SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI TỈNH LỚP

HÀ TĨNH 11
Môn thi: Tiếng Anh
Thời gian làm bài: 150 phút
ĐỀ GIỚI THIỆU

I. LISTENING

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU

 Bài nghe gồm 3 phần, mỗi phần được nghe hai lần, mở đầu và kết thúc mỗi phần có tín hiệu.
 Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe.

Part 1: You will hear part of a lecture about conserving energy. Listen and complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Conserving Energy at Home
 Carbon footprint is the 1.__________________ of green house gas emitted into the atmosphere by an in-
dividual as a result of his day-to-day activities.
 More than 2.__________________ of all homes are not insulated.
Reasons to better insulate your home:
 Fitting adequate insulation in the 3.__________________ and outer walls of your home can reduce heat-
ing costs by as much as 25%.
 The government offers 4.__________________ to people who want to insulate their homes.
 You will recoup your investment over a short period of time.
- Painting 5.__________________ walls in the dark color is a bad idea because dark colors
6.__________________ heat.
- Replacing a normal light bulb with an energy-saving one could save you 7.__________________ over the
lifetime of the bulb.
- If you have large windows in your homes, you should close the 8.__________________
- Erect 9.__________________ to heat your water supply.
- People should continue recycling and composting their 10.__________________ to help protect the
environment.

Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: 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.
Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
1. What does Alison think is the cause for optimism?
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. What do we learn 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.
5. 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:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 3: You are going to listen to a piece of news on South China Sea. Listen and fill in each blank with
NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS from the recording.
A man-made island, Fiery Cross didn’t exist two years ago, yet there’s now 10,000 foot air strip, an
1.________________________, a missile defense system, and about 200 troops there. Six others have also been
built.
Since 2014, huge Chinese ships collected around remote reefs in the Spratly Islands, rapidly
2._______________________ up onto the reef. They were building islands. This body of water is not only rich
in natural resources, but 30% of the 3._________________________also flows through here to the booming
population centers and economic markets of Southeast Asia as well.
Now 5 countries have laid their claims on this water, most basing their claim on the UN Law of Seas,
which says a country’s territorial waters extend 200 miles off their shore, an area called the
4._________________________ or EEZ. Countries have exclusive rights to all the resources and trade in their
EEZ. It’s their 5._________________________. Any area that isn’t in an EEZ is regarded as international
waters meaning every country shares it.
Every country in the South China Sea region uses this 200-miles EEZ threshold to determine its claims,
except China which argued they have a historical claim to the South China Sea dating back to
6._______________________ in the 15th century. Following World War II, China claimed the South China Sea
by drawing this imprecise line on the map that 7._______________________ of the South China Sea, which it
named the nine-dash-line.
The Spratly Islands is a 8._________________________ cluster of islands currently claimed by China,
Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. It’s hard to 9._________________________ on an uninhabited pile of
sand, so countries have built buildings and even stuck several people there. China believes all the Spratly Island
belongs to them. 10.________________________ on these new artificial islands shows China’s great ambition
to rule the region.
Your answers:

1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.

