SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9

TỈNH BÀ RỊA – VŨNG TÀU NĂM HỌC 2024 – 2025

ĐỀ MINH HỌA Môn: TIẾNG ANH

Thời gian làm bài thi: 150 phút
Ngày thi: ………
(Đề thi có 10 trang)

Điểm Họ, tên, chữ ký Họ, tên, chữ Số phách

Bằng số: giám khảo 1 ký
giám khảo 2
Bằng chữ:

Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part VIII

I. LISTENING. (3.0 pts)

Part 1. You will hear a radio interview with a student architect called
Claire Hirst. For questions 1-6, choose the best answer A, B or C.
1. What does Claire say she has enjoyed learning on her course?
A. how to explain her ideas to her fellow students
B. how construction workers actually put up a building
C. how architects combine practical and creative skills
2. Claire says that in their final year of studies students find they ______.
A. work on their own more than previously.
B. get more advice from the tutors.
C. have fewer projects to do.
3. How does Claire say doing work placements has helped her?
A. It has allowed her to make a decision about the future.
B. It has developed most of the skills she already had.
C. It has confirmed what she imagined about the job.
4. What does Claire say about the project she is currently working on?
A. She knows the building will be constructed one day.
B. She is pleased with the work she has done on it.
C. She is glad the materials she chose have reduced costs.
5. Claire says that when designing people’s homes, architects should
A. imagine living there themselves.
B. try to make them interesting.
C. consider who will live in them.
6. What does Claire say about finding a job as an architect?
A. Having interview experience is useful.
B. Phoning architects’ offices is effective.
C. Recommendations by tutors can help.
(Adapted from FCE Tests)

1
Part 2. You will hear a girl called Anna giving a presentation about the
fashion blog that she’s created. For questions 1-6, complete the sentences
with a word or short phrase.
Anna – fashion blogger
After Anna was featured in a (1) ……………………………………, she had more people
visiting her blog.
Anna now has a blog to help her develop the blog.
Anna thinks teenagers are likely to spend more on jeans than on other items of
clothing.
Anna prefers buying her own clothes from (2) …………………………………… rather
than other places.
The historical period that’s given Anna the greatest inspiration for her blog is the (3)
………………………………………..
Clothes with (4) …………………………………… on them recently attracted attention to
Anna’s blog.
Anna mainly promotes clothes made of materials such as cotton and wool on her
blog.
Among the things Anna has made herself, people have showed most interest in her
(5) …………………………………… .
Anna was pleased that visitors to the blog have described it as being (6)
…………………………………… .
(Adapted from FCE Tests)
II. CIRCLE the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the best answer to each of the
questions. (3.0 pts)
1. Choose the word that has the stress differently from that of the others.
A. argumentative B. psychological C. contributory D. hypersensitive
2. The man didn’t ______ an eyelid when he received the result.
A. bat B. wink C. use D. close
3. It’s absolutely essential that she ______ informed as soon as the President arrives
in view of her ______ about the issue mentioned in his lecture.
A. is / concerning B. will be / being concerned
C. to be / being concerning D. be / being concerned
4. There is no doubt that a language ______ throughout the world would do much to
bring countries closer to each other.
A. commonly using B. is commonly used
C. was commonly used D. commonly used
5. When ______ Titanic was crossing ______ Atlantic, she struck ______ iceberg which
tore ______ huge hole in her bow.
A. the/an/an/a B. the/the/an/a
C. a/the/an/the D. a/an/an/the
6. Let’s allow plenty of time to get to the airport – we don’t want to ______.
A. cut it too fine B. get away from it all
C. have time to kill D. be on the safe side

2
7. ______ I am aware, there were no problems during the first six months.
A. As far as B. So much as C. Much more than D. Except
that
8. I’m between two options for dinner, but I’m ______ about which to choose.
A. on the fence B. on the ball C. out of hand D. under the
weather
9. By adapting to a foreign culture, you can overcome your ______ and develop good
relationships with those around you.
A. tradition B. culture shock C. civilization D. national
identity
10. How the continents ______ a topic of continual geological research for many
years.
A. was formed to be B. were formed has been
C. have been formed to being D. were formed to have been
11. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the best arrangement of the
sentences to make a meaningful paragraph/letter in each of the following
questions
a. In 1976, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Inc. with Steve Wozniak. They introduced
the Apple II that became popular due to its user-friendly design.
b. Eventually, Apple purchased NeXT in 1996, and Jobs returned to Apple as CEO,
he introduced revolutionary products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
c. After that, Jobs left Apple in 1985 and founded NeXT Inc., which focused on
creating high-end workstations.
d. Unfortunately, Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, leaving behind a legacy as
a visionary entrepreneur and innovator.
e. While managing NeXT Inc., Jobs also became the CEO of Pixar Animation
Studios, which produced successful films.
A. d-b-e-c-a B. a-e-d-b-c C. b-e-a-c-d D. a-c-e-b-d
12. IDENTIFY which underlined part in each sentence is not correct.
The number of organs donated for transplant is still a long way off meeting this
demand and there have recently been called for the UK to adopt a policy that is
currently practiced in many European countries.
A. donated B. is C. meeting D. called for
III. Complete the passage by filling ONE suitable word in each blank. (1.5
pts)
WHY ARE OVERHEARD CALL SO ANNOYING?
People are more distracted by mobile phone conversations than background chat in
the same room, (1) _________________ to a study at San Diego University. The research also
shows that an overheard phone conversation is significantly more memorable for someone
involuntarily listening in than if the conversation takes place between people in the same
location. Volunteers were asked to do anagram puzzles while, unknown (2)
_________________ them, researchers conducted a scripted conversation in the background,
either between two people in the room or between someone on a mobile phone and an
unknown caller. Participants only heard the conversation once and were (3)
_________________ of the fact it was part of the study. Those (4) _________________ overheard
the one-sided conversation found it more distracting and annoying, and remembered more

