SỞ GD-ĐT YÊN BÁI KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CÁC TRƯỜNG

TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN THPT CHUYÊN KHU VỰC DUYÊN HẢI VÀ

NGUYỄN TẤT THÀNH ĐỒNG BẰNG BẮC BỘ NĂM 2024
ĐỀ THI ĐỀ XUẤT
(Đề thi gồm 18 trang) Môn: TIẾNG ANH – LỚP 11
Thời gian: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)

SECTION A: LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Part I. You will hear part of a discussion about McDonald's recent experiment with using
artificial intelligence (AI). Listen and decide whether the following sentences are true (T)
or false (F). (10 points)
1. McDonald's plans to permanently discontinue the use of AI in their drive-throughs
following the recent experiment.
2. McDonald's AI struggled with customized orders.
3. The AI technology McDonald's used could accurately handle audio input even in noisy
environments.
4. Nathan Bie compared the AI's learning curve to that of a 15-year-old trainee on their first job.
5. McDonald's stated that their recent price increases were much higher than what people think.

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part II. You will hear part of a lecture about culture of organizations. Answer the following
questions with a word or a short phrase (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS). (10 points)
6. In what kind of organizations is the power culture commonly observed?
__________________________________________________________________
7. What form of communication often occurs in organizations with power culture?
__________________________________________________________________
8. What is job security considered to be in power culture organizations?
__________________________________________________________________
9. How are jobs controlled in large companies with role culture?
__________________________________________________________________
10. What can large organizations achieve due to their size in relation to production costs?
__________________________________________________________________

Part III. You will hear part of a discussion on a current affairs programme between Nick
Barnes and Alison Tempra about the performance of the company Facebook since it
floated on the stock exchange, hosted by Emily Dunne. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D)
which fits best according to what you hear. (10 points)
Page 1 of 19
11. What does Alison identify as a reason for having a positive outlook on Facebook’s
performance?
A. the company kept its costs low.
B. the loss generated was less than expected.
C. there appears to be good revenue potential.
D. the company hasn't started to advertise yet.
12. According to Nick, the increasing popularity of smaller devices ______.
A. represents untapped potential for FACEBOOK.
B. is a significant challenge to FACEBOOK increasing its revenue.
C. puts FACEBOOK at a competitive advantage.
D. gives the company an opportunity to advertise more.
13. In what situation does Alison believe FACEBOOK users might abandon the company?
A. if they are given the option of watching adverts on the certain apps and sites.
B. if a free social network becomes available on the net.
C. if the company pushes advertisements onto users too forcefully.
D. if sites and apps start to appear which put users of using FACEBOOK.
14. Which of the following is TRUE about the company's performance?
A. the share price has now dropped by over one-third.
B. there has been a 6% improvement in the share price overnight.
C. $38 has been wiped off the share price.
D. it has become the biggest flop in history.
15. Nick believes that Google _______.
A. will inevitably prevail over FACEBOOK in time.
B. was short-sighted to invest everything it had into one project.
C. technology will be made redundant by what FACEBOOK offers users.
D. will become profit-making in a matter of time.
Your answers:
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Part IV. Listen to a piece of news in the “Facing Fertility” series and fill in the missing
information with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each
answer. (20 points)
Facing Fertility series discusses the financial burden of egg freezing, where a woman's eggs
are (16)_____________ for potential future conception. Angie endured ten days of
(17)_____________ to stimulate egg growth in her ovaries as part of her fertility preservation
journey. Her journey to preserving her fertility culminated in (18)_____________ . Angie
opted for Co-Fertility's (19)_____________ , where she could freeze her eggs at no cost. The
Page 2 of 19
 (20)_____________ covers medical expenses for the donor and all other associated fees.
Split donors at Co-Fertility must complete (21)_____________ to evaluate their medical
suitability, in accordance with FDA and American Society for Reproductive Medicine
standards. In Co-Fertility's approach, both the donor and the prospective parent are
(22)_____________ for a positive outcome, including high egg yield and excellent egg
quality. Mackler's concern is whether young women might (23)_____________ to donate
eggs solely to fund their own egg freezing. The Co-Fertility model offers intended parents an
(24)__________ of about $88,000 compared to traditional egg banks where donors are
paid.Arthur Kaplan argues that Co-Fertility's approach avoids offering (25) _____________
to donors, emphasizing ethical considerations regarding the outcome of egg donation.
Your answers:
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

