ĐỀ THI THỬ KỲ THI CHỌN HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA

TRUNG HỌC PHỔ THÔNG

NĂM HỌC 2023 – 2024

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH

SỐ PHÁCH
Thời gian: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
Ngày thi: 02/12/2023
Đề thi có 14 trang

• Thí sinh KHÔNG được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.

• Giám thị KHÔNG giải thích gì thêm.
____________________________________________________________

I. LISTENING (5,0 points)

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
• Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 10 giây; mở đầu và kết thúc mỗi phần
nghe có tín hiệu.
• Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có nhạc hiệu. Thí sinh có 02 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước nhạc hiệu kết thúc
bài nghe.
• Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh đã có trong bài nghe.

Part 1: Listen to a recording and decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F), or
Not Given (NG). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. Individualists are frequently blamed for greed, shallow materialism and societal breakdown.
2. That priests no longer needed to act as middlemen paved the way for the development of the modern
individualism in the 18th Century Enlightenment.
3. The decline of independence and unanimity stems from the rise of personal autonomy.
4. In East Asia, people can discover their own identity unless they are inextricably linked to the groups they
belong to.
5. If a man makes little contribution to society, his individualism will be condemned.
Your answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Part 2: For questions 6-10, listen to a recording about the history of the industrial revolution and answer
the following questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer.

6. Prior to the industrial revolution, what were the economies in Europe and America?
_________________________
7. What ran on the steam engine alongside factories and ships?
_________________________
8. What was the development seen in the textile industry?
_________________________
9. What title did Great Britain hold for such a long time?
_________________________
10. By whom were engineers and inventors supported in British society?
_________________________

Page 1 of 14 pages
Part 3: For questions 11-15, listen to part of a conversation between Frank and Les, two journalists, about
bereavement and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
11. Frank, the first speaker, takes exception to the claims of bravery for someone famous because
A. he feels the term bravery should only be applied for someone with experience in the military.
B. he feels the word bravery doesn't adequately describe the situation.
C. he feels anyone facing a bereavement exhibits bravery.
D. he had experience of normal people facing much harder circumstances.
12. When talking about people's attitude to privacy, Les makes the point that
A. things have changed dramatically over time.
B. the police don't have the right to ask for privacy in the manner they do.
C. the need for privacy has never really been taken seriously.
D. privacy actually does more harm than good.
13. How does Les feel about the changes in the way bereavements are handled by newspapers?
A. He doesn't like the idea of people having to pay for obituaries to be published.
B. He doesn't feel information about bereavements should appear in newspapers.
C. He is of the opinion that the way things are done now are much more efficient.
D. The modern approach fills him with regret.
14. What was the public's response to the newspaper's reporting on personal events like weddings and funeral
flower tributes?
A. They were generally appreciative of the coverage but occasionally raised concerns about minor errors.
B. They demanded high accuracy in reporting, leading to changes in newspaper practices.
C. Complaints were mostly about the invasion of privacy rather than the accuracy of the reports.
D. The public showed a preference for detailed reporting over brief, paid notices.
15. Why does Frank refer to himself as a social worker?
A. He was given better access by claiming to be a social worker.
B. Because he found himself giving a lot of moral support.
C. He studied sociology at university.
D. It was a job he would have preferred to have had.
Your answers
11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Part 4: For questions 16-25, listen to a recording about spider silk and complete the following sentences.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS taken from the recording for each blank.
Spiders may not receive affection from the public except for (16) ___________________________; however, their
silk with specific powers can actually bring remarkable scientific values.
Spider silk is produced from a liquid that is high-protein, and spiders use spinnerets, an external part of their
glands, to turn that liquid into (17) ____________________________.
The silk produced by spiders varies in types, and has many properties such as a superior (18)
____________________________ compared to steel, an ability to stretch and contract, even create a mesh to
withstand a bullet.
Body armor, (19) _________________________ and football helmets are examples of products designed to
reduce physical damage that can take advantage of spider silk’s properties.
Spider silk is antimicrobial thanks to its (20) ____________________________, and does not trigger (21)
__________________________ on contact with human.
Indeed, (22) ______________________ of synthetically enhanced medical products have already been
developed.
Raising spiders for harvesting silk is challenging, as territorial and predatory (23) ____________________ cannot
live cooperatively, and people still need to (24) ______________________ and hand milk them for silk.
Genetically modified goats are bred to produce milk with spider silk proteins, among other approaches using
silkworms, bacteria and (25) _________________________ in order to make spider silk products commercially
possible.

