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PAGE TÀI LIỆU TIẾNG ANH NÂNG CAO KỲ THI HỌC SINH GIỎI VÒNG TỈNH THPT
ĐỀ THI THỬ HSG TỈNH SỐ 02 NĂM 2020

Môn thi: TIẾNG ANH

Thời gian thi: 180 phút (không kể thời gian giao đề)
Ngày thi:
Đề thi có 15 trang

* Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, kể cả từ điển

* Giám thị không giải thích gì thêm.
I. LISTENING (50 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 1-9, listen to a radio interview with a ghost hunter called Carlene Belfort and decide
whether these statements are True (T) or False (F). Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes provided.
1. Carlene’s parents encouraged her to become a professional ghost hunter.
2. She believes a ghost hunter needs to possess a special power.
3. She mostly works for people who want reassurance.
4. Whenever ghosts are present, she feels them touching her hair.
5. There was one time when evils made her camera stop working.
6. She is most afraid when things move on their own accord.
7. She doesn’t understand why some scientists do not believe her.
8. She wants sceptics to experience a ghost hunt for themselves.
9. She feels she is providing a real service.

Your answers
1.F 2.F 3.T 4.F 5.F 6.T 7.F 8.T 9.T

Part 2. For questions 10-15, listen to a listen to a recording about someone giving advice on how to ask their
boss for a pay rise and choose the correct answer A, B or C which fits best according to what you hear. Write
your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
10. The key factor when asking for a pay rise is
A. voicing your demands in a convincing way.
B. making it clear you feel undervalued.
C. proving you are an asset in the business.
D. comparing yourself to the rest of the staff.
11. If you have any failings, you should
A. check that no one knows about them.
B. put them right gradually so that it is not too obvious.
C. accentuate your strengths, such as punctuality.
D. make sure your boss likes you as a person.
12. When preparing what to say in your salary negotiation
A. put yourself in your superior's shoes.
B. do not forget that you really need that extra money.
C. make a list of all the points in your favor.
D. focus on what you can do for the company in the future.

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13. What should you do if your boss raises objections to your pay rise?
A. pre-empt them by raising them yourself and giving a counter argument
B. make sure you can quote company rules to him or her
C. appreciate that your boss is only doing his or her job
D. accept any offer as it is better than nothing
14. During salary negotiations, it is important to
A. mention that the company is very successful.
B. ensure your boss is aware that you are taking these negotiations seriously.
C. arrange to see your boss early in the day when he or she is fresh.
D. try not to put your boss in an awkward position.
15. What should you do if you do not get a pay rise or as much as you wanted?
A. be prepared for a long drawn-out conflict
B. know that you might have to resign as a matter of principle
C. either have an alternative or ask for constructive criticism
D. either get a colleague to back you up or talk to your boss again soon

Your answers
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Part 3. For questions 16-25, listen to a lecture about dust storms and supply the blanks with the missing
information. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS taken from the recording for each answer in the
space provided.
Main focus of lecture: the impact of 16__human activities_______ on the occurrence of dust storms.
• Two main types of impact:
A) break up ground surface, e.g. off-road vehicle use
B) remove protective plants, e.g. 17__mainland farming______ and___drainage_______

Name of area Details

USA ‘dust bowl Caused by mismanagement of farmland
Decade renamed the 18__dirty thirties___________
West Africa Steady rise in dust storms over 20-year period

Arizona Worst dust clouds arise from 19__dry

thunderstorms_____________
Dust deposits are hazardous to 20__machine
operators_____________
Sahara Increased wind erosion has occurred along with long-
term 21___drought________

Drying-up of Aral Sea

Intensive 22____variations_________ in Central Asian Republics

Drop in water in major tributaries
Total volume of water in lake reduced by 23____two-thirds____________
Increase in wind-blown material
Lake has become more 24_______saline________
Serious effects on 25___crops___________nearby

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II. PHONETICS (10 POINTS)

