Họ tên TS: ................................ ........................ Số BD: ........................ Chữ ký GT 1: .........................

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH
NINH THUẬN NĂM HỌC 2011 – 2012
Khóa ngày: 17 / 11 / 2011
(Đề chính thức)
Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH - Cấp THPT
Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút
(Không kể thời gian phát đề)

ĐỀ:
(Đề thi gồm 08 trang)
I. LEXICO- GRAMMAR (6/20 points)
Part 1: Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence:
1. What Father said was brief and _____.
A. to the point B. on the point C. up to a point D. in point
2. The illness spread _____ all our attempts at keeping it in check.
A. regardless B. despite C. contrary D. against
3. Do you think I have any chance of ge tting _____ my driving test?
A. over B. through C. off D. with
4. Freda: Do you know our city at all?
Barry: No, it’s the first time I _____ here.
A. have been B. was C. had been D. am coming
5. One of the engineers who _____ over there _____ my uncle.
A. is standing / is B. are standing / is C. are standing / was D. is standing / was
6. He wants a job in _____ he can apply his foreign languages.
A. where B. that C. which D. what
7. Because of the poor harvest, wheat price have _____ in the last six months.
A. grown up B. jumped up C. gone up D. sprung up
8. Sarah: What’s your brother doing now? Has he got _____ good job?
Laura: Yes, he’s _____ soldier. He’s in _____ army.
A. a / a / the B. the / a / the C. a / the / the D. the / a / a
9. I have lived near the railway for so long now that I’ve grown _____ to the noise of the trains.
A. familiar B. accustomed C. unconscious D. aware
10. _____ of our class, I would like to wish you a Happy Teacher’s Day.
A. Instead B. In place C. On account D. On behalf
11. The civil servant _____ his post because he disagreed with the Minister .
A. gave in B. gave out C. gave off D. gave up
12. My brother is a parachute _____.
A. trainer B. teacher C. educator D. instructor
13. This time tomorrow _____ by my swimming pool.
A. I’m relaxing B. I’ll be relaxing C. I relax D. I’m relaxed
14. You thought I did wrong but the results _____ my action.
A. agree B. justify C. prove D. approve

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15. INVITATION CARD: We would like to request the pleasure of your _____.
A. acquaintance B. participation C. arrival D. company
16. ANNOUNCEMENT: Passengers for Rome should _____ to Terminal 3 for boarding.
A. approach B. contact C. proceed D. reach
17. Don’t come to the station to see me _____ . Let’s say goodbye here.
A. for B. out C. off D. in
18. Bob spent fifteen months alone on his yacht. Ann, _____ , took care of the children on her own.
A. meanwhile B. nevertheless C. otherwise D. furthermore
19. On arrival _____ the broadcast station, they were taken to an interview room.
A. at B. in C. to D. from
20. She wasn’t paying attention and crashed ______ a parked car.
A. with B. down C. over D. into

Part 2: The passage below contains 10 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and write their correct forms.
(0) has been done as an example.

(0). marvel marvelous

THE ABC OF COOKING

It’s a marvel idea for children to do some cooking at an early age. Generally (0) marvelous
spoken, most children can’t wait to help in the kitchen and love getting (1) _____
involved on the preparation of their meals. They should be encouraged to do (2) _____
so, and care should be taken to ensure they enjoy the experience. It was (3) _____
important to show them how to do thing correctly but they shouldn’t be (4) _____
criticized too many. Although the finished result may not be quite to your (5) _____
liking, the young cook will undoubtedly find it quiet the tastiest food he or (6) _____
she has never eaten. (7) _____

Kitchens can, of course, be dangerous place and so the absolute importance (8) _____
of keep an eye on children at all times cannot be emphasized too heavily. (9) _____
Sharp knives, for example, should be avoided until children are enough old to (10) _____
handle them safely.

Part 3: Write the correct FORM of e ach bracketed word to fit each space. (0) has been done as an
example.

