Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

ĐỀ LUYỆN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA NĂM 2021-2022-NO 4

Date: 16/12/2021
Name:…………………………………………………..class:………………….

SECTION A. LISTENING (50pts)

Part 1. (10 pts) You will hear part of a discussion between two well-known business people, Sam
Boland and Jimmy Glynn, and a radio current affairs show host about a recent newspaper article on
the subject of jobless graduation. For questions 1-5, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best
according to what you hear. Write your answer in the space provided.

1. What does Jimmy say about the qualifications graduate jobseekers have?

A. they help them avoid having to take 'survival jobs'

B. few graduates are sufficiently qualified for the jobs available

C. few degrees teach skills relevant in the workplace

D. they are not really an advantage in the present job market

2. Why is Sam wary of employing graduates in his own company?

A. their superior performance can lead to workplace hostility

B. they can have a damaging effect on the chemistry of their team

C. he prefers to hire unskilled workers and invest in training

D. they only accept positions above lesser-skilled employees

3. In what respect have things changed since the speakers were job-seeking graduates?

A. jobseekers used not to lie about their qualifications

B. jobseekers used to pretend they had better qualifications

C. jobseekers used to be far fresher and more enthusiastic

D. jobseekers used not to mind dumbing down their CVs

4. Why does Jimmy have some sympathy for graduates?

A. he admires their sense of entitlement

B. they were too young to understand what they voted for

C. they have accumulated huge debts at college

D. they are victims of other people's incompetence.

Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

5. Jimmy believes that college-goers of the future should

A. not rule out the Arts and Humanities.

B. work for foreign in preference to local firms

C. choose their courses of study carefully.

D. be selective about where they study.

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Part 2. (10 pts) You will hear an interview with a psychologist about friendships. For questions 6-10,
listen and decide whether the following sentences are true (T) or false (F).

6. According to the presenter, we have to adjust our friendship as our lives changes

7. Barbara warns that foul-weather friends never want you to be happy

8. The danger of a trophy friend is that he/she will inhibit your social life.

9. A sisterly friend will be as close to your family as she is to you.

10. According to Barbara, a good friend doesn’t expend too much of your time and energy.

Your answers:
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. (10 pts) You will hear a talk about an investigation into obesity. For questions 11-15, listen and
answer the following questions with NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS. Write your answer in the
space provided.

11. What are less common within the family?

____________________________________

12. What can make people eat more than their need?

____________________________________

13. What kind of emotions can affect people’s eating habits?

____________________________________

14. Who are more likely to eat more due to negative emotions?

____________________________________

15. What will the researchers continue to investigate in the coming week?

____________________________________
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

Part 4. (20 pts) You will hear a piece of news. For questions 16-25, listen and complete the summary
with NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS. Write your answer in the space provided.

Nowadays, it is possible to donate money thousands of charities round the world to help people,
animals and places.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals aimed to enhance 16. _______________
in any country. More than three hundred inspectors were employed in England and Wales to examine
17._______________.

The Royal National Institute of the Blind, which is Britain’s the top charity for the blind, confronts
18. _______________ of sight loss by helping the blind lead a normal life. The organisation also works on
the underlying causes of the disability to achieve its 19. _______________.

TBG is the acronym of 20. _______________ which aims to improve the local environment quality.
The TBG and its sister organisation, Going for Green, 21. _______________ and have the same Chief
Executive.

Mencap helps people with learning disabilities who are disadvantaged due to unfair treatment and
lack of 22. _______________. It also provides support and advice for families and 23. _______________.

EveryChild believes that every child has the right to grow up and develop in a secure, safe, family
environment, free 24. _______________. EveryChild identifies the needs of a particular community, sets up
the projects so that they are self running, then moves on to new projects, leaving things in 25.
_______________.

B. VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR (30 pts)

Part 1. (10 pts) Choose the word/ phrase that best completes each of the following sentences. Write
your answer in the space provided.