II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR
Part 1: Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. Write your answer A, B, C or D in
the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. Tom: “_____________ ”
Mike: “I won’t say no!”
A. How are things with you, Mike? B. What about playing badminton this afternoon?
C. Mike, do you know where the scissors are? D. What’s your favourite, tea or coffee?
2. _____________ their heads in his direction, he knew they were interested.
A. Seeing them both turn B. On seeing they both turn
C. When he saw them both to turn D. After seeing them both to have turned
3. Each of the bedrooms in our holiday home has a small _____________ bathroom.
A. walk-in B. open-plan C. en-suite D. three-piece
4. The thief put on the expensive boots and, with a _____________ air, walked calmly out of the shop!
A. steadfast B. nonchalant C. churlish D. malicious
5. The clinic experienced an _____________ of support from the community when they were threatened with
closure.
A. outbreak B. overflowing C. outbursting D. outpouring
6. I’m incredibly sorry that I broke your Ming vase; is there anything to that I can do to _____________
amends?
A. make B. take C. do D. have
7. The tendency is to respond to anger with anger, but in these situations, it pays to keep a cool _____________.
A. brain B. mind C. head D. top
8. The football fans were coming in _____________ to watch the final game. An hour before the kickoff the
stadium was packed full.
A. fingers and thumbs B. bits and bobs C. dribs and drabs D. bibs and tuckers
9. He came _____________ a lot of criticism for the remarks he made in a television interview.
A. out of B. off C. over D. in for
10. They are not likely to _____________ information during the current armed conflict.
A. cop out B. ladle out C. peter out D. pull out
11. You ____ me at work. The boss was really angry because he had warned me before about personal calls.
A. must not have phoned B. shouldn’t have phoned
C. didn’t use to phone D. can’t have phoned
12. Down ________ for three days.
A. the rain poured B. poured the rain C. did the rain pour D. do the rain poor
13. ________ of half-starving wolves were roaming the snow-covered countryside.
A. Packs B. Herds C. Flocks D. Swarms
14. He didn’t know anyone at the wedding _______ than the bride and the groom.
A. except B. other C. apart D. rather
15. Steel_______ with chromium to produce a noncorrosive substance known as stainless steel.
A. is combined B. that is combined C. combining D. when combined
16. The assistant suggested _____ the next day when the manager would be there.
A. we are coming back B. to come back C. we will come back D. we came back
17. Mr. Nixon refused to answer the questions on the _______ that the matter was confidential.
A. reasons B. excuses C. grounds D. foundations
18. His new play is not only interesting but also unique. It is really off the beaten _______.
A. road B. path C. route D. track
19. As John _______ enjoyed doing research, he never could imagine himself pursuing other careers.
A. thoroughly B. totally C. extremely D. utterly
20. A statement will be made after the police have finished _______ the evidence.
A. straining B. sifting C. shredding D. sieving

Your Answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Part 2: Complete each sentence with one suitable preposition or particle. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes.
1. Irrespective _________ the poor weather conditions the search for the missing child was continued.
2. I have been using her computer ever since she placed it __________ my disposal.
3. You can't miss him. That haircut makes him stand ___________ in a crowd.
4. This is the time of the year when stores mark ________ their prices, so you can get good deals.
5. They chalked the poor sales ______ ______the lower number of tourists visiting this year.
6. I'm tired and stressed and the kids have been acting ________ all day. They don't seem to know how to
behave properly.
7. I met Harold in the supermarket. He was asking _________ you and I said you were fine and really happy
about this new job you've got.
8. I'll ask your boss __________ for dinner tonight if he isn't busy. It will make a good impression, don't you
think?
9. When the cost was set ________ the benefits, the scheme looked good.
10. If your boss accuses you of missing yesterday's meeting on purpose, I will back you _________ by saying
you had to do something for me.

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 3: Give the correct form of the words in brackets. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes.
For statistical and public administrative purposes, old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age.
However, there is no (1. universe) _________accepted age that is considered old among or within societies, and
the physiological effects of ageing differ widely among individuals. In ancient Rome and medieval Europe the
average life span is estimated to have been between 20 and 30 years. Life (2. expect) _________ today has
expanded in historically (3. precedent) _________ proportions, greatly increasing the numbers of people who
survive over the age of 65. Therefore, the instances of medical problems associated with ageing, such as cancer
and heart disease, have increased, giving rise to greater (4. consider) _________ both in research and in
programmes for accommodating this increase. Certain aspects of sensory and (5.perceive) _________skills, (6.
muscle)_________ strength and certain kinds of memory tend to diminish with age, rendering some activities
(7. suit)_________ for older people. There is, however, no (8. conclude) _________ evidence that intelligence
deteriorates with age, but rather that it is more (9. close) _________ associated with education and standard of
living. Many of the myths surrounding the process of ageing have been (10.valid) _________ by increased
studies in gerontology, but there is still not sufficient information to provide adequate conclusions.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