3
words from it. A possible explanation is that we keep trying to figure out what is going on,
becoming frustrated (5) _________________ our failure to do so. (6) _________________
knowing where the conversation is heading is what makes overheard cell-phone calls so
irritating.
(Adapted from Complete Advanced – C1– Third edition)
IV. SUPPLY the appropriate forms of the words in brackets to complete the
passage. (1.5 pts)
VOLUNTEER TOURISM
It is hard to argue that the actual contribution to development amounts to a great
deal directly. Whilst volunteer tourists can get involved in building homes or
schools, they have usually paid a significant fee for the opportunity to be involved in
this work: money that, if donated to a local community directly, could potentially
pay for a greater amount of labour than the individual volunteer could ever hope to
provide. This is especially so in the case of gap years, in which the level of technical
skill or professional experience required of volunteers is (1. NEGLIGIBILITY)
___________________. Hence, it is unsurprising that many academic studies allude to
the moral issue of whether gap year volunteering is principally motivated by
altruism – a desire to benefit the society visited – or whether young people aim to
generate ‘cultural capital’ which benefits them in their careers. However, the
projects may play a role in developing people who will, in the course of their careers
and lives, act (2. ETHICS) ___________________ in favour of those less well-off.
Volunteering may lead to greater international understanding; enhanced ability to
solve conflicts; widespread and (3. DEMOCRACY) ___________________ participation
in global affairs through global civic society organisations; and growth of
international social networks among ordinary people. In this scenario, the whole is
greater than the sum of its parts, an outcome where benefits accrue to volunteers
and host communities, and contribute to the global greater good. However, if
volunteering is largely limited to individuals of means from wealthier areas of the
world, it may give these privileged volunteers an international (4. PERSPECTIVITY)
___________________, and a career boost, but it will do little for people and
communities who currently lack access to international voluntary work. Those who
volunteer will continue to reap its benefits, using host organisations and host
communities as a rung on the ladder of personal advancement.
At its worst, international volunteering can be imperialist, (5. PATERNALISM)
___________________ charity, volunteer tourism, or a self-serving quest for career and
personal limited strategies, aimed at a humble ‘making a difference’, can appear
positive and attractive in an anti-political climate. The personal element appears
positive – it bypasses big government and eschews big business. Yet it also
bypasses the democratic imperative of representative government and reduces
development to individual acts of charity, most often ones that seek to work around
rather than transform the situations of poor, rural societies. Cynicism at the act of
volunteering is certainly misplaced. The act of volunteer tourism may involve only
simple, commendable charity. However, where volunteer tourism is talked up as (6.
SUSTAIN) ___________________ development and the marketing of the gap-year
companies merges into development thinking, this is symptomatic of a degradation
of the discourse of development. The politics of volunteer tourism represents a

4
retreat from a social understanding of global inequalities and the poverty lived by
so many in the developing word.
(Adapted from Compact Advanced – C1)

V. READING
A. Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D to
indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks
from 1 to 3. (0,75 pt)
DRINK AN ORANGE!
Do you often have (1) ______? Orange juice provides an aid to digestion that
counteracts ill effects when you overeat.
This single day liquid food (2) ______ the tiniest babies as well as for grown ups by
thousands of physicians all over the world.
In short, drinking an orange a day is always (3) ______.

1. A. heavy meal B. good meals C. delicious meals

D. yummy meals
2. A. is required for B. is ready for C. is advised for D. is produced for
3. A. a good job B. a good time C. a wise juice D. a wise policy

B. Read the following announcement and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to

indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks
from 1 to 3. (0,75 pt)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MID-TERM TESTS
The school administrators would like to announce
➤ All students (1) ______ present by 7:30, from Dec 26 up to Dec 29.
➤ (2) ______ cheating during your tests.
➤ Bringing along mobile devices (3) ______ stopping your tests.
1. A. must B. required C. have to be
D. receive
2. A. Without B. Not C. No D. Hardly
3. A. means B. equals C. requires D. refers

C. Read the text and CIRCLE the answer which best fits each space. (1.25
pt)
Although playing video games is one of the most popular leisure activities in the
world, research into its effects on players, (1) ______ is often trivialised.
One innovative application of video games in health care is its use in pain
management. The degree of attention needed to play such a game can distract the
player from the sensation of pain, a strategy that has been reported and evaluated
among paediatric patients. (2) ______ a form of physiotherapy or occupational
therapy in many different groups of people. Such games focus attention away from
potential discomfort and, unlike more traditional therapeutic activities, they do not
rely on passive movements and sometimes painful manipulation of the limbs.

5
 However, there has been no long term follow-up and no robust randomised
controlled trials of such interventions. (3) ______. Furthermore, it is not known
whether any distracting effect depends simply on concentrating on an interactive
task or whether the content of games is also an important factor as there have been
no controlled trials (4) ______. Further research should examine factors within games
such as novelty, users' preferences, and relative levels of challenge and should
compare video games with other potentially distracting activities.
On balance, given that video game playing is highly prevalent among children
and adolescents in industrialised countries, (5) ______ moderate frequency of play
has serious acute adverse effects from moderate play. Adverse effects, when they
occur, tend to be relatively minor and temporary, resolving spontaneously with
decreased frequency of play. More evidence is needed on excessive play and on
defining what constitutes excess in the first place. There should also be long term
studies of the course of video game addiction.
1. A. both positive and negative B. neither positive
nor negative
C. not only positive but negative D. positive but not negative
2. A. Video games have been in use B. Video games have been for use
C. Video games have been used as D. Video games have been used to
3. A. Whether patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
B. Not knowing patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
C. If patients eventually tire of such games or not is also unclear.
D. Not to know patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
4. A. that compares video games with other distractors.
B. to be compared video games with other distractors.
C. comparing video games with other distractors.
D. compared to video games and other distractors.
5. A. it is little evidence that B. it is a little evidence that
C. there is little evidence that D. there is a little evidence that
D. Read the passage and CIRCLE the best answers to the questions. (1.25
pt)
American Black Ducks
by Sam Prentice, wildlife biologist
I work at a US university where my team and I are trying to learn more about
water birds, particularly one called the American black duck. And we've just started
using an exciting piece of equipment called a 'night-vision scope', which allows us
to see the ducks in the dark!
We're worried about black ducks mainly because their numbers have fallen
hugely and we don't know whether there's enough food on the east coast for these
animals. There's lots of information about their daytime activities, but nothing about
what they do at night, because we simply haven't had the equipment. But this new
'scope' will produce really clear pictures, even on moonless nights, so we'll be able
to find out more and make better decisions about looking after the area where they
live based on what we learn.
It is very hard work. There are four of us, each working six hours daily. We've
studied ducks in different locations, and I've had to take a boat to some sites and
make notes on every duck I see. The weather hasn't helped - some nights are mild,
but more often it's wet. Oh, and it's so quiet I've needed lots of coffee to stop me
falling asleep! We've only missed one working day so far, because the snow was too
deep even for our special snow vehicles.