1. Our lecturer _______ the importance of taking notes

A. reincarnated B. reiterated C. rehabilitated D. reciprocated

2. The contemporary dialogue for me struck a slightly _______ note.

A. disembodied B. discordant C. dismissive D. disconcerting

3. Both of the jobs I’ve been offered are fantastic opportunities – I’m in such _______!

A. a constituency B. a deviation C. an arrhythmia D. a quandary

4. Sharon is such a positive person – she _______ her problems, whatever they are.

A. goes light on B. throws light to C. makes light of D. sheds light upon

Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

5. After hearing news of the attack, the general made plans for an immediate _______ against the enemy.

A. compilation B. retaliation C. accumulation D. incantation

6. He didn’t mean to be offensive; it was quite an _______ remark.

A. innocuous B. indehiscent C. incendiary D. insidious

7. Serena is still _______ ignorant of the fact that she is about to be made redundant.

A. blissfully B. decorously C. jubilantly D. ecstatically

8. No decision has been taken about the building of the new airport. The authorities are still _______.

A. beating about the bush B. comparing apples and oranges

C. sitting on the fence D. holding all the aces  

9. Oil spills will _______ even the healthiest of marine ecosystem.

A. play havoc on  B. break ground with     

C. pay the consequences for D. take their toll on

10. Congratulations on your success! How does it feel to be_______?

A. the man of the hour    B. a word of honor

C. an egg on the face       D. the top of the morning  

Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2. (5 pts) Read the text and find 5 mistakes and correct them. You should indicate in which line
the mistake is. Write your answer in the space provided.

For many century, the question of how our minds work was left to theologians and philosophers. But at the
beginning of the twentieth century, a new science, experimental psychology emerged, which the speculative
theories of the past were confirmed or disproved by the scientific method. In the forefront of this research
was J B Watson. His area of interest was the origin of human emotions. Do we learn them, or do we have
them when we are born? In particular, Watson wanted to study fear, and was prepared to go to whatever
lengths to study his theory.

Watson’s subject was a 9 month old infant, Albert. During the experiment, Watson presented the child with
things which often considered frightening – a rat, fire, a clown mask. At first, Albert was unafraid of these
things. But then Watson tormented the child with loud, expected noises as he was playing with them. Sure
enough, Albert learnt to associate these things with the unpleasant experience. Even if the noises were
stopped, Albert withdrew his body and puckered his face when presented once more with the rat and mask.
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

Your answers

Number Line Mistake Correction

0. line 1 century centuries
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part 3. (5 pts) Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable preposition or particle. Write
your answer in the space provided.

1. The two countries met at the conference to iron _______ their differences.

2. He tried to paper _______ the country’s deep-seated problems

3. The party ended just as she arrived, much _______ her chagrin.

4. Linda chats so much, she could talk the hind leg _______ a donkey.

5. I’m going to put my head _______ for a while as I feel very tired.

Part 4. Complete the text by writing the correct form of the word in capitals. (10 pts)

Complaining can be used constructively, for example to draw attention to (0. EFFICIENT)
___inefficiency____ but all too often in western society it consists of (1. SOCIAL) _______ moaning and
groaning which leads to (2. TRUST) _______ and unnecessary arguments within relationships.

So it is refreshing to live in a society where people do not complain, Kiribati consists of thirty-three small
islands located, in the Central Pacific. By western standards, the islanders, diet is plain and (3. TONE)
_______, but, thanks to plentiful fish, none of the islanders suffer from (4. NUTRIENT) _______. Feasts
are popular social occasions, but if the fish is (5. DO) _______or the rice proves to be (6. EAT) _______,
nobody complains. Similarly, in restaurants, if the waiter brings the wrong dish or the bill is (7.
CALCULATE) _______, the error is pointed out with a calm smile, not a surly frown. Ships frequently
leave hours later than scheduled, yet the passengers wait with none of the signs of impatience which would
be loudly evident elsewhere.

Other traits of the Kiribati people complement this (8. INCLINE) _______ to complain. Teachers find it
difficult to get their pupils to answer questions in class because it is culturally unacceptable to show
yourselves to be better than those around you. Competition is not exactly frowned upon in this society, but it
is refreshingly (9. CHARACTER) _______.Western tennis stars, well-known for their immodest behaviour
on court, could learn a lot from one young (10. FINAL) _______ here who, despite being the better player,
deliberately lost the match as his opponent was an older and more respected, member of the village.

C. READING COMPREHENSION (60 pts)

Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

Part 1. (10 pts) For each gap, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D which best fits the context. Write
your answer in the space provided.

