TRƯỜNG THPT KỲ THI LẬP ĐỘI TUYẾN HỌC SINH GIỎI CẤP TRƯỜNG

CHUYÊN HẠ LONG NĂM 2023 - 2024

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(Đề thi này có 12 trang)
ĐỀ THI CHÍNH THỨC

Chữ ký giám thị Môn: Tiếng Anh

Thời gian làm bài: 180 phút, không kể thời gian giao đề.
SBD:
1: Ngày thi: 09/09/2023

Họ, tên thí sinh: Số phách

Ngày sinh:
2: Nơi sinh:
Học sinh lớp:

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Ghi chú: - Thí sinh viết câu trả lời vào phiếu điền đáp án. Nếu viết sai phải gạch bỏ rồi viết lại.
Thí sinh không được sử dụng bút xóa trong bài thi.
- Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển.
- Giám thị không giải thích gì thêm.

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SECTION 1: LISTENING (50 points)
Part 1: For questions 1-5, listen to a radio programme in which Suzanne Brightman, a social worker, is
talking about global migration and decide whether these statements are True (T), False (F) or Not given
(NG)). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
1. Suzanna feels that new outlets do not care about justice.
2. According to Suzanna, global migration has the same effect all over the world.
3. Suzanna believes that migration reduces job availability.
4. According to Suzanna, migrants are the lifeblood for some sectors.
5. Suzanna concludes by saying that some problems are too big to deal with alone.
Part 2. For questions 6-10, listen to a historian giving a presentation about techniques to identify the
origin of hand-written books from the middle ages. Write NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS taken from
the recording for each answer.
6. What was the very first technique in identifying origin of many manuscripts?
_______________________________________________________
7. What were types of animal hides used to write manuscripts on?
_______________________________________________________

8. When preparing animal hides, what material was used to make skin gelatinous?
_______________________________________________________

9. Why did they stretch animal hides on a frame?

_______________________________________________________

10. When comparing unknown scripts with known scripts, what allowed scientists to gain more information
about their origins?
_______________________________________________________

Part 3: For questions 11-15, listen to part of a conversation between Gordon and Martha about current
issues in education. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
11. What does Gordon think about the Guthries’educational method?
A. He is upset about the amount of contact the children could get with their friends.
B. He contends that homeschooling has become the norm.
C. He doesn’t embrace the Guthries’ wish to protect their children.
D. He thinks educating children at home is a very positive move.
12. What does Martha suggest about children’s development?
A. Schools tend to teach children more theoretical knowledge than practical.
B. Parents should not overly protect their children.
C. It is important for children to learn to deal with difficulties.
D. Survival of the fittest does not hold true for children’s development.
13. In countering Martha’s opinion, Gordon says that ______.
A. Juvenile delinquency has become a more critical issue nowadays.
B. Several problems in the community are linked to negative learning experiences at school.
C. The law of the jungle is not a valid way to address youth crime.
D. Curriculum overload makes traditional schools a less preferable option.
14. What do both Gordon and Martha agree on?
A. It would be much easier to organize different activities for just a few children.
B. Large state schools should emulate the model home schools are operating in.
C. Traditional schools should take advantage of the local community to enhance their students’
learning experiences.
D. Dividing schools into smaller units is a feasible approach.

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15. At the end of the discussion, Gordon claims that ______.
A. Most new theories in education just lead to an increased burden for teachers.
B. Change should be a crucial part of education.
C. Restructuring is the key to effective school management.
D. More comprehensible educational theories will be put forward.
Part 4. For questions 16-25, listen to a talk about Virtual Reality and complete the following summary
with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS taken from the recording for each blank.
Virtual Reality has become a matter of great concern, triggering discussion on its shift from (16)
_________________ to widespread use in the society. Figures regarding (17) _________________ prove
that VR may have sufficiently prospered to become an indispensable part of life. These devices eliminate
the (18) _________________ of a screen and create the illusion of “real life” in 3D thanks to lenses. The
influence and effects of VR technology will be (19) _________________. This will be most noticeable in
one particular field- Video Games. Since games designers and developers are increasingly able to use
their (20) _________________, the conventional mechanics and concerns of game playing may become
secondary. Further changes are likely to happen away from this field as well: teachers will be able to enter
an (21) _________________that enables learning to take place away from the typical classroom setting;
Music students could theoretically listen to their latest (22)_________________ being played in the
Sydney Opera House, while students of Medicine will be able to understand how so many parts of the
human body are (23) _________________. Furthermore, differing approaches to travel may mean that
fewer flights are taken, as people 'virtually' visit the destinations of their choice. This development is likely
to please (24) _________________as well as (25)_________________.

