Đề thi chọn học sinh giỏi môn Tiếng Anh Lớp 11 THPT - Năm học 2014-2015 - Sở GD & ĐT Vĩnh Phúc (Có đáp án)

SỞ GD&ĐT VĨNH PHÚC
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC
KỲ THI CHỌN HSG LỚP 11 THPT NĂM HỌC 2014-2015
ĐỀ THI MÔN: TIẾNG ANH 
(Dành cho học sinh THPT chuyên)
Thời gian thi: 180 phút, không kể thời gian giao đề
I. LISTENING: You will hear each recording TWICE.
Part 1: You will hear someone giving a talk about global warming. For questions 1-10, complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS. 
THE TRUTH ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING
Scientists say that with each (1) _________ that goes by, the planet is getting warmer.
Scientists don't just take record low temperatures into account, they measure (2) _________ temperature changes.
Research has proved that over the last (3) _________ years, the Earth's average temperature has risen by about two degrees.
Solar flares are (4) _________ that happen on the surface of the Sun.
Scientists say that the Sun's activity has decreased during the period (5) _________.
Some people think that there's no way carbon dioxide can be (6) _________ to the planet.
Too much carbon dioxide (7) _________ within the atmosphere.
Some people think global warming can create a longer (8) _________ for plants.
While northern regions get warmer, the rest of the planet will suffer from (9) _________, wildfires and expanding deserts.
For some people, climate change will make food expensive or even (10) _________ to them.
Part 2: Questions 11-20
Questions 11-12: Answer the questions by writing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each question.
When does the student have to move out of his present accommodation?
	______________________________________________________________________
For how long did the college offer him a temporary room?
	______________________________________________________________________
Questions 13-16: Answer the questions by writing writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Circle the problem that the student has now.
	A. No friends	B. No money and no place to live in
	C. Homesick	D. No luggage
Circle the help that the Welfare Office can give.
	A. To provide long-term accommodation for him.
	B. To contact the accommodation service.
	C. To subsidize his rent payments.
	D. To offer him a grant.
Where could the student get money?
	A. From a bank 	B. From a landlord	
	C. From the British Council	D. From the Student Union
How much could the student get as an emergency loan?
	A. Up to ₤200	B. About ₤ 250	C. ₤220	D. ₤2,000
Questions 17-20: Answer the questions by writing A WORD OR NUMBER in each space provided.
Would the Union be able to provide a long-term emergency accommodation?
________________________________________________________________
How much money does the student have left?	
________________________________________________________________
Will the student apply for an emergency loan?
________________________________________________________________	
How does the student feel after talking with the welfare officer?
________________________________________________________________
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Exercise 1. Complete each of the following sentences with the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
Nathalie seems very tough at work. She’s a different person at home, _________.
	A. though	B. although	C. as though	D. even though
I kept out of the conversation because it _________ me.
	A. wasn’t concerned	B. wasn’t concerning	C. didn’t concern	D. didn’t concern to 
The entire city was _________ electricity last night – it was chaotic.
	A. no	B. almost no	C. hardly any	D. without
Henry was overweight, so he went on a strict diet and _________ twenty kilos.
	A. missed	B. lost	C. failed	D. fell
He was arrested because he answered to the description of the _________ man.
	A. searched 	B. pursued 	C. wanted	D. hunted
Humanity has done great damage to the environment in its search for _________ materials.
	A. live	B. raw	C. crude	D. rude
_________, the balcony chairs will be ruined in this weather.
	A. Leaving uncovered	B. Having left uncovered	
C. Left uncovered	D. Been left uncovered
One way to let off _________ after a stressful day is to take some vigorous exercise.
	A. cloud	B. tension	C. steam	D. sweat
Their research into the causes of cancer promises to break the new _________ in the field and possibly lead to a cure.
	A. earth	B. ground	C. soil	D. land
After three days in the desert, his mind began to play _________ on him.
	A. games	B. jokes	C. tricks	D. fun
The match will be screened on ITV with _________ commentary by Any Gray.
	A. lively	B. live	C. alive	D. living
I know you didn’t want to upset me but I’d sooner you _________ me the whole truth yesterday.
	A. could have told	B. told	C. have told	D. had told
As the drug took _________, the patient became quieter.