Environmental Issues in the Developing World

The issues for 1.______ economies are a little more straightforward. The desire to build on undeveloped
land is not 2.__________out of desperation or necessity, but is a result of the relentless march of progress.
Cheap labour and a relatively highly-skilled workforce make these countries highly competitive and there is
a flood of inward investment, particularly from 3._____________ looking to take advantage of the low
wages before the cost and standard of living begin to rise. It is factors such as these that are making many
Asian economies extremely attractive when viewed as investment opportunities at the moment. Similarly, in
Africa, the relative 4.__________ of precious metals and natural resources tends to attract a lot of
5.__________ companies and a whole sub-industry develops around and is completely dependent on this
foreign-direct investment, it is understandable that countries that are the focus of this sort of attention can
lose sight of the environmental implications of large-scale industrial development, and this can have
devastating consequences for the natural world. And it is a 6.__________ cycle because the more
industrially active a nation becomes, the greater the demand for and harvesting of natural resources. For
some, the environmental issues, though they can hardly be ignored, are viewed as a 7.__________ concern.
Indeed, having an environmental conscience or taking environmental matters into consideration when it
comes to decisions on whether or not to build rubber-tree 8.__________or grow biofuel crops would be
quite 9.__________indeed. For those involved in such schemes it is a pretty black-and-white issue. And, for
vast 10.__________of land in Latin America, for example, it is clear that the welfare of the rainforests
matters little to local government when vast sums of money can be made from cultivating the land.

1. A. emerging B. decimating C. diverging D. garnishing

2. A. grown B. born C. bred D. arisen

3. A. multinationals B. nationals C. continentals D. intercontinentals

4. A. premonition B. abundance C. amplitude D. accumulation

5. A. exploitation B. exploration C. surveyance D. research

6. A. vacuous B. viscous C. vexatious D. vicious

7. A. parallel B. extrinsic C. peripheral D. exponential

8. A. plantations B. homesteads C. ranches D. holdings

9. A. proscriptive B. prohibitive C. prospective D. imperative

10. A. regions B. plots C. tracts D. sectors

Your answers:
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 2. (10 pts) Read the text below and think of one word which best fits each space. Use only ONE
WORD for each space. Write your answer in the space provided.

From Royalist to Republican

Erskine Childers was not what you would call your (1) _______ Irish freedom fighter, A Briton by birth,
and a proud (2) _______ at that – for most of the early years of his life, Childers was a decorated soldier of
the British Admiralty (3) _______ had demonstrated unwavering commitment and loyalty to both king and
country. And yet, somewhere along the way, disillusionment (4) _______ in.

While it is difficult to pinpoint the precise moment when doubt started to creep into Childers' mind (5)
_______ to whether his loyalty was misguided, what was essentially a complete philosophy shift - a total
realignment of ideals - did occur. Childers went from (6) _______ a royalist to a staunch nationalist,
obsessed with the cause of Irish freedom.

He befriended the (7) _______ of Eamon DeVelera and Michael Collins, key figures in the Irish Republican
camp, and even went so far as to ship illegal armaments to the leaders of the ill-fated Easter Rising of 1916,
which was easily put (8) _______ by the British army.

Later, he would fight on the side of the Irish rebels in the War of Independence, (9) _______ an uneasy
truce was agreed between Britain and Ireland. Eventually, a treaty was signed partitioning the country. For
Childers, by now totally devoted to the cause of Irish freedom and the notion of a united Ireland, partition
was (10) _______ bitter a pill to swallow.

Part 3. (15 pts) Read the passage and choose the best answer to each of the questions. Write your
answer in the space provided.