SECTION 2: LEXICO-GRAMMAR (20 points)

Part 1: Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
26. We’ll keep you _________ on any further changes in the examination specifications.
A. noticed B. announced C. mailed D. posted
27. Civil rights movements are gaining _________ worldwide, promoting equality and justice for all.
A. point B. ground C. terrain D. speed
28. Her constant presence at social gatherings began to ___________ his style, making it difficult for him
to enjoy the events freely.
A. impede B. cramp C. obstruct D. restrict
29. Despite the challenging circumstances, Sarah embraced her role as a ____________, taking care of
her younger siblings after her mother's early passing.
A. taskmaster B. workmate C. slavedriver D. workhorse
30. We need to ___________ the delivery of these critical medical supplies to the disaster-stricken area.
A. expedite B. fasten C. heighten D. quicken
31. Jane had to __________ a substantial portion of her savings to cover the unexpected medical
expenses.
A. splash out B. fork out C. put aside D. pay off
32. Her passionate speech at the rally was intended to _________ enthusiasm and support for the
environmental conservation initiative.
A. trot out B. turn to C. weigh up D. whip up

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33.We seem to have got our_________crossed. I thought you were coming on Tuesday.
A. boots B. shoes C. fingers D. wires
34. Despite facing numerous setbacks in her career, Sarah remained _________ and determined to
achieve her dreams
A. plucky B. gregarious C. compassionate D. bubbly
35. The cuts in government funding have had a __________ effect on local health services.
A. precipitous B. parsimonious C. pernicious D. propitious
Part 2: Supply the correct forms of the words in the brackets.
36. The (FORTUNE)_______________discovery of a rare artifact in the old attic brought unexpected joy
to the family.
37. He was fined for (PERSON)__________________ a police officer.
38. Jim works in a bank, but teaches French in the evenings as a (SIDE)_______________.
39. The dying man’s speech was so (COHERE) _______________ that no one was able to interpret his
last request.
40. He was (SPEECH)________________ opposed to the war and could be seen protesting in the town
square every Saturday.
41. I purchased a digital copy of the book to ensure the (MUTATE)_______________of the document in
case any changes occur.
42. I liked the show and gave it a good (WRITE)________________in the college magazine.
43. These people are (MEDIA) _______________and they are not going to say anything on camera that
makes them look stupid.
44. (GOVERN)_______________organizations play a crucial role in fostering international cooperation
on various global issues.
45. The rapid advancements in technology continue to (PACE) _______________our ability to regulate
and adapt to these changes.
SECTION 3: READING (50 points)
Part 1: For questions 46-55, read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best
fits each gap. Write your answers in the numbered boxes.
There’s extensive historical evidence that our ancestors may have witnessed a massive invasion of
Unidentified Flying Objects (46) ________ on their territories. These extraterrestrials are (47) ________
to have come into touch with the ancient earthly populations and helped them (48) ________ numerous
magnificent structures or even establish glamorous empires.
However, the present-day fascination with UFO was only (49) ________ by the first widely (50)
________ American sighting in Idaho in 1947. Since that time, countless other close encounters have been
reported both by highly credible witnesses such as top-class pilots and less credible ones such as ordinary
civilians. Thousands of people around the world maintain having come close to the visitors from outer
space or to have been (51) ________ for a scientific study inside their flying saucers. Although most of
these accounts have been (52) ________ as fantasy or hallucinations, there’s (53) ________ criticism from
the public and media for ignoring the subject for too long. To many people, rejecting even the most
inexplicable sightings or UFO encounters as luminous artificial objects, natural phenomena like auroras or
even as meteorological balloons and satellites seems to be an irresponsible (54) ________. Most of us
would prefer to believe that these extraterrestrial guests are arriving from some remote galaxies to establish
a peaceful relationship and possibly give us a fair warning against the consequences of our wasteful
lifestyles. Yet, there’s another theory (55) ________ that the visitors’ attitude towards mankind isn’t so
conciliatory and that their sole aim might be the unscrupulous annihilation of the terrestrial populations.