6
 Still I like the challenge of it, especially compared to what the summer will bring -
hours in a laboratory, where we'll look at our results together. It'll be hard to be
stuck inside - but it's essential to do this. And I wouldn't change it for anything!
(Adapted from Preliminary English Test)
1. What is Sam Prentice doing in the text?
A. describing how he became a wildlife biologist
B. explaining how he is doing a piece of research
C. suggesting how readers can learn about one type of bird
D. giving a report of success he's had in his work
2. What is Sam hoping to discover about American black ducks?
A. what their behaviour is like after dark
B. which kind of food they need to live on
C. which animals are responsible for the fall in their numbers
D. what makes the east coast a suitable location for them
3. When Sam spends long periods watching ducks, he ______.
A. dislikes having to deal with low temperatures
B. finds there's enough to do to maintain his interest
C. is glad of the chance to be in a quiet place
D. sometimes finds it difficult to stay awake.
4. What does Sam say about working inside a lab over the summer?
A. He feels pleased that he'll avoid the hot weather.
B. He accepts that it's a necessary part of his job.
C. He's looking forward to studying his results.
D. He's glad he'll be working with other people.
5. What might Sam say about his experiences of working outdoors?
A. Having the right vehicle for bad weather has meant we've still carried on
working, whatever it's been like outside.
B. We decided that we'd only go to sites that were easy to get to, and I'm really
glad we made that decision.
C. Sometimes the moon hasn't been very bright, but our equipment provides the
amount of light we need to collect information.
D. The other people in my team are brilliant, but it's been hard watching ducks in
the same place every day.
E. Read the passage and CIRCLE the best answers to the questions. (1.25
pt)
A lot can happen in a year abroad
Like many students before her, studying abroad bad a profound affect on Sarah
Morrison
As I sat staring out at California’s spectacular Big Sur coastline, I felt fortunate to
have a sister who had persuaded me to spend a year of my degree abroad. It seems
that there are not enough older siblings explaining just how easy it is to take part in
an international exchange.
While most universities offer worldwide exchanges, where students swap places
with others from all over the world for a semester or a year during their degree, the
number and quality on offer, together with the cost and time spent abroad, vary
dramatically.
A deciding factor for me in choosing to study at the University of Edinburgh was
the fact it offered more than 230 exchange places at overseas universities in the
US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore
and South America.

7
 Despite all this choice, I still found that deciding to spend a year abroad was
something of a novelty, with most of my friends giving more thought to embracing
Edinburgh than packing their bags to leave a city that had only just become their
home. Yet, fortified by my sister’s advice and a Californian friend who told me I
would love the coast, I applied to spend my third year at the University of California,
Berkeley – never guessing that this would affect almost every future decision I
would make.
From the start of your exchange, you are aware that the time you have in your
new country is limited and not to be wasted. Your experience is shaped by a
predetermined start and end, which immediately increases the significance of the
time in between.
From the first week I arrived, I started to work at The Daily Californian, Berkeley’s
student newspaper. I moved from an international house with more than 600
students from all over the world into a co-operative house where 60 of us shared
responsibility for management of the building. I met people from Calcutta, Cairo and
Chile, and learnt that holding on to any stereotypes I might have about Americans
would be about as useful as assuming that all European people lived on farms.
The grades I earned at Berkeley didn’t actually count towards my degree
classification at Edinburgh. However, I studied under a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet,
signed up for student-led seminars and took an African American literature class
that shaped my dissertation in Edinburgh. Whether I was learning about
contemporary poets on a tour of San Francisco or reporting on the President’s
speech in San Francisco for the next day’s newspaper, my stay there enabled me to
return to Edinburgh with an increased sense of awareness about what I wanted to
gain from my English literature degree.
While the expense might seem like an initial barrier to international exchanges, in
reality they can actually save a student money. Visas, health insurance and flights
to the chosen country will have to be bought, but a student will usually only be
charged 25 to 50 per cent of their home university’s annual fees. A student
travelling abroad is entitled to a larger student loan, and grants are available at
many institutions for students going on an exchange.
Taking part in an exchange may not appeal to all students. You have to research
the options independently, apply almost a year before you go away and be aware of
the grades required in the first year to qualify for a place on one. Even so,
Edinburgh’s international exchange officer, Helen Leitch, says: ‘If I had a pound for
every time that students told me it was the best experience of their life, I would be
a very wealthy woman indeed.’
(Adapted from: https://engexam.info/fce-reading-and-use-of-english-practice-
tests/fce-reading-and-use-of-english-practice-test-8/5/)

1. One reason Sarah became a student at Edinburgh University was that ______.
A. she could first study abroad and then move to Edinburgh
B. her sister had previously studied at Edinburgh
C. she could do part of her studies at a suitable university abroad
D. most of the students at Edinburgh spend a year at an overseas university

8
2. How did Sarah feel when she went to Berkeley?
A. She was pleased to find the people were exactly as she had expected.
B. She knew she wanted to make the most of her stay there.
C. She wanted to get a job rather than begin studying immediately.
D. She began to wish her stay there could be a little shorter.
3. What does Sarah feel she achieved at Berkeley?
A. She formed a clearer idea of what her long-term aims were.
B. She took the first steps towards becoming a teacher.
C. She developed her poetry-writing skills significantly.
D. She ensured that she would graduate with a first-class degree.
4. What does Sarah say about the cost of an international university exchange?
A. As a student you can get reduced rates for health insurance.
B. Your fees may be cut by half for every year of your course.
C. It can be cheaper overall than studying in your own country.
D. Taking cheap flights abroad can save you a lot of money.
4. What does the word ‘one’ in the last paragraph refer to?
A. an international exchange as part of a university course
B. a research degree at a university in another country
C. a university course that is paid for by the government
D. the first year of a university course in your own country
6. What does Helen Leitch suggest in the final paragraph?
A. Students who do international exchanges often go on to become extremely
rich.
B. Most students who’ve done an international exchange believe it was highly
worthwhile.
C. Only students from rich families can afford to do an international exchange.
D. She should be paid a far higher salary for organising international exchanges.