	A. effect	B. force	C. influence	D. action
The dawn redwood appears ____ some 100 million years ago in northern forests around the world.
	A. was flourished	B. having to flourish	
C. to have flourished	D. have flourished
His comments _________ little or no relation to the facts and the figures of the case.
	A. reflect	B. bear	C. give	D. possess
All _____ is a continuous supply of the basic necessities of life.
	A. what is needed	B. for our needs	C. the thing needed	D. that is needed 
It is urgent that this letter _____ immediately.
	A. was posted	B. posted	C. be posted	D. be post
John: This grammar test is the hardest one we’ve ever had this semester!
 Mary: _____ but I think it’s quite easy.
	A. I couldn’t agree more	B. I understand what you’re saying
	C. You’re wrong	D. I don’t see in that way
It is only recently that ballets have been based on the themes _____ American life.
	A. reflecting	B. reflects	C. is reflecting	D. reflected
I wish you’d do the accounts. I don’t have ________ for numbers.
	A. a head	B. a mind	C. the heart	D. the nerve
Exercise 2. Supply the correct form of the word in capital letters. Write your answers on your answer sheet.
	SKIING HOLIDAYS IN COLORADO
	To ski or snowboard in Colorado is to experience the pinnacle of winter sports. The state of Colorado is known for its spectacular scenery and (1. BREATH) _______ views, which inspire today's travelers as much as they spurred on the (2. SETTLE) _______ who first arrived in this part of the US over a century ago. And whether you're seeking the outdoor adventure of a (3. LIFE) _______ exciting nightlife or a great family getaway, Colorado has everything you need.
	November through April, snow conditions are (4. CONSIST) _______ and reliable, featuring Colorado's (5. LEGEND) _______ “champagne powder” snow. Extensive snow making and grooming operations always keeps trails in top shape.
	The mountain destinations in the Colorado Rockies can turn your wildest ski dreams into thrilling (6. REAL) _______. There, you'll find the best skiing and snowboarding resorts on (7. PICTURE) _______ slopes, as well as the finest ski schools in the US. Together, they present an (8. PARALLEL) _______ winter paradise. And the best part is that you'll enjoy friendly, (9. CARE) _______ service in resorts that are (10. COMMIT) _______ to delivering the highest quality amenities.
Exercise 3. Complete the following sentences with one appropriate preposition/ particle for each blank.
The government’s plans to reduce crime came ________for a lot of criticism from freedom groups.
I was ________the impression that you like Indian food.
This is one of the exceptions ________the rule.
The factory paid ________nearly a million pounds to their employees who were injured in the explosion.
Before they open the new factory, a lot of the young people round here were ________the dole.
Mr. Horrid was a terrible teacher and obviously not cut ________for teaching.
I can’t cancel my arrangements ________such short notice.
All the police’s efforts to find him were ________vain.
The farmhouse we stayed in was completely ________the beaten track.
She’s gone and this time it’s ________good.
Exercise 4: There are 10 errors in the following passage. Identify and correct them
Children who tell pop music does not interfere with their homework receive 
Line 1
support today, with the discovery that pay attention to visual stimuli and sounds 
Line 2
requires completely different brain pathways which can operate at the same time 
Line 3
with your appreciation of either being damaged. Researchers have founded that 
Line 4
listening to car stereos does not create much interference when you are driving. 
Line 5
Similarly, pop music should not interfere with children homework. The affect of 
Line 6
pop music on their performance at it is far outweigh by other factors, such as 
Line 7
how happy they are to be doing it. These findings could be applied for the 
Line 8
design of places which people have to take in large amounts of information very 
Line 9
quickly. They could, for example, be relevantly to the layout of pilot cockpits 
Line 10
on aircraft.
Line 11
III. READING COMPREHENSION
Exercise 1. Read the passage then choose the best answer to each question that follows. Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
THE ATMOSPHERE OF VENUS
	Venus, also called the Morning Star and Evening Star, is the second-closest planet to the sun and the brightest object in the night sky. The planet orbits the sun every two hundred and twenty four Earth-days and is sometimes referred to as Earth’s sister planet because the two share both a similar size and bulk. What is not similar, however, is Venus’s atmosphere in comparison to Earth’s atmosphere.
