DONG NAI UNIVERSITY

VSTEP DESIGN
D. Ed: HA VAN SINH

CLASS: DHSPAC-K2

GROUP: 8

MEMBERS: HOANG THI HUE

NGUYEN ANH KHOA

BUI THI PHUONG THAO

BUI THI TUYEN

Introduction: Testing is known as an art that a teacher must possess. Therefore, to get
familiar with it, we, students in group 8, have worked together to practice designing a test
based on the format of the VSTEP. Below are our group’s final results. But first, we
would like to make a brief summary of what, why and how we did to reach an agreement
amongst the members in our group.

- The units we received are 9 and 10. Namely, they are related to Deserts and
Endangered Animals. To cope with these two topics, our group have been
searching for various noted and acknowledged sources and extracted listening
files, reading texts shown in the test below.
- In each section of the test, we designed it with the difficulty ranging from the
easiest to the hardest. In details,
 Listening section: in part 1, we let students warm up by listening to
numbers, names of animals,.. next we would really like to test student’s
ability to listen for gist and details in part 2. Further, students have to
perform their listening skills by paying attention to different parts of speech
in part 3. Last but not least, the most challenging one, they need to truly
understand what happens in the talk which they will face in part 4.
 Reading section: there are a few things similar to those in listening section.
Students have an opportunity to show how much they comprehend the
matters given in the test. In part 1, they just need to understand some signs
or announcements. Next, it’s time for them to present another aspect of
understanding by completing a table with the exact words from the reading
text. In addition, scanning and skimming skills will be the main and
expected ones students are about to be tested.
 Writing section: it is simply the students’ writing ability.
 After each part of this test, there might be members’ s further opinion embedded.

SECTION 1: LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Time: 35 minutes (including transfer time)

Part 1

Question 1-5

There are five questions in this part. For each question, you will listen to a short
recording and answer by circling A, B, C or D. All the recording will be played twice.
Before we start, here is an example.
Example: When did the extinct animals and plants reach crisis point?
A. In the last 300 years
B. In the last 150 years
C. In the last 400 years
D. In the early 400 years
Answer: The correct answer is C. On the answer sheet, letter C should be circled.

1. How do the human population levels increase?

A. Slowly
B. Stably
C. Normally
D. Dramatically
2. What kinds of animals were not the enemies of Dodos ( a kind of birds)?
A. Rats
B. Owls
C. Pigs
D. Monkeys
3. How many animals were focused on?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
4. What is the proportion showing that the remaining rhinos disappeared in the 1970s?
A. Three quarters
B. A quarter
C. Two thirds
D. A half
5. Where are the panda reserves established?
A. Europe
B. Africa
C. Asia
D. America
Key: 1. D (dramatically)
2. B
3. D (rhino, panda, whale and tiger)
4. A (over a half)
5. C (Chinese government)
Source: From Learning English British Council website
 http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/animal-conservation

 At the beginning of listening section, we give students the general topic about the
extinct animals that are related to the topic of the lesson of text book. And then
students can listen in detail about some endangered species such as: rhino, panda,
whale, tiger and etc….in the recording number 2, 3 and 4. In the recording 5 we let
them know about one organization to protect wild animals so that students are aware
of the importance of animals to our life. Besides that, the level of these recordings is
not hard for them to start listening.
Part 2
Question 6- 11
In this part, you will hear two short talks on two different academic topics. For each
talk, you will answer three questions by circling A, B, C or D. Each talk will be
played twice.

Talk 1
6. What is the talk mainly about?
A. Plants in South America
B. People in South America
C. Camels in South America
D. Domesticated animals in North America
7. According to the zoo guide, which of the following is true about llamas?
A. They are interior animals.
B. They are wild animals.
C. They were used to remove things.
D. They are the smallest animals.
8. According to the talk, how do the llamas live?
A. They live in herbs.
B. They live in herds.
C. They live in hamlets.
D. They live in cages.
Source:
From Learning English British Council
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening-skills-practice/llamas
 In this part, it is quite different from the first one. There are two short talks
with two different cases. Three questions 6, 7, and 8 are mentioned in talk one.
 In this talk, it focuses on general information of the plants and rare animals in
South America, which helps students widen their knowledge about the nature.
Furthermore, the background of the talk is in the zoo which is familiar with
students. The speed of this talk is slow enough for them to understand. However,
the level is far more complicated than the first part so students must follow and
pay much attention to both meaning and vocabulary.
Key:
6.C(four different animals which are all from South America and all related to
camels)
7. A (Llamas and alpacas are both domesticated animals = interior)
8. B (check Ss vocabulary)
Talk 2