SECTION B: LEXICO- GRAMMAR (30 POINTS)

Part I. Select the best option to complete each sentence. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (20 points)
26. Most parents feel young children should be ________ from the violence on TV.
A. exposed B. manipulated C. shielded D. exploited
27. When he was scolded by his teacher, Adam felt________ in front of his friends.
A. humiliated B. repressed C. discharged D. ejected
28. She opened her eyes just a________ and realized she'd been dreaming.
A. fraction B. portion C. proportion D. division
29. Although officially retired, he still ________ immense power over the Board of Directors.
A. practices B. sways C. plies D. wields
30. She's a poor manager because she ________ to outdated management practices.
A. adheres B. holds C. remains D. grips
31. At the trial, the judge decided to ________ the defendant by giving him a life sentence.
A. take the law into his own hands B. lay down the law
C. bury your head in the sand D. throw the book at
32. There was a(n) ________ of support in the community when the village hospital was
threatened with closure.
A. outpouring B. surge C. flash D. whirlwind
33. There is no need to ________ over the cracks, I know you are having problems, just tell me
and I will help you.
A. carpet B. paper C. lay D. curtain
34. Paul is a ________ off the old block of his father while his sister is more like the mother.
A chip B. tip C. piece D. copy
35. The scientists ________ the festival of Ramadan, but they were too busy with their research
in the laboratory.
A. would have liked to commemorate B. Would have loved to have observed
C. would prefer to have obeyed D. would sooner have celebrated
36. - “I’m totally broke. Have you got any money on you?” - “___________ at all”
A. Not B. None C. Nothing D. No

Page 3 of 19
37. A new generation of performers, ________ those who by now had become a household
name, honed their skills before following the same path onto television.
A. no less talented than B. along with talented as
B. together with talented as D. having been more talented than
38. Suppose she ________ that outrageous story circulating around the office; she’d be furious.
A. has heard B. were heard C. would hear D. had heard
39. They were given the freedom to take __________ necessary.
A. whichever action they were judged B. that action it has been considered
C. whatever action they deemed D. whether action it has rated
40. George has a sore throat and his voice is really ________.
A. hoarse B. scruffy C. blurred D. scratchy
41. The local shop has been doing a ________ trade in scarves and hats since the cold snap
arrived.
A. roaring B. ripping C. glowing D. blazing
42. The college principal has threatened to ________ down on latecomers.
A. push B. crack C. crush D. shove
43. The man she married turned out to be an ________villain.
A. out and out B. over and out C. up and down D. out and about
44. Going to the unemployment office and having to wait there for hours is a ________
experience.
A. soul-destroying B. heart-stopping C. power-sharing D. thought-provoking
45. I had an ambition of getting the first prize in the National Contest, but I knew it was just a
________ in the sky.
A. pig B. star C. buffalo D. pie
Your answers:
26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

Part II. Supply the correct form of the words in brackets. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (10 points)
46. My parents find TV commercials nowadays ____________________ annoying and often
trite and tasteless, particularly those awful ads for motorcars. (POWER)
47. The report accused some celebrities in Vietnam of having ____________________ large
quantities of aid for flood-stricken areas. (DIRECTION)
48. Henry had to ____________________ by listing the names of prominent capitals in
South-east Asia because of forgetting to prepare for the presentation. (TEMPORARY)
49. According to Vietnam blue-collar labors in Japan and Korea, they had to complete some
____________________ works to make ends meet there. (BACK)
50. Teachers should not educate students by giving lots of ____________________ but help
them learn from their mistakes. (TICK)
51. Which process will dominate depends primarily on the ____________________ and texture
of the rock and the local climate. (MINERAL)

Page 4 of 19
52. For public health policies to be realized, ____________________ must be replaced by active
encouragement of patients to participate in their own care. (PATERNAL)
53. Almost all women after childbirth are naturally ____________________ of their
appearance.(CRITICIZE)
54. This book will be of interest to urban historians and quantitative historians as well as students
and scholars of ____________________ and policy studies. (CRIMINAL)
55. Men of science come up with a brilliant,____________________idea that should, by rights,
change the course of human history. (EPOCH)
Your answers:
46. 47. 48. 49.
50. 51. 52. 53
54. 55.

