TRƯỜNG THPT ANH SƠN ĐỀ THI KSCL KẾT HỢP THI THỬ HSG TỈNH

1 LỚP 12
LẦN 2, NĂM HỌC 2024 - 2025

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH - BẢNG A

(Đề gồm 12 trang) Thời gian: 150 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)

ĐIỂM HỌ TÊN, CHỮ KÍ GIÁM KHẢO SỐ PHÁCH

Bằng số: Giám khảo 1:
…………………………… ……………………………
Bằng chữ: ……………….. Giám khảo 2:
………… ……………………………

SECTION A. LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1. You are going to hear a talk. As you listen, fill in the missing information. For
questions 1-15, write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS in the spaces provided.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.

5 PHILOSOPHERS ON ANGER
Anger is a complicated emotion. It can feel reasonable and (1) _____ or impulsive and
uncontrollable. But is it ever morally right to be angry? And if so, when?
One of the most (2) ______ of anger comes from the Greek philosopher Aristotle who
proposed an idea called “the doctrine of the mean.” In this model, there’s a sweet spot for
our actions and emotional reactions, and it's up to you to develop (3) ______ about when
you should feel what and how strongly to feel it. For example, let’s say you’re going to
sleep early because you have an important meeting tomorrow and your neighbor just
started (4) ______ music. If you can’t sleep, you might botch your meeting, so feeling
angry is definitely understandable. But how much anger should you feel? And what
actions, if any, should you take?
To answer these questions, Aristotle would need to know more details. Have you
previously talked to your neighbor about this issue? Is it a reasonable time to be playing
music? Is your neighbor trying (5) _______ , or are they just enjoying their evening?
Relying on practical wisdom in Aristotle’s case-by-case approach makes a lot of sense for
navigating (6)_______. But what about when there’s no one to blame for your anger?
Imagine a tornado completely destroys your house while your neighbor’s home is(7)
______. No amount of anger can undo the disaster, and there isn’t really a suitable target
for your frustration. Yet for the ancient Stoics, the tornado and the noisy neighbor (8)
_______.
The Stoics believed life is like an uncontrollable cart we’re all tied to, and we can either
learn to go with the flow or hurt ourselves fighting its (9)_______. In their logic, we all
live at the whims of fate, and our actions can never actually change things—whether it's a
since it causes pain and is ultimately futile. The 8th century Indian Buddhist philosopher
Śāntideva also questioned our free will and the value of anger, arguing that because
people often lack rational control over their emotions, we should (10)______ not to let
their anger and cruelty spread to us. But even if it’s hard for us to control our anger, there
might be something we can learn from it. Philosopher PF Strawson’s theory of reactive
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attitudes suggests that experiencing anger is a natural part of (11) _______ that helps us
communicate blame and hold each other accountable. In this model, anger can be an
important part of letting us know when something immoral is happening, so removing it
would impair our social lives and moral communities.
But finding the right response to those psychological alarm bells can be tricky. For
instance, if you were supervising cruel, (12) _______, it might be natural to feel anger, but
it would be wrong to treat their moral mistakes like those of fully formed adults. So when
should you act on anger? And can it ever help change things for the better? Let's imagine
your community is experiencing serious health issues because a nearby factory is illegally
polluting the water supply. A long tradition in political philosophy argues that the
righteous anger often invoked by witnessing this kind of (13) _______ can be invaluable
for fueling change and motivating community action. In unjust situations like this, it could
be a moral mistake to suppress your anger, instead of channeling it into positive action.
But other philosophers argue that anger has an inherent negative element that limits its
(14) _______ power. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum pointed out that famous civil rights
activists such as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr warned that giving
yourself over to even the most righteous anger can lead one to become bitter, vengeful, or
hateful of others. They cautioned that we should carefully calibrate our emotional
responses to ensure that we see others not as enemies but as community members with
whom we must learn to coexist, regardless of our (15) _______.
Your answers:
1. righteous 2. foundational 3. practical
4. plating 5. to organize you 6. interpersonal conflicts
7. untouched 8. are basically 9. momentum
10. never 11. human psychology 12.disrespectful
13.justice 14.changeable 15.ever changing emotions