The Origins of Theater

1. In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little
concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in
the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The
process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its
development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and
well–being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable
occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces.
Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires,
the group repeats, refines, and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.
2. Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of hose
supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks
to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As
a people becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships nay
change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites
may continue as part of the group’s oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions
divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and
socially efficacious concerns.
3. Although origin in ritual as long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the
theater came into being. Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. Under this theory, relating and
listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle,
or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator’s pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each
role being assumed by a different person.
4. A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical
or gymnastic, or from imitations if animal noises and sounds. Admiration for the performer’s skill,
virtuosity, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical
performances.
5. In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about the
motives that led people to develop theater. Why did the theater develop, and why was it valued after it
ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and
basic human needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative
– as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another,
advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to
reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. Thus, fantasy or fiction (of
which drama is one form) permits people to objectify their anxieties and fears, confront them, and fulfill
their hopes in fiction if not fact. The theater, then, is one tool whereby people define and understand their
world or escape from unpleasant realities.
6. But neither the human imitative instinct nor a penchant for fantasy by itself leads to an autonomous
theater. Therefore, additional explanations are needed. One necessary condition seems to be a somewhat
detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic
vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as
ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. Another condition that contributes
to the development of autonomous theater is the emergence of the aesthetic sense. For example, some early
societies ceased to consider certain rites essential to their well-being and abandoned them; nevertheless,
they retained as parts of their oral tradition the myths that had grown up around the rites and admired them
for their artistic qualities rather than for their religious usefulness.
1. The world “championed” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. changed B. debated C. created D. supported
2. The world “attributes” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. ascribes B. leaves C. limits D. contrasts
3. According to paragraph 1, theories of the origins of theater
A. are mainly hypothetical
B. are well supported by factual evidence
C. have rarely been agreed upon by anthropologists
D. were expressed in the early stages of theater’s development
4. According to paragraph 1, why did some societies develop and repeat ceremonial actions?
A. To establish a positive connection between the members of the society
B. To help society members better understand the forces controlling their food supply
C. To distinguish their beliefs from those of other societies
D. To increase the society’s prosperity
5. The word “autonomous” in the passage is closest meaning to
A. artistic B. important C. independent D. established
6. According to paragraph 2, what may cause societies to abandon certain rites?
A. Emphasizing theater as entertainment
B. Developing a new understanding of why events occur
C. Finding a more sophisticated way of representing mythical characters
D. Moving from a primarily oral tradition to a more written tradition
7. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as possible reasons that led societies to develop theater
EXCEPT:
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

A. Theater allows people to face what they are afraid of.

B. Theater gives an opportunity to imagine a better reality.
C. Theater is a way to enjoy imitating other people.
D. Theater provides people the opportunity to better understand the human mind.
8. Which of the following best describes the organization of paragraph 5?
A. The author presents two theories for a historical phenomenon.
B. The author argues against theories expressed earlier in the passage.
C. The author argues for replacing older theories with a new one.
D. The author points out problems with two popular theories.
9. The word “penchant” in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. compromise B. inclination C. tradition D. respect
10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the italic sentence in the
passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A. A society’s rites were more likely to be retained in the oral tradition if its myths were admired for
artistic qualities.
B. The artistic quality of a myth was sometimes an essential reason for a society to abandon it from
the oral tradition.
C. Some early societies stopped using myths in their religious practices when rites ceased to be seen
as useful for social well-being.
D. Myths sometimes survived in a society’s tradition because of their artistic qualities even after
they were no longer deemed religiously beneficial.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Part 3. (15 pts) Read the following passage and do the tasks that follows. Write your answer in the
space provided.

Mutual harm
A In forests and fields all over the world, plants are engaged in a deadly chemical war to suppress other
plants and create conditions for their own success. But what if we could learn the secrets of these plants and
use them for our own purposes? Would it be possible to use their strategies and weapons to help us improve
agriculture by preventing weeds from germinating and encouraging growth in crops? This possibility is
leading agricultural researchers to explore the effects plants have on other plants with the aim of applying
their findings to farming.
B The phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more chemicals that influence the growth,
survival and reproduction of other organisms is called allelopathy. These chemicals are a subset of
chemicals produced by organisms called secondary metabolites. A plant's primary metabolites are
associated with growth and development. Allelochemicals, however, are part of a plant's defence system and
have a secondary function in the life of the organism. The term allelopathy comes from the Greek: allelo
and pathy meaning 'mutual harm'. The term was first used by the Austrian scientist Hans Molisch in 1937,
but people have been noting the negative effects that one plant can have on another for a long time. In 300
BC, the Greek philosopher Theophrastus noticed that pigweed had a negative effect on alfalfa plants. In
China, around the first century AD, the author of Shennong Ben Cao Jing described 267 plants that have the
ability to kill pests.
C Allelopathy can be observed in many aspects of plant ecology. It can affect where certain species of
plants grow, the fertility of competitor plants, the natural change of plant communities over time, which
plant species are able to dominate a particular area, and the diversity of plants in an area. Plants can release
allelopathic chemicals in several ways: their roots can release chemicals directly into the soil, and their bark
and leaves can release chemicals into the soil as they rot. Initially, scientists were interested in the negative
effects of allelopathic chemicals. Observations of the phenomenon included poor growth of some forest
trees, damage to crops, changes in vegetation patterns and, interestingly, the occurrence of weed-free areas.
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

