THPT CHUYÊN LONG AN KỲ THI CHỌN ĐỘI TUYỂN

HỌC SINH GIỎI QUỐC GIA THPT NĂM 2021

ĐỀ THI THỬ 05 Môn: TIẾNG ANH
(Đề thi có 17 trang) (Thời gian làm bài 180 phút, không kể thời gian giao đề)

Chú ý: Thí sinh làm bài vào phiếu trả lời.

Thí sinh không được sử dụng tài liệu, bao gồm cả từ điển.

I. LISTENING (50 points)

HƯỚNG DẪN PHẦN THI NGHE HIỂU
 Bài nghe gồm 4 phần; mỗi phần được nghe 2 lần, mỗi lần cách nhau 15 giây; mở đầu và kết
thúc mỗi phần nghe có tín hiệu.
 Mở đầu và kết thúc bài nghe có nhạc hiệu. Thí sinh có 02 phút để hoàn chỉnh bài trước tín
hiệu kết thúc bài nghe.
 Mọi hướng dẫn cho thí sinh đã có trong đề bài nghe.

Part 1: You will hear two students, Bella and Tom, discussing an article they have read about a
woman astronaut. For questions 1-5, decide whether the following statements are True (T) or
False (F). Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)
1. The speakers agree that being an astronaut is an unexpected job for women.
2. Bella particularly admires the astronaut Ellen Ochoa because of her determination to fulfill a
childhood dream.
3. Tom was surprised to learn that people who want to become astronauts should have
experience as aeroplane pilots.
4. Bella thinks the most interesting part of Ellen’s life is coping with unexpected problems.
5. Tom and Bella both now decide to go to some talks on space travel in films and literature.

Part 2: Listen to an introduction of a new invention and answer questions 6-10. USE NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer. Write your answers on the
answer sheet. (10 points)

6. How much was the watch used by Fossett sold for?

………………………………………………………………………
7. Where were the two men near when the accident happened?
………………………………………………………………………
8. Who might benefit a lot from this watch?
………………………………………………………………………
9. What is the maximum range of the watch at sea?
………………………………………………………………………
10. When was the self-winding watch invented?
………………………………………………………………………

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PART 3: You will hear part of a discussion between two environmentalists, Ken Forbes and
Maggie Dimas, who are talking about cars of the future and cyclists. For questions 11-15,
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear. Write your
answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)
11. What main point does Ken make about driverless car?
A. They will mean that cyclists will be in more danger.
B. They will make punishments for drivers redundant.
C. They will ensure that cyclists remain unharmed.
D. They will be perfect in every way but construction.
12. When discussing the implications of driverless cars, Maggie reveals _____.
A. that non-drivers, not driverless vehicles, might be the biggest problem
B. that she is frightened by the ideas of car having no driver
C. her doubt that increased road regulations will guarantee safety
D. her concern that Ken is too optimistic about the future
13. On what subject do Ken and Maggie share a common view?
A. Non-drivers will use the driving lanes if given the chance.
B. Traditional street lights must not be removed.
C. Automatic breaking systems will save many lives
D. The job of those in charge will become more difficult.
14. When discussing driverless cars and research, both environmentalists ______.
A. acknowledge that various organizations are involved in it
B. agree that the Google organization is leading the way
C. suggest there are still many design problems to be solved
D. admit they cannot predict when driverless cars will be marketable
15. What can be inferred from Ken’s closing remarks?
A. He feels driverless technology will have a positive effect on cyclists.
B. He is in two minds about how driverless technology will affect cyclists.
C. He is certain that special laws will be needed to make driverless cars safe.
D. He believes faster cars will pose a threat to both passengers and cyclists.
Part 4: You will hear a critic called Dan Fallon talking on a radio show about a film called “The
Man from Snowy River”. For questions 16-25, complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN
FOUR WORDS. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (20 points)
Australia’s biggest (16) _______________, which also boasted a (17) _______________ in the ranks
of its cast, was The Man from Snowy River until the release of a popular 1986 film.
The Hollywood star Kirk Douglas has an unusual (18) _______________ in The Man from Snowy
River.
Fallon praises the (19) _______________ between Burlinson and his co-star Thornton and is
complimentary of the quality of the acting in general in the film.
Fallon suggests that the great cinematography of the film shows the (20) _______________ in a very
positive light.
On the death of his father, Craig must relocate to (21) _______________ in search of work.
Craig’s origins are a disadvantage to him in his new workplace where he has to deal with
(22) _______________ from some of the other ranch hands.
Craig’s financial situation and his (23) _______________ make it unlikely that Jessica’s father will
approve of him.
Fallon suggests that although the storyline has a romantic flavour to it, it really centres on the lead
character’s (24) _______________.
Fallon suggests that using a big Hollywood actor in one of the leading parts did not prevent this
Australian film from remaining (25) _______________.

