SỞ GIÁO DỤC ĐÀO TẠO NAM ĐINH ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI

NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024

ĐỀ THAM KHẢO Môn: TIẾNG ANH – Lớp: 12 THPT.
Thời gian làm bài: 120 phút

Lưu ý: Thí sinh làm bài vào đề thi này.

PART A - LISTENING (4.0 points)
SECTION 1: Questions 1-10 (2.0 points)
Questions 1-5: Circle the correct letter, A, B, C.
1. What is the caller’s surname?
A. Fleischer B. Fischer C. Bennett
2. The caller says the correct colour of his car is
A. Sky blue B. Light green C. White
3. What time does the caller say he went to collect his car?
A. 9:30pm B. 8pm C. 8:30pm
4. Where does the caller usually store the front panel of his radio?
A. In his pocket B. The hospital C. In the glove compartment
5. What does the advisor say she will send through the mail to the caller?
A. A radio B. Some CDs C. Some forms
Questions 6-10. Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for
each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.
Insurance Claim Report
CUSTOMER FIRST NAME: Bennett
POLICY NUMBER: (6) ___________
TYPE OF CLAIM: Stolen (7) ___________
PLACE WHERE OFFENCE WAS REPORTED: York (8) ___________Station
CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE DANGER: No
OTHER ITEMS STOLEN: Car radio, CDs and an old (9)___________
DOCUMENTS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT CLAIM: Police report and (10) _________
SECTION 2. Questions 11-15 (1point)
Listen to the directions and match the places in questions 11 -15 to the appropriate places among A- E on the
map.
Ned Kelly Avenue

