NOT GIVEN

106. YES

So the relationship between big money and drugs is an odd one. Commercial markets are necessary for
developing new products and ensuring that they remain around long enough for scientists to carry out
research on them. But the commercial markets, are just as likely to kill of certain products when
something more attractive comes along.

Questions 107-108: Complete the summary below using the list of words below. Write your answers
in the corresponding numbered box provided.

Research into aspirin

Jeffreys argues that the reason why 107______________ did not find out about new uses of aspirin is
that aspirin is no longer a 108_______________ drug. He, therefore, suggests that there should be state
support for further research into the possible applications of the drug.

A. useful

B. cheap

C. state

D. international

E. major drug companies

F. profitable

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G. commercial

H. public sector scientists

I. health officials

Your answers
107. 108.

107. E

….and the pharmaceutical companies then focused on publicizing these new drugs.

108. F

There's no profit in aspirin anymore.

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.
Ancient Angkor
In the regions of Southeast Asia dwell the remains of an era that far exceeded its time in developments
and industrialization. This ancient city, which was mysteriously deserted in the 15 th century, is known as
Angkor. Located in Cambodia, Angkor was established in 802 CE as the seat of the Khmer Empire.
Khmer was the largest continuous empire in Southeast Asia. Its main city of Angkor grew and
developed until it was abandoned in the year 1431. Many historians theorize as to why it was
abandoned, but the mystery remains.
Angkor was a city of power, industry, architecture, and cultural unity, which is why speculation
surrounds its decline. The ancient Khmer city stretched over an area of nearly 120 square miles,
comparable to present-day Los Angeles. Each successive ruler to the throne brought significant
additions that diversified the territory. One ruler is known for constructing a baray, a massive water
reservoir. Another built the imposing Angkor Wat, a temple of great proportions that survived the city’s
demise and exists today as a Buddhist temple. Along with over seventy other temples in the region,
Angkor was home to an expansive waterworks of marked ingenuity when nothing of its kind existed in
the world. The civilization was structured around the Mekong River. Intricate and sophisticated
irrigation systems were fashioned to transport water to people and fields in all parts of the city,
including those removed from the central water source. For this, the city became known as the
“Hydraulic City.” The people of Angkor were led by an extensive court system, made up of religious
and secular nobles as well as artisans, fishermen, rice farmers, soldiers, and elephant keepers. The
civilization was guarded by an army transported by elephants and ruled by shrewd and powerful kings.
Yet after 600 years of existence, an abandoned shell was all that remained.
The land, buildings, and architecture were reclaimed by the surrounding forest regions until the
19th century, when French archaeologists discovered the remains and began restoring sites in the
great city of Angkor. Since then, theories have evolved over time relating to the death of Angkor’s
civilization. The first theory states that the city fell because of war. The last two centuries of Angkor’s
existence showed a decline in the Khmer Empire’s population and power. Ongoing wars with
neighbouring Thailand had devastated the nation. In 1431, attackers from Thai nations invaded and
looted Angkor, leaving it desolate and vacant. Continuous war with Thailand culminating in a final
attack on the city could have weakened the empire and led to the city’s demise.
Another theory states that a change in religion led to the country’s downfall. The Khmer Empire had
predominately been a Hindu nation, and the people were unified in their religion. Jayavarman VII,
acclaimed as the greatest of Angkor’s kings, took the throne in 1181 CE. He instituted a change in
religion from Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism. This action subsequently could have destroyed the
unity of the people and the overall foundation of the empire.
■ A) Natural disaster is another feasible possibility for the scattering of people from the Angkor region.
■B) Historians say earthquakes, floods, and drastic climate changes would have been capable of
14
stripping Angkor of its people. ■C) One researcher hypothesized that the city suffered from a lack of
water due to the transition from the medieval warm period to the little ice age. Others dismiss this idea.
■D)
However, a recently developed theory built on the work of French archaeologist Bernard-Philippe
Groslier may have shed the most light on Angkor’s demise. The theory suggests that the Angkorian
civilization was “defined, sustained, and ultimately overwhelmed by over-exploitation and the
environmental impacts of a complex water-management network.” Its vast waterworks proved too great
for the city to manage. Also, supplying such a massive empire with water had adverse effects on the
environment. Ecological problems included deforestation, topsoil degradation, and erosion due in part to
clearing vegetation for cropland. Thus, the city inadvertently brought about its own environmental
collapse.
With the use of aerial photography and high-resolution, ground-sensing radar, researchers were able to
support Groslier’s theory with images that complete existing topographical maps. The radar detected
surface structures as well as subtle variances in surface vegetation and soil moisture. This proved that
environmental erosion had occurred. The combined images and ground-based investigations further
revealed that Angkor was a victim of its own industrial ingenuity, a city ahead of its time and vulnerable
to its own power.
109. The author mentions the Khmer Empire in paragraph 1 in order to ________.
A. establish the size and importance of the civilization
B. explain the downfall of the main city in the empire
C. compare the nation’s size to a present-day location
D. demonstrate why people were not loyal to the city
110. The word speculation in the passage is closest meaning to________.
A. evidence B. mystery C. question D. growth
111. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is true about the waterworks built within
Angkor?
A. They transported drinking water to Angkor Wat.
B. They were a money-making venture for the city.
C. They were built to extend the water supply.
D. They irrigated fields along the sides of the river.
112. All of the following are true about the city of Angkor EXCEPT_______.
A. It was built around a water source.
B. It had an advanced road system.
C. It surpassed other cities of its time.
D. It is home to a Buddhist shrine.
113. The word its in paragraph 2 refers to_______.
A. Angkor’s B. baray’s C. waterworks’ D. home’s
114. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the bolded sentence?
Incorrect choices may change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A. Archaeologists built a replica of what Angkor looked like.
B. Archaeologists uncovered the overgrown city and rebuilt its sites.
C. Finding the city, workers cleared the forest and studied the architecture.
D. The city’s architecture was inspired by the forest regions nearby.
115. What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about the people who inhabited Angkor?
A. They worshipped ruler Jayavarman VII.
B. Hinduism was central to their way of life.
C. Religion led to more violence among them.
D. They were unified regardless of national religion.
116. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the
passage
These natural catastrophes would have likely resulted in destroyed buildings, ruined cops, and a
decreased water supply that would have forced citizens to leave.
Where would the sentence best fit?
A. first square B. second square C. third square D. fourth square.
117. The word inadvertently in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.
A. purposely B. freely C. sadly D. accidentally
15
 118. According to paragraph 7, which of the following did researchers prove about Groslier’s theory
with the use of aerial photography and advanced radar?
A. The surface soil showed evidence of dirt washing away.
B. The waterworks were filled with topsoil.
C. Vegetation was thriving where soil was deeper.
D. Soil damage was stable throughout the changes