26. The spacecraft _________ into space and then spent three days getting to the Moon.
a. hurled b. threw c. blasted d. orbited
27. Did you ever realise you have an uncanny _________ of coming down to the kitchen just as
I am about to serve dinner? Very strange!
a. habit b. knack c. trick d. routine
28. __________ on by my husband, I applied for the job I had always dreamt of having.
a. begged b. obliged c. urged d. pleaded
29. __________ by both financial and emotional problems, the father decided he had had
enough and slipped away from the house quietly at dawn.
a. pressured b. beset c. filled d. drowned
30. I felt let down by a very unsupportive boardroom, ___________ by the very chairman
himself, Wilson Gray. I had no choice but to resign.
a. at most b. not least c. notwithstanding d. henceforth
31. Out upon the cloud covered hills, we only caught the occasional glimpse of the town lights
___________ far below in the valley.
a. sparkling b. glimmering c. flashing d. beaming
32. After a month, I will ___________ the ropes and won't keep bothering you for help.
a. show b. learn c. get d. finish
33. The young rookie scored over 20 goals in his first year, taking the whole league by
__________.
a. force b. example c. storm d. assault
34. Hubert ___________ remembered locking the door and couldn't understand how it was now
standing wide open.
a. distinctly b. sharply c. totally d. utterly
35. If you are looking for Sheila, she is over in the corner of the library with her head
___________ in her books.
a. covered b. entombed c. buried d. drowned

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Your answers
26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

III. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (40 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 36-55, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D to each of the following questions and
write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
36. It has been suggested that Mary ______________ a computer course in preparation for a steady job.
A. takes B. took
C. take D. will take
37. Mr Black: “I‘d like to try on these shoes, please.”
Salesgirl: “________________.”
A. By all means. sir. B. That’s right, sir.
C. Why not? D. I’d love to.
38. This project is ________________ for an introductory-level class.
A. too much really hard B. much too really hard
C. really much too hard D. really hard too much
39. The problem is not with the new design________________, but rather the way it is marketed.
A. with or without itself B. in and of itself
C. just by itself D. all by itself
40. Nowadays, with the help of the computer, teachers have developed a ________________ approach to
teaching.
A. multilateral B. multilingual C. multiple-choice D. multimedia
41. There has been growing public concern about the use of chemicals in food _____________ recently.
A. preservation B. protection C. reservation D. conservation
42. My sunburnt nose made me feel rather ________________for the first few days of the holiday.
A. self-effacing B. self-centred C. self-conscious D. self-evident
43. The extensive winds that have been ________________ Florida will move away as the weekend draws to a
close.
A. battering B. punching C. cracking D. thumping
44. The company management decided to ___________ more workers to meet the production schedule.
A. take on B. make out C. take over D. make up
45. At first the children enjoyed the game but quite soon the novelty ________________.
A. went off B. died out C. wore off D. died down
46. To get his proposal accepted, the Finance Manager had to _______ heavy pressure from colleagues.
A. fend off B. laugh off C. send off D. push off
47. The football club decided to ________________ the team with a couple of world class players.
A. beef up B. butter up C. dredge up D. drum up
48. When I asked her where her brother was, she just _______________ her shoulders and looked away.
A. shrugged B. clenched C. rolled D. nodded
49. Unfortunately, as he had no qualifications, all he could find was a ________________ job.
A. minor B. petty C. slight D. menial
50. Richard is ________________ confident, and this has helped him climb the corporate ladder.
A. acutely B. blissfully C. supremely D. immensely
51. I'm sorry I didn't call you back sooner; it totally ________________ my mind.
A. boggled B. slipped C. crossed D. faded
52. I wish I hadn’t said it. If only I could ________________.
A. turn the clock round B. turn the clock down
C. turn the clock back D. turn the clock forward
53. I can't stand his behaviour. It is very easy for him to ________________ off the handle.

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A. rush B. jump C. move D. fly

54. Unions accept free accommodation and travel, yet they would scream ________________ murder if the
same was received by politicians.
A. red B. blue C. yellow D. black
55. I grew up in California, so when I moved to Minnesota, I felt like I stuck out ________________.
A. a kilometre B. an inch C. a yard D. a mile

Your answers
36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42.
43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49.
50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

Part 2. For questions 56-60, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space provided.
Historically called radium F, the element polonium-210 (Po-210) is a naturally-occurring radioactive element
that emits highly hazardous alpha particles. Po-210 was discovered in 1898 by Marie and Pierre Curie. It is (56-
EXCEED) __exceedingly______________ rare in nature (tiny amounts exist in the soil and in the atmosphere)
and it does not (57-CUSTOM) __customarily______________ present a risk to humans. Today, Po-210 is
studied in nuclear research laboratories where its high radioactivity requires special handling techniques and
(58-CAUTIOUS)____precautiousness____________. Po-210 is fantastically toxic but it does not represent a
risk to human health, as long as it remains outside the body. Internal exposure is the concern. In order to get into
the human body, Po-210 must be ingested or inhaled as It cannot pass through the skin.
It has been known since the 1960s that Po-210 is present in tobacco smoke as a contaminant. Tobacco plants
which are fertilised with phosphate fertilisers absorb Po-210 through their roots. Even though direct root (59-
TAKE) _____intake___________ of Po-210 by tobacco plants is small, Po-210 is still estimated to cause some
11,700 lung cancer deaths annually worldwide. (60-DEPOSIT) _____deposition__________ of Po-10 from the
atmosphere on tobacco leaves also results in elevated concentrations of Po-210 in tobacco smoke.