Street Garden

Parker Street

Crammer Street

MainGate
11. Student Centre ……………….
12. Health Centre ……………….
 13. Internet Unit ……………….
14. Complaint Office ……………….
15. Café ……………….
SECTION 3: Questions 16-20(1point)
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
16. In Athens, cars can only enter the city centre on ______________
17. ‘BRT’ stands for ‘bus ’______________
18. In London, after a new road tax was introduced, moped and bicycle use increased by ______________
19. Both Japan and Holland provide______________ for those cycling to train stations.
20. In the USA, police officers on bikes make more ______________ than those in patrol
PART B - VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR (6.0 points)
Circle the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs
from the other three in the pronunciation in each of the following questions.
Question 1. A. exaggerate B. exhort C. exhilaration D. exhale
Question 2. A. turn B. burn C. curtain D. bury
Circle the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in
the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.
Question 3. A. mistake B. degree C. figure D. cartoon
Question 4. A. entertain B. decorate C. organize D. satisfy
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the option that best completes following exchanges.
Question 5. Claire is talking to her new neighbor, Simon.
Claire: “Why did your family decide to move here, Simon?” Simon: “______”
A. It’s two kilometers. B. We want to live near our grandparents.
C. Ten minutes I think. D. We hate this neighborhood.
Question 6. John and Laura are talking about the environment.
John: “Do you think that we should use public transportation to protect our environment?” Laura: “ ______ ”.
A. Of course not. You bet. B. Well, that’s very surprising.
C. There is no doubt about it. D. Yes, it’s an absurd idea.
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each
of the following questions.
Question 7. A number of practices at local festivals have come under strong scrutiny in recent years.
A. approval B. attention C. disapproval D. examination
Question 8. Jane used to be very excellent as a child and now she's the CEO of a big multi-national company.
However, her brother is a blue-collar worker in a small local factory.
A. mental B. low-paid C. manual D. regular
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each
of the following questions.
Question 9: They fear that with the enactment event taken off, the festival may fade away in obscurity.
A. darkness B. dimness C. fuzziness D. sharpness
Question 10: He said he was only joking, but his comments were so close to the bone.
A. annoying B. offensive C. personal D. respectful
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following
questions.
Question 11. The tour of the palace included a visit to the old kitchen where they were baking bread and the huge
underground wine cellar which was containing thousands of bottles and felt like a prisoner.
A. was containing B. were baking C. felt D. included
Question 12. Gunpowder, in some ways the most effective of all the explosive materials, were a mixture of
potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
A. in some ways B. the most effective C. all D. were
Question 13. The museum uses volunteers from the community who act as a guide to show visitors the displays of
local artists’ work
A. show B. of local artists’work C. uses D. as a guide
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 14. My uncle’s company made a very good profit in ______.
A. the 1990 B. 1990s C. 1990’s D. the 1990s
Question 15. The students ______ to class yesterday must explain their absence to the teacher.
A. who not coming B. didn’t come C. not coming D. who not came
Question 16. By the end of last March, I ______ English for five years.
A. will have been studying B. had been studying
C. had been studied D. will have studied
Question 17. ______ as a masterpiece, a work of art must transcend the ideals of the period in which it was
created.
A. In order to be ranking B. Ranking C. Being ranked D. To be ranked
Question 18. You should go to your dentist for regular ______.
A. check-ups B. check-ins C. check-outs D. check-ons
Question 19. They ______ all their assignments last night but they didn’t.
 A. should finish B. must finish C. should have finished D. must have finished
Question 20. Only professionals can identify different ______ of natural light.
A. intensities B. extensions C. expansions D. weights
Question 21. After long years working on his farm, he now has a ______ face.
A. weather-damaged B. weather-affected C. weather-proof D. weather-beaten
Question 22. ______ he followed my advice, he ______ be unemployed now.
A. Unless/ can’t B. Should/ will C. Were/ would not D. Had/ would not
Question 23. The vase is definitely not ______, but just a very good imitation.
A. real B. factual C. genuine D. imaginary
Question 24. If he is in trouble, it is his own fault, I personally wouldn’t ______ a finger to help him.
A. give B. turn C. rise D. bend
Question 25. I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office and told me he expected
me to work overtime; that was the ______.
A. end of the line B. last straw C. final curtain D. last waltz
Question 26. Students at university are called ______ while they are studying for the first degree
A. undergraduates B. postgraduates C. graduates D. pre-graduates
Question 27: Rare animal extinction is one of ______worst things that could have happened.
A. the B. x C. an D. a
Question 28: My father promised ______ me a laptop so that I could take online courses.
A. buy B. to buying C. to buy D. buying
Question 29: Andrew ______ greater responsibilities when he was promoted.
A. went over B. put up C. took on D. got over
Question 30: My parents got up early this morning ______ park the car for our journey.
A. so that B. in order to C. because D. in case
PART C - READING (6.0 points)
I. Read the following passage and circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct word or phrase
that best fits each of the numbered blanks questions. (2.0 points)
The first American immigrants, beginning more than 20,000 years ago, were intercontinental wanderers:
hunters and their families following animal (1) _________ from Asia to America, across a land bridge where the
Bering Strait is today. (2) _________ Spain’s Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World in 1492, about
1.5 million Native Americans lived in what is now the continental United States, although estimates of the number
(3)_________ greatly. Mistaking the place where he landed – San Salvador in the Bahamas – (4) _________
the Indies, Columbus called the Native Americans “Indians.”
During the next 200 years, people from several European countries followed Columbus across
the Atlantic Ocean to explore America and (5) _________ up trading posts and colonies. Native Americans
suffered (6) _________ from the influx of Europeans. The transfer of land from Indian to European – and later
American – hands (7) _________ accomplished through treaties, wars, and coercion, with Indians constantly
giving (8) _________ as the newcomers moved west. In the 19th century, the government’s preferred
solution to the Indian “problem” was to force tribes to inhabit specific plots of land called reservations. Some tribes
fought to keep from (9) _________ land they had traditionally used. In many cases the (10) _________ land was
of poor quality, and Indians came to depend on government assistance. Poverty and joblessness among Native
Americans still exist today.
Question 1: A. bunches B. packs C. flocks D. herds
Question 2: A. During B. Not until C. When D. Meanwhile
Question 3: A. modify B. adapt C. vary D. adjust
Question 4: A. with B. for C. to D. like
Question 5: A. go B. set C. make D. bring
Question 6: A. vaguely B. greatly C. deliberately D. marginally
Question 7: A. had been B. was C. were D. have been
Question 8: A. way B. direction C. signal D. road
Question 9: A. staying up B. breaking down C. giving up D. coming about
Question 10: A. reservation B. protection C. maintenance D. conservation
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the answer
to each of the questions.