SECTION C: READING (60 POINTS)

Part I. Read the text below and think of ONE word that best fits each space. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (15 points)
mRNA VACCINES
2022 could be the year when we find out whether mRNA vaccine technology can be used for a
lot more than just making vaccines. The hope is that it can also get our bodies to produce drugs
that are (56) ___________ very expensive to make, opening the door to (57) _________ a vast
number of conditions. mRNAs are essentially genetically coded recipes that tell cells in our body
how to (58) ___________ proteins, the large molecules that form most of the (59) ___________
of life. In the case of mRNA vaccines, the mRNAs (60) ___________ for viral proteins that
provoke an immune response. When the coronavirus (61) ___________ began, mRNA vaccines
were still an experimental technology. There had been only a (62) ___________ small trials and
no vaccines had ever been approved. Now, hundreds of millions of people have received the
Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines, and these have been (63) ___________to be very
safe and effective. This success has given a big boost to efforts to develop (64) ___________
mRNA vaccines for everything from cancers to herpes. But mRNAs can code for just about any
protein, so the same basic (65) ___________ might also allow us to develop all kinds of
treatments.
Your answers:
56. 57. 58. 59. 60.
61. 62. 63. 64. 65.

Part II. Read the passage and choose the best answer to each question. Write your answers
in the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (10 points)
FOUR STAGES OF PLANETARY DEVELOPMENT
The planet Earth has passed through four-stages of planetary development. All terrestrial
planets pass through these same stages to some degree, but some planets evolved further or were
affected in different ways.
The Four Stages
The first stage of planetary evolution is differentiation, the separation of material
according to density. Earth now has a dense core and a lower-density crust, and that structure
must have originated very early in its history. Differentiation would have occurred easily if Earth
were molten when it was young. Two sources of energy could have heated Earth. First, heat of
formation was released by in-falling material. A meteorite hitting Earth at high velocity converts
Page 5 of 19
most of its energy of motion into heat, and the impacts of a large number of meteorites would
have released tremendous heat. If Earth formed rapidly, this heat would have accumulated
much more rapidly than it could leak away, and Earth was probably molten when it
formed. A second source of heat requires more time to develop. The decay of radioactive
elements trapped in the Earth releases heat gradually; but, as soon as Earth formed, that heat
began to accumulate and helped melt Earth. That would have helped the planet differentiate.
While Earth was still in a molten state, meteorites could leave no trace, but in the second
stage in planetary evolution, cratering, the young Earth was battered by meteorites that
pulverized the newly forming crust. The largest meteorites blasted out crater basins hundreds of
kilometers in diameter. As the solar nebula cleared, the amount of debris decreased, and after the
late heavy bombardment, the level of cratering fell to its present low level. Although meteorites
still occasionally strike Earth and dig craters, cratering is no longer the dominant influence on
Earth's geology. As you compare other worlds with Earth, you will discover traces of this intense
period of cratering, on every old surface in the solar system.
The third stage, flooding, no doubt began while cratering was still intense. The fracturing
of the crust and the heating produced by radioactive decay allowed molten rock just below the
crust to well up through fissures and flood the deeper basins. You will find such flooded basins
with solidified lava flows on other worlds, such as the moon, but all traces of this early lava
flooding have been destroyed by later geological activity in Earth's crust. On Earth, flooding
continued as the atmosphere cooled and water fell as rain, filling the deepest basins to produce
the first oceans. [A] Notice that on Earth flooding involves both lava and water, a circumstance
that we will not find on most worlds. [B]
The fourth stage, slow surface evolution, has continued for the last 3.5 billion years or