Your answers
109. 110. 111. 112. 113.

114. 115. 116. 117. 118.

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

THE ORIGIN OF ADVERTISING

Advertising has become a major force in our modern world. Through our airwaves, up in the skies, on
walls, streets and along motorways, almost nowhere can we go and not be bombarded by adverts. It has
become so prevalent that scientists and researchers have analyzed its sociological effect extensively –
how it influences buying habits, desensitizes consumers and in some cases even repels them.

119.

Such rudimentary content is also believed to be present in the first printed adverts, used by ancient
Egyptians to communicate sales messages through the use of papyrus. In contrast with the ephemeral
nature of today’s advertising, they would also carve messages of commerce into stone or on steel plates,
which would remain visible for a lifetime.

120.

Naturally, we cannot know for sure, but one would guess that the power of persuasion was present in the
spoken adverts of ancient times. You could suppose that the loudest, most colorful, most entertaining
crier garnered the most business. Although we do not experience this form of advertisement often today,
sellers in public markets in Europe and the Middle East still employ this method.

121.

The specific message on the printing plate was ‘We buy high-quality steel rods and make fine-quality
needles to be ready for use at home in no time', and the seller also placed a rabbit logo and the name of
his shop in the center. The plate, made of copper and dating back to the Song dynasty of the 10 th-century
China, was used to print posters the dimensions of which were nearly perfect squares roughly the size of
a window frame.