Demographic transition Historically, as countries have developed industrially, they have undergone declines in
death rates following by declines in birth rates. Over time they have tended to move from rapid increases in
population to slower increases, then to zero growth and finally to population decreases. The model which
demographers use to help explain these changes in population growth is known as the demographic transition
model. In order to properly appreciate the demographic transition model, it is necessary to understand two basic
concepts: the crude birth rate (CBR) and the crude death rate (CDR). The CBR is determined by taking the number
of births in a country in a given year and dividing it by the total population of the country and then multiplying the
answer by one thousand. So, for example, the CBR of the United States in 2004 was 14 (in other words, there
were 14 births per thousand living people in that year). CDR is worked out in a similar way. The CDR for the United
States in 2004 was 8 per thousand.
The first stage of the demographic transition model portrays a preindustrial era when both the birth rate and the
death rate were high. Typically, women gave birth to a large number of babies. This was partly due to cultural and
religious pressures but also because families required a large number of children, since often many didn’t survive
into adulthood due to the harsh living conditions. Furthermore, children were needed to help adults work the land
or perform other chores. The death rate was high due to the high incidence of diseases and famine and also
because of poor hygiene. Total population tended to fluctuate due to occasional epidemics, but overall there was
only a very gradual long-term increase during this stage.
During the second stage, improvements in hygiene, medical care, and food production led to a decrease in the
death rate in newly industrializing regions of Western Europe. However, birth rates remained high due to tradition
and because many people were involved in agrarian occupations. The combination of a lowered CDR and a stable
CBR led to dramatic increases in population starting at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
In stage three, birth rates also began to fall. In cities there was less incentive to produce large numbers of children,
since city dwellers no longer worked the land, and the cost of raising children in an urban environment was greater
than in rural districts. Furthermore, more children survived into adulthood due to improved living conditions. The
economic pressures led to a lower CBR and over time the numbers of people being born started to approximate
the numbers dying.
The final stage, which some demographers have called the postindustrial stage, occurs when birth rates and death
rates are about equal. In this case there is zero natural population growth. Over time the birth rate may fall below
the death rate, and without immigration the total population may slowly decreases. By the early twenty-first century,
several European countries were experiencing population declines due to the CDR outstripping the CBR. For
example, in Italy in 2004 there were about 9 births per thousand against 10 deaths per thousand.
The demographic transition took about 200 years to complete in Europe. Many developing countries are still in
stage two of the demographic transition model: births far outstrip deaths. In these countries, CDR has declined due
to improvements in sanitation and increases in food productivity, but the birth rate has still
not adjusted downward to the new realities of improved living conditions. This imbalance of births over deaths in
the developing world is the fundamental reason for the dramatic population explosion in the latter half of the
twentieth century. However, population statistics indicate that in many less developed countries the CBRs have
begun to decline over recent decades, giving rise to optimism in some quarters about future trends. The rapid
industrialization of many parts of the developing world has meant that these countries have reached stage three of
the model much faster than countries in the developed world did during the nineteenth century. This fact has led
many demographers to predict that world population will reach an equilibrium level sooner and at a lower total
than more pessimistic earlier predictions.
Question 1. The word “it” in the passage refers to
A.population B. year C. country D. number
Question 2. According to the paragraph 1, what is useful about the demographic transition model?
A. It helps explain trends in population growth over time. B. It can be used to measure birth and death rates.
C. It clarifies the causes of population increase. D. It predicts the relative speed of population patterns.
Question 3. The word “portrays” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.suggests B. represents C. transmits D. associates
Question 4. In paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT mentioned as relevant to the high birth rates in the
preindustrial stage?
A.The high level of childhood deaths B.The need for help in work situation
C.The pressures of tradition D.The high rate of maternal deaths
Question 5. What can be inferred from paragraph 2 about eh effect of epidemic diseases on population during the
preindustrial stage?
A.They tended to dramatically lower the population growth.
B.They caused the population to decline temporarily.
C.They reduced overall population significantly.
D.They led to sudden overall increases in the birth rate.
Question 6. The word “agrarian” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. basic B . menial C. farming D. village
Question 7. According to paragraph 4, what was one of the main causes of the drop in birth rates?
A.The improvements in hygiene B.The lack of agricultural work
C.The development of urbanization D.The superior environment
Question 8. The word “equilibrium” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.economic B. stable C. variable D. fixed
Question 9. According to paragraph 6, what is at the root of the huge population increases during the twentieth
century?
A.The improvements in health throughout the developing world
B.The fact that birth rates are increasing in many countries
C.The lack of resources in many developing countries
D.The failure of the CDR to respond to economic pressures
Question 10 . Why does the author mention the optimism felt in some quarters about future population trends?
A.To introduce the fact that birth rates in some developing countries may be declining faster than anticipated B.To
emphasize that most researchers have taken a pessimistic view of population expansion
C.To show that the demographic transition is a valid model of population trends
D. To suggest that some countries have worked hard at reducing birth rates
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the answer
to each of the questions.
The machine that is celebrity culture has given us the meteoric rise and fall of the child actor, with plenty of
cautionary tales to point to and ask if something should have been done to prevent them. Recently, the Chinese
government took the extreme and unprecedented measure of banning the children of celebrities from appearing in
any type of reality TV programming, in an effort to prevent the manufacturing of child stars. It would appear that
perhaps limiting the exposure a child has to fame serves to protect and ensure a solid, stable upbringing.
The pressure of fame is undoubtedly onerous, even for adults, who, despite growing up out of the spotlight,
sometimes buckle under the stress of stardom they achieved later in life and exhibit all manner of behavioral
disorders after their stardom has waned. The same can be said of child actors, but the effect is seemingly multiplied
by the fact that, if achieving stardom as children, their view of reality is possibly warped and they may never even
have the chance to acquire the necessary coping skills. But given that some child actors – in fact, most – can make
a go of their careers into adulthood, are children really so incapable of handling such pressure or is there actually
no problem at all?
■ A) Banning children from acting has an element of common sense to it, but imagine, if you will, television