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II. LEXICO-GRAMMAR (40 points)
Part 1: For questions 26-40, choose the correct answer (A, B, C, or D) to each of the following
questions. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (15 points)
26. The Smiths needn’t hurry as there was ______ time for them to get to the airport.
A. ample B. lavish C. extensive D. spacious
27. Players can ______ the avatar they choose by changing its clothing, hairstyle and gender.
A. restrict B. portray C. innovate D. customize
28. The police are working towards the immediate ______ of stolen art treasures.
A. reunification B. regulation C. repatriation D. reproduction
29. Whilst the cheetah has impressive acceleration over short distances, it cannot ______ sustain
such speeds for any significant length of time.
A. conceivably B. perceivably C. predictably D. comprehensively
30. Over the years, the various sports I used to play in my youth have fallen by the ______ as I am
no longer able to find the time for them.
A. roundabout B. wayside C. backdrop D. sideline
31. Since placing an advertisement in the local paper, we’ve been ______ with applications for the post.
A. swamped B. bogged C. drowned D. drenched
32. Two weeks ______, they are going to celebrate their thirty-year wedding anniversary.
A. yet B. hence C. albeit D. hitherto
33. ______, Mrs. White went back to her room.
A. There was no cause for alarm B. Without having a cause for alarm
C. There being no cause for alarm D. Being no cause for alarm
34. Mary listened _____ for her boyfriend’s car and came down to the street so that he didn’t have to park.
A. to B. with C. up D. out
35. This great song has always ______ memories of Daisy’s schooldays.
A. tracked down B. conjured up C. brought in D. coupled with
36. John had a ______ experience when having to wait at the unemployment office for hours.
A. heart-stopping B. thought-provoking
C. soul-destroying D. all-embracing
37. Having delivered a thorough and insightful report, Mark deserves a real ______.
A. slap on the wrist B. peck on the cheek C. pain in the neck D. pat on the back
38. In order to recover from the sadness, he threw himself into a ______ of activities.
A. cyclone B. typhoon C. whirlwind D. hurricane
39. The answer to the interviewer’s question came to me ______ as I had a good knowledge of
the subject.
A. in a flash B. in a daze C. in the bag D. in the way
40. They’ve been working hard on the project for a month, so they decide to go out and ______.
A. face the music B. steal the show
C. read between the lines D. paint the town red

Part 2: For questions 41-45, give the correct form of the words in brackets to complete each of
the following sentences. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (5 points)
41. Peter’s (RESOLVE) may stem from the fact that he has no clear goals for the future.
42. The man was (STOW) on a medal for bravely taking a child out of the burning house.
43. Laura finds it difficult to (CAPSULE) the story of the revolution in a single thirty-minute documentary.

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44. Eczema, or ‘dermatitis’ (the terms are often used (CHANGE)) is the most common chronic skin
disorder in children, affecting 10-20% of infants.
45. Towards the end of the (INFANT) period, the child is becoming more perspicacious.
Part 3: For questions 46-55, identify 10 errors in the following passage and get them right.
Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)

Line Passage

1 “The originality of human language is truly secret and marvelous,” wrote Jacob Grimn in 1851.
2 The marvelous secret has long proved launch padding for strange ideas. “Primitive man was likely to
3 make sounds like “meuh” when sensed danger,” claimed Charles Caller in 1928. “Meuh” has a
4 plaintive sound. The human who wandered over a hostile land habited by awesome beasts uttered
5 desperate noises, and languages have reserved some echo of his lamentation so as malaria meaning
6 “fever” or the Latin moors meaning “death”.
7 Faced to such weird speculations, many avoided the topic, regarding it as playground for cranks,
8 but recently, language origin and evolution have become keying research areas. Language
9 probably developed in East Africa, around 100,000 years ago. In the main, speech was used for
10 friendly interaction, and was an important tool in powerful struggles. Information-swapping was
11 probably not an important original role - contrary to the views of philosopher John Locke, who
12 spoke of language as a “great conduit” for surveying knowledge.