Part 2. You will hear a woman called Martha and a man called James talking about a TV
series called Madison, which is about a doctor who works in a hospital. Decide if each
sentence is True (T) or False (F). (10 points)
Statements T F
Question 16. They agree that so many events happened in the last show.
Question 17. James thinks that the series is popular because of the main
character.
Question 18. Martha thinks the hero should avoid his problems.
Question 19. Martha thinks that the main character has similar skills to a
detective.
Question 20. They plan to watch the series together when they have time.
Your answers:
16.T 17.T 18.F 19.T 20.F

Part 3. (10 points)

You will hear a radio interview with the gardening experts Jed and Helena Stone.
For questions 21-25, choose the answer (А, В, C or D) which fits best according to
what you hear.
21. What is Jed’s attitude to his public profile?

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A He likes the fact that complete strangers often want to talk to him
B He’s unhappy that it prevents him doing everyday activities
C He enjoys it more now than he did when he was younger
D He’s proud of the way it reflects his achievements
22. How did Helena feel about her work on The Travel Show?
A She would have enjoyed it more in different circumstances
B It was convenient for her to be away from the house then
C It was a welcome alternative to manual work
D She felt obliged to do it at that particular time
23. What gave Jed the incentive to make a jewel garden?
A He wanted to realise a long-held ambition
B He had led people to believe that it already existed
C He wanted to show pictures of it at a gardening event
D He was inspired by the illustrations at a talk he attended
24. What explanation does Helena give for the name of the garden?
A It provided a useful framework for the project
B It was a response to the bright colours they wanted there
C It allowed them to experiment with a wide range of options
D It was meant to inspire them to embrace unconventional ideas
25. Jed says that, for him, the name ‘jewel garden’ is
A a reminder of the value of creativity
B an appropriate one for something so beautiful
C a positive way of combining both past and present
D a way of explaining his philosophy of design to people
Your answers:
21.A 22.D 23.C 24.A 25.C

SECTION B. LEXICO – GRAMMAR (20 points)

Part 1. For questions 1-12, choose the best answer to complete each of the following
sentences. Write A, B, C or D in the corresponding numbered boxes.
1. ______, the strollers can take another road.
A. If need be B. When it must C. We might as well D. Come what may
2. We had ______ cold winter this year, so our heating bills were very high.
A. a reluctantly B. an excessively C. an aimlessly D. a cautiously
3. My first job was to arrange the files in ____________ order from the oldest to the most
recent.
A. ordinal B. chronological C. numerical D. spatial
4.______, ______ the room fell silent.
A. When meeting adjourned, the CEO having made her final remarks,
B. The meeting was adjourned, the CEO having made her final remarks,
C. The meeting adjourned, the CEO having made her final remarks,
D. After the meeting were adjourned, the CEO having made her final remarks,
5. If you would like to wait for a moment, I will just ______ your file on the computer
screen.
A. call up B. put through C. bring in D. pick up
6. It’s so bad to have a boss who ____ all the time.
A. breathes down your neck B. follows your nose
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C. keeps your temper D. draws your eyes
7. You are in ________ of your contract; consider yourself relieved of your duties as of now.
A. return B. terms C. breach D. act
8. You could have done _______ inviting Sam to the party.
A. better or worse than B. a lot worse than C. much better as D. nothing as worse as
9. They exchanged ____________ for a few minutes before saying goodbye.
A. please B. pleasure C. pleasantly D. pleasantries
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s)
CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in the following question.
10. The government is using the taxes from the working class to bail out the banks that
ruined the economy? That really takes the biscuit!
A. is dunting B. is amazing C. is annoying D. is
unsuitable
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s)
OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in the following question.
11. Despite his good intentions, John’s actions ran afoul of the company’s strict
regulations.
A. complied with B. contradicted C. disregarded D. clashed with
Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to indicate the
sentence that best completes the following exchange.
12. Sarah: "I'm not sure if I should apply for that promotion. It sounds like a lot of extra
responsibility."
Tom: "_________"
A. "You should be careful, taking on more than you can handle could backfire."
B. "Why don’t you think it over before making a decision?"
C. "You’ve already got enough on your plate, why bother?"
D. "I’d go for it, you’ve got the skills and experience to do well."
Your answers:
1. D 2.B 3.C 4.B 5.A 6.A
7.B 8.C 9.C 10.B 11.C 12.A