programmes, films and so forth absent of children. ■ B) While the Chinese government’s move to limit the exposure
of children may seem well intentioned, at least on the surface, it is not entirely realistic to say that children are not
allowed to appear on the small or big screen. ■ C) Of course, they are applying it to one particular media – that of
reality TV; nonetheless, is such a ban sensible for any type of media? ■ D)
Upon closer examination of the phenomenon of the child star, we see examples both of success and failure.
How many of each do we have? Is there a disproportionately high amount of failure in the lives of child actors if we
look at the statistics and compare their problems with those of ordinary people? We see a child star fail and we
immediately blame fame, but what about the success stories of other child actors such as Jodie Foster, Daniel
Radcliffe and Leonardo Dicaprio, all of whom got their start as very young children? Are we to credit fame for their
success in the same way we blame it for others’ failures?
In the case of the latter, there are the stars we know about, as they went on to achieve long-lasting fame, even
top acting awards. Child stars are not always destined to eternally seek the limelight, however, so there are many
cases of success stories that people often don’t know about. Peter Ostum, who played Charlie Bucket in Willy
Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, went on to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Shirley Temple, leading
box-office star in the 1930s from the age of seven, became a politician and the first female US ambassador. Polish
child stars and identical twin brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski gave up acting and were respectively elected
as president and prime minister of Poland, positions they held at the same time.
Invariably, though, it’s the catastrophic demise that we hear about, not just of child actors, of course, but when
it does happen to them, we feel a mixture of sorrow and disbelief. To data, there is little statistical evidence to
support the claim that fame and celebrity culture ruin the lives of child actors; the only proof we have is what we
perceive to be true. Protections are in place, to an extent, to help ensure that children have as normal an upbringing
as possible. California, for example, has enacted laws which mandate that children must continue with their
educational studies exactly as they would if they weren’t in films, even going so far as to require teachers on set if
need be. In this vein, ensuring support for child actors may need to go further than the broad restrictions exercised
by China.
Question 1. Which best serves as the title for the passage?
A. Too young to be famous
B. The lucrative career for children
C. How to become successful from an early age
D. Laws and regulations restricting child participation in the showbiz
Question 2. The word " cautionary tales” in paragraph 1 mostly means _______.
A. stories that are memorable C. stories that give warning to people
B. jokes and tricks to warn children D. hilarious conversations
Question 3. What can be inferred about the solution taken by Chinese government regarding child stars?
A. The author wholeheartedly subscribes to it.
B. It will hamper the boom of child stars.
C. It will impose a ban on children participation in films.
D. It’s something they’ve never done before.
Question 4. In the second paragraph, the author implies that children _______.
A. are better prepared to deal with fame than adults.
B. never learn coping skills when they are famous young.
C. may or may not be perniciously influenced by fame.
D. are destined to become abnormal adults if they are in the limelight from an early age.
Question 5. What is the author’s opinion of the government ban in the third paragraph?
 A. He is not sure whether or not it originates from good will.
B. He is in support of it being put into practice.
C. He supposes it is futile in the context of reality TV.
D. He believes the drive behind is to manipulate the media.
Question 6. In the fourth paragraph, the author suggests that _______.
A. fame is the culprit behind the phenomenon of child stars.
B. early fame may not contribute to the flop of a star.
C. the fame of some stars shows it has no detrimental impact.
D. the failure of some stars means that fame is debilitating.
Question 7. The author uses the instances in the fifth paragraph to convey the idea that _______.
A. child actors can attain whatever they desire.
B. fame can repel some from a sustainable acting career.
C. a more thorough study is needed to give out evaluation.
D. success can be a springboard to other positions in life.
Question 8. The author concludes by saying that _______.
A. it is futile to protect children from the perils of fame
B. it is worth taking into account the steps to help children handle fame
C. our conception of fame is greater than the reality
D. children should receive insightful education about how to deal with fame
Question 9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
“As this sort of media is supposed to reflect real life, it would seem surreal if there were no children in
these stories, as if children had ceased to exist altogether.”
Where would the sentence best fit?
A. First square B. Second square C. Third square D. Fourth square
Question 10. The word “ mandate” in the final paragraph mostly means _______.
A. giving official permission for something to happen
B. ordering something to happen
C. putting something into action
D. allowing for the existence of something
PART D - WRITING (4.0 points)
I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence
printed before it. Write your answers in the spaces provided. (0) has been done as an example (1.0 point)
Question 1: The weather forecast was inaccurate, so we didn't take the right precautions.
 Had the weather forecast ___________________________________________________________ .
Question 2. I’m absolutely sure he took the money on purpose.
 He couldn’t possibly _______________________________________________________________.
Question 3. “I don’t want to be criticized by non-professionals”, said the film star.
The film star objected _______________________________________________________________.
Question 4. Nobody expected him to lose, but he did.
 Against _________________________________________________________________________.
Question 5. People believed that they had completed the project.
 The project was believed _____________________________________________________________.
II. Rewrite the following sentences with the given words in such a way that the second sentence has the
same meaning as the first one. Do not change the form of the words in brackets. You must use NO MORE
THAN FIVE WORDS, including the word given. (0) has been done as an example. (1.0 point)
Question 1. I thought very hard but couldn’t remember the answer. (RACKED)
 I _____________________________________________ but couldn’t remember the answer.
Question 2. You should have seen the boss as soon as you arrived. You knew he wanted to see
you.(SUPPOSED)
 You _____________________________________________ the boss as soon as you arrived.
Question 3. You must remember to lock the safe whatever you do. (CIRCUMSTANCE)
 Under __________________________________________________________ to lock the safe.
Question 4. The new Iphone was so tempting that I bought it. (RESIST)
 I couldn’t ____________________________________________buy the new Iphone.
Question 5. We should abolish all these antiquated customs. (DONE)
 All these antiquated customs ____________________________________________.
III. Writing essay (2 points)
Write an essay (between 220 and 250 words) about the following topic:
In the past few months, English has become one of seven optional subjects to choose to attend the
National high school exam. Many people have approved of the decision of Ministry of education and
training. While others have discussed the drawbacks of not selecting English as a compulsory subject in
GCSE examination.
What’s your opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
 SỞ GIÁO DỤC ĐÀO TẠO NAM ĐINH ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
NĂM HỌC 2023 - 2024
ĐỀ THAM KHẢO Môn: TIẾNG ANH – Lớp: 12 THPT.
Thời gian làm bài: 120 phút