It was also realised that some species could have beneficial effects on agricultural crop plants and the
possible application of allelopathy became the subject of research.
D Today research is focused on the effects of weeds on crops, the effects of crops on weeds, and how
certain crops affect other crops. Agricultural scientists are exploring the use of allelochemicals to regulate
growth and to act as natural herbicides, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture by using these natural
chemicals as an alternative to man-made chemicals. For example, a small fast-growing tree found in Central
America, sometimes called the 'miracle tree', contains a poison that slows the growth of other trees but does
not affect its own seeds. Chemicals produced by this tree have been shown to improve the production of
rice. Similarly, box elder - another tree - stimulates the growth of bluestem grass, which is a tall prairie grass
found in the mid-western United States. Many weeds may use allelopathy to become ecologically
successful; a study in China found that 25 out of 33 highly poisonous weeds had significant allelopathic
properties.
E There may be at least three applications of allelopathy to agriculture. Firstly, the allelopathic
properties of wild or cultivated plants may be bred into crop plants through genetic modification or
traditional breeding methods to improve the release of desired allelochemicals and thus improve crop yield.
Secondly, a plant with strong allelopathic properties could be used to control weeds by planting it in rotation
with an agricultural crop and then leaving it to rot and become part of the soil in order to inhibit the growth
of weeds. Finally, naturally occurring allelopathic chemicals could be used in combination with man-made
chemicals. Boosting the efficiency of man-made herbicides could lead to a reduction in the amount of
herbicides used in agriculture, which is better for the environment.
F Despite the promising uses of allelopathic chemicals, agricultural scientists are still cautious. Firstly,
allelopathic chemicals may break down and disappear in the soil more easily than artificial chemicals.
Secondly, allelopathic chemicals may be harmful to plants other than weeds. Thirdly, allelopathic chemicals
could persist in the soil for a long time and may affect crops grown in the same field as the allelopathic
plants at a later date. Because the effects of allelopathic chemicals are not yet fully known, agricultural
scientists will need to continue to study the biological war between plants.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-F from the list of headings below. Write the correct
number, i-ix, next to Questions 1-5.
List of Headings
i What are metabolites?
ii The negative effects of allelopathy
iii Biological warfare in the plant world
iv Why we cannot use alleiopathic chemicals at present
v What is allelopathy?
vi The reasons why plants compete with other plants
vii The effects of allelopathy and realisation of its possible uses
viii How could we use alleiopathic chemicals in farming?
ix Specific examples of alleiopathic plants
Example Answer
Paragraph A iii
1. Paragraph B
2. Paragraph C
3. Paragraph D
4. Paragraph E
5. Paragraph F
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Questions 6-10: Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the
passage for each answer. Write your answer in the space provided.

Scientists can see three potential uses of allelopathic chemicals in farming. Firstly, the ability to produce
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

allelopathic chemicals could be (6) ________ into agricultural crops; secondly, allelopathic plants could be
planted in rotation with the (7) ________; finally, naturally produced chemicals could be combined with (8)
________ herbicides. However, agriculturalists are still (9) ________ as allelopathic plants may have
negative effects on plants which are not the intended target and the chemicals could remain in the ground for
a(n) (10) ________, even after the plants themselves have died.
Part 5 (10 pts) 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. Write your answer in the space provided.

