Đề thi học sinh giỏi lớp 12 Tiếng Anh có key có phách

Đề thi học sinh giỏi lớp 12 Tiếng Anh có key

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC

UBND TỈNH BẮC NINH

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH

NĂM HỌC: 2015 – 2016

MÔN THI: TIẾNG ANH - LỚP 12 (CHUYÊN)

Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)

Ngày thi: 24 tháng 3 năm 2016

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Điểm bài thi

Giám khảo 1

Giám khảo 2

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* Ghi chú: Đề thi gồm 13 trang. Thí sinh làm bài trực tiếp vào đề thi.

PART ONE: PHONETICS: (10 pts)

I. Choose the word with the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the others (5 pts)

1. A. kerosene B. tinsel C. pessimism D. mussel

2. A. considerate B. candidate C. associate D. adequate

3. A. scowl B. frown C. sprout D. dough

4. A. bombard B. discard C. mustard D. retard

5. A. intellectual B. situation C. digestion D. Greenwich

Your answers:

II. Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the other three (5 pts)

6. A. mischievous B. miscellaneous C. intimacy D. veterinary

7. A. infamous B. inventory C. negligence D. congenial

8. A. impotent B. ignorant C. admirable D. affidavit

9. A. primate B. asset C. innate D. preface

10. A. monetary B. paralysis C. protagonist D. analogous

Your answers:

10.

PART TWO: VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR (60 pts)

I. Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences (20 pts)

11. You can’t believe a word that woman says – she is a _____ liar.

A. dedicated B. devoted C. committed D. compulsive

12. There can be no _____ fixes or magic solutions to the problem of unemployment.

A. fast B speedy C. quick D. sudden

13. When you come down the hill, do drive slowly because it is not _____ obvious where the turning is.

A. immediately B. directly C. instantaneously D. quite

14. At her trial in 1431, Joan of Arc was accused of being in _____ with the devil.

A. cooperation B. association C. league D. conjunction

15. The flights are full at the moment, so you’ll have to _____.

A. run a stroke of luck B. get a better luck

C. be down on your luck D. take pot luck

16. I heard ______ that Jack has been dropped from the basketball team.

A. in the woods B. on the grapevine C. under your feet D. on the olive branch

17. Many habitats change ________ the types of plants and animals that live there.

A. with respect to B. in respect for C. as for D. as against

18. Unfortunately some really ill animals have to be _______ by our center.

A. put down B. turned over C. passed away D. taken out

19. John first dabbled _____ buying old maps for his collection.

A. in B. on C. at D. for

20. It’s a matter of urgency to put right at once but nothing suitable _____ to mind.

A. returns B. emerges C. sprouts D. springs

21. When my father was a young student, they were taught to memorize information and _____ it for exams. Thankfully, those teaching techniques have become outdated.

A. pinpoint B. dock C. regurgitate D. revise

22. He was arrested for trying to pass _____ notes at the bank.

A. counterfeit B. fake C. camouflaged D. fraudulent

23. Living in the countryside is a far cry from reading about it. It _____. You have to deal with _____ poverty and go through the bad patch.

A. is of crass stupidity/ grueling B. is no mean feat/ grinding

C. goes against the grain/ abject D. dwindles away to nothing/ extreme

24. He had his money _____ in a secure bank account.

A. hammered away at B. jabbered about C. slaved away D. squirreled away

25. The train service has been a _____ since they introduced the new schedules.

A. shambles B. rumpus C. chaos D. fracas

26. ‘The film was pretty bad, wasn’t it?’ – ‘Yes, I think it was _____’.

A. exemplary B. excruciating C. expeditious D. explicit

27. When the forces on an object are balanced, you can say that the object is in _____.

A. collusion B. equilibrium C. collision D. incubation

28. There were a number of strong candidates for the post but Peter’s experience _____ the scales in his favor.

A. weighted B. tipped C. balanced D. overturned

29. We are conscious that sleeplessness usually _____ those who are exposed to a great deal of stress, anxiety or depression.

A. betrays B. bestows C. besets D. bemoans

30. I think that the artist’s cartoons are usually rather _____________ as they are intended to appeal to a mass number of audiences.

