SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP THÀNH PHỐ LỚP 12 – THPT

TP HỒ CHÍ MINH KHOÁ NGÀY: 28/2/2008 – NĂM HỌC: 2007-2008

------------------------------ MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
ĐỀ CHÍNH THỨC Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút, không kể thời gian phát đề
Đề thi gồm 6 trang ----------------------------------------------------------------------

PART ONE: CHOOSE THE WORD (A, B, C, or D) THAT BEST FITS EACH BLANK (40 pts)
1. I’m sure I made a(n) __________ lot of mistakes in the test.
A. horrible B. awful C. bad D. serious
2. English __________ the list of the most popular foreign languages taught in this country.
A. leads B. wins C. beats D. heads
3. You can do whatever you like as __________ as I am concerned.
A. much B. long C. well D. far
4. Peter was __________ that he should apply for a university place.
A. advised B. suggested C. recommended D. explained
5. We had to move the furniture to __________ room for the new piano.
A. make B. give C. set D. do
6. A lot of police officers are __________ in the investigation.
A. absorbed B. specialized C. involved D. stuck
7. All the school’s regulations have to be __________ with.
A. faced B. met C. provided D. complied
8. Those two groups of students are in __________ over the duty schedule.
A. dispute B. practice C. advance D. hatred
9. What he said was so __________ that we didn’t know whether he was pleased or annoyed.
A. incomprehensible B. faint C. ambiguous D. illegible
10. It was just a(n) __________ remark. I don’t see why you are taking it so seriously.
A. minor B. fundamental C. invaluable D. trivial
11. The reason it __________ is that you haven’t plugged it in.
A. didn’t work B. won’t work C. wasn’t working D. doesn’t work
12. I wish I __________ to his birthday party next week.
A. came B. would come C. will come D. were to come
13. The collector __________ his set by the end of the year.
A. will be completing B. has completed C. will have completed D. will have been completing
14.As part of our Community Project, our class went to the park to pick up __________.
A. litter B. sewage C. garbage D. filth
15. The committee of enquiry is completely independent __________ the government.
A. of B. to C. on D. about
16. After I’d __________ down for an hour, my headache went.
A. lied B. lay C. laid D. lain
17. It’s no use __________ to him – he never listens.
A. to talk B. being talked C. talking D. about talking
18. I can’t find my cheque book. I __________ it at home.
A. should have B. must have C. must have left D. should have left.
19. The car that passed us __________ 100 miles an hour.
A. must have been doing B. must do C. must have done D. must be doing
20. Every time my uncle came from Hue, he __________ bring me a lot of useful books.
A. could B. would C. might D. should
21. Mr. Hung supposes __________ that he will be retiring at 60.
A. as do most people B. as most people did C. like most people D. like most people do

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22. He is always speaking as if he __________ everything.
A. know B. knows C. knew D. had known
23. He drinks very little __________ the police catch him as he drives home.
A. in the event B. despite C. otherwise D. in case
24. They each __________ responsible for what each one does.
A. is B. are C. be D. has been
25. The girl found her mother __________ her diary.
A. read B. to read C. reads D. reading
26. __________ students in the school are free to join any club they wish or not.
A. None B. Not C. No D. All
27. Men contribute less than women __________ household chores.
A. for B. to C. on D. with
28. The police are looking __________ the murder at present.
A. into B. in C. on D. through
29. They are enthusiastic __________ helping the victims of the landslide.
A. on B. in C. about D. with
30. __________ time, you will get a better command of the language.
A. By B. With C. Through D. In
31. She is making that mistake time __________ time.
A. by B. after C. for D. at
32. Don’t be __________ in by his charm – he’s ruthless.
A. let B. put C. taken D. dropped
33. The marriage finally __________ apart after three months.
A. went B. fell C. got D. moved
34. The police have been __________ in to deal with the riot.
A. called B. taken C. put D. pushed
35. It was surprising that all the tickets were __________ out within three hours.
A. got B. let C. fallen D. sold
36. No matter how she tries, she never __________ over her shyness.
A. goes B. gets C. comes D. sees
37. The poor couple who used to live __________ have won 50 million pounds in the lottery.
A. hand to mouth B. with hands down C. hands in glove D. with no brains
38. They had to work very hard to __________ water. They’ve stayed out of debt now.
A. be in deep B. be in hot C. pour cold D. keep their heads above
39. Don’t __________. It is only a minor problem.
A. move mountains B. move a mountain C. trifle with it D make a mountain out of a molehill
40. I put my __________ on the line for you, and you don’t even care.
A. neck B. nose C. head D. ears

