SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TỈNH QUẢNG NINH ĐỀ ĐỀ XUẤT DUYÊN HẢI LẦN THỨ X

TRƯỜNG THPT CHUYÊN HẠ LONG MÔN: TIẾNG ANH - KHỐI 11

Thời gian: 180 phút
Đề thi gồm: 15 trang
(Thí sinh viết câu trả lời vào bảng cho sẵn trong
đề)

Điểm Giám khảo 1 Giám khảo 2 Số phách

Bằng số Bằng chữ

A. LISTENING (50 points)

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 3 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 part of a radio interview with an economist. For questions 1-5, choose the answer
(A, B. C or D), which fits best according to what you hear. (10 pts)
1. According to the Fawcett Society,
A. women would need to work into their eighties to earn as much money as men.
B. good qualifications aren’t necessarily rewarded with high wages.
C. women will never earn as much as men.
D. more women have degrees than men.
2. What is said about careers advice in schools?
A. It has been improved but it is still inadequate.
B. It is now quite good for girls but boys are being neglected.
C. There is no advice for girls that are ambitious.
D. Girls are always encouraged not to be ambitious.
3. According to Jim,
A.women are to blame for not insisting on higher wages.
B. new government policies have solved most of the problems.
C. there is nothing more the government can do.
D. women shouldn’t necessarily be encouraged to change their choice of career.
4. A London School of Economics report showed that
A. women who worked part-time found it difficult to get a full-time job later on.
B. after having children, women find it harder to earn as much money as men.
C. women find it hard to find a job after having children.
D. most women want a full-time job after having a child.

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5. What does the “stuffed shirt” policy mean?
A. Women are being forced to choose between family commitments and work.
B. Only men can have part-time senior positions.
C. Women don't get the opportunity to train for high-powered jobs.
D. No woman can have a senior position.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 2. You will hear two students, Bella and Tom, discussing an article they have read about a woman
astronaut. For questions 1-5, decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F). (10 pts)
1. The speakers agree that being an astronaut is an unexpected job for woman.
2. Bella particularly admires the astronaut Ellen Ochoa because of her determination to fulfil a childhood
dream.
3. Tom was surprised to learn that people who want to become astronauts should have experience as
aeroplane pilots.
4. Bella thinks the most interesting part of Ellen’s life is coping with unexpected problems.
5. Tom and Bella both now decide to go to some talks on space travel in films and literature.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 3. Listen to a talk about MANHAM PORT and answer the following questions (10 pts)

1. Where should visitors start their visit?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. Who shouldn’t be taken into the mine?
………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………….
3. Where should visitors visit next?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. What is the name of the beautiful old sailing ketch near the school?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. By whom was the ship’s wheel dredged out of the silt?
…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………..
Part 4. You will hear a report about the 11-plus exam in Britain. For question 1-10, complete the
sentences. (20 pts)
Studying for the 11- plus exam
According to experts, the (1) ___________________ of children does not significantly help them to pass
exams.
Engish grammar schools receive (2) _________________________ on average for every place where they
have.
Headteachers warned this week that the practice could be damaging (3) __________________ and risks
undermining academic performance later in school life.
Mike Walker says that the 11-plus questions are (4) _________________________.
Every year approximately (5) _________________________ children take the 11-plus exam.
According to a recent study, grammar schools tend to have more children from fairly wealthy families
than children from (6) _______________________ backgrounds.

In schools that aren’t grammar schools, 12 per cent of children receive (7) _________________________.
The number of children being tutored to pass the 11-plus has been (8) ______________________by the
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 growth in websites offering coaching for children.

You have to pay nearly £300 in extra costs for (9) _____________________ for the internet tutoring
course.
Opinions on the effectiveness of courses as preparation for the 11-plus exam are (10) ________________.