A. lowbrow B. highbrow C. dearly D. impenetrable

Your answers:

11.	12.	13.	14.	15.	16.	17.	18.	19.	20.
21.	22.	23.	24.	25.	26.	27.	28.	29.	30.

II. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with one suitable preposition. (10 pts)

31. This soup is too hot to eat. I’ll wait for it to cool _____.

32. Tim is seventeen and at the moment he doesn’t care very much _____ anything except clothes.

33. Last year Ross was charged _____ a variety of crimes, including assault and car theft.

34. It’s a long journey so remember to fill _____ the petrol tank before you go.

35. Luckily, the bomb which went _____ near the bank last Friday didn’t kill anyone.

36. A car suddenly pulled _____ in front of me and I couldn’t stop in time.

37. Luckily, the rain held _____ so we were able to play the match.

38. I don’t think I’ll ever rich, but you live _____ hope, don’t you?

39. Mr. Deacon next door had a very serious operation. Apparently, it’s a miracle he pulled_____.

40. I don’t know what happened. I was just sitting at my desk and I suddenly blacked _____ for a few minutes.

Your answers:

31.	32.	33.	34.	35.
36.	37.	38.	39.	40.

III. Write the correct FORM of each bracketed word in the number space provided in the column on the right. (0) has been done as an example (10 pts)

Example: 0: willingly

We are the only animal that chooses what it will look like. True, the chameleon changes color- but not (0. WILLING) ________. Unlike us, it doesn’t get up in the morning and ask itself, “What shall I look like today?”, but we can and do. Indeed, the (41. ANTIQUE) _________ of body decoration points to the conclusion that it is a key factor in our development as the (42. DOMINATE) _________ life-form on our planet. No human society has ever been found where some form of body decoration is not the norm.

By (43. CUSTOM) _________ their physical appearance, our ancestors distanced themselves from the rest of the animal (44. KING) _________. Within each tribe this helped them to mark out differences of role, status and (45. KIN) _________. Our ancestors developed (46. ORDINARY) _________ techniques of body decoration for (47. PRACTICE) _________ reasons. How to show where on tribe ends and another begins? How to memorably underline the (48. SIGNIFY) _________ of that moment when an individual becomes an adult member of society? (49. ARGUE) _________, without the expressive capabilities of such “body language” we would have been (50. FINITE) _________ less successful as a species.

Your answers:

41.	42.	43.	44.	45.
46.	47.	48.	49.	50.

IV. Identify 10 errors in the following passage and correct them (20 pts)

Human memory, formerly believed to be rather inefficient, is really more sophisticated than that of a computer. Researchers approaching the problem from a variation of viewpoints have all concluded that there is a great deal more storing in our minds than has been generally supposed. Dr. Wilder Penfield, a Canadian neurosurgery, proved that by stimulating their brains electrically, he can elicit the total recall of specific events in his subjects’ lives. Even dreams and another minor events supposedly forgotten for many years suddenly emerged in details. Although the physical basic for memory is not yet understood, one theory is how the fantastic capacity for storage in the brain is the result of an almost unlimited combination of interconnections between brain cell, stimulated by patterns of activity. Repeated references with the same information support recall. In other word, improved performance is the result of strengthening the chemical bonds in the memory.

Your answers:

No	Line	Mistake	Correction	No	Line	Mistake	Correction
51				56
52				57
53				58
54				59
55				60

PART THREE: READING (70 pts)

I. Read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. (15 pts)

Reports that the government is about to _____ (61) the go ahead to plans for the building of a new runway at London's Gatwick airport have angered local _____ (62) and raised fears of increased noise and exhaust pollution. The _____ (63) plans also include permission for additional night flights and will _____ (64) the compulsory purchase of farmland, _____ (65) the demolition of a number of private homes. According to sources close to the Ministry of Transport, the government is known to be concerned by the increasing _____ (66) of traffic at London Heathrow, where there are no plans for further runways in the foreseeable _____ (67) Gatwick is widely _____ (68) as a better _____ (69) for expansion than London's third airport, Stansted, which still _____ (70) from poor transport links. A spokesperson for the Keep Gatwick Quiet association, _____ (71) up of local people, accused the government of _____ (72) back on promises made before the General Election. 'We were told then that the airport authority had no _____ (73) of building another runway and we believe that the government has a duty to _____ (74) its pledges. Prominent figures in the government are also believed to be concerned at the news, although the Prime Minister, interviewed last night, is _____ (75) as saying that reports were 'misleading'. However, he would not give an assurance that plans for building a runway had definitely been rejected.

