TRƯỜNG THPT LÝ THÁI TỔ KỲ THI THỬ HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH

LỚP 12
TỪ SƠN - BẮC NINH NĂM HỌC 2018 - 2019
Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
Thời gian làm bài: 90’
Full name: ………………………………
Class: 12A… MĐ:749

(Ghi chú: Đề thi gồm 08 trang. Học sinh làm bài trực tiếp vào đề thi).

A. Listening (2p)
You will hear Alex Villarreal with an Agriculture Report. For each question, choose the
correct answer.

1. Last year how many people were undernourished?

A. thirty percent of the people B. thirteen percent of the people
C. thirteen hundred people D. thirty people
2. In Nairobi, Kenya, Ms Nierenberg found women famers growing vegetables ………..
A. outside their doorsteps B. in the garden
C. on the top floor D. in the field
3. How many countries did Danielle Nierenberg from the Worldwatch Institute in
Washington spend a year visiting?
A. twenty B. twelve C. twenty - four D. twenty – five
4. What did the women use to fill with soil?
A. plastic bag B. old bucket C. old sacks D. old pot
5. The reason why food get wasted is………..
A. It rained heavily everyday
B. No one wanted to consume their products
C. Their products are not good enough.
D. Farmers lacked good seeds and fertilizer
6. In Uganda, what was taught in school?
A. how to change production B. how to select seeds
C. how to earn money D. how to grow local crop
7. What are the advantages of the breeding of local kinds of livestock in South Africa and
Kenya?
A. These animals can survive cold conditions.
B. These animals produce more milk than other breeds
C. These animals may produce less milk or meat than other breeds, but they can survive heat and
drought conditions.
D. These animals can produce more meat than other breeds
8. People in Kenya didn’t try to find ways to make their live better.
A. True B. False C. No information
9. There are a lot of lessons that people in the Western world or developing countries can
learn from Africa.
A. True B. False C. No information
10. Sub – Saharan Africa had the world’s highest hunger rate.
A. True B. False C. No information

B. PHONETICS (2p)
Question I. Choose one word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the
others by circling A, B, C or D. (1)
1. A. etiquette B. conqueror C. statuesque D. bequest
2. A. measure B. dreadful C. treasure D. breathe
3. A. confusedly B. wickedly C. allegedly D. supposedly
4. A. ugali B. umpire C. ulcer D. umber
5. A. paths B. wither C. marathon D. although
Question II. Choose one word whose stress pattern is different from the others by circling
A, B, C or D. (1)
1. A. compromise B. picturesque C. European D. guarantee
2. A. appliance B. romantic C. dynamic D. homecoming
3. A. internal B. interval C. external D. interpret
4. A. viticulture B. concertina C. preferential D. misbegotten
5. A. minority B. handicap C. destiny D. voluntary

C. VOCABULARY (4p)
Choose the best word from A, B, C, and D that fits each blank.
1. The prospects of picking up any survivors are now………
A. thin B. slim C. restricted D. narrow
2. Sheila couldn’t attend the meeting as the date……..with her holidays.
A. clashed B. struck C. opposed D. occurred
3. The general is always …………about his past campaigns.
A. boasting B. praising C. complimenting D. congratulating
4. You had agreed to take part in our anti-war march, why did you cop out?
A. die B. retreat C. act rashly D. attend
5. His success……….his mother’s heart.
A. greeted B. rejoiced C. welcomed D. cheered
6. A newspaper’s opinions are given in its……….
A. cartoon B. editorial C. reports D. titles
7. Mr Brown is not a serious investor, but he likes to…….in the stock market.
A. splash B. splatter C. paddle D. dabble
8. ………are the formal rules of correct or polite behavior among people using the Internet.
A. Traffic rules B. Family rules C. Codes of etiquettes D. Codes of netiquettes
9. I can’t possibly lend you any more money, it is quite out of the……..
A. impossible B. question C. order D. practice
10. The dish was so tasty that I asked for a second……….
A. portion B. helping C. ration D. share