Page 2 of 14 pages
II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (2,0 points)
Part 1. For questions 26-40, choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to each of the following questions.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
26. The singer appeared in a game show in a ______ attempt to explain her scandal.
A. gripping B. forlorn C. transient D. pertinent
27. It was only when I saw Manhattan ______ into the distance beneath and behind me that I finally began to relax.
A. abating B. withdrawing C. receding D. reversing
28. Julie felt unfairly ______ when she spoke out against a company proposal and the entire staff team turned
against her.
A. prosecuted B. persecuted C. oppressed D. suppressed
29. He's been holding ______ for over 20 years and intends to continue for as long as possible.
A. the fort B. the field C. the horse D. the reins
30. You get seasick but you’re going to travel by boat – you’re a glutton for ______!
A. estrangement B. management C. amazement D. punishment
31. Hanson can be such an ______ guy sometimes. Just when you thought you know him, he will do something
to make you think otherwise.
A. evasive B. exclusive C. elusive D. equivocal
32. My grandfather always plans everything ahead; he even has the words of his own ______ written out so that
people will know what to put on his tombstone.
A. inscription B. epitaph C. epigraph D. epitome
33. Although Jane had always excelled in school, she felt like ______ when she began attending college.
A. a fly in the ointment B. a sting in the tail C. castle in the air D. a flash in the pan
34. The company has been ______ lately for its lack of customer service.
A. jumping through hoops B. catching flak C. rising to the bait D. making mincemeat
35. He cheated in the exam but then ______ the rap unfairly.
A. fight B. beat C. clinch D. win
36. If we have an important decision to make, we sometimes spend a whole day ______ in a meeting.
A. thrashing it out B. bogging it down C. dredging it up D. figuring it on
37. His position had become ______ and he was forced to resign.
A. fallacious B. erroneous C. untenable D. invalid
38. As an inevitable effect of globalization, small countries have no choice but to ______ to the influence of the
superpowers.
A. recast B. capitulate C. concede D. perish
39. He lived in ______ poverty, trying to keep the style of a high social class while not having much money.
A. pompous B. genteel C. desolate D. ostentatious
40. Peter was heartbroken when Sue ______ his offer of marriage so cruelly.
A spurned B disclaimed C denied D renounced

Your answers:
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33.
34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

Part 2: For questions 41-45, write the correct form of each bracketed word in each sentence in the
numbered space provided in the column on the right.
Your answers:
41. Ted was (COMMUNICATE) from the volunteer group due to his poor attitude. 41. _________________

42 An (ECONOMY) is the one who uses statistics and mathematics to study, model 42. _________________
and predict economic principles and outcomes.

43. Get away from the resorts and there’s a(n) (WORLD) beauty here, which is best 43. _________________
seen on foot.

44. Her ability to predict my thoughts was (NERVE) accurate, leaving me feeling 44. _________________
exposed and vulnerable.

45. Calling the chaotic and bustling Times Square 'tranquil' is a blatant (NAME), akin 45. _________________
to describing a hurricane as a gentle breeze.

Page 3 of 14 pages
III. READING (5,0 points)
Part 1. For questions 46-55, read the passage and fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE
suitable word. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
In the world of competitive sports, doping tests have become a critical tool in maintaining the integrity of
athletic competitions. These tests are designed to detect the (46)__________ of prohibited substances or methods
that athletes might use to enhance their performance (47)__________. The issue of doping in sports is complex
and multifaceted, reflecting not only on the competitive nature of athletes but also on the broader ethical
implications for the sports community.
Doping tests are conducted both in and out of competition, employing a range of sophisticated techniques
to identify banned substances. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) plays a pivotal role in this process, setting
the standards and maintaining a(n) (48)__________ list of prohibited substances. However, the effectiveness of
doping tests is frequently challenged by the continual evolution of performance-(49)__________ drugs and
methods. Athletes, driven by the high stakes of competitive success, often find themselves in a (50)__________
dilemma, balancing the desire for victory against the principles of fair play and sportsmanship.
The impact of doping extends beyond (51)__________ athletes, affecting the credibility of sports
institutions and the integrity of sports as a whole. High-profile doping (52)__________ have led to a crisis of trust
among fans and sponsors, undermining the fundamental values of sportsmanship and (53)__________
competition. Consequently, the enforcement of doping tests is not just a matter of regulation, but also a crucial
step in preserving the essence of sports, ensuring that achievements are based on talent, dedication, and hard
work, rather than on the use of illicit substances. The debate around doping tests thus reflects larger questions
about the nature of competition, the limits of (54)__________ performance, and the ethical boundaries in the
pursuit of (55)__________ excellence.