Part 3. For questions 61-65, write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space provided.
61. The success of the company in such a (COMPETE) _____competent___________ market is remarkable.
62. His was a (SPEND) ___overspending____________ youth, devoted only to pleasurable pastimes and
pursuits.
63. It’s a terribly (FUNCTION) ____malfunctioned________ relationship; I don’t know why they’re still
together.
64. He was a modest and (ASSUME) ______reassuming__________ man who never gave the impression that
he knew all the answers.
65. The one thing that can be said in favour is that it sends vegans and animal rights activists (CANDLE)
___incandescent_____________ with rage.

Part 4. For questions 66-75, find and correct 10 mistakes in the passage. Write them in the numbered boxes
provided.
In today busy world of sports competition the inborn talent for running fast or jumping high isn't enough to get
to the top. The extraordinary relationship between training techniques and technological advancement has
prompted revolutionary changes in the field of athletics as well as in other variety of sports disciplines. The
close cooperation between science and sportsmen themselves have provided a fresh inspiration aimed at helping
the athletes to advance their performance. The complicated mechanisms of the human body are scrutinized in
laboratories where competitors are welcomed to act like useful consultants whose skill cannot be imitated by
even the most sophisticated computer programs. The remarkable development in sports achievements has been
initiated and led to the sports equipment designers - the shoe manufacturers in particular. This fresh scientific
approach and the impressive collaboration between technology and competitors have stimulated a dramatic

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progress in attaining record results. Whereas the average weight of a sports shoe two decades ago amounted at
320 grammes, today its equivalence is about fifty per cent lighter. In consequence, sportsmen like marathon
runners can cover long distances much faster than they did a hundred years before. But it's not only the
professional competitors that have benefited from the astounding breakthrough in the sports equipment
technologies. Amateur joggers and keep-fit enthusiasts can also take tremendous advantages of the enormous
changes in the science of sport. The expectations and tastes of casual sportsmen are also running highly for the
footgear and other accessories to guarantee maximum comfort and a betterment in performance.

Your answers
66. 67. 68. 69. 70.

71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

III. READING (50 POINTS)

Part 1. For questions 76-85, fill each of the following numbered blanks with ONE suitable word and write
your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
The game of solving difficult puzzles has always filled people with the feeling of a profound excitement. No
76.____wonder______, then, that the fascination of treasure hunting has invariably been associated with the
possibility of 77.____realizing______ the most improbable dreams. According to what the psychologists claim,
there is a little boy in every treasure hunter. Yet, the chase of hidden valuables has recently become a serious
venture with amateur and professional seekers 78._______equipped___ with highly sophisticated devices like
metal detectors, radars, sonars or underwater cameras. What raises the adrenaline 79.______level____ in these
treasure-obsessed fanatics are legends, myths, old maps and other variety of clues promising immeasurable
fortunes 80._____buried_____ beneath the earth's surface or drowned in the ancient galleys. For many treasure
hunters the struggle of hint searching is even more stimulating 81.______than____ digging out a treasure trove
composed of golden or silver objects, jewellery and other priceless artefacts. The job is,
82.___however_______, extremely strenuous as even the most puzzling clues must be thoroughly analysed.
Failures and misinterpretations occur quite frequently, too. Yet, even the most unlikely clue or the smallest find
is 83.____enough______ to reinforce the hunter's self-confidence and passion. Indeed, the delight in treasure
finding doesn't 84.___always______ depend on acquiring tremendous amounts of valuables. Whatever is
detected, 85.______be____ it a rusty sundial or a marble statue, brings joy and reward after a long and
exhausting search.
Your answers
76. 77. 78. 79. 80.

81. 82. 83. 84. 85.

Part 2. For questions 86-95, read the text below and decide which answer A, B, C or D best fits each gap.
Write your answers in the corresponding numbered boxes provided.
Dogs can 86.__________ a range of impressive skills in their portfolio, from leading the blind to carrying out
mountain rescues to 87.__________ those with contraband goods at border control posts. Unquestionably, they
have extremely 88.__________ senses compared to humans and recently, scientists have been investigating the
precise 89.__________ of their talents in relation specifically to their sense of smell. In short, they wanted to
find out if man’s best friend could 90.__________ out cancer.