Part 2. Read the passage below, which contains 8 mistakes. For questions 13-20,
identify the mistakes and write the corrections in the corresponding numbered
boxes.

Line
1. The BBC World Service on radios claims a regular worldwide audience of some
25 million for
2. their English language programmes. It is funded directly by the British Foreign
Office, despite
3. many Government attempts to control the content of programmes are vigorously
fought off. It is
4. broadcasted around the world and everybody who has access to a radio with short
wave needs be
5. without it. The archetype listener today is under 30, male, likely to be the second
or even third
6. language. Few women tune in, which is why there is no women’s programme
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 including in its
7. 24-hour services. The biggest and the most important of the news programme is
Newshour, a
8. 60-minute survey of world news which goes out at night at 10 p.m. British time.
This slot cannot
9. please everyone but to be the optimum time to catch any listeners having
breakfast in Hongkong
10. or settling down during the night in West Africa. It can recommend to anyone
who wants to
11. understand the world, not just Britain. At any rate, it is its aim and certainly in
comparison,
12. almost British domestic news programmes seem trivial and parochial.
Your answers:
Line Mistake Correction Line Mistake Correction
13 1 million millions 17. 3 attempts attempt
.
14 2 despite although 18. 4 needs Needs to
.
15 9 to be being 19. 2 their its
.
16 11 Britain British 20. 6 including included
.

SECTION C. READING (70 points)

Part 1. For questions 1-10, read the passage and choose the best answer. Write your
answers A, B, C or D in the corresponding numbered boxes.
History is full of inventions that looked good at the time, but which nobody wanted to
buy. New ideas may (1) ______ for one of several reasons. Firstly, there are those which do not
actually work very well when put to the (2) _______. Then, there are the ideas which are good
in themselves, but which do not fulfill a real (3) _______. In other words, people can (4)
_______ without them, so do not buy them. A third group are those which are too expensive to
manufacture. But none of these reasons explains why, in the 1990s, no new technology was
successful in replacing the compact disc as the (5) ______ of packaging recorded music.
The 1990s was a period of rapid technological change, particularly in the area of
electronic
(6) ______ for the home. During this time, a number of alternative technologies were invented
that could have replaced the CD, but none of them (7) _______ on. The new ideas worked,
were not costly to make and would have provided consumers with (8) _______ quality
recordings. Despite all this, few people bought them. And this can only be explained by the (9)
_______ that people who had invested in CD players and discs of their favorite music did not
think the improvement in quality on (10) _______ was great enough to make it worth the effort
and expense of changing.
Question 1. A. ascend B. fail C. succeed D. arise
Question 2. A. experiment B. hypothesis C. test D. practice
Question 3. A. like B. need C. wish D. want
Question 4. A. be B. make C. do D. have
Question 5. A. function B. purpose C. means D. container
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Question 6. A. supply B. machinery C. appliance D. equipment
Question 7. A. kept B. held C. caught D. took
Question 8. A. broader B. greater C. further D. higher
Question 9. A. fact B. answer C. reason D. response
Question 10.A. production B. demand C. offer D. available
Your answers:
1.B 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.A 6.D 7A. 8.D 9.C 10.A