16
122.

It was not until the rise of newspapers did advertising makes its next big leap. During this time, targeted
slogans and catchphrases became popular. The first such instance of a paid newspaper advert appeared
in the French newspaper La Presse in 1836 and what was so revolutionary about it was that the seller
paid for its placement, allowing the newspaper to charge its readers less.

123.

Known as quackery, such messages boasted cures for common ailments that went above and beyond
what traditional remedies could provide. Naturally, an unsuspecting and undereducated public was
particularly susceptible to such fabrications. Much as how quackery would be dispelled today, doctors
went out of their way to publish medical journals debunking the claims made by these adverts.

124.

In the advert, a painting of a child blowing bubbles – a work of art literally entitled Bubbles, by English
artist Sir John Everett Millais – was used as the background of a poster, with the product visible in the
foreground. The visual immediately linked the product with high – class society and it is a tactic that is
undeniably still very much used today.

125.

Along with the staggering investment is the use of a broad range of tactics to maximize impact, such as
focus groups, evocative imagery, storytelling, and seemingly boundless product placement. So
psychological is the effect that it has given rise to the belief that companies know everything about you.
Nevertheless, with such creativity poured into the field, one can still appreciate its art form and its place
in history.

A. One need look no further than failed advertising campaigns. Some went too far in their shock value,
had to be apologized for and hurt the brand more than they helped. In one example, a game
manufacturer, in order to promote the carnal violence visible in the game, held an event which
showcased an actual deceased goat.

B. For better or worse, there was no stopping the budding advertising industry. Agencies started to
spring up and with that came campaigns. The first successful campaign was for the British soap
manufacturer Pears. With the help of chairman Thomas James Barratt, the company successfully linked
a catchy slogan with high culture.

C. In contrast to the adverts being produced for the literate populace of this region, text was largely
absent from adverts that proliferated in the towns and cities of medieval Europe. To circumvent this
obstacle, adverts used commonly recognizable imagery such a boot for a cobbler or a diamond for a
carver to promote products and services. And still, criers remained the go-to medium for relaying the
sellers’ messages to the public.

17
D. Also entering the industry was the vast sums of money that companies would splash out on
campaigns. A little over one hundred American companies in 1893 spent 50,000 US dollars on
advertising campaigns. That equates to over one million US dollars today, still a fraction of what
today’s companies spend at nearly 500 billion pounds globally.

E. In this era, though, the medium with the greatest prevalence was oral. Public criers would circulate
messages in urban centers to passers-by advertising various products. There is evidence of written
adverts and for more than just selling wares. In one such advert found at the ruins of Thebes dated 1,000
BC, a man was offering a reward for a runaway slave. But oral messages were the main method of
delivery until the invention of the printing press in 1450.

F. But there was a time when an advert was a rare occurrence and its effect on society amounted to no
more than its core function; that is, to connect seller and buyer. We know that the written word began
around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in the Sumerian civilization that existed in modern-day
southern Iraq. The make – up of this early scrawling consisted of grain inventories, from what historians
and linguists can make of it.

G. Adverts in ancient times did contain an element of sophistication which essentially lured buyers,
albeit less obviously. On the other side of the world, in ancient China, the language of adverts contained
selling points and friendly imagery, such as in an advert to coax people into using a craftsman’s
services. This particular advertising medium is considered the oldest example of printed advertising.

H. That formula was soon copied by other publishers looking to increase their profits while expanding
their circulation. British newspapers, which had been using newspaper advertising since the 18 th century,
used adverts to promote books and newspapers themselves. The printing press had made their
production much more affordable and advertising content expanded to include medicines, in what would
prove to be the first instances of false advertising.

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

119. F

"We know that the written word began around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, in the Sumerian
civilization that existed in modern-day southern Iraq. The make – up of this early scrawling consisted
of grain inventories, from what historians and linguists can make of it.” connects with “Such
rudimentary content is also believed to be present in the first printed adverts, used by ancient
Egyptians to communicate sales messages through the use of papyrus.”