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

Part 4: Read the text below and think of one word which best fits each space from 56 to 65.
Use only ONE WORD for each space. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)
MYTH BUSTED
The tradition of presenting your loved one with a diamond ring as an engagement gift began in much
the same (56) ____________ as that of Christmas – as a marketing ploy. It was a prominent jewelry
firm’s advertising campaign that first gave (57) ____________ to the notion that you can’t propose on
one knee without that precious cut stone there on (58) ____________ person, ready to place on her
finger if she answers affirmatively.
To make matters (59) ____________, the notion that diamonds are very rare is a complete
misconception. Their rarity is down (60) ____________ to careful control of the market and a
restriction on the supply of these ‘precious’ stones than actual scarcity. Here again, as with the
engagement tradition itself, it seems that diamond companies are having the last (61) ____________.
They willed the so-called ring-giving ‘custom’ into existence and then inflated diamond prices
artificially.
Perhaps knowing these facts puts (62) ____________ to the supposed romanticism of the proposal
tradition. (63) ____________ than break the bank purchasing a piece of love, the release value of
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which allegedly halves the moment you walk out of the shop, would (64) ____________ putting down
a deposit on a house be a more romantic gesture? It would certainly help newlyweds get their
priorities in (65) ____________.

III. READING (50 points)

Part 1: For questions 66-78, read the following passage and choose the word that best fits
each of the blanks. Write your answers on the answer sheet. (13 points)
The knowledge and eloquence that people gain through travelling is usually perceived as the best
(66) ______ in life. It is the inquisitive human nature that (67) ______ people to seek (68) ______
experiences and to set out on an exploration trip. Those who travel frequently and to (69) ______
places benefit from establishing new relationships and (70) ______ a better knowledge about other
cultures and lifestyles.
However, there is a (71) ______ of truth in the assumption that people are prone to (72) ______
clichés and unfounded prejudices about other nations and their characteristics. Sometimes, it is only the
first-hand encounter that can help change the (73) ______ towards the so-called ‘inferior
communities’. This direct contact with a different civilization enables travellers to (74) ______ their
baseless assumptions and get acquainted with the real concept of life in all four corners of the globe.
(75) ______question, travelling (76) ______ friendship and makes it easier for many individuals to
acknowledge the true value of different traditions and customs. Yet, it does not always mean
enjoyment. It may also (77) ______ coming close with the atrocities of real existence as well as
becoming aware of the challenges and hardships that other people have to struggle with. Hence, a
true voyage is the one with a good deal of experience to (78) ______ about, very often combined with
exposure to abhorrent sights and incredible ordeals. The learning to be complete, thus, requires an
ability to observe and analyze the surroundings, both their glamour and brutality.
66. A. completion B. fulfillment C. conclusion D. requirement
67. A. impels B. involves C. entails D. pursues
68. A. thriving B. throbbing C. thwarting D. thrilling
69. A. reverse B. averse C. diverse D. converse
70. A. acquiring B. educating C. learning D. exacting
71. A. speck B. grain C. scrap D. tip
72. A. cherishing B. persevering C. indulging D. persisting
73. A. prejudice B. manner C. outlook D. approach
74. A. drop B. cease C. fail D. quit
75. A. Apart B. Beyond C. Beneath D. Except
76. A. facilitates B. affords C. elicits D. incites
77. A. derive B. consist C. involve D. enclose
78. A. remind B. resemble C. commemorate D. reminisce

Part 2: For questions 79-88, read the following passage and do the tasks that follow. Write
your answers on the answer sheet. (10 points)
JUST RELAX
A. Hypnosis is an intriguing and fascinating process; a trance-like mental state is induced in one
person by another, who appears to have the power to command that person to obey instructions
without question. Hypnotic experiences were described by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, while
references to deep sleep and anesthesia have been found in the Bible and the Jewish Talmud. In the
mid-1700s Franz Mesmer, an Australian physician, developed his theory of ‘animal magnetism’, which
was the belief that the cause of disease was the ‘improper distribution of the invisible magnetic fluid’.

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Mesmer used water tubs and magnetic wands to direct these supposed fluids to his patients. In 1784,
a French commission studied Mesmer’s claims, and concluded that these cues were only imagined by
patients. However, people continued to believe in this process of ‘mesmerism’ and it was soon
realized that successful results could be achieved, but without the need for magnets and water.
B. The term ‘hypnotism’ was first used by James Braid, a British physician who studied suggestion
and hypnosis in the mid-1800s. He demonstrated that hypnosis differed from sleep, that it was a
physiological response and not a result of secret powers. During the same period, James Esdaile, a
Scottish doctor working in India, used hypnotism instead of anesthetic in over 200 major surgical
operations, including leg amputations. Later that century, a French neurologist, Jean Chrcot,
successfully experimented with hypnosis in his clinic for nervous disorders.