D. STRUCTURE AND GRAMMAR (2p)

1. I use weed-killer to……….the weeds in the garden.
A. get rid of B. get out of C. get away with D. get in the way with
2. After the funeral, the residents of the apartment building……..
A. sent to the cemetery each week flowers faithfully
B. sent faithfully flowers all week to the cemetery
C. sent flowers faithfully to the cemetery each week
D. sent each week faithfully to the cemetery flowers.
3. The incidence of anorexia nervosa,………., is growing in industrially advanced societies.
A. is an eating disorder B. an eating disorder which
C. for which an eating disorder D. an eating disorder
4. The saying that “Misfortunes never ………” means that many problems can happen at the
same time.
A. go soon B. go at once C. come single D. come singly
5. ………is lubricated can affect the longevity of the moving parts that rub together
A. How often a machine B. A machine often
C. Often a machine D. How often machines
6. …….., an author probably most famous for his tales of terror, also dabbled in some science
fiction.
A. To Edgar Allen Poe B. For Edgar Allen Poe to be
C. Edgar Allen Poe was D. Edgar Allen Poe
7. Superconductivity will revolutionize the way that energy is used for the next millennium,
and…….the first truly superconductive substance will be remembered as a technological hero.
A. what the discovery of B. the discovery of
C. whoever discovers D. whose discovery of
8. In Michigan,………over 600 feet deep.
A. salt deposits B. where salt deposits are
C. having salt deposits D. there are salt deposits
9. ………..invisible to the unaided eye, ultraviolet light can be detected in a number of ways.
A. Although is B. Although C. Despite D. Even though it
10. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, ……of you is first in line?
A. which B. whose C. who D. whom

E. PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS (4p)

1. He’s not exactly rich but he certainly earns enough money to…….
A. get through B. get by C. get over D. get up
2. I had to ……..90$ for a parking fine.
A. put out B. give away C. squeeze up D. cough up
3. The word “chaos” has………..a special scientific meaning.
A. included in B. held of C. taken on D. gasped up
4. He wasn’t sure if he’d be any good at tennis, but actually he took……..it immediately.
A. out B. off C. to D. in
5. The teacher at school went………with flu one after the other.
A. down B. under C. out D. on
6. This hotel is so awesome, man. I could just…….on this view for the whole weekend.
A. bliss out B. bliss into C. bliss down D. bliss across
7. The effects of the anesthetic wore………after a couple of hours.
A. out B. off C. on D. up
8. Owing to circumstances ……..our control, the flight to Rome has been cancelled.
A. beyond B. under C. of D. to
9. If you think I’m wrong, check in the encyclopedia. I’m sure it will bear me……..
A. off B. in C. out D. down
10. This is a very important decision. All our lives are……..stake.
A. in B. with C. at D. on

F. READING (6p)
Question I: Read the following passages and choose the options that best complete the
blanks. (2p)
People’s personalities (1) … ….considerable from one another as there are no two alike.
Our ingrained characteristics which determine the patterns of our (2) ………. , our reactions and
temperaments are unparalleled on (3) ……..….. of the diversified processes that mold our
personality in the earliest stages of human development .
Some (4) ……. of character may to some extent be hereditary simulating the (5) …..that
identify our parents . Others may (6) ……. from the conditions experienced during pregnancy
and infancy in this way reflecting the parents' approach towards rearing their offspring.
Consequently, the environmental factor plays a (7) ………. role in strengthening or
eliminating certain behavioral systems making an individual more prone to comfort to the
patterns that deserve a prize.
Undoubtedly, human personality (8) …….. the most profound and irreversible formation
during the first period of its development, yet, certain characteristics may still be (9).....................
to considerable changes made by (10) ….. …. circumstances and situations.
1. A. distinguish B. differentiate C. vary D. change
2. A. behaviors B. circumstances C. hobbies D. character
3. A. token B. account C. virtue D. behalf
4. A. items B. aspects C. items D. factors
5. A. issues B. circumstances C. foundations D. attributes
6. A. depart B. change C. rise D. stem
7. A. crucial B. fatal C. distinguished D. lasting
8. A. faces B. suffers C. undergoes D. remains
9. A. open B. subject C. sure D. obliged
10. A. similar B. different C. familiar D. same
Question II: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your
answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions (4p).
Passage 1 (2p):
In February 2001, at the age of 24, Ellen MacArthur became the youngest and fastest ever woman
to sail round the world. After 94 days alone on board yacht Kingfisher, she finished second to
Michel Desjoyaux of France in the single-handed Vendee Globe event.

In sport, like life, the winner is usually fetched, and runners-up quickly forgotten. This time the
roles were reversed and it was Ellen, weighing just 50 kilos and barely 1m 60 tall, that really
captured people's imaginations and emotions. One newspaper in France, where she was and is a
real heroine, summed up the national mood there with the headline "Well done, Michel, bravo
Ellen".