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Indeed, this notion has been around for a while, 91.__________ on the internet for the most part, where
anecdotal evidence abounds in the form of countless stories of family dogs persistently smelling certain areas of
their owner’s body, areas later shown to be cancerous. However, whilst the canine sense of smell is
unquestionably 92.__________, thus far at least, there appears to be little scientific 93.__________ for a canine
cancer screening program.
The problem is that whilst studies have shown that dogs are right about cancer more often than could be
explained by pure chance, their 94.__________ rates are not high enough to make them reliable for screening
purposes.
Therefore, sadly, whilst man’s best friend undoubtedly has some very impressive tricks in his repertoire, he will
not be turning up in cancer units any time soon other than to comfort his loved ones in their time of
95.__________.
86 A. boast B. praise C. brag D. applaud
87 A. recommending B. condescending C. comprehending D. apprehending
88 A. broadened B. lengthened C. aggravated D. heightened
89 A. length B. extent C. coverage D. dimension
90 A. sense B. smell C. sniff D. scent
91 A. perpetuated B. commemorated C. conserved D. reserved
92. A. astounding B. resounding C. compounding D. abounding
93. A. motive B. basis C. footing D. concept
94. A. identification B. recognition C. detection D. diagnosis
95. A. distress B. appeasement C. harassment D. agitation

Your answers
86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

91. 92. 93. 94. 95.

Part 3. For questions 96-108, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow.

READING THE SCREEN

Are the electronic media exacerbating illiteracy and making our children stupid? On the contrary, says Colin
McCabe, they have the potential to make us truly literate.

The debate surrounding literacy is one of the most charged in education. On the one hand there is an army of
people convinced that traditional skills of reading and writing are declining. On the other, a host of progressives
protest that literacy is much more complicated than a simple technical mastery of reading and writing. This
second position is supported by most of the relevant academic work over the past 20 years. These studies argue
that literacy can only be understood in its social and technical context. In Renaissance England, for example,
many more people could read than could write, and within reading there was a distinction between those who
could read print and those who could manage the more difficult task of reading manuscript. An understanding of
these earlier periods helps us understand today's `crisis in literacy' debate. There does seem to be evidence that
there has been an overall decline in some aspects of reading and writing — you only need to compare the
tabloid newspapers of today with those of 50 years ago to see a clear decrease in vocabulary and simplification
of syntax. But the picture is not uniform and doesn't readily demonstrate the simple distinction between literate
and illiterate which had been considered adequate since the middle of the 19th century.

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While reading a certain amount of writing is as crucial as it has ever been in industrial societies, it is doubtful
whether a fully extended grasp of either is as necessary as it was 30 or 40 years ago. While print retains much of
its authority as a source of topical information, television has increasingly usurped this role. The ability to write
fluent letters has been undermined by the telephone and research suggests that for many people the only use for
writing, outside formal education, is the compilation of shopping lists.

The decision of some car manufacturers to issue their instructions to mechanics as a video pack rather than as a
handbook might be taken to spell the end of any automatic link between industrialization and literacy. On the
other hand, it is also the case that ever-increasing numbers of people make their living out of writing, which is
better rewarded than ever before. Schools are generally seen as institutions where the book rules — film,
television and recorded sound have almost no place; but it is not clear that this opposition is appropriate. While
you may not need to read and write to watch television, you certainly need to be able to read and write in order
to make programmes.

Those who work in the new media are anything but illiterate. The traditional oppositions between old and new
media are inadequate for understanding the world which a young child now encounters. The computer has re-
established a central place for the written word on the screen, which used to be entirely devoted to the image.
There is even anecdotal evidence that children are mastering reading and writing in order to get on to the
Internet. There is no reason why the new and old media cannot be integrated in schools to provide the skills to
become economically productive and politically enfranchised.

Nevertheless, there is a crisis in literacy and it would be foolish to ignore it. To understand that literacy may be
declining because it is less central to some aspects of everyday life is not the same as acquiescing in this state of
affairs. The production of school work with the new technologies could be a significant stimulus to literacy.
How should these new technologies be introduced into the schools? It isn't enough to call for computers,
camcorders and edit suites in every classroom; unless they are properly integrated into the educational culture,
they will stand unused. Evidence suggests that this is the fate of most information technology used in the
classroom. Similarly, although media studies are now part of the national curriculum, and more and more
students are now clamouring to take these course, teachers remain uncertain about both methods and aims in
this area.