Part 2. For questions 11-20, fill in the gap with ONE suitable word. Write the
answers in the corresponding numbered boxes.
The Special Needs of Special Kids
‘Gifted’ or ‘talented’ youngsters are (11)______who develop much more quickly than other
children at their age in one or more areas. They, therefore, find themselves significantly ahead
of their peers in some ways. Gifted children may excel in academic subjects, such as science
or languages, or in more creative areas such as music or art. (12)______ talented youngsters
display exceptional leadership, decision-making or organizational skills.
It is important for educators to identify gifted children (13)______ they often suffer when
placed in classes with children of average abilities. They frequently (14)______boredom and
frustration waiting for their peers to grasp concepts or complete tasks (15)______ seem easy
to them. Also, many of them are made to (16)______ like outsiders due to the fact that they
can sometimes be very intense or show strong preferences for hobbies, books, music or even
foods that are (17)______ with others in their age group. As a result, they often feel
misunderstood or isolated, and may become very sensitive unless educators make (18)
______ for their special needs. Certain learning difficulties are more common in gifted
children (19)______ they are among the rest of the population, and this also needs to be taken
into account when planning (20) ______ education of gifted children.
Your answers:
11.children 12.besides 13.because 14.feel 15.that
16.act 17.different 18.sure 19.when 20.to
Part 3. For questions 21-27, read an article on Ancient Angkor choose the answer A,
B, C, or D which you think fits best according to the text. Write your answers in the
corresponding numbered boxes provided. (14 pts)
Ancient Angkor
In the regions of Southeast Asia dwell the remains of an era that far exceeded its time
in developments and industrialization. This ancient city, which was mysteriously deserted in
the 15th century, is known as Angkor. Located in Cambodia, Angkor was established in 802
CE as the seat of the Khmer Empire. Khmer was the largest continuous empire in Southeast
Asia. Its main city of Angkor grew and developed until it was abandoned in the year 1431.
Many historians theorize as to why it was abandoned, but the mystery remains.
Angkor was a city of power, industry, architecture, and cultural unity, which is why
speculation surrounds its decline. The ancient Khmer city stretched over an area of nearly
120 square miles, comparable to present-day Los Angeles. Each successive ruler to the throne
brought significant additions that diversified the territory. One ruler is known for constructing
a baray, a massive water reservoir. Another built the imposing Angkor Wat, a temple of great
proportions that survived the city’s demise and exists today as a Buddhist temple. Along with
over seventy other temples in the region, Angkor was home to an expansive waterworks of
marked ingenuity when nothing of its kind existed in the world. The civilization was
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structured around the Mekong River. Intricate and sophisticated irrigation systems were
fashioned to transport water to people and fields in all parts of the city, including those
removed from the central water source. For this, the city became known as the “Hydraulic
City.” The people of Angkor were led by an extensive court system, made up of religious and
secular nobles as well as artisans, fishermen, rice farmers, soldiers, and elephant keepers. The
civilization was guarded by an army transported by elephants and ruled by shrewd and
powerful kings. Yet after 600 years of existence, an abandoned shell was all that remained.
The land, buildings, and architecture were reclaimed by the surrounding forest
regions until the 19th century, when French archaeologists discovered the remains and
began restoring sites in the great city of Angkor. Since then, theories have evolved over time
relating to the death of Angkor’s civilization. The first theory states that the city fell because
of war. The last two centuries of Angkor’s existence showed a decline in the Khmer Empire’s
population and power. Ongoing wars with neighboring Thailand had devastated the nation. In
1431, attackers from Thai nations invaded and looted Angkor, leaving it desolate and vacant.
Continuous war with Thailand culminating in a final attack on the city could have weakened
the empire and led to the city’s demise.
Another theory states that a change in religion led to the country’s downfall. The
Khmer Empire had predominately been a Hindu nation, and the people were unified in their
religion. Jayavarman VII, acclaimed as the greatest of Angkor’s kings, took the throne in
1181 CE. He instituted a change in religion from Hinduism to Mahayana Buddhism. This
action subsequently could have destroyed the unity of the people and the overall foundation
of the empire.
(A) Natural disaster in another feasible possibility for the scattering of people from the
Angkor region. (B) Historians say earthquakes, floods, and drastic climate changes would
have been capable of stripping Angkor of its people. (C) One researcher hypothesized that the
city suffered from a lack of water due to the transition from the medieval warm period to the
little ice age. Others dismiss this idea. (D)
However, a recently developed theory built on the work of French archaeologist
Bernard-Philippe Groslier may have shed the most light on Angkor’s demise. The theory
suggests that the Angkorian civilization was “defined, sustained, and ultimately overwhelmed
by over-exploitation and the environmental impacts of a complex water-management
network.” Its vast waterworks proved too great for the city to manage. Also, supplying such a
massive empire with water had adverse effects on the environment. Ecological problems
included deforestation, topsoil degradation, and erosion due in part to clearing vegetation for
cropland. Thus, the city inadvertently brought about its own environmental collapse.
With the use of aerial photography and high-resolution, ground-sensing radar,
researchers were able to support Groslier’s theory with images that complete existing
topographical maps. The radar detected surface structures as well as subtle variances in
surface vegetation and soil moisture. This proved that environmental erosion had occurred.
The combined images and ground-based investigations further revealed that Angkor was a
victim of its own industrial ingenuity, a city ahead of its time and vulnerable to its own
power.
21. The author mentions the Khmer Empire in paragraph 1 in order to ________.
A. establish the size and importance of the civilization
B. explain the downfall of the main city in the empire
C. compare the nation’s size to a present-day location
D. demonstrate why people were not loyal to the city