C. Since then, scientists have shown that the state of hypnosis is a natural human behavior, which
can affect psychological, social and/ or physical experiences. The effects of hypnotism depend on the
ability, willingness and motivation of the person hypnotized. Although hypnosis has been compared to
dreaming and sleepwalking, it is not actually related to sleep. It involves a more active and intensive
mental concentration of the person being hypnotized. Hypnotized people can talk, write and walk
about and they are usually fully aware of what is being said and done.

D. There are various techniques used to induce hypnosis. The best known is a series of simple
suggestions repeated continuously in the same tone of voice. The subject is instructed to focus their
attention on an object of fixed point, while being told to relax, breathe deeply, and allow the eyelids to
grow heavy and close. As the person responds, their state of attention changes, and this altered state
often leads to other changes. For example, the person may experience different levels of awareness,
consciousness, imagination, memory and reasoning or becoming responsive to suggestions.
Additional phenomenon may be produced or eliminated such as blushing, sweating, paralysis, muscle
tension or anaesthesia. Although these changes can occur with hypnosis, none of these experiences
is unique to it. People who are very responsive to hypnosis are also more responsive to suggestions
when they are hypnotized. This responsiveness increases during hypnotism. This explains why
hypnosis takes only a few seconds for some, whilst other people cannot easily hypnotized.

E. It is a common misunderstanding that hypnotists are able to force people to perform criminal or any
other acts against their will. In fact, subjects can resist suggestions, and they retain their ability to
distinguish right from wrong. This misunderstanding is often the result of public performances where
subjects perform ridiculous or highly embarrassing actions at the command of the hypnotist. These
people are usually instructed not to recall their behavior after re-emerging from the hypnotic state, so
it appears that they were powerless while hypnotized. The point to remember, however, is that these
individuals chose to participate, and the success of hypnotism depends on the willingness of a person
to be hypnotized.

F. Interestingly, there are different levels of hypnosis achievable. Thus, deep hypnosis can be induced
to allow anaesthesia or surgery, childbirth or dentistry. This contrasts to a lighter state of hypnosis,
which deeply relaxes the patient who will then follow simple directions. This latter state may be used
to treat mental health problems, as it allows patients to feel calm while simultaneously thinking about
distressing feelings or painful memories. Thus, patients can learn new responses to situations or
come up with solutions to problems. This can help recovery from psychological conditions such as
anxiety, depression or phobias. Sometimes after traumatic incidents, memory of the incidents may be
blocked. For example, some soldiers develop amnesia (loss of memory) as a result of their
experiences during wartime. Through hypnosis, these repressed memories can be retrieved and
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treated. A variation of this treatment involves age regression, when the hypnotist takes the patient
back to a specific age. In this way, patients may remember events and feelings from that time, which
may be affecting their current well-being.

G. Physicians also have made use of the ability of a hypnotized person to remain in a given position
for long periods of time. In one case, doctors had to graft skin onto a patient’s badly damaged foot.
First, skin from the person’s abdomen was grafted onto his arm; then the graft was transferred to his
foot. With hypnosis, the patient held his arm tightly in position over his abdomen for three weeks, then
over his foot for four weeks. Even though these positions were unusual, the patient at no time left
uncomfortable.

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-G from the list of headings below. Write the
correct number, i-xi, next to questions 79-84 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Use of hypnotism in criminal cases
ii. The body posture and hypnosis
iii. Early medical experiments with hypnotism
iv. Early association of hypnotists with psychology
v. Dangers of hypnotism
vi. How to hypnotize
vii. Hypnosis and free will
viii. Difference between mesmerism and hypnotism
ix. Therapeutic uses of hypnosis
x. Origins of hypnosis
xi. The normality of hypnotized subjects’ behavior

Example Answer
Paragraph A x
79. Paragraph B …………
80. Paragraph C …………
81. Paragraph D …………
82. Paragraph E …………
83. Paragraph F …………
84. Paragraph G …………

Questions 85-88: Complete the summary of the history of hypnosis. Choose NO MORE THAN
THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers on the answer sheet.
References to hypnotism can be found both in the Talmud and the (85) ______________________.
Even when Mesmer’s (86) ______________________ were not used, successful results occurred
without them. Braid identified hypnosis as a natural (87) ______________________ response, rather

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than magical or mystical. Early psychological studies showed the difference between sleep and
hypnosis. Successful hypnosis requires the subject’s active (88) ______________________.
Consequently, subjects can speak or move around and are aware of their surroundings.