This is not the fault of the teachers. The entertainment and information industries must be drawn into a debate
with the educational institutions to determine how best to blend these new technologies into the classroom.

Many people in our era are drawn to the pessimistic view that the new media are destroying old skills and
eroding critical judgment. It may be true that past generations were more literate but — taking the pre-19th
century meaning of the term — this was true of only a small section of the population. The word literacy is a
19th-century coinage to describe the divorce of reading and writing from a full knowledge of literature. The
education reforms of the 19th century produced reading and writing as skills separable from full participation in
the cultural heritage.

The new media now point not only to a futuristic cyber-economy, they also make our cultural past available to
the whole nation. Most children's access to these treasures is initially through television. It is doubtful whether
our literary heritage has ever been available to or sought out by more than about 5 per cent of the population; it
has certainly not been available to more than 10 per cent. But the new media joined to the old, through the
public service tradition of British broadcasting, now makes our literary tradition available to all.

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Questions 96 – 99: Choose the appropriate letters A-D. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
box provided.
96. When discussing the debate on literacy in education, the writer notes that
A. children cannot read and write as well as they used to.
B. academic work has improved over the last 20 years.
C. there is evidence that literacy is related to external factors.
D. there are opposing arguments that are equally convincing.
97. In the 4th paragraph, the writer's main point is that
A. the printed word is both gaining and losing power.
B. all inventions bring disadvantages as well as benefits.
C. those who work in manual jobs no longer need to read.
D. the media offers the best careers for those who like writing.
98. According to the writer, the main problem that schools face today is
A. how best to teach the skills of reading and writing.
B. how best to incorporate technology into classroom teaching.
C. finding the means to purchase technological equipment.
D. managing the widely differing levels of literacy amongst pupils.
99. At the end of the article, the writer is suggesting that
A. literature and culture cannot be divorced.
B. the term 'literacy' has not been very useful.
C. 10 per cent of the population never read literature.
D. our exposure to cultural information is likely to increase.

Your answers
96.C 97.A 98.B 99.D

Questions 100 – 105: Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage? Write
your answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
100. It is not as easy to analyse literacy levels as it used to be. Yes
101. Our literacy skills need to be as highly developed as they were in the past. No
102. Illiteracy is on the increase. Not given
103. Professional writers earn relatively more than they used to. yes
104. A good literacy level is important for those who work in television. yes
105. Computers are having a negative impact on literacy in schools. no
Your answers
100.Y 101.N 102.NG 103.Y 104.Y 105. N

Questions 106 – 108: Complete the sentences below with words taken, from the passage. Use NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered box provided.
In Renaissance England, the best readers were those able to read 106__manuscript_______________.
The writer uses the example of 107____tabloid newspaper____________to illustrate the general fall in certain
areas of literacy.

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It has been shown that after leaving school, the only things that a lot of people write are 108____shopping
lists_________________.

Your answers
106. 107. 108.

Part 4. For questions 109-118, read the following passage 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.
In an effort to rekindle the dying embers of a once strong communal spirit, selected high schools are piloting a
community service scheme. This service directive requires students to complete a predetermined number of
field hours, sometimes as many as 60, to graduate. Those advocating it perceive it as a unique opportunity to
help young adults look beyond their personal needs, and concern themselves with the needs of other less
fortunate members of their community. Active involvement, albeit compulsory, in community affairs is
considered by them to be a good way to create awareness of social issues and promote communal values and
ideals. Rather than existing as isolated individuals, we need to form a dynamic group and pool our valuable
resources to create a community that is proactive and highly responsive to its needs. To do this we need to, once
again, foster an interest in the general well-being of our communities.
Our children need to be taught the significance of civic responsibility within a real-world context. It is not
enough to teach children about social issues prevalent in our societies today. This information is as good as lost
when taught in a static classroom. A practical, hands-on approach, on the other hand, where children come into
contact with real events and circumstances, will go a long way in broadening their understanding of how
people, regardless of background, are affected by them. This insight has the
potential to spawn feelings of altruism and empathy, which are the foundations of a strong social fabric and
important indicators of a collective conscience.
This incentive has been piloted by different districts with varying degrees of success. While nobody doubts the
value of community service, there are those who question the legitimacy of making it compulsory. They are of
the opinion that where it has failed it has done so because people, notwithstanding age, cannot be forced to
contribute. The crucial factor is interest which needs to be generated so that involvement is voluntary, not
forced.
109. Which best serves as the title for the passage?
A. The Value of Community Service B. A Community Affair
C. A More Proactive Community D. Interest: The Crucial Factor
110. What do we find out about the service directive in paragraph 1?
A. It involves only students who want to participate. B. It requires no less than 60 field hours.
C. It is experimental. D. Participants must be graduates.
111. What do schools hope to achieve by making community service compulsory?
A. to get all members of society interested in community affairs
B. to sensitise young individuals to the needs of other community members
C. to get students to resolve long-standing social problems
D. to help young individuals utilise social resources for their own benefit
112. The word “pool” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to __________
A. boost B. share C. manage D. reduce
113. What does the writer mean by 'responsive'?
A. capable of reacting quickly and favourably to problems that arise
B. capable of thinking carefully about issues