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

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

B. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (30 points)

Part 1: Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C or D) which best completes each sentence. (10 pts)
1. She was in the office all of Wednesday and so has a ___________ alibi.
A. stale B. considerable C. broad D. cast-iron
2. When the right opportunity comes___________, she'll take it.
A. up with B. in for C. along D. by
3. Her dishonety served as a ____________ to the speedy termination of her employment.
A. catastrophe B. catharsis C. catalepsy D. catalyst
4. In his speech he made a flattering ______ to your work.
A. allusion B. appetite C. application D. applause
5. If we _________ over the details, we’ll never finish filming this episode by today.
A. niggle B. discuss C. huddle D. mob
6. The camel has adapted to survive in an _____________ environment like the desert for many days
without water.
A. acidic B. alkaline C. arid D. avid
7. My manager is a typical working mother who has to deal with ___________ activities every day.
A. miscellaneous B. multifarious C. many D. manifold
8. He'll have to buckle ________ to his work  soon if he wants to pass his finals.
A. up B. in C. down D. for
9. He spoke well though it was his _________ speech.
A. first-hand B. maiden C. slurred D. prime
10. In his ___________days he was quite dandy.
A. salad B. green C. fruit D. vegetable
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: Identify 5 errors in the following passage and correct them, (0) has been done as an example.
(5 pts)
Lin HAPPY WOMEN
e
0 A survey has found just one per cent of young women are ‘completely happy’ to the shape of
1 their body. Over 3,000 women, at an average age of 25, responded to the survey on newwomanco.uk,
2 the website of a British women’s magazine. Nearly al the respondents wished they were thinner, no
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3 matter how weight they were, and most were unhappy with their shape. Eighty per cent believed slim
4 women were more attractive to men and 58% thought they had more success in their careers.
5 Interestingly, the survey revealed that women were much more likely than men to criticise other
6 women and put pressure on them to have a ‘perfect body’. Asking who was most likely to criticise,
7 85% of respondents said other women, while just 15% said men. Lorraine Eames, editor of
8 newwoman.co.uk, said, ‘Women are their own worst enemies when it comes to how they feel about
9 their bodies. The truth is, men are happy with the way we are - it’s the women who point out our
10 flaws. It’s time we did ourselves a favour and let go of the attainable ‘perfect’ body dream and
11 celebrated the female form in all its uniqueness.’
12 Commenting on the survey results, a female GP and an eating disorder specialist both pointed out
13 that the media contributes to women’s poor body image by giving so much attention to actresses and
14 models who look as if they were famine victims, and said they would rather women’s magazines
15 didn’t present such thin models as images of female perfection.

Your answer:
Line Mistake Correction
0 to with

Part 3. Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition or particle. (5 pts)
1. I need a few days to mull things _______________ before I decide.
2. The project is being held_______________abeyance until agreement is reached on funding it.
3. I'm putting _______________a job at the hospital.
4. He's bearing _______________ well under the strain of losing his job.
5. Jobs are hard to come _______________ these days.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 4. Complete the following sentences with the words given in the brackets. You have to change the
form of the word. (10 pts)
A Great Staycation
Holidays at home are usually a last (1.COURSE) ____________________ when all other options have
been ruled out for one reason or another, but, in these tough times when money is perhaps tighter than ever
before, the grim (2. REAL) __________________ that the stay-at-home vacation may be the only realistic
(3.ALTER) ________________ is one that more and more of us are faced with.
However, this does not have to mean a (4.MISERY) __________________ time in the same old
(5.ROUND) __________________ you are in for the other 355-odd days of the year. For those willing to
think outside the box a little, there are, in fact, a (6. MULTIPLE) _________________ of possibilities
that should be explored.
Ever thought about a house swap, for example? The house swap is ultimatr holiday (7. RECEDE)
________________ buster. And there are now websites on which (8. MIND) _________________
individuals, couples and families looking to get a flavour of the life lived in some else’s home can hook up
and start house swapping.