9. What is the main topic of this talk?

A. The beautiful plants in the Sahara Desert
B. The animals and trees in the Donora Desert
C. The marvelous survival of desert plants
D. The ancient of the Desert Botanical Garden
10. According to Dr. Biology, how long could the desert plants go without water?
A. One month
B. Ten months
C. One year
D. Many years

11. How are the plants in the garden described.?

A. Unique and unexpected

B. Terrible and ugly.
C. Unique and expected
D. Cool and strange.
Source: From

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/podcasts/secrets-desert-plants?show=transcript

Key:
9. C
10. D
11. A
  We choose this talk because the topic is suitable for the students and related to
the lesson’s objective. The language is quite simple for students to understand.
Apart from the biologist or related organization, students themselves must get
responsibility protecting plants and animals.

Part 3.

Question 12-18

There are seven questions in this part. You will hear a man talking about the Sahara
Desert. For each question, fill in the numbered space with ONE WORD or ONE
NUMBER. The recording will be played twice.

THE SAHARA DESERT.

The Sahara desert is (12)………….. as old as we thought.

A new study from a climate (13)…………….. center says it is seven million years old.

Their tests showed that (14)………………. warming seven million years ago dried a lot
of the land in Chad.

Drying sea and less rain helped to make sand (15)………………. in Chad.

The Sahara is one of the most famous and (16)………………. deserts.

A geologist in Germany wants to see more (17)……………….

What we know about the Sahara climate starts from (18)………….. years ago.

Answer key:

12. Twice.
13. Research.
14. Global.
15. Dunes.
16. Biggest.
17. Evidence.
18. 10.000
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1409/140922-sahara-desert-1l.html

 We choose this tape from breaking news since it is practical and related to the big
themes of our group. Furthermore, the level of vocabulary and the speed is
appropriate for students in grade 12.

Part 4

Questions 19-25

There are seven questions in this part. You will hear a conversation between Rob and
Feifei. Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, circle T (True). If it
is incorrect, circle F (False). The conversation will be played twice.

19. They are discussing about legal trade in wildlife. T F

20. to solve this problem 200 governments have a meeting in Bangkok. T F

21. Feifei considers “trading crisis” an extremely urgent matter. T F

22. Elephants and Rhinos have been killed for their horns and tusks. T F

23. Feifei mentions that attempt is focused on stopping poachers. T F

24. People who organize poaching and fund the trade are never caught. T F

25. Shark-fin soup is widely consumed in China and Thailand. T F

Answer key:

19. F
20. T
21. F
22. T
23. T
24. F
25. F
Aim: check Ss listening comprehension.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2013/03/130314_6
min_extinction_crisis.shtml

 We choose this tape since vocabulary becomes more complicated. Therefore, to

understand and do this part well, students need to focus on some minor details to
decide whether each statement is true or false.
***END OF SECTION 1***

SECTION 2: READING COMPREHENSION

PART 1:

Question 1-7

Read the text in each question. What does it say? Choose the best explanation for each
text. On the answer sheet, circle A, B, C or D

(Aims: check what Ss understand each notice in public places)

1.

A. You must be careful in driving because

students cross here.
B. You should help student to cross in this
street.
C. Just students can cross this street.
D. It’s dangerous for students to cross this
street

Photo from: https://www.tes.com/lessons/hfF_H16BJ1yb1g/street-and-road-signs

2.
 A. Do not touch the animals
B. Do not give food to the animals.
C. The animals here are very dangerous.
D. Do not put your hands near the
animals

Photo from: http://alexlewko.blogspot.com/2012/09/dont-feed-animals.html

3.

A. You can drink milk from the

cows
B. Do not ride the cows
C. You can buy milk from here
D. Do not ride in this place because
there are cows.

Photo from:
http://petslady.com/articles/top_10_funniest_zoo_signs_show_who_real_animals_
are_58170

4.
 A. Enter this place if the door is opened.
B. Just enter if necessary
C. No allowance no entry
D. Must notice when enter this place.

Photo from: http://www.naagtag.com/office-signs/notice-no-entry-without-

permission-signs
5.

A. There are elephants in this place

B. The elephants are in a danger in
the world.
C. The big problem nowadays is
the warmth of the earth
D. Elephants caused global
warming

Photo from: http://englishmade01.blogspot.com/2012/11/public-service-

announcements-and-posters.html

6.