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C. capable of foreseeing problems before they occur

D. capable of planning a particular course of action
114. Why is a real-world context essential in the teaching of civic responsibility?
A. It helps children comprehend the dynamics behind social occurrences and their impact.
B. It inevitably leads to altruistic sentiments.
C. It encourages interaction between like-minded individuals.
D. It is static by nature and therefore conducive to learning.
115. The word “them” in paragraph 2 refers to __________
A. communities B. social issues C. children D. feelings
116. What do we learn in paragraph 3 about the service directive?
A. It has met with unanimous approval.
B. It is widely regarded as the best way to bring about active involvement.
C. Its success depends on a crucial factor.
D. It is only feasible when young people are involved.
117. What does the writer mean by 'legitimacy' in paragraph 3?
A. the quality of being reasonable
B. the quality of being revolutionary
C. the quality of being authentic
D. the quality of being possible
118. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. The scheme no longer makes community service a compulsory part.
B. The scheme is characterised by partly extended teaching outside of the classroom.
C. All participants in the scheme are altruistic and empathetic.
D. The majority of districts which implement the scheme enjoy great success.

Your answers
109. 110. 111. 112. 113.

114. 115. 116. 117. 118.

Part 5. In the passage below, seven paragraphs have been removed. For questions 119-125, read the passage
and choose from the 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 box provided.
HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THE UNIVERSE
Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, launches this year's Young Science Writer competition

If you ask scientists what they're doing, the answer won't be 'Finding the origin of the universe', 'Seeking the
cure for cancer' or suchlike. It will involve something very specialised, a small piece of the jigsaw that builds up
the big picture.

119. F

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So, unless they are cranks or geniuses, scientists don't shoot directly for a grand goal - they focus on bite-sized
problems that seem timely and tractable. But this strategy (though prudent) carries an occupational risk: they
may forget they're wearing blinkers and fail to see their own work in its proper perspective.

120. D

I would personally derive far less satisfaction from my research if it interested only a few other academics. But
presenting one's work to non-specialists isn't easy. We scientists often do it badly, although the experience helps
us to see our work in a broader context. Journalists can do it better, and their efforts can put a key discovery in
perspective, converting an arcane paper published in an obscure journal into a tale that can inspire others.

121. H

On such occasions, people often raise general concerns about the way science is going and the impact it may
have; they wonder whether taxpayers get value for money from the research they support. More intellectual
audiences wonder about the basic nature of science: how objective can we be? And how creative? Is science
genuinely a progressive enterprise? What are its limits and are we anywhere near them? It is hard to explain, in
simple language, even a scientific concept that you understand well. My own (not always effective) attempts
have deepened my respect for science reporters, who have to assimilate quickly, with a looming deadline, a
topic they may be quite unfamiliar with.

122. A

It's unusual for science to earn newspaper headlines. Coverage that has to be restricted to crisp newsworthy
breakthroughs in any case distorts the way science develops. Scientific advances are usually gradual and
cumulative, and better suited to feature articles, or documentaries - or even books, • for which the latent demand
is surprisingly strong. For example, millions bought A Brief History of Time, which caught the public
imagination.

123. E

Nevertheless, serious hooks do find a ready market. That's the good news for anyone who wants to enter this
competition. But books on pyramidology, visitations by aliens, and suchlike do even better: a symptom of a
fascination with the paranormal and 'New Age' concepts. It is depressing that these are often featured
uncritically in the media, distracting attention from more genuine advances.

124. G

Most scientists are quite ordinary, and their lives unremarkable. But occasionally they exemplify the link
between genius and madness; these 'eccentrics' are more enticing biographees.