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 Okay, so it’s not the two weeks in Gran Canaria you might have hoped for, but staying in someone else’s
(9. RESIDE) ___________________ for a few days at least, whether it be ten, fifty or one hundred miles
away, sure beats (10. SLOUCH) ____________________ around at home on your sofa.
Your answer
1. 3. 5. 7. 9.
2. 4. 6. 8. 10.
C. READING (60 points)
Part 1: For questions 1–10, read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits
each gap. Write your answers in corresponding numbered boxes. (10 pts)
Gerard Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet
When Gerard Mercator was born in 1512, the geography of the globe still (0)___ remained______a
mystery. It was unclear whether America was part of Asia, if there was a vast (1) _________of sea at the top
of the world or if Australia was connected to Antarctica.
Mercator’s childhood was spent chiefly in Rupelmonde, a Flemish trading town on the river, and it
was here that his geographical imagination was (2) _________by the ships which passed to and from the rest
of the world. Alongside imagination, he developed two very different skills. The first was the ability to
gather, (3) _________and co-ordinate the geographical information provided by explorers and sailors who
frequented the margins of the known. He also had to be able to imagine himself (4) _________from the
heavens, to achieve the visionary (5) _________of gods in the skies, (6) _________ down on the world. The
main reason why Mercator’s name is familiar to us is because of the Mercator Projection: the solution he
(7)_________to represent the spheroidal surface of the globe on a two-dimensional plane. It is less well
known that Mercator was the first man to conceive of mapping the (8) _________surface of the planet or
that he (9) _________the idea of multiple maps being presented in bound books, to which he gave the name
‘Atlas’.
It is difficult for us now to be surprised by maps, so many are there, and of such detail and coverage,
but we should bear in mind that Mercator lived at a time when such knowledge was far from (10)
_________. He was the man who altered our worldview for ever.
0. A. remained B. continued C. maintained D. endured
1. A. territory B. distance C. range D. expanse
2. A. raised B. reared C. supplied D. nourished
3. A. congregate B. amass C. assimilate D. construct
4. A. suspended B. located C. situated D. attached
5. A. inspection B. observation C. perspective D. assessment
6. A. glimpsing B. scutinizing C. watching D. gazing
7. A. invented B. contrived C. devised D. schemed
8. A.sheer B. full C. entire D. utter
9. A. pioneered B. initiated C. lead D. prepared
10. A. typical B. common C. routine D. normal
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Part 2: For questions 1-10, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only
one word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0). (10 pts)
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 Karaoke fever

Karaoke is fast (0)____becoming_____ the nation’s Number One party pastime. Public humiliation
has (1)_________ been so fashionable. It’s 1 a.m. at an exclusive location in the heart of London. A major
pop singer has taken the stage but rather than sing her latest hit, she treats the crowd (2)_________ a
Michael Jackson song. What was (3) _________ the party habit of teenagers is now favoured by London’s
coolest crowd and everyone is having a (4) _________. So why are so many of our young celebrities
queueing up to make fools of (5) _________ in clubs and bars across the country? Maybe it’s because (6)
_________ out a naff pop song to a public audience shows that even though you may be a celebrity, you
don’t (7) _________ yourself too seriously. And if you are a big movie star, that’s a good message to get
across. Nobody gets away without being laughed (8) _________ on a karaoke evening, no matter how
famous they are. (9) _________ all, that’s the whole point of the exercise. But for the musical experts among
you, a word of warning: this isn’t about proving to the world that you know all the lyrics to a serious song.
It’s about expressing your inner performer. Don’t bother (10) _________ up at a karaoke night if you aren’t
prepared to sing; you’ve got to put in the effort and prove that you are one of the ‘in-crowd’. Break a leg!

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

Part 3: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (15 pts)
Solving Deforestation problems
As more and more countries around the globe move towards industrialization in an attempt to compete in
the global market, an environmental crisis over deforestation --- the cutting down, burning and general
damaging of forests --- is looming for mankind. Over the last several decades, environmental specialists
have proposed various strategies aimed at slowing down this process of deforestation in developing
countries. Many of these proposals are indeed valuable ideas in that they are realistic attempts to address
some of the causes of deforestation, such as farming, cattle ranching, and commercial logging. All of them
rely on government involvement of some kind.
There are three broad categories of solutions: state economic policies, internal agreements, and
international programs. ■ A) Economic policies generally attempt to limit the activity of small farmers
through government actions. ■ B) Government actions can include the clear and proper definition and
enforcement of property rights, meaning that squatting, or illegally settling on land, would be more difficult.
■ C) Subsidies can be used to encourage conservation. That is, money may be paid to supplement the
income of those farmers who make an effort to reduce the usual amount of damage to the forest that their
farms cause. In addition, taxes can act as a deterrent to undesirable land use. ■ D) For example, certain
kinds of agriculture, like the slash-and-burn method, as well as cattle ranching, may be taxed to discourage
these activities.
An internal agreement may be made between governments and indigenous or native people living in the
moist rainforests and open woodlands of the tropics, where the vast majority of this deforestation is
occurring. Such an agreement would allow people to carry on traditional activities adapted for some
economic benefit. One example is the rubber-tappers in Brazil. These native people draw sap from rubber
trees in the rainforest, without damaging or killing the trees. The sap, in turn, is sold to rubber companies,
thereby providing the native people with economic benefits.