VI. WRITING.
Part 1. Complete the sentences, using the words in brackets without
changing the original meaning. DO NOT change the words given. (2.5 pts)
1. Fire-fighters at the scene used a heavy metal bar to break down the door.
(Complete the sentence, using “broken”)
→ The door _________________________________________________ fire-fighters at the
scene.
2. My mother is always making me feel I am not good enough.
(Complete the sentence, using “stop”)
→ I wish __________________________________________________________ scratch.
3. Janet thinks the only thing she can do is to cancel her skiing holiday.
(Complete the sentence, using “alternative”)
→ Janet thinks she _______________________________________________ her skiing holiday.
4. She talks all the time and this makes me get irritated.

9
(Complete the sentence, using “nerves”)
→ That ___________________________________________________________________________.
5. People say he is able to swim across this river.
(Complete the sentence, using “swimming”)
→ He ________________________________________________________________ across this
river.
Part 2. Essay writing (1.0 pt)
It is beneficial for children to have access to technology from an early age.
In about 150 words, express your opinion about the issue.
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
------- THE END -------
SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 01:
Does technology make people more isolated or more connected? Share your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)

10
 - Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI

Topic 02:
Advantages and disadvantages of social media for teenagers. Share your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 3:
Should schools focus more on practical skills or theoretical knowledge? To what extent
do you agree or disagree?

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare

11
 notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 04:
Do fast-food companies have a responsibility to address obesity? To what extent do
you agree or disagree?

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 05:
Exercise is more important than diet in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare

12
 notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 06:
Is a high salary more important than job satisfaction? Share your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 07:
Is banning single-use plastics enough to combat pollution? Share your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)

13
 - Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 08:
Is it more important to maintain national traditions or adapt to new global trends?
Why (not)?

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 09:
What should cities do to ban cars to reduce pollution and traffic congestion? Share
your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare

14
 notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI
TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
NĂM HỌC: 2024-2025
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ THI NÓI
Topic 10:
Should governments regulate AI development? Share your opinion.

- You have 3 minutes to sketch out what you are going to say. (You should prepare
notes instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible.)
- Your speaking time (for recording) should not exceed 2 minutes.
GOOD LUCK!

SỞ GDĐT TỈNH BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU

CẤU TRÚC ĐỊNH DẠNG ĐỀ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI LỚP 9

BỘ MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
(Áp dụng từ năm học 2024 - 2025)
(Đính kèm Quyết định số /QĐ-SGDĐT ngày /10/2024 của Sở GDĐT)

I. Quy định chung

1. Hình thức thi: Trắc nghiệm và thi Viết (có bao gồm phần nghe).
2. Nội dung thi: Theo Chương trình GDPT 2018.
3. Thời gian làm bài thi: 150 phút.
4. Lưu ý:
- Bài nghe chuẩn B2;

15
 - Phần Error: có gạch chân (A, B, C, D);
- Những bài Word form, Reading comprehension, Lexical, Gap filling phải có chủ đề phù
hợp;
- Speaking test (2.0đ): Monologue (Thời gian chuẩn bị 3 phút và thu âm bài nói 2 phút.)

II. Cấu trúc

Mức độ Điể
Số Tổng
m/
câu điểm
câu
TT Dạng bài Chuẩn kiến thức Nhận biết Thông Vận
hiểu dụng
TL TN TL TN TL TN
Multiple choice
2 2 2
I Listening questions 12 0.25 3.0
Completion 2 2 2
II Lexico- Sounds, Stress, 4 4 4 12 0.25 3.0
grammar Prepositions, Phrasal
verbs, conjunctions,
collocations, idioms,
verb tenses / forms,

16
 conversation pieces,
structures, vocabulary,
relative clauses,
reported speech, Error
identification
Cloze Function & content
III 2 2 2 6 0.25 1.5
text words, collocations
Word
IV A complete passage 3 3 6 0.25 1.5
form
Advertisement 2 1 3
Announcement 1 1 1 3
Lexical
V Reading 1 2 2 5 0.25 5.5
(Phrase/clause)
Comprehension (1) 2 2 1 5
Comprehension (2) 3 3 6
Do as directed
(Sentence completion, 1 2 2 5 0.5 2.5
Writing combination)
VI
In 150 words, express
your opinion on a 1 1 1.0 1.0
topic.
VII Speaking Monologue 1 1 2.0 2.0
Tổng 5 12 9 15 11 13 65 20.0

---Hết---

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH LỚP 9
TỈNH BÀ RỊA – VŨNG TÀU NĂM HỌC: 2024 – 2025
Môn: TIẾNG ANH
HƯỚNG DẪN CHẤM Thời gian làm bài thi: 150 phút
ĐỀ MINH HOẠ Ngày thi: ……………
(Hướng dẫn chấm có 08 trang)

I. LISTENING. (3.0 pts)

Part 1. You will hear a radio interview with a student architect called
Claire Hirst. For questions 1-6, choose the best answer A, B or C.
1. What does Claire say she has enjoyed learning on her course?
A. how to explain her ideas to her fellow students
B. how construction workers actually put up a building
C. how architects combine practical and creative skills