Your answers:
46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
2000-WATT CHALLENGE: HOW TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY USE AND STILL LIVE WELL
In theory, it's possible to live well while using energy at a rate of just 2000 watts – a quarter of the average for
people in the US. Our environment reporter took on the challenge. Here's what he discovered
THE first thing I did was turn off the lights. Then I unplugged everything. On reflection, I reconnected my
fridge. Next, I made a list of all the other ways I consume energy. Gas-powered boilers heat my apartment and
water. I cook on a gas stove. I take the New York City subway to work. For longer trips, I drive or hail a ride, and I
fly. Then there's the fridge, washing machine and dryer, elevators, a computer, phone, even my toothbrush. I add
to the list anything I buy that requires energy to make and transport. Plus the food I consume or throw away. Nearly
everything I do requires energy.
Energy is a hot topic right now. Rocketing fuel prices precipitated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the
transition to renewable sources to limit global warming have focused people and governments on reducing
consumption. With this in mind, I wanted to see whether I could drastically cut my energy use. I had read that, in
the 1990s, Swiss researchers calculated that just 2000 watts per person would be enough for everyone to live
sustainably and still have a good quality of life. So that became my target. This was the first day of a personal,
month-long "2000-watt challenge".
I used an online calculator – once I got the Wi-Fi back on – to estimate my current energy use. In the US,
each person consumes energy at a rate of 8600 watts on average. I didn't think my lifestyle was particularly
extravagant, so I was surprised to find I use even more than that. Clearly, I had a long way to go.
A watt is a measure of power or, put another way, the rate of energy transfer (see "What's watt"). For much
of human history, people consumed little more energy than that which was embodied in the food they ate. On a
per person basis, "that's perhaps 90 watts on average", says Sascha Nick at the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology Lausanne. Fuel for cooking and heating added more watts, as did animal power for agriculture and
transport: 1 horsepower, a unit coined by inventor James Watt (after whom the watt is named) to promote his
improved steam engine, is equivalent to 746 watts. Complex societies with construction, metalworking and pottery
added a few hundred more. "The Roman Empire had a consumption of perhaps 500 watts," says Nick. "And it
didn't use electricity at all."
Today, industrialised societies use vastly more energy, exploiting mainly fossil fuels to power the global
economy. The average total, or "primary", energy consumption per person is highest in Iceland coming in at 17,000
watts in 2021. The US, at 8600 watts, was number 11. By comparison, per-person energy use was around 4200
watts on average in the European Union, 3400 watts in China and 3300 watts in the UK. But there is massive
inequality globally: people in India used 800 watts and in Bangladesh they used just 310 watts. The International