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 Finally, international agreements usually involve the exchange of monetary aid in return for government
action to protect its forests. One such plan seeks to help play a nation’s debt in exchange for restrictions on
certain kinds of activities in rainforests. This is appealing for a poor country such as Brazil, which has an
international debt of $160 billion. Instead of selling logging concessions to play down that obligation, the
government receives money for banning or restricting logging in its forests. There is also the proposal of a
global fund created in order to grant money to countries that choose to protect their environments. While all
of these ideas could possibly work, it remains to be seen whether there will be any real progress in rainforest
conservation.

It is clear that something must be done to protect the forests of the world. If the current rate of
deforestation continues, the world’s rainforests will vanish within 100 years, causing numerous adverse
effects on global climate and eliminating the majority of plant and animal species on the planet.
Deforestation significantly increases the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere each
year, which in turn causes an increase in global temperatures. Also, scientists speculate that the tropical
rainforests, though covering only seven percent of the Earth’s dry surface, contain more than half of the 5
million to 80 million species of plants and animals that comprise the “ biodiversity “ of the planet. The loss
of species resulting from radical climate change will have a drastic effect. The Earth is losing species every
day that could potentially prevent cancer or lead to a cure for AIDS. In addition, other organisms are losing
species they depend upon, and thus face extinction themselves. Unless some form of concrete solution for
deforestation is enacted quickly, the survival of all creatures living on Earth could be in jeopardy.
1. According to paragraphs 3 and 4, what is the main difference between an internal agreement and an
international agreement?
A. International agreements are more effective than internal agreements.
B. An international agreement is between countries; an internal agreement is between a government and its
people.
C. Internal agreements benefit governments; international agreements benefit indigenous groups.
D. Internal agreements are more effective than international ones.
2. The word "obligation" in paragraph 4 could best be replaced by
A. promise B. relationship C. guarantee D. debt
3. In paragraph 1, what does the word "them" refer to?
A. The causes of deforestation
B. Decades
C. Proposals
D. Developing countries
4. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to paragraph 2:
“Deforestation by a peasant farmer is often done to raise crops for subsistence and is driven by the basic
human need for food.”
Where would the sentence best fit? Choose the square [■] where the sentence should be added to the
passage.
A. Line 2 B. Line 3 C. Line 5 D. Line 7
5. Why does the author mention rubber-tappers in paragraph 3?
A. To provide an example of an internal agreement
B. To provide an example of an international agreement
C. To provide an example of a state economic policy

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D. To provide an example of why Brazil is a poor nation
6. According to the passage, what are the major adverse effects of deforestation?
A. An increase in carbon dioxide and decrease in biodiversity
B. Warmer weather and an increase in biodiversity
C. Loss of plant and animal species and an increase in global debt
D. An increase in global debt and human diseases
7. Which of the following sentences best expresses the essential information of the highlighted sentence?
A. In coming decades, environmental scientists will suggest several strategies for stopping deforestation in
third-world countries.
B. Environmental scientists, in recent years, have suggested that deforestation slows down the process of
development in various countries.
C. In recent decades, several methods for countering deforestation in poor countries have been suggested by
experts on the environment.
D. Experts on the environment have been concerned about the impact of deforestation on the Earth's
biodiversity in recent decades.
8. From the passage, it can be inferred that
A. state economic policies are more effective than international agreements
B. indigenous peoples in the tropics depend on forestry to make money
C. the three types of solutions mentioned will save the rainforests
D. deforestation is not a very serious problem
9. The word "deterrent" in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. fine B. penalty C. incentive D. discouragement
10. The word "this" in paragraph 4 refers to
A. a poor country
B. a nation's debt
C. an international agreement
D. an obligation
Your answer
1. 3. 5. 7. 9.
2. 4. 6. 8. 10.
Part 4: Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. (15 pts)
The Hollywood Film Industry
A This chapter examines the ‘Golden Age’ of the Hollywood film studio system and explores how a
particular kind of filmmaking developed during this period in US film history. It also focuses on the two
key elements which influenced the emergence of the classic Hollywood studio system: the advent of sound
and the business ideal of vertical integration. In addition to its historical interest, inspecting the growth of
the studio system may offer clues regarding the kinds of struggles that accompany the growth of any new
medium. It might, in fact, be intriguing to examine which changes occurred during the growth of
Hollywood studio, and compare those changes to comtemporary struggles in which production companies
are trying to define and control emerging industries, such as online film and interactive television.
B The shift of the industry away from ‘silent’ films began during the late 1920s. Warner Bros.’ 1927 film
The Jazz Singer was the first to feature synchronized speech, and with it came a period of turmoil for the