Lưu ý: Thí sinh làm bài vào đề thi này.

PART A - LISTENING (4.0 points)
SECTION 1: Questions 1-10 (2.0 points)
Questions 1-5: Circle the correct letter, A, B, C.
1. What is the caller’s surname?
A. Fleischer B. Fischer C. Bennett
2. The caller says the correct colour of his car is
A. Sky blue B. Light green C. White
3. What time does the caller say he went to collect his car?
A. 9:30pm B. 8pm C. 8:30pm
4. Where does the caller usually store the front panel of his radio?
A. In his pocket B. The hospital C. In the glove compartment
5. What does the advisor say she will send through the mail to the caller?
A. A radio B. Some CDs C. Some forms
Questions 6-10. Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for
each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.
Insurance Claim Report
CUSTOMER FIRST NAME: Bennett
POLICY NUMBER: (6) ___________
TYPE OF CLAIM: Stolen (7) ___________
PLACE WHERE OFFENCE WAS REPORTED: York (8) ___________Station
CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE DANGER: No
OTHER ITEMS STOLEN: Car radio, CDs and an old (9)___________
DOCUMENTS REQUESTED TO SUPPORT CLAIM: Police report and (10) _________
Listening Section 1
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. C
6. G34C245
7. car
8. police
9. jacket
10. registration details
SECTION 2. Questions 11-15 (1point)
Listen to the directions and match the places in questions 11 -15 to the appropriate places among A- E on the
map.
Ned Kelly Avenue

Street Garden
 Parker Street

Crammer Street

MainGate
11. Student Centre ……………….
12. Health Centre ……………….
13. Internet Unit ……………….
14. Complaint Office ……………….
15. Café ……………….
SECTION 3: Questions 16-20(1point)
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
16. In Athens, cars can only enter the city centre on ______________
17. ‘BRT’ stands for ‘bus ’______________
18. In London, after a new road tax was introduced, moped and bicycle use increased by ______________
19. Both Japan and Holland provide______________ for those cycling to train stations.
20. In the USA, police officers on bikes make more ______________ than those in patrol
11 E
12 A
13 B
14 D
15 C
16 bathroom
17 food containers
18 code
19 basement
20 11:30/ 11.30

PART B - VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR (6.0 points)

Circle the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word whose underlined part differs
from the other three in the pronunciation in each of the following questions.
Question 1.
A. exaggerate /ɪɡˈzædʒ.ə.reɪt/
B. exhort /ɪɡˈzɔːt/: hô hào, cổ vũ
C. exhilaration /ɪɡˌzɪl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/: niềm vui vẻ
D. exhale /eksˈheɪl/: tỏa ra, chút cơn giận
Question 2. A. turn B. burn C. curtain D. bury
Circle the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word that differs from the other three in
the position of primary stress in each of the following questions.
Question 3. A. mistake B. degree C. figure D. cartoon
Question 4. A. entertain B. decorate C. organize D. satisfy
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the option that best completes following exchanges.
Question 5. Claire is talking to her new neighbor, Simon.
Claire: “Why did your family decide to move here, Simon?” Simon: “______”
A. It’s two kilometers. B. We want to live near our grandparents.
C. Ten minutes I think. D. We hate this neighborhood.
Question 6. John and Laura are talking about the environment.
John: “Do you think that we should use public transportation to protect our environment?” Laura: “ ______ ”.
A. Of course not. You bet. B. Well, that’s very surprising.
C. There is no doubt about it. D. Yes, it’s an absurd idea.
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each
of the following questions.
Question 7. A number of practices at local festivals have come under strong scrutiny in recent years.
A. approval B. attention C. disapproval D. examination
 Scrutiny (n): Sự xem xét kỹ lưỡng