61. A. sign

62. A. inhabitants

63. A. controversial

64. A. involve

65. A. further to

66. A. sum

67. A. years

68. A. regarded

69. A. potential

70. A. affects

71. A. made

72. A. getting

73. A. desire

74. A. bear out

75. A. quoted

B. make

B. dwellers

B. debatable

B. concern

B. as well as

B. size

B. period

B. believed

B. outlook

B. undergoes

B. set

B. falling

B. intention

B. count on

B. known

C. give

C. occupants

C. notorious

C. assume

C. moreover

C. volume

C. time

C. felt

C. prospect

C. experiences

C. brought

C. going

C. wish

C. pull off

C. thought

D. approve

D. residents

D. doubtful

D. need

D. what's more

D. length

D. future

D. held

D. likelihood

D. suffers

D. taken

D. turning

D. objective

D. stand by

D. written

Your answers:

61.	62.	63.	64.	65.
66.	67.	68.	69.	70.
71.	72.	73.	74.	75.

II. Fill each gap in the passage below with ONE appropriate word. (20 pts)

AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM

Inflation is not a new phenomenon, (0) ….but… one that has existed at various times in various places. In _____ (76) severest form; however, hyperinflation can destroy a nation's economy. _____ (77) happened in revolutionary France and Weimar Germany; _____ (78) bundles of notes were needed to pay for a loaf of bread. But what is inflation? Briefly, it may be defined as a continual increase in prices affecting the economy. The rate of inflation is determined _____ (79) changes in the price level, which is an average of all prices. When _____ (80) prices rise while others fall, this will not necessarily affect the price level, as inflation occurs _____ (81) if most major prices increase. The problem with inflation is that it reduces the value of purchasing power of money, as well as eroding people's savings. Wage increases which are below or equal _____ (82) the level of inflation will result in a declining or static _____ (83) of living for workers, while wage increases above the rate of inflation will merely stoke the fire for further inflation. So what can a government do to stop the process? It can increase taxes, raise interest rates, decrease the money supply, reduce government spending or set a ceiling _____ (84) price and wage rises. Why none of these is a popular measure is understandable, but if they reduce inflation _____ (85) a mild two to four percent per annum, as opposed to allowing it to rise to double-digit severe inflation, it is preferable in the long run.

Your answers:

76.	77.	78.	79.	80.
81.	82.	83.	84.	85.

III. Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (12 pts)

Orientation and Navigation

To South Americans, robins are birds that fly north every spring. To North Americans, the robins simply vacation in the south each winter. Furthermore, they fly to very specific places in South America and will often come back to the same trees in North American yards the following spring. The question is not why they would leave the cold of winter so much as how they find their way around. The question perplexed people for years, until, in the 1950s, a German scientist named Gustavo Kramer provided some answers and. in the process, raised new questions.

Kramer initiated important new kinds of research regarding how animals orient and navigate. Orientation is simply facing in the right direction; navigation involves finding ones way from point A to point B.

Early in his research, Kramer found that caged migratory birds became very restless at about the time they would normally have begun migration in the wild. Furthermore, he noticed that as they fluttered around in the cage, they often launched themselves in the direction of their normal migratory route. He then set up experiments with caged starlings and found that their orientation was, in fact, in the proper migratory direction except when the sky was overcast, at which times there was no clear direction to their restless movements. Kramer surmised, therefore, that they were orienting according to the position of the Sun. To test this idea, he blocked their view of the Sun and used mirrors to change its apparent position. He found that under these circumstances, the birds oriented with respect to the new "Sun." They seemed to be using the Sun as a compass to determine direction. At the time, this idea seemed preposterous. How could a bird navigate by the Sun when some of us lose our way with road maps? Obviously, more testing was in order.