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industry. Studios now had proof that ‘talkie’ films would make them money, but the financial investment
this kind of filmmaking would require, from new camera equipment to new projection facilities, made the
studios hesitant to invest at first. In the end, the power of cinematic sound to both move audiences and
enhance the story persuaded studios that talkies were worth investing in. Overall, the use of sound in film
was well-received by audiences, but there were still many technical factors to consider. Although full
integration of sound into movies was complete by 1930, it would take somewhat longer for them to regain
their stylistic elegance and dexterity. The camera now had to be encased in a big, clumsy, unmoveable
soundproof box. In addition, actors struggled, having to direct their speech to awkwardly-hidden
microphones in huge plants, telephones or even costumes.
C Vertical integration is the other key component in the rise of the Hollywood studio system. The major
studios realized they could increase their profits by handling each stage of a film’s life: production
(making the film), distribution (getting the film out to people) and exhibition (owning the theaters in major
cities where films were shown first). Five studios, ‘The Big Five’, worked to achieve vertical integration
through the late 1940s, owning vast real estate on which to construct elaborate sets. In addition, these
studios set the exact terms of films’ release dates and patterns. Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century
Fox, MGM and RKO formed this exclusive club. ‘The Little Three’ studios - Universal, Columbia and
United Artists - also made pictures, but each lacked one of the crucial elements of vertical integration.
Together these eight companies operated as a mature oligopoly, essentially running the entire market.
D During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises, due in large part
to long-term management heads - the infamous ‘movie moguls’ who ruled their kingdoms with iron fists.
At MGM, Warner Bros, and Columbia, the same men ran their studios for decades. The rise of the studio
system also hinges on the treatment of stars, who were constructed and exploited to suit a studio’s image
and schedule. Actors were bound up in seven-year contracts to a single studio, and the studio boss
generally held all the options. Stars could be loaned out to other production companies at any time. Studio
bosses could also force bad roles on actors, and manipulate every single detail of stars’ images with their
mammoth in-house publicity departments. Some have compared the Hollywood studio system to a factory,
and it is useful
to remember that studios were out to make money first and art second.
E On the other hand, studios also had to cultivate flexibility, in addition to consistent factory output.
Studio heads realized that they couldn’t make virtually the same film over and over again with the same
cast of stars and still expect to keep turning a profit. They also had to create product differentiation.
Examining how each production company tried to differentiate itself has led to loose characterizations of
individual studios’ styles. MGM tended to put out a lot of all-star productions while Paramount excelled in
comedy and Warner Bros, developed a reputation for gritty social realism. 20th Century Fox forged the
musical and a great deal of prestige biographies, while Universal specialized in classic horror movies.
F In 1948, struggling independent movie producers and exhibitors finally triumphed in their battle against
the big studios’ monopolistic behavior. In the United States versus Paramount federal decree of that year,
the studios were ordered to give up their theaters in what is commonly referred to as ‘divestiture’ -
opening the market to smaller producers. This, coupled with the advent of television in the 1950s,
seriously compromised the studio system’s influence and profits. Hence, 1930 and 1948 are generally
considered bookends to Hollywood’s Golden Age.

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For question 1- 4 : The reading passage has seven paragraphs A - G. Choose the correct heading for
paragraphs A - G from the list of headings below.