A. Do not have mosquitoes in this place

B. Spray mosquitoes when the sun sets
C. Must spray mosquitoes often in the
morning
D. Do not spray mosquitoes in the
evening

Photo from: http://sunsetsprayinc.com/frequently-asked-questions/

7.

A. Do not swim because of the strong

water current.
B. Do not swim because the water is
polluted
C. It’s dangerous to swim alone in this
place
D. It’s hard to swim because of polluted
water.
Photo from: http://www.mypoolsigns.com/no-swimming-signs

 Suggested answers:
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. B

PART 2:
Question 8 – 12
Read the passage and then complete the TEST OF BIOLOGY. Use ONE word or
ONE number for each gap. Write the answer on the answer sheet.
(Aims: give a short passage about animals to help Ss have a general view about
those kinds of animals in the world. Furthermore, check Ss’ ability to read for
detail and supply a short correct answer in the blank)

There are so many species of animals in the world. The entire animal world may
be classified into five types. They are amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and
insects. The animals that live both on land and in water have moist skin and no
scales on body are called amphibians. The toad and the frog are the two good
examples of amphibians.
The animals having cold blood, scaly body and needing to be in the sun for a long
period of time are called reptiles.
The two most common examples of reptiles are the snake and the crocodile.
The mammal is an animal that has warm blood and hairy body. It breast-feeds its
young. The cow, the lion and man are some of the good examples of this type.
Birds have wings, beaks, and can fly. The parrot and the crow are some examples
of birds.
Bees and mosquitoes are called insects. The body of an insect has three parts – the
head, the thorax and the abdomen. It has six legs, but no backbone. It can also fly
like the bird.
From: www.importantindia.com/11609/short-paragraph-on-animals

This is Peter Williams. He’s seventeen years

old and he is studying in class 12A1 at
Rosewood high school. He is in the biology
test now. He has taken the test twice and this is
the third test in this semester. He must
remember the information and then take the
short test. Now help him do the test based on
the information of the passage above.

Rosewood high school

Grade 12

BIOLOGY TEST
(The (8)………… time in the semester)
Name: Peter Williams
Class: 12A1
Kind of animals: (9)………………………kinds
The toad is an example of (10)……………………………….
Cold blood, scaly body and needing to be in the sun for a long period of time
are reptiles and the snake as well as the (11) ………………….. are the
typical examples.
There is a common feature between birds and insects is that they can (12)
………………….
Suggested answers:

8. third
9. 5
10. amphibians
11. crocodile
12. fly

Part 3:

Question 13 – 18

Read the text and questions below. Choose the best answer to each of the questions. On
the answer sheet, circle A, B, C or D.

A desert is a region where only special forms of life can exist because there is a shortage
of moisture. In a 'hot' desert, there simply is not enough rainfall. So the definition holds
true. But suppose there is a region where all water is frozen solid and cannot be used by
plants. This satisfies the definition too. Only it would make this a 'cold' desert.

Many people do not know that much of the Arctic is really a desert. There is very little
rainfall a year, and most of the water is frozen. So it is quite properly called a desert. The
great Gobi Desert in the middle of Asia is bitterly cold in wintertime.

Most of the dry, hot deserts with which we are familiar are found in two belts around the
world, just north and south of the Equator. They are caused by high atmospheric
pressures that exist in those areas, which prevent rain from falling. Other deserts, which
are found farther away from the Equator, are the result of being in 'the rain shadow'. This
is the name for an effect that is caused by mountain barriers that catch rainfall on their
seaward side and leave the interior region dry.

Deserts differ greatly in appearance. Where sand is abundant, the winds may build sand
hills or dunes. These are sand deserts. Rock deserts consist mostly of bare rock, which
forms fantastic cliffs and hills. No great rivers originate in deserts. But a river may rise in
moist areas and cross great deserts on its way to the sea. The Nile, for example, flows
through the desert region of the Sahara.

The animals that exist in the desert are those that have managed to adapt themselves to its
conditions. They must be able to do without water for long periods, or be able to reach
water holes at great distances. The camel, for example, is highly adapted to desert life. It
has padded feet to walk on sand, a water-storing stomach, humps of fat as a reserve
supply of energy, and nostrils that can be closed to keep out sand during windstorms.

Many of the smaller desert creatures need to drink no water at all. They get what liquid
they need from the sap of food plants and from night dew on leaves or stones.