17
2. Claire says that in their final year of studies students find they ______.
A. work on their own more than previously.
B. get more advice from the tutors.
C. have fewer projects to do.
3. How does Claire say doing work placements has helped her?
A. It has allowed her to make a decision about the future.
B. It has developed most of the skills she already had.
C. It has confirmed what she imagined about the job.
4. What does Claire say about the project she is currently working on?
A. She knows the building will be constructed one day.
B. She is pleased with the work she has done on it.
C. She is glad the materials she chose have reduced costs.
5. Claire says that when designing people’s homes, architects should
A. imagine living there themselves.
B. try to make them interesting.
C. consider who will live in them.
6. What does Claire say about finding a job as an architect?
A. Having interview experience is useful.
B. Phoning architects’ offices is effective.
C. Recommendations by tutors can help.
(Adapted from FCE Tests)
Part 2. You will hear a girl called Anna giving a presentation about the
fashion blog that she’s created. For questions 1-6, complete the sentences
with a word or short phrase.
Anna – fashion blogger
After Anna was featured in a (1) ……………………………………, she had more people
visiting her blog.
Anna now has a blog to help her develop the blog.
Anna thinks teenagers are likely to spend more on jeans than on other items of
clothing.
Anna prefers buying her own clothes from (2) …………………………………… rather
than other places.
The historical period that’s given Anna the greatest inspiration for her blog is the (3)
………………………………………..
Clothes with (4) …………………………………… on them recently attracted attention to
Anna’s blog.
Anna mainly promotes clothes made of materials such as cotton and wool on her
blog.
Among the things Anna has made herself, people have showed most interest in her
(5) …………………………………… .
Anna was pleased that visitors to the blog have described it as being (6)
……………………………… .
(Adapted from FCE Tests)

18
1. magazine 2. second-hand shops 3. 1920’s
4. stripes 5. bags and earrings 6. professional
AUDIO SCRIPTS
PART 1
Interviewer: I’m talking to Claire Hirst today, a student architect. Hi Claire.
Claire Hirst: Hi.
Interviewer: Claire, first of all, are you enjoying your course?
Claire Hirst: Yes, I am. I chose architecture because it is such a creative, yet
practical, profession, and I’ve certainly learnt loads. We’ve done technical drawing
and construction skills, to know what’s going on at the sites, and I’ve loved that.
We’ve had to design buildings, and present our ideas to the other students on the
course. So presentation skills are essential – both through speaking and drawing –
that’s been quite stressful.
Interviewer: You’re now in your last year of studies, and architecture is a long
course. Does this final year feel different?
Claire Hirst: It’s definitely more intense. Some of the people who started on the
course have dropped out, and everyone who’s still left knows they’re in it for the
long haul – they know this is the career for them. You have to be self-motivated –
there are no tutors telling you what to do and how to do it. They just give you tasks
to complete – often several at once – and a set of deadlines, then check on you
every week or so, so you really have to be well-organised.
Interviewer: You’ve done work placements as part of your course. Was this useful?
Claire Hirst: It’s the only way of really finding out what life is like as a professional
architect. Of course, there’s some design involved, but you soon realise that your
time is mainly spent doing things like talking to people on the phone and having
meetings. A work placement means that at the end of it, you’re much more likely to
know whether or not you want to carry on with your course – that was the case for
me, anyway.
Interviewer: Can you tell me about a project you’re working on at the moment?
Claire Hirst: Yes, at the moment I’m designing a city apartment block. I’ve done a
lot of research into the materials I could use. Some of them are expensive, and I
have to work out if the block would be economical to build, and how long the
construction would take. It would be great if it could be built, because I think it’s
looking good, but of course it’s just a student project.
Interviewer: What do you think about architects’ approach to designing people’s
homes?
Claire Hirst: Most typical families in the local area aren’t looking for anything very
unusual. Architects can sometimes forget that ordinary people, not necessarily
other architects, are going to live in the homes they design, so the design should
suit the people, not the other way round! If you’re sitting in an office and looking at
perfect images on a computer all day, you can lose sight of that if you aren’t
careful.
Interviewer: And how will you go about finding a job once you’ve graduated?
Claire Hirst: You can ring all the local architecture practices, which is what some of
my friends who graduated last year did. I must say it took ages and none of them
was offered an interview, so I don’t think I’ll do that. The tutors are contacted by

19
practices, too, and asked about good students they think might be suitable for a
particular vacancy. The students still have to go through the application process, of
course, but at least they have a chance of getting an interview that way.
Interviewer: And finally, Claire, do you have any advice for people thinking of
studying architecture?
Claire Hirst: Don’t go into it for the money! Often the hours can be very long and
the income relatively low. Find out as much about it as you can – read books and
magazines, check out websites, visit buildings. Also, be prepared to work hard
and play hard. You get to know your course mates extremely well because you
spend so much time together.
PART 2
Anna: Hi! I’m Anna, and I’m a fashion blogger. I’ve always loved fashion and
creative writing, so a fashion blog combines both interests!
My blog’s about clothes for teenagers, which my brother and I model. When I first
started, I didn’t get many hits, but I did get mentioned in a well-known magazine, so
I was pleased. Then one newspaper wrote something about me, and loads more
people started to look at the blog. After that, a local TV channel came and
interviewed me for a programme – that was great!
Since then, the blog has really started to develop, so I’m no longer working alone. I
recently met a photographer at my college – who agreed to take some shots for the
site, in return for publicity. And I considered asking a hairdresser to help but I can’t
afford to pay anyone yet. I’d like to hire a make-up artist too, one day, but we’ll see.
There are some beautiful clothes available for teenagers now, so I feature those in
my blog, while bearing in mind what my readers’ lifestyles may be like. They’re
probably all students, so that’s really the deciding factor when thinking about what
to include. But they all have different tastes, so I make sure I feature clothes to suit
a range of tastes. I try and think about their budgets, too, of course – so choosing
clothes is quite a task!
Having said that, I’ve discovered teenagers are prepared to pay more for certain
things if they’re good quality. I asked readers about their most expensive
purchases, expecting they’d say trainers, which can cost a fortune. However, jeans
seemed to be their biggest purchase in terms of how much cash they’d part with.
That didn’t surprise me, ’cos well-fitting ones aren’t cheap. As for other essential
items like jackets, their parents seemed to be the ones to buy those.
Most of the clothes I talk about are readily available, so you can go into department
stores and find them there, and local clothes shops will stock them too. To mix
things up though, I also feature clothes I’ve found in second-hand shops. They’re
my personal favourites – I shop in them a lot, you can find really original things.
Markets are quite good for that too.
As well as showing the latest styles, I also include vintage clothes from other
periods. Believe it or not, the 1920s in the richest source of ideas for my most
recent blogposts, although other periods I’ve featured have been interesting too.
People enjoyed the clothes from the 1970s that I showed last year. I got lots of
positive comments about stuff from the 1980s too!
Because I’m trying to show clothes for both sexes on my blog, I include a range of
colours and patterns in the items I choose. Clothes that have no pattern on them
are always popular, but people also like checks, especially in bright colours. A little