more. [C] Earth’s surface is constantly changing as sections of crust slide over each other, push
up mountains, and shift continents. [D] Almost all traces of the first billion years of Earth’s
geology have been destroyed by the active crust and erosion.
Earth as a Planet
All terrestrial planets pass through these four stages, but some have emphasized one stage
over another, and some planets have failed to progress fully through the four stages. Earth is a
good standard for comparative planetology because every major process on any rocky world in
our solar system is represented in some form on Earth.
Nevertheless, Earth is peculiar in two ways. First, it has large amounts of liquid water on
its surface. Fully 75 percent of its surface is covered by this liquid; no other planet in our solar
system is known to have such extensive liquid water on its surface. Water not only fills the
oceans but also evaporates into the atmosphere, forms clouds, and then falls as rain. Water falling
on the continents flows downhill to form rivers that flow back to the sea, and in so doing, the
water produces intense erosion. You will not see such intense erosion on most worlds. Liquid
water is, in fact, a rare material on most planets. Your home planet is special in a second way.
Some of the matter on the surface of this world is alive, and a small part of that living matter is
aware. No one is sure how the presence of living matter has affected the evolution of Earth, but
this process seems to be totally missing from other worlds in our solar system. Furthermore, the
thinking part of life on Earth, humankind, is actively altering our planet.
66. Why does the author mention the ‘Earth’ in paragraph 1?
A. To explain the stages in planetary development for the Earth in detail
B. To contrast the evolution of the Earth with that of other planets
C. To demonstrate that the Earth passed through similar stages to those of most planets
D. To give an example of exploration of the terrestrial planets
67. Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the highlighted statement in
the passage?
Page 6 of 19
 A. The Earth may have been liquid because the heat collected faster than it dissipated if
the formation took place quickly.
B. Because of the rapid formation of the Earth, the crust took a long time to cool before it
became a solid.
C. The liquid core of the Earth was created when the planet first formed because the heat
was so high and there was little cooling.
D. The cooling caused the Earth to form much more quickly as it met with the intense
heat of the new planet.
68. The word ‘pulverized’ in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.
A. melted into liquid B. broken into small parts
C. frozen very hard D. washed very clean
69. What can be inferred about radioactive matter?
A. It floods the planet’s crust. B. It generates intense heat.
C. It is an important stage. D. It is revealed by later activity.
70. According to paragraph 4, how were the oceans formed?
A. Ice gouged out depressions in the Earth. B. Rain filled the craters made by
meteorites.
C. Earthquakes shifted the continents. D. Molten rock and lava flooded the basins.
71. According to the passage, which stage occurs after cratering?
A. Flooding B. Slow surface evolution C. Differentiation D. Erosion
72. What is the author’s opinion of life on other planets?
A. She does not know whether life is present on other planets.
B. She does not express an opinion about life on other planets.
C. She is certain that no life exists on any planet except Earth.
D. She thinks that there is probably life on other planets.
73. Look at the four squares that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the
passage. ‘At the same time, moving air and water erode the surface and wear away
geological features.’
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
74. The word ‘process’ in the passage is closest in meaning to________.
A. regulation B. improvement C. procedure D. definition
75. All of the following are reasons why the Earth is a good model of planetary development for
purposes of comparison with other planets EXCEPT_________.
A. The Earth has gone through all four stages of planetary evolution.
B. Life on Earth has affected the evolution in a number of important ways.
C. All of the fundamental processes on terrestrial planets have occurred on Earth.
D. There is evidence of extensive cratering both on Earth and on all other planets.
Your answers:
66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