120. E

“In one such advert found at the ruins of Thebes dated 1,000 BC, a man was offering a reward for a
runaway slave. But oral messages were the main method of delivery until the invention of the printing
press in 1450.” connects with “Naturally, we cannot know for sure, but one would guess that the power
of persuasion was present in the spoken adverts of ancient times.”

121. G

“Although we do not experience this form of advertisement often today, sellers in public markets in
Europe and the Middle East still employ this method.” connects with “On the other side of the
18
world, in ancient China, the language of adverts contained selling points and friendly imagery, such as
in an advert to coax people into using a craftsman’s services.”

122. C

“And still, criers remained the go-to medium for relaying the sellers’ messages to the public. ”
connects with “It was not until the rise of newspapers did advertising makes its next big leap.”

123. H

“The first such instance of a paid newspaper advert appeared in the French newspaper La Presse
in 1836 and what was so revolutionary about it was that the seller paid for its placement, allowing
the newspaper to charge its readers less.” connects with “That formula was soon copied by other
publishers looking to increase their profits while expanding their circulation.”

124. B

“The first successful campaign was for the British soap manufacturer Pears. With the help of
chairman Thomas James Barratt, the company successfully linked a catchy slogan with high culture.”
connects with “In the advert, a painting of a child blowing bubbles – a work of art literally entitled
Bubbles, by English artist Sir John Everett Millais – was used as the background of a poster, with
the product visible in the foreground.”

125. D

“Also entering the industry was the vast sums of money that companies would splash out on
campaigns.” connects with “Along with the staggering investment is the use of a broad range of
tactics to maximize impact, such as focus groups, evocative imagery, storytelling and seemingly
boundless product placement.”

IV. WRITING (50 points)

Part 1. Rewrite the following sentences using the words given.
126. John was quite frank about his criminal record.
- John made no secret of his criminal record.
127. There have been a lot of redundancies in that area.
- A lot of jobs have been lost in that area.
128. Sue is always ready to help you out.
- Sue is always ready to do you a good turn.
Do someone a good turn: to do something that helps, aids or benefits another person.
129. When he made friends in the new place, Ron became less shy and reserved.
- When he made friends in the new place, Ron came out of his shell.
Come out of one’s shell: be open and friendly to others
130. When you lose someone you love, everything else seems pointless
-When you lose someone you love, everything else pales in comparison.
Pale in comparison: not as good as something

Part 2. The pie charts below compare water usage in San Diego, California and the rest of the world.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

19
Sample:
The pie charts give information about the water used for residential, industrial and agricultural purposes
in San Diego County, California, and the world as a whole.

It is noticeable that more water is consumed by homes than by industry or agriculture in the two
American regions. By contrast, agriculture accounts for the vast majority of water used worldwide.

In San Diego County and California State, residential water consumption accounts for 60% and 39% of
total water usage. By contrast, a mere 8% of the water used globally goes to homes. The opposite trend
can be seen when we look at water consumption for agriculture. This accounts for a massive 69% of
global water use, but only 17% and 28% of water usage in San Diego and California respectively.

Such dramatic differences are not seen when we compare the figures for industrial water use. The same
proportion of water (23%) is used by industry in San Diego and worldwide, while the figure for
California is 10% higher, at 33%.

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

The older generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live, think and
behave. However, some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger
generations for modern life.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
It is true that many older people believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the
needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated, I believe that others are
still useful and should not be forgotten.
On the one hand, many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are becoming less relevant for
younger people. In the past, for example, people were advised to learn a profession and find a secure job
for life, but today’s workers expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same
time, the ‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults make their own choices about
who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between the generations can be seen in their
attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional roles of men and women, as breadwinners and
housewives, are no longer accepted as necessary or appropriate by most younger people.
On the other hand, some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For
example, older generations attach great importance to working hard, doing one’s best, and taking pride
in one’s work, and these behaviors can surely benefit young people as they enter today’s competitive job
market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our
globalized world, young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of
backgrounds, and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Finally, I believe that young
people would lead happier lives if they had a more ‘old-fashioned’ sense of community and
neighborliness.
20
In conclusion, although the views of older people may sometimes seem unhelpful in today’s world, we
should not dismiss all traditional ideas as irrelevant.

21