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46.A. surpassing B. approximating C. transgressing D. encroaching
47. A. reasoned B. alleged C. denoted D. inferred
48. A. fabricate B. plant C. erect D. install
49. A. discharged B. instigated C. constituted D. devised
50. A. proclaimed B. notified C. communicated D. conveyed
51. A. abolished B. abducted C. absconded D. abbreviated
52. A. speculated B. disposed C. repelled D. dismissed
53. A. multiplying B. piling C. storing D. mounting
54. A. approach B. bias C. encounter D. manner
55. A. consisting B. specifying C. meaning D. implying
Part 2: For questions 56-65 read an extract from an article and choose the answer A, B, C or D that fits
best according to the text. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
The Human Immune System
The human immune system is composed of both an innate and an adaptive immune system. First,
humans have an innate immune system that is intrinsic in all organisms, and it functions particularly through
establishing biological barriers and creating biochemical reactions that immediately respond with a maximal
effort in order to destroy infectious microbes. [A] Second, humans have an adaptive immune system, which
can only be found in vertebrates with jaws. [B] The adaptive immune system gains an immunological memory
from previously encountered germs, so it is able to prevent these specific microbes from causing further
infection. [C] With these dual capacities of fighting infection and acquiring resistance to germs, humans can
maximize their immunity. [D]
A person’s innate immune system has many complex barriers and biochemical reactions designed to
ward off infections. The most visible one is the skin, which keeps most bacteria, fungi, and viruses from ever
entering the body, but humans also have mucus, which traps germs that reside in the body’s tissue. In addition
to such biological material, there are other internal barriers like gastric acids, tears, saliva, urine, and various
chemicals that either destroy or flush out germs. Even involuntary functions like sneezing and coughing are
barriers that serve to expel germs. Beyond these, there are biochemical reactions that come from leukocytes,
which are found in the blood. Leukocytes are white blood cells that effectively clear out cellular debris, create
inflammation near an infection, summon immune cells to the inflammation, activate several other chemical
reactions, and even destroy tumors. However, perhaps the most important action these cells perform is
activating a human’s adaptive immune system, which is essential in not only curing current diseases but also
preventing future infections.
With an adaptive immune system, cells learn how to best combat pathogens and develop a higher
resistance to them. Like the innate immune system, this involves chemical reactions and cellular cooperation.
Unlike the innate immune system, this system doesn’t respond very quickly or with its full strength all at once.
Instead, it uses its time and energy to provide cells with an immunological memory to the pathogens they
encounter, making them more resistant to recurring infections (similarly to how a vaccination works). Certain
white blood cells called T-cells are the principal actors in this system; these identify “self” cells with the same
DNA and distinguish them from any foreign cells with different DNA. After this, they seek and destroy these
foreign cells, whether they are invading microbes or infected host cells. T-cells also mediate the responses
from the innate and adaptive immune systems so that the body can effectively exterminate the infection.
After destroying infectious cells, the body uses B-cells to develop antibodies, or specialized proteins
that prevent future infections. A B-cell is designed to connect with an individual type of antigen created by an
infectious cell. The B-cell uses this antigen to produce antibodies that seek out and neutralize infectious
bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, the most important process comes after the infection disappears: these
B-cells will duplicate, and their progeny will manufacture the same antibodies. Thus, the body will constantly
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produce antibodies that successfully fight off a specific infection, and the body can successfully fight off any
subsequent infections from this pathogen. In addition to this, B-cells also mark antigens for leukocytes to
attack, thus making them and microbes easier targets for the biochemical reaction.
An interesting feature of the human immune system is how it affects infants both before and after birth.
When babies are first born, they do not have very many previously formed antibodies, so they have a greater
risk of infection than adults do. However, they ward off many infections by temporarily obtaining the mother’s
antibodies from breast milk and nutrients passed through the placenta. Also interesting is the very inception
of the fetus among such an aggressive immune system: somehow, the fetus, which doesn’t have its mother’s