Part 3: You are going to read an article about coral reefs. Seven parts have been removed
from the extract. For questions 89-95, choose from paragraphs A-H the one which fits each
gap. There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use. Write your answers on the
answer sheet. (7 points)
CORAL BLEACHING
Coral bleaching is hardly a new phenomenon, but it has hit the headlines of late, on account of the
serious effect it is having on one very famous stretch of coral in particular, the Great Barrier Reef,
more on which later. But what exactly is coral bleaching, how does it occur and how does it impact on
the coral habitat?
In Layman’s terms, it is the loss of a particular type of algae from the coral ecosystem. That dirty
phrase global warming is what scientists attribute to the recent upsurge in the phenomenon, for
bleaching is directly linked to above-average water temperatures, an effect which global warming is
thought to induce.
89.

In one sense, you could think of coral as parasitic, for it lures the algae to live amongst it with the
promise of a steady supply of the nutrients essential for the process of photosynthesis to occur. It is
the algae, incidentally, that give coral reefs their unique colouration, so bleached coral is not
necessarily dead coral, just coral that is no longer able to sustain this relationship.
90.

The reason for this is simple; the algae play a key role in the relationship by providing the coral with
oxygen. They also help in the expulsion of waste.
Apart from water temperature, other triggers that result in bleaching are similarly attributable to human
activities. For instance, other key stress factors include the increased presence of freshwater (linked to
global warming) or harmful chemicals (linked to pollution).
Different types of coral can withstand the shock of exposure to these triggers with different rates of
success. Large corals, for example, are better adapted to dealing with temperature changes in the water.
Contrariwise, fragile branching corals feel the effects of this trigger very badly indeed.
91.

There are natural threats to coral welfare, too, but these tend to be less detrimental. Infectious
diseases can and do attack algae living in coral tissue. Sadly, the likelihood of such attacks increases
with water temperature, which takes us back full circle again, though, to the human influence and
global warming.

92.

This sense of trepidation is not without its merits, either, as studies show that the reef has reduced its
size by more than half since 1985. That said, not by any means all of the reduction is attributable to
bleaching, with intense cyclones and indeed predators such as starfish also playing a significant role.

93.

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Regeneration and regrowth is, of course, very possible. Indeed, after the bleaching events of the
summers of 1998 and 2002, which were very significant, resulting in places in a mortality rate of more
than 50%, this is precisely what occurred. But conditions must be conducive to regeneration and they
are becoming less and less so as water temperatures continue to rise.

94.

Fishermen could suffer economically from very low yields and local populations reliant of seafood for
their sustenance could be hit particularly badly, too. There could even be localized famine. Another
way fishermen would be impacted is in the sense that they would be set a greater challenge in many
cases just to catch fish. You see, coral reefs make excellent and comparatively easy fishing grounds.
Without them, fishermen would be forced to look elsewhere and the deep ocean is not a simple place
to operate.
However, despite all the doom and gloom and the damning ignominy, humanity should feel for its
inaction and apathy towards this serious issue, there is still cause for hope.

95.

Indeed, reefs have a surprising capacity for recovery in any case, and, so long as conditions become
more conducive again, algae will return and recolonize bleached stretches of reef, prompting growth
and regeneration. Nature is nothing if not resilient, after all.
Nonetheless, this cause for hope should not allow us to become complacent. In fact, we have
exhibited far too much complacency in relation to this issue already. Rather, we should start doing
everything we can to make our oceans as conducive as possible to sustaining the rich sources of sea
life that they presently do in the long term, and not simply leave things to chance.

The missing paragraphs:

A. Indeed, bleaching has been described as a kind of self-preservation mechanism, for, once the coral
cannot sustain its symbiosis with the algae, it must rid itself of them altogether to stave off total
starvation in the short term. However, in the long run, this is not a viable solution as the coral itself can
only prosper with the algae living harmoniously within its tissue.

B. As mentioned already, bleaching is not a new phenomenon. Indeed, going back to the case of the
Great Barrier Reef, such events are recorded as having occurred there more than once in each of the
past three decades; however, the 2016 bleaching event was particularly damaging and this gave
scientists great cause for concern.

C. However, given that the ecosystem is clearly very fragile and vulnerable, as these statistics
emphasize, bleaching is unquestionably yet another and an unwanted complication, when corals are
already battling against stiff odds.