Page 4 of 14 pages
Energy Agency estimates that more than 2.5 billion people worldwide lack access to enough energy for basic
needs such as cooking and cooling.
The unprecedented increase in energy consumption in high-income countries – and the environmental
consequences it entails – has prompted energy researchers to ask: when energy becomes available far beyond
the minimum needed, what is sufficient to live well? It is a question worthy of Socrates. What constitutes enough?
What is a good life? So it is hardly surprising that there is no consensus among economists or energy experts.
"I’m not confident yet to define an actual threshold of sufficiency of material consumption,” says energy researcher
Narasimha Rao at Yale University. “But I know it’s well below the maximum that you see in many countries.”
Two-thousand watts is one answer. Back in the 1990s, it was the amount of energy available to each person
on Earth if all the energy produced was divided equally. Based on this and on studies that found diminishing returns
to quality of life beyond this level of consumption, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich
calculated that using energy at a rate of 2000 watts – equivalent to using 48 kilowatt-hours per day – was sufficient
for each person in Switzerland to consume without sacrificing their enviably high standards of living. The team
also concluded that aiming for the ambitious but feasible 2000-watt target would be a means of helping Switzerland
reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (see “Energy sources and their emissions”).
I first read about the 2000-watt society in Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel The Ministry for the Future, which
was published in 2020. From a not-too-distant future where Switzerland has achieved this goal, a chipper character
points to the country as an example of the wisdom of using less: “It took paying attention to energy use, but the
resulting life was by no means a form of suffering; it was even reported to feel more stylish and meaningful to
those who undertook the experiment.” This notion that living at 2000 watts wouldn’t be so hard stayed with me
and, when the price of energy jumped last year, I thought I would try it for myself.
For questions 56-62, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG).
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
56. The majority of activities that the writer do consume a lot of energy.
57. The writer began the 2000 watt challenge after reading a sustainability-maintaining method from another
scientist.
58. The writer didn't think the US citizens had such an expensive way of life.
59. People haven't needed much more energy than what they got from the food they ate for a long time.
60. Despite perceiving the lack of energy in some isolated areas, people still use a lot more energy.
61. It shouldn't be surprising that economists and energy experts can't agree on anything.
62. Narasimha Rao has claimed her ability to identify a real material consumption sufficiency level.
Your answers:
56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62.

For questions 63-68, read the following sentences and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE
WORDS taken from the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
63. Researchers figured that each Swiss person could use energy at a rate of 2000 watts, without lowering their
high ______________.
64. Switzerland could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by trying to reach the ______________but doable 2000-
watt goal.
65. A book by Kim Stanley Robinson, published in 2020, was where the writer first encountered ______________.
66. The challenge aiming to reduce energy consumption made its participants feel more ______________.
67. This concept that living on 2000 watts wouldn't be too difficult ______________ with the writer.
68. The challenge was accepted by the writer when the ______________ increased last year.
Your answers:
63. 64. 65.
66. 67. 68.

Part 3. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 69-75, read the passage
and choose from paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap. There is ONE extra paragraph which you
do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

CALIFORNIA'S CARBON OFFSETTING MAY ACTUALLY BE INCREASING EMISSIONS

The state's ambitious plan to be carbon-neutral by 2045 relies on carbon offsets through the state’s forests. But
scientists say it may be causing more harm than good

Page 5 of 14 pages
On 15 December, California approved an ambitious plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. Among other things,
it mandates that all passenger vehicles use zero-emission technologies by 2035, with the aim of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 85 per cent below 1990 levels before mid-century. “California is leading the world’s
most significant economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution – we’re cutting pollution, turning the page
on fossil fuels and creating millions of new jobs,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press release after the plan
was approved.
69.
Carbon offsets are at the heart of net-zero emissions plans around the world. The success of the programme in
the most populous US state – not to mention, the world’s fourth largest economy – is seen as a bellwether for how
similar schemes may work elsewhere, and is already being used as a model for other states’ and countries’ climate
policies.
70.
Cranking carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has disastrous consequences, which become more painfully clear
by the day. Carbon offset programmes, like those underway in California for the last decade, allow companies to
balance out their emissions by paying to protect forests. Trees capture carbon dioxide from the air, so protecting
forests can act like a bulwark against rising greenhouse gases. Landowners can earn credits for maintaining
forests – thus keeping carbon sequestered – and polluters can buy these credits to compensate for their own
emissions.
71.
Getting the maths right is difficult, but crucial. “If your calculations are not perfect, you’re doing harm,” says Danny
Cullenward, policy director at the non-profit CarbonPlan and a member of the California Environmental Protection
Agency’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee. The problem starts with the carbon cycle, he says.
The consequences of adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere extend centuries, if not millennia, into the future.
Meanwhile, forests have much more short-term cycles; when trees die, some of the carbon they have sequestered
goes back into the air. Under California’s law, however, all carbon reductions are required to be permanent.
“There’s really no way to square that circle,” Cullenward says.
72.
What’s more, the researchers found no evidence that the programme has reduced logging. Some of the offset
properties are on land already at less risk of harvesting because they contain less commercially valuable timber.
Conversely, other sites owned by industrial timber companies have continued to harvest trees at similar rates,
even after enrolling in the offset programme.
73.
Meanwhile, the forests in the American West are changing rapidly: in many, trees are now dying faster than they
can be replaced as climate change increases the risks of wildfire, insect infestations, disease and drought. “The
consequences of the warming and the precipitation changes on forest ecosystems are blowing everybody’s
minds,” says Cullenward.
74.
When Cullenward and his colleagues analysed the buffer pool’s actual performance, they found that in the last 10
years, fires have depleted a jaw-dropping 95 per cent of the buffer that was intended to manage the next century’s
wildfire risks.
75.