	The atmosphere on Venus is much heavier and has a higher density than that of Earth. Venus’s atmosphere also expands significantly higher than Earth’s atmosphere although a thick cloud cover makes the surface of Venus nearly impossible to see unless observed through radar mapping.
	While the pressure and temperature of Venus’s upper atmosphere are comparable to those of Earth, the heat and pressure of the lower atmosphere are not unlike a furnace. Venus’s atmosphere is very thick due to a composition consisting mainly of carbon dioxide, and a small amount of nitrogen. If man could survive the extreme heat of Venus’s surface (400 degrees Celsius), then he would have to contend with a surface pressure that is more than 90 times that of Earth. Venus’s extremely high temperature is thanks to the greenhouse effect caused by such a large amount of carbon dioxide. The greenhouse effect is a process by which the sun’s infrared radiation is more readily absorbed by the atmosphere. Just like in a real greenhouse used to grow plants years round, the proliferation of carbon dioxide traps radiation and warms Venus’s atmosphere. Due to this phenomenon, Venus boasts a higher atmospheric temperature than Mercury, even though Venus is twice the distance from the sun.
	However, scientists postulate that Venus’s atmosphere was not always so hot. [A] Studies show that large bodies of water were once on Venus’s surface but that eventually evaporation of all the water caused the runaway greenhouse effect which regulates the planet today. [B] Thus Venus has become a critical study for today’s scientists, as human beings are only beginning to struggle with the early stages of the greenhouse effect. [C] Our problems do not stem from evaporated water supplies but from a propagation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases due to industrial and automobile emissions. [D]
	Another interesting characteristic to note regarding Venus’s atmosphere is that its daytime temperatures and nighttime temperatures are not that far removed from each other. This is due to the thermal inertia, the ability of a substance to store heat despite changing temperatures and the transfer of heat by Venus’s strong winds. Although winds on the surface of Venus move slowly in comparison with Earth’s winds, Venus’s air is so dense that a slow-moving there can move large obstructions and even skip stones along the planet’s surface.
	In 1966, humankind made its first attempt at sending a recording instrument into Venus’s atmosphere. The Venera 3 probe did collide with Venus surface; however, the abrupt impact caused its communication system to fail, and it was unable to send and feedback. In 1967, Venera 4 successfully enter Venus’s atmosphere and was able to take many readings, one of which recorded that Venus’s atmosphere was between ninety and ninety-five percent carbon dioxide. Subsequent Venera probes were sent into Venus’s atmosphere, but most of them succumbed to the crushing air pressure.
Questions 1-7: Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the passage. 
According to paragraph 1, Venus is named the Morning Star and Evening Star because____.
A. it is very bright 	
B. it is close to the sun
	C. it can be seen from evening till morning	
D. it is used to find the direction by sailors
The word that in paragraph 2 refers to _________.
	A. size	B. bulk	C. atmosphere	D. density
Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the bold sentence in paragraph 3? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
	A. Earth experiences greater surface pressure than Venus.
	B. If a man could survive its surface pressure. 
	C. The surface pressure and heat of Venus are much greater than those on Earth.
	D. Venus’s surface temperature and pressure make it uninhabitable by humans.
According to paragraph 3, the greenhouse effect on Venus is owed to _________.
	A. the small amounts of nitrogen	
B. the rapid increasing amounts of carbon dioxide
	C. growing plants
	D. the high atmospheric temperatures
In paragraph 4, the author of the passage implies that Earth _________.
	A. might suffer the same greenhouse effect as Venus
	B. once had an atmosphere similar to Venus’s
	C. has bodies of water similar to those on Venus today
	D. is experiencing a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
Look at the four blanks [] in paragraph 4 that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
	Although the causes are different, the ramifications are the same.
Where would the sentence best fit? 
The word propagation in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _________.
	A. generation	B. elimination	C. evaporation	D. desecration
Questions 8 to 10: Complete the brief summary of the passage by selecting the THREE answer choices that express important ideas in the passage. The introductory sentence for the summary is provided bellowed.
	Scientists look at Venus to predict Earth’s future.
	8. 
	9. 
	10. 
Answer Choices
Venus once had large bodies of water that elaborated and caused a rapid increase in carbon dioxide.