20
while ago there were suddenly far more hits on anything that had stripes. Anyway,
clothes with flowers on them are my personal choice, so they’ll always appear
somewhere!
I try to avoid materials that are artificial if I can. I focus largely on items made from
cotton, say, which I like better than anything made from plastic! And you don’t have
to spend a lot on them. Wool sometimes features too, especially in winter.
I’ve also begun experimenting with putting things on the blog that I’ve made
myself. I attempted a few hats, although people didn’t seem to like them that much.
But the bags I made got a better response. Then I started putting together earrings,
and when those appeared people asked to buy them! So that’s something for the
future.
I’m proud of how the blog’s grown. I think even at the beginning it was fairly
sophisticated, and recently some readers commented that it looked professional,
which I took as a compliment. I didn’t start out feeling skilled at it, so it shows what
you can achieve once you become more experienced!
II. CIRCLE the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the best answer to each of the
questions. (3.0 pts)
13. Choose the word that has the stress differently from that of the others.
A. argumentative B. psychological C. contributory D. hypersensitive
14. The man didn’t ______ an eyelid when he received the result.
A. bat B. wink C. use D. close
15. It’s absolutely essential that she ______ informed as soon as the President arrives
in view of her ______ about the issue mentioned in his lecture.
A. is / concerning B. will be / being concerned
C. to be / being concerning D. be / being concerned
In view of: because of a particular thing, or considering a particular fact
16. There is no doubt that a language ______ throughout the world would do much to
bring countries closer to each other.
A. commonly using B. is commonly used
C. was commonly used D. commonly
used
17. When ______ Titanic was crossing ______ Atlantic, she struck ______ iceberg which
tore ______ huge hole in her bow.
A. the/an/an/a B. the/the/an/a
C. a/the/an/the D. a/an/an/the
18. Let’s allow plenty of time to get to the airport – we don’t want to ______.
A. cut it too fine B. get away from it all
C. have time to kill D. be on the safe side
19. ______ I am aware, there were no problems during the first six months.
A. As far as B. So much as C. Much more than D. Except
that
20. I’m between two options for dinner, but I’m ______ about which to choose.
A. on the fence B. on the ball C. out of hand D. under the
weather

21
21. By adapting to a foreign culture, you can overcome your ______ and develop
good relationships with those around you.
A. tradition B. culture shock C. civilization D. national
identity
22. How the continents ______ a topic of continual geological research for many
years.
A. was formed to be B. were formed has been
C. have been formed to being D. were formed to have been
23. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct arrangement of the
sentences to make a meaningful paragraph/letter in each of the following
questions
a. In 1976, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Inc. with Steve Wozniak. They introduced
the Apple II that became popular due to its user-friendly design.
b. Eventually, Apple purchased NeXT in 1996, and Jobs returned to Apple as CEO,
he introduced revolutionary products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
c. After that, Jobs left Apple in 1985 and founded NeXT Inc., which focused on
creating high-end workstations.
d. Unfortunately, Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, leaving behind a legacy as
a visionary entrepreneur and innovator.
e. While managing NeXT Inc., Jobs also became the CEO of Pixar Animation
Studios, which produced successful films.
A. d-b-e-c-a B. a-e-d-b-c C. b-e-a-c-d D. a-c-e-b-d
24. IDENTIFY which underlined part in each sentence is not correct:
The number of organs donated for transplant is still a long way off meeting this
demand and there have recently been called for the UK to adopt a policy that is
currently practiced in many European countries.
A. donated B. is C. meeting D. called for
A number of -> plural
III. Complete the passage by filling ONE suitable word in each blank. (1.5
pts)
WHY ARE OVERHEARD CALL SO ANNOYING?
People are more distracted by mobile phone conversations than background
chat in the same room, (1) according to a study at San Diego University. The
research also shows that an overheard phone conversation is significantly more
memorable for someone involuntarily listening in than if the conversation takes
place between people in the same location. Volunteers were asked to do anagram
puzzles while, unknown (2) to them, researchers conducted a scripted conversation
in the background, either between two people in the room or between someone on
a mobile phone and an unknown caller. Participants only heard the conversation
once and were (3) unaware of the fact it was part of the study. Those (4) who
overheard the one-sided conversation found it more distracting and annoying, and
remembered more words from it. A possible explanation is that we keep trying to
figure out what is going on, becoming frustrated (5) by our failure to do so. (6) Not
knowing where the conversation is heading is what makes overheard cell-phone
calls so irritating.
(Adapted from Complete Advanced – C1– Third edition)

22
IV. SUPPLY the appropriate forms of the words in brackets to complete the
passage. (1.5 pts)
VOLUNTEER TOURISM
It is hard to argue that the actual contribution to development amounts to a great
deal directly. Whilst volunteer tourists can get involved in building homes or
schools, they have usually paid a significant fee for the opportunity to be involved in
this work: money that, if donated to a local community directly, could potentially
pay for a greater amount of labour than the individual volunteer could ever hope to
provide. This is especially so in the case of gap years, in which the level of technical
skill or professional experience required of volunteers is negligible (1.
NEGLIGIBILITY). Hence, it is unsurprising that many academic studies allude to
the moral issue of whether gap year volunteering is principally motivated by
altruism – a desire to benefit the society visited – or whether young people aim to
generate ‘cultural capital’ which benefits them in their careers. However, the
projects may play a role in developing people who will, in the course of their careers
and lives, act ethically (2. ETHICS) in favour of those less well-off.

Volunteering may lead to greater international understanding; enhanced ability to

solve conflicts;
widespread and democratic (3. DEMOCRACY) participation in global affairs
through global civic society organisations; and growth of international social
networks among ordinary people. In this scenario, the whole is greater than the sum
of its parts, an outcome where benefits accrue to volunteers and host communities,
and contribute to the global greater good. However, if volunteering is largely limited
to individuals of means from wealthier areas of the world, it may give these
privileged volunteers an international perspective (4. PERSPECTIVITY), and a
career boost, but it will do little for people and communities who currently lack
access to international voluntary work. Those who volunteer will continue to reap its
benefits, using host organisations and host communities as a rung on the ladder of
personal advancement.