Question 8. Jane used to be very excellent as a child and now she's the CEO of a big multi-national company.
However, her brother is a blue-collar worker in a small local factory.
A. mental B. low-paid C. manual D. regular
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each
of the following questions.
Question 9: They fear that with the enactment event taken off, the festival may fade away in obscurity.
A. darkness B. dimness C. fuzziness D. sharpness
sharpness (n): độ sắc nét
Question 10: He said he was only joking, but his comments were so close to the bone.
A. annoying B. offensive C. personal D. respectful
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in each of the following
questions.
Question 11. The tour of the palace included a visit to the old kitchen where they were baking bread and the huge
underground wine cellar which was containing thousands of bottles and felt like a prisoner.
A. was containing B. were baking C. felt D. included
Question 12. Gunpowder, in some ways the most effective of all the explosive materials, were a mixture of
potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
A. in some ways B. the most effective C. all D. were
Question 13. The museum uses volunteers from the community who act as a guide to show visitors the displays of
local artists’ work
A. show B. of local artists’work C. uses D. as a guide
Circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 14. My uncle’s company made a very good profit in ______.
A. the 1990 B. 1990s C. 1990’s D. the 1990s
Question 15. The students ______ to class yesterday must explain their absence to the teacher.
A. who not coming B. didn’t come C. not coming D. who not came
Question 16. By the end of last March, I ______ English for five years.
A. will have been studying B. had been studying
C. had been studied D. will have studied
Question 17. ______ as a masterpiece, a work of art must transcend the ideals of the period in which it was
created.
A. In order to be ranking B. Ranking C. Being ranked D. To be ranked
Question 18. You should go to your dentist for regular ______.
A. check-ups B. check-ins C. check-outs D. check-ons
Question 19. They ______ all their assignments last night but they didn’t.
A. should finish B. must finish C. should have finished D. must have finished
Question 20. Only professionals can identify different ______ of natural light.
A. intensities B. extensions C. expansions D. weights
Intensity: cường độ, sức mạnh
Question 21. After long years working on his farm, he now has a ______ face.
A. weather-damaged B. weather-affected C. weather-proof D. weather-beaten
Question 22. ______ he followed my advice, he ______ be unemployed now.
A. Unless/ can’t B. Should/ will C. Were/ would not D. Had/ would not
Question 23. The vase is definitely not ______, but just a very good imitation.
A. real B. factual C. genuine D. imaginary
Question 24. If he is in trouble, it is his own fault, I personally wouldn’t ______ a finger to help him.
A. give B. turn C. raise D. bend
Question 25. I was already fed up with the job, but when the boss walked into my office and told me he expected
me to work overtime; that was the ______.
A. end of the line B. last straw C. final curtain D. last waltz
Question 26. Students at university are called ______ while they are studying for the first degree
A. undergraduates B. postgraduates C. graduates D. pre-graduates
Question 27: Rare animal extinction is one of ______worst things that could have happened.
A. the B. x C. an D. a
Question 28: My father promised ______ me a laptop so that I could take online courses.
A. buy B. to buying C. to buy D. buying
Question 29: Andrew ______ greater responsibilities when he was promoted.
A. went over B. put up C. took on D. got over
Question 30: My parents got up early this morning ______ park the car for our journey.
A. so that B. in order to C. because D. in case
PART C - READING (6.0 points)
I. Read the following passage and circle the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct word or phrase
that best fits each of the numbered blanks questions. (2.0 points)
 The first American immigrants, beginning more than 20,000 years ago, were intercontinental wanderers:
hunters and their families following animal (1) _________ from Asia to America, across a land bridge where the
Bering Strait is today. (2) _________ Spain’s Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World in 1492, about
1.5 million Native Americans lived in what is now the continental United States, although estimates of the number
(3)_________ greatly. Mistaking the place where he landed – San Salvador in the Bahamas – (4) _________
the Indies, Columbus called the Native Americans “Indians.”
During the next 200 years, people from several European countries followed Columbus across
the Atlantic Ocean to explore America and (5) _________ up trading posts and colonies. Native Americans
suffered (6) _________ from the influx of Europeans. The transfer of land from Indian to European – and later
American – hands (7) _________ accomplished through treaties, wars, and coercion, with Indians constantly
giving (8) _________ as the newcomers moved west. In the 19th century, the government’s preferred
solution to the Indian “problem” was to force tribes to inhabit specific plots of land called reservations. Some tribes
fought to keep from (9) _________ land they had traditionally used. In many cases the (10) _________ land was
of poor quality, and Indians came to depend on government assistance. Poverty and joblessness among Native
Americans still exist today.
Question 1: A. bunches B. packs C. flocks D. herds
Question 2: A. During B. Not until C. When D. Meanwhile
Question 3: A. modify B. adapt C. vary D. adjust
Question 4: A. with B. for C. to D. like
Question 5: A. go B. set C. make D. bring
Question 6: A. vaguely B. greatly C. deliberately D. marginally
Question 7: A. had been B. was C. were D. have been
Question 8: A. way B. direction C. signal D. road
Question 9: A. staying up B. breaking down C. giving up D. coming about
Question 10: A. reservation B. protection C. maintenance D. conservation
Mistake st for st: Nhầm lẫn cái gì với cái gì
Reservation land: vùng đất riêng dành cho người bộ lạc
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the answer
to each of the questions.
Demographic transition Historically, as countries have developed industrially, they have undergone declines in
death rates following by declines in birth rates. Over time they have tended to move from rapid increases in
population to slower increases, then to zero growth and finally to population decreases. The model which
demographers use to help explain these changes in population growth is known as the demographic transition
model. In order to properly appreciate the demographic transition model, it is necessary to understand two basic
concepts: the crude birth rate (CBR) and the crude death rate (CDR). The CBR is determined by taking the number
of births in a country in a given year and dividing it by the total population of the country and then multiplying the
answer by one thousand. So, for example, the CBR of the United States in 2004 was 14 (in other words, there
were 14 births per thousand living people in that year). CDR is worked out in a similar way. The CDR for the United
States in 2004 was 8 per thousand.
The first stage of the demographic transition model portrays a preindustrial era when both the birth rate and the
death rate were high. Typically, women gave birth to a large number of babies. This was partly due to cultural and