As with many spectacular achievers, the signs were there from an early age, even in the
unpromising nautical terrain of landlocked Derbyshire. Her great-grandparents were sailing people
and a great-uncle was a merchant seaman, but any real link with the sea is tenuous. There was,
however, an Auntie Thea who lived on the east coast of England and had a 26-foot sailing boat
called Cabaret. It took just one trip on the open sea with her aunt to spark off Ellen's lifelong
passion. She was eight years old. After that she began saving her pocket money and spent all her
spare time reading sailing books in the library, absorbing information like a sponge. With her
savings and the help of her grandmother she bought an 8-foot fiberglass dinghy, and from that
moment on there was no keeping her away from the water.

Sailing around Britain single-handed at the age of 18 was just the start; Ellen had long since set
her sights on the Vendee. But finding the money to undertake round-the-world voyages is no easy
feat. She wrote 2,000 letters requesting sponsorship and received just two replies, one, happily,
from the Kingfisher company who were looking to expand into France. And in terms of race
preparation, if thoroughness was the key of success, Ellen could certainly be considered one of the
favourites. In the eight months leading up to the start of the race, she sailed no fewer than 60,000
miles at the helm of her 60-foot Kingfisher, far more than the rest of the fleet put together in the
same period.

During her three months at sea MacArthur negotiated deadly icebergs, gigantic waves and gale-
force winds. She endured the freezing cold of the Arctic and suffered the blistering heat of the
windless doldrums. Racing conditions meant sleeping in 10-minute bursts, a survival suit that
stayed on for weeks at a time and hands and wrists covered in sores and cuts. Food was dried or
frozen. Water came from desalinator, which passes sea water through a membrane. "You don't
really wash in the icy waters of the southern ocean", she laughs. "Anyway, there's no one to tell
you that you smell."

As Kingfisher crossed the fishing line Ellen was surrounded by hundreds of spectator boats and a
cheering crowd of 200,000 lined the shore. Stepping off her yacht she looked remarkably
composed and seemed to take the change from solitude to public adulation very much in her stride.
Her thoughts, she later confessed, were on the realization that she had fulfilled the ambition that
had dominated her life for the previous four or five years. "Throughout that time my sole focus
had been crossing the finished line, and in the fastest possible time." Now she could savour that
moment.

But despite MacArthur's belief that everyone who finishes the Vendee is a winner, she still feels a
sense of disappointment that, having taken the lead from the eventual winner Michel Desjoyaux
10 days from the finish, she did not quite have the energy or good fortune to turn her advantage
into victory. "You have to believe you can win from the start." she asserts. "Deep down you're a
competitor, you don't climb the mast and come back black and blue just for a cruise. You do it
because it's a race."

The public will now be hoping to see a suitable encore, some new feat of endurance to justify her
celebrity status. For Ellen can no longer claim, as she did in her post-race press conference, to be
the simple Derbyshare girl with "no mobile, no credit cards, no money, no nothing"; she is a
heroine and an inspiration to others of her generation. As if to reinforce this, and despite her
reluctance to take on this role, she later commented: "If there's one thing I've learned in this past
year, it's that deep down in your heart, if you have a dream, then you can and must make it
happen."

Dinghy: /ˈdɪŋi/a small open boat that you sail or row.

Gale-force winds: extremely strong winds.
Blistering: extremely hot in a way that is uncomfortable.
Doldrums: a lack of activity or improvement.
Encore: an extra short performance given at the end of a concert or other performance; a request
for this made by an audience calling out.
Bursts: a short period of intense activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly.

Questions.
1. Ellen MacArthur was the winner in the Vendee Globe event?
A. True B. False C. No information
2. At the time of her achievement we learn that Ellen ……………
A. Enjoyed only short-lived success.
B. Was more famous in France than anywhere else.
C. Attracted more attention than Michael Desjoyaux.
D. Became popular because of her size.
3. Where did Ellen's initial interest in sailing come from?
A. She came from a family of sailing enthusiasts.
B. She went to see one of her relatives.
C. She read widely on the subject .
D. She lived near the sea.
4. The writer suggests that one cause of discomfort for Ellen at sea was ………..
A. The shortage of water.
B. Her failure to sleep.
C. Extremes of temperature.
D. A lack of cooking facilities.
5. According to the writer, when Ellen finished the race, she was …………
A. Overwhelmed by her new-found fame.
B. Surprised by the number of people who came to greet her.
C. Able to reflect on her achievement.
D. Delighted to be amongst people again.
6. According to the writer, Ellen ……….
A. Thinks she deserved to win the race.
B. Has mixed feelings about the outcome of the race.
C. Knew she would win the race.
D. Thinks Michel Desjoyaux was lucky to beat her.
7. Which of the following views does the writer express in the last paragraph?
A. She has the power to motivate.
B. She has no right to fame yet.
C. Her comments lack depth.
D. She needs to change her lifestyle.
8. The word “single-handed” in the fourth paragraph means…….
A. without any help from anyone else
B. using only one of one’s hands to row
C. on a boat with only one paddle
D. on a boat with only one sail
9. Ellen MacArthur wrote 2000 letters requesting sponsorship and only Kingfisher
Company replied.
a. True B. False C. No information
10. Ellen MacArthur was a good-looking, caring and intelligent girl when she was small.
a. True B. False C. No information