The missing paragraphs:

A. The scientists also found that the impact of one single disease, on a single tree species called tanoak, would be
enough to completely wipe out the credits set aside for all disease- and insect-related mortality. A catch-all “other
catastrophic risk” category does mention wind, ice and flood damage explicitly, but these credits are capped at 3
per cent, no matter the size or location of the offset site. What’s more, the buffer pool makes no specific allowances
for drought, an increasing driver of tree mortality as the south-western US endures the most extreme drought in
more than 1000 years.
B. The researchers found that more than half of forests in arid, tropical and temperate regions – where the majority
of the world’s trees are found – showed a significant decrease in resilience over the two decades. By contrast, the
boreal forests ringing the globe’s northern latitudes saw an increase in resilience.

Page 6 of 14 pages
C. To compensate for these risks, the Air Resources Board created an insurance programme called a buffer pool,
aiming to ensure that the carbon in the offset programme would stay put for at least a century. Landowners pay
into the pool when they sell credits. When there are unintentional reversals – when wildfire burns down trees that
were supposed to be storing carbon, for example – the state can withdraw credits from the buffer pool. It was a
good idea, Cullenward says. The issue is that the Air Resource Board “never explained where they came up with
their numbers” for the buffer pool’s allowances. “If you were in the business of providing insurance for earthquakes
or floods, you’d want to know how frequent the events are,” he says.
D. Yet despite setting aggressive decarbonisation goals, what some experts noticed was what the plan failed to do:
address growing criticisms of California’s carbon offsets programme, which is theoretically responsible for as much
as half of the state’s emissions reductions.
E. In a 2021 study, Cullenward and his colleagues found that California’s offsets programme systematically over-
credits the carbon-absorbing potential of its offset properties by nearly a third. More recently, he and his colleagues
used satellite data to precisely measure the amount of carbon being sequestered in 37 of the state’s offset sites.
They found that no additional carbon is actually being sequestered in these forests than would have been without
the programme.
F. It should raise a red flag that timber companies appear to be meeting the state’s baseline requirements without
actually doing anything differently, says Shane Coffield, a postdoctoral researcher at the NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center in Maryland and a co-author of the study. “Year after year, they’re getting new credits put into these
projects, without direct evidence of improved management,” he says.
G. But researchers warn that there are fundamental flaws in how these offsets are being implemented – shortcomings
that, at best, mean the programme is inefficient and, at worst, suggest that it may actually be doing more harm
than good.
H. California’s carbon offsets programme is administered by the California Air Resources Board, the body responsible
for setting the state’s emissions standards. (The agency declined an interview request from New Scientist.)
Landowners can apply to participate in the programme, agreeing to keep carbon stocks above a certain threshold
known as a “baseline”. To verify this is happening, third-party analysers manually measure a sample of trees.
Your answers:
69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