(0) EXTREME extremely

THE LONDON UNDERGROUND MAP

The London underground map is (0) _____ (EXTREME) well-designed. Simple, easy to
understand and (1) _____ (ATTRACT), it performs its primary task of guiding both inhabitants
and (2) _____ (TOUR) round the underground system in London very well. The man behind this
great (3) _____ (ACHIEVE) was called Henry Beck, an (4) _____ (EMPLOY) of the London
Underground Drawing Office, who designe d the map in 1931. The design of the map showed
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 great (5) _____ (ORIGINAL) because it represented a complex network of (6) _____
COMMUNICATE) clearly. This design was later used by most of the world’s underground
systems.
The map used before 1931 was messy and (7) _____ (CLEAR) So Beck decided to sketch out a
better one using a diagram rather than a (8) _____ (TRADITION) map. This new map was an
enormous (9) _____ (SUCCEED) with the public when, in 1933, it made its (10) _____
(APPEAR) on underground platfo rms and at station entrance.

II. READING (6.5/20 points)

Part 1: Read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C, D best fits each space.
Clean freshwater resources are essential for drinking, bathing, cooking, irrigation, industry, and
for plant and animal (1) ____. Unfortunately, the global supply of freshwater is (2) ____ unevenly.
Chronic water shortages (3) ____ in most of Africa and drought is common over much of the globe.
The (4) ____ of most freshwater supplies - groundwater (water located below the soil surface),
reservoirs, and rivers - are under severe and (5) ____ environmental stress because of overuse, water
pollution, and ecosystem degradation. Over 95 percent of urban sewage in (6) ____ countries is (7)
____ untreated into surface wa ters such as rivers and harbors;

About 65 percent of the global freshwater supply is used in (8) ____ and 25 percent is used in
industry. Freshwater (9) ____ therefore requires a reduction in wasteful practices like (10) ____
irrigation, reforms in agriculture and. industry, and strict pollution controls worldwide.

1. A. survive B. survived C. surviving D. survival

2. A. delivered B. distributed C. provided D. given
3. A. exist B. lie C. show D. stay
4. A. resources B. springs C. sources D. starting
5. A. ascending B. increasing C. growing D. climbing
6. A. growing B. miserable C. poverty D. developing
7. A. discharged B. recharged C. charged D. discharging
8. A. farming B. planting C. agriculture D. growing
9. A. reservation B. conservation C. preservation D. retention
10. A. ineffective B. illogical C. irrational D. inefficient

Part 2: Fill in the blanks with ONE missing word: (10 words / 1 point)

Shades of Meaning

When we decide to choose a colour for anythin g - whether it's a T-shirt or a cover for a mobile
phone - our brains have to work very hard. In order for us to (1) _____ a choice that feels right, the
brain has to process various bit of information.
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 There are various (2) _____ which make each of us lik e or dislike certain colours. Firstly, our
brains consider (3) _____ associations. These are completely personal and are a (4) _____ of our
individual experiences. Particular colours call to mind certain memories which may be connected to a
place, a (5) _____ or an experience. For example, we may associate red with the warmth of a fire or a
(6) _____ childhood sweater. Blue and green may remind us of holidays and (7) _____ weekends in
the country.

Secondly, there is evidence to show that di fferent colours (8) _____ our nervous system in
different way. Red can actually raise the level of adrenaline in our body. This is why energetic people
are drawn to red and also (9) _____sports cars are traditionally this colour. On the other hand, blue
and green are passive colours which have a relaxing (10 ) _____ on the nervous system and attract
people who like to feel completely at ease.

Part 3: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow by choosing A, B, C, or D to indicate
your answer which you think fits best.