Passage 2 (2p):

The rules of etiquette in American restaurants depend upon a number of factors: the physical
location of the restaurant, e.g., rural or urban; the type of restaurant, e.g., informal or formal; and
certain standards that are more universal. In other words, some standards of etiquette vary
significantly while other standards apply almost anywhere. Learning the proper etiquette in a
particular type of restaurant in a particular area may sometimes require instruction, but more
commonly it simply requires sensitivity and experience. For example, while it is acceptable to read
a magazine in a coffee shop, it is inappropriate to do the same in a more luxurious setting. And, if
you are eating in a very rustic setting it may be fine to tuck your napkin into your shirt, but if you
are in a sophisticated urban restaurant this behavior would demonstrate a lack of manners. It is
safe to say, however, that in virtually every restaurant it is unacceptable to indiscriminately throw
your food on the floor. The conclusion we can most likely draw from the above is that while the
types and locations of restaurants determine etiquette appropriate to them, some rules apply to all
restaurants.

1. With what topic is this passage primarily concerned?

A. Rules of etiquette B. Instruction in proper etiquette
C. The importance of good manners D. Variable and universal standards of etiquette
2. According to the passage, which of the following is a universal rule of etiquette?
A. tucking a napkin in your shirt B. not throwing food on the floor
C. reading a magazine at a coffee shop D. eating in rustic settings
3. According to the passage, ________ requires sensitivity and experience.
A. learning the proper etiquette B. asking for instructions
C. knowing the type of restaurant D. knowing about an area
4. The word "sophisticated" in the passage could best be replaced by ________
A. expensive B. cultured C. famous D. exclusive
5. The author uses the phrase "safe to say" in order to demonstrate that the idea is ____.
A. somewhat innocent B. quite certain C. very clever D. commonly reported
6. The word "indiscriminately" could best be replaced by ________.
A. randomly B. angrily C. noisily D. destructively
7. What is the author's main purpose in this passage?
A. to assist people in learning sophisticated manners
B. to describe variations in restaurant manners
C. to simplify rules of restaurant etiquette
D. to compare sophisticated and rustic restaurants
8. What does the word “it” in the passage refer to?
A. Learning the proper etiquette B. Clear instruction
C. Knowing the type of restaurant D. Sensitivity
9. Which of the following could best replace the word “luxurious” in the passage?
A. lurid B. austere C. elegant D. romantic
10. Which of the following words is most similar to the meaning of “rustic” in the passage?
A. agricultural B. ancient C. unsophisticated D. urban
 ĐÁP ÁN

TRƯỜNG THPT LÝ THÁI TỔ KỲ THI THỬ HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH
LỚP 12
TỪ SƠN - BẮC NINH NĂM HỌC 2018 - 2019
Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
Thời gian làm bài: 90’
Full name: ………………………………
Class: 12A… MĐ:749

(Ghi chú: Đề thi gồm 08 trang. Học sinh làm bài trực tiếp vào đề thi).

A. Listening (2p)
You will hear Alex Villarreal with an Agriculture Report. For each question, choose the
correct answer.