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22. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is true about the waterworks built
within Angkor?
A. They transported drinking water to Angkor Wat.
B. They were a money-making venture for the city.
C. They were built to extend the water supply.
D. They irrigated fields along the sides of the river.
23. All of the following are true about the city of Angkor EXCEPT _______.
A. It was built around a water source. B. It had an advanced road system.
C. It surpassed other cities of its time. D. It is home to a Buddhist shrine.
24. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted
sentence? Incorrect choices may change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.
A. Archaeologists built a replica of what Angkor looked like.
B. Archaeologists uncovered the overgrown city and rebuilt its sites.
C. Finding the city, workers cleared the forest and studied the architecture.
D. The city’s architecture was inspired by the forest regions nearby.
25. What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about the people who inhabited Angkor?
A. They worshipped ruler Jayavarman VII.
B. Hinduism was central to their way of life.
C. Religion led to more violence among them.
D. They were unified regardless of national religion.
26. Look at the four squares [...] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to
the passage
“These natural catastrophes would have likely resulted in destroyed buildings, ruined cops,
and a decreased water supply that would have forced citizens to leave.”
Where would the sentence best fit?
A. first square B. second square C. third square D.
fourth square.
27. According to paragraph 7, which of the following did researchers prove about Groslier’s
theory with the use of aerial photography and advanced radar?
A. The surface soil showed evidence of dirt washing away.
B. The waterworks were filled with topsoil.
C. Vegetation was thriving where soil was deeper.
D. Soil damage was stable throughout the changes.
Your answers:
21. B 22. C 23. B 24. D 25. D 26.C 27.A

Part 4. Read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.
Timekeeper: Invention of Marine Chronometer
A. Up to the middle of the 18th century, the navigators were still unable to exactly
identify the position at sea, so they might face a great number of risks such as the
shipwreck or running out of supplies before arriving at the destination. Knowing one's
position on the earth requires two simple but essential coordinates, one of which is the
longitude.
B. The longitude is a term that can be used to measure the distance that one has covered
from one's home to another place around the world without the limitations of naturally
occurring baseline like the equator. To determine longitude, navigators had no choice but