Constellations Line
Look at the stars in the night sky. Do some of them seem to form patterns or 1
designs? Can you see animals, people, or objects? These patterns are called 2
constellations. 3
 A) Constellations are not real animals, people, or objects. W e imagine them 4
to help us make a map of the sky. On a dark night, you can see almost 1,500 stars. 5
Trying to distinguish which is which can be difficult. Constellations make it easier for 6
us to identify stars. 7
People began seeing patterns in the stars abou t 6,000 years ago.  B) Three of 8
the first constellations they imagined were a lion, a bull, and a scorpion. In ancient 9
times, farmers used constellations to know which month it was. We can see some 10
constellations only one season each year. Farmers knew it was time to plant when they 11
saw a certain constellation. They knew it was time to harvest when they saw a different 12
one. 13
 C) People in different countries can look at the same constellation and 14
imagine different things. Someone in China might think a co nstellation looks like a 15
dragon. Someone in Australia might think the same pattern is a horse. Each country has 16
its own ideas. Many constellations get their names from the myths of ancient Greece 17
and Rome. A constellation called Aquarius is named after a G reek boy who carried 18
water. A constellation called Taurus is named after a god who came to earth as a bull. 19
Constellations are not stationary. The stars in them are gradually moving. It is difficult 20
to know the boundaries of many constellations. In 1929, I nternational astronomers, 21
scientists who study stars, agreed on official boundaries for the 88 constellations that 22
exist today.  D) 23
However, by the time your children grow up, these boundaries could change. 24
We might also find new constellations. We will always use our imaginations to help 25
understand the world around us. 26

1. According to the passage, about how many constellations exist today?

A. 90 B. 100 C. 1,500 D. 6,000

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2. All of the following are true EXCEPT that _____.
A. constellations have a long history B. scientists agree on constellation boundaries
C. constellations are groups of stars D. constellations never change
3. This passage mainly discusses _____.
A. the names of constellations B. the history of constellations
C. how to see constellations C. Greek and Roman myths
4. What does the word "which" in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Constellations B. Maps C. People D. Stars
5. In paragraph 3, the word "one" in the last sentence refers to a _____.
A. farmer B. star C. season D. constellation
6. Based on information in paragraph 2, we can infer that _____.
A. there are only 1,500 stars
B. we can see different numbers of stars depending on how bright the moon is
C. all constellations are animals
D. we need a map of the sky to see the stars
7. Based on the information in paragraph 3, what can we infer about ancient farmers?
A. They were not very intelligent. B. They did not have calendars.
C. They worked very hard. D. They grew food.
8. As used in paragraph 3, what is the meaning of the word "ancient"?
A. Old B. Modern C. Prehistoric D. Good
9. The word "boundaries" as used in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. Dimensions B. Properties C. Borders D. Shapes

10. Look at the four squares that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage:
Some of these constellations were the same ones as recognized in ancient times.

Where would the sentence best fit? Choos e the square [] where the sentence should be added
to the passage.
A. line 4 B. line 8 C. line 14 D. line 23

Part 4: Read the following passage and do the tasks below.

Paragraph 0: __________
The need for a satisfactory education is more important t han ever before. Nowadays, without a
qualification from a reputabl e school or university, the chances of landing that highly desired job
advertised in the paper are considerably lessened . Moreover, one's present level of education could fall
well short of future career requirements.

Paragraph 1: __________
It is no secret that competition is the driving force behind the need to obtain increasingly higher
qualifications. In the majority of cases, the urge to upgrade is no longer the result of an insatiable thirst
for knowledge. The pressure is coming from within the workplace to compete with ever more qualified
job applicants, and in many occupations one must now battle with colleagues in the reshuffle for the
position one already holds.

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Paragraph 2: __________
Striving to become better educated is hardly a new concept. Wealthy parents have always been willing
to spend the vast amounts of extra money necessary to send their children to schools with a perceived
educational edge. Working adults have long attend ed night schools and refresher courses. Competition
for employment has been around since the curse of working for a living began. Is the present situation
so very different to that of the past?
Paragraph 3: __________
The difference now is that the push is universal and from without as well as within. A student at a
comprehensive school receiving low grades is no longer as easily accepted by his or her peers as was
once the case. Similarly, in the workplace, unless employees are engaged in part -time study, they may
be frowned upon by their employers and peers and have difficulty even standing still. In fact, in these
cases, the expectation is for careers to go backwards and earning capacit y to take a noticeably large
drop.
Paragraph 4: __________
At first glance, the situation would seem to be laudable; a positive response to the encouragement of
politicians for us all to raise our intellectual standards and help improve the level of intelligence
within the community. Yet there are serious consequences according to at least one educational
psychologist. Dr. Brendan Gatsby has caused some controversy in academic circles by suggesting that
a bias towards what he terms 'paper excellence' might cause more p roblems than it is supposed to
solve. Gatsby raises a number of issues that affect the individual as well as society in general.
Paragraph 5: __________
He believes the extra workload involved is resulting in abnormally high stress levels in both students
at comprehensive schools and adults studying after working hours. Secondly, skills which might be
more relevant to the undertaking of a sought -after job are being overlooked by employers not
interviewing candidates without qualifications on paper. These tw o areas of concern for the individual
are causing physical as well as emotional stress.
Paragraph 6: __________
Naturally, although there is agreement that learning can cause stress, Gatsby's comments regarding
university standards have been roundly critic ised as alarmist by most educationists who point out that,
by any standard of measurement, Britain's education system overall, at both secondary and tertiary
levels, is equal to that of any in the world.