Part III. Read the passage and do the tasks that follow. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (13 points)
Virtually every child, the world overplays. The drive to play is so intense that children will do
so in any circumstances, for instance when they have no real toys, or when parents do not
actively encourage the behavior. In the eyes of a young child, running, pretending, and
building are fun. Researchers and educators know that these playful activities benefit the
development of the whole child across social, cognitive, physical, and emotional domains.
Indeed, play is such an instrumental component to healthy child development that the United
Nation High Commission on Human Rights (1989) recognized play as a fundamental right of
every child.
Page 7 of 19
Yet, while experts continue to expound a powerful argument for the importance of play in
children’s lives, the actual time children spend playing continues to decrease. Today, children
play eight hours less each week than their counterparts did two decades ago (Elkind 2008).
Under pressure of rising academic standards, play is being replaced by test preparation in
kindergartens and grade schools, and parents who aim to give their preschoolers a leg up are
led to believe that flashcards and educational ‘toys’ are the path to success. Our society has
created a false dichotomy between play and learning.
Through play, children learn to regulate their behavior, lay the foundations for later learning
in science and mathematics, figure out the complex negotiations of social relationships, build
a repertoire of creative problem-solving skills, and so much more. There is also an important
role for adults in guiding children through playful learning opportunities.
Full consensus on a formal definition of play continues to elude the researchers and theorists
who study it. Definitions range from discrete descriptions of various types of play such as
physical, construction, language, or symbolic play (Miler & Almon 2009), to lists of broad
criteria, based on observations and attitudes, that are meant to capture the essence of all play
behaviors (e.g. Rubin et al. 1983).
A majority of the contemporary definitions of play focus on several key criteria. The founder
of the National Institute for Play, Stuart Brown, has described play as ‘anything that
spontaneously is done for its own sake’. More specifically, he says it ‘appears purposeless,
produces pleasure and joy, [and] leads one to the next stage of mastery’ (as quoted in Tippett
2008). Similarly, Miller and Almon (2009) said that play includes ‘activities that are freely
chosen and directed by children and arise from intrinsic motivation’. Often, play is defined
along a continuum as more or less playful using the following set of behavioral and
dispositional criteria (e.g. Rubin et al. 1983).
Play is pleasurable: Children must enjoy the activity or it is not play. It is intrinsically
motivated: Children engage in play simply for the satisfaction the behavior itself brings. It has
no extrinsically motivated function or goal. Play is process oriented: When children play, the
means are more important than the ends. It is freely chosen, spontaneous and voluntary. If a
child is pressured, they will likely not think of the activity as play. Play is actively engaged:
Players must be physically and/or mentally involved in the activity. Play is non-literal. It
involves make- believe.
According to this view, children’s playful behaviors can range in degree from 0% to 100%
playful. Rubin and colleagues did not assign greater weight to any one dimension in
determining playfulness; however, other researchers have suggested that process orientation
and a lack of obvious functional purpose may be the most important aspects of play (e.g.
Pellegrini 2009).
From the perspective of a continuum, play can thus blend with other motives and attitudes
that are less playful, such as work. Unlike play, work is typically not viewed as enjoyable and
it is extrinsically motivated (i.e. it is goal oriented). Researcher Joan Goodman (1994)
suggested that hybrid forms of work and play are not a detriment to learning; rather, they can
provide optimal contexts for learning. For example, a child may be engaged in a difficult,
goal-directed activity set up by their teacher, but they may still be actively engaged and
intrinsically motivated. At this mid-point between play and work, the child’s motivation,
coupled with guidance from an adult, can create robust opportunities for playful learning.
Critically, recent research supports the idea that adults can facilitate children’s learning while
maintaining a playful approach in interactions known as ‘guided play’ (Fisher et al. 2011).
The adult’s role in play varies as a function of their educational goals and the child’s
developmental level (Hirsch-Pasek et al. 2009).
Page 8 of 19
 Guided play takes two forms. At a very basic level, adults can enrich the child’s environment
by providing objects or experiences that promote aspects of a curriculum. In the more direct
form of guided play, parents or other adults can support children’s play by joining in the fun
as a co-player, raising thoughtful questions, commenting on children’s discoveries, or
encouraging further exploration or new facets to the child’s activity. Although playful learning
can be somewhat structured, it must also be child-centered (Nicolopolou et al. 2006). Play
should stem from the child’s own desire.
Both free and guided play are essential elements in a child-centered approach to playful
learning. Intrinsically motivated free play provides the child with true autonomy, while guided
play is an avenue through which parents and educators can provide more targeted learning
experiences. In either case, play should be actively engaged, it should be predominantly
child-directed, and it must be fun.
Questions 76-79:
Look at the following statements and the list of researchers below. Match each statement with
the correct researcher, A-G. Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 76-79 on your answer sheet.
76. Adults’ intended goals affect how they play with children.
77. Combining work with play may be the best way for children to learn.
78. Certain elements of play are more significant than others.
79. Activities can be classified on a scale of playfulness.
List of Researchers
A. Elkind E. Pellegrini
B. Miler & Almon F. Joan Goodman
C. Rubin et al. G. Girsch-Pasek et al.
D. Stuart Brown
Questions 80-84:
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage? In boxes
80-84, write:
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the winter
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
80. Children need toys in order to play.
81. It is a mistake to treat play and learning as separate types of activities.
82. Play helps children to develop their artistic talents.
83. Researchers have agreed on a definition of play.
84. Work and play differ in terms of whether or not they have a target.
Questions 85-88: Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage
for each answer.
Guided play
In the (85) ________ form of guided play, an adult contributes to the environment in which the
child is playing. Alternatively, an adult can play with a child and develop the play, for instance
by (86) ________ the child to investigate different aspects of their game. Adults can help
children to learn through play, and may make the activity rather structured, but it should still be
based on the child’s (87)________to play. Play without the intervention of adults gives children
real (88) ________; with adults, play can be targeted at particular goals. However, all forms of
play should be an opportunity for children to have fun.