So, in another set of experiments, Kramer put identical food boxes around the cage, with food in only one of the boxes. The boxes were stationary, and the one containing food was always at the same point of the compass. However, its position with respect to the surroundings could be changed by revolving either the inner cage containing the birds or the outer walls, which served as the background. As long as the birds could see the Sun, no matter how their surroundings were altered, they went directly to the correct food box. Whether the box appeared in front of the right wall or the left wall, they showed no signs of confusion. On overcast days, however, the birds were disoriented and had trouble locating their food box.

In experimenting with artificial suns, Kramer made another interesting discovery. If the artificial Sun remained stationary, the birds would shift their direction with respect to it at a rate of about 15 degrees per hour, the Sun's rate of movement across the sky. Apparently, the birds were assuming that the "Sun" they saw was moving at that rate. When the real Sun was visible, however, the birds maintained a constant direction as it moved across the sky. In other words, they were able to compensate for the Sun's movement. This meant that some sort of biological clock was operating-and a very precise clock at that.

What about birds that migrate at night? Perhaps they navigate by the night sky. To test the idea, caged night-migrating birds were placed on the floor of a planetarium during their migratory period. A planetarium is essentially a theater with a domelike ceiling onto which a night sky can be projected for any night of the year. When the planetarium sky matched the sky outside, the birds fluttered in the direction of their normal migration. But when the dome was rotated, the birds changed their direction to match the artificial sky. The results clearly indicated that the birds were orienting according to the stars.

There is accumulating evidence indicating that birds navigate by using a wide variety of environmental cues. Other areas under investigation include magnetism, landmarks, coastlines, sonar, and even smells. The studies are complicated by the fact that the data are sometimes contradictory and the mechanisms apparently change from time to time. Furthermore, one sensory ability may back up another.

86. Which of the following can be inferred about bird migration from paragraph 1?

A. Birds will take the most direct migratory route to their new habitat.

B. The purpose of migration is to join with larger groups of birds.

C. Bird migration generally involves moving back and forth between north and south.

D. The destination of birds' migration can change from year to year.

87. The word ‘perplexed’ in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

A. defeated B. interested C. puzzled D. occupied

88. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Experiments revealed that caged starlings displayed a lack of directional sense and restless movements.

B. Experiments revealed that caged starlings were unable to orient themselves in the direction of their normal migratory route.

C. Experiments revealed that the restless movement of caged starlings had no clear direction.

D. Experiments revealed that caged starlings' orientation was accurate unless the weather was overcast.

89. The word ‘preposterous’ in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

A. unbelievable B. inadequate C. limited D. creative

90. According to paragraph 3, why did Kramer use mirrors to change the apparent position of the Sun?

A. To test the effect of light on the birds' restlessness

B. To test whether birds were using the Sun to navigate

C. To simulate the shifting of light the birds would encounter along their regular migratory route

D. To cause the birds to migrate at a different time than they would in the wild

91. According to paragraph 3, when do caged starlings become restless?

A. When the weather is overcast

B. When they are unable to identify their normal migratory route

C. When their normal time for migration arrives

D. When mirrors are used to change the apparent position of the Sun

92. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 4 about Kramer’s reason for filling one food box and leaving the rest empty?

A. He believed the birds would eat food from only one box.

B. He wanted to see whether the Sun alone controlled the birds' ability to navigate toward the box with food.

C. He thought that if all the boxes contained food, this would distract the birds from following their migratory route.

D. He needed to test whether the birds preferred having the food at any particular point of the compass.

93. According to paragraph 5, how did the birds fly when the real Sun was visible?

A. They kept the direction of their flight constant.

B. They changed the direction of their flight at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.

C. They kept flying toward the Sun.

D. They flew in the same direction as the birds that were seeing the artificial Sun.

94. The experiment described in paragraph 5 caused Kramer to conclude that birds possess a biological clock because _____.