Which person gives each of these opinions about the economic crisis?
1. A culture of trying to look for people to blame for our problems is what caused the crisis in the first place.
2. People feel helpless to change the situation and this is reflected in their lack of interest in the political
system.
3. It was glaringly obvious that the bottom would fall out of the housing market, not just to experts but to
everyone.
4. Some form of civil disturbance or protest by ordinary members of the public is likely if the economic
crisis continues.
5. It is very unfair that the people in finance who caused our economic problems continue to be well-
rewarded for their work while ordinary hard-working people suffer.
6. Political parties should not receive funds from private sources but should instead be entirely state-funded.
7. The highest earners should be required to pay more tax in order to generate more revenue for the
government.
8. The fact that some politicians tried to defraud the state by claiming more expenses than they were due is
evidence that corruption is widespread in our society.
9. There is very little difference in terms of policies between all of the main political parties today.
10. We should stop trying to vilify bankers and take a more positive and proactive approach to speed up the
economic recovery.
Have your say ... on the Economic Crisis
Robert
I find it infuriating to reflect on the fact that bankers, at least the ones at the top, continue to be paid huge
sums of money every year and receive massive bonuses despite the fact that they are largely responsible for
the poor state of health of the economy, and let's not forget, the toughest and longest recession since the
l930s. I mean, where is the justice in that? While ordinary decent folk are losing their jobs and struggling to
put food on the table as a result of problems that are no fault of their own, the very problem-makers
themselves continue to earn big bucks. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an increase in civil unrest in the
coming months and years, especially if the economic crisis continues to hit ordinary people hard. After all,
if no one is going to look after their interests, they will have to start looking after their own - don't be
surprised to see protest marches in the near future, and where there are large groups of unhappy people
gathered together, there s always a danger that the situation will descend into chaos. I would never condone
violence, but I think that the more desperate people get, the more I can empathise with why they might
resort to it. If you are a man who has been unemployed for over a year, and who has to look on helplessly as
his family disintegrates right before his very eyes, it must be awful - these people need help.
Barbara
The solution to our problems is very simple and I blame the political system for it not having happened
already. Politicians, you see, are totally reliant on rich business people to bankroll their efforts to get
elected. Now, ask yourself this, why on earth would a businessperson donate money to a politician out of
the goodness of their heart? I mean, are we really so naive as to believe that that can actually happen. Well,
just in case, let me put you straight - it can't and it doesn't. The only reason businesspeople give money to
politicians is in return for favours when they get into power. And that's the problem. We have a situation
where the government doesn't have trough money to cover spending. The logical thing to do then would be
to increase taxes to generate more, and obviously this obligation to pay extra tax should fall on those who
Luyện Tiếng Anh cùng cô Kiều Na-THPT Chuyên Hà Tĩnh

earn re most - ah, but this is where we get into problem territory. You can't really expect politicians to vote
to increase the tax rate of those who support them financially. To do so would be risk angering their backers
and losing their support, putting the very careers of the politicians themselves in jeopardy. Politicians
clearly have a vested interest in maintaining low tax rates for the wealthy. The only way we are ever going
to create a situation where this is not so is if we ban all private donations to political parties and fund them
instead with money from the state's coffers. In the long run, it will work out less expensive - just think of all
the money that would be saved as a result of there being less corruption - we might finally have politicians
who focused on doing what's best for country rather than on trying to prolong their political careers by
doing favours for their 'buddies'.
Ned
It is not just the economy that is in crisis; it is the whole of society. The extent to which we have lost hope
is, I think, reflected in voter apathy. Every time there is an election now, the number of people who turn out
to vote is less and less. Surely this is a sign that people feel totally disenfranchised - powerless to make a
difference. But, more importantly, it is an indictment of our politicians and the extent to which they have
failed us. The people no longer see a point in voting as it won't make any real difference either way.
Besides, nowadays, all the main parties have centrist policies; the whole political system might just as well
join together into one big party and then we wouldn't even have to hold elections anymore. People often
complain about the bankers and how they acted corruptly, and that this was the main cause of the economic
crisis we are in today. Okay, fine; the bankers were definitely at fault, but they hardly have a monopoly on
corruption. I mean, think about the expenses scandal from a couple of years ago - politicians were trying to
claim huge sums of money they weren't entitled to; let's not kid ourselves; the whole system from the top
down is corrupt, not just the bankers. They are just being made a scapegoat.
Mary
I think, today, that we live in a very cynical world. Everyone is very quick to point the finger of blame for
our economic woes on anyone but themselves - the easy targets usually; the politicians, the bankers and so
on. It is so easy to criticise other people and wash your hands of responsibility for what is happening. But
that is what got us into this mess in the first place - people not taking responsibility for their actions. The
way I see it, it is about time that we all started to take a little bit of responsibility and instead of blaming the
rest of the world for our problems, perhaps we should start by looking at ourselves. Okay, so the bankers did
wrong; they were careless with money, but so were we. Who put a gun to your head and made you buy a
house that was so overpriced it was obvious there was going to be a dramatic downward correction? Is it the
bank's fault or your own that you are in negative equity now? Now, just because you 1 made a mistake with
your money doesn't mean you are some kind of monster - and the same goes for the bankers... Let's stop
trying to find scapegoats and instead try to work together to pull ourselves out of this crisis. We do not need
the cynicism of naysayers, we need people to think positively and try to make good things happen to get this
recovery underway. I for one am done with the blame game.
Your answers:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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