MATCHING HEADINGS: Match the headings given from A -H to the paragraphs in the text.
The first paragraph has been done for you . (The headings outnumber the paragraphs, so you
will not use all of them).

Paragraph 0: C: The value of education in securing employment.

A: Pressure to perform well at school and continue study while working.

B: Questions raised concerning the over -emphasis placed on paper qualifications.
C: The value of education in securing employment.
D: Competition in the workplace increasing the need for higher qualifications.
E: Doubts as to whether competition is a modern phenomenon.
F: Reaction to criticism of perceived bias towards paper qualifications.
G: Causes of concern for the individual.
H: Positive response to the urging of educationalists to increase learning.

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1. Paragraph 1: __________
2. Paragraph 2: __________
3. Paragraph 3: __________
4. Paragraph 4: __________
5. Paragraph 5: __________
6. Paragraph 6: __________

Write T if the statement is true according to the passage; F if the statement is not true, and NG if
the information is not given in the passage.
7. There are social consequences of the push for further education. ______
8. The word ‘bias’ in paragraph 4 means ‘certificate’. ______
9. The writer highly appreciates Britain’s education system . ______

III. WRITING (7.5/20 points)

Part 1: Sentence transformation:
A. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar in meaning as possible
to the original sentence, using exactly the words given:

Example: Immediately after winning the race, Sandy began training for the next one. (HAD)
- No sooner had Sandy won the race than she began training for the next one.

1. Susan regrets not buying that house. (WISHES)

................................................................................................................................................
2. There is no ice-cream left. (RUN)
................................................................................................................................................
3. Everyone thought the book was written by the prin cess herself. (HAVE)
.....................................................................................................................................................
4. You are not to leave the hospital under any circumstances. (NO)
.....................................................................................................................................................
5. I can't lift this table on my own. (UNLESS)
........................................................................... ..........................................................................

B. Finish each of the sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence
printed before it.
1. “Please don’t drive too fast!” Kathleen told her boyfriend.
- Kathleen begged ...................................................................................................................
2. How long has this roof been leaking ?
- When .................................................................................................................................... ?
3. Provided your handwriting is legible, the examiners will accept your paper.
- So long as the examiners .................................................................. ....................... .................
4. As one grows older one becomes more intolerant.
- The older .............................................................................................................................
5. Although his mother advised him, he didn’t give up gambling.
- Despite his ............................................................................................................................

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Part 2:

A. Describing graphs:

The bar chart below presents some information about visitor arrivals in Singapore from USA,
France and Australia in 2009 and 2010 . Write a report describing the information shown below .
(You should write about 120 words )

VISITOR ARRIVALS IN SINGAPORE

880.6
900 830.3

800

700

600

500 417.2
370.7
400

300

200 119.7 130.5

100

0
2009 2010

USA 370.7 417.2

France 119.7 130.5
Australia 830.3 880.6

(Source: Yearbook of Statistics Singapore, 2011)

B. Composition:
Write a composition of about 280 words on the following topic.

Using a computer everyday can have more negative than positive effects on young
children.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge o r
experience.