III. READING
Part 1: For each gap, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D which best fits the context.
Nearly 200 of the 1500 native plant species in Hawaii are at risk of going extinct in the near future
because they have been (1) _______ to such low numbers. Approximately 90 percent of Hawaii's plants are
found nowhere else in the world but they are (2) ______ by alien invasive species such as feral goats, pigs,
rodents and (3)_______ plants.
The Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group is striving to (4)_______ the extinction of the 182 rare Hawaiian
plants with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the (5)_______ . Since 1990, (6)_______ a result of their
"Plant Extinction Prevention Program", sixteen species have been brought into (7)_______ and three species
have been reintroduced. Invasive weeds have been removed in key areas and fencing put up in order to
(8)_______ plants in the wild.
In the future the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Program aims (9)_______ collecting genetic material from
the remaining plants in the wild for storage as a safety net for the future. They also aim to manage wild
populations and where possible reintroduce species into (10)_______ .
1. A. developed B. reduced C. disappeared D.increased
2. A. conserved B. guarded C. invested D. threatened
3. A. native B. national C. international D. non-native
4. A. prevent B. influence C. encourage D. stimulate
5. A. wild B. sky C. hole D. atmosphere
6. A. so B. due C. as D. but
7. A. contamination B. production C. cultivation D. generation
8. A. derive B. vary C. remain D. protect
9. A. at B. on C. with D. for
10. A. shelters B. reserves C. gardens D. halls
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: Fill in the gap with ONE suitable word. Write the words in the box given.
PEER PRESSURE
One of the strongest influences on children today (1) ______ that of their peers. What their classmates think,
how they dress and how they act in class and out of it (2) ________ the behavior of nearly every child at school.
In their efforts not to be different, some children go so far as to hide their intelligence and ability in case they
are made (3) ________ of. Generally, children do not want to stand (4) _______ from the crowd. They want to
fit in, to be accepted. In psychological terms, the importance of (5) ________ pressure cannot be over
emphasized. There is a lot of evidence that it has great bearing on all aspects of children's lives, ( 6) ________
the clothes they wear, the music they listen to and their attitude to study to their ambitions in life, their
relationships and their sense. However, as children grow up into adolescents, individuality becomes more
acceptable, desirable (7) _______, and in their search for their (8) _______ personal style, the teenager and (9)
_______ adult will begin to experiment and be more willing to run the the risk of rejection by the group.
Concern about intellectual prowess and achieving good exam results can dominate (10) ________the
atmosphere of competition develops and worries about the future override any fears of appearing too brainy.

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 3: Read the following passage adapted from Britannica and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to
indicate the correct answer to each of the questions. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.