1. Last year how many people were undernourished?

A. thirty percent of the people B. thirteen percent of the people
C. thirteen hundred people D. thirty people
2. In Nairobi, Kenya, Ms Nierenberg found women famers growing vegetables ………..
A. outside their doorsteps B. in the garden
C. on the top floor D. in the field
3. How many countries did Danielle Nierenberg from the Worldwatch Institute in
Washington spend a year visiting?
A. twenty B. twelve C. twenty - four D. twenty – five
4. What did the women use to fill with soil?
A. plastic bag B. old bucket C. old sacks D. old pot
5. The reason why food get wasted is………..
A. It rained heavily everyday
B. No one wanted to consume their products
C. Their products are not good enough.
D. Farmers lacked good seeds and fertilizer
6. In Uganda, what was taught in school?
A. how to change production B. how to select seeds
C. how to earn money D. how to grow local crop
7. What are the advantages of the breeding of local kinds of livestock in South Africa and
Kenya?
A. These animals can survive cold conditions.
B. These animals produce more milk than other breeds
C. These animals may produce less milk or meat than other breeds, but they can survive heat
and drought conditions.
D. These animals can produce more meat than other breeds
8. People in Kenya didn’t try to find ways to make their live better.
A. True B. False C. No information
9. There are a lot of lessons that people in the Western world or developing countries can
learn from Africa.
A. True B. False C. No information
10. Sub – Saharan Africa had the world’s highest hunger rate.
A. True B. False C. No information

Script:
I’m Alex Villarreal with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Sub- Saharan Africa has
the world’s highest hunger rate. The United Nations says thirty percent of the people were
undernourished last year. But a new report says African farmers also have ideas that could help
the world fight hunger and poverty. Danielle Nierenberg from the Worldwatch Institute in
Washington spent a year visiting twenty-five countries south of the Sahara. In Nairobi, Kenya,
for example, Ms, Nierenberg found women farmers growing vegetables just outside their
doorsteps in the Kibera settlement. She says the area is crowded, dirty and noisy. But the people
are finding ways to make their lives better. The women use old sacks filled with soil. They cut
holes in the sides of the tall bags so air gets to the seeds. The women feed the vegetables to their
families and sell their surplus.
They use the money to send their children to school. Last year, an estimated nine hundred
twenty-five million people worldwide did not get enough to eat.
Half of all people in the world now live in and around cities. Researchers like Ms.
Nierenberg are looking increasingly at creative ideas to feed those who are malnourished.
She said there are a lot of lessons that people in the Western world can learn from
Africa. And what they are doing can be done in other developing countries. Farmers in the
developing world lose between twenty and forty percent of their harvest before it ever reaches
market.
Asma Lateef from the group Bread for the World says there are many reasons why food gets
wasted.
Farmers are without electricity and cold storage. They lack good seeds and fertilizer. They lack
good roads.
Ms. Lateef says conditions like these keep small farmers in poverty. Danielle Nierenberg says more
attention needs to be paid to protecting harvests.
In Nigeria, village processing centers are helping farmers reduce their losses and earn more
money.
The centers process cassava, a root vegetable, into basic food products. In Uganda, the Worldwatch
report says some schools are teaching children how to grow local crops.
And in South Africa and Kenya the report praises the breeding of local kinds of livestock.
These animals may produce less milk or meat than other breeds, but they can survive heat
and drought conditions.
The report is called "State of the World 2011: Innovations That Nourish the Planet.
For VOA Special English I'm Alex Villarreal
B. PHONETICS (2p)
Question I. Choose one word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the
others by circling A, B, C or D. (1)
6. A. etiquette B. conqueror C. statuesque D. bequest
7. A. measure B. dreadful C. treasure D. breathe
8. A. confusedly B. wickedly C. allegedly D. supposedly
9. A. ugali B. umpire C. ulcer D. umber
10. A. paths B. wither C. marathon D. although
Question II. Choose one word whose stress pattern is different from the others by circling
A, B, C or D. (1)
2. A. compromise B. picturesque C. European D. guarantee
2. A. appliance B. romantic C. dynamic D. homecoming
3. A. internal B. interval C. external D. interpret
4. A. viticulture B. concertina C. preferential D. misbegotten
5. A. minority B. handicap C. destiny D. voluntary

C. VOCABULARY (4p)
Choose the best word from A, B, C, and D that fits each blank.
1. The prospects of picking up any survivors are now………
A. thin B. slim C. restricted D. narrow
2. Sheila couldn’t attend the meeting as the date……..with her holidays.
A. clashed B. struck C. opposed D. occurred
3. The general is always …………about his past campaigns.
A. boasting B. praising C. complimenting D. congratulating
4. You had agreed to take part in our anti-war march, why did you cop out?
A. die B. retreat C. act rashly D. attend
5. His success……….his mother’s heart.
A. greeted B. rejoiced C. welcomed D. cheered
6. A newspaper’s opinions are given in its……….
A. cartoon B. editorial C. reports D. titles
7. Mr Brown is not a serious investor, but he likes to…….in the stock market.
A. splash B. splatter C. paddle D. dabble
8. ………are the formal rules of correct or polite behavior among people using the Internet.
A. Traffic rules B. Family rules C. Codes of etiquettes D. Codes of netiquettes
9. I can’t possibly lend you any more money, it is quite out of the……..
A. impossible B. question C. order D. practice
10. The dish was so tasty that I asked for a second……….
A. portion B. helping C. ration D. share