PART TWO: CHOOSE THE PART (A, B, C, or D) WHICH NEEDS CORRECTING (10 pts)
1. In case it may rain hard this afternoon, you should take the raincoat with you.
A B C D
2. Almost all people who have seen him play believe that Jordan was an unparalleled genius.
A B C D
3. Your promptly warning helped prevent my wrong investment in that transaction.
A B C D
4. The hardware of that computer was infected by some new viruses.
A B C D
5. He takes after like his father in so many a way that it’s hard to believe.
A B C D

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6. The teaching staff took great pride in the work they had done for the schooling.
A B C D
7. There is a reduction of 10% on the amount of money for buying new books.
A B C D
8. The preservation of old buildings in the city of Hanoi should be taken into the consideration.
A B C D
9. The manager handed in his resignation after having accused of dishonesty.
A B C D
10. The authority praising the bravery of the firemen that had fought to put the fire out.
A B C D

PART THREE: CHOOSE THE WORD (A, B, C, or D) THAT BEST FITS EACH BLANK (30 pts)
PASSAGE ONE
Every day on the radio, on TV, and in the newspapers, we hear, see, or read about many problems in the
world. Because of this, we must think about these problems. We must also try to find (1) __________ to them.
Our lives depend on this. (2) __________, there are pollution problems. Air pollution is the first kind. It
usually comes from fumes (3) __________ from cars, airplanes, and trains. Also, factories (4) __________
waste chemicals, even in the city where many people are living.
The second pollution problem is the water pollution. Many people (5) __________ their living from
fishing in the sea, and the fish they catch (6) __________ many people. Their lives depend on the fish. But the
sea has become so polluted from oil (7) __________ and factory wastes that the fish are (8) __________. This
pollution (9) __________ killing the fish, but is also affecting those people who depend on the sea for a living.
Hardly can you find a place nowadays that is not polluted. This problem is (10) __________ more
serious every day. We must do (11) __________ that makes the world a better place to live in. A good way to
keep these dangerous fumes (12) __________ must be found. Also, programs about pollution should be shown
on TV. When people understand the bad effect of pollution, (13) __________ they will stop doing those things
that make the air or the sea polluted. (14) __________, we should plant trees, which are very useful for the
land. Let’s hope that we can find a way to (15) __________ every problem of pollution in the world.
1. A. appeals B. solutions C. objections D. attitudes
2. A. However B. Therefore C. In short D. For example
3. A. released B. thrown away C. escaped D. transmitted
4. A. throw B. recycle C. dump D. litter
5. A. do B. earn C. try D. find
6. A. accommodate B. please C. feed D. rely on
7. A. drops B. cargos C. barrels D. spills
8. A. killing B. extinct C. endangered D. dead
9. A. isn’t only B. is not barely C. can be hardly D. is not only
10. A. reaching B. growing C. running D. remaining
11. A. something B. action C. measure D. way
12. A. out B. off C. away D. beyond
13. A. and then B. so C. contrarily D. perhaps
14. A. Thus B. Also C. Likely D. Fortunately
15. A. satisfy B. deal with C. cope with D. correct

PASSAGE TWO
Every year about seventeen million animals are used in laboratory (16) __________. But in many
countries today, a difficult question is being asked: Do we have the (17) __________ to use animals this way?
The case for using animals in research
The use of animals in medical research has many practical (18) __________. Animal research has
enabled researcher to develop (19) __________ for many diseases, such as heart diseases and depression. It