There is a natural balance to all things: life and death, good and bad, happiness and sadness, pleasure
and pain. The very idea that you should focus on positives and ignore negatives, likewise with strengths versus
weakness, is not only delusional; it’s a recipe for disaster.
Let me tell you a couple of stories to show you how dealing with reality as openly and genuinely as
possible is the path to success and happiness, while focusing only on the positives and strengths can destroy
your career and your company.
It’s no secret that Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple in 1984 because his management style had become
toxic to the company. Much later, Jobs would come to realize that getting fired from the company he cofounded
“was the best thing that could have happened” to him. He called it “awful-tasting medicine” that “the patient
needed.” He also likened it to life hitting him in the head with a brick.
That forced Jobs to look in the mirror and see the truth that he wasn’t as capable or as strong a leader as
he could be. And as he addressed the issues that stood in his way, the result was the founding of NeXT and
Pixar, his eventual return to Apple, and the greatest turnaround in corporate history that built the most valuable
company on earth.
It’s easy to miss the obvious connection staring us right in the face, that it wasn’t just Apple that had it a
wall, fallen on hard times, and found itself in need of a turnaround. The same was true of Jobs. And there was
an undeniable connection between the two.
It’s also easy to miss the insightfulness of Jobs’ realization that none of his later achievements would
have occurred if he hadn’t faced reality. That sort of introspection only comes from someone who’s had some
sort of intervention and gone through gut-wrenching change as a result.
Not to compare myself with Jobs, but the truth is I’ve gotten a couple of those bricks to the head myself.
I’ve been fired more than once and lost my wife early in our marriage. But in every case I looked in the mirror,
faced what I saw, made some changes, and bounced back stronger than ever.
If I’d just tried to stay positive, focused on my strengths, and searched for the silver lining in the clouds,
I never would have figured out what was wrong and become a better person, a better husband, and a better
leader. I never would have achieved so much in my career or won my wife back.
While life is full of ups and downs, one thing is certain: if you attempt to filter your consciousness and
disallow negative thoughts or make believe the weaknesses holding you back don’t exist, you’ll never get past
those hurdles and get to the next stage in your personal and professional development. And neither will your
business.
1. What could be the best title for the passage?
A. Being Successful: Ignore the negatives
B. To Be Successful? Quit Being So Positive
C. Being Successful: Facing with Disasters
D. To Be Successful? Stop Being So Negative
2. The writer uses the phrase “recipe for disaster” in paragraph 1 to stress that ________.
A. focusing on positives can make the worse become the worst
B. ignoring the negative can be the key to dealing with any problem
C. focusing on positives and ignoring negatives destroy the reality
 D. ignoring negatives goes against the natural balance to all things
3. The word “likened” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ________.
A. linked B. associated C. compared D. related
4. The writer uses the phrase “the two” in paragraph 5 to refer to ________.
A. strengths and weaknesses B. life and death
C. hard times and turnarounds D. happiness and sadness
5. The writer uses the “bricks” (as Steve Jobs did) in paragraph 6 to describe ________.
A. weaknesses he had at the times of being fired
B. hardships he faced with during his professional life
C. changes he led in order to make turnabouts
D. interventions he made in his own introspection
6. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Steve Jobs according to the passage?
A. He got fired from Apple because of his poor management style.
B. He founded NeXT and Pixar to be able to return to Apple.
C. He made Apple the most valuable company in the world.
D. He considered being fired from Apple the best lesson learnt.
7. What is true about the story teller when facing failures according to the passage?
A. He tried to stay positive to bounce back stronger.
B. He focused on his strengths as the motivation for turnarounds.
C. He looked into the way Steve Jobs did to find his own solution.
D. He examined the situation, making necessary changes to be better.
8. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. Only when you admit the negative as part of your life, you can proceed.
B. Positives and negatives can never go along with each other in reality.
C. It’s our weaknesses that save us in hardships and calamities.
D. To earn happiness, one has to experience the feeling of sadness.
9. The phrase “filter your consciousness” in the last paragraph mostly means ________.
A. release negative feelings from one’s heart
B. clear one’s mind from worries
C. push negative thoughts out of one’s mind
D. stay away from possible dangers
10. The tone of the passage is ________.
A. informative B. preventive C. persuasive D. argumentative
Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 4: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Alfred Nobel
The man behind the Nobel Prize
A. Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been honoring men and women from all corners of the globe for outstanding
achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and for work in peace. The foundations for the prize
were laid in 1895 when Alfred Nobel wrote his last will, leaving much of his wealth to the establishment of the
Nobel Prize.
B. Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833. His father Immanuel Nobel was an engineer and
inventor who built bridges and buildings in Stockholm. In connection with his construction work Immanuel
Nobel also experimented with different techniques for blasting rocks. Successful in his industrial and business
ventures, Immanuel Nobel was able, in 1842, to bring his family to St. Petersburg. There, his sons were given a