religious pressures but also because families required a large number of children, since often many didn’t survive
into adulthood due to the harsh living conditions. Furthermore, children were needed to help adults work the land
or perform other chores. The death rate was high due to the high incidence of diseases and famine and also
because of poor hygiene. Total population tended to fluctuate due to occasional epidemics, but overall there was
only a very gradual long-term increase during this stage.
During the second stage, improvements in hygiene, medical care, and food production led to a decrease in the
death rate in newly industrializing regions of Western Europe. However, birth rates remained high due to tradition
and because many people were involved in agrarian occupations. The combination of a lowered CDR and a stable
CBR led to dramatic increases in population starting at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
In stage three, birth rates also began to fall. In cities there was less incentive to produce large numbers of children,
since city dwellers no longer worked the land, and the cost of raising children in an urban environment was greater
than in rural districts. Furthermore, more children survived into adulthood due to improved living conditions. The
economic pressures led to a lower CBR and over time the numbers of people being born started to approximate
the numbers dying.
The final stage, which some demographers have called the postindustrial stage, occurs when birth rates and death
rates are about equal. In this case there is zero natural population growth. Over time the birth rate may fall below
the death rate, and without immigration the total population may slowly decreases. By the early twenty-first century,
several European countries were experiencing population declines due to the CDR outstripping the CBR. For
example, in Italy in 2004 there were about 9 births per thousand against 10 deaths per thousand.
The demographic transition took about 200 years to complete in Europe. Many developing countries are still in
stage two of the demographic transition model: births far outstrip deaths. In these countries, CDR has declined due
to improvements in sanitation and increases in food productivity, but the birth rate has still
not adjusted downward to the new realities of improved living conditions. This imbalance of births over deaths in
the developing world is the fundamental reason for the dramatic population explosion in the latter half of the
twentieth century. However, population statistics indicate that in many less developed countries the CBRs have
begun to decline over recent decades, giving rise to optimism in some quarters about future trends. The rapid
industrialization of many parts of the developing world has meant that these countries have reached stage three of
the model much faster than countries in the developed world did during the nineteenth century. This fact has led
many demographers to predict that world population will reach an equilibrium level sooner and at a lower total
than more pessimistic earlier predictions.
Question 1. The word “it” in the passage refers to
A.population B. year C. country D. number
Question 2. According to the paragraph 1, what is useful about the demographic transition model?
A. It helps explain trends in population growth over time. B. It can be used to measure birth and death rates.
C. It clarifies the causes of population increase. D. It predicts the relative speed of population patterns.
Question 3. The word “portrays” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.suggests B. represents C. transmits D. associates
Question 4. In paragraph 2, which of the following is NOT mentioned as relevant to the high birth rates in the
preindustrial stage?
A.The high level of childhood deaths B.The need for help in work situation
C.The pressures of tradition D.The high rate of maternal deaths
Question 5. What can be inferred from paragraph 2 about eh effect of epidemic diseases on population during the
preindustrial stage?
A.They tended to dramatically lower the population growth.
B.They caused the population to decline temporarily.
C.They reduced overall population significantly.
D.They led to sudden overall increases in the birth rate.
Question 6. The word “agrarian” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. basic B . menial C. farming D. village
Question 7. According to paragraph 4, what was one of the main causes of the drop in birth rates?
A.The improvements in hygiene B.The lack of agricultural work
C.The development of urbanization D.The superior environment
Question 8. The word “equilibrium” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A.economic B. stable C. variable D. fixed
Equilibrium (n): trạng thái công bằng
Question 9. According to paragraph 6, what is at the root of the huge population increases during the twentieth
century?
A.The improvements in health throughout the developing world
B.The fact that birth rates are increasing in many countries
C.The lack of resources in many developing countries
D.The failure of the CDR to respond to economic pressures
Question 10 . Why does the author mention the optimism felt in some quarters about future population trends?
A.To introduce the fact that birth rates in some developing countries may be declining faster than anticipated B.To
emphasize that most researchers have taken a pessimistic view of population expansion
C.To show that the demographic transition is a valid model of population trends
D. To suggest that some countries have worked hard at reducing birth rates
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the answer
to each of the questions.
The machine that is celebrity culture has given us the meteoric rise and fall of the child actor, with plenty of
cautionary tales to point to and ask if something should have been done to prevent them. Recently, the Chinese
government took the extreme and unprecedented measure of banning the children of celebrities from appearing in
any type of reality TV programming, in an effort to prevent the manufacturing of child stars. It would appear that
perhaps limiting the exposure a child has to fame serves to protect and ensure a solid, stable upbringing.
The pressure of fame is undoubtedly onerous, even for adults, who, despite growing up out of the spotlight,
sometimes buckle under the stress of stardom they achieved later in life and exhibit all manner of behavioral
disorders after their stardom has waned. The same can be said of child actors, but the effect is seemingly multiplied
by the fact that, if achieving stardom as children, their view of reality is possibly warped and they may never even
have the chance to acquire the necessary coping skills. But given that some child actors – in fact, most – can make
a go of their careers into adulthood, are children really so incapable of handling such pressure or is there actually
no problem at all?
■ A) Banning children from acting has an element of common sense to it, but imagine, if you will, television
programmes, films and so forth absent of children. ■ B) While the Chinese government’s move to limit the exposure
 of children may seem well intentioned, at least on the surface, it is not entirely realistic to say that children are not
allowed to appear on the small or big screen. ■ C) Of course, they are applying it to one particular media – that of
reality TV; nonetheless, is such a ban sensible for any type of media? ■ D)