A. when birds navigate they are able to compensate for the changing position of the Sun in the sky

B. birds innate bearings keep them oriented in a direction that is within 15 degrees of the Suns direction

C. birds' migration is triggered by natural environmental cues, such as the position of the Sun

D. birds shift their direction at a rate of 15 degrees per hour whether the Sun is visible or not

95. According to paragraph 6, how did the birds navigate in the planetarium's nighttime environment?

A. By waiting for the dome to stop rotating

B. By their position on the planetarium floor

C. By orienting themselves to the stars in the artificial night sky

D. By navigating randomly until they found the correct orientation

96. Which of the following best describes the author's presentation of information in the passage?

A. A number of experiments are described to support the idea that birds use the Sun and the night sky to navigate.

B. The author uses logic to show that the biological clock in birds is inaccurate.

C. A structured argument about the importance of internal versus external cues for navigation is presented.

D. The opposing points of view about bird migration are clarified through the study of contrasting experiments.

97. The word ‘accumulating’ in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

A. new B. increasing C. convincing D. extensive

Your answers

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

IV. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow (13 pts)

MAKING EVERY DROP COUNT

A. The history of human civilization is entwined with the history of the ways we have learned to manipulate water resources. As towns gradually expanded, water was brought from increasingly remote sources, leading to sophisticated engineering efforts such as dams and aqueducts. At the height of the Roman Empire, nine major systems, with an innovative layout of pipes and well-built sewers, supplied the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial world today.

B. During the industrial revolution and population explosion of the 19th and 20th centuries, the demand for water rose dramatically. Unprecedented construction of tens of thousands of monumental engineering projects designed to control floods, protect clean water supplies, and provide water for irrigation and hydropower brought great benefits to hundreds of millions of people. Food production has kept pace with soaring populations mainly because of the expansion of artificial irrigation systems that make possible the growth of 40% of the world's food. Nearly one fifth of all the electricity generated worldwide is produced by turbines spun by the power of falling water.

C. Yet there is a dark side to this picture: despite our progress, half of the world's population still suffers, with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans. As the United Nations report on access to water reiterated in November 2001, more than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water; some two and a half billion do not have adequate sanitation services. Preventable water-related diseases kill an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 children every day, and the latest evidence suggests that we are falling behind in efforts to solve these problems.

D. The consequences of our water policies extend beyond jeopardizing human health. Tens of millions of people have been forced to move from their homes - often with little warning or compensation - to make way for the reservoirs behind dams.' More than 20% of all freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain irrigation practices degrade soil quality and reduce agricultural productivity. Groundwater aquifers are being pumped down faster than they are naturally replenished in parts of India, China, the USA and elsewhere. And disputes over shared water resources have led to violence and continue to raise local, national and even international tensions.

E. At the Outset of the new millennium, however, the way resource planners think about water is beginning to change. The focus is slowly shifting back to the provision of basic human and environmental needs as top priority - ensuring 'some for all,' instead of 'more for some'. Some water experts are now demanding that existing infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities, which is increasingly considered the option of last, not first, resort. This shift in philosophy has not been universally accepted, and it comes with strong opposition from some established water organizations. Nevertheless, it may be the only way to address successfully the pressing problems of providing everyone with clean water to drink, adequate water to grow food and a life free from preventable water-related illness.

F. Fortunately - and unexpectedly - the demand for water is not rising as rapidly as some predicted. As a result, the pressure to build new water infrastructures has diminished over the past two decades. Although population, industrial output and economic productivity have continued to soar in developed nations, the rate at which people withdraw water from aquifers, rivers and lakes has slowed. And in a few parts of the world, demand has actually fallen.

G. What explains this remarkable turn of events? Two factors: people have figured out how to use water more efficiently, and communities are rethinking their priorities for water use. Throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century, the quantity of freshwater consumed per person doubled on average; in the USA, water withdrawals increased tenfold while the population quadrupled. But since 1980, the amount of water consumed per person has actually decreased, thanks to a range of ' new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and industry. In 1965, for instance, Japan used approximately 13 million gallons of water to produce $1 million of commercial output; by 1989 this had dropped to 3.5 million gallons (even accounting for inflation) - almost a quadrupling of water productivity. In the USA, water withdrawals have fallen by more than 20% from their peak in 1980.

H. On the other hand, dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still have to be built, particularly in developing countries where basic human needs have not been met. But such projects must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local people and their environment than in the past. And even in regions where new projects seem warranted, we must find ways to meet demands with fewer resources, respecting ecological criteria and to a smaller budget.

Choose the correct heading for paragraph B - H from the list of the headings below. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. There has been an example at the beginning.