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125. C

There seems, gratifyingly, to be no single 'formula' for science writing - many themes are still under-exploited.
Turning out even 700 words seems a daunting task if you're faced with a clean sheet of paper or a blank screen,
but less so if you have done enough reading and interviewing on a subject to become inspired. For research
students who enter the competition, science (and how you do it) is probably more interesting than personal
autobiography. But if, in later life, you become both brilliant and crazy, you can hope that someone else writes a
best-seller about you.

A. However, over-sensational claims are a hazard for them. Some researchers themselves 'hype up' new
discoveries to attract press interest. Maybe it matters little what people believe about Darwinism or cosmology.
But we should be more concerned that misleading or over-confident claims on any topic of practical import
don't gain wide currency. Hopes of miracle cures can be raised; risks can be either exaggerated, or else glossed
over for commercial pressures. Science popularisers perhaps even those who enter this competition - have to be
as sceptical of some scientific claims as journalists routinely are of politicians.

B. Despite this there's a tendency in recent science waiting to be chatty, laced with gossip and biographical
detail. But are scientists as interesting as their science? The lives of Albert Einstein and Richard Feyman are of
interest, but is that true of the routine practitioner?

C. Two mathematicians have been treated as such in recent books: Paul Erdos, the obsessive itinerant
Hungarian (who described himself as 'a machine for turning coffee into theorems') and John Nash, a pioneer of
game theory, who resurfaced in his sixties, after 30 years of insanity, to receive a Nobel prize.

D. For example, the American physicist Robert Wilson spent months carrying out meticulous measurements
with a microwave antenna which eventually revealed the 'afterglow of creation' - the 'echo' of the Big Bang with
which our universe began. Wilson was one of the rare scientists with the luck and talent to make a really great
discovery, but afterwards he acknowledged that its importance didn't sink in until he read a 'popular' description
of it in the New York Times.

E. More surprising was the commercial success of Sir Roger Penrose's The Emperor's New Mind. This is a
fascinating romp through Penrose's eclectic enthusiasms - enjoyable and enlightening. But it was a surprising
best seller, as much of it is heavy going. The sates pitch 'great scientist says mind is more than a mere machine'
was plainly alluring. Many who bought it must have got a nasty surprise when they opened it.

F. But if they have judged right, it won't be a trivial problem - indeed it will be the most difficult that they are
likely to make progress on. The great zoologist Sir Peter Medawar famously described scientific work as 'the art
of the soluble'. 'Scientists,' he wrote, 'get no credit for failing to solve a problem beyond their capacities. They
earn at best the kindly contempt reserved for utopian politicians.'

G. This may be because, for non-specialists, it is tricky to demarcate well-based ideas from flaky speculation.
But its crucially important not to blur this distinction when writing articles for a general readership. Otherwise
credulous readers may take too much on trust, whereas hard-nosed skeptics may reject all scientific claims,
without appreciating that some have firm empirical support.

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H. Such a possibility is one reason why this competition to encourage young people to take up science writing
is so important and why I am helping to launch it today. Another is that popular science writing can address
wider issues. When I give talks about astronomy and cosmology, the questions that interest people most are the
truly `fundamental' ones that I can't answer: 'Is there life in space?', Is the universe infinite?' or 'Why didn't the
Big Bang happen sooner?'

Your answers
119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125.

IV. WRITING (50 points)

Part 1. Write a summary of the passage within 140 words.
Super-recognisers
1
Hundreds of angry people took to the streets in London and at least ten other English cities in 2011. Petrol bombs were
thrown, buildings and vehicles destroyed and shops looted. Many of the rioters were caught on CCTV cameras, but most
of the images were poor and the perpetrators had covered their faces.
2
Gary Collins, an off-duty policeman, was watching the London riots on TV. He immediately recognised several people
and cut his holiday short to help with identification. He ended up spending six months going through the CCTV film and
managed to identify 190 people, many from their eyes alone. His help was of decisive importance in the investigation.
Even with 200,000 hours of footage, facial recognition software managed to identify just one person.
3
Collins is no ordinary police officer. Soon after joining the police force, he realised he had a special gift: after seeing a
face briefly, he could remember it in detail years later. He is what is known as a super-recogniser. This term was first used
in 2009 when a study estimated that 1–2 per cent of the population have severe problems recognising faces – called
prosopagnosia or ‘face-blindness’ – and another 1–2 per cent are exceptionally good at it. They can recall up to 95 per
cent of faces they see, whereas an average person remembers about 20 per cent.
4
London’s Metropolitan Police set up a unit of super-recognisers in 2015 after Collins’ success proved it could be useful. It
is the first of its kind in the world. Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville of Scotland Yard, one of its founders, had
realised that there was a problem with CCTV back in 2008. CCTV film was not used efficiently in the courts and did not
seem to work as an effective deterrent. If criminals were captured on film, they knew they were unlikely to be
recognised.
5
Neville’s unit has changed all that. Since it started, the tiny team of six officers has made nearly a quarter of all
identifications in London, mainly by spending hours scanning film and photos. This is impressive, considering that there
are 32,000 police officers in the city. The team’s success relies on the ubiquity of CCTV; there are thought to be more
than four million cameras throughout Britain.
6
This winning combination of human skill and technology has helped convict criminals from shoplifters and pickpockets
to sex offenders and murderers. Offenders are very seldom convicted solely on the evidence of a super-recogniser, but it
is used to direct investigations. Many defendants plead guilty when they realise they have been caught red-handed.
Super-recognisers could be useful in many jobs such as security and passport control.