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to measure the angle with the naval sextant between Moon centre and a specific star- lunar
distance-along with the height of both heavenly bodies. Together with the nautical
almanac, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was determined, which could be adopted to cal-
culate longitude because one hour in GMT means 15-degree longitude. Unfortunately, this
approach laid great reliance on the weather conditions, which brouggreat inconvenience to
the crew members. Therefore, another method was proposed, that is, the time differ- ence
between the home time and the local time served for the measurement. Theoretically,
knowing the longitude position was quite simple, even for the people in the middle of the
sea with no land in sight. The key element for calculating the distance travelled was to
know, at the very moment, the accurate home time. But the greatest problem is: how can a
sailor know the home time at sea?
C. The simple and again obvious answer is that one takes an accurate clock with him,
which he sets to the home time before leaving. A comparison with the local time (easily
identified by checking the position of the Sun) would indicate the time differ- ence
between the home time and the local time, and thus the distance from home was obtained.
The truth was that nobody in the 18th century had ever managed to create a clock that
could endure the violent shaking of a ship and the fluctuating temperature while still
maintaining the accuracy of time for navigation.
D. After 1714, as an attempt to find a solution to the problem, the British government
offered a tremendous amount of £20,000, which were to be managed by the magnifi-
cently named 'Board of Longitude'. If timekeeper was the answer (and there could be
other proposed solutions, since the money wasn't only offered for timekeeper), then the
error of the required timekeeping for achieving this goal needed to he within 2.8 seconds a
day, which was considered impossible for any clock or watch at sea, when they were in
their finest conditions.
E . This award, worth about £2 million today, inspired the self-taught Yorkshire carpenter
John Harrison to attempt a design for a practical marine clock. In the later stage of his
early career, he worked alongside his younger brother James. The first big project of theirs
was to build a turret clock for the stables at Brockelsby Park, which was revolutionary
because it required no lubrication. Harrison designed a marine clock in 1730, and he
travelled to London in seek of financial aid. He explained his ideas to Edmond Halley, the
Astronomer Royal, who then introduced him to George Graham, Britain's first-class
clockmaker. Graham provided him with financial aid for his early-stage work on sea
clocks. It took Harrison five years to build Harrison Number One or H1. Later, he sought
the improvement from alternate design and produced H4 with the giant clock appearance.
Remarkable as it was, the Board of Longitude wouldn't grant him the prize for some time
until it was adequately satisfied.
F. Harrison had a principal contestant for the tempting prize at that time, an English math-
ematician called John Hadley, who developed sextant. The sextant is the tool that people
adopt to measure angles, such as the one between the Sun and the horizon, for a calcula-
tion of the location of ships or planes. In addition, his invention is significant since it can
help determine longitude.
G. Most chronometer forerunners of that particular generation were English, but that
doesn't mean every achievement was made by them One wonderful figure in the history is
the Lancastrian Thomas Earnshaw, who created the ultimate form of chronometer
escapement-the spring detent escapement-and made the final decision on format and
productions system for the marine chronometer, which turns it into a genuine modern

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commercial product, as well as a safe and pragmatic way of navigation at sea over the
next century and half.
Questions 28-32
The above passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 28-32 on your answer sheet.
NB: You may use any lotter more than once
28. a description of Harrison's background
29. problems caused by poor ocean navigation
30. the person who gave financial support to Harrison
31. an analysis of the long-term importance of sea clock invention 5 the practical usage of
longitude
32. the practical usage of longitude
Questions 33-35
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage ?
In boxes 33-35 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
33. In theory, sailors can easily calculate their longitude position at sea.
34.. To determine longitude, the measurement of the distance from the Moon to the given
star is a must.
35. Greenwich Mean Time was set up by the English navigators.
Questions 36-40
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for
each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.
36. Sailors were able to use the position of the Sun to calculate______.
37. An invention that could win the competition would lose no more than ______ every
day.
38. John and James Harrison's clock worked accurately without______.
39. Harrison's main competitor's invention was known as ______.
40. Hadley's instrument can use ______ to make a calculation of location of ships or
planes.
Your answers:
28.E 29.A 30.D 31.B 32.B
33.FALSE 34.TRUE 35.NOT 36.longitude 37.2,8 seconds
GIVEN
38.lubrication 39.sextant 40.