exact DNA, is ignored by the mother’s T-cells and B-cells. Scientists currently have a few theories about this
phenomenon. For instance, the uterus may not be monitored by white blood cells, or it may produce special
proteins that suppress any local immune responses. Nonetheless, the fact that the immune system restrains its
programming for reproductive development continues to puzzle many scientists.
56. The word “intrinsic” in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.
A. fundamental B. auxiliary C. detrimental D. extraordinary
57. Which of the following square brackets [A], [B], [C], or [D] best indicates where in the paragraph
the sentence “However, this particular action never changes to counter specific threats of infection”
can be inserted?
A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D]
58. According to passage 2, which bodily fluid initiates biochemical reactions in a human’s innate
immune system?
A. urine B. blood C. saliva D. tears
59. The word “mediate” in the passage is closest in meaning to _________.
A. interrupt B. magnify C. contemplate D. coordinate
60. Based on the information in paragraph 3, what can be inferred about the adaptive immune system?
A. Because it takes so long to act, it is less effective in purging infectious cells than the innate
immune system.
B. Even though it takes longer to act, it is more effective in long term immunity than the innate
immune system.
C. Because humans already have an innate immune system, this system is unnecessary and only used
as a substitute.
D. It works differently from the innate immune system, so the two are completely independent of one another.
61. The word “progeny” in the passage is closest in meaning to _________.
A. willingness B. mechanism C. offspring D. mutation
62. According to paragraph 4, what do B-cells produce?
A. antigens B. antibodies C. leukocytes D. pathogens
63. The word “inception” in the passage is closest in meaning to __________.
A. conception B. invulnerability C. contamination D. consumption
64. According to paragraph 5, where do newborn babies get most of their antibodies?
A. from their own white blood cells B. from immune cells in the uterus
C. from mucus and other barriers D. from breast milk and the placenta
65. Based on the information in paragraph 5, what can be inferred about how the mother’s immune
system should scientifically be affecting the fetus?
A. It should protect the fetus from infection.
B. It should help develop cells in the fetus.
C. It should be attacking foreign fetal cells.
D. It should be exposing the fetus to microbes.
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Part 3: Read the passage and do the tasks that follow.
Designed to Last
Could better design cure our throwaway culture?
A. Jonathan Chapman, a senior lecturer at the University of Brighton, UK, is one of a new breed of
“sustainable designers.” Like many of us, they are concerned about the huge waste associated with Western
consumer culture and the damage this does to the environment. Some, like Chapman, aim to create objects
we will want to keep rather than discard. Others are working to create more efficient or durable consumer
goods or goods designed with recycling in mind. The waste entailed in our fleeting relationships with
consumer durables is colossal.
B. Domestic power tools, such as electric drills, are a typical example of such waste. However, much DIY
the purchaser plans to do, the truth is that these things are thrown away having been used, on average, for just
ten minutes. Most will serve conscience time, gathering dust on a shelf in the garage; people are reluctant to
admit that they have wasted their money. However, the end is inevitable for thousands of years in landfill
waste sites. In its design, manufacture, packaging, transportation, and disposal, a power tool consumes many
times its own weight in resources, all for a shorter active lifespan than that of the average small insect.
C. To understand why we have become so wasteful; we should look to the underlying motivation of
consumers. ‘People own things to give expression to who they are and to show what group of people they
feel they belong to’ Chapman says. In a world of mass production, however, that symbolism has lost much
of its potency. For most of human history, people had an intimate relationship with objects they used or
treasured. Often, they made the objects themselves, or family members passed them on. For more specialist
objects, people relied on expert manufacturers living close by, whom they probably knew personally.
Chapman points out that all these factors gave objects a history – a narrative – and an emotional connection
that today’s mass production cannot match. Without these personal connections, consumerist culture
instead of idolizes novelty. We know we can’t buy happiness, but the chance to remake ourselves with
glossy, box-fresh products seems irresistible. When the novelty fades, we simply renew the excitement by
buying more new stuff: what John Thackara of Doors of Perception, a network for sharing ideas about the