List of headings

i. Scientists' call for a revision of policy

ii. An explanation for reduced water use

iii. How a global challenge was met

iv. Irrigation systems fall into disuse

v. Environmental effects

vi. The financial cost of recent technological improvements

vii. The relevance to health

viii. Addressing the concern over increasing populations.

ix. A surprising downward trend in demand for water

x. The need to raise standards

xi. A description of ancient water supplies

Your answers

Ex: Paragraph A: xi	98. Paragraph B:	99. Paragraph C:	100. Paragraph D:
101. Paragraph E:	102. Paragraph F:	103. Paragraph G:	104. Paragraph H:

Do the following statements agree with information given in the Reading Passage? In the corresponding numbered boxes, write

      YES                      if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
      NO                        if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
      NOT GIVEN        if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
105. Water use per person is higher in the industrial world than it was in Ancient Rome.
106. Feeding increasing populations is possible due primarily to improved irrigation systems
107. Modern water systems imitate those of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
108. Industrial growth is increasing the overall demand for water.
109. Modern technologies have led to reduction in the domestic water consumption.
110. In the future, governments should maintain ownership of water infrastructures.

Your answers:

105.	106.	107.
108.	109.	110.

V. You are going to read a newspaper article containing reviews of performances. For questions 111 – 120, choose from the reviews (A-D) (10 pts)

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

Felix Masterson decided to engage artists to put on performances in his own home for his family’s private enjoyment. Here is his report.

A. Opera Recital

For the first of our “home performances”, we decided on opera, a form of art that especially moves me. The other art form that I adore – ballet – could hardly be performed in the confined space of a normal house, no matter how much ingenuity was employed! My wife and I were particularly looking forward to the performance by Footstool Opera, a touring company that specializes in mounting productions in confined spaces, often coming up with a programme to order as suits the occasion. When I was planning the event, I imagined the opera company would bring with them a high-quality sound system of some sort to provide musical accompaniment, but the manager informed me that all they required was “a piano in good working order.” I hastily arranged for our ancient upright to be tuned, and to my relief, pianist Antonia Holmes pronounced it entirely satisfactory when she tested the instrument before the performance. We had made it clear that no particular requirements would be imposed upon the performers, so they gave us a medley of familiar pieces from popular operas, and my daughter – who had previously been of the view that opera was unspeakably idiotic – was entranced. If I were to be brutally honest, I would have to say that the performers, apart from one tenor, were not in the top class. But I don’t imagine many people would notice this, and it certainly didn’t detract from our enjoyment of the evening.

B. Puppet Show

Having grown up with that curiously British phenomenon of puppet theatre, the Punch and Judy show, I was determined to find one of the traditional practitioners of the art and secure his services. Alas, times have changed. There was once a time when no seaside resort in the country was complete without a Punch and Judy show on the pier, but today puppet theatre of this sort can hardly compete with video games at holiday resorts. Besides, who can afford to work only during the summer months? Consequently, there are, according to the theatrical agencies I contacted, none of the old-fashioned puppeteers left. However, I did manage to find a puppet theatre company called Little Man Theatre that included traditional Punch and Judy shows in its repertoire, so I went ahead and booked them. They arrived with a surprising number of boxes and cases. Naively, I had expected a miniature theatre to require a minimal amount of equipment. In this case, the size of the venue did indeed present a problem, though the nature of the difficulty was the reverse of what I had feared. We actually had some trouble making out the words of the crocodile character, largely – I suspect – because William Daniels, one of the two puppeteers, was suffering from a terrible cold, complete with high fever and a voice virtually reduced to a croak. Like a true pro, though, he struggled through the performance bravely. And once the first act was under way, I began to appreciate why so many props were needed. This wasn’t Punch and Judy as I remembered it but a twenty-first century version of the story, requiring a staggering number of scene changes. A breathtaking performance, and though I felt sad at the demise of the old-time favorites, our children enjoyed it immensely.

C. Jazz Concert

I had initially set myself the task of finding performers of whom I knew absolutely nothing, simply by sitting down with the Yellow Pages, when a colleague of my wife’s started raving about a particular jazz ensemble. It seemd churlish to do otherwise than engage them and The Hot Jazz Quintet turned out to be a group of highly professional musicians who appeared to make a point of being scrupulously polite and tidy. It was as though the stereotype image of the egocentric musician were being overturned in front of my very eyes: a surprising experience for anyone old enough to have seen The Who smash their instruments live onsatge several decades ago.