At its worst, international volunteering can be imperialist (theo chủ nghĩa đế quốc) ,
paternalistic (5. PATERNALISM) charity, volunteer tourism, or a self-serving
quest for career and personal limited strategies, aimed at a humble ‘making a
difference’, can appear positive and attractive in an anti-political climate. The
personal element appears positive – it bypasses big government and eschews big
business. Yet it also bypasses the democratic imperative of representative
government and reduces development to individual acts of charity, most often ones
that seek to work around rather than transform the situations of poor, rural
societies. Cynicism at the act of volunteering is certainly misplaced. The act of
volunteer tourism may involve only simple, commendable charity. However, where
volunteer tourism is talked up as sustainable (6. SUSTAIN) development and the
marketing of the gap-year companies merges into development thinking, this is
symptomatic of a degradation of the discourse of development. The politics of
volunteer tourism represents a retreat from a social understanding of global
inequalities and the poverty lived by so many in the developing word.

23
 (Adapted from Compact Advanced – C1)
V. READING
A. Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D to
indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks
from 1 to 3. (0,75 pt)
DRINK AN ORANGE!
Do you often have (1) ______? Orange juice provides an aid to digestion that
counteracts ill effects when you overeat.
This single day liquid food (2) ______ the tiniest babies as well as for grown ups by
thousands of physicians all over the world.
In short, drinking an orange a day is always (3) ______.
1. A. heavy meal B. good meals C. delicious meals
D. yummy meals
2. A. is required for B. is ready for C. is advised for D. is produced for
3. A. a good job B. a good time C. a wise juice D. a wise policy
B. Read the following announcement and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to
indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks
from 1 to 3. (0,75 pt)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MID-TERM TESTS
The school administrators would like to announce
➤ All students (1) ______ present by 7:30, from Dec 26 up to Dec 29.
➤ (2) ______ cheating during your tests.
➤ Bringing along mobile devices (3) ______ stopping your tests.
1. A. must B. required C. have to be
D. receive
2. A. Without B. Not C. No D. Hardly
3. A. means B. equals C. requires D. refers
C. Read the text and CIRCLE the answer which best fits each space. (1.25
pt)
Although playing video games is one of the most popular leisure activities in the
world, research into its effects on players, (1) ______ is often trivialised.
One innovative application of video games in health care is its use in pain
management. The degree of attention needed to play such a game can distract the
player from the sensation of pain, a strategy that has been reported and evaluated
among paediatric patients. (2) ______ a form of physiotherapy or occupational
therapy in many different groups of people. Such games focus attention away from
potential discomfort and, unlike more traditional therapeutic activities, they do not
rely on passive movements and sometimes painful manipulation of the limbs.
However, there has been no long term follow-up and no robust randomised
controlled trials of such interventions. (3) ______. Furthermore, it is not known
whether any distracting effect depends simply on concentrating on an interactive
task or whether the content of games is also an important factor as there have been
no controlled trials (4) ______. Further research should examine factors within games

24
such as novelty, users' preferences, and relative levels of challenge and should
compare video games with other potentially distracting activities.
On balance, given that video game playing is highly prevalent among children
and adolescents in industrialised countries, (5) ______ moderate frequency of play
has serious acute adverse effects from moderate play. Adverse effects, when they
occur, tend to be relatively minor and temporary, resolving spontaneously with
decreased frequency of play. More evidence is needed on excessive play and on
defining what constitutes excess in the first place. There should also be long term
studies of the course of video game addiction.
1. A. both positive and negative B. neither positive
nor negative
C. not only positive but negative D. positive but not negative
2. A. Video games have been in use B. Video games have been for use
C. Video games have been used as D. Video games have been used to
3. A. Whether patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
B. Not knowing patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
C. If patients eventually tire of such games or not is also unclear.
D. Not to know patients eventually tire of such games is also unclear.
4. A. that compares video games with other distractors.
B. to be compared video games with other distractors.
C. comparing video games with other distractors.
D. compared to video games and other distractors.
5. A. it is little evidence that B. it is a little evidence that
C. there is little evidence that D. there is a little evidence that
D. Read the passage and CIRCLE the best answers to the questions. (1.25
pt)
American Black Ducks
by Sam Prentice, wildlife biologist
I work at a US university where my team and I are trying to learn more about
water birds, particularly one called the American black duck. And we've just started
using an exciting piece of equipment called a 'night-vision scope', which allows us
to see the ducks in the dark!
We're worried about black ducks mainly because their numbers have fallen
hugely and we don't know whether there's enough food on the east coast for these
animals. There's lots of information about their daytime activities, but nothing about
what they do at night, because we simply haven't had the equipment. But this new
'scope' will produce really clear pictures, even on moonless nights, so we'll be able
to find out more and make better decisions about looking after the area where they
live based on what we learn.
It is very hard work. There are four of us, each working six hours daily. We've
studied ducks in different locations, and I've had to take a boat to some sites and
make notes on every duck I see. The weather hasn't helped - some nights are mild,
but more often it's wet. Oh, and it's so quiet I've needed lots of coffee to stop me

25
falling asleep! We've only missed one working day so far, because the snow was too
deep even for our special snow vehicles.
Still I like the challenge of it, especially compared to what the summer will bring -
hours in a laboratory, where we'll look at our results together. It'll be hard to be
stuck inside - but it's essential to do this. And I wouldn't change it for anything!
(Adapted from Preliminary English Test)
6. What is Sam Prentice doing in the text?
A. describing how he became a wildlife biologist
B. explaining how he is doing a piece of research
C. suggesting how readers can learn about one type of bird
D. giving a report of success he's had in his work
7. What is Sam hoping to discover about American black ducks?
A. what their behaviour is like after dark
B. which kind of food they need to live on
C. which animals are responsible for the fall in their numbers
D. what makes the east coast a suitable location for them
8. When Sam spends long periods watching ducks, he ______.
A. dislikes having to deal with low temperatures
B. finds there's enough to do to maintain his interest
C. is glad of the chance to be in a quiet place
D. sometimes finds it difficult to stay awake.
9. What does Sam say about working inside a lab over the summer?
A. He feels pleased that he'll avoid the hot weather.
B. He accepts that it's a necessary part of his job.
C. He's looking forward to studying his results.
D. He's glad he'll be working with other people.
10. What might Sam say about his experiences of working outdoors?
A. Having the right vehicle for bad weather has meant we've still carried on
working, whatever it's been like outside.
B. We decided that we'd only go to sites that were easy to get to, and I'm really
glad we made that decision.
C. Sometimes the moon hasn't been very bright, but our equipment
provides the amount of light we need to collect information.
D. The other people in my team are brilliant, but it's been hard watching ducks in
the same place every day.
E. Read the passage and CIRCLE the best answers to the questions. (1.25
pt)
A lot can happen in a year abroad
Like many students before her, studying abroad bad a profound affect on Sarah
Morrison
As I sat staring out at California’s spectacular Big Sur coastline, I felt fortunate to
have a sister who had persuaded me to spend a year of my degree abroad. It seems
that there are not enough older siblings explaining just how easy it is to take part in
an international exchange.
While most universities offer worldwide exchanges, where students swap places
with others from all over the world for a semester or a year during their degree, the