Part 4. For questions 76-85, read a passage on stem cells and choose the answer A, B, C or D which fits
best according to the passage. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
STEM CELL SOURCES
The new miracle of the medical world is the stem cell, a marvel of human nature in that it can become any
of nearly 220 cell types that constitute the human body. It is often called a blank cell that can be programmed to
become other cells. Researchers predict that, by using stem cells, they can create organs that can be transplanted
into people who desperately need them to save their lives. The most common source of stem cells is the human
embryo, the initial stage of human life after a female egg is impregnated by a male sperm. In this very fact lies an
ethical conundrum that has rocked both the medical and political landscape of the United States and other
countries. Coupled with this is new research in cloning, which has seen some success in developing animal
species without the use of normal birthing procedures. All of these areas of research are making quite a few people
nervous about both the sources of stem cells and where the research is taking mankind.
Most stem cell-containing embryos come from four different sources: fertility clinics which often store more
human embryos than are needed; fetuses from unwanted pregnancies that are aborted; therapeutic cloning, which
is when a human egg is stimulated into an embryo-like state; and custom-fertilization in which a human egg is
deliberately fertilized with sperm to create an embryo in order to harvest its stem cells. Morally many people are
outraged by these sources, claiming that human life is not something that should be tampered with and created
just for scientific and medical purposes. At the core of this debate is the issue of what really constitutes a human
being, with one side claiming a human does not exist until born from its mother while the other side claims that
once egg and sperm meet, life has begun.
The United States government has taken an active role in the debate and is consciously looking at
the voting booth while making decisions regarding stem cell research. The government gave the go-ahead
for federal spending on stem cell research but limited activity to specimens that already existed, meaning no new
embryos could be created solely for stem cell research. Similar laws regarding cloning research have been
proposed, including therapeutic cloning. Many universities and research centers worry that these laws may cause
their best and brightest scientists to seek appointments overseas, where stem cell research is not so controversial.
[A] Scientists now seek non-embryonic sources of stem cells to avoid the controversy in the future and to
allow them to carry out their work without interference. [B] Unfortunately, so far the search has not unearthed any

Page 7 of 14 pages
sources that are as perfect as human embryo stem cells. [C] Research suggests that inside each person there is
a limited supply of stem cells in the blood that are used to repair red blood cells when they are damaged. [D] Some
scientists believe they may be able to harvest these cells, but results so far have had limited success in extracting
and using them to produce other cells. Even the limited successes they have had are being questioned by other
experts as unproven. Two other sources, baby teeth and adult bone marrow, show some possibilities, but again
the research is being questioned, and, as of yet, no positive new source of stem cells has been found to replace
human embryos.
In view of the ethical debate that surrounds stem cell research, especially its sources of stem cells, it is
likely that it will be some time before the whole issue is laid to rest. Meanwhile, countless people suffer from
illnesses that could be cured or their pain alleviated by the work that comes from stem cell research. Some people
believe that the debate about when human life actually begins needs to take a backseat to the issue of wherv
human life will end, especially when it is possible to save someone from an early death. In the end, the research
will likely get done in a place that puts existing human life above that in the embryonic state. It is also highly unlikely
that that place will be the United States.
76. A stem cell is unlike other cells because ______.
A. it has at least 220 different parts B. it can develop into any other cell
C. it has been used to cure illnesses D. it is at the center of a controversy
77. All of the following are sources of stem cells EXCEPT ______.
A. embryos made for people who cannot conceive B. human eggs that act like they are fertilized
C. artificially impregnated women D. the remains of unwanted babies
78. The word outraged in the passage is closest in meaning to ______.
A. annoyed B. worried C. angered D. corrupted
79. The main debate concerning stem cell sources revolves around ______.
A. how they are extracted from the source B. what the stem cells are used for
C. the methods used to produce them D. when someone believes life begins
80. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the underlined sentence in the
passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A. The United States government is involved in the debate on stem cells only because it is worried about the
voters.
B. The voters are making the United States government worried about its position on stem cell research.
C. The issue of stem cell research is one that most United States voters are concerned about.
D, The United States government’s decisions on stem cell research reflect what its voting public wants.
81. According to paragraph 3, American universities and research institutes are worried about ______.
A. not getting enough funds for stem cell research
B. losing people to better opportunities elsewhere
C. having the government shut down their operations
D. having to find new sources of stem cells
82. Which of the following square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph the sentence
"The main reason they are not perfect is that, while embryo stem cells can become any other cell, other
stem cells from different sources can only become limited types of cells." can be inserted?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
83. The word alleviated in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.
A. lessened B. Stopped C. released D. repaired
84. It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that in many countries stem cell research ______.
A. has as many difficulties as in the United States
B. is seen primarily from a scientific, not moral, viewpoint
C has not made as much progress as in the United States
D. is currently being used in the treatment of ill people
85. What can be understood about the author’s opinion on the stem cell research debate in paragraph 5?
A. The author agrees that the moral issue is more important than health care.
B. The author believes that stem cell research should be conducted outside the United States.
C. The author understands the moral issue but does not agree with it.
D. The author thinks caring for sick people outweighs questioning when human life begins.
Your answers:
76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Page 8 of 14 pages
Part 5. The passage below consists of five paragraphs (A-E). For questions 86-95, read the passage and do the
tasks that follow. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