List of Headings
i. The power with each studio
ii. The movie industry adapts to innovation
iii. Contrast between cinema and other media of the time
iv. The value of studying Hollywood’s Golden Age
v. Distinguishing themselves from the rest of the market
vi. A double attack on film studios’ power
vii. Gaining control of the industry
viii The top movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Example: Paragraph A ______iv____

1. Paragraph B __________
2. Paragraph C __________
Example: Paragraph D ____i_____
3. Paragraph E __________
4. Paragraph F __________
For question 5- 7: Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
5. After The Jazz Singer came out, other studios immediately began making movies with synchronized
sound.
6. There were some drawbacks to recording movie actors’ voices in the early 1930s.
7. There was intense competition between actors for contracts with the leading studios.
Complete the summary below.
For questions 8 – 10, choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Throughout its Golden Age, the Hollywood movie Industry was controlled by a handful of studios.
Using a system known as (8) ______________, the biggest studios not only made movies, but handled their
distribution and then finally showed them in their own theaters. These studios were often run by autocratic
bosses - men known as (9) ______________, who often remained at the head of organisations for decades.
However, the domination of the industry by the leading studios came to an end in 1948, when they were
forced to open the market to smaller producers - a process known as (10) ______________.
Part 5. You are going to read the transcript of a series of interviews with ordinary people conducted for
the Have your say feature of a daily newspaper. For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The
people may be chosen more than once. (10 pts)
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Which person gives each of these opinions about the education system?
1. …………….. The testing of very young people to determine their academic pedigree is unethical.
2. …………….. The education system is designed in such a way as to unfairly favour people who have the money
to invest in private education.
3. …………….. Students in countries where extra evening classes have to he attended are more prone to feeling
the effects of extreme tiredness.
4. …………….. The policy of giving out higher grades is making a mockery of the entire testing system.
5. …………….. The degree of difficulty of modern examinations is a lot lower than was the case for students
sitting the same exams in the past.
6. …………….. Children are more likely to engage with what they are learning if technology is incorporated
into the teaching methods used.
7. …………….. While our third level education system is well funded and very modern, we have neglected the
primary level, where more investment is required.
8. …………….. Students should not have to overly exert themselves study-wise in the evenings as they
must also have the opportunity to enjoy their youth.
9. …………….. While we are often quick to criticise the education system, most of us appreciate how fortunate
we are in this country to have such a good one.
10. …………….. Many capable people are prevented from pursuing a third level education due to the financial
constraints they are under.
HAVE YOU SAY….. ON EDUCATION
Four ordinary people give their views on the country’s educational system.
EDWARD A MICHELLE C
The British Education system is fundamentally flawed I think our education system still commands a lot of
in numerous ways. For a start, I believe the 11-Plus respect and I think many other countries are still
exam is morally reprehensible. Children develop at envious of the kinds of programmes we have in place,
different speeds, so to promote a situation where we but I also worry that we are not investing enough
divide up our young so early based on their money into schools to enable them to keep up with the
performance in one stupid test seems to me ridiculous. latest classroom innovations. I mean, sure, our
Those who pass the 11-Plus are classed as success universities are state-of-the-art, but the formative years
stories and they are expected to go on to do great are the most important of all, and, as far as education is
things academically speaking in what essentially concerned, this means that it would be wise to invest
becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Meanwhile, at more in the facilities and resources of primary schools
such a young age, those who don't manage to pass are where young children will reap the benefits.
already being labelled as failures and are told to set Technologically speaking, I would say a lot of our
their sights low. schools are behind the rest of the developed world. In
This, sadly, also becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - Japan, for example, every classroom has at least one
of the worst kind if you expect to perform poorly and computer, as well as a projector screen and a number
are of a mindset to do so, you will effectively of other technology-driven interactive tools. It is vital,
underperform - it is as good as guaranteed. I see no in this, the information age, that we introduce kids to
reason why we have to set children up for a fall like technology as early as possible, and that's why I
this so early in life and divide them up into a two-tier strongly feel that there is now a greater need than ever
education system which provides the upper - tier with to kit out our primary schools with the latest gadgets.
a massive advantage over the lower one. I mean, our Besides, the children of the information age are
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society has enough class-based problems without
manufacturing more. And that brings me to my next
criticism. I believe the education system in this
country is biased towards the privileged. Let's face it,
the best education is the one which money can buy.
Fee-paying schools consistently outperform schools in
the state system, and only the wealthy can exploit the
unfair advantage enjoyed by students who attend these
exclusive institutions. And if that wasn't bad enough -