13. The most accurate definition of a desert is a region where

A. Some large animals can live.

B. There is a lack of moisture.

C. There is not enough rainfall.

D. Water can not be used.

14. Where are dry and hot deserts found?

A. in the Arctic

B. in the middle of Asia

C. in the north and south of the Equator

D. in Africa

15. The word abundant in paragraph 3 means

A. special

B. exhausted

C. plentiful

D. unlimited
16. According to the passage, how many kinds of desert?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

17. Which part of the body of camels is NOT mentioned in adapting to desert life?

A. nose

B. feet

C. stomach

D. ear

18. Why do the smaller desert creatures need to drink no water at all?

A. They get what liquid they need from the sap of food plants.

B. They are in the rain shadow.

C. They have special body.

D. All water is frozen solid.

https://www.englishclub.com

Suggested answers:

13. B

14.C

15.C

16. B

17. D

18. A
Part 4

Question 19 -25

Read the text below about the polar bears. Read the questions and decide if each
sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, circle T (true) on the answer sheet. If it
is incorrect, circle F (false) on the answer sheet.

In spring 2008, the polar bear was placed on the endangered species list. According to the
Endangered Species Act, an endangered species is an animal that is likely to
face extinction in its natural habitat. Polar bears have been categorized as a "threatened"
species. The ESA defines a threatened species as one that is likely to become
"endangered" in the foreseeable future.

The polar bear is the first animal that has been classified as endangered due primarily
to global warming. Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases that become trapped in the atmosphere. Heating homes, driving cars, and burning
garbage all require fossil fuels that lead to global warming.

The polar bear's habitat is more vulnerable to global warming than many other species.
Polar bears live mainly on the sea ice in the Arctic. This is where they hunt for fish and
build up fat reserves. When the ice melts many polar bears move to land and live off their
stored fat. In the Arctic, global warming is causing the ice to melt slightly earlier and
form slightly later. This results in a shorter feeding season for the polar bear.
Some risk their lives to find ice. If they have to swim too far they will drown from
exhaustion and hunger. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 25% of the Arctic sea ice
has disappeared in the past 30 years.

It is not only the polar bear that is at risk in the Arctic. Every species of plant, animal, and
insect there is threatened by global warming. Nevertheless, environmentalist groups such
as the World Wildlife Fund often study large carnivores in order to assess the health of
an ecosystem. The Arctic food chain relies on the polar bear. In addition, donations are
more commonly offered for the protection of large animals such as bears or elephants.
People in general are less interested in conservation efforts that protect small wildlife,
such as plants or insects. However, by using donor money to protect the habitat of the
larger animals (ex. reforestation programs), entire ecosystems can be protected.

It is important that animals such as the polar bear make it onto the endangered species
list. Once they are on the list there are laws that protect these animals from being hunted
for food or sport. Agencies also receive money and tools to protect the habitat
and recover the species. The goal of removing the animal from the list is often
achievable. Since the Endangered Species Act was introduced in the US in 1973, many
species have been taken off the list due to increased populations. In fact, it is rare for a
species to go extinct after they make the list. Sadly many species do go extinct while
waiting for consideration.

19. According to the article, an endangered species is one that will die out in nature.

20. The greenhouse gases pose the greatest threat to polar bears today.

21. The majority of bears live on the sea ice in the Arctic .

22. The extremely polluted ice is the major change that has occurred in the polar bears’
natural habitat.

23. A lot of other creatures living in the Arctic are also being threatened.

24. People are generally interested in protecting all kinds of animals.

25. The animals that are on the endangered species list might be protected well from
being extinct.

http://www.englishdaily.com

Suggested answers:

19. T

20. F

21. T

22. F

23. T

24. F

25. T

***END OF SECTION 2***

 SECTION 3: WRITING

Time: 45 minutes

Part 1

Next summer, your school will have a volunteer work in the desert. You really want to
join in the group but the number of the participants is limited.

You should write an email to the team leader. In your email, you should:

- Give some background information;

- Tell him/her the reasons why you are interested in this work;
- Be ready for harsh conditions and challenges…;

Write about 80- 100 words.

Write your answer on your answer sheet.

Part 2

Your class has been to Cuc Phuong national park. Your teacher has asked you to write a
paragraph about what you like most in this park. You must begin your writing with this
sentence:

Last week, I had a special trip to Cuc Phuong national park...

Write your paragraph in about 100-120 words.

Write your answer on the answer sheet.

***** END OF TEST *****