Your answers:
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.
Page 9 of 19
81. 82. 83. 84. 85.
86. 87. 88.

Part IV. You are going to read an extract from a book. Seven paragraphs have been
removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap
(89-95). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in
the corresponding numbered boxes on your answer sheet. (7 points)
SUMMER
The small bright lawn stretched away smoothly to the big bright sea. The turf was hemmed with
an edge of scarlet geranium and coleus, and cast-iron vases painted in chocolate colour, standing
at intervals along the winding path that led to the sea, looped their garlands of petunia and ivy
geranium above the neatly raked gravel.
89
A number of ladies in summer dresses and gentlemen in grey frock-coats and tall hats stood on
the lawn or sat upon the benches. Every now and then, a slender girl in starched muslin would
step from the tent, bow in hand, and speed her shaft at one of the targets, while the spectators
interrupted their talk to watch the result.
90
The Newport Archery Club always held its August meeting at the Beauforts’. The sport, which
had hitherto known no rival but croquet, was beginning to be discarded in favour of lawn-tennis.
However, the latter game was still considered too rough and inelegant for social occasions, and
as an opportunity to show off pretty dresses and graceful attitudes, the bow and arrow held their
own.
91
In New York, during the previous winter, after he and May had settled down in the new
greenish-yellow house with the bow-window and the Pompeian vestibule, he had dropped back
with relief into the old routine of the office. The renewal of this daily activity had served as a
link with his former self.
92
At the Century he had found Winsett again, and at the Knickerbocker, the fashionable young
men of his own set. And what with the hours dedicated to the law and those given to dining out
or entertaining friends at home, with an occasional evening at the opera or the theatre, the life he
was living had still seemed a fairly real and inevitable sort of business.
93
But the Wellands always went to Newport, where they owned one of the square boxes on the
cliffs, and their son–in–law could adduce no good reason why he and May should not join them
there. As Mrs. Welland rather tartly pointed out, it was hardly worthwhile for May to have worn
herself out trying on summer clothes in Paris if she was not to be allowed to wear them; and this
argument was of a kind to which Archer had as yet found no answer.
94
It was not May’s fault, poor dear. If, now and then, during their travels, they had fallen slightly
out of step, harmony had been restored by their return to the conditions she was used to. He had
always foreseen that she would not disappoint him; and he had been right. No, the time and place
had been perfect for his marriage.
95
He could not say that he had been mistaken in his choice, for she had fulfilled all that he had
expected. It was undoubtedly gratifying to be the husband of one of the handsomest and most
Page 10 of 19
popular young married women in New York, especially when she was also one of the
sweetest-tempered and most reasonable of wives; and Archer had never been insensible to such
advantages.
A. May herself could not understand his obscure reluctance to fall in with so reasonable and
pleasant a way of spending the summer. She reminded him that he had always liked Newport in
his bachelor days, and as this was indisputable he could only profess that he was sure he was
going to like it better than ever now that they were to be there together. But as he stood on the
Beaufort verandah and looked out on the brightly peopled lawn, it came home to him with a
shiver that he was not going to like it at all.
B. In addition, there had been the pleasurable excitement of choosing a showy grey horse for
May’s brougham (the Wellands had given the carriage). Then, there was the abiding occupation
and interest of arranging his new library, which, in spite of family doubts and disapprovals, had
been carried out as he had dreamed, with a dark embossed paper, Eastlake book-cases and
“sincere” arm–chairs and tables.
C. The next morning Archer scoured the town in vain for more yellow roses. In consequence of
this search, he arrived late at the office, perceived that his doing so made no difference whatever
to anyone, and was filled with sudden exasperation at the elaborate futility of his life. Why
should he not be, at the moment, on the stands on St. Augustine with May Welland?
D. Newland Archer, standing on the verandah of the Beaufort house, looked curiously down
upon this scene. On each side of the shiny painted steps, was a large, blue china flowerpot on a
bright yellow china stand. A spiky green plant filled each pot, and below the verandah ran a wide
border of blue hydrangeas edged with more red geraniums. Behind him, the French windows of
the drawing rooms through which he had passed gave glimpses, between swaying lace curtains,
of glassy parquet floors islanded with chintz poufs, dwarf armchairs, and velvet tables covered
with trifles in silver.
E. Archer looked down with wonder at the familiar spectacle. It surprised him that life should be
going on in the old way when his own reactions to it had so completely changed. It was Newport
that had first brought home to him the extent of the change.
F. Archer had married (as most young men did) because he had met a perfectly charming girl at
the moment when a series of rather aimless sentimental adventures were ending in premature
disgust; and she had represented peace, stability, comradeship, and the steadying sense of an
inescapable duty.
G. Half way between the edge of the cliff and the square wooden house (which was also
chocolate–coloured, but with the tin roof of the verandah striped in yellow and brown to
represent an awning) two large targets had been placed against a background of shrubbery. On
the other side of the lawn, facing the targets, was pitched a real tent, with benches and
garden-seats about it.
H. Newport, on the other hand, represented the escape from duty into an atmosphere of
unmitigated holiday-making. Archer had tried to persuade May to spend the summer on a remote
island off the coast of Maine (called, appropriately enough, Mount Desert), where a few hardy
Bostonians and Philadelphians were camping in native cottages, and whence came reports of
enchanting scenery and a wild, almost trapper-like existence amid woods and waters.
Your answers:
89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95.
Part V. Read the passage and do the task that follows. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided. (15 points)
A.