as if ordinary working class people didn't face an
uphill struggle already, if they do manage to make it
through to university, they are then expected to pay
astronomical fees. In many cases, they are simply
priced out of a third-level education or are forced to
take on a massive burden of debt to finance their
studies. Meanwhile, mummy's little Eton boy can have
his pick of universities and cost is no barrier. It is sad
really just how unfair the whole system is.
ELEANOR B is meaningless if this continues. In order for the
People often groan about the faults of our education system,
but I think we just like to complain; my gut feeling is that
most people are actually only too aware of how lucky
they are to have such a high quality of formal education
open to them for free all the way up to the end of secondary
school. What we take for granted - free education – is not
something students from other parts of the world nec-
essarily enjoy. The standard of teaching in our schools is
also second-to-none. Another thing which can't be said
everywhere. I mean, in Greece, for example, state school
teachers are often so indifferent that students are forced
to attend extra study classes at night - the cost of which has
to be borne by their parents. Not alone is this a waste of
money, it also eats into students' free time. The situation is
similar in South Korea - students have private lessons in the
evenings to help them improve their state school grades, and
sometimes, between state school classes, private lessons and
homework, there are literally not enough hours in the day,
leading to exhaustion and burnout in a worst-case scenario,
and, even in the best one, a significant reduction in the
amount of leisure time available to pursue healthy activities
and partake in the kind of fun and games that should
characterize youth. In Britain, we go to school from 9 am
until 4 p.m.; we have the evening to enjoy being young and
that is how it should be; to quote a well-known proverb,
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becoming so accustomed to using technology in the
other areas of their lives that theywill more likely
respond well to technology-based lessons than the
traditional kind, which will ultimately see them
learning more effectively, engaging more genuinely
and developing more speedily.
ALAN D
I have a problem with the testing mechanisms used
today. I mean, if you look at the statistics for the
exams every year, there is one striking pattern; more
and more people are getting As; the nation's results on
average are getting better and better year-on-year. So,
that means one of two things: either students today are
smarter than ever before, or their examinations are
watered down and do not represent a fair test.
I personally believe the latter is true and l am incensed
that this is being allowed to happen. In ten or fifteen
years' time, it will have gotten to the stage where an A
education system to be taken seriously, it is vital,
therefore, that a complete overhaul of the examination
system takes place and that we return to a situation
where examinations offer a meaningful challenge and
a true test of ability. That way, when a child receives
an A, his or her achievement will feel genuine; it will
have been earned and the child concerned will have
the right to feel very proud of themselves. The
problem is, in this country, we have forgotten that
there is absolutely no shame in getting a B, or a C or D
grade for that matter. Provided we do our best, that is
always good enough. But, in this politically correct
world-gone-mad of ours, assessors seem to think the
only way for ward is to give more and more of US
the best grades, devaluing the grading system
completely. It is as though they don't think we could
take it if we got anything less than an A; as though we
should all somehow be perfect students. The problem
with that is that it is just not realistic, and, when you set
unrealistic objectives, the only way to achieve them is
to ‘play’ with th figures to manufacture the right
results…..
'you-re only young once'.
D. WRITING (60 points)
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 EIGHT words, including the word given. There is an
example at the beginning (0). (5points)
0. (0) Louise should have been given more time to complete her thesis. (INSUFFICIENT)
 Louise was given insufficient time to complete her thesis.
1. “ Because of this new evidence I have no alternative but to release you,” the judge told the accused.
( LIGHT)
 “______________________________________ I have no alternative but to release you,” the judge told
the accused.
2. It is important to know the difference between a joke and a lie. (DRAW)
It is important to know __________________________ between a joke and a lie.
3. The government recommends a balance of reward and punishment when dealing with young offenders.
(STICK)
 The government favours a ________________________________________to young offenders.
4. Let’s all work together, and we’ll finish the job very quickly. (NEXT)
 We’ll have this job done _______________________________ if we cooperate.
5. He was really jealous when he saw his brother’s new car. (GREEN)
 He was ___________________________________ see his brother’s new car.
Part 2:
The first chart below shows how energy is used in an average Australian household. The second chart
shows the greenhouse gas emissions which result from this energy use.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant. You should write about 150 words. (20 points)

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Part 3: Write an essay of about 250 words to express your opinion on the following issue (35 points)
Educational administrators have decided to combine some academic subjects to design Social science
test (history, geography, civic education) and Natural science test (physics, chemistry, biology), which
will be used to assess school leaving students in The National Examination.
What is your own opinion?

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience. You
may continue your writing on the back page if you need more space
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_ THE END_

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