first class education by private teachers. The training included natural sciences, languages and literature. By the
age of 17 Alfred Nobel was fluent in Swedish, Russian, French, English and German. His primary interests
were in English literature and poetry as well as in chemistry and physics. Alfred’s father, who wanted his sons
to join his enterprise as engineers, disliked Alfred’s interest in poetry and found his son rather introverted.
C. In order to widen Alfred’s horizons his father sent him abroad for further training in chemical engineering.
During a two year period Alfred Nobel visited Sweden, Germany, France and the United States. In Paris, the
city he came to like best, he worked in the private laboratory of Professor T. J. Pelouze, a famous chemist.
There he met the young Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero who, three years earlier, had invented nitroglycerine, a
highly explosive liquid. But it was considered too dangerous to be of any practical use. Although its explosive
power greatly exceeded that of gunpowder, the liquid would explode in a very unpredictable manner if
subjected to heat and pressure. Alfred Nobel became very interested in nitroglycerine and how it could be put to
practical use in construction work. He also realized that the safety problems had to be solved and a method had
to be developed for the controlled detonation of nitroglycerine.
D. After his return to Sweden in 1863, Alfred Nobel concentrated on developing nitroglycerin as an explosive.
Several explosions, including one (1864) in which his brother Kmil and several other persons were killed,
convinced the authorities that nitroglycerine production was exceedingly dangerous. They forbade further
experimentation with nitroglycerine within the Stockholm city limits and Alfred Nobel had to move his
experimentation to a barge anchored on Lake Malaren. Alfred was not discouraged and in 1864 he was able to
start mass production of nitroglycerine. To make the handling of nitroglycerine safer Alfred
Nobel experimented with different additives. He soon found that mixing nitroglycerine with kieselguhr would
turn the liquid into a paste which could be shaped into rods of a size and form suitable for insertion into drilling
holes. In 1867 he patented this material under the name of dynamite. To be able to detonate the dynamite rods
he also invented a detonator (blasting cap) which could be ignited by lighting a fuse. These inventions were
made at the same time as the pneumatic drill came into general use. Together these inventions drastically
reduced the cost of blasting rock, drilling tunnels, building canals and many other forms of construction work.
E. The market for dynamite and detonating caps grew very rapidly and Alfred Nobel also proved himself to be a
very skillful entrepreneur and businessman. Over the years he founded factories and laboratories in some 90
different places in more than 20 countries. Although he lived in Paris much of his life he was constantly
traveling. When he was not traveling or engaging in business activities Nobel himself worked intensively in his
various laboratories, first in Stockholm and later in other places. He focused on the development of explosives
technology as well as other chemical inventions including such materials as synthetic rubber and leather,
artificial silk, etc. By the time of his death in 1896 he had 355 patents.
F. Intensive work and travel did not leave much time for a private life. At the age of 43 he was feeling like an
old man. At this time he advertised in a newspaper “wealthy, highly-educated elder gentleman seeks lady of
mature age, versed in languages, as secretary and supervisor of household.” The most qualified applicant turned
out to be an Austrian woman, Countess Bertha Kinsky. After working a very short time for Nobel she decided
to return to Austria to marry Count Arthur von Suttner. In spite of this Alfred Nobel and Bertha von Suttner
remained friends and kept writing letters to each other for decades. Over the years Bertha von Suttner
became increasingly critical of the arms race. She wrote a famous book, Lay Down Your Arms and became a
prominent figure in the peace movement. No doubt this influenced Alfred Nobel when he wrote his final will
which was to include a Prize for persons or organizations who promoted peace. Several years after the death of
Alfred Nobel, the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) decided to award the 1905 Nobel Peace Prize to Bertha von
Suttner.
G. Alfred Nobel died in San Remo, Italy, on December 10, 1896. When his will was opened it came as a
surprise that his fortune was to be used for Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and
Peace. The executors of his will were two young engineers, Ragnar Sohlman and Rudolf Lilljequist. They set
about forming the Nobel Foundation as an organization to take care of the financial assets left by Nobel for this
purpose and to coordinate the work of the Prize-Awarding Institutions. This was not without its difficulties
since the will was contested by relatives and questioned by authorities in various countries.
H. Alfred Nobel’s greatness lay in his ability to combine the penetrating mind of the scientist and inventor with
the forward-looking dynamism of the industrialist. Nobel was very interested in social and peace-related issues
and held what were considered radical views in his era. He had a great interest in literature and wrote his own
poetry and dramatic works. The Nobel Prizes became an extension and a fulfillment of his lifetime interests.
For questions 1-6, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG).
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. The first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1895.
2. Nobel’s father wanted his son to have better education than what he had had.
3. Nobel was an unsuccessful businessman.
4. Bertha von Suttner was selected by Nobel himself for the first peace prize.
5. The Nobel Foundation was established after the death of Nobel
6. Nobel’s social involvement was uncommon in the 1800’s.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