Despite being in such close proximity to the musicians, it had not occurred to me that we would be required to adopt a more active role until the saxophone player handed my son a set og bongo drums and invited him to join in. As luck would have it, Mike is a percussionist with his school orchestra, and he was able to acquit himself creditably, to the delight of the professional performing for us. Not being a connoisseur of this type of music myself, I had frankly not been prepared to enjoy this evening as much as the other members of my family. This perhaps makes it more of a tribute to the Quintet that I found myself getting quite carried away by the intricate rhythms and spectacular solos.

D. Murder Mystery Theatre

We invited Murder Incorporated, a theatre company that specialises in murder mysteries, to perform Death Calls for us, and to those of you who have not been initiated in the workings of “murder mystery theatre”, a word of explanation is needed. This is no ordinary production. In fact, one could claim that it doesn’t really come under the category of theatre at all, and it is not normally presented on a stage, either. The basic idea is that a murder is “committed” just out of sight of the audience. After the “body” is found, the task of the audience is to work out who the murderer is by following up on certain clues.

A few moments after the actors had arrived, when we were still under the impression that preparations were being made for the performance, a piercing scream caused us all to rush out into the hall. There we stumbled – literally – over a body oozing fake blood that was so convincing it almost caused my wife to faint. Yes, it had started. As we followed the actors around the house for scenes in various locations, we tried to work out who the murderer could be. It was a fascinating experience, and I have to report that my wife proved to be a brilliant sleuth, solving the mystery in record time. Death Calls was a masterpiece of condensed theatre that had me fondly recalling a production of 2001, A Space Odyssey at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which featured a cast of two, an audience of two and an old car as the venue. Highly recommended.

In which review are the following stated?

Performers worked seasonally at one time.	111. ________
The venue did not allow for a performance of a particular art form.	112. ________
The performance reminded the writer of an unusual performance he had once enjoyed.	113. ________
The performers were free to devise their own programme.	114. ________
The performers had been recommended to the writer.	115. ________
The bahaviour of the performers was contrary to the writer’s expectations.	116. ________
The performance challenged the conventions of an art form.	117. ________
Performances of this sort used to be very popular.	118. ________
The performance prompted someone to reconsider a prejudice about an art form.	119. ________
The performance had unexpectedly sophisticated requirements.	120. ________

PART FOUR: WRITING (60 pts)

I. Finish the second sentence so that it means the same as the first one. (5 pts)

121. “Nothing will persuade me to sleep in that haunted house,” she said.

=> She flatly ____________________________________________________________________

122. There is grave concern about confirmed cases of cholera that originated in the makeshift shelters.

=> Of __________________________________________________________________________

123. Alternative medicine is a complete mystery to some people.

=> Some people are _______________________________________________________________

124. You may be disqualified if you don’t obey the regulations.

=> Failure _______________________________________________________________________

125. They declared war on the pretext of defending their territorial rights.

=> The excuse ___________________________________________________________________

II. Write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, using the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given. Do not change the word given. (5 pts)

126. There’s not that much difference between irony and sarcasm. (line)

=> There’s _________________________________________________ between irony and sarcasm.

127. I sincerely promise you that I’m telling you the truth. (bottom)

=> I promise you ____________________________________________ that I’m telling you the truth.

128. As far as I know, no one’s talking about you behind your back. (best)

=> To ________________________________________, no one’s talking about you behind your back.

129. Maybe I didn’t explain exactly what I mean – our relationship is over. (clear)

=> Maybe I didn’t ______________________________________________ - our relationship is over.

130. I’m finding it difficult to cope with all the work I have to do. (top)

=> All the work I have to do _________________________________________________ me.

III. The graphs below show the amount of money spent on protecting crops in three different regions of the world in 2005.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. (20 pts)

Your answer:

IV. Essay writing (30 pts)

Write an essay of about 350 words to express your opinion on the following question:

“International travelers can cause problems in the countries to which they travel. On the other hand, international travelers can bring real advantages with them.” Do the problems international travelers cause greater than the advantages they bring?