D. STRUCTURE AND GRAMMAR (2p)

1. I use weed-killer to……….the weeds in the garden.
A. get rid of B. get out of C. get away with D. get in the way with
2. After the funeral, the residents of the apartment building……..
A. sent to the cemetery each week flowers faithfully
B. sent faithfully flowers all week to the cemetery
C. sent flowers faithfully to the cemetery each week
D. sent each week faithfully to the cemetery flowers.
3. The incidence of anorexia nervosa,………., is growing in industrially advanced societies.
A. is an eating disorder B. an eating disorder which
C. for which an eating disorder D. an eating disorder
4. The saying that “Misfortunes never ………” means that many problems can happen at the
same time.
A. go soon B. go at once C. come single D. come singly
5. ………is lubricated can affect the longevity of the moving parts that rub together
A. How often a machine B. A machine often
C. Often a machine D. How often machines
6. …….., an author probably most famous for his tales of terror, also dabbled in some science
fiction.
A. To Edgar Allen Poe B. For Edgar Allen Poe to be
C. Edgar Allen Poe was D. Edgar Allen Poe
7. Superconductivity will revolutionize the way that energy is used for the next millennium,
and…….the first truly superconductive substance will be remembered as a technological hero.
A. what the discovery of B. the discovery of
C. whoever discovers D. whose discovery of
8. In Michigan,………over 600 feet deep.
A. salt deposits B. where salt deposits are
C. having salt deposits D. there are salt deposits
9. ………..invisible to the unaided eye, ultraviolet light can be detected in a number of ways.
A. Although is B. Although C. Despite D. Even though it
10. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, ……of you is first in line?
A. which B. whose C. who D. whom

E. PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS (4p)

1. He’s not exactly rich but he certainly earns enough money to…….
A. get through B. get by C. get over D. get up
2. I had to ……..90$ for a parking fine.
A. put out B. give away C. squeeze up D. cough up
3. The word “chaos” has………..a special scientific meaning.
A. included in B. held of C. taken on D. gasped up
4. He wasn’t sure if he’d be any good at tennis, but actually he took……..it immediately.
A. out B. off C. to D. in
5. The teacher at school went………with flu one after the other.
A. down B. under C. out D. on
6. This hotel is so awesome, man. I could just…….on this view for the whole weekend.
A. bliss out B. bliss into C. bliss down D. bliss across
7. The effects of the anesthetic wore………after a couple of hours.
A. out B. off C. on D. up
8. Owing to circumstances ……..our control, the flight to Rome has been cancelled.
A. beyond B. under C. of D. to
9. If you think I’m wrong, check in the encyclopedia. I’m sure it will bear me……..
A. off B. in C. out D. down
10. This is a very important decision. All our lives are……..stake.
A. in B. with C. at D. on

F. READING (6p)
Question I: Read the following passages and choose the options that best complete the
blanks. (2p)
People’s personalities (1) VARY… ….considerable from one another as there are no two
alike. Our ingrained characteristics which determine the patterns of our (2)
BEHAVIOURS………. , our reactions and temperaments are unparalleled on (3)
ACCOUNT….. of the diversified processes that mold our personality in the earliest stages of
human development .
Some (4) TRAITS……. of character may to some extent be hereditary simulating the (5)
ATTRIBUTES …..that identify our parents . Others may (6) STEM……. from the conditions
experienced during pregnancy and infancy in this way reflecting the parents' approach towards
rearing their offspring.
Consequently, the environmental factor plays a (7) CRUCIAL role in strengthening or
eliminating certain behavioral systems making an individual more prone to comfort to the
patterns that deserve a prize.
Undoubtedly, human personality (8) UNDERGOES…….. the most profound and
irreversible formation during the first period of its development, yet, certain characteristics may
still be (9) SUBJECT..................... to considerable changes made by (10) DIFFERENT ….
circumstances and situations.
1. A. distinguish B. differentiate C. vary D. change
2. A. behaviors B. circumstances C. hobbies D. character
3. A. token B. account C. virtue D. behalf
4. A. items B. aspects C. items D. factors
5. A. issues B. circumstances C. foundations D. attributes
6. A. depart B. change C. rise D. stem
7. A. crucial B. fatal C. distinguished D. lasting
8. A. faces B. suffers C. undergoes D. remains
9. A. open B. subject C. sure D. obliged
10. A. similar B. different C. familiar D. same