Part 5: Questions 41- 50. Read four album reviews from a world music website and
answer the questions by writing the correct reviews A-D in the corresponding numbered
boxes. The reviews may be chosen more than once. (10pts)
WORLD MUSIC REVIEWS: ARTISTS and ALBUMS
A. WatCha Clan: Diaspora Hi-Fi - A Mediterranean Caravan

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The album begins with a scrambled montage of voices and Arabic strings and percussion;
right away, the listener is projected into a mix of dance floor sounds. This is fusion music,
dubbed and electroed. Watcha Clan put forward a dilemma: can diverse influences result in a
harmonious whole? Or does it just end up as a mish-mash of indistinguishable sound? They
certainly add a rich variety of flavours to the dominant rhythms.
Some people can't get enough of vocalist Sista K's unusual voice, but for others even a little
is too much. Nassim Kouti sometimes accompanies her on vocals and guitar. One of these
tracks is the haunting 'Ch'ilet La'Yani'. The beginning of ‘Oued El Chotili’ is equally tranquil
and briefly entrances before the reggae beat takes over, powered by Moroccan castanets. The
song stands out on the album because the really impressive combination of styles works so
well. This doesn't always happen on other tracks, but watching the bonus video makes you
realise what this band is all about and that they had a lot of fun making this album.
B. Various artists: Nigeria Disco Funk Special
In the 1970s, Lagos was a creative place musically, and would-be artists flocked there from
all over Africa to put their very individual spin on imported music. The first number, an
instrumental by Sahara All Stars entitled 'Take Your Soul', is bravely funky and strikes just
the right opening note. The next outstanding track is by the talented Johnny Haastrup, who
gives a great rendition of 'Greetings'. It is hard to understand why he never really made it as a
soloist, because this piece is both harmonic and flamboyant.
Sadly, the remaining songs are not in the same league, and you may be disappointed that they
lack a truly authentic and traditional feel. Also, the material is mostly instrumental, so there
are few singing stars in evidence. But despite this, the album is well worth listening to. It's
arranged in an order suitable for clubs, which is doubtless what the artists originally intended.
C. Neco Novellas: Khu Kata
Neco Novellas is a singer-songwriter with immense talent and imposing stage presence. His
new album, 'Khu Kata', presents influences of his teenage years in Mozambique. Guest
vocalist Lilian Vieira of Zuco 103 enriches the track called 'Vermeiha' which is a successful
mix of Brazilian samba and Mozambican pop, while the track called 'Zula Zula' really shows
what Novellas can do. But with 'Phumela' things slide downhill for a while, and the lyrics of
'Swile Navo' can only be described as banal.
He returns to form with 'The Train’, which is beautifully arranged and owes an obvious debt
to the Hugh Masekeia songbook ('Stimela!'), but the best tracks are the uplifting 'Tikona' and
'0 Sol', which truly stand out as the blend of world/jazz fusion that this artis regularly
delivers. Nonetheless, 'Khu Kata' would have been improved by more rigorous editing and
slightly fewer tracks.
D. Think Of One: Camping Shaabi
Think Of One is truly unique. Over the years, this Antwerp- based group have worked and
recorded with a wide range of artists such as Afro-Brazilian percussionists and Inuit throat
singers, but for this album, they return to Moroccan themes. The Moroccan effect is apparent
straight away in the spellbinding rhythms and voices of the first track, 'J'étais Jetée'. And
that's just for starters - the recording goes on to mix diverse sounds and types of music at an
astounding speed.
The quality doesn't falter from one track to the next and each track is innovative in its own
way. The vintage keyboards and Balkan-style brass section are always there, laying the
foundations for the other sounds which are brought in and used around them. In a dazzling
combination of Flemish, French, Arabic and English, the band's lyrics also fascinate, some
having a serious tone and others being more frivolous, but a singable tune always surfaces.