D. Contrary to popular belief, though, bleaching in and of itself does not lead to the total decay of the
coral bed. Indeed, the corals continue to survive. However, their relationship with the algae is
symbiotic, with the algae providing an estimated ninety per cent of the coral’s energy. Therefore, with
the algae gone, the coral effectively begins to starve.

E. Indeed, a recent study of coral in the Andaman Sea proved a source of much optimism. There,
corals were found to be attracting an unusual type of algae better suited to higher temperatures, and
thus were thriving in the warm waters of this part of the Indian Ocean. This suggests other reefs may,

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in time, also be able to develop a higher tolerance towards increased water temperatures, meaning
the decline of the world’s corals might not be as catastrophic as once feared.

F. Locational factors also come into play. For instance, if the coral is located in a shady or clouded
area, it tends to have the capacity to withstand shocks with a higher degree of success. A fast current
and a rich supply of nutrients can also play to the advantage of corals battling such triggers, and aid
their recovery in the aftermath of a shock episode.

G. But that cause for hope is fast disappearing with the algae which supply corals their lifeline. As
more become victims of starfish, the situation is growing alarmingly bleak. This has prompted some
experts to suggest that a mass culling of starfish may be both justified and necessary.

H. The results of a permanent loss of significant stretches of our coral reefs are potentially much more
far-reaching than most people would imagine, because the coral ecosystem sustains a rich variety of
sea life and, without it, such creatures would also be in jeopardy. This could have repercussions all
the way up the food chain.

Part 4: For questions 96-105, read an extract from an article on the design of green buildings
and choose the answer (A, B, C or D) that fits best according to the text. Write your answers on
the answer sheet. (10 points)
There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of buildings on the
natural environment. Information which explains and promotes green and sustainable construction
design, strives to convince others of its efficacy and warns of the dangers of ignoring the issue.
Seldom do these documents offer any advice to practitioners, such as those designing mechanical
and electrical systems for a building, on how to utilise this knowledge on a practical level.
While the terms green and sustainable are often considered synonymous, in that they both symbolise
nature, green does not encompass all that is meant by sustainability, which can be defined as
minimizing the negative impacts of human activities on the natural environment, in particular those
which have long-term and irreversible effects. Some elements of green design may be sustainable
too, for example, those which reduce energy usage and pollution, while others, such as ensuring
internal air quality, may be considered green despite having no influence on the ecological balance.
Although there are a good many advocates of ‘green’ construction in the architectural industry, able to
cite ample reasons why buildings should be designed in a sustainable way, not to mention a plethora
of architectural firms with experience in green design, this is not enough to make green construction
come into being. The driving force behind whether a building is constructed with minimal
environmental impact lies with the owner of the building; that is, the person financing the project. If the
owner considers green design unimportant, or of secondary importance, then more than likely, it will
not be factored into the design.
The commissioning process plays a key role in ensuring the owner gets the building he wants, in
terms of design, costs and risk. At the predesign stage, the owner’s objectives, criteria and the type of
design envisaged are discussed and documented. This gives a design team a solid foundation on
which they can build their ideas, and also provides a specific benchmark against which individual
elements, such as costs, design and environmental impact can be judged.
Owners who skip the commissioning process, or fail to take ‘green’ issues into account when doing
so, often come a cropper once their building is up and running. Materials and equipment are
installed as planned, and, at first glance, appear to fulfil their purpose adequately. However, in time,
the owner realises that operational and maintenance costs are higher than necessary, and that the
occupants are dissatisfied with the results. These factors in turn lead to higher ownership costs as
well as increased environmental impact.

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 In some cases, an owner may be aware of the latest trends in sustainable building design. He may
have done research into it himself, or he may have been informed of the merits of green design
through early discussion with professionals. However, firms should not take it as read that someone
commissioning a building already has a preconceived idea of how green he intends the structure to
be. Indeed, this initial interaction between owner and firm is the ideal time for a designer to outline
and promote the ways that green design can meet the client’s objectives, thus turning a project
originally not destined for green design into a potential candidate.

Typically, when considering whether or not adopting a green approach, an owner will ask about
additional costs, return for investment and to what extent green design should be the limiting factor
governing decisions in the design process. (1) Many of these costs are incurred by the increased
cooperation between the various stakeholders, such as the owner, the design professionals,
contractors and end-users. (2) However, in green design, they must be involved from the outset, since
green design demands interaction between these disciplines. (3) This increased coordination clearly
requires additional expenditure. (4) A client may initially balk at these added fees, and may require
further convincing of the benefits if he is to proceed. It is up to the project team to gauge the extent to
which a client wants to get involved in a green design project and provide a commensurate service.