THE END

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 Điểm bằng số Điểm bằng chữ Chữ ký G.khảo Chữ ký G.khảo Số phách Số T.tự Bài thi

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TỈNH
NINH THUẬN NĂM HỌC 2013 – 2014
Khóa ngày: 10 / 11 / 2013
(Đề chính thức)
Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH - Cấp THPT
(Đề thi gồm 9 trang/ 20 điểm) Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút
(Không kể thời gian phát đề)
SECTION I: LISTENING
HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
 Bài nghe gồm 3 phần, mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 15 giây, mở đầu và kết
thúc mỗi phần nghe có tín hiệu.
 Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có tín hiệu nhạc. Thí sinh có 2 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước tín
hiệu nhạc kết thúc bài nghe.
 Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh (bằng tiếng Anh) đã có trong bài nghe.
Part 1: You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best
answer (A, B or C) and write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. You overhear two people talking about a disagreement. What feeling does the woman express?
A. willingness to discuss the matter again
B. regret at what she said
C. annoyance at what happened
2. You hear a football supporter talking about a player. What is his opinion of the player?
A. He's getting better.
B. He's not as good as he was.
C. He's never been very good.
3. You overhear a college administrator talking on the phone about a lesson. What does she tell the
caller?
A. The cost of one lesson will be refunded.
B. The lesson will happen at a later date.
C. A different teacher will take the lesson.
4. You hear a man talking about a company. Who is the speaker?
A. a manager at the company
B. a business journalist
C. a worker at the company
5. You hear a man and a woman discussing a social arrangement. What is the woman's purpose?
A. to find out information
B. to change the arrangement
C. to avoid going
6. You hear someone on the radio talking about recycling. What is the speaker's main topic?
A. problems associated with recycling
B. why recycling is necessary
C. the amount of recycling that is happening
7. You overhear two people talking in an airport waiting area. What is the situation?
A. They're going on a business trip.
B. They're going to live in another country.
C. They're going on holiday.
8. You hear a man talking about a phone call. What does he say about the call?
A. It took longer than it should have taken.
B. He was told something surprising during it.
C. He had not expected the call.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

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 Điểm bằng số Điểm bằng chữ Chữ ký G.khảo Chữ ký G.khảo Số phách Số T.tự Bài thi

Part 2: For questions 9-13, complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
AND / OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Type of group: Non-profit
Frequency of newspaper collection: 9. ..........................................
Name: 10. .........................................
Address: 11. .........................................
Email: 12. .........................................
Postcode: 13. .........................................

For questions 14-18, complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each
answer.

Recycling
Ways of recycling Newspaper: in a (14) ................................... box
Nearest rubbish collection centre On the East Side of (15) .................................
Blue box: (16) ..................................................
Rubbist that can be recycled Green box: glass and plastics
Yellow box: paper
Rubbist that can be recycled (17) ...................................................................

Name of a booklet (18) .................................................................

Part 3: For questions 19-25, you will hear a girl called Tricia Simpkins talking at a public meeting
about a plan to create a nature reserve in the centre of a large city. Choose the best answer (A, B or C)
19. How did Tricia once feel about the countryside?
A. She preferred it to the city. B. She paid no attention to it.
C. She wanted others to experience it.
20. Why did Tricia take part in a wildlife survey?
A. She was required to do it. B. She preferred it to being in school.
C. She was asked to do it by her neighbours.
21. What does Tricia say about the results of the survey?
A. They were unsatisfactory. B. They were confusing. C. They were unexpected.
22. What does Tricia say about the problems created by trees?
A. People exaggerate them. B. People ignore them. C. People accept them.
23. According to Tricia, what is wrong with the trees the council is planting?
A. They are expensive to replace. B. They fail to attract wildlife. C. They are too small for the area.
24. What used to happen in the wasteland at the end of Tricia's street?
A. Dog owners used to go there. B. People used to leave rubbish there.
C. Children used to play there.
25. What is Tricia's suggestion for the new nature reserve?
A. to allow the planting of trees B. to protect it from visitors C. to let it go wild
Your answers:
19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

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 Điểm bằng số Điểm bằng chữ Chữ ký G.khảo Chữ ký G.khảo Số phách Số T.tự Bài thi

SECTION II: LEXICO- GRAMMAR:

Part 1: Choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) to each of the following questions and write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. Tickets are required for admission. __________, those who don’t have a ticket won’t get in.
A. Consequently B. Rather C. Similarly D. Subsequently
2. Good morning, gentlemen. __________ of you is first in line?
A. Whose B. Who C. Whom D. Which
3. __________ real work was done in the office while the boss was away.
A. Not a B. Not any C. No D. None
4. Something __________ happened or they would be here now.
A. must B. must have C. must be D. must have been
5. Owning to the bad weather, the garden party was __________.
A. called off B. shouted out C. spoken against D. cried down
6. We hadn’t __________ such heavy traffic, and we were delayed for hours.
A. gone in for B. bargained for C. set about D. work out
7. Medeleine struggled for a long time before she finally __________ to free herself.
A. succeeded B. achieved C. enabled D. managed
8. Becky: Was the Minister’s speech interesting? Sidney: Yes, at first, but it was __________ long.
A. too much B. too far C. far too D. so much
9. Adela: Shall we stay at home or go for a walk? Mike: Which __________ do yourself?
A. do you rather B. would you rather C. will you rather D. did you rather
10. We’re fighting __________ to finish the job for you before the end of the week.
A. in time B. on time C. by the time D. against time
Your answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: Write the correct FORM of each bracketed word in the numbered space provided in each
column on the right. (0) has been done as an example.
Lesotho
Lesotho is a small (0. DEPEND) ___ nation in the middle of southern Africa. 0. independent
The (11. KING) _____ of Lesotho lies more than 1,000 meters above sea 11. __________
level. With its wild (12. SPOIL) _____ landscapes, it has a paradise for 12. __________
nature lovers and outdoor (13. ENTHUSIASM) _____, and also offers the 13. __________
opportunities for visitors to gain (14. PRACTICE) _____ experience of 14. __________
Africa culture. This is particularly true in the rural areas, where distinctive 15. __________
and (15. COLOUR) _____ traditions of the country are still very alive.

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 Điểm bằng số Điểm bằng chữ Chữ ký G.khảo Chữ ký G.khảo Số phách Số T.tự Bài thi

Part 3: The passage below contains 5 mistakes. Underline the mistakes and write their correct words /forms
in the spaces provided in the column on the right. (0) has been done as an example.

These days it's not just television which is having the blame for turning the 0. taking
nation into mindless couch potatoes. According to a recent report, the nation's
16. __________
11- to 15-year-olds now spend about average 52 hours a week in front of a
screen, whether it's the TV or the computer, and doctors and teachers are
17. __________
increasing worried about the effects. Sitting about watching TV or video
games, instead of taking exercise, has clearly played its parts in the rise in the 18. __________
number of seriously overweight children. Experts also believe that as a result
of their exposure to fast-moving visual images, many children no longer 19. __________
believe it possible to focus on reading, or sit still and pay attention in the
classroom. Now these experts are saying that it is back to parents to help 20. __________
teenagers cut down on TV and computer use, and make sure that they spend
equal amounts of time on other activities.

SECTION III: READING

Part 1: You are going to read an article about a London tour guide. For questions 1-8, choose the
answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the
numbered boxes.
The best kind of know-it-all
There is an art to being a good tour guide and Martin Priestly knows what it is.
It's obvious that the best way to explore a city is with a friend who is courteous, humorous, intelligent
and - this is essential - extremely well-informed. Failing that, and if it is London you are visiting, then
the next best thing may well be Martin Priestly, former university lecturer, now a guide, who seems to
bring together most of the necessary virtues and who will probably become a friend as well.
Last spring, I took a trip around London with him, along with a party of Indian journalists.
Accustomed to guides who are occasionally excellent but who often turn out to be arrogant, repetitive
and sometimes bossy, I was so struck by Priestly's performance that I sought him out again to see, if I
could, just how the trick was done.
This time the tour was for a party of foreign students, aged anything between 20 and 60, who were
here to improve their English, which was already more than passable. As the ‘tourists’ gathered, Martin
welcomed them with a kind of dazzled pleasure, as if he had been waiting for them with excitement
and a touch of anxiety, now thankfully relieved. I have to say, all this seemed absolutely genuine.
Then we got on the coach and we were off. Martin sat in front, not in the low-level guide's seat, but up
with the group, constantly turning round to make eye contact, to see if they understood him. Soon
we're in a place called Bloomsbury, famous among writers in the early 20th century. ‘Bloomsbury is
famous for brains,’ says Martin, getting into his stride. ‘It's a very clever place. It's not very
fashionable but it's very clever’. Soon after, we pass the British Museum and Bedford Square, ‘a great
architectural showpiece’, advises Martin. The comment prompted questions which led to a
conversation about building, the part played by wealthy people and how big chunks of London still
belonged to them - an issue which was to re-emerge later. This was how he liked to work: themes,
introduced as if spontaneously, were laid down for subsequent discussion.