future of design, calls the “schlock of the new”.
D. As a sustainable designer, Chapman’s solution is what he calls “emotionally durable design”. Think
about your favourite old jeans. They just don’t have the right feel until they have been worn and washed a
hundred times, do they? It is like they are sharing your life story. You can fake that look, but it isn’t the
same. Chapman says the gradual unfolding of a relationship like this transforms our interactions with
objects into something richer than simple utility. Swiss industrial analyst Walter Stahel, visiting professor
at the University of Surrey, calls it the “teddy-bear factor”. No matter how ragged and worn a favourite
teddy becomes, we don’t rush out and buy another one. As adults, our teddy bear connects us to our
childhoods, and this protects it from obsolescence Stahel says this is what sustainable design needs to do.
E. It is not simply about making durable items that people want to keep. Sustainable design is a matter of
properly costing the whole process of production, energy use, and disposal. “It is about the design of
systems, the design of culture,” says Tim Cooper from the Centre for Sustainable Consumption at Sheffield
Hallam University in Britain. He thinks sustainable design has been “surprisingly slow to take off” but says
looming environmental crises and resource depletion are pushing it to the top of the agenda.
F. Thackara agrees. For him, the roots of impending environmental collapse can be summarized in two
words: weight and speed. We are making more stuff than the planet can sustain and using vast amounts of
energy moving more and more of it around ever faster. The Information Age was supposed to lighten our
economies and reduce our impact on the environment, but the reverse seems to be happening. We have
simply added information technology to the industrial era and hastened the developed world’s metabolism,
Thackara argues.
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G. Once you grasp that, the cure is hardly rocket science: minimize waste and energy use, stop moving
stuff around so much and use people more. EZIO MANZINI, Professor of industrial design at Politecnico
di Milano University, Italy, describes the process of moving to a post-throwaway society as “changing the
engine of an aircraft in mid-flight’ Even so, he believes it can be done, and he is not alone.
H. Manzini says a crucial step would be to redesign our globalized world into what he calls the “multi-local
society”. His vision is that every resource, from food to electricity generation, should as far as possible be
sourced and distributed locally. These local hubs would then be connected to national and global networks
to allow the most efficient use and flow of materials.
I. So what will post-throwaway consumerism look like? For a start, we will increasingly buy sustainably
designed products. This might be as simple as installing energy-saving light bulbs, more efficient washing
machines, or choosing locally produced groceries with less packaging.
J. We will spend less on material goods and more on services. Instead of buying a second car, for example,
we might buy into a car-sharing network. We will also buy less and rent a whole lot more: why own things
that you hardly use， especially things that are likely to be updated all the time? Consumer durables will
be sold with plans already in place for their disposal. Electronic goods will be designed to be recyclable,
with the extra cost added to the retail price as prepayment. As consumers become increasingly concerned
about the environment, many big businesses are eagerly adopting sustainable design and brushing up their
green credentials to please their customers and stay one step ahead of the competition.
Questions 66-70. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D
66. What does ‘conscience time’ imply in paragraph 2?
A. People feel guilty when they throw things away easily.
B. The shelf in the garage needs cleaning.
C. The consumers are unaware of the waste problem.
D. The power tool should be placed in the right place after being used
67. Prior to mass production, people own things to show
A. their quality B. their status C. their character D. their history
68. The word ‘narrative’ in paragraph 3 refers to
A. the novelty culture pursued by the customers
B. the motivation of buying new products
C. object stories that relate personally and meaningfully to the owners
D. the image created by the manufacturers
69. Without a personal connection, people buy new stuff for
A. sharing B. freshness C. collection D. family members
70. The writer quotes the old jeans and teddy bear to illustrate that
A. the products are used for simple utility.
B. producers should create more special stuff to attract consumers.
C. Chapman led a poor childhood life.
D. the emotional connections make us to keep the objects for longer.
Questions 71-74. Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.
A properly B energy C locally D economy
E slowly F speed G quickly H metabolism