26
number and quality on offer, together with the cost and time spent abroad, vary
dramatically.
A deciding factor for me in choosing to study at the University of Edinburgh was
the fact it offered more than 230 exchange places at overseas universities in the
US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore
and South America.
Despite all this choice, I still found that deciding to spend a year abroad was
something of a novelty, with most of my friends giving more thought to embracing
Edinburgh than packing their bags to leave a city that had only just become their
home. Yet, fortified by my sister’s advice and a Californian friend who told me I
would love the coast, I applied to spend my third year at the University of California,
Berkeley – never guessing that this would affect almost every future decision I
would make.
From the start of your exchange, you are aware that the time you have in your
new country is limited and not to be wasted. Your experience is shaped by a
predetermined start and end, which immediately increases the significance of the
time in between.
From the first week I arrived, I started to work at The Daily Californian, Berkeley’s
student newspaper. I moved from an international house with more than 600
students from all over the world into a co-operative house where 60 of us shared
responsibility for management of the building. I met people from Calcutta, Cairo and
Chile, and learnt that holding on to any stereotypes I might have about Americans
would be about as useful as assuming that all European people lived on farms.
The grades I earned at Berkeley didn’t actually count towards my degree
classification at Edinburgh. However, I studied under a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet,
signed up for student-led seminars and took an African American literature class
that shaped my dissertation in Edinburgh. Whether I was learning about
contemporary poets on a tour of San Francisco or reporting on the President’s
speech in San Francisco for the next day’s newspaper, my stay there enabled me to
return to Edinburgh with an increased sense of awareness about what I wanted to
gain from my English literature degree.
While the expense might seem like an initial barrier to international exchanges, in
reality they can actually save a student money. Visas, health insurance and flights
to the chosen country will have to be bought, but a student will usually only be
charged 25 to 50 per cent of their home university’s annual fees. A student
travelling abroad is entitled to a larger student loan, and grants are available at
many institutions for students going on an exchange.
Taking part in an exchange may not appeal to all students. You have to research
the options independently, apply almost a year before you go away and be aware of
the grades required in the first year to qualify for a place on one. Even so,
Edinburgh’s international exchange officer, Helen Leitch, says: ‘If I had a pound for
every time that students told me it was the best experience of their life, I would be
a very wealthy woman indeed.’
(Adapted from: https://engexam.info/fce-reading-and-use-of-english-practice-
tests/fce-reading-and-use-of-english-practice-test-8/5/)
1. One reason Sarah became a student at Edinburgh University was that ______.

27
 A. she could first study abroad and then move to Edinburgh
B. her sister had previously studied at Edinburgh
C. she could do part of her studies at a suitable university abroad
D. most of the students at Edinburgh spend a year at an overseas university
2. How did Sarah feel when she went to Berkeley?
A. She was pleased to find the people were exactly as she had expected.
B. She knew she wanted to make the most of her stay there.
C. She wanted to get a job rather than begin studying immediately.
D. She began to wish her stay there could be a little shorter.
3. What does Sarah feel she achieved at Berkeley?
A. She formed a clearer idea of what her long-term aims were.
B. She took the first steps towards becoming a teacher.
C. She developed her poetry-writing skills significantly.
D. She ensured that she would graduate with a first-class degree.
4. What does Sarah say about the cost of an international university exchange?
A. As a student you can get reduced rates for health insurance.
B. Your fees may be cut by half for every year of your course.
C. It can be cheaper overall than studying in your own country.
D. Taking cheap flights abroad can save you a lot of money.
5. What does the word ‘one’ in the last paragraph refer to?
A. an international exchange as part of a university course
B. a research degree at a university in another country
C. a university course that is paid for by the government
D. the first year of a university course in your own country
6. What does Helen Leitch suggest in the final paragraph?
A. Students who do international exchanges often go on to become extremely
rich.
B. Most students who’ve done an international exchange believe it was
highly worthwhile.
C. Only students from rich families can afford to do an international exchange.
D. She should be paid a far higher salary for organising international exchanges.

VI. WRITING.
Part 1. Complete the sentences, using the words in brackets without
changing the original meaning. DO NOT change the words given. (2.5 pts)
6. Fire-fighters at the scene used a heavy metal bar to break down the door.
(Complete the sentence, using “BROKEN”)
→ The door was broken down with а heavy metal bar by fire-fighters at the
scene.
7. My mother is always making me feel I am not good enough.
(Complete the sentence, using “STOP”)
→ I wish my mother would stop making me feel that I am not up to scratch.

28
8. Janet thinks the only thing she can do is to cancel her skiing holiday.
(Complete the sentence, using “alternative”)
→ Janet thinks she has no alternative but to cancel her skiing holiday.
9. She talks all the time and this makes me get irritated.
(Complete the sentence, using “nerves”)
→ That she talks all the time (0.25 pt) gets on my nerves.
10.People say he is able to swim across this river.
(Complete the sentence, using “SWIMMING”)
→ He is said to be capable of swimming across this river.
Part 2. Essay writing (1.0 pt)
It is beneficial for children to have access to technology from an early age.
In about 150 words, express your opinion about the issue.
MARKING CRITERIA
- Ideas/ Vocabulary: 0.5 pt
- Organization/ Structure/ Cohesion: 0.25 pt
- Grammar/ length: 0.25 pt

---THE END---

29