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Suddenly the coach stopped and it was over, two and a half hours of non-stop performance, with
information, observation and humour. Martin says encouragingly, ‘I do hope you enjoy London.’
We go to a nearby cafe to talk. Why, I asked, had he become a guide? ‘Well, I used to organise a lot of
courses at the university I worked for. It was line 50 quite stressful. But I had shown students around
London and I enjoyed that. It seemed an obvious move to make. 1 did the London Tourist Board's Blue
Badge course - two evenings a week for two years. That was tough, especially the exam in what is
known as "coaching". You're taught to smile but everybody had difficulty with that in the exam, when
you have other things to worry about. You have to do it backwards in the coach, desperately casting
your eyes about to see what is coming next, and you're facing the tutors and the other trainees.’
‘And you have to know so much to guide well, different places, all kinds of architecture, agriculture.
What if somebody asks a question about a crop beside the road? But some of it sticks, you know ...
eventually.’ He also tells me he keeps himself up to date with radio, TV and newspapers.
There are several hundred other guides out there, all looking for a share of the work. I think, as we
talk, that I am starting to understand why good guides are so rare. It's a great deal harder than it looks,
and it demands, for every stretch of road, an even longer stretch of study and forethought.

1. What do we learn about Martin in the first paragraph?

A. He has two educational roles. B. He is a colleague of the writer.
C. His job is an extension of his hobby. D. His job suits his personality.
2. The writer decided to meet Martin again to find out how he managed to
A. win custom from other tour guides. B. entertain large and varied tour groups.
C. avoid the failings of many other tour guides. D. encourage people to go back to him for another tour.
3. The writer notes that on meeting the tour group, Martin
A. greeted everyone warmly. B. seemed as nervous as everyone else.
C. praised everyone for their prompt arrival. D. checked that everyone could understand him.
4. Martin's approach to guiding is to
A. begin with the oldest buildings. B. encourage tourist participation.
C. move around the coach as he talks. D. find out how much visitors know first.
5. What does ‘It’ in paragraph 6 refer to?
A. showing students around London B. performing in front of a group
C. becoming a guide D. arranging courses
6. Martin says that the ‘coaching’ exam is difficult because
A. there is so much to think about. B. you have to smile in different ways.
C. it has so many sections. D. you have to cover different routes.
7. In paragraph 7, what does ‘some of it sticks’ mean?
A. Some facts are up to date. B. Some information is remembered.
C. Some questions are answered. D. Some lessons are revised.
8. In the last paragraph, the writer says he is impressed by
A. the distances Martin covers on his tours. B. the quantity of work available for tour guides.
C. the amount of preparation involved in Martin's job. D. the variety of approaches taken to guiding.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

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Part 2: Read the text and choose the correct heading for sections 9—15 from the list of headings below.
There are more extra headings which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the numbered boxes.