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An off-duty policeman cut short his holiday to help identify 190 rioters caught on CCTV. He spent six months
going through the footage and managed to identify 190 people, many from their eyes alone. Even with 200,000
hours of footage, facial recognition software could only identify one person. Collins is what is known as a
super-recognizer - he can remember up to 95 per cent of faces. This is compared to an average person who only
remembers about 20 per cent. Some people have severe problems recognizing faces – called prosopagnosia or
'face-blindness'. It is the first of its kind in the world and was started by Scotland Yard in 2008. CCTV film was
not used efficiently in the courts and did not seem to work as a deterrent. Super-recognizers have helped convict
criminals from shoplifters and pickpockets to sex offenders and murderers. A team of six officers has made
nearly a quarter of all identifications in London, mainly by scanning film and photos. The success relies on the
ubiquity of CCTV, with more than four million cameras throughout Britain.

Part 2. The chart below shows figures for attendances at hospital emergency care departments in Northern
Ireland by age group in December 2016 and December 2017.

Attendances at emergency care departments per 1000-population

Between December 2016 and December 2017, the rate of hospital emergency attendances in Northern Ireland
increased in all age groups, as seen in the bar chart.
The numbers in the graph clearly show a gradual increase in emergency department attendance from December
2016 to December 2017. Furthermore, the group of people aged 75 and up has the highest attendance rate. The
group of children under the age of five, on the other hand, had the lowest rate.
As the bar chart shows, the 75 and older age group has been on an upward trend, rising from around 65 in 2016
to 75 in 2017. In comparison, the under 5-year-old age group was the second-highest contributor in all
categories, with 51 in 2016 and 53 in 2017.
Between December 2016 and December 2017, there were around proportions of three groups ranging in age
from 16 to 74, with an upward trend. For example, the 16-44 age group made up approximately 30 in 2016 and

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31 in 2017. The last age group, 5-15 years old, has the lowest percentage of all age groups, accounting for
around 21 in 2016 and 22 in 2017.
The graph shows that emergency department attendance in Northern Ireland is not as encouraging as it was a
year ago.
Part 3. Write an essay of 300 words on the following topic:
Some people claim that tourism can help to bridge cultural gaps between peoples of different nationalities
and cultures. Do you agree or disagree?
The tourism business has recently been given high priority in order to boost the national economy and promote
cultural identity. It is proposed that cultural boundaries between nations can be bridged through tourism.
Tourism-related activities, in my opinion, have the potential to bridge cultural divides and provide a wide range
of benefits to both locals and visitors.
To begin with, I believe that tourists would gain a better understanding of the country's conventions and
traditional customs. Foreign visitors may need to learn the basics of the original country, such as the language
and etiquette, in order to avoid cultural misunderstandings. For example, greeting each other by embracing each
other is considered acceptable in some Asian countries, but it is considered disrespectful in others. Tourists can
gain a complete experience while also broadening their perspectives about the globe by immersing themselves
in an unusual culture. Foreigners may have a deeper grasp of historic sites and cultural assets by going
sightseeing rather than just sightseeing.
Second, indigenous residents frequently embrace a new culture as a result of overseas tourists. In order to
interact comfortably with visitors and market local products, indigenous communities have recently had a
propensity to learn languages from nations with an averagely big number of people visiting their countries. For
example, in several Taiwanese tourist areas, merchandise and slogans are primarily translated into Vietnamese
and English, and some people are even fluent in these languages. As a result, tourism can help local residents as
well as visitors when it comes to cross-cultural understanding.
Finally, I believe that tourism plays an important role in reconciling diverse cultures by giving passengers and
local residents with a greater understanding of each country's unique character.

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