For questions 7-11, complete the summary with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS taken from the
passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Having accumulated a great fortune in his business, Nobel’s father determined to give his son the best education
and sent him abroad to be trained in (7) _________. During Nobel’s study in Paris, he worked in a private
laboratory, where he came in contact with a young scientist (engineer) (8) _________ and his invention
nitroglycerine, a more powerful explosive than (9) _________.
Benefits in construction works:
Nobel became really interested in this new explosive and experimented on it. But nitroglycerine was too
dangerous and was banned for experiments within the city of Stockholm. So Nobel had to move his experiments
to a lake. To make nitroglycerine easily usable, Nobel invented dynamite along with (10) _________ while in
the meantime pneumatic drill became popular, all of which dramatically lowered the (11) _________ of
construction works.
Your answers:
7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Part 5: The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A–G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B–G
from the list of headings below.
BIRD MIGRATION
A Birds have many unique design features that enable them to perform such amazing feats of endurance.
They are equipped with lightweight, hollow bones, intricately designed feathers providing both lift and
thrust for rapid flight, navigation systems superior to any that man has developed, and an ingenious heat
conserving design that, among other things, concentrates all blood circulation beneath layers of warm,
waterproof plumage, leaving them fit to face life in the harshest of climates. Their respiratory systems have
to perform efficiently during sustained flights at attitude, so they have a system of extracting oxygen from
their lungs that far exceeds that of any other animal. During the later stages of the summer breeding season,
when good is plentiful, their bodies are able to accumulate considerable layers of fat, in order to provide
sufficient energy for their long migratory flights.
B The fundamental reason that birds migrate is to find adequate food during the winter months when it is in
short supply. This particularly applies to birds that breed in the temperate and Arctic regions of the
Northern Hemisphere, where food is abundant during the short growing season. Many species can tolerate
cold temperatures if food is plentiful, but when food is not available they must migrate. However,
intriguing questions remain.
C One puzzling fact is that many birds journey much further than would be necessary just to find food and
good weather. Nobody knows, for instance, why British swallows, which could presumably survive equally
well if they spent the winter in equatorial Africa, instead fly several thousands of miles further to their
preferred winter home in South Africa’s Cape Province. Another mystery involves the huge migrations
performed by arctic terns and mudflat-feeding shorebirds that breed close to Polar Regions. In general, the
further north a migrant species breeds, the further south it spends the winter. For arctic terns this
necessitates an annual round trip of 25,000 miles. Yet, en route to their final destination in far-flung
southern latitudes, all these individuals overfly other areas of seemingly suitable habitat spanning two
 hemispheres. While we may not fully understand birds’ reasons for going to particular places, we can
marvel at their feats.
D One of the greatest mysteries is how young birds know how to find the traditional wintering areas without
parental guidance. Very few adults migrate with juveniles in tow, and youngsters may even have little or
no inkling of their parents’ appearance. A familiar example is that of the cuckoo, which lays its eggs in
another species’ nest and never encounters its young again. It is mind boggling to consider that, once raised
by its host species, the young cuckoo makes it own way to ancestral wintering grounds in the tropics before
returning single-handedly to northern Europe the next season to seek out a mate among its own kind. The
obvious implication is that it inherits from its parents an inbuilt route map and direction-finding capability,
as well as a mental image of what another cuckoo looks like. Yet nobody has the slightest idea as to how
this is possible.
E Mounting evidence has confirmed that birds use the positions of the sun and stars to obtain compass
directions. They seem also to be able to detect the earth’s magnetic field, probably due to having minute
crystals of magnetite in the region of their brains. However, true navigation also requires an awareness of
position and time, especially when lost. Experiments have shown that after being taken thousands of miles
over an unfamiliar landmass, birds are still capable of returning rapidly to nest sites. Such phenomenal
powers are the product of computing a number of sophisticated cues, including an inborn map of the night
sky and the pull of the earth’s magnetic field. How the birds use their ‘instruments’ remains unknown, but
one thing is clear: they see the world with a superior sensory perception to ours. Most small birds migrate
at night and take their direction from the position of the setting sun. However, as well as seeing the sun go
down, they also seem to see the plane of polarized light caused by it, which calibrates their compass.
Traveling at night provides other benefits. Daytime predators are avoided and the danger of dehydration
due to flying for long periods in warm, sunlit skies is reduced. Furthermore, at night the air is generally
cool and less turbulent and so conducive to sustained, stable flight.
F Nevertheless, all journeys involve considerable risk, and part of the skill in arriving safely is setting off at
the right time. This means accurate weather forecasting, and utilizing favorable winds. Birds are adept at
both, and, in laboratory tests, some have been shown to detect the minute difference in barometric pressure
between the floor and ceiling of a room. Often birds react to weather changes before there is any visible
sign of them. Lapwings, which feed on grassland, flee west from the Netherlands to the British Isles,
France and Spain at the onset of a cold snap. When the ground surface freezes the birds could starve. Yet
they return to Holland ahead of a thaw, their arrival linked to a pressure change presaging an improvement
in the weather.
G In one instance, a Welsh Manx shearwater carried to America and released was back in its burrow on
Skokholm Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, one day before a letter announcing its release! Conversely,
each autumn a small number of North American birds are blown across the Atlantic by fast-moving westerly
tail winds. Not only do they arrive safely in Europe, but, based on ringing evidence, some make it back to
North America the following spring, after probably spending the winter with European migrants in sunny
African climes.
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G. Choose the most suitable heading for paragraphs A-G
from the list of headings below. Write the appropriate numbers (i -x) in corresponding numbered boxes in
boxes 1-6. (0) has been done for you.
List of headings
i The best moment to migrate
ii The unexplained rejection of closer feeding ground
iii The influence of weather on the migration route
iv Physical characteristics that allow birds to migrate
v The main reason why birds migrate
vi The best wintering grounds for birds
vii Research findings on how birds migrate
viii Successful migration despite trouble of wind
ix Contrast between long-distance migration and short-distance migration
 x Mysterious migration despite lack of teaching