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(20) __________ possible to develop vaccines for diseases like smallpox and polio without animal research.
Every drug anyone takes today was (21) __________ first on animals. Future medical research is (22)
__________ on the use of animals. Which is more important: the life of a rat or (23) __________ of a three-
year-old child?
Medical research is also a(n) (24) __________ way of using unwanted animals. Last year, over twelve
million animals had to be killed in animal shelters (25) __________ nobody wanted them as pets.
The case against using animals in research
The fact that humans benefit cannot be used to justify using animals in research any more than it can be
used to justify experimenting on other humans. Animals (26) __________ a lot during these experiments. They
are (27) __________ to live in small cages, and they may be unable to move. Much of the research that is
carried out is unnecessary anyway.
Animals have the same (28) __________ as humans do to be able to move freely and not to have pain or
fear forced on them. Researchers must find other ways of doing their research, using cell culture and computer
modelling. There should be no animals in research laboratories (30) __________.
16. A. assignments B. trials C. experiments D. inspections
17. A. law B. way C. equality D. right
18. A. revenues B. benefices C. benefits D. habits
19. A. treatments B, solutions C. keys D. symptoms
20. A. was not B. wouldn’t be C. might not be D. wouldn’t have been
21. A. tried B. assigned C. conducted D. imposed
22. A. rested B. originated C. relevant D. dependent
23. A. this B. which C. that D. one
24. A. embarrassing B. sickening C. terrifying D. satisfactory
25. A. because B. but C. or D. though
26. A. suffer B. tolerate C. bear D. torture
27. A. asked B. conducted C. aimed D. forced
28. A. done B. undertaken C. carried D. passed
29. A. responsibilities B. truths C. statutes D. rights
30. A. at least B. in least C. at all D. in all

PART FOUR: WORD FORMS (40 pts)

A. Use the correct form of the word to make meaningful sentences
1. I found his lecture completely ___________. I couldn’t understand a word of it. (ACCESS)
2. Petit is ___________. He works independently and his working hours are flexible. (EMPLOY)
3. You’ll need some ___________ paper to clean up that split milk. (ABSORB)
4. ___________ to say, any contributions of money will be gratefully received. (NEED)
5. The two guests who called at the house were ___________ and had good manner. (SPEAK)
6. At his old age a walk into town every morning is enough to ___________ him. (VIGOR)
7. Sulphur dioxide is one of several ___________ that are harmful to our health. (POLLUTE)
8. The team played very ___________, which really upset their fans. (DISAPPOINT)
9. The garden in front of the museum is ___________ with weeds. (GROW)
10. Students should be educated to say “No” to drugs ___________. (HESITATE)
B. Use the correct forms of the words in the box to fill in the blank to make a meaningful passage.
take consider response like weak
irritate agree appear courage environment
A germ-free lifestyle and the Western diet share the (11) ___________ for a 300% increase in child
asthma cases during the past 30 years, say (12) ___________ medicine specialist.
Infections in early childhood may build immunity to asthma, whereas a diet rich in fats could increase
the production of the antibody that causes allergy. Low levels of fruit and vegetable (13) ___________ mean

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that people absorb too little vitamin C and E, (14) ___________ their resistance to (15) ___________ that they
breathe in.
Research shows that the risk of hay fever in children drops (16) ___________ with increasing family
size. (17) ___________, the higher rate of infections among children in larger families acts as a defense against
asthma and hay fever because it (18) ___________ the development of anti-infection cells and slows
production of the asthma inflammation cell. (19) ___________ about the causes of asthma, however, seem (20)
___________ to continue for many years.