Page 11 of 19
Jetlag had cruelly robbed me of my enthusiasm as we swooped low over the awe-inspiring
volcanic terrain of Iceland's interior, on our way to making a final pass before landing, safely. I
hoped, in the quaint northern city of Akureyri, having connected onward from Reykjavik earlier
in the day. However, this thief of the sleepless night would only stifle my sense of excitement
and anticipation temporarily. I knew. and I would be renewed and relieved of it after a good
night's rest, feeling refreshed and ready for the adventure of a lifetime. However, first port of call
on landing was, by necessity, my hotel room, with my eyes already almost stapled shut before
the door had even closed behind me.
B.
A marathon ten hours later, the exhaustion had well and truly been lifted as I pulled the curtains
to admire the beautiful picture-postcard pristineness of the scene which greeted me outside. I
wondered then what Reykjavik itself would be like. How would it compare to its sleepy northern
sister? A glance at my watch confirmed it was rush hour, yet you would not have guessed it by
the lack of commotion on the streets below, streets I would wander aimlessly and explore
intimately in the coming days, with the luxury of time on my side, having apportioned a
generous three days to this section of my trip. It was a glorious few days spent sipping coffee at
the waterfront, sampling the gastronomic delights of produce freshly lifted from the nearby
ocean, and snapping shots of the quaint and quirky little places I would happen upon on my daily
strolls.
C.
Though, admittedly, by the time I left, I was not displeased to also be leaving behind the taste of
seafood that had near monopolised my palate for the days previous. I had grown increasingly
tired of it by the end, but it was an amicable breakup - we shared, I think, a mutual appreciation
for our time together and had simply fallen out of love! Now I was up in the air again and
returning to Reykjavik, this time for a proper introduction. The sense of tiredness had long
evaporated and I was filled with a real curiosity and heightened sense of expectancy for what lay
ahead in the capital, having heard so much about it from an Icelandic friend back home prior to
my visit. She had waxed lyrical and set the bar very high indeed. Could it live up to her
promises? I kept my own expectations fairly grounded for the time being, guarding against that
inevitable sense of disappointment one gets on building something up too much in advance. As
we landed, however, darkness was falling and I realised I would have to postpone finding out
until the next day: my appetite could, after all, remain tantalisingly whetted for one more night
before I feasted on Reykjavik's touristic delights.
D.
The city didn't let me down, however; it was all my friend had intimated and more, I was thrilled
to dis- cover. I spent the next few days hurriedly exploring the sights and partaking in as many
activities as time would permit, whilst the nights were spent living it up and letting my hair down
in the famed party haunts of the city centre. And why not? After all, I was young and free, so to
speak, and newly single, a factor which had played a leading role in my determining to embark
on this adventure in the first instance. If I regretted anything, it was simply not having afforded
myself longer in this delightful place. Volcanoes, I soon understood, were not the only thing
likely to explode in these parts, for the locals, once set loose from the shackles of work for the
week, are equally explosive as they pour out onto the streets ready to party through the night.
However, I wasn't massively perturbed by the rush, knowing I would be grateful for the added
time soon when my adventure really began.
E.
So having sampled the culture and ambience of Iceland's urban scene, it was now time to have a
nature sandwich and dine on the natural delights for which the island perhaps is most famed.
Page 12 of 19
And, speaking of sandwiches, I soon found myself lodged like a filling in one between two
well-built natives as I started my circular trip of the island, heading eastwards in an all-terrain
vehicle in search of the illusive northern lights. Wedged as I was in my human sandwich. I was
none too pleased about the level of ride comfort offered on this particular tour, I can tell you, but
my irritation was soon tempered by success on our celestial safari as, before long, we were
staring up into the heavens towards a kaleidoscope of colours that all of a sudden lit up the
otherwise pitch-black night. Nature was throwing all kinds of shapes our way, and I was sure, at
one point, the different hues of green and purple bore a striking resemblance to a plate of seafood
I'd had back in sleepyville. Indeed, I soon had a hankering for more of the same and realised our
trial separation was coming to an end.
In which extract …
does the writer describe feeling extremely tired? 96. ______
is the writer full of anticipation? 97. ______
does the writer enjoy feeling unhurried? 98. ______
does the writer comment favourably on the food he ate in a particular place? 99. ______
does the travelling arrangement cause discomfort and irritation? 100. ______
does the writer hint at a recent failed personal relationship? 101. ______
does the writer describe an experience surpassing his expectations? 102. ______
is the writer's schedule the most hectic? 103. ______
does the writer favourably describe exploring without a sense of purpose? 104. ______
is the impact of an uncomfortable experience lessened by the outcome? 105. ______
Your answers:
96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105.