(NB: You continue your writing on the back page)

Your answer:

-------- THE END -------

UBND TỈNH BẮC NINH

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH

NĂM HỌC 2015 - 2016

MÔN THI : TIẾNG ANH - LỚP 12 CHUYÊN

Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)

Ngày thi 24 tháng 3 năm 2016

==============

Họ tên thí sinh: …………………………………

Ngày sinh: ……………………………

Trường: …………………………………………

Phòng thi số: …………………………

Số báo danh: ……………………………………

Địa điểm thi: …………………………

Giám thị 1	Giám thị 2	Số phách (hội đồng chấm thi ghi)
Họ tên: ……………………………………..	Họ tên: ……………………………………..
Chữ ký: ……………………………………..	Chữ ký: ……………………………………..

UBND TỈNH BẮC NINH

ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH

NĂM HỌC 2015 - 2016

MÔN THI : TIẾNG ANH - LỚP 12 CHUYÊN

Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)

Ngày thi 24 tháng 3 năm 2016

==============

Họ tên thí sinh: …………………………………

Ngày sinh: ……………………………

Trường: …………………………………………

Phòng thi số: …………………………

Số báo danh: ……………………………………

Địa điểm thi: …………………………

Giám thị 1	Giám thị 2	Số phách (hội đồng chấm thi ghi)
Họ tên: ……………………………………..	Họ tên: ……………………………………..
Chữ ký: ……………………………………..	Chữ ký: ……………………………………..

Đáp án và HDC gồm 03 trang

UBND TỈNH BẮC NINH

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO

ĐÁP ÁN VÀ HƯỚNG DẪN CHẤM

ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH

NĂM HỌC 2015 – 2016

MÔN THI: TIẾNG ANH - LỚP 12 (CHUYÊN)

Ngày thi: 24 tháng 3 năm 2016

================

Total points: 200

PART ONE: PHONETICS: (10 pts)

I. Choose the word with the underlined part pronounced differently from that of the others (5 x 1p = 5 pts)

1. C

2. C

3. D

4. C

5. D

II. Choose the word whose stress pattern is different from that of the other three (5 x 1p = 5 pts)

6. B

7. D

8. D

9. C

10. A

PART TWO: VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR (60 pts)

I. Choose the best answer to complete each of the following sentences (20 x 1p = 20 pts)

11. D	12. C	13. A	14. C	15. C	16. B	17. A	18. A	19. A	20. D
21. C	22. A	23. B	24. D	25. A	26. B	27. B	28. B	29. C	30. A

II. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with one suitable preposition. (10 x 1p = 10 pts)

31. down	32. about	33. with	34. up	35. off
36. out	37. off	38. in	39. through	40. out

III. Give the correct form of the words in brackets. (10 x 1p = 10 pts)

41. antiquity	42. dominant	43. customizing	44. kingdom	45. kinship
46. extraordinary	47. practical	48. significance	49. Arguably	50. infinite

V. Identify 10 errors in the following passage and correct them (10 x 2pts = 20 pts)

No	Line	Mistake	Correction	No	Line	Mistake	Correction
51	2	variation	variety	56	6	details	detail
52	3	storing	stored	57	7	one	that
53	4	neurosurgery	neurosurgeon	58	8	cell	cells
54	4	can	could	59	9	with	to
55	5	another	other	60	9	word	words

PART THREE: READING (70 pts)

I. Read the text below and then decide which word best fits each space by circling the letter A, B, C or D. (15 x 1p = 15 pts)

61. C	62. D	63. A	64. A	65. B
66. C	67. D	68. A	69. C	70. D
71. A	72. C	73. B	74. D	75. A

II. Fill each gap in the passage below with ONE appropriate word. (10 x 2pts = 20pts)

76. its	77. This	78. where	79. by	80. some
81. only	82. to	83. standard	84. on	85. to

III. Read the following passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes. (12 x 1pt = 12pts)

86. C

87. C

88. D

89. A

90. B

91. C

92. B

93. A

94. A

95. C

96. A

97. B

IV. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow (13 x 1pt = 13pts)

Ex: Paragraph A: xi	98. Paragraph B: iii	99. Paragraph C: vii	100. Paragraph D: v
101. Paragraph E: i	102. Paragraph F: ix	103. Paragraph G: ii	104. Paragraph H: x