A. Consult your teacher B. Take a break C. Make a timetable

D. Create a working space E. Sit comfortably F. Study at home
G. Talk about your work H. Photocopy important material I. Catalogue references
J. Use the library K. Prioritise your work L. Exercise regularly
SELF-STUDY-TIPS
0 C
However difficult you find it to arrange your time, it will pay off in the long run if you set aside a
certain part of the day for studying — and stick to it. It is best to make a weekly allocation of your
time, making sure that you have enough left for recreational activities or simply to be ‘with’ yourself:
reading a novel or watching a television programme.
9
As part of your weekly schedule, it is also advisable to consider exactly what you have to do in that
week, and make sure that you tackle the most significant tasks, first, leaving the easier or less urgent
areas of your work until later.
10
On a physical level, make sure that you have an area or space for studying. Don't do it just anywhere.
If you always study in the same place, preferably a room of your own, you will find it easier to adjust
mentally to the activity when you enter that area. You should have everything that you might need at
hand.
11
Make sure that all the physical equipment that you use, such as a desk, chair etc. is at a good height for
you. If you use a personal computer, there are plenty of guidelines available from the government on
posture, angles, lighting and the like. Consult these and avoid the typical student aches and pains.
12
If you are doing a long essay or research paper which involves the use of library books or other
articles, it helps to keep details of the titles and authors on small cards in a card box. It is also a good
idea to log these alphabetically so that you can find them easily— rather like keeping telephone
numbers. It's all too easy to read something and then forget where it came from.
13
Make use of equipment that is available to you. If you find a useful article in the library, it is best to
make a copy of the relevant pages before you leave. Then, when you get back to your study, you can
mark the article and make any comments that you have in the margin.
14
If you are working on a topic your teacher has set, but finding it hard to concentrate, it may be that you
actually need to take your mind right off it for a period of time. 'Airing the mind' can work wonders
sometimes. After a period away from the task, having not thought about it at all, you may return to it
refreshed and full of ideas.
15
Similarly, it may help to discuss a topic with other people, especially if you feel that you have
insufficient ideas, or too many disorganised ideas. Bring your topic up in conversations at meal times
or with other students and see what they have to say. You don't want to copy their ideas but listening to
what they think about something may well help you develop or refine your own thoughts.
Your answers:
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

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Part 3: For questions 16-25, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only ONE word in each gap. Write your answers in the corresponding boxes provided below the
passage.
The Best Books
Are there 1,000 books that all of us should read sometime in our lives? Throughout this year, we will
be recommending a collection of books that, when taken as a whole, will form a (16) _____ of 1,000
titles that will inspire and satisfy (17) _____ kind of reader imaginable. Book lists appear from time to
time, often arousing controversy (18) _____ being too elitist or too populist. But our list is the result of
consultations with bookbuyers and booksellers, people who know and love books.
Currently, there are well over a million books in print. Add to these another 100,000 books (19) _____
each year and the choice for readers becomes bewildering, (20) _____ certain books, both classics and
contemporary works, stand out. While our list doesn't identify classics in the traditional sense, many of
the (21) _____ included are considered to be classic books. The list aims to make the (22) _____ aware
of what is available that is stimulating, rewarding and inspiring. How else does one learn about a good
read other (23) _____ by enthusiastic recommendation?
This month we are highlighting fifty books from the area of business and reference. These fifty titles
represent the perfect business and reference library for your needs, whether personal or (24) _____.
Our selection will help you to expand and enhance your understanding of today's fast-changing world
of business.
Look out for next month's fifty choices, (25) _____ will take you a step nearer completion of your
1,000- book library.

Your answers:

16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

SECTION IV: WRITING

Part 1: For questions 1-5, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. DO NOT change the word given. You must use between two and six
words, including the word given.
1. The match will be played tomorrow unless it rains.
 The match will be played tomorrow as ………………………………… any rain. (LONG)
2. “It was Peter who left the door unlocked!” said Daisy. (ACCUSED)
 Daisy …………………………………………………………… the door unlocked.
3. John only lost his way because he’d forgotten his map. (LOST)
 If John hadn’t forgotten his map, ………………………………………… his way.
4. It is thought that one in every five people cannot control how much they spend. (UNABLE)
 One in every five people is ……………………………… their spending under control.
5. Would you mind helping me carry this heavy box to the car? (GRATEFUL)
 This box is really heavy so I’d …………………………… help me carry it to the car.

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Part 2: The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and
2040 in three different countries.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisions
where relevant. Write about 150 words.

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Part 3: Write about the following topic (about 250 words):

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language
at primary school rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. (Do not include your personal information).

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THE END