Tim Cooper claims that although sustainable design proceeds 71. _____________ the coming
problems are pushing the move. In accordance with Tim Cooper, Thackara believes that the origins of
the looming environmental crises are weight and 72. _____________. The technology which was

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 assumed to have a positive effect on our society actually accelerates the world’s 73. _____________.
To cure this, Manzini proposes a ‘multi-local society’ which means every resource should be located
and redeployed 74. _______________.
Questions 75-78. Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage?
Write:
YES if the statement is true
NO if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

75. People often buy things that are seldom used and throw them away.
76. In a post-throwaway society, we will pay extra money after disposing of electronic goods.
77. Some businesses have jumped on the sustainability bandwagon.
78. Company will spend less on repairs in the future.
Part 4: You are going to read an article about media coverage of the weather. Seven paragraphs have
been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap (79-85).
There is ONE extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers in the corresponding
numbered boxes provided.
How popular are weather reports?
Getting up early on the morning of January 24th, I thought the city seemed oddly quiet, but it wasn’t until I
looked out the window that I saw the snow. The “Surprise Storm” that had hit the East Coast of the United
States that morning was making earnest headway, having dumped as much as twenty inches of snow on
Raleigh, eight and a half on Philadelphia, and six on New York. This was a big shock considering the
unusually mild weather that had been settled over New York as recently as just a day ago.
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Forecasters had seen a low-pressure system moving toward the southeast on the National Weather Service’s
satellite pictures, but all the major computer models indicated the storm would head back out to sea. As
Elliot Abrams, the chief forecaster and senior vice-president of the State College, Pennsylvania, forecasting
company Accu-Weather, told me later, “Who am I to say the numerical guidance is wrong?”
80

Ever since widespread weather-data collection began, shortly after the invention of the telegraph, in the
1840s, accurate forecasting has been the goal of the weather report. But in recent years TV weather has
given increasing time and emphasis to live pictures of weather, usually in the viewing area, but sometimes
elsewhere if the weather is atrocious and the pictures dramatic - enough and this is transforming the
modern-day weather report.
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The Weather Channel acknowledged this in a recent ad created by Chiat/Day which depicted weather
enthusiasts in the guise of sports fanatics, their faces painted like weather maps, rooting for lows and highs
in a fictional “weather bar” known as the Font. At the same time, the news, which once stuck to human
affairs, now includes an ever-growing number of weather-related stories.
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And the weather’s upward climb in the newsworthiness stakes has also coincided with another trend; wild
weather is also now a standard component of reality-based programming on Fox and the Discovery