Of course, there may be financial advantage for the client in choosing a greener design. Case studies
cite examples of green/sustainable designs which have demonstrated lower costs for long-term
operation, ownership and even construction. Tax credits and rebates are usually available on a
regional basis for projects with sustainable design or low emissions, among others.

96. The writer’s main purpose is to ______.

A. explain to professionals how they can influence clients to choose greener designs
B. explain the importance of green building design in reducing long-term damage to the environment
C. explain to owners commissioning a building why ignoring green issues is costly and dangerous
D. explain to professionals why it is important to follow the correct procedures when a
building is commissioned
97. The examples of green and sustainable designs given in paragraph 2 show that ______.
A. designs must be sustainable in order for them to be described as green
B. for the purposes of this paper, the terms green and sustainable have the same meaning
C. some sustainable designs are green, while others are not
D. some designs are termed green, even though they are not sustainable
98. According to paragraph 3, the reason for the lack of green buildings being designed is that _____.
A. few firms have any experience in design and constructing buildings to a green design
B. construction companies are unaware of the benefits of green and sustainable designs
C. firms do not get to decide whether a building is to be constructed sustainably
D. firms tend to convince clients that other factors are more important than sustainability
99. In paragraph 4, what does the word ‘benchmark’ mean?
A. standard B. target C. process D. comparison
100. Which of the following is NOT true about the commissioning process?
A. It is conducted before the building is designed.
B. It is a stage that all clients go through when constructing a building.
C. It is a step in the design procedure in which the client’s goals are identified.
D. It provides the firm with a measure of how well they did their job.
101. In paragraph 5, what does the phrase ‘come a cropper’ mean?
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 A. experience misfortune B. change one’s mind
C. notice the benefits D. make a selection
102. In paragraph 6, the writer implies that ______.
A. most clients enter the commissioning process with a clear idea of whether or not they want a
green building
B. designers are usually less concerned about green design than the clients are
C. the commissioning process offers a perfect opportunity to bring up the subject of green design
D. firms should avoid working with clients who reject green designs in their buildings
103. Where in paragraph 7 does this sentence belong?
In a typical project, landscape architects and mechanical, electrical and plumbing
engineers do not become involved until a much later stage.
A. (1) B. (2) C. (3) D. (4)
104. In paragraph 7, what does the phrase ‘balk at’ mean?
A. display shock towards B. agree to pay
C. question the reason for D. understand the need for
105. Green buildings are most likely to incur more expense than conventional buildings due to ______.
A. higher taxes incurred on sustainable buildings
B. higher long-term operational costs
C. the higher cost of green construction materials
D. increased coordination between construction teams

Part 5: You are going to read some extracts taken from an article on artificial intelligence. Choose
from the sections (A-E) the correct answer to each of the question from 106 to 115. The sections
may be chosen more than once. Write your answers on the answer sheet (10 points).
THE MACHINE AGE
A. As the pace of technological development advances at ever greater speeds, society has had to
come to terms with some exceedingly rapid changes. This has led to some deep collective soul
searching about the effects of technology on ordinary lives. The question is whether the sudden
adoption of the virtual world of cyber space is having a profound effect on human isolation. Do people
talk anymore? Or is communication now mainly through the various electronic media that so many
people use? Many lament the rise of these media within society and wonder how far this virtual life
will go. Will we reach the stage where we can actually transpose our brains into an avatar and lives
our lives vicariously in cyberspace? This could finally be the route to immortality that has long been a
subtle human desire, the ability to cheat death and for all.
B. But just how real the fears about the role of technology in our lives are is a complex question to
answer. And there is some evidence that we are simply worrying about the wrong thing. Research
does not support the idea that the increased connectivity afforded people by the interest has led to
greater social isolation. In fact, it appears to have had the opposite effect, in that the people who are
the most connected on social networks tend to have greater social interaction and are more engaged
in public life than those who do not use them. The ease of use and convenience of new technologies
have induced people to adapt to them and to do so at great speed. It is this speed of change that has
alarmed some people. It’s a phenomenon that could simply be described as “The Shock of the New”
and it’s one that has greeted all major societal changes throughout history and it could, reasonably,
be regarded as nothing more alarming than a process by which change comes to be accepted.
C. So, are there any valid fears with regard to this sudden rise in technological breakthroughs? One
possibly legitimate fear is that the machines may, in the not so distant future, attain greater intelligence
than humans. As technology becomes more sophisticated, we come closer to the reality of artificial
intelligence that exceeds our own. The danger of this is that with so much of our future lives likely to be
very deeply interconnected with machines, they will, in a real sense, control our behavior even if it is only
in very subtle, unobtrusive ways. There is also something to be said for the idea that even now machines
have extensive control in the developed world. Were they to be suddenly switched off, entire sectors of
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our society would simply collapse. There would be no access to banking, shopping, transport or
communication.
D. In the end, we need to ask ourselves, as a society, whether this interconnectedness with
technology is something we should embrace or resist. And the truth of the matter is that it is almost
impossible to envisage an ideology that would seek to reverse the march of technology. Technology
is now an inherent part of our society and culture and so interwoven into every aspect of our lives that
to remove it would essentially mean the collapse of our civilization as it currently exists. No one would
have thought it credible that suddenly, in the 19th century, the brakes should have been put on the
industrial revolution and Europe and North America should have returned to a rural farming existence.
The same argument stands for the technology of today.
E. So, in essence, we have no real choice but to embrace technology and its inexorable rise within
society. To try to do otherwise is counterproductive to our own good as a species as well as an
exercise in futility. That the machines will gain in intelligence in the near future is inevitable, but there
are ways to safeguard our systems from nefarious control, as long as we remember that all systems
need to have built-in checks and balances, whether the systems are within or external to the
machines in our lives. Humanity is, without doubt, now set firmly on a path which is dominated by the
integral coexistence of man and machine.