Question II: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your
answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions (4p).
Passage 1 (2p):
In February 2001, at the age of 24, Ellen MacArthur became the youngest and fastest ever
woman to sail round the world. After 94 days alone on board yacht Kingfisher, she finished
second to Michel Desjoyaux of France in the single-handed Vendee Globe event.

In sport, like life, the winner is usually fetched, and runners-up quickly forgotten. This time the
roles were reversed and it was Ellen, weighing just 50 kilos and barely 1m 60 tall, that really
captured people's imaginations and emotions. One newspaper in France, where she was and is a
real heroine, summed up the national mood there with the headline "Well done, Michel, bravo
Ellen".

As with many spectacular achievers, the signs were there from an early age, even in the
unpromising nautical terrain of landlocked Derbyshire. Her great-grandparents were sailing
people and a great-uncle was a merchant seaman, but any real link with the sea is tenuous. There
was, however, an Auntie Thea who lived on the east coast of England and had a 26-foot sailing
boat called Cabaret. It took just one trip on the open sea with her aunt to spark off Ellen's lifelong
passion. She was eight years old. After that she began saving her pocket money and spent all her
spare time reading sailing books in the library, absorbing information like a sponge. With her
savings and the help of her grandmother she bought an 8-foot fiberglass dinghy, and from that
moment on there was no keeping her away from the water.

Sailing around Britain single-handed at the age of 18 was just the start; Ellen had long since set
her sights on the Vendee. But finding the money to undertake round-the-world voyages is no
easy feat. She wrote 2,000 letters requesting sponsorship and received just two replies, one,
happily, from the Kingfisher company who were looking to expand into France. And in terms of
race preparation, if thoroughness was the key of success, Ellen could certainly be considered one
of the favourites. In the eight months leading up to the start of the race, she sailed no fewer than
60,000 miles at the helm of her 60-foot Kingfisher, far more than the rest of the fleet put together
in the same period.

During her three months at sea MacArthur negotiated deadly icebergs, gigantic waves and gale-
force winds. She endured the freezing cold of the Arctic and suffered the blistering heat of the
windless doldrums. Racing conditions meant sleeping in 10-minute bursts, a survival suit that
stayed on for weeks at a time and hands and wrists covered in sores and cuts. Food was dried or
frozen. Water came from desalinator, which passes sea water through a membrane. "You don't
really wash in the icy waters of the southern ocean", she laughs. "Anyway, there's no one to tell
you that you smell."

As Kingfisher crossed the fishing line Ellen was surrounded by hundreds of spectator boats and a
cheering crowd of 200,000 lined the shore. Stepping off her yacht she looked remarkably
composed and seemed to take the change from solitude to public adulation very much in her
stride. Her thoughts, she later confessed, were on the realization that she had fulfilled the
ambition that had dominated her life for the previous four or five years. "Throughout that time
my sole focus had been crossing the finished line, and in the fastest possible time." Now she
could savour that moment.

But despite MacArthur's belief that everyone who finishes the Vendee is a winner, she still feels a
sense of disappointment that, having taken the lead from the eventual winner Michel Desjoyaux
10 days from the finish, she did not quite have the energy or good fortune to turn her advantage
into victory. "You have to believe you can win from the start." she asserts. "Deep down you're a
competitor, you don't climb the mast and come back black and blue just for a cruise. You do it
because it's a race."

The public will now be hoping to see a suitable encore, some new feat of endurance to justify her
celebrity status. For Ellen can no longer claim, as she did in her post-race press conference, to be
the simple Derbyshare girl with "no mobile, no credit cards, no money, no nothing"; she is a
heroine and an inspiration to others of her generation. As if to reinforce this, and despite her
reluctance to take on this role, she later commented: "If there's one thing I've learned in this past
year, it's that deep down in your heart, if you have a dream, then you can and must make it
happen."

Dinghy: /ˈdɪŋi/a small open boat that you sail or row.