PART FIVE: FILL IN EACH BLANK ONE SUITABLE WORD (30 pts)
The United States is an international center of culture. Its major cities (1) ___________ New York,
Boston, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles regularly host many concerts, art exhibitions,
lectures, and theatrical performances. And on a smaller (2) ___________, the same is true of smaller cities.
Some of the world’s greatest museums, orchestras, theaters, and concert halls are (3) ___________ in the
United States. Performances and exhibitions are usually very well (4) ___________. The national and state
governments, as well as (5) ___________ organizations, have traditionally supported the arts with money.
Recently, however, problems in the U.S. economy have (6) ___________ this support.
Though art and "high" culture are important in America, the most popular (7) ___________ of
entertainment and information are television, movies, radio, and recorded music. With cable TV, a lot more
programs are (8) ___________, but many people still complain about the low intellectual (9) ___________ of
TV. They also feel that the emphasis (10) ___________ youth, sex, and money teaches children (and adults) the
wrong values and goals. These criticisms are often made about movies too. But, (11) ___________ the "bad"
movies, many wonderful and internationally successful movies are produced in the U.S.
Most (12) ___________ enjoy sports—both playing sports (13) ___________ and watching their
favorite sports and teams. Major professional sports events—baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, as well
as golf and tennis—are witnessed by tens of thousands of fans, and by millions (14) ___________ on TV. Boys
and girls play on sports teams in school and after school. Many adult Americans regularly (15) ___________ in
sports like tennis, softball, golf, and bowling.

PART SIX: READ THE PASSAGE AND CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER (20 pts)
May 7, 1840 was the birthday of one of the most famous Russian Composers of the nineteenth century:
Peter Illich Tchaikovsky. The son of a mining inspector, Tchaikovsky studied music as a child and later studied
composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His greatest period of productivity occurred between 1876 and
1890, during which time he enjoyed the patronage of Madame von Meck, a woman he never met, who gave
him a living stipend of about $1,000.00 a year. Madame von Meck later terminated her friendship with
Tchaikovsky, as well as his living allowance, when she, herself, was facing financial difficulties. It was during
the time of Madame von Meck’s patronage, however, that Tchaikovsky created the music for which he is most
famous, including the music for the ballets of Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. Tchaikovsky’s music, well
known for its rich melodic and sometimes melancholy passages, was one of the first that brought serious
dramatic music to dance. Before this, little attention had been given to the music behind the dance.
Tchaikovsky died on Nov. 6, 1893, ostensibly of cholera, though there are now some scholars who argue that
he committed suicide.
1. With what topic is the passage primarily concerned?
(A) The life and music of Tchaikovsky
(B) The development of Tchaikovsky’s music for ballets
(C) Tchaikovsky’s relationship with Madame von Meck
(D) The cause of Tchaikovsky’s death
2. Tchaikovsky’s father was most probably __________.
(A) a musician (B) a supervisor (C) a patron (D) a soldier
3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “productivity” in line 3?
(A) fertility (B) affinity (C) creativity (D) maturity

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4. In line 4, the phrase “enjoyed the patronage of” most probably means __________.
(A) liked the company of (B) was mentally attached to
(C) solicited the advice of (D) was financially dependent upon
5. Which of the following could best replace the word “terminated” in line 5?
(A) discontinued (B) resolved (C) exploited (D) killed
6. Which of the following is stated in the passage?
(A) She had economic troubles. (B) She was generous.
(C) She enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s music. (D) She paid frequent visits to Tchaikovsky.
7. According to the passage, for what is Tchaikovsky’s music most well-known?
(A) Its repetitive and monotonous tones (B) The ballet-like quality of the music
(C) The richness and melodic drama of the music (D) Its lively, capricious melodies.
8. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
(A) Tchaikovsky’s influence on ballet music (B) Tchaikovsky’s unhappiness leading to suicide
(C) The patronage of Madame von Meck (D) Tchaikovsky’s productivity in composing
9. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “behind” as used in line 10?
(A) supporting (B) in back of (C) following (D) concealing
10. In line 11, the word “ostensibly could be best replaced by __________.
(A) regretfully (B) tragically (C) assuredly (D) apparently