THE LOUVRE ABU DHABI

(A) THE TELEGRAPH
Even in November, the blinding light and searing heat on the Arabian coast is so intense at midday that you
instinctively seek respite in the shade. I have found it under the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the new museum
of world cultural history, which opens in the Emirate today, and aims to help transform the image and the appeal
of the city. First, whether visitors from around the world feel inspired, baffled or bamboozled by the displays in the
Louvre Abu Dhabi they are less likely to suffer the sort of cultural exhaustion that you see in the eyes of most tour
groups when they emerge from three or four hours in the British Museum, the Paris Louvre or the Met in New
York. They will feel they can grasp the key works, and at least an idea of a story they represent, in one
visit. Second, they will surely enjoy the building itself. The simple experience of being here is hugely pleasurable.
Galleries are stunning - Jean Nouvel gives you occasional windows on the sea, the sky and the courtyards outside;
rooms to rest your eyes; space for the art and artefacts to breathe and your spirit to soar.
(B) THE NY TIMES
A decade ago the French architect Jean Nouvel sketched the bare outlines of a fretted dome on flimsy paper.
Today this enormous metallic-silver canopy rises over desert sands and the Persian Gulf - marking the new Louvre
Abu Dhabi museum and the global ambitions of France and the United Arab Emirates to deploy art as a diplomatic
tool they call 'soft power.' The vast dome and clusters of waterfront galleries beneath it will open to the public on
Nov. 11, with sunlight cascading through a lacework of stainless steel and aluminum and layers of star-shaped
patterns. It's been a long wait for those thousands of stars to align with five years of construction delays and
technical challenges to build the estimated $650 million flagship on Saadiyat Island, by a lagoon near this capital
city. Abu Dhabi officials are already preparing for the future. Mr. Mubarak predicted that the Louvre Abu Dhabi will
have a domino effect and that the construction contract for the long-planned Guggenheim Abu Dhabi could be
awarded next year. In the meantime, Jean-Luc Martinez, the director of the Louvre Museum, said the project has
already had a dramatic effect in France. 'Thanks to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, our museums were forced to work
together after 50 years of development.' 'We have some egos,' he added, with Gallic understatement. 'That's a
revolution in mentality.'
(C) THE GUARDIAN
Hovering just above the sandy shores of Saadiyat Island like an upturned colander washed up on the beach, the
metallic-domed roof of the new Louvre Abu Dhabi doesn't give much away from the outside. 'I wanted to create a
neighbourhood of art, rather than a building,' says Jean Nouvel, the French architect of the new Louvre, which
opens to the public on 11 November, and enjoys the use of the venerable Parisian institution's name in a 30-year
deal worth over $663 M - a first for a museum outside France. A 2015 Human Rights Watch report found that,
despite the construction of a spotless workers' village, many labourers on the Louvre project were still being kept
in conditions akin to indentured servitude, forced to work for months without pay until their illegal recruitment fees
were repaid, and subject to summary arrest and deportation if they complained. 'See humanity in a new light,'
trumpets the billboards leading to the new Louvre, and that is exactly what this project forces you to do. Like many
of the priceless objects on show, commissioned by despots and dictators throughout the ages, the nature of how
the building was made is all part of the story, a troubling facet to this spectacular cultural artefact of our time.
(D) THE ECONOMIST
As Emmanuel Macron and Muhammad bin Zayed, the president of France and the crown prince of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), walked towards the Louvre Abu Dhabi (LAD) for its grand opening on November 8th, their
eyes were fixed on the magnificent silvery domed roof, as heavy as the Eiffel Tower, that appears to float above
the galleries. They might more usefully have gazed down at the floor. For there, in the entrance, is a map of the
UAe's coastline. All along the shore, listed as if they were ports on an old parchment are the names of towns
around the world that manufactured the hundreds of objects on display inside. Each one is spelled out in its own
language, 26 in all. There is Greek, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. There is even one in
Hebrew, Qa al-Yahud, the old Jewish quarter in Sana'a, Yemen, where the LAD's medieval Torah was made.
Designed by Jean Nouvel, the building is a triumph. A 30-year contract, signed in 2007, will pay $974 M to the
Louvre and its partner museums in France, which have lent the LAD 300 objects. The museums will mount four
exhibitions annually in Abu Dhabi for the next 15 years. The Louvre also advises on acquisitions for the LAD's own
collection. Prince Muhammad calls the project, which could cost more than $2bn, the 'crown jewel' in his country's
relationship with France.