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In which review is the following mentioned?
41. _________ the rapid transition from one source of inspiration to another
42. _________ surprise at an artist’s lack of success in a venture
43. _________ the artists’ obvious enjoyment of the creative process
44. _________ the high standards a performer usually attains in a certain style
45. _________ an opening track which impresses without vocals
46. _________ the problems arising from relying on a multitude of sources
47. _________ the reliance on certain key musical instruments
48. _________ the calm atmosphere created by two tracks on the same album
48. _________ the special contribution of a singer to a blend of sounds
50. _________ tracks sequenced in a way that would reflect the performers’ wishes
Your answers:
41.D 42.C 43.D 44.B 45.B 46.A 47.A 48.C 49.A 50.B

SECTION D. WRITING (60 points)

Part 1. Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it is as similar as
possible in meaning to the sentence printed before it.
Question 1. In spite of searching high and low, we couldn’t find Jack anywhere.
 Jack was nowhere to be found despite searching high and low.
Question 2. My parents think that I should go to university rather than find a job immediately.
 My parents would prefer me to go to university rather than find a job immediately.
Question 3. We had to return from our holiday earlier because Tim was ill.
 We had to cut our holiday short because Tim was ill.
Part 2: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given. Do not change the word given. (2 points)
Question 4. What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story. (APPETITE)
 What he told me made me appetite to hear the rest of the story
Question 5. It wasn’t Tom that you saw in the department store, for sure. (BEEN)
 It could not have been Tom whom you saw in the department store.
Part 2. Write a letter of about 120-150 words.
Your local newspaper published an advertisement asking people to offer time for local
environmental initiatives in your area. Write a letter to the project manager to offer your
help. In your letter:
 Describe a local volunteer project that you are passionate about
 Explain what you would like to do to help
 Suggest how to gather more support for the cause
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well.I am writing this letter to express my interest in
the environmental protection volunteer position,which was advertised on your paper
last Monday.
First of all ,I would like to express my willingness to be part of this volunteering
project as it is typically focused on how dangerous non-biodegradable products are,
and how can we replace these with biodegradable ones.To illustrate, suggesting
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alternatives such as wood instead of plastic can lead to a reduction of using such
products.
Additionally, more support can be gathered by taking resort to media to spread the
word to the entire nation as it would not be as effective, however, smaller steps can
result in gaining massive success.

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

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high
school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or
teaching sports to younger children).
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of
high school programmes. Most of the colleges are already providing opportunities to
gain work experience, however these are not compulsory. In my opinion, sending
students to work in community services is a good idea as it can provide them with
many valuable skills.
Life skills are very important and by doing voluntary work, students can learn how
to communicate with others and work in a team but also how to manage their time
and improve their organizational skills.
By giving them compulsory work activities with charitable or community
organizations, they will be encouraged to do something more creative. Skills gained
through compulsory work will be an asset on their study. Students will also gain
more respect towards work and money as they will realize that it is not that easy to
earn them and hopefully will learn to spend them in a more practical way.
However, although helping others is absolutely the best method to improve
students themselves, there should be a time limitation for those volunteered works, to
illustrate it, those works can't be overloaded thus leading to some negative influences
on students' academic performance. For example, it is more correct for students to
make use of weekend days and spare time to do those work rather than at their
school time.
In conclusion, I would insist high school scholars should take part in unpaid
community service but we need to guarantee that they will not feel disturbed and
annoyed by such activities.

_____ THE END ______

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