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Channel. And in book publishing recent best-sellers like “The Perfect Storm”, “Into Thin Air”, and
“Isaac’s Storm” have helped create a hot market for weather-related disaster stories.
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This newsier approach to weather, with its focus on weather events to help boost ratings, means certain
kinds of weather get overblown while less telegenic but no less significant weather is overlooked. Take
heat, for example. Eight out of the ten warmest years on record occurred in the nineteen-nineties, the two
others in the eighties. (If the planet continues to warm at the present rate, some climatologists predict an
increase in global surface temperatures of between 2.5 and 6 degrees by the year 2100.)
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This is an old complaint – that ratings-driven, storm-of-the-century-style coverage makes it harder to get
accurate information about the weather – and it has been heard here in New York at least as far back as
when the over-hyped Hurricane Gloria struck in 1985.
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However grateful we may be for this lack of danger, through war and bloodshed, it creates a psychological
need for some kind of real-life drama on our TV screens. So, when a big storm comes along, you can almost
feel the nation girding its lions as people gratefully turn their attention away from “Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?”
MISSING PARAGRAPHS
A. But heat doesn’t do particularly well on television. You can track down a blizzard on Doppler
radar as it moves up a map of the East coast, but you can’t watch heat. And drought, as Robert Henson, a
writer at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and the author of a book about TV weather-
casting, told me recently, “is the ultimate non-event. You usually hear about drought only when some rain
event comes along to end it.
B. From 1989 to 1995, according to the Centre for Media and Public Affairs, weather coverage
wasn’t among the top-ten topics on the nightly network news. In 1996, it was eighth, and in 1998 it was
fourth – more than eleven hundred weather-related stories ran altogether.
C. For the previous three weeks, unreasonably balmy conditions had been the topic of small talk
everywhere: Why was it so warm? Wasn’t it weird that there was no snow? Was it another sign of global
warming? Then, wouldn’t you know, the first big storm of the season comes along, and the National
Weather Service, the federal government’s agency, doesn’t put out an advisory until ten o’clock the night
before. (The N.W.S had been on the network news just a week earlier, announcing new weather super
computers, which are supposed to make forecasts even more accurate.)
D. Opinions concerning the causes of global warming remain highly contentious. But many
climatologists now believe that rising temperatures produce more extreme weather – not just more frequent
heatwaves and droughts but also more storms and floods.
E. But it’s not only the broadcasters’ doing: the public’s fascination with wild weather is apparently
inexhaustible. We live in peaceful, prosperous times, when the only tangible external threat to home hearth
is weather.
F. This is not so much a new market, though, as a revival of one of the oldest genres in publishing.
This increased in Mather’s 1684 book “Remarkable Providences”, which includes several chapters on
extreme weather around New England and was one of the early thrillers of the New World.
G. In some respects, these broadcasts seem more like news than like “weather” in the traditional
sense. Weather “events” are hyped, covered, and analysed, just like politics and sports.
H. I turned on the Weather Channel, as I always do for big storms. The forecast may have been
inadequate, but the live coverage was superb. In New York City, the Weather Channel was out in force,

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filming cars driving through slushy puddles and reporters sticking rulers into the snow in Central Park. I
settled in for a little voyeuristic weather-watching, an experience that has become a condition of modern
life.
D. WRITING (60 points)
Part 1: Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary should be
about 120 words.
Vietnamese children go through one of the best schooling systems in the world, a status reflected
in outstanding performances in international assessments of reading, maths and science. The latest data
from the World Bank show that, on aggregate learning scores, Vietnamese students outperform not only
their counterparts in Malaysia and Thailand but also those in Britain and Canada, countries more than six
times richer. Even in Vietnam itself, student scores do not exhibit the scale of inequality so common
elsewhere between the genders and different regions.
A child’s propensity to learn is the result of several factors—many of which begin at home with
parents and the environment they grow up in. But that is not enough to explain Vietnam’s stellar
performance. Its distinctive secret lies in the classroom: its children learn more at school, especially in the
early years.
In a study in 2020, Abhijeet Singh gauged the greater productivity of Vietnam’s schools by
examining data from identical tests taken by students in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. He showed that
between the ages of five and eight Vietnamese children race ahead. One more year of education in Vietnam
increases the probability that a child can solve a simple multiplication problem by 21 percentage points; in
India the uplift is six points.
Vietnamese schools, unlike those in other poor countries, have improved over time. The biggest
reason is the calibre of its teachers. Not that they are necessarily better qualified; they are simply more
effective at teaching. One study comparing Indian with Vietnamese students attributes much of the
difference in scores in mathematical tests to a gulf in teaching quality.
Vietnam’s teachers do their job well because they are well-managed. They receive frequent training
and are given the freedom to make classes more engaging. To tackle regional inequality, those posted to
remote areas are paid more. Most important, teacher assessment is based on the performance of their
students. Those whose pupils do well are rewarded through prestigious “teacher excellence” titles.
Part 2: The table below shows water use for different purposes in four countries. The use of water by
four different countries (%).
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where
relevant. You should write about 150 words.

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Part 3: Write an essay of about 300 words on the following topic:
Many people think that donating money is the most beneficial for those in need. However, others
argue that it is better to participate in charity organization.
What is your opinion? give reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

_THE END_

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