Earth’s wind has a greater velocity than Venus’s because the air movement on Venus is denser and can even move large obstructions.
Spaceships landing on Venus, though often crushed by Venus’s atmosphere, have revealed much about its carbon dioxide filled atmosphere.
If man could survive the hot temperature of Venus, then he would have to contend with the great surface pressure.
The first space probe of Venus was made in 1966.
Scientists are concerned that conditions on Earth that propagate significant quantities of carbon dioxide will produce greenhouse effects similar to Venus’s.
Exercise 2. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only ONE word in each space. Write your answers on your answer sheet. 
SPLENDID SPAS OF ASIA
Lying on a bed almost on the (1) ________ of a cliff, with a stupendous ocean view and the (2) ________ of waves, aches and pains are soothed away (3) ________ expert hands. Only two steps are needed to reach the private pool, which seems to merge (4) ________ the ocean.
Such a scenario is no longer a fantasy (5) ________ an increasingly popular reality in Asia for many stressed out businessmen and visitors from all over the world in search of that peaceful time and space for their body and mind.
In the last four years, at (6) ________ 17 hotel spas have opened in South East Asia to (7)________ this need. The tropical climate of the region and its reliable sunshine make for an ideal spa setting. Picturesque environments (8) ________ with a series of rejuvenating treatments bring the desired result. The Asian spa resorts have acquired a formidable reputation for their professional services as (9) ________ as for the decor of their large treatment rooms. Visitors relax with Thai music and soak in the warm tones of the room. As all these take (10) ________ in individual rooms, precious privacy is guaranteed, a rare privilege often absent from other spas where guests share rooms or changing areas.
Exercise 3. Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question. Identify your answer by writing the corresponding letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet.
WIND - The untamable weather machine
On 15 October 1987, the southern counties of Britain were struck by the strongest winds they had experienced in 200 years. Gusts of over 130 kilometers per hour slammed across the region and £1.5-billion-worth of damage was (1) _________ in just a few hours.
Extreme weather events like this are dramatic (2) _________ of the power of the wind. It’s one part of the weather we generally don't give a second thought to in Britain but it plays a vital role in people’s lives across the world. Without the formation and circulation of winds there would quite (3) __________ be no climate.
Some parts of the world seem to suffer more than others from the effects of ‘ill winds’, and links between particular winds and psychological problems (4) __________ back centuries. The Föhn, the hot dry wind that slides off the slopes of the Alps, is capable of boosting temperatures quite suddenly by 10°C or more. It affects as many as one in three people in its (5) __________, making them feel anxious, irritable and generally ill. In California, many people (6) __________ the arrival of the Santa Ana, which rushes down from the high Mojave desert. Lyall Watson, in his book Heaven’s Breath, claims that when the Santa Ana blows, murder rates soar.
The wind may get into the headlines when it comes in the form of tornadoes and hurricanes, but for the (7) __________ part it goes about its job of shifting huge masses of air around the planet. Plants take (8) __________ of this free ride to send their pollen grains far and wide. Trees (9) __________ on it to remove old leaves and make way for new growth. Spiders have been caught (10) __________ a lift at altitudes of almost 4.5 kilometers.
A. made	B. caused	C. destroyed	D. completed
A. reminders	B. recollections	C. mementos	D. memorial	
A. easily	B. rightly	C. surely	D. simply
A. last	B. originate	C. pass	D. date
A. line	B. road	C. path	D. bypass
A. despair	B. respect	C. dread	D. warn
A. most	B. maximum	C. majority	D. general
A. benefit	B. chance	C. occasion	D. advantage
A. need	B. trust 	C. hope	D. rely
A. traveling	B. hitching	C. borrowing	D. making
IV. WRITING 
Exercise 1. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning, using the words given. These words must not be changed in any way.
I would like to be able to speak French. (HAD)
	I wish _______________________________________________ speak French.
It was raining cats and dogs. (TORRENTS)
	The rain was ___________________________________________________.
It was wrong of you to borrow my book without asking. (HAVE)
	You ___________________________________before you borrowed my book. 
When I was younger, this record was one of my favourites. (FAVOURITE) 
	 This record used ___________________________ mine when I was younger.
My sister finds commuting every day annoying. (PUT)
	 It’s difficult for my sister ________________________________