0. Paragraph A ____ iv __ _
1. Paragraph B __________
2. Paragraph C __________
3. Paragraph D __________
4. Paragraph E __________
5. Paragraph F __________
6. Paragraph G __________

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

IV. WRITING
Part 1: Use the word given in brackets and make any necessary additions to write a new sentence in such
a way that it is as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence. Do NOT change the form of the
given word. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.
1. "Should I ask for help or do it myself?" Jeff wondered. (himself )
→ Jeff ________________________________________________________________ should do it himself.
2. The big increase in hits on his website came as a surprise to Philip. (got)
→ Much __________________________________________________ a big increase in hits on his website.
3. I was just about to call you to see what time you were coming. (point)
→ I ____________________________________________________ you to see what time you were coming.
4. People say that, if you run, you burn calories efficiently. (supposed)
→ Running ________________________________________________________ way of burning calories.
5. The council bought the old theater so it could be used as a youth club. (purpose)
→ The council bought the old theater ___________________________________________ as a youth club.
6. It's possible that the thieves entered the building by forcing a window at the back. (into)
→ The thieves may ___________________________________ the building through a window at the back.
7. The restautant manager thought that they were likely to loose all their customers if service didn’t improved.
(ran)
→ The restautant manager thought that they ____________________________ if service didn’t improved.
8. Jane has no chance of being selected for the team because of her poor sprint times. (paid)
→ Jane’s poor sprint times ______________________________________ of being selected for the team
9. The direct aim of the statement is to make the public aware of the present situation. (boils)
→ The statement ______________________________________________ aware of the present situation.
10. If you work without a break, you are more likely to make an error. ( prone)
→ Working without a break ________________________________________________________ error.

Part 2: Write an essay of about 250 words about the following issue.
Some people say that young people today only seem to aspire to fame and fortune, which they expect to be
handed to them on a plate. However, others believe that the youth are currently inspiring more and more
people with their personal success and contribution to the community. To what extent, do you agree with this
statement?
Give reasons and specific examples to support your opinion(s).

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____The End _____