Gale-force winds: extremely strong winds.
Blistering: extremely hot in a way that is uncomfortable.
Doldrums: a lack of activity or improvement.
Encore: an extra short performance given at the end of a concert or other performance; a request
for this made by an audience calling out.
Bursts: a short period of intense activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly.

Questions.
1. Ellen MacArthur was the winner in the Vendee Globe event?
A. True B. False C. No information
2. At the time of her achievement we learn that Ellen ……………
A. Enjoyed only short-lived success.
B. Was more famous in France than anywhere else.
C. Attracted more attention than Michael Desjoyaux.
D. Became popular because of her size.
3. Where did Ellen's initial interest in sailing come from?
A. She came from a family of sailing enthusiasts.
B. She went to see one of her relatives.
C. She read widely on the subject .
D. She lived near the sea.
4. The writer suggests that one cause of discomfort for Ellen at sea was ………..
A. The shortage of water.
B. Her failure to sleep.
C. Extremes of temperature.
D. A lack of cooking facilities.
5. According to the writer, when Ellen finished the race, she was …………
A. Overwhelmed by her new-found fame.
B. Surprised by the number of people who came to greet her.
C. Able to reflect on her achievement.
D. Delighted to be amongst people again.
6. According to the writer, Ellen ……….
A. Thinks she deserved to win the race.
B. Has mixed feelings about the outcome of the race.
C. Knew she would win the race.
D. Thinks Michel Desjoyaux was lucky to beat her.
7. Which of the following views does the writer express in the last paragraph?
A. She has the power to motivate.
B. She has no right to fame yet.
C. Her comments lack depth.
D. She needs to change her lifestyle.
8. The word “single-handed” in the fourth paragraph means…….
A. without any help from anyone else
B. using only one of one’s hands to row
C. on a boat with only one paddle
D. on a boat with only one sail
9. Ellen MacArthur wrote 2000 letters requesting sponsorship and only Kingfisher
Company replied.
a. True B. False C. No information
10. Ellen MacArthur was a good-looking, caring and intelligent girl when she was small.
a. True B. False C. No information

Passage 2 (2p):

The rules of etiquette in American restaurants depend upon a number of factors: the physical
location of the restaurant, e.g., rural or urban; the type of restaurant, e.g., informal or formal; and
certain standards that are more universal. In other words, some standards of etiquette vary
significantly while other standards apply almost anywhere. Learning the proper etiquette in a
particular type of restaurant in a particular area may sometimes require instruction, but more
commonly it simply requires sensitivity and experience. For example, while it is acceptable to read
a magazine in a coffee shop, it is inappropriate to do the same in a more luxurious setting. And, if
you are eating in a very rustic setting it may be fine to tuck your napkin into your shirt, but if you
are in a sophisticated urban restaurant this behavior would demonstrate a lack of manners. It is
safe to say, however, that in virtually every restaurant it is unacceptable to indiscriminately throw
your food on the floor. The conclusion we can most likely draw from the above is that while the
types and locations of restaurants determine etiquette appropriate to them, some rules apply to all
restaurants.

1. With what topic is this passage primarily concerned?

A. Rules of etiquette B. Instruction in proper etiquette
C. The importance of good manners D. Variable and universal standards of etiquette
2. According to the passage, which of the following is a universal rule of etiquette?
A. tucking a napkin in your shirt B. not throwing food on the floor
C. reading a magazine at a coffee shop D. eating in rustic settings
3. According to the passage, ________ requires sensitivity and experience.
A. learning the proper etiquette B. asking for instructions
C. knowing the type of restaurant D. knowing about an area
4. The word "sophisticated" in the passage could best be replaced by ________
A. expensive B. cultured C. famous D. exclusive
5. The author uses the phrase "safe to say" in order to demonstrate that the idea is ____.
A. somewhat innocent B. quite certain C. very clever D. commonly reported
6. The word "indiscriminately" could best be replaced by ________.
A. randomly B. angrily C. noisily D. destructively
7. What is the author's main purpose in this passage?
A. to assist people in learning sophisticated manners
B. to describe variations in restaurant manners
C. to simplify rules of restaurant etiquette
D. to compare sophisticated and rustic restaurants
8. What does the word “it” in the passage refer to?
A. Learning the proper etiquette B. Clear instruction
C. Knowing the type of restaurant D. Sensitivity
9. Which of the following could best replace the word “luxurious” in the passage?
A. lurid B. austere C. elegant D. romantic
10. Which of the following words is most similar to the meaning of “rustic” in the passage?
A. agricultural B. ancient C. unsophisticated D. urban