In which section are the following mentioned? Your answers:

A refutation of a popular assumption about the way people socialize nowadays 106.

The possibility of living forever in the form of an avatar 107.

An explanation of anxiety about the advancing intelligence of machines 108.

The idea that face-to-face contact is diminishing rapidly 109.

Why concern about intelligent machines may be justified 110.

The possibility of human existence becoming an entirely virtual experience 111.

The need to ensure that all structures within society have measures to prevent 112.
them from becoming corrupt

The inevitability of the development of the intellectual capability of machines 113.

An example from the past used to illustrate the ridiculousness of a current idea 114.

The parts of society already entirely dependent on machine input 115.

IV. WRITING (60 points)

Part 1: Read the following extract and use your own words to summarize it. Your summary
should be about 140 words long. (15 points)

Being able to multitask is hailed by most people as a welcome skill, but not according to a recent
study which claims that young people between the ages of eight and eighteen of the so-called
“Generation M” are spending a considerable amount of their time in fruitless efforts as they multitask.
It argues that, in fact, these young people are frittering away as much as half of their time again as
they would if they performed the very same tasks one after the other.

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Some young people are juggling an ever larger number of electronic devices as they study. At the same
time that they are working, young adults are also surfing the Internet, or sending out emails to their friends,
and/or answering the telephone and listening to music on their iPods or on another computer. As some
new devices come along, they are added to the list rather than replacing one of the existing devices.

Other research has indicated that this multitasking is even affecting the way families themselves
function as young people are too wrapped up in their own isolated worlds to interact with the other
people around them. They can no longer greet family members when they enter the house, nor can
they eat at the family table.

All this electronic wizardry is supposedly also seriously affecting young people’s performance at
university and in the workplace. When asked about their perception of the impact of modern gadgets
on their performance of tasks, the overwhelming majority of young people gave a favorable response.

The response from the academic and business worlds was not quite as positive. The former feel that
multitasking with electronic gadgets by children affects later development of study skills, resulting in a
decline in the quality of writing, for example, because of the lack of concentration on task completion.
They feel that many undergraduates now urgently need remedial help with study skills. Similarly,
employers feel that young people entering the workforce need to be taught all over again, as they
have become deskilled.

While all this may be true, it must be borne in mind that more and more is expected of young people
nowadays; in fact, too much. Praise rather than criticism is due in respect of the way today’s youth are
able to cope despite what the older generation throw at them.
Your answer:

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Part 2: The table below gives information about the problems faced by children in two
primary schools in 2005 and 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting
the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. You should write about 150
words. (15 points)

Your answer:

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Part 3: Write an essay of about 350 words on the following topic: (30 points)
Nowadays there is a growing shift towards the use of cashless transactions. While some people
argue in support of a cashless society, claiming that it is beneficial to citizens, others raise concerns
about security. Which side of this argument do you, personally, agree with, and why?

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----------- HẾT -----------

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