Page 9 of 14 pages
Which text
86. admits the personal failings behind the delay in completion of the project?
87, divulges criminal accusation involved in the project?
88. is the only text to offer reasons for delays?
89. suggests an alternative view for world leaders?
90. gives recognition to the origins of items?
91. gives the full potential cost of the project?
92. claims that the experience of this museum will be superior to others?
93. contrast the initial design with the present result?
94. casts a derisive eye on the historic nature of such grandiose projects?
95. does not draw on imagery of levitation to illustrate the building?

Your answers:
86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

Page 10 of 14 pages
Student’s full name: ……………………………………../ School:……………………………………..
IV. WRITING (6,0 points)
Part 1. Read the following extract and use your own words to summarise it. Your summary should be
between 100 and 120 words.
One would assume that as educational institutions integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies and
comprehensive resources, this would lead to more independent and self-guided learning among students.
However, the real-world scenario often unfolds differently. These resources, while rich in content and capabilities,
are generally highly structured and adhere to a standardized curriculum. Although this approach is efficient for
information dissemination, it can unintentionally stifle creativity and discourage students from pursuing
independent lines of inquiry, thus limiting their self-directed learning opportunities.
This structured educational environment can foster a phenomenon known as 'learned dependence.' In this
scenario, students, habituated to receiving information in a pre-packaged, ready-to-consume format, may lose
their motivation to seek knowledge independently. Ironically, the ease of accessing information can lead to a
passive learning attitude, where students tend to accept information at face value, with little critical engagement
or exploration beyond what is provided.
The role of educators in this context is also impacted. With the abundance of educational tools at their
disposal, teachers often find themselves in the role of knowledge transmitters rather than facilitators of active,
exploratory learning. This dynamic further reinforces the trend towards reduced learner autonomy, as the
educational system does not adequately encourage students to question, challenge, or extend their knowledge
beyond the prescribed curriculum.
Additionally, the design of modern educational systems, with a heavy emphasis on measurable outcomes
and standardized testing, can inadvertently impede the development of autonomous learning. The predominant
focus on grades and standardized assessments often leads to a 'teaching to the test' mentality, prioritizing exam
preparation over the cultivation of understanding and independent application of knowledge. This approach, while
it may achieve desired outcomes in terms of standardized metrics, can overshadow the development of critical
thinking and self-learning skills, crucial for fostering autonomy in learners.
Moreover, the reliance on technology in educational settings can sometimes result in a superficial
engagement with knowledge. While students may become proficient in using digital tools and accessing
information, this does not automatically translate into a deeper understanding or the ability to apply knowledge in
diverse contexts. The challenge, therefore, lies not just in providing access to information, but in fostering skills
necessary for critical analysis, synthesis, and application of knowledge.
In addressing this paradox, a reevaluation of educational strategies is required, focusing on creating
environments that encourage exploration, critical questioning, and self-guided learning. Balancing the benefits of
technological advancements with the nurturing of independent, critical thinkers is essential. Such a balance is vital
for developing learners who are not only well-informed but also capable of independent thought and innovation,
ready to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

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Page 11 of 14 pages
Student’s full name: ……………………………………../ School:……………………………………..
Part 2. The line graph shows changes in South Korea’s unemployment rates across different occupational
categories between 1993 and 2003, and the pie chart illustrates the proportions of South Korea’s workforce
in different occupational categories in 2003.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Page 12 of 14 pages
Student’s full name: ……………………………………../ School:……………………………………..

Part 3. Write an essay of 350 words on the following topic.

Public venues such as theaters, cafes, restaurants, and museums should implement age restrictions to prevent
disturbances caused by children.
Discuss the statement and state your opinion.

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(You may write overleaf if you need more space.)

– THE END –

Page 14 of 14 pages