Upon closer examination of the phenomenon of the child star, we see examples both of success and failure.
How many of each do we have? Is there a disproportionately high amount of failure in the lives of child actors if we
look at the statistics and compare their problems with those of ordinary people? We see a child star fail and we
immediately blame fame, but what about the success stories of other child actors such as Jodie Foster, Daniel
Radcliffe and Leonardo Dicaprio, all of whom got their start as very young children? Are we to credit fame for their
success in the same way we blame it for others’ failures?
In the case of the latter, there are the stars we know about, as they went on to achieve long-lasting fame, even
top acting awards. Child stars are not always destined to eternally seek the limelight, however, so there are many
cases of success stories that people often don’t know about. Peter Ostum, who played Charlie Bucket in Willy
Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, went on to pursue a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Shirley Temple, leading
box-office star in the 1930s from the age of seven, became a politician and the first female US ambassador. Polish
child stars and identical twin brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski gave up acting and were respectively elected
as president and prime minister of Poland, positions they held at the same time.
Invariably, though, it’s the catastrophic demise that we hear about, not just of child actors, of course, but when
it does happen to them, we feel a mixture of sorrow and disbelief. To data, there is little statistical evidence to
support the claim that fame and celebrity culture ruin the lives of child actors; the only proof we have is what we
perceive to be true. Protections are in place, to an extent, to help ensure that children have as normal an upbringing
as possible. California, for example, has enacted laws which mandate that children must continue with their
educational studies exactly as they would if they weren’t in films, even going so far as to require teachers on set if
need be. In this vein, ensuring support for child actors may need to go further than the broad restrictions exercised
by China.
Question 1. Which best serves as the title for the passage?
E. Too young to be famous
F. The lucrative career for children
G. How to become successful from an early age
H. Laws and regulations restricting child participation in the showbiz
Question 2. The word " cautionary tales” in paragraph 1 mostly means _______.
E. stories that are memorable G. stories that give warning to people
F. jokes and tricks to warn children H. hilarious conversations
Question 3. What can be inferred about the solution taken by Chinese government regarding child stars?
E. The author wholeheartedly subscribes to it.
F. It will hamper the boom of child stars.
G. It will impose a ban on children participation in films.
H. It’s something they’ve never done before.
Question 4. In the second paragraph, the author implies that children _______.
E. are better prepared to deal with fame than adults.
F. never learn coping skills when they are famous young.
G. may or may not be perniciously influenced by fame.
H. are destined to become abnormal adults if they are in the limelight from an early age.
Question 5. What is the author’s opinion of the government ban in the third paragraph?
E. He is not sure whether or not it originates from good will.
F. He is in support of it being put into practice.
G. He supposes it is futile in the context of reality TV.
H. He believes the drive behind is to manipulate the media.
Question 6. In the fourth paragraph, the author suggests that _______.
E. fame is the culprit behind the phenomenon of child stars.
F. early fame may not contribute to the flop of a star.
G. the fame of some stars shows it has no detrimental impact.
H. the failure of some stars means that fame is debilitating.
Question 7. The author uses the instances in the fifth paragraph to convey the idea that _______.
E. child actors can attain whatever they desire.
F. fame can repel some from a sustainable acting career.
G. a more thorough study is needed to give out evaluation.
H. success can be a springboard to other positions in life.
Question 8. The author concludes by saying that _______.
E. it is futile to protect children from the perils of fame
F. it is worth taking into account the steps to help children handle fame
G. our conception of fame is greater than the reality
H. children should receive insightful education about how to deal with fame
Question 9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
“As this sort of media is supposed to reflect real life, it would seem surreal if there were no children in these
stories, as if children had ceased to exist altogether.”
Where would the sentence best fit?
 A. First square B. Second square C. Third square D. Fourth square
Question 10. The word “ mandate” in the final paragraph mostly means _______.
E. giving official permission for something to happen
F. ordering something to happen
G. putting something into action
H. allowing for the existence of something
PART D - WRITING (4.0 points)
I. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence
printed before it. Write your answers in the spaces provided. (0) has been done as an example (1.0 point)
Question 1: The weather forecast was inaccurate, so we didn't take the right precautions.
 Had the weather forecast been accurate, we would have taken the right precautions
Question 2. I’m absolutely sure he took the money on purpose.
 He couldn’t possibly have taken the money by coincide
Question 3. “I don’t want to be criticized by non-professionals”, said the film star.
The film star objected to being criticized by non-professionals
Question 4. Nobody expected him to lose, but he did.
 Against everyone’s expectation, he lost
Question 5. People believed that they had completed the project.
 The project was believed to have been completed
II. Rewrite the following sentences with the given words in such a way that the second sentence has the same
meaning as the first one. Do not change the form of the words in brackets. You must use NO MORE THAN
FIVE WORDS, including the word given. (0) has been done as an example. (1.0 point)
Question 1. I thought very hard but couldn’t remember the answer. (RACKED)
 I racked my brain to remember, but couldn’t remember the answer.
Question 2. You should have seen the boss as soon as you arrived. You knew he wanted to see you.(SUPPOSED)
 You were supposed to see the boss as soon as you arrived.
Question 3. You must remember to lock the safe whatever you do. (CIRCUMSTANCE)
 Under no circumstance must you forget to lock the safe.
Under/ In no circumstances: trong bất cứ hoàn cảnh nào cũng không.
For no reasons = On no account: không vì bất cứ lí do gì.
Question 4. The new Iphone was so tempting that I bought it. (RESIST)
 I couldn’t resist the temptation to buy the new Iphone.
Question 5. We should abolish all these antiquated customs. (DONE)
 All these antiquated customs should be done away with by us
III. Writing essay (2 points)
Write an essay (between 220 and 250 words) about the following topic:
In the past few months, English has become one of seven optional subjects to choose to attend the
National high school exam. Many people have approved of the decision of Ministry of education and training.
While others have discussed the drawbacks of not selecting English as a compulsory subject in GCSE
examination.
What’s your opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.