PART SEVEN: REWRITE THE SENTENCES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MEAN ALMOST THE
SAME AS THOSE PRINTED BEFORE THEM. (30 pts)
1. I wasn’t a bit surprised to hear that Karen had changed her job.
 It came ________________________________________________________________________________.
2. I’m absolutely sure he took the money on purpose.
 He couldn’t possibly _____________________________________________________________________.
3. As soon as the police officer left, the neighbors started shouting again.
 Barely ________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t come?
 You __________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Public opinion was so strong that the Prime Minister had to resign.
 Such __________________________________________________________________________________.
6. I wouldn’t argue with the director now if I were you.
 You’d _________________________________________________________________________________.
7. Would you like me to phone them back?
 Shall __________________________________________________________________________________.
8. “No, you really must stay with us, Mary”, Lyn said.
 Lyn insisted ____________________________________________________________________________.
9. The strong wind blew off the roof of the house.
 The house ______________________________________________________________________________.
10. If you don’t turn that music down, Dad will get angry.
 Before ________________________________________________________________________________.

THE END OF THE TEST

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SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP THÀNH PHỐ LỚP 12 – THPT
TP HỒ CHÍ MINH KHOÁ NGÀY: 28/2/2008 – NĂM HỌC: 2007-2008
------------------------------ MÔN: TIẾNG ANH
ĐÁP ÁN CHÍNH THỨC Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút, không kể thời gian phát đề
Đề thi gồm 6 trang ----------------------------------------------------------------------

PART ONE: CHOOSE THE WORD (A, B, C, or D) THAT BEST FITS EACH BLANK (40 pts)
1. B 9. C 17. C 25. D 33. B
2. D 10. D 18. C 26. D 34. A
3. D 11. B 19. A 27. B 35. D
4. A 12. D 20. B 28. A 36. B
5. A 13. C 21. A 29. C 37. A
6. C 14. A 22. C 30. D 38. D
7. D 15. A 23. D 31. B 39. D
8. A 16. D 24. B 32. C 40. A

PART TWO: CHOOSE THE PART (A, B, C, or D) WHICH NEEDS CORRECTING (10 pts)
1. A 3. A 5. B 7. B 9. D
2. B 4. C 6. D 8. D 10. A

PART THREE: CHOOSE THE WORD (A, B, C, or D) THAT BEST FITS EACH BLANK (30 pts)
PASSAGE ONE
1. B 4. C 7. D 10. B 13. D
2. D 5. B 8. C 11. A 14. B
3. A 6. C 9. D 12. C 15. C
PASSAGE TWO
16. C 19. A 22. D 25. A 28. C
17. D 20. A 23. C 26. A 29. D
18. C 21. A 24. D 27. D 30. C

PART FOUR: WORD FORMS (40 pts)

A. Use the correct form of the word to make meaningful sentences
1. inaccessible 5. well-spoken 9. overgrown
2. self-employed 6. invigorate 10. unhesitatingly
3. absorbent 7. pollutants
4. Needless 8. disappointingly

B. Use the correct forms of the words in the box to fill in the blank to make a meaningful passage.
11. responsibility 15. irritants 19. Disagreements
12. environmental 16. considerably 20. likely
13. intake 17. Apparently
14. weakening 18. encourages

PART FIVE: FILL IN EACH BLANK ONE SUITABLE WORD (30 pts)
1. like/including 6. decreased 11. despite
2. scale 7. sources 12. Americans
3. located 8. available 13. themselves
4. attended 9. level 14. more
5. private 10. on 15. engage

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PART SIX: READ THE PASSAGE AND CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER (20 pts)
1. A 3. C 5. A 7. C 9. A
2. B 4. D 6. A 8. B 10. D

PART SEVEN: REWRITE THE SENTENCES. (30 pts)

1. It came as no surprise to me to hear/when I heard that Karen had changed her job.
2. He couldn’t possibly have taken the money by mistake.
3. Barely had the police officer left when the neighbors started shouting again.
4. You should/ought to have told me you couldn’t come.
5. Such was the strength of public opinion that the Prime Minister had to resign.
6. You’d better not argue with the director now.
7. Shall I phone them back?
8. Lyn insisted that Mary (should) stay/ stayed with them.
OR Lyn insisted on Mary(‘s) staying with us.
9. The house had its/the roof blown off by/in the strong wind.
10. Before Dad gets angry, (you should/had better) turn that music down.

THE END

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