SECTION D: WRITING (60 POINTS)

Part I. Read the following passage and write a summary of about 100 – 120 words. (15
points)
The way in which information is taught can vary greatly across cultures and time periods.
Entering a British primary school classroom from the early 1900s, for example, one gains a sense
of austerity, discipline, and a rigid way of teaching. Desks are typically seated apart from one
another, with straight-backed wooden chairs that face directly to the teacher and the chalkboard.
In the present day, British classrooms look very different. Desks are often grouped together so
that students face each other rather than the teacher, and a large floor area is typically set aside
for the class to come together for group discussion and learning.
Traditionally, it was felt that teachers should be in firm control of the learning process, and that
the teacher’s task was to prepare and present material for students to understand. Within this
approach, the relationship students have with their teachers is not considered important, nor is
the relationship students have with each other in the classroom. A student’s participation in class
is likely to be minimal, aside from asking questions directed at the teacher, or responding to
questions that the teacher has directed at the student. This style encourages students to develop
respect for positions of power as a source of control and discipline. It is frequently described as
the “formal authority” model of teaching.
A less rigid form of teacher-centred education is the “demonstrator” model. This maintains the
formal authority model’s notion of the teacher as a “flashlight” who illuminates the material for
his or her class to learn, but emphasises a more individualized approach to form. The
demonstrator acts as both a role model and a guide, demonstrating skills and processes and then
helping students develop and apply these independently. Instructors who are drawn to the
Page 13 of 19
demonstrator style are generally confident that their own way of performing a task represents a
good base model, but they are sensitive to differing learning styles and expect to provide students
with help on an individual basis.
Many education researchers argue for student-centred learning instead, and suggest that the
learning process is more successful when students are in control. Within the student-centred
paradigm, the “delegator” style is popular. The delegator teacher maintains general authority, but
they delegate much of the responsibility for learning to the class as a way for students to become
independent thinkers who take pride in their own work. Students are often encouraged to work
on their own or in groups, and if the delegator style is implemented successfully, they will build
not only a working knowledge of course specific topics, but also self-discipline and the ability to
co-ordinate group work and interpersonal roles.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 14 of 19
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Part II. The bar chart showed the percentage of school children learning to play four
different musical instruments (violin, guitar, piano, drums) in 2005, 2010, 2015
Write a report summarising the information. Select and describe the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. (15 points)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 15 of 19
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 16 of 19
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Part III. Write an essay of about 350 words on the following topic. Write your answer in
the blank space provided on your answer sheet. (30 points)
Some people think that mental health care should be free and accessible to everyone, while
others believe that it is an individual’s responsibility to take care of their mental health. Discuss
both views and give your opinion."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 17 of 19
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page 18 of 19